Cannock
Cannock from top of St. Luke's Church Tower
Cannock is located in Staffordshire
Cannock
Cannock
Location within Staffordshire
Area9.24 km2 (3.57 sq mi)
Population29,018 (2011 Census)
• Density3,140/km2 (8,100/sq mi)
DemonymCannocker
OS grid referenceSJ980101
District
Shire county
Region
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Areas of the town
(2011 census BUASD)
List
Post townCANNOCK
Postcode districtWS11
Dialling code01543
PoliceStaffordshire
FireStaffordshire
AmbulanceWest Midlands
UK Parliament

Cannock (/ˈkænək/) is a town in the Cannock Chase district in the county of Staffordshire, England. It had a population of 29,018.[1] Cannock is not far from the towns of Walsall, Burntwood, Stafford and Telford. The cities of Lichfield and Wolverhampton are also nearby.

Cannock lies to the north of the West Midlands conurbation on the M6, A34 and A5 roads and to the south of Hednesford and the Cannock Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Cannock is served by a railway station on the Chase Line. The town comprises four district council electoral wards and the Cannock South ward includes the civil parish of Bridgtown, but the rest of Cannock is unparished.

History

Cannock was in the Domesday Book of 1086. It was called Chnoc c.1130, Cnot in 1156, Canot in 1157, and Canoc in 1198. Cannock is probably Old English cnocc meaning 'hillock', modified by Norman pronunciation by the insertion of a vowel to Canoc. The name may refer to Shoal Hill, north-west of the town.[2]

Cannock was a small rural community until mining increased heavily during the mid-to-late 19th century. The area then continued to grow rapidly with many industries coming to the area because of its proximity to the Black Country and its coal reserves. Cannock's population continued to increase steadily in the 20th century and its slight fall since the 1981 census has been more than compensated for by house-building in the adjoining village of Heath Hayes. The last colliery to close in the town was Mid Cannock in 1967,[3] and the last remaining colliery to close in the Cannock Chase area was Littleton (in Huntington) in 1993.[4]

The total population of the built-up area defined in 2011 was 86,121,[5] making it the second largest in Staffordshire if Swadlincote in Derbyshire is excluded from the Burton upon Trent Built-up Area (BUA). There is some green belt, particularly between the Cannock BUA and the much larger West Midlands BUA to the south. As well as the Lichfield, Stafford, East Staffordshire, and South Staffordshire Districts.

A house known as The Green, which dated from the 1730s and which was the home of Sir Robert Fisher, 4th Baronet, became the headquarters of Cannock Urban District Council in 1927. It was converted into offices in the 1980s, initially for Cannock Chase Technical College but, in 2016, it was refurbished for private use.[6]

Cannock Chase German war cemetery is located nearby containing 4,885 German military dead from the First and Second World Wars. It is managed by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.[7]

The main shopping centre, the Orbital Retail Park, is located on the outskirts of the Norton Canes area of Cannock and houses many stores including Sainsbury's, Homebase, Boots, M&S Food and since October 2023 it has been home to the third Aldi store in the Cannock area. There are 3 furtniture stores at The Orbital: Dreams, Bensons for Beds and a Chair place. Adjacent to the retail park are two hotels (Premier Inn and Holiday Inn, with the latter being in the 'Orbital Plaza' - an intreguing building similar to the Gherkin in London which can be seen for miles and, for many, is a sign they have arrived at The Orbital).

In April 2021, the McArthur Glen Designer Outlet West Midlands opened on the outskirts of the town at Mill Green.

Geography

Cannock is on a south-west facing slope, falling from the highest point on Cannock Chase (244 m) at Castle Ring, to about 148 m in the town centre and 111 m near Wedges Mills. The soil is light with a gravel and clay subsoil, and there are extensive coal measures.

