Cheslyn Hay & District Local History Society

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Our Annual Exhibition is next Saturday, 24th September 2011 at the Village Hall/Community Centre Pinfold Lane from 10am – 5pm.  Open to members at 9.30am.  For the first time, Local Family Trees are on display and also Documents etc that have been catalogued, as well as over 7000 photographs available.  Plus a stand for the National Secretary of the Heir Hunters Association (re the TV programme) and the Launch of our new 64 page book ‘Cheslyn Hay Lives – Volume Two’ at £4.  Admission free.
Our Salem Base is open this Tuesday from 10am – 3pm as usual.
This weeks requests include two seaparate enquiries on the Merchant family as well as their connections with Edward Sambrook, John Glover and the Stokes family.
Responses include the origins of the ‘Owd Nation’ plus photographs as requested of the Masefield family.  Also more information on Richard Brough, Rhoda Whitehouse, George and Lucy Whitehouse and Mary Nevill.  Also news of Harry Wild(e) and Tom Beadsmore of Dundalk Lane.
Plus a book on Wartime Recipes and ‘Instructions for American Servicemen in Britain – 1942′. Plus a Mount Zion Sunday School Prize dated 1952.  All for our Archives.

‘What Happened this Week Fifty Years Ago’ include the death of  Mr Joseph Hy Crutchley of 106a High Street, Cheslyn Hay and details of his life.  Plus a story of eighteen students from the Malayan Training College at Brinsford visiting the Salem.
And Memories of Pinfold Lane Juniors include stories of teachers Mr David Berry, Mrs Joan Perks, Mrs Corona Price, Mr Blount and Miss Walmby.   Plus the lads of that era Tony Cartwright, Richard Berry and John Turner.
Fuller details can be obtained by emailing me below.
trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net  

New Photographs this week of Nancy Dutton, Bernard Hassall, Len Pearce, Harold Talbot, the Stantons, the Stanleys, the Perrys, the Bickleys and the Masons.  Also the Landywood Residents Association Christmas Party at the Salem in1980, Elliot Lucas Christmas Party in the fifties and three Pinfold Lane photographs of the 1950s and 1960s all named inc Tony Cartwright’s class, Philip Chew’s class and the class with the Zazaluk twins.  Plus a lunch break at Elliot Lucas in the seventies, Carnival Princess Letitia Bowater and her entourage of 1967, Pinfold Lane School Sports, two Hawkins Sports football team in the 1990s and their Sports Committee.

