There is a memorial in Cheslyn Hay Cemetery, which no one can fail to notice.  Consisting of black and grey marble topped with a white angel, it is the tallest and most ornate in the entire cemetery.  Placed there in 1908 by John Hawkins, it stands over the graves of four of his family.  People can be forgiven for presuming that the memorial belongs to the Hawkins family of Hawkins Colliery and Hawkins Brick and Tile fame, but as strict Methodists they did not go in for ostentatious displays, especially in death.  My research into this family was to become entwined with research I had carried out into the village beer houses.
During the nineteenth century there were numerous householders in the village who opened beer houses, which they operated as ‘off’ sales.  The Beer Act of 1830 enabled any householder, whose name was on the rate book to sell beer but no other intoxicating liquor-without obtaining a licence from the justices.  In the early eighteenth century, six times more gin had been drunk than beer, because it was cheaper.  The Dutch, who gave gin to their troops going into battle, hence ‘Dutch courage’, introduced gin to England and the drinking of it soon became a widespread phenomenon, referred to as ‘the gin craze’.  It was twice the strength than the gin we now drink and was popular among poor people.  A rag soaked in gin could be purchased for a meagre sum to suck on for those who could not afford a whole glass.  Drinking reached epidemic proportions; leading to poor physical and mental health, and an increase in crime and disorderly behaviour.  Then, in 1736, the Gin Act imposed a high duty on gin, allowing ale and beer producers to aggressively market their products, hence more alehouses.  I want to discuss some of the village ‘off’ licences that some of us will remember ourselves.
In August 1890, premises at 130, High Street, owned by Richard Bettson of Acton, was granted an ‘off’ licence, with John Hampton as Licensee.  This cottage, now replaced by a private house, was once in a row of houses known as Bettson’s Row and then Bird’s Row, almost opposite Low Street. There is a photograph of this property in the societies archives that a few of you will be familiar with.  The following year John Hampton became licensee of an ‘off’ licence at 67, High Street (next to today’s dentist) and Horatio Hampton took the licence at 130, High Street.  Richard Bettson was still the owner of this property although it was on mortgage to William Butler & Co. Springfield Brewery.  Then in 1906 Horatio Hampton became the owner on lease to William Butler & Co Ltd.  This situation continued until 1936 when the licence was transferred to Elizabeth Ellen Rodwell.  Edward and Elizabeth Rodwell moved to the Colliers Arms in 1942 and the new licensee at 130, High Street was Alice Kelsall.  From 1955 until 1962, when the licence was allowed to lapse, Francis Hilda Lockett was the licensee.  A few names there that some of you will remember.
I will now move on to 113, High Street, now a private house, which is opposite Pinfold Lane.  Most of us will know this ‘off’ licence as the ‘Beehive Stores’.  In 1900, the owner of this property was William Morgan of Penkridge Road, Cannock, the licensee was Harriet Ann Morgan and this shop was licensed to sell Wines and Spirits.  In 1903, the owner/licensee became Job Whitehouse and this is how it remained until his death in 1919.  The owners then became Job Whitehouse’s trustees and the licensee was Elizabeth Whitehouse.  There is an interesting note from the Clerk of the Licensing Justices, “ Job Whitehouse is now dead but is still registered as owner, if Mrs Whitehouse is now owner she should have her name registered, the fee is one shilling” – One shilling herewith enclosed.  The owners/trustees of Job Whitehouse deceased were, Lawrence Whitehouse, 121, High Street and Thomas Smith Whitehouse, Cannock Road, Saredon, with Elizabeth Whitehouse the licensee until her death in 1945.  In 1946, the new owner became Frank Fletcher Green of 8, Hagley Road, Stourbridge.  In 1960 the licensee was Rayner Derek Bevan and the beer licence was taken over from the ‘off’ licence at 71, Low Street.  This is where I discovered the John Hawkins I spoke of earlier.
Not a native of Cheslyn Hay, John, his wife Emma and sons James and John had arrived here around 1873.  This is the year their daughter Rosa was born, followed in 1875 by Florence, then Lily in 1878 and Edith May in 1880.  By 1881, the family, who had been joined by John’s mother Caroline, were living in the beer house, then known as Red Lane.  A son, Wilfred was born in 1882 and it was upon his death in 1908 that the cemetery memorial was erected.  The last child, Alice Ada, was born in 1884.  71, Low Street stood near to where Wesley Avenue was built and there is a charming photograph in the societies archives of the Hawkins family taken outside the property.  In 1890, John is listed as the owner/licensee, although he was actually a coalminer.  In 1903, the licensee was still John Hawkins but the owner was J.Yardley, South Staffs Brewery, Wolverhampton.  In 1907, the licence was transferred to Thomas Holcroft, who had married John’s daughter Florence and in 1910 was sold to the Old Wolverhampton Brewery, Market Street, Wolverhampton.  Then in 1921 the new owner became Frank Myatt Ltd, Holt Street, Birmingham and the following year Thomas Holcroft died and Florence became the licensee.  Florence married widower Henry Turner and the licence was transferred in 1927 to Robert Hill.  It was transferred again in 1928 to John Richard Wilcox, 1931 to Elsie Wilcox and in 1932 to Jane Williams.  William Henry Walters became licensee from 1934 until 1960 when the beer licence was surrendered and transferred to 113, High Street. William Walters is the name most of you will remember.
In 1890 there was a beer house ‘off’ licence at 37, High Street, sometime known as the Three Ways Beer house because of it’s positioning opposite Landywood Lane.  Rachael Holmes owned the property and the licensee was John Thomas.  Then in 1894 the new owner/licensee became John Hawkins of Low Street. T his meant John now owned two ‘off’ licences in the village.  In 1895, the licence was transferred to Thomas Williams, who had married John’s daughter Rosa.  Rosa died in 1931 and in 1932 the licence was transferred to Willoughby Crofts, the new owner was Frank Myatt Ltd, Aston Brewery, Birmingham.  Willoughby Crofts Jnr, a name most of us will remember, took over the licence from his father and in 1965 a full licence was granted.  These premises were demolished in 1980.
When John Hawkins died in 1917 he was still a coalminer but was now living at ‘Glenrick’, 109, Station Street.  Emma died in 1919.  They were both buried with their son Wilfred.  Alice Ada Hawkins never married and she is buried alongside them.  Her name is not on the memorial but she added the names of her four sisters, who pre deceased her, although they are not actually buried in that plot.  The two sons, James and John were also coalminers like their father and are buried in Great Wyrley Cemetery.

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