Higham is known from 1271 (Smith 1961, 316). At this time it is likely that there was a small cluster of farmsteads. Between the 1841 and 1871 census the population of Higham rose from 199 to 580. Most of the workers were miners (Barugh Green and District Local History Group 1989, 11-13). 1893 maps show the short terraces which would have housed the population. These structures mostly survived until 1983 maps which show modern houses overwriting the historic core. There are some surviving 19th century buildings and older farm buildings within the polygon which give partial legibility of the former townscape.