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Our Salem Base will be open on Tuesday as usual from 10am to 3pm but this week we are expecting a visitor from Canada, Tim Plant, who would like to meet up with any connections with the Plant family.  Ivor is coming from Ross-on-Wye and we have sorted out all the photographs and documents for this family from our archives.  We expect Tim on Wednesday and anyone interested should contact me by email or 01922 414772.
Requests this week include one from Amanda Blood from Halifax is looking to contact any surviving member of her Masefield side of the family.  Details are Bernard and Matilda Masefield who had two sons Arthur and Lewis, who married Bridget Walsh and she died in 1949.  Lewis and Bridget lived in Cheslyn Hay and had seven children and Amanda would love a photograph of this family.
And responses from last week were explanations to ‘The Owd Nation’ and ‘The Turnings’.  And one of our members answers the request re Ann Whitehouse as she was her g-g-grandmother through her first marriage to James Whitehouse and that Joseph Baker was the brother of her g-g-grandfather, Henry Baker.
New photographs this week are of Ted Hawkins and family of Low Street and three Elliot Lucas photos – Office Staff of the 1950s, a coach trip and factory girls from the 1960s. Photos of the Wrights, the Stallard family, the Moores, Hortons, Feltons, Arthur Davies, the Bentons of Landywood Lane, the Perrys from the Lot, Red Lion Darts team, two Cheslyn Hay Villa FC of 1914, a Cheslyn Hay Girls Brigade from the 1970s, Len Stanley, Cheslyn Hay School sporting photos from the 1920s, WMC coach trips, Upper Landywood Sunday School Anniversary, some Pinfold Lane School Classes from the 1960s, Carnival photos and Mac Potts.  Plus several outside scenes of Park House, a Cheslyn Hay farmhouse, High Street, South Bungalow in Holly Lane, Willoughby Croft’s Off Licence, Bill Webb on his horse and cart, Thorne Cottage, three photos down Hawkins pit, workmen at Gilpins and Jubilee Day at Long Lane in Newtown on 6th May 1939.
Plus a copy of the 1930 Bowling League Official Handbook including details of two Cheslyn Hay WMC teams with captains J Webb and W Whitehouse and secretaries S Parbrook and J Mason.   The history of Cadmans Cottage in Sydney, New South Wales which was named after John Cadman of Bewdley who was transported for horse stealing and the strong possibillty of the connection with the Cadmans of Cheslyn Hay.
And in Mike Belcher’s column in ‘What Happened This Week 50 Years Ago’ include full details of the funeral of Mr Joseph Turner of 110 High Street, Cheslyn Hay, as well as his history.
The mention of Jack Martin last week prompted more recollections of him when he was Headmaster and  ‘Memories’ this week come from Peter Cadman on his time at Pinfold Lane and include many stories and happy times there including the names of Mrs Jeavons, Maureen Glaze, Ian Scott, Mrs Corona Price, Mr George Cadman, Mrs Dora Cooper, Beryl Cartwright, Melvyn Ponder,  David ‘Bert’ Parsons, Barry Brown, Michael Fletcher, Owen Lawson, Paul Whitehouse, Roger Fletcher, Roger ‘Butch’ Westwood, John Smallic, Nurse Wootton and Ann Sergeant.
Fuller details can be obtained via the email address below, or if required the full Weekly Newsletter can be sent every Sunday by joining  as a member for £5 annual fee.
trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net
Our Annual Exhibition is one week next Saturday – 24th September 2011 when we launch our new book ‘Cheslyn Hay Lives – Volume Two’ at £4.  Also we have a joint Speakers Night with Great Wyrley LHS one week tomorrow (Monday 19th September) at the Great Wyrley Secondary School Theatre at 7.30pm.  There will be two speakers – John Devey on ‘The Tales of Churchbridge’ and Paul Ford on ‘A Mystery Photograph Album of an Edwardian Lady’ with both subjects very much based on local history.  Admission £1.

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Forthcoming events include our Coffee Morning this Thursday, 8th September 10am at the Salem which should provide another very entertaining ‘Speakers Corner’ with 4 x 4 minute talks on local memories followed by questions and discussions.  We are at the Cannock Chase Museum next weekend on Saturday and Sunday 10th/11th September from 11am – 4pm  for a Coal Mining and Local History Weekend.  Free admission.
Also tickets are now available for Salem Harvest Celebration Concert with the Great Wyrley Community Band on Saturday 24th September at 7.30pm.  Tickets are £5 and available at the Cedar Tree or phone 01922 415485/413791.
And our Salem Base will be open as usual on Tuesday 10am – 3pm for our help on all researches.
Requests with week include references to the top of the village being called ‘The Owd Nation’ and the beginning of Wolverhampton Road as ‘The Turnings’.  Has anyone ever heard of these names before?
Plus an enquiry on the Brough family, Job, youngest son of George and his emigration to America after he married Louisa Whitehouse.
Recent appeals have brought much response on Richard and Rhoda Brough (nee Whitehouse) and their ten children which also touches on the families of Clara Nightingale, Frederick Horton, Clarice Biddle, Eunice Cadman and Margaret Stanley. Plus information on the Moore family including Martha Matilda Moore, as well as more details on Joseph Baker as well as Elizabeth Wooton, Lucy Green and Ann Whitehouse.
And in the local newspapers of 50 years ago this week was the Cheslyn Hay Allotments and Cottage Gardeners Association Show with full details of Mr JH Poole, Mr WS Belcher, Mