Warley

Warley, town, administrative headquarters for the Sandwell District of the metropolitan county of West Midlands, located within an urban area to the west of Birmingham. The area is rich in natural mineral resources that have been exploited by the inhabitants since the 16th century. It was not until the introduction of the canal system in the 18th century that Warley realized its full potential, with the establishment of numerous coal mines, iron works, and furnaces. As the raw materials became sparser, these industries were replaced by the secondary engineering and fabricating industries that remain to the present day.