Climate

Cannock has a moderate, temperate climate. See Penkridge weather station for details of average temperature and rainfall figures taken between 1981 and 2010 at the Met Office weather station in Penkridge (around 5 miles (8 km) north-west of Cannock).

Location

Cannock is about 20 miles (30 km) by road north-north-west of Birmingham, 80 miles (130 km) south-south-east of Manchester and 130 miles (210 km) north-west of London. It is 9 to 10 miles (14 to 16 km) by road from many of the nearest towns and cities (Aldridge, Lichfield, Stafford, Walsall, Willenhall and Wolverhampton), but Hednesford (2 miles (3 km)), Burntwood and Penkridge (5 miles (8 km)), Bloxwich and Brownhills (6 miles (10 km)) and Rugeley (7 miles (11 km)) are nearer.

Demography

In the decade to 2011 the number of dwellings rose by 7.8% to 13,152. The ward with the biggest increase (16.1%) was Cannock South.[8][9] Of the town's 12,690 households in the 2011 census, 31.5% were one-person households including 13.9% where that person was 65 or over. 63.6% were one family with no others (9.0% all pensioners, 30.9% married or same-sex civil partnership couples, 12.3% cohabiting couples and 11.3% lone parents).[10] 27.7% of households had dependent children[10] including 5.5% with no adults in employment.[11] 59.3% of households owned their homes outright or with a mortgage or loan.[1]

Of the town's 23,717 residents in the 2011 census aged 16 and over, 33.5% were single (never married), 45.2% married, 0.15% in a registered same-sex civil partnership, 2.6% separated, 10.4% divorced and 8.2% widowed.[12] 33.4% had no formal qualifications and 42.9% had level 2+ qualifications, meaning 5+ GCSEs (grades A*-C) or 1+ 'A' levels/ AS levels (A-E) or equivalent minimum.[13]

72.7% of the 10,509 men aged 16 to 74 were economically active, including 45.1% working full-time, 5.6% working part-time and 12.6% self-employed. The male unemployment rate (Male unemployment)(of those economically active) was 9.9%.[14] 60.7% of the 10,724 women aged 16 to 74 were economically active, including 26.8% working full-time, 23.5% working part-time and 3.1% self-employed. The female unemployment rate (of those economically active) was 7.5%.[15]

Of people in employment aged 16 to 74, 13.5% worked in basic industries (ONS categories A, B, and D-F including 11.1% in construction), 14.2% in manufacturing, and 72.2% in service industries (ONS categories G-U including 19.5% in wholesale and retail trade and vehicle repair, 11.6% in health and social work, 7.4% in education, 6.2% in transport and storage, 5.8% in public administration, 5.6% in accommodation and catering, and 4.7% in administrative and support service activities).[16] While 27.7% of households did not have access to a car or van,[17] 76.1% of people in employment travelled to work by car or van.[18]

75.5% of residents described their health as good or very good.[1] The proportion who described themselves as White British was 95.6%, with all white ethnic groups making up 97.4% of the population. The ethnic make-up of the rest of the population was 1.0% mixed/multiple ethnic groups, 0.69% Indian/Pakistani/Bangladeshi, 0.34% Chinese, 0.17% other Asian, 0.35% Black and 0.065% other.[19] 3.1% of Cannock's residents were born outside the United Kingdom.[20]

Built-up area subdivisions

Cannock Built-up Area
Subdivision Population Area (km2)[5] Settlements that cover the subdivision
(2001 census)[21] (2011 census)[5]In Cannock Chase DistrictIn South Staffordshire District
Cannock65,02267,76817.855 Cannock, Hazelslade, Heath Hayes and Wimblebury, Hednesford, Rawnsley. Huntington, Wedges Mills.
Great Wyrley18,77518,353 –Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley.
TOTAL83,79786,12121.93

Media

Newspapers

Cannock had a free weekly local newspaper, the Cannock & Rugeley Chronicle (an edition of the Cannock & Lichfield Chronicle).[22] It ceased as a physical publication in October 2018[23] although it is still available as a paid-for subscription via the Express & Star website (see below)

