The Post War Years
One of the first priorities after the war was the building of much-needed council houses. The council’s first major post- war housing development was the Harvills Hawthorn Estate, near Hill Top, which was completed in 1948. By 1956, the council owned 9,592 dwellings, on 25 estates.


Eight storey flats being built on the Yew Tree Estate in March 1957.


Hateley Heath Estate being built in  May 1950.


Six storey blocks of flats in Yew Tree Gardens, on the Yew Tree Estate.


New Council Houses in Sandfield Road.
Several new branch libraries were opened to cater for the increased need after the war, including the Stone Cross Branch Library, which is on the corner of Beverley Road and Lincoln Road. It opened in 1948, in a building that was donated by Griffin & Wilson and had previously been a Sons of Rest.


Stone Cross Branch Library in 1956.
In 1952, the number of wards was increased to 11, when Lyndon was divided into three, Hateley Heath, Friar Park, and Charlemont. The number of aldermen was increased to 11 and the number of councillors to thirty-three. By 1956 the population had increased to over 89,000.

In 1966, as part of the local government reorganisation, the borough of West Bromwich was extended to include most of Tipton and Wednesbury. A small part of the borough in the south east, became part of the new Warley County Borough that was centred on Oldbury, Smethwick and Rowley Regis. At the same time, some town boundaries changed. The Friar Park estate became part of Wednesbury and Hateley Heath became part of West Bromwich.


A floral display in Red House Park in 1956.


The main drive in West Bromwich Cemetery, in 1956.


Hallam Hospital in 1958.


Maypole Dairy in High Street in 1966.
On the 1st April, 1974, under the terms of the Local Government Act 1972, West Bromwich became part of Sandwell Metropolitan Borough, which was formed as an amalgamation of the county boroughs of Warley and West Bromwich. The borough was named after Sandwell Priory.

Sandwell's Strategic Town Centre is West Bromwich, the largest town in the borough, while Sandwell Council House (the headquarters of the local authority) is in Oldbury.


The Public Library and Town Hall.


The memorial garden.


The High Street in 1962.


Carter's Green. From an old postcard.
For its first 12 years of existence, Sandwell had a two-tier system of local government; Sandwell Council shared power with the West Midlands County Council. In 1986 the county council was abolished, and Sandwell effectively became a unitary authority. The borough is divided into 24 Wards and is represented by 72 ward councillors on the borough council.


The busy High Street in the early 1950s.

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