The first known record of the name was in 1614, where it was recorded as Woodcrosse - likely meaning 'the cross at the wood' or 'the wooden cross'.[1]
Prior to 1930, Woodcross was a largely rural area which consisted of a few residential properties on the slope of Beacon Hill as well as extensive farmland. But over the next 40 years, the area was heavily developed for housing (most of which was built by Coseley UDC).
Notable landmarks in Woodcross are Beacon Hill Cemetery, Manor Primary School and St Mary's Church. There is also a statue in honour of local doctor Frederick Baker, who died in 1912, that is located on the corner of Hall Lane and Gorge Road.
Woodcross was a largely rural area until the 1930s when Coseley Urban District Council built a number of houses in and around Woodcross Lane. After the end of World War II in 1945, the Council built many more houses, this time creating a large estate with many streets named after Coseley councillors and famous local people, including Tipton born runner Jack Holden, whose name is featured on Jack Holden Avenue.
The 2001 Census tells us that the majority of Woodcross's population is of English ethnicity (89.4% White British), with the largest minority population being of Indian ethnicity (5.2% Asian Indian).[2]
Woodcross has several estate based pubs. 'The Three Crowns' on Dovedale Road, the 'Horse and Jockey' on the corner of Evans Street and Robert Wynd, and the 'Gate Hangs Well' on Hurst Road. There is also a working men's club complete with function rooms, the 'Woodcross Club' on Woodcross Lane. The 'New Spread Eagle' (formerly the 'Spread Eagle') on Meadow Lane off the Birmingham New Road was closed in 2010 and demolished in the spring of 2011 to make way for a new nursing home.
Woodcross is served by Manor Primary School, for pupils aged 3–11 years. It began life in 1933, when Woodcross was still in the early stages of development, as Manor Secondary School for pupils aged 11 and above. However, the vast growth of Woodcross and nearby Lanesfield, as well as the construction of the new Ettingshall Park estate, after World War II led to increased pressure on places at the school, and it was replaced by Parkfield Secondary Modern School on Lawnswood Avenue, Lanesfield, in April 1962. Manor Primary School opened in its buildings in September 1962.