Another free weekly, the Chase Post (an edition of the Cannock Chase & Burntwood Post),[24] ceased publication in November 2011.[25]

The Express & Star is a paid-for local newspaper, published in Wolverhampton on weekdays.[26]

TV

Regional TV news is provided by BBC West Midlands and ITV Central. Television signals can be received from either the Sutton Coldfield or The Wrekin TV transmitters. [27] [28]

Radio

Cannock is served by the national radio stations, and West Midlands "regional" licences Greatest Hits Radio Birmingham & The West Midlands, Smooth West Midlands, Heart West Midlands and Capital Midlands. The town is also covered by Free Radio Black Country and Shropshire on 97.2 and BBC Radio WM on 95.6 FM.

Cannock is served by its own community radio station, called Cannock Chase Radio FM, based in Wynns Venture Centre.The FM frequencies are 94fm for the Cannock and Hednesford area. 89.6 for Rugeley and Trent Valley and 89.8 For Lichfield and beyond. People can also listen back on their digital streaming devices.

Transport

Arriva Midlands buses at Cannock Bus Station in December 2020

Cannock is located close to the M6, M6 Toll and M54 motorways. The main A roads are the A5 (east-west) and A34 (north-south).

Rail

Cannock railway station closed in 1965 as part of the Beeching cuts but reopened in 1989. It is part of the Rugeley – Cannock – Walsall – Birmingham line operated by West Midlands Trains. Over the years, usage of this station, and the line overall, have increased to unprecedented levels. Services initially were hourly services between Birmingham New Street and Stafford (cut back to Rugeley Trent Valley in 2008). By 2013, usage had become significant enough to warrant electrification of the railway line, which was completed in 2019.[29]

The Rugeley - Hednesford - Cannock - Walsall - Birmingham line operated by West Midlands Trains serves the three railway stations in the conurbation. These are at Hednesford, Cannock, and Landywood. There was also a service to Stafford on the Chase Line but this was cut back to Rugeley due to congestion on the West Coast Main Line.

In May 2019, West Midlands Trains began operating electric trains from this station. The vast majority of services are to Rugeley Trent Valley in the north, southbound trains operate to Birmingham International and London Euston. The journey time to Birmingham is around 36 minutes. On Sundays, trains operate as far south as Coventry.

Bus

D&G Bus operate the majority of bus services around Cannock from a depot at Delta Way under the Chaserider brand.

Arriva Midlands were previously the main operator around Cannock but their operations based at their Cannock depot were sold to D&G Bus during 2020.[30]

Select Bus Services [31] also operate a small number of services while National Express West Midlands service X51 links Cannock with Birmingham via Walsall and Great Wyrley.

No Chaserider buses operate on Sunday or bank holiday, however National Express service X51 does with funding from the McArthurGlen Designer outlet which the bus serves.

Cannock Bus Station also has links to Hednesford, Rugeley, Stafford, Lichfield (62 Lichfield–Cannock), Wolverhampton, Walsall, Brownhills in addition to smaller towns and villages like Great Wyrley and Norton Canes.

Education

Cannock Chase High School is a non-denominational mixed comprehensive with just over 1000 pupils aged 11–18.

Cardinal Griffin Catholic College is a voluntary aided Roman Catholic secondary school with around 950 pupils aged 11–18.

Chase Grammar School (called Lyncroft House School 1980–1996 then Chase Academy until January 2013) is an independent co-educational boarding school with a day nursery and over 200 pupils up to age 19 including many international students.

South Staffordshire College closed its Cannock Campus in July 2017, but reopened it the following summer as the new Cannock Chase Skills and Innovation Hub with courses starting there from September 2018.

