Halesowen rose to prominence through nail-making, grown from the backyards of the burgeoning cottage industry alongside extensive mining. But away from the industry, it has a more picturesque outlook thanks to Leasowes Park, designed by 18th century poet William Shenstone, thought to be one of the first natural landscape gardens in England. With the imposing St John the Baptist church towering over the town centre which was extensively revamped in the last decade, Halesowen blends the old and new.