I visited city suburb often mistaken for the ‘Cotswolds’ that is on the brink of destruction

With its winding streets, picturesque cottages and beautiful greenery, residents say Penn has a ‘village’ charm which you could mistake for the ‘Cotswolds’. Historically, it was once in fact a village. But today, Penn – officially known as Upper Penn – has been swallowed up into the wider Wolverhampton[1] conurbation.

It also has a neighbouring village, called Lower Penn, located three miles west in Staffordshire[2], not to confuse things. Residents still enjoy village vibes in Upper Penn. One of the most picturesque parts is Church Hill and St Bartholomew’s Church, where the road tightly curves around its entrance and quaint brick wall.

Get breaking news on BirminghamLive WhatsApp[4], click the link to join From the car park opposite, there’s sweeping views over the South Staffordshire countryside looking towards Wombourne and Himley. Around the corner is Penn Cemetery, situated off a country lane flanked by cottages, while in the other direction is the tranquil Penn Common, where Penn Golf Club is based alongside the popular Barley Mow pub.

The other end of Upper Penn has the bustling A449 Penn Road running through it, a key gateway between Wolverhampton and neighbours South Staffordshire and Dudley[5]. Situated on the A-road are more popular pubs, including the Hollybush – which had a GBP600,000 makeover in 2022 – the Roebuck, the Rose and Crown and the Mount Tavern.

A decorated postbox in Penn, with St Bartholomew’s Church in the background

There’s also Penn Hospital, a landmark building overlooking the A449, and further up the road, situated at the northern edge of the ward, is Penn Tandoori – an acclaimed Indian restaurant that attracts footballing stars from Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and TV pundits such as Ian Wright and Alan Shearer. Cllr Paul Singh, who has represented Penn ward for 17 years, said: “It is is a very desirable area to live, there is a village feel to it.

“On a summer’s day, you will see people riding horses. It is like you are in the middle of the countryside.” Tettenhall Regis Cllr Sohail Khan, who accompanied Cllr Singh during BlackCountryLive’s visit, added: “It is like being in the Cotswolds.” But there are fears that Penn’s charm could be impacted by two potential developments.

The first is plans to keep storage containers at Pennwood Farm, located next to the Barley Mow on Pennwood Lane, with concerns the tiny country lanes serving it would be “unsuitable” for large wagons, said Cllr Singh. An official planning application has been made. The second is a potential redevelopment of the Old Stag’s Head, a once-thriving popular pub situated near St Bartholomew’s Church, with previous plans rejected two years ago.

Dating back to 1831, the pub on Pennwood Lane closed in October 2018 after a decline in sales.

Quaint cottages in Penn along Wakeley Hill

Plans for it to be turned into a six-bedroom family home were thrown out by Wolverhampton Council bosses[6] in October 2022, on the grounds it would have resulted in the loss of a valued community asset. The community’s stance against the redevelopment was strong, so much so it generated “400 objections” which set a new record, according to Dr Arko Sen who is the vice-chair of Penn Residents Association. But Dr Sen claimed: “It is hovering around still.

The pub is in a conservation area.” Having closed five years ago, the building has fallen into a state of disrepair. Its white-painted window panes are flaking and the Pennwood Lane street sign beneath its entrance is now barely readable.

Motorists are now being charged to use the pub’s former car park across the road, with RingGo signs put in place. Dr Sen said the situation has “created problems” with parents dropping off their kids at St Bartholomew’s Primary School nearby on Sedgley Road, which joins Pennwood Lane.

Members of Penn Residents Association

It’s believed parents are paying a weekly fee to park there. Dr Sen added of the pub: “It was such a thriving place in the 60s, people have told me they took their first girlfriends there.”

Meanwhile, half-a-mile back down the road at Pennwood Farm, plans were submitted[7] on December 23 last year to change the use of its yard for “stationing storage containers”. It comes four years after controversial plans were mooted to build 1,350 homes across Pennwood Farm and Seven Cornfields[8] – an area of Green Belt bordering Penn and Sedgley across the Dudley border. At the time, this created a huge backlash amongst the community and the plans were ultimately rejected by Wolverhampton and South Staffordshire councils, with the land straddling both local authorities.

It’s feared this new application for storing containers, which comes under South Staffordshire council’s authority, could lead to further and more “intense” developments down the line, says Debbie Peach who is chair of Penn Residents Association.

Chruch Hill, with St Bartholomew’s Church to the left

Since the new planning application’s consultation period ended on Thursday, February 1, it has generated 85 objections to 32 in support. Ms Peach said: “The disappointing thing is – it’s in Staffordshire, on our border – there’s been a lack of consultation with the residents it will affect.” Taking a drive down Pennwood Lane, which is narrow and filled with potholes, Cllr Singh says: “The road has already got challenges.

Heavy goods vehicles are not designed for this. People walk down here, many with dogs, where would they go? “You have got St Bart’s school, and as soon as you go past the Old Stag’s Head, the road actually narrows.

Will it be in keeping with the area? There are concerns from the residents around here. I agree with the objections.”

Another road featuring idyllic cottages is Wakeley Hill, which is also narrow in sections, and leads from the Barley Mow and Pennwood Farm to the centre of Penn. Cllr Singh said: “Historically, Penn is a village. There’s no pavements and hardly enough room for cars to get by, can you imagine wagons?”

Penn ward Cllr Paul Singh on Coalway Road

Other issues in Penn raised by Cllr Singh centered around road safety.

That includes Coalway Road, which branches off the A449 near Goldthorn Hill, and leads to Merry Hill in Wolverhampton. During the evening when traffic is quieter, motorists tend to “put their foot down”, said Cllr Singh. “This road, historically, has always had an issue with speeding.” In November 2019, a woman tragically died at the junction of Penn Road, Goldthorn Hill and Coalway Road following a two-car crash.[9] Following Cllr Singh’s campaigning to Wolverhampton Council, a speed monitoring sign has been installed on Coalway Road, near the junction with Church Street.

Around the corner, Cllr Singh said the bustling Penn Road is also problematic where the A-road’s speed limit increases from 30mph to 40mph.

The car park outside the Old Stags Head in Penn

As we drive past, a crash appears to have taken place at one of Penn Road’s junctions. Two cars were pictured having sustained damage and police were at the scene. Another issue Cllr Singh is campaigning for is for Penn to have its own Christmas[10] lights during the festive period.

He said Penn doesn’t currently have any, unlike Bilston, Wednesfield and Tettenhall in Wolverhampton. Cllr Singh added: “I was the first BAME councillor to be elected for the Conservative group. I’m very proud to still be here with the support of the local community.

The A449 Penn Road

“I’ve walked every street, I think I know every tree.

I always wanted to be a councillor at the beating heart of the community.” Wolverhampton Council was approached for comment. Penn Residents Association meets every Thursday at Penn Bowling Club from 11am to 2pm.

It’s free to visit.

References

1. ^ Wolverhampton (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
2. ^ Staffordshire (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
3. ^ Life inside ‘deprived’ tower block estate where residents insist life would be better under Boris Johnson (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
4. ^ BirminghamLive WhatsApp (chat.whatsapp.com)
5. ^ Dudley (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
6. ^ were thrown out by Wolverhampton Council bosses (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
7. ^ plans were submitted (planning.sstaffs.gov.uk)
8. ^ 1,350 homes across Pennwood Farm and Seven Cornfields (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
9. ^ a two-car crash. (www.birminghammail.co.uk)
10. ^ Christmas (www.birminghammail.co.uk)