Cheslyn Hay & District Local History Society

We have now available for our members a CD containing the Whitehouse families in the Cannock Parish 1670 -1820. Price £3.
However for those tracing their own family trees the following names appear on the CD, having married a Whitehouse etc. Continue Reading »

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The Old Age Pension

The state pension scheme reaches its 100th birthday this month, but it took over 30 years before it became a reality. It was during the Victorian age that it was first realised that people were starting to live past the age when they could physically work and various proposals were examined. Continue Reading »

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Edna Brown and David Paradine are organising a School Reunion for anyone aged 65 and over who attended the Cheslyn Hay County Primary School. It will be held on Friday 30th January 2009 at 7.30pm in the Cheslyn Hay WMC. We will be providing a display of old school photographs but anyone wishing to attend must phone Edna (01922 417131) to ensure that everyone will be catered for. The evening is free and David is providing the buffet.

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Following another successful Exhibition, our book ‘Happy Days’ has been selling really well.  The Holly Bush has sold out, Waterstone’s in Walsall have almost cleared their allocation and Martins in Cannock have sold over 100 books.  Although we ordered an extra 300 this year it has proved the right decision as we are now down to the last 100 books and we even got a mention on SAGA Radio (now called Smooth) under the title of ‘what book are you reading now that you can thoroughly recommend’!! Continue Reading »

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Researched by Mike Belcher
From the Archives of the Cannock Advertiser 1959

3/1/1959 Winder Collapses and Dies
When maintenance man, up and down Hilton Main Colliery shaft for routine inspection on Christmas day, Mr.Dennis William Bullock (47) of 22, High Street, Cheslyn Hay, collapsed suddenly and died. A post mortem examination revealed that death was due to natural causes, and there will be no inquest. Mr.Bullock had worked at other collieries in the area before moving to Hilton Main. Mr.Bullock was well known throughout the area for his fine chrysanthemums, to which he devoted much of his time. He was joint holder of the premier award at the Bridgtown show in 1958. Married, Mr.Bullock leaves three children and three grandchildren. Continue Reading »

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Following my last quarter’s editorial, which was picked up by the Black Country Bugle, we received a very interesting letter from Maurice Pearsall from Stafford.  Maurice and his family were the last owners of the Plant & Nook Colliery’s.  So many thanks to the Black Country Bugle for reaching a much bigger audience than we normally do and to Maurice’s for taking the time to get in touch and we will be following it up to make a record of his memories of the area. Continue Reading »

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We received a comment on the feature last quarter on the Farnell Family from John Davison – I was intrigued to read the tragic story of the Farnell family especially as I believe they lived at the same house as my g.g.grandfather William Russell and his wife Eliza (nee Stoker). The 1881 Censes has them living at 27 Red Lane with their 9 children! I believe Red Lane became Low Street. The Russells headed north to Wakefield in the 1880′s to work in the pits there Legend has it they walked.

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Researched by Mike Belcher
From the Archives of the Cannock Chase Courier 1909

2/1/1909 Boxing Day – At Cheslyn Hay as on the day previous, the band was playing. The band decided to make an innovation. It had been the custom thereto to play in front of the residences or places of public resort, but this plan was very properly changed this year and the band played at certain points both at Great Wyrley and Cheslyn Hay. There were of course the usual house parties. There were few cases of over indulgence and the police were perhaps more leniently disposed at this festive season. Continue Reading »

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(A short History)
The South Staffordshire Railway like many Mid-Victorian railways had a short life. It came into being at a time of “Railway Mania” in the 1840’s/50’s many small railways sprang up, in fact over 200 of them in this period of history. Many were quickly absorbed into larger groups. Continue Reading »

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