Norton Canes

Norton Canes
Norton Canes
Norton Canes shown within Staffordshire
Population 7,479 (2011)
OS grid reference SK010079
Civil parish
  • Norton Canes
District
Shire county
Region
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town CANNOCK
Postcode district WS11
Dialling code 01543
Police Staffordshire
Fire Staffordshire
Ambulance West Midlands
EU Parliament West Midlands
UK Parliament

Norton Canes is a village and civil parish on the southern periphery of Cannock Chase District, in Staffordshire, England. It is situated 3 miles (4.8 km) out of the centre of Cannock. At the 2001 census it had a population of 6,394,[1] and an area of 3,746 acres (15.16 km2) of which 86% is green open space. The population had increased to 7,470 at the 2011 Census.[2]

The Cannock Chase Coalfield once had 45 collieries within 2 miles (3.2 km) of Norton Canes, employing over 5,800 men, as well as 2 large surface mines; the last pit in the area closed in 1993.

Grove Pit was one of these pits, and on 1 October 1930 was the scene of a major tragedy when 14 miners were killed in an explosion there.[3]

Another local colliery was owned by the Jerome family, hence Jerome Road now on the site of the pit. This was the family of the author Jerome K. Jerome. Norton Canes borders Chasewater - a collection of man-made lakes formed through old mining pits and a reservoir that feeds the canal system of West Midlands. Chasewater is a popular leisure destination offering facilities for water-skiing and yachting, mountain biking, jogging, walking and bird watching.

Norton Canes straddles the UK's first and only Toll Motorway, the M6 Toll which has its northern Toll Plaza and Norton Canes Services is the only services for that motorway.

Norton Canes was home to Europe's first drive-through chemist. This is now closed as the chemist has moved into the local health centre located in Brownhills Road.

Schools

There are two primary schools in Norton Canes: Jerome Primary School and Norton Canes Primary Academy. There is one high school: Norton Canes High School.

The Jerome Primary School was named to reflect the association with the Jerome family who owned the pit referred to above.

Railway

Norton Canes never had been served by a railway station with the nearest being Cannock but there were mineral and colliery lines which served Norton Junction which was a major junction for traffic to and from Aldridge, Walsall Wood, Hednesford, Chasewater and Wolverhampton via Cannock. The junction closed to all traffic in the 1980s. The site is now a public park with all the lines being now houses and roads. Only a slight remnant of the former Pelsall - Norton Junction line remains; as a public right of way between the former Ryders Crossing and where the M6 pedestrian overpass is.

Notable residents

  • James Adams (1908 in Norton Canes – 1983) a footballer who played 103 games for West Bromwich Albion
  • Paul Dadge (born 1976), pictured iconically during 7 July 2005 London Bombings assisting a casualty.[4]
  • Ryan Woods (born Norton Canes 1993), Championship footballer playing for Brentford, over 120 games [5]

References

  1. ↑ C http://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/NR/rdonlyres/8541174 C-7ECB−4763-9BDE-A9819AE6E865/22602/chasewardssocial. pdf
  2. ↑ "Civil Parish population 2011". Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  3. ↑
  4. ↑ "Time Magazine Front Cover (July 18th 2005)". Time Inc.
  5. ↑ http://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/2015/09/01/town-sell-ryan-woods-to-brentford/
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