| Horse-Drawn Trams to Newbridge The Wolverhampton Tramways Company
Limited was formed on the 14th December, 1876 to
construct horse tramways from Wolverhampton, to Bilston,
Newbridge, and Willenhall. Powers were sought for the
construction of the new tramways by the Wolverhampton
Tramways Order, 1877 that had been promoted by the
company. Construction was granted under the terms of the
Tramways Confirmation Act, 1877, passed on 23rd July,
1877.
| The Act authorised the following
tramways: |
| 1. |
A line from the junction of Newbridge Crescent and Tettenhall Road to a terminus in
Queen Square by the statue of Prince Albert. |
| 2. |
A line from the junction of
Market Place and Bilston Street, Willenhall to Queen
Street, Wolverhampton via New Road, Willenhall Road, and Horseley Fields. |
| 3. |
A line from the junction of
Lichfield Street and Church Street, Bilston to Queen
Street, Wolverhampton via Bilston Road, Bilston Street,
and Piper’s Row. |
| 4. |
A line from the top of Horseley
Fields, into and along Railway Street as far as New
Street. |
|
All lines would be single track
with passing places, except for short sections in
Bilston Street, Piper’s Row, Queen Square and Dudley
Street. The Act gave Wolverhampton Corporation the right
to compulsorily purchase the tramways at any time within
ten years of the opening, and any time after twenty one
years. |
One of the Newbridge trams.
|
The tramways could be used for
passengers, and for carrying animals, goods, parcels, or
minerals, at the discretion of the company. The trams
were to be horse-drawn on a 4ft. 8½ inch gauge track.
The first route to be completed was the one from Queen
Square to Newbridge, just short of the
Wolverhampton-Tettenhall boundary, before the steep
climb up The Rock.
The terminus had to be around fifty
yards from the toll gate at Newbridge to avoid paying
tolls. The Board of Trade carried out an inspection on
30th April, 1878 and the line opened for business on the
1st May. The full fare to Newbridge was 2d.
|
A horse-drawn tram at the Newbridge terminus. From 'A
Souvenir of Wolverhampton'.
A tram arriving at Chapel Ash on its way to
Queen Square.
 |
Queen Street Congregational
Church. |
The interior of Queen Street Congregational
Church.. From an old postcard.
An advert from 1877.
An advert from 1877.
An advert from 1874.
The junction of Pipers Row and Walsall Street.
An advert from 1874.
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