I visited an area of Wolverhampton with big ambitions, where the local community is fighting to keep the high street thriving with several independent businesses
Those familiar with the Black Country will know defining the area of the bustling neighbourhood of Penn can be somewhat controversial.
Including Upper Penn and Lower Penn it is one of the largest areas of Wolverhampton, and, to add to the confusion, it also has Pennfields on its doorstep.
Penn has plenty going on and a great sense of community. There are some main routes where activity is centred, including Warstones Road and Penn Road.
This is the area we visited on a chilly autumn morning, and were immediately met with a warm welcome from employees and customers at local businesses.
It is believed that the name Penn is derived from the Welsh language, signifying a hill or promontory, and is believed to refer to the hill on which local church 'St Bartholomew's' stands.
That site, which is understood to have had a church on it since before the Norman conquest in 1066, sits in the old village, nestled close to Penn Common. The area has a very local feel, with a village hall and quaint terrace houses. And its postbox is always adorned with a knitted decorative topper, put together by local volunteers and changed frequently to match the seasons.
Coming into Penn from the Coalway Road takes you down Warstones Road, which is lined with shops, pubs and independent businesses to serve the local community.
