Bilbrook

Bilbrook is situated in the southern regions of Staffordshire close to the border with the West Midlands just outside of Wolverhampton. Because Bilbrook is situated close to the larger village of Codsall it is often overshadowed by its close neighbour however it is a historical village in its own right and is full of history. Bilbrook takes its name from the Roman word for watercress (bil) that used to grow in the local brook. The village was historically a small farming community made up mostly of the Estate of Bilbrook Manor and a variety of cottages in which farm workers used to live.

Evidence suggests that the village has existed for at least a thousand years however this cannot be definitively confirmed by literary or archaeological sources. Bilbrook is first mentioned in 1851 in the "History, Gazeteer and Directory of Staffordshire" and is described as follows, "Bilbrook is a hamlet of scattered houses, partly in Codsall, but mostly in Tettenhall Parish, four miles NW of Wolverhampton, and near Codsall Railway Station." In the 1850's a railway was constructed that joined Wolverhampton with Shrewsbury, initially the railway only ventured to nearby Codsall however this was amended in later years and Bilbrook itself began to develop.

The 1930's saw a significant period of advancement for the locale with the construction of a Post Office along with a Chemist and a variety of shops. When the Boulton & Paul aircraft works was founded in Ipswitch in 1936 Bilbrook was innundated with workers that resulted in the construction of a number of housing estates and further expansion of the village. Bilbrook remains a picturesque village set in beautiful scenery and packed with history; well worth a visit if you are touring around the Staffordshire countryside.