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Housing estate's centenary celebrated in exhibition

Chloe HughesWest Midlands
News imageTeresa Russell A black and white photo of a young boy sitting in an old-fashioned small car toy. Behind him is a wooden fence with an open gate with a front garden and a brick house in the background.Teresa Russell
Ken Egginton outside 32 Fifth Avenue in a homemade go-kart in the late 1920s/early 30s

The centenary of a popular housing estate in Wolverhampton will be celebrated next month with a special exhibition.

To mark 100 years since the first homes were built on the Low Hill Estate, its life will be traced via photos, maps and personal stories at the Low Hill Library.

The exhibition is the result of a memories group set up at the library as part of the wider Know Your Neighbourhood project, with support from the Friends of the Wolverhampton Archives.

It will open on 1 October and will remain on display until early 2026.

Stories in the exhibition include memories of working at Goodyear's former tyre factory in the city and the former vehicle manufacturer, Guy Motors, said City of Wolverhampton Council.

Socialising in the Bushbury Arms is also depicted, as well as going to the Clifton Cinema, the Penny Bike Park, shopping in Showell Circus, and attending local schools and churches.

News imageWolverhampton City Archives A black and white photo of terraced homes on two storeys. The homes are white at the top with brickwork on the bottom storey. They also have chimneys. In front of the homes are several trees and some grass areas with a wooden fence.Wolverhampton City Archives
The pre-war council houses on the Low Hill estate were modernised in 1973, the council said. Those pictured are Second Avenue homes.

"We've amassed a fascinating archive of material thanks to the generosity of local people," said Jen Lees, project lead for Know Your Neighbourhood at Wolverhampton Libraries.

"This centenary display is an opportunity to share their stories and to celebrate the Low Hill community."

News imageSue Rossington A black and white photo of a young girl holding onto the handle of a car door. The car is dark and large and old-fashioned. The girl is wearing a dress and a coat, with white socks and black shoes, and a hat on her head. There is a house in the background.Sue Rossington
Sue Rossington next to a car outside Goodyear Avenue in the mid-1950s

Councillor Obaida Ahmed, cabinet member for digital and community, said it would give people a chance to connect with their local heritage.

The Know Your Neighbourhood scheme is funded by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and is designed to increase volunteering and tackle loneliness, the council said.

Wolverhampton Libraries was awarded £86,000 for social activities which include bereavement social groups, walking groups and Diwali celebrations, as well as several local history groups focusing on distinct areas of the city, such as Low Hill.

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