Willenhall

Willenhall
Willenhall Market
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Willenhall Location within the West Midlands
Population	49,587 (2021 Census BUA Profile)
OS grid reference	SO9698
Metropolitan borough	Walsall
Shire county	Staffordshire
Metropolitan county	West Midlands
Region	West Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Areas of the town (2011 census BUASD)	List Beechdale (part) Bentley Dudley Fields (part) New Invention Portobello (part) Short Heath
Post town	WILLENHALL
Postcode district	WV12, WV13
Dialling code	01902
Police	West Midlands
Fire	West Midlands
Ambulance	West Midlands
UK Parliament	Walsall North
List of places UK England West Midlands 52°34′47″N 2°03′38″W / 52.57980°N 2.06046°W / 52.57980; -2.06046

Willenhall is a market town in the Metropolitan Borough of Walsall in the West Midlands, England, with a population taken at the 2021 Census of 49,587. It is situated between Wolverhampton and Walsall, historically in the county of Staffordshire. It lies upon the River Tame, and is contiguous with both Wolverhampton and parts of South Staffordshire. The M6 motorway at Junction 10 separates it from Walsall.

The town is historically famous for the manufacture of locks and keys. As early as 1770, Willenhall contained 148 skilled locksmiths and its coat of arms reflects the importance of this industry to its growth.^[1] It was home to the National Union of Lock and Metal Workers from 1889 until 2004. Its motto is Salus Populi Suprema Lex – The welfare of the people is the highest law.

The urban district of Willenhall (established by the Local Government Act 1894) was partitioned in 1966 between the county boroughs of Walsall and Wolverhampton (since 1974 the metropolitan boroughs of Walsall and Wolverhampton).

The northern border of Willenhall has always been adjoining open land, although the extent of Willenhall's expansion has meant in the last hundred years its northern border has been moved by about two miles.