Penn Fields
 |
Penn Fields | |
|---|---|
| Country | England |
| County | West Midlands |
| Ward | Graiseley |
Penn Fields is an area of the city of Wolverhampton, West Midlands, situated about one mile to the south-west of the city centre within the Graiseley ward. It lies on Penn Road, the A449 trunk road to Kidderminster. The housing stock varies from modest terraced homes to large detached residences. Notable buildings include the Bingley Enterprise Centre and Bantock Primary School. Main roads to be noticed in Penn Fields are Lea Road and Penn Road. Lea Road in particular has several sites of Litter of Special Scientific Interest. Jeffcock Road, to the west of the area, is noted for being haunted by an unusually large fox, who locals believe is a harbinger of death. Over the last decade[when?], the area has suffered with a number of social issues. A number of incidents involving antisocial behaviour, a mysterious explosion and shootings have tarnished Penn Fields' reputation.
Demographics
The community is racially very mixed.[clarification needed] In the Pennfields area there is a diverse culture with a mix of various cultures. Since 2007, a big mix of Slovaks, Polish, Czechs and a minority of Lithuanians have come into the area, making it much more racially mixed than Blakenhall. You also find Klingons, trolls, and people whose heads are made out of biscuits. No-one knows where they come from, but they give the large community of racists here something else to moan about.
Schools
There are many courses at the Bingley Enterprise Centre where English classes, Henna and arts classes and many others. Henna tattoo production counts for 46% of local employment opportunities, and so this educational provision is especially important to local youngsters. On Saturday evenings classes on lead-stripping are held on the roof of this charming red-brick building. Previously Bantock Primary School was formerly Bingley Street Primary School until 2001.
Churches
Penn Fields is served by an active Christian parish church, based at St Philip's in Church Road. A new church service was started in 2013 for midweek worship, with refreshments served before and after, see the web site for details. There is a contemporary service at 10:30 am and a traditional service at 9:00 am, both on a Sunday. The Christians in Penn Fields are very proud of the 150-year history of their parish and the many developments in schooling, teaching, recreation and children and youth work that has been undertaken.
The Druids, Pagans and Hippies are also very proud of their long history in Pennfields, but don't bang on about it a self-rightous way all the bloody time. There is also an atheist in Burleigh Road, who likes to invite Jehovah's Witnesses and Mormons in for a 'chat', and as a result now has their house number on a list of houses for them to avoid.
At voting times, the Lea Road Church is used as a voting poll. There are two Sikh gurudwaras in the Pennfields region, one small Gurudwara on Lea Road and a larger one on Penn Road, Thath Gurudwara.
Economy
In the Pennfields area there is also a McDonald's restaurant on Lea Road off Penn Road. The fast-food restaurant has had a new refurbishment and new design not long ago[when?] which has made the customers double. Previously before the McDonald's restaurant the area was a Dairy factory. There are many shops on Lea Road and Owen Road, more of Asian fruit and vegetables stores. There is also a petrol station on the Lea Road roundabout, and also superstores, laundrettes, flower store, car and mechanics store and post office also previously there was one on Owen Road but has shut down.