18/9/1909 Parochial matters at Cheslyn Hay
A discussion arose relative to the name of the streets and it was suggested that Park Street or Rosemary Lane should take the place of the Tramway. In the end it was determined to make it Rosemary Lane. The question of The Lot was raised and it was at once agreed that the name was an original name and peculiar to the parish, and it was maintained. Station Street it was stated extended from the station to Ivy House, the residence of the late Mr.Hawkins. There was also a discussion relative to the thoroughfare known as Saredon Road and Hollybush Lane. The Saredon Road was thought to be appropriate, but as Brick Kiln Lane or Hollybush Lane was really the thoroughfare leading to Wolverhampton it was determined to name that Wolverhampton Road. More…

25/9/1909 The Old Cannock Chase
Sir, Perhaps the most difficult shallow seam of coal to obtain any knowledge of in the Cheslyn Hay district is what is known as “The Old Man’s Seam” varying in depth from the surface from five to twenty or so yards. This seam varies in thickness and quality. Your correspondent has seen it four feet thick and over, and of good firm quality, long grained and slabby. Of course the seam was, but rarely, found only in pillars “The old men” having got the coal in the “generally supposed” period. How long it is since “The old men” dug their coal seems a matter of guess work. Old men with whom one has conversed on the question of date spoke of 300 years ago, that is now near three and a half centuries ago than any other period of time. Over the “Old Men’s coal” occurs two bands of ironstone in getting quantities, but which is now nearly if not quite exhausted. Thirty five or forty years ago stacks of stone some scores of tons in weight could be seen burning (being calcified) ready for the blast furnaces, in some five or six places up and down the fields surrounding the Hay. This was taken away in boats to the Black Country as a rule. Generally, the prevailing conditions of stone getting, was over “the Old Men’s” gob. That is where the coal had been taken out, and debris was lying underneath. One of the guides by which one may form a period of the date of the time when the coal was not dug, if it may be not a help to ascertain the date when coal was got, is the fact that the miner’s of that period found no use for the ironstone. “The Old Men” like the new men gobbed (lost and buried) their tools for occasionally the Cheslyn Hay miner would find a pick, or even a skip, candles, or rush lights, as they evidently were, were found on several occasions as seen by your correspondent, which after so many years underground would burn giving a dim small light. As to their timbering, it would seem that their timbering was much on the principal that governs the mine of today, only instead of cogs (long packs of rocks and dirt) they evidently built their cogs with braches of the trees, or very thin props laid behind their stall timber and filled in the dirt behind them. All their timber appeared to be left in and gobbed. Where the seam occurred to a greater depth than their water level the coal was beyond their power to raise, only where it was dry and waterless. A level for draining “the Hay” was made, laid, or driven draining the mine to the level of the brook at Walk Mill. Much used to be said about this level when one used to sit and listen, for in the days referred to boys were seen oftener than heard in the company of miners of the day, asking questions was off, so that when ones prying young mind would have peered further into the question one was called to the halt. Still, doubtless this level runs from Walk Mill into the centre of the Hay along which the rain probably still runs in the direction of the brook. The late operations of the deeper mines now called the top seams, worked when the Hay was younger may be a subject for a few further remarks later on by a son of the Old Nation.

2/10/1909
It is a matter of satisfaction that Mr.O.H.Thomas, of Cheslyn Hay, was on Sunday ordained by the Archbishop of York. The ceremony took place in the historic Minster. Mr.Thomas received his tuition at Cheslyn Hay and was associated with the Salem schools, he then went to Lichfield. Now he is appointed as curate in the parish of Darnell, Sheffield, and he at once takes up his duties. Mr.Thomas has a brother who is a minister in the United Methodist Free Church. This gentleman is a popular preacher and good worker. It is creditable that both gentlemen should take up such work and be successful. The Cheslyn Hay folk’s will be proud of them, especially when it is remembered that they are of the people of the township.

2/10/1909 Cheslyn Hay
Harvest Festival – The gathering of the harvest was celebrated at Salem church on Sunday, when there were large congregations. The church was prettily decorated for the occasion under the personal supervision of Mr.T.A.Hawkins. The excellent choir rendered special hymns and the anthems “Great and Marvellous” and “By Babylon’s Wave”. Mr.Arnold Hawkins ably presided at the organ. The preacher was Rev.W.H.Cockersole, who delivered two very appropriate discourses. The gifts of flowers, fruit, & cakes. were afterwards divided between the Wolverhampton General Hospital, and the Cannock and District Isolation Hospital. The collection amounted to £13 2s 4d.

