West Bromwich is an industrial town in the West Midlands of England, lying to the north of Birmingham. Formerly part of Staffordshire, it became part of the metropolitan county of West Midlands in 1974. Historically a part of the Black Country, West Bromwich has a long and proud industrial heritage. The town was at the heart of the 19th century Industrial Revolution, and was home to some of the country’s most important metalworking industries. These days, West Bromwich is best known for its football team, West Bromwich Albion, who play in the Premier League. The town also has a large shopping centre, the Merry Hill Centre, and a number of well-preserved Victorian buildings.