Bangham Pit

By the 1930s determined efforts were being made to rid the city of its slum dwellings. Large numbers of the inner-city population were rehoused in municipal estates built on greenfield sites. Large-scale building had begun west of Northfield before World War 2: the Allens Cross and Weoley Castle council estates were built in the early 1930s to house some 5000 families.

Ley Hill and Bangham Pit were a post-war continuation of the project. An estate of some 400 dwellings was built during the 1950s. By the end of the 20th century the housing had deteriorated badly through lack of investment and maintenance and became the object of concerted action c2005.

Bangham Pit Farm stood at the top end of what is now Bangham Pit Road. It probably took its name from a nearby quarry. This district lies on the Birmingham sandstone ridge and there were numerous quarries in the area into the 20th century; gravel pits are also to be found near here.

The origin of the name Bangham is unknown but may have been the surname of a landowner; certainly there were Banghams in Birmingham and in the Stourbridge area in the 19th century. Bangham Pit Farm stood on the site now occupied by Bangham Pit Road, and it, rather than the pit itself, is likely to have given its name to the street and the district.