Retirement Properties Spotlight in Oldbury

Halesowen: Halesowen is mentioned in Domesday and had a church and at the time was larger than Birmingham. The Norman church today sits on the original Saxon site. The town lies about ten miles southwest of Birmingham close to open countryside. In the 13th century Halesowen had a market and a fair and later developed rapidly as a result of the Industrial Revolution.

The town has been associated with the coal industry since the 13th century and for many yaers was prominent in the nail industry. Leaseowes Park was designed by William Shentstone and transformed part of the countryside into what is considered to be one of the first natural landscape gardens in England. Halesowen Abbey is now managed by English Heritage. Oldbury : Oldbury has been involved with the chemical, steel and brick industries for many years and is part of the Black Country. It was originally part of the ancient parish of Halesowen and the Black Country Living Museum at Dudley is nearby.