Wolverhampton Low Level railway station was opened in 1854 and Springfield was one of the first areas of Wolverhampton east of the
Oxford, Worcester & Wolverhampton railway line to be developed. By 1860 terraced housing had been built on Culwell Street, Bridge Street (now renamed Culwell Street), Field Street, Bagnal Street, Junction Street and Spring Street, the latter three of which disappeared in the 1960s following redevelopment. In 1878, Wolverhampton Council using provisions in the
Artisans' and Labourers' Dwellings Improvement Act 1875 bought land and laid out streets and sewers for a planned 290 houses for people displaced from slum clearances in the town centre.
Springfield Brewery The brewery opened in 1873 after William Butler and Company had outgrown its existing site at Priestfield in the south east of Wolverhampton. Springfield had an abundance of water from natural springs, and the land had remained undeveloped because the ground was marshy. The company acquired a seven-acre site, partly bordering Grimstone Street and built a new brewery with maltings, cooperage and stables. Production started the following year. With the new brewery close to the canal and railway lines, the company began to trade outside of the local area. The good communications also made the acquisition of public houses in other areas a viable proposition, especially when the Great Western Railway extended a siding into the site. The area of the site was extended to cope with the success of the company. Between 1881 and 1883 a new brewing tower was constructed, enabling William Butler and Company to increase production from 400 to 1,500 barrels a week. One of the beers brewed was named Springfield Bitter. In 1960
Mitchell's and Butler's acquired the company and the
Cape Hill brewery but kept the Springfield Brewery open. Brewing ceased in 1991 and the main brewery building Grade II listed the same year. Thereafter the site was used simply as a distribution centre. In 2004 and 2005 fires reduced the main brewery building to a shell. Groundwork for a residential development began but was abandoned in 2008. In 2014 the site was bought by the
University of Wolverhampton and
Wolverhampton City Council for redevelopment.
Joshua Bigwood Joshua Bigwood was an electrical engineering company founded in 1874. Its head office and works were on Wednesfield Road. It was taken over in 1965 by B & S Massey. Prior to its closure in 1986 the company manufactured metal forming machinery and combustion equipment and had around 85 employees. The premises have been demolished and the site redeveloped with housing on an extended Field Street. == Government ==