2/10/1909 A GOOD START
A pleasant re-union at Cheslyn Hay
For ten years the social class at Cheslyn Hay, has been in existence. Starting, as it did in a small classroom at the back of Salem chapel it increased rapidly until it became necessary to hold the gatherings in the schoolroom, and then it commenced to “hum” in real earnest. It is not surprising that it should be so for during the winter months speakers of great ability entertained the members and what’s more the members do not hesitate to discuss the subjects dealt with and to criticise the remarks of the speakers. It may be that an orator will one day be found who will not hesitate to confess that his first efforts were at the Social Class, Cheslyn Hay. It is true it is not a frequent occurrence that such an institution exists so long as ten years but the success is due, probably, to two features; in the first place it is a democratic institution, in the second, it has an able and popular gentleman at the head of affairs. Mr.G.Wooton has been president for the period named. At any rate the class has been successful and on Thursday night it started on what promises to be a further successful session. There was the usual coffee supper and to this over 200 sat down, and right well did they enjoy the repast. It was provided in style by Mr.G.Evans. About seven o’clock the church being nicely filled a concert took place. Mr.G.Wooton, of course, assumed the position of honour at the commencement; he thanked the committee and the class for re-electing him. He thought it an honour to hold the position and he hoped the class would continue in its successful career. A sentiment that was applauded and there was evidence that it should be so. The good old hymn “O God our help in ages past” was then heartily rendered, and then a capital concert was started. That the efforts of the artistes were appreciated was evident by the encores, and they thoroughly deserved all the praise they received.

23/10/1909 Cheslyn Hay Sewage Scheme
Twenty years ago the public of the thriving township of Cheslyn Hay – at least those that took an interest in public affairs – were somewhat anxious about the provision of a burial ground; there was anxiety about a water supply, whilst the ashpits were generally overflowing, for the farmers and others considered it a favour to empty them – even if in some cases they were paid for it. Those who look back twenty years observe a wonderful change in the township. At the time mentioned it was proposed to try and get Wyrley churchyard enlarged. It is a wet burial ground; so much so that at one at the meeting when the matter was considered intimated that “he did not desire to be drowned as well as buried”. In less than twenty years great changes have taken place. The Parish Council has been a very progressive body, and one of its first efforts was to provide allotments, the burial ground received attention, then water and then light, and yesterday an elaborate sewage scheme was formerly inaugurated, although it has been used more or less for some weeks. The cost is considerable too, but it has been carried out by Mr.Whitehead, the engineer to the Rural Council at a fair estimate. The work has been done well by the contractor, and the apparatus for dealing with the sewage is of the latest type. It is gratifying to the progressive folk’s of Cheslyn Hay that it is so and that work about which there has been so much discussion has been completed. The following is a description of the works:-

These works have been designed to deal with the sewage from the whole township of Cheslyn Hay. It was found quite impracticable to bring all the sewers to one outfall, and after much negotiation two sites were eventually secured, the one near the Saredon Road, and the other near the Staffordshire and Worcestershire Canal Company’s reservoir at Littlewood. The scheme has consequently bee divided into two portions which for convenience have been called “Saredon Road Scheme” and “Littlewood Scheme”. The Littlewood Scheme is calculated to deal with the sewage from a population of 2,750 and the Saredon Road Scheme from a population of 1,100. These figures are in excess of the present population and are taken so as to allow for the growth of the township in years to come.

30/10/1909 Cheslyn Hay Sewage Works
THE INAUGURATION ASIT SHOULD BE DONE
Mr.T.A.Hawkins the chairman of the Cannock Rural District Council, a resident of Cheslyn Hay, and the largest individual ratepayer in the parish, in declaring the works open referred to the excellent works and the satisfactory manner they had been carried out. It is was the most up to date and he believed second-to-none in the country and they were greatly indebted to the engineer for the manner in which he had carried the work out. Referring to the work of the Urban District Council he stated that about £30,000 on sewage and water works had been expended in the district including works in several parishes in the last nine years. That they were just inaugurating, however, had cost less than the estimate by £400 or £500. This was an important item. There was a general inspection of the works and much satisfaction expressed by many ratepayers and then there was an adjournment to the well-known Salem Sunday School where a very nice repast awaited the guests numbering about 100.

The tables were prettily decorated with flowers and plants and the platform contained a number of flowering shrubs which probably had been provided by the chairman, and Mr. Sydney Hawkins is to be congratulated on the excellent manner he made the arrangements and served the following menu: – Boiled Chicken, Roast Beef, Roast Mutton, Ham, Pork Pie, jellies, Blancmanges, date Trifle, Pineapple Trifle, Charlotte Russe, Lemon Sponge, Cream Cornets, Open Tarts, Grapes, Apples, Pears, Bananas, etc. The supply was large and all much enjoyed, especially the fruit. After the repast had been thoroughly discussed and cigars handed round Mr.Whitehead said that the works had caused great anxiety and not a little responsibility. It was very gratifying that the works had been completed and that they were giving satisfaction. Mr.Whitehead referred to the work of Mr.Fletcher and that of the contractor Mr.Owen who had laid six miles of sewers in 26 weeks and the work had been done well.