Notable people

Walter Colman
Sir Patrick McLoughlin, 2017

Writing

  • Arthur Hopcraft (1932–2004) author, reporter & TV scriptwriter, wrote perceptively of his upbringing in Cannock
  • Jed Mercurio (born 1966) a British television writer, producer, director and novelist; brought up in Cannock

Music

Glenn Hughes, 2012

Sport

Jim Rhodes, 2010
Dave Norton, 2007

Twin town

Cannock is twinned with:[34]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Cannock East (Ward): Key figures for 2011 Census: Key Statistics". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Archived from the original on 1 May 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
    "Cannock North (Ward): Key figures for 2011 Census: Key Statistics". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Archived from the original on 1 May 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
    "Cannock South (Ward): Key figures for 2011 Census: Key Statistics". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Archived from the original on 1 May 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
    "Cannock West (Ward): Key figures for 2011 Census: Key Statistics". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Archived from the original on 1 May 2015. Retrieved 13 February 2013.
  2. ↑ Nicolaisen, W. F. H.; Gelling, Margaret; Richards, Melville (1970). The names of towns and cities in Britain. London: B. T. Batsford. p. 66. ISBN 0-7134-0113-3.
  3. ↑ "Coal Mining in Cannock Chase a Rough Time Line". Cannock Chase Mining Historical Society. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  4. ↑ "Cannock Chase Coalfield & its Coal". BBC News. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  5. 1 2 3 "2011 Census - Built-up areas". ONS. Retrieved 14 August 2013.
  6. ↑ "The Green and garden, Cannock". Staffordshire Past Track. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  7. ↑ "Cemetery Details: Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery". CWGC. Retrieved 12 August 2015.
  8. ↑ "Cannock East (Ward): Dwellings, 2001 (UV55)". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
    "Cannock North (Ward): Dwellings, 2001 (UV55)". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
    "Cannock South (Ward): Dwellings, 2001 (UV55)". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
    "Cannock West (Ward): Dwellings, 2001 (UV55)". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  9. ↑ "Cannock East (Ward): Dwellings, 2011 (QS418EW)". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
    "Cannock North (Ward): Dwellings, 2011 (QS418EW)". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
    "Cannock South (Ward): Dwellings, 2011 (QS418EW)". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
    "Cannock West (Ward): Dwellings, 2011 (QS418EW)". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 17 February 2013.
  10. 1 2 "Cannock East (Ward): Household Composition, 2011 (KS105EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
    "Cannock North (Ward): Household Composition, 2011 (KS105EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
    "Cannock South (Ward): Household Composition, 2011 (KS105EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
    "Cannock West (Ward): Household Composition, 2011 (KS105EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  11. ↑ "Cannock East (Ward): Adults not in Employment and Dependent Children etc., 2011 (KS106EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
    "Cannock North (Ward): Adults not in Employment and Dependent Children etc., 2011 (KS106EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
    "Cannock South (Ward): Adults not in Employment and Dependent Children etc., 2011 (KS106EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
    "Cannock West (Ward): Adults not in Employment and Dependent Children etc., 2011 (KS106EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  12. ↑ "Cannock East (Ward): Marital and Civil Partnership status, 2011 (KS103EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
    "Cannock North (Ward): Marital and Civil Partnership status, 2011 (KS103EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
    "Cannock South (Ward): Marital and Civil Partnership status, 2011 (KS103EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
    "Cannock West (Ward): Marital and Civil Partnership status, 2011 (KS103EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  13. ↑ "Cannock East (Ward): Qualifications and Students, 2011 (KS501EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
    "Cannock North (Ward): Qualifications and Students, 2011 (KS501EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
    "Cannock South (Ward): Qualifications and Students, 2011 (KS501EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
    "Cannock West (Ward): Qualifications and Students, 2011 (KS501EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  14. ↑ "Cannock East (Ward): Economic Activity – Males, 2011 (KS602EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
