For the larger local government district see Metropolitan Borough of Dudley. For other uses see Dudley (disambiguation). Coordinates 5230'43N 205'45W 52.5119N 2.0957W 52.5119 2.0957 Dudley (i'ddli DUDlee) is a large town in the West Midlands county of England and the administrative centre of the wider Metropolitan Borough of Dudley. At the 2001 census (according to the Office of National Statistics) the Dudley Urban Sub Area had a population of 1949191 making it the one of the largest settlements in England the second largest town in the United Kingdom behind Reading2 and the largest settlement in the UK without its own university.3 Dudley is part of the West Midlands conurbation and is located south of the city of Wolverhampton. It is the largest town in the Black Country region of England and for many years the town (but not the castle which was classed as part of Staffordshire4) formed part of an exclave of the county of Worcestershire.5 Despite the more recent changes in county borders the town still remains part of the Anglican Diocese of Worcester. Dudley unsuccessfully bid to receive city status in 2012 losing out to Chelmsford Perth and St. Asaph.6 edit History Dudley has a history dating back to AngloSaxon times7 its name deriving from the Old English 'Duddan Leah' (meaning Dudda's clearing) and one of its churches being named in honour of the AngloSaxon King and Saint Edmund. Dudley Castle has stood on a hill overlooking the town since the time of the Norman Conquest8 and is mentioned in the Domesday Book.9 The present castle building dates from the 13th century and provided the centre around which the town grew. Dating from the 12th century are the ruins of St. James Priory set within the Priory Park.10 Dudley Castle The town was a major market town during the Middle Ages selling not only agricultural produce but also iron goods at a national level.11 Working iron and mining for coal was in practice as early as the 13th century and by the 18th century the town had become a significant industrial hub. During the English Civil War Dudley served as a Royalist stronghold with the castle besieged by the Parliamentarians and later partly demolished on the orders of the Government after the Royalist surrender.12 The town's population grew dramatically during the 18th and 19th centuries because of the increase in industry and it became a central part of the Black Country. The main industries in Dudley included coal and limestone mining.13 Other industries included iron steel engineering metallurgy glass cutting textiles and leatherworking. Of historical significance the first Newcomen steam engine was installed at the Conygree coalworks a mile east of Dudley Castle in 1712.14 During this time living conditions were incredibly poor with Dudley being named 'the most unhealthy place in the country'15 which led to the installation of clean water supplies and sewage systems and later the extensive development of council housing during the early 20th century to relocate the occupants of local slum housing. In World War II Dudley was bombed on several occasions with a number of fatalities though nowhere near as severely as its near neighbour Birmingham. Empty building of the former Hippodrome Theatre The town centre was developed substantially in the early 20th century with the construction of many entertainment venues including a theatre and cinemas with two indoor shopping centres being added later in the century. In mor