Tipton Heritage Trail
The tiny ancient hamlet which the Domesday Book recorded as having 'land for five ploughs' grew in the industrial revolution to a place 'palpitating to the beat and throb of a thousand steam engines' where 'iron is manipulated and fashioned to the service of man in every conceivable way that human ingenuity can devise'
The abundance of coal, iron ore and limestone in the locality led to the establishment of iron making. This grew rapidly after the construction of the Birmingham canal in 1770 which allowed finished products to be efficiently transported to worldwide markets. Such was the growth of the canal system in Tipton that the town became known as the Venice of the Midlands with over thirteen miles of waterway within the parish.
As well as making top quality iron, Tipton became especially well known for its heavy engineering trades such as the production of large castings, forgings, structural ironwork, steam engines, boilers, chains and anchors.
Technical innovation and achievement were prolific. In 1712 the world’s first successful steam engine was erected at Coneygree, then in 1776 James Watt’s first commercial engine was put to work at Bloomfield.
The first iron steamship in the world was built by the Horseley Ironworks in 1822 and the world’s largest anchor made by H P Parkes in 1866.The 1830s saw Joseph Hall develop the wet puddling method of ironmaking which revolutionised the industry. In 1937 the world speed record breaking car Thunderbolt was built at Beans Foundry.
Tipton’s contribution to the industrialised world can never be underrated.
Heritage Centre
Tipton Community Heritage Centre is located within Tipton Library. The centre features artefacts, displays and information related to the lives and work of the people of Tipton.
The Old Line Canal
The original line of the Birmingham Canal reached Tipton in 1770 and linked up with the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal beyond Wolverhampton in 1772.
The Tipton Slasher and The Fountain Inn
This bronze statue was unveiled in 1993 to commemorate William Perry (1820-1880) the Tipton born bare knuckle boxer who was Champion of England from 1850 to 1857.
St Matthew’s Church
A factional disagreement at St. Paul’s church in Owen Street in 1875 led to St Matthew’s church being built in the following year in the Early English style at a cost of £6,000 with a seating capacity of 460.
Malthouse Stables
Built in the mid 19th century this stable block is a rare survival of a once common building type to be found along the canal system when boats relied on horsepower for haulage.
The Boat Gauging House
In the days of commercial carrying on canals tolls were levied on the weight of cargo carried.
Factory Locks
The locks mark the start of the New Line Canal, the most important of the improvements carried out to the Birmingham canal by Thomas Telford between 1825 and 1838.
Victoria Park
Built on 35 acres of derelict mining land Victoria Park was conceived by Tipton Urban District Council in 1897 to commemorate the diamond jubilee of Queen Victoria.
Tipton Carnegie Centre
The distinctive red brick and yellow terracotta of Tipton’s original library make it one of the most memorable public buildings in the Black Country.
Cast Iron Roving Bridges
Many cast iron towpath roving bridges (a bridge which takes the towpath across the canal) seen on the canal system were made in Tipton at Horseley Ironworks and Toll End
St John’s Church
Originally dedicated to St Martin, this is Tipton’s ancient parish church dating from the 13th century but rebuilt in 1683.
St Mark’s Church
The parish of St Mark containing Ocker Hill and the northern of Tipton was formed in 1845 and the church was completed in 1849.