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Between the late 11th century and 1844, the English county of Shropshire (or Salop) possessed a large exclave within the present-day Black Country and surrounding area.[1] This territory was gained from neighbouring Worcestershire,[2] and the exclave's border corresponded with the medieval Manor of Hala (or Halas, Hales). Shropshire (Detached) contained the townships of (what are now known as) Halesowen, Oldbury, Warley Salop, Ridgacre, Hunnington, Romsley and Langley. The exceptions were Cradley, Lutley and Warley Wigorn, which were exclaves or enclaves still aligned with the original county.[3][4] Bounded entirely by Staffordshire and Worcestershire, Hala was part of Brimstree hundred,[5] and totally detached from the rest of Shropshire. Bridgnorth, the nearest town within the main body of Shropshire, is 16.8 miles (27.03 km) away from Halesowen,[6] whilst the county town of Shrewsbury is 34.6 miles (55.62 km) away.[7]
In 1844, following enactment of the Counties (Detached Parts) Act 1844, Shropshire (Detached) was reunited with Worcestershire and remained within the original county until 1974.[8] Halesowen and Oldbury are currently part of the metropolitan County of West Midlands,[9]
- ^ Treadway Russell Nash, Collections for the History of Worcestershire (1781)
- ^ History of Oldbury, Langley and Warley Story – Retrieved 13 August 2014
- ^ Colin Hinson, UK & Ireland Genealogy – Retrieved 13 August 2014
- ^ Worcestershire Record Office, Tithe award for Warley Wigorn.
- ^ Worcester Branch of the Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry Halesowen, Hundred – Retrieved 13 August 2014
- ^ Distance from Halesowen to Bridgnorth – Retrieved 13 August 2014
- ^ Distance from Halesowen to Shrewsbury – Retrieved 13 August 2014
- ^ H.M. Government Local Government Act 1972 – Retrieved 13 August 2014
- ^ Local Government Act 1972 (1972) c. 70 SCHEDULE 1 Part III Section 1