whitmore reans VS tettenhall

• Demography of Tettenhall


  - average median age is 44

  - high proportion of economically active

  - 10% are young dependent

  - 58% are elderly dependent

  - standard of living in area is high

  - 90% of residents born in UK

  - majority are white and of these only 1.4% are not British

  - predominant religion is Christianity - 64%

  - small percentage of Hindus 4%, Sikhs 9%, and Atheists 17%

  - lacks ethnic or cultural diversity
• Socio-Economic in Tettenhall


  - total population of 5,225

  - professional positions (38%)

  - managerial/directors (16%)

  - healthy and comfortable income

  - average annual income per person is £32,000 = high disposable income

  - services that offer comparison or expensive luxury items, such as real estate agencies and tailored suit shops

  - high demand for housing in the area

  - small businesses that are privately owned

  - rare chain store (e.g. Co-Op) selling convenient goods

  - car ownership is high, latest models and luxury brands such as Mercedes, Porsche and Range Rover
• Culture of Tettenhall


  - community is strong and tight-knit

  - local notice board

  - advertise businesses and achievements

  - benches in memory of dead

  - locals create a welcoming environment

  - community likes to travel frequently

  - destinations such as Italy, Japan and North America being popular

  - price of holidays is not a huge problem; want to experience the world

  - 40% couples w/o children, 20% couples w/ children

  - 32% single people

  - suggests it is an ideal place for all types of people/families
• Politics in Tettenhall


  - 50% Labour

  - 40% Conservative

  - 2% UKIP

  - 7% other

  - slightly more left-wing in their views

  - agree with socialist ideology
• Natural Characteristics of Tettenhall


  - one a few places in England to have 2 village greens and there are smaller spaces of greenery throughout

  - 30% is green space which demonstrates it to have a vast degree of vegetation and to look more spacious and naturalistic

  - 40% of homes have significant greenery adjacent
• Built Characteristics in Tettenhall.


  - average house price = £300,000

  - some homes have been priced at £1,000,000 or over

  - 65% of homes are semi-detached

  - 14% of homes are terraced

  - newer houses are quite large and modern however keep historic feel of building

  - majority of buildings in Tettenhall are old (some over 100 years old) - new housing estate being built - mimic old historic traditional homes
• Demography of Whitmore Reans

  • average median age = 36
  • majority of residents economically active
  • 8% elderly dependent, 30% young dependent
  • large proportion of young
  • many economic migrants
  • large proportion of residents are born in Europe or abroad with majority being white
  • predominant religion is Christianity - 45%. smaller percentages of Hindus -4%, Sikhs - 11%, and Muslim - 21%.
  • 1% of residents don't speak good degree of English
  • more culturally diverse
• Culture of Whitmore Reans

  • community does not seem to be very close
  • many cultural shops
  • strong ethnic communities amongst population, even though community as a whole is not very close
  • Polish corner shops, Indian grocers, and foreign travel agents
  • in many shops there are signs with different languages on them suggesting a wide range of nationalities living within area
  • can infer population to be culturally diverse
• Politics in Whitmore Reans

  The majority of residents in the area are Labour voters.
• Natural Characteristics of Whitmore Reans

  • 42% is green
  • not much visible greenery throughout
  • some areas of high vegetation
  • not well kept in some cases
  • only 19% of residential homes have greenery adjacent to them, like gardens
• how do present connections shape identity of Tettenhall


  Upper Green = large paddling pool, extensive open grass area, cricket pitch, practice nets and clubhouse of Wolverhampton Cricket Club, where W. G. Grace visited and played.

  area is common land, donated by Swindley family to the people of the parish in the 1900s.

  Upper Green has small shopping area overlooking green and paddling pool.

  Additionally, Tettenhall has its own private school Tettenhall College based in "Tettenhall Towers", former home of Thornycroft family.
• past connections shaping identity of tettenhall

  covered by 2 wards of city council - tettenhall regis and tettenhall whitwhick

  Tettenhall previously Urban District in its own right, until becoming part of Borough of Wolverhampton in 1966.

  Despite close proximity to city centre, Tettenhall retains rural village character and strong sense of identity among residents, especially older generation.

  clock tower built in 1912 by Swindley family to celebrate coronation of King George V = key landmark in Upper Green. Historic monuments give sense of long-term identity and culture to area
• Money/investment flows influence on tettenhall identity


  Ensure area is well-kept, exhibits warm/welcoming feeling. Important to residents as they want to retain rural village character and strong sense of identity amongst local population.
• Globalisation/migration flows influence on tettenhall identity


  More different ethnicities, but area is predominantly white British. Area has more culturally diverse restaurants including Indian + Chinese takeaways.

  Some chain stores such as co-op = result of growing TNC influence - difficult for independent shops to continuing to make profit; in turn they have to close down.
• socio-economic of whitmore reans

  total population = 11,000 with high population density

  • routine/elementary jobs - 33%, care, leisure and sales - 20%
  • less well paid jobs so suggest poor education level amongst people
  • average annual household income = £26,000 per person
  • majority of shops are charity shops/chain stores like Greggs
  • 3 pharmacies - people in area are not in good health ?
  • car ownership high but brand/quality of cars is not very good - old models and worn out parts on car
  • SEAT car shop further reinforces idea of population is less affluent
• built characteristics of whitmore reans


  high % of terraced housing - reflects high population density = cramped

  • majority of houses singularly rented/owned 33%
  • high % of couples with children - 22%, without children - 21%, single parents - 21%
  • average price of terraced house is £116k
  • average price of semi-detached house is £150k
  • average price of detached house is £118k
  • statistics are emblematic of fact houses are smaller, less well kept, and not in desirable area.
• how do past connections shape whitmore reans - courtaulds factory


  1924 - Courtaulds Company constructed factory on former site of Dunstall Hall. Operating from 1926 - factory produced yarn.

  Known to many generations and visible landmark in Whitmore Reans for almost 50yrs were the Courtaulds chimneys - 'three sisters' - demolished 1973.

  Farndale housing estate now stands on former Courtaulds grounds. This is a key landmark in area.
• past connections shaping whitmore reans


  historically considered to be a genteel part of Wolverhampton, being located next to West Park.

  In latter part of 20th century, however, area declined sharply, and while the last 20 years has seen some of older housing stock brought up to date it is still home to some of the lowest social grades in the City.
• present connections shaping whitmore reans 


  shopping arcade replaced some of terraced housing called Avion Centre, which has several shops, Post Office, Three Cooks bakery, opticians, take-aways and branch of Lloyds TSB bank.

  There is also a library, located just outside Avion Centre.
• Immigration into UK - impact of flows of people on whitmore reans


  • Huge impact on demographics, culture and socio-economics
  • Area's population diversity displays its recent history of immigration
  • higher ethnic diversity rate which affects culture and traditions of area
• flows of people and impact on identity of whitmore reans


  majority of migrants = economic migrants

  many possess low level of work and so obtain lower paid jobs

  reflective in less affluent profile of area
• whitmore reans today - news


  often in news for adverse reasons - gang warfare, violence and murder heavily reported in local press

  may be due to cultural differences or lack of education in the area