Lower Penn

Lower Penn is a village situated in South Staffordshire and approximately 1.5 miles from the large village of Wombourne. 824 residents were recorded as living in the Parish according to the 2019 Census.

A rural village, with a history of farming being the principle land use, Lower Penn has historically supported a small church, St. Anne’s. The Greyhound public house, and the The Victory Hall. In recent years, the building of the Springhill Cricket Club club house is a welcome addition to the village and provides another community hub for the residents as well as fielding several senior cricket teams.

Staffordshire County Council designated the Lower Penn Conservation Area on 22nd January 1980. It covers the historic core of the agricultural village of Lower Penn, which stretches along an area of Spring Hill Lane from the small green next to Dirty Foot Lane to the crossroads by The Greyhound Inn and a short way along Greyhound Lane. Lower Penn Farmhouse may date from the 16th Century or slightly later. Malthouse Cottage and Walnut Tree Cottage were constructed in the 17th century and are surviving examples of the vernacular timber framing builds of the time. Manor Farmhouse was built in the mid 18th century and is marked as the Manor House on 19th century maps. Also noted are unlisted historic buildings such as Pear Tree Farm, The Greyhound Inn, Orchard Cottages, The Orchards Farm, The Forge, Valcroft, Rose Cottage (on a much smaller footprint) and Charlton House and barns.

1772 saw the opening of The Staffordshire and Worcester Canal which passes to the West of the village in Dimmingsdale and continues to wind through neighbouring hamlets and villages.

As with the Staffordshire and Worcester Canal, the South Staffordshire Railway walk also runs through the village of Lower Penn. Originally part of the Wombourne branch line, the railway was closed in 1965 after a decline in traffic throughout the 50’s and early 60’s, with the last train service operating on 24th June. The South Staffordshire railway walk starts in Castlecroft and runs for 5 1/2 miles to Wall Heath. Its all weather surface marks it accessible to all.