20/11/1909 WHEN GEORGE III WAS KING
The following found amongst the papers of a highly respected gentleman, a veteran in the district, now unfortunately deceased, is very interesting. It relates to the flourishing township of Cheslyn Hay and it was written 50 years ago probably. This village was formerly a large common, all of which has now been enclosed over 100 years. The high hill upon the Lodge Farm now in the occupation of Messrs Hawkins, at the commencement of the present century was ornamented with a number of fir trees, and the preservation was fenced round and was conspicuous as a beacon for many miles. In addition to this there is another called the Middle Hill. Between the two a road was made from Cheslyn Hay into the Wolverhampton Road at the latter end of the last century. In making this road a large marl hole had to be crossed, still leaving on each side of the road a large pit, which in all seasons of the year contained a large body of water. This is called Middle Hill or the Middle of the Hill. These two holes which contain some two roods in measure have been called the Beacon Pits, being near the beacon trees on the highest hill. During the tenancy of one Mr.Brown, his housekeeper salted a pig at the Lodge Farm, which, being badly cured, the two flitch’s which should have been bacon, were thrown into the Beacon Pits at Middle Hill, hence the name was altered from Beacon to Bacon. Prior to the road now used from Cheslyn Hay to Wolverhampton, there were two others, one turning to the left by Hawkins brickyard to Blacklees and Hollybush to Loney Green. The other, at the opposite end of the village, and turning to the left passing what is now known as Chambley’s House, and down what was known as the Gorsey Coppice and by the side of Hawkins Colliery, across what are now two turf fields, crossing the end of the big hill down by the side of the hanging hill and out by the Star Inn south of Wedges Mills into the Cannock and Wolverhampton Road. This has now been closed 100 years or more.

Formerly several families were trading hawkers, travelling many miles round, but making their homes at Cheslyn Hay, where they had erected very temporary huts and having continued at these particular spots of waste land in the end claimed them. The poor amongst these people being neglected, means were taken to put this free hay under Cannock. This movement was more particularly the work of several leading farmers of Great Wyrley, which parish joins that of Cheslyn Hay. In trying to carry out these ejectments some daring exploits were done, one woman being thrown over her garden hedge, breaking her leg, from which she never recovered. Some honest people were made to pay twice. It was quite right that every inhabitant should share in the expenses of the parish. Amongst the various trades were Shoe Buckle Makers, Besom Makers, Shopkeepers, Nailers, Hose Shoe Makers, Basket Makers, Shoe Makers, Buckle Makers were amongst the leading inhabitants. These buckle makers would take their goods into Birmingham. This trade fell off when laces became in general use the buckle makers turned their attention to other lines of business such as shop keeping, gardening, and the coal business. One of these self-made shopkeepers was looked upon as the leading man at the Old Cannock Market. It is known that at Cheslyn Hay the first non-conformist place of worship was opened in the district.

A Mr.Brown living at the Lodge Farm early in this century was overseer of the roads in this parish and held his meeting for paying the accounts at the “Dog” at this time kept by a Mr.Haycock. Brown also at the same time paid his own private accounts. When on one occasion he gave a ten pound bill for a five pound note by mistake to a wheelwright in the parish, who returned the same, asking Brown if he knew what he had given him, the wheelwright received abuse back for exposing him.

11/12/1909 FATALITY AT THE OLD COPPICE COLLIERY
TWO MEN KILLED NARROW ESCAPE OF THIRD
Considerable consternation was created in the district on Tuesday when it was rumoured that a fatal accident had occurred at the Old Coppice Colliery, and that two men had lost their lives. The fatal accidents at this colliery are thankfully few and far between. It appeared by what could be gathered that on Tuesday morning two stallmen named Charles Winfer (29) married, with one child, of Pinfold Lane, Cheslyn Hay; John Robert Hayward, loader, (30) married with family, of Low Street, Cheslyn Hay, and Frank Worsey, Stallman, also of Cheslyn Hay, proceeded to Nº69 stall to work. They were engaged at the

work about 8.30 and Winfer and Hayward were clearing the ground to set a tree. The work had proceeded some time. The loader called to Worsey who was working a little distance off, to come to their assistance, Worsey responded but directly he turned his head he observed the roof fall. A great mass of rock weighing many tons fell on the unfortunate men and buried them. It appeared that it was a “slide” of rock and the amount that fell is variously estimated at between ten and fifteen tons. So close was Worsey that some of the falling debris fell on him also. He gave the alarm and assistance was quickly forthcoming, but such was the amount of rock and in such a large piece that it is stated it had to be broken before it could be removed. The work proceeded as expediently as possible but it was some time before the men could be got out and then they were both dead. Dr.Syree was sent for and he attended at once but of course he could do nothing for the poor fellows and when they were conveyed to the surface they were taken to their late homes. Great regret is felt in the township at the sad disaster for both men were very respectable men and at one time one was a prominent local footballer. Much sympathy is also felt for their friends and families and also the owner and officials at the colliery. At the following inquest a verdict of accidental death was recorded.

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