    "Cannock North (Ward): Economic Activity – Males, 2011 (KS602EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
    "Cannock South (Ward): Economic Activity – Males, 2011 (KS602EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
    "Cannock West (Ward): Economic Activity – Males, 2011 (KS602EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  15. ↑ "Cannock East (Ward): Economic Activity – Females, 2011 (KS603EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
    "Cannock North (Ward): Economic Activity – Females, 2011 (KS603EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
    "Cannock South (Ward): Economic Activity – Females, 2011 (KS603EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
    "Cannock West (Ward): Economic Activity – Females, 2011 (KS603EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  16. ↑ "Cannock East (Ward): Industry, 2011 (KS605EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
    "Cannock North (Ward): Industry, 2011 (KS605EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
    "Cannock South (Ward): Industry, 2011 (KS605EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
    "Cannock West (Ward): Industry, 2011 (KS605EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
  17. ↑ "Cannock East (Ward): Car or Van Availability, 2011 (KS404EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
    "Cannock North (Ward): Car or Van Availability, 2011 (KS404EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
    "Cannock South (Ward): Car or Van Availability, 2011 (KS404EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
    "Cannock West (Ward): Car or Van Availability, 2011 (KS404EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  18. ↑ "Cannock East (Ward): Method of Travel to Work, 2011 (QS701EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
    "Cannock North (Ward): Method of Travel to Work, 2011 (QS701EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
    "Cannock South (Ward): Method of Travel to Work, 2011 (QS701EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
    "Cannock West (Ward): Method of Travel to Work, 2011 (QS701EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 22 February 2013.
  19. ↑ "Cannock East (Ward): Ethnic Group, 2011 (KS201EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
    "Cannock North (Ward): Ethnic Group, 2011 (KS201EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
    "Cannock South (Ward): Ethnic Group, 2011 (KS201EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
    "Cannock West (Ward): Ethnic Group, 2011 (KS201EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  20. ↑ "Cannock East (Ward): Country of Birth, 2011 (KS204EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
    "Cannock North (Ward): Country of Birth, 2011 (KS204EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
    "Cannock South (Ward): Country of Birth, 2011 (KS204EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
    "Cannock West (Ward): Country of Birth, 2011 (KS204EW)". Office for National Statistics. 30 January 2013. Retrieved 14 February 2013.
  21. ↑ Census 2001 Key Statistics - Urban areas in England and Wales KS01 Usual resident population at "Census 2001 Key Statistics, Urban areas in England and Wales". Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 20 September 2011.
  22. ↑ "Cannock & Lichfield Chronicle". The Newspaper Society. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  23. ↑ "ABC". Retrieved 6 January 2022.
  24. ↑ "Cannock Chase & Burntwood Post". The Newspaper Society. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  25. ↑ "Stafford Post and Chase Post print final editions". BBC News. 17 November 2011. Retrieved 21 November 2011.
  26. ↑ "West Midlands Express & Star". The Newspaper Society. Archived from the original on 21 November 2007. Retrieved 30 August 2011.
  27. ↑ "Sutton Coldfield (Birmingham, England) Full Freeview transmitter". UK Free TV. 1 May 2004. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  28. ↑ "Full Freeview on the The[sic] Wrekin (Telford and Wrekin, England) transmitter". UK Free TV. 1 May 2004. Retrieved 25 September 2023.
  29. ↑ "First passenger train travels on newly-electrified Chase Line". Express & Star. 10 May 2019. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  30. ↑ "D&G Bus revives Chaserider name in Arriva Cannock purchase". Route One. 29 November 2020. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
  31. ↑ "Home | SELECT BUS SERVICES". selectbus.
  32. ↑ Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900, Volume 11, Colman, Walter retrieved 20 June 2018
  33. ↑ "About the OU: History of the OU". The Open University. Archived from the original on 17 July 2010. Retrieved 19 November 2009.
  34. ↑ Town Twinning - Cannock Chase retrieved 19 January 2019
  35. ↑ German Wiki, Datteln
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