Karen Daker

Pendeford Mill Nature Reserve is a site of valuable environmental and historical significance.  The site covers 24 hectares (59.3 acres) of naturally managed countryside and dates back to the 13th century. It provides a stable and protected habitat for wildlife on the fringe of an urban area.  Although the nature reserve is managed by Wolverhampton City Council, it is within the Parish of Bilbrook.  Location: Pendeford Hall Lane, Bilbrook, WV9 5ET.  Link to the Pendeford Mill Nature Reserve Facebook Page

Link to Wolverhampton City Council Parks page

Left to the people of Bilbrook by the Twentyman family, these playfields off Joey’s Lane are a nice place to go for a walk. If you take your dog, please keep it on a lead and stick to the perimeter of the fields.

Bilbrook Jubilee Walk 2 – Wobaston Road, Lawn Lane, Bridleway Bilbrook 7, through Clewley Coppice and Past Jaguar Land Rover.  You may be surprised to learn that Jaguar Land Rover is in the Bilbrook Civil Parish and not Wolverhampton.  Click here for a map of Bilbrook Jubilee Walk 2

Please note: There is no vehicular access to the i54 Site from the Wobaston Road.

Update: 05/07/2022 – The new footpath that runs from Pendeford Buisness Park to Middle Lane will be closed while building works takes place on the i54 Extension.

Route
Begins at the junction of Pendeford Hall Lane with Middle Lane
Behind this is the site of Pendeford Hall, now a caravan park, which was once the seat of the Fowler family, the principal landowners in the area.
Proceeds along Middle Lane almost immediately crosses the course of a Roman road
Route follows Middle Lane and veers left with this
Walk is towards the M54
As this is approached the i54 industrial park is seen on the right
The perimeter of i54 is skirted as the route swings southwards
To the right is Clewley Coppice, a semi-natural woodland
This was associated with Clewley House, which once stood on the right of the walk
Wobaston Road is gained and the route swings right, skirting playing fields on both sides of the road
Further down on the right is a former Shooting Pit
A little past this the walk turns right along Pendeford Hall Lane, broadly following the course of the Roman road referred to above.

The Jubilee Walks are a great way to explore the beautiful countryside in and around Bilbrook. Below you will find maps of the walks. The Jubilee walks were mapped out by the Parish Council and a number of sponsors to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of  HRH Queen Elizabeth II.

Bilbrook Jubilee Walk 1 – Pendeford Mill Lane, Wobaston Road, The Shropshire Union Canal & Pendeford Hall Lane (in the Parish of Brewood & Coven) & The Twentyman Playing Fields. Click here for a map of Bilbrook Jubilee Walk 1

Route
Begins in the top corner of the Playing Field
Crosses the Moat Brook, which drains Oaken, Codsall and Bilbrook, by means of a footbridge
Follows a footpath to Upper Hattons
Swings right along Pendeford Hall Lane
Passes, on right, The Round Wood and Rose Cottage and on the left Upper Hattons Cottage.
Continues along Pendeford Hall Lane to Upper Hattons Bridge – No.5 on the Shropshire Union Canal
The route swings right and follows the canal towpath, which, at this point is carried on an embankment
As this approaches Wobaston Road the canal crosses the Moat Brook via a semi-circular arched sandstone aqueduct, dated 1832. To the left is the confluence of this brook with the River Penk
As the towpath nears Wobaston Road, on the left is the site of Pendeford Mill, a watermill on the Penk, which operated from c.1650. The mill house was converted into two cottages in 1912 and was demolished in 1961. A Nature Reserve now occupies part of the site of the mill and of Pendeford Hall; the 68 acre site was developed by Wolverhampton in 1976. Pendeford Hall was rebuilt in 1670. Together with its estate, it was sold to Wolverhampton Corporation in 1935.  The Hall was requisitioned during the Second World War and partly demolished in 1953; the demolition being completed in 1968
Wobaston Road is joined at Pendeford Bridge (No.4) on the Shropshire Union Canal
Crossing over the bridge, to the right is Pendeford Wharf, once associated with the Boulton Paul Aircraft factory, which was developed between 1934 and 1936
Wobaston Road is followed to the access track leading to the Allotments
The route then crosses a field and skirts the edge and rear of some houses before crossing a footbridge and crossing the field in which Bilbrook Village Hall stands.