The town grew rapidly throughout the Industrial Revolution of the 1800s. For the best part of 150 years Cradley Heath retained its reliance on the iron-working tradition.

Today there is still and iron- and metal-working industry; it is still possible to hear the crash of a forge hammer, the smell of a foundry or engineering works. But on the site of some former ironworks or coal waste mounds you will also find large and small industrial sites, and as they were 170 years ago, small firms starting up.

Cradley Heath quickly gained a reputation in the Black Country for having the best market, with food and clothing much cheaper than anywhere else in the district. Today it still thrives as a local shopping area, despite the competition from out-of-town shopping complexes such as Merry Hill, just a stone’s throw away.

The Salvation Army arrived in the town in 1881 and for the past 125 years has been living out its mission:

- to proclaim the gospel

- to persuade the people of Cradley Heath, regardless of their age, to become disciples of Jesus

- to carry out a social programme to meet the practical needs of our community.

It moved into a specially designed "fort" in 1893 and worshipped and worked in the community from there until plans for the Cradley Heath bypass meant the building was compulsorily purchased by the local council in 2004 and bulldozed to make way for the road.

In August 2006, Cradley Heath Salvation Army moved into its brand new suite of buildings on the corner of Meredith Street and Upper High Street.  It consists of a worship hall for 300 people, two multi-purpose rooms, a lounge, a dining room and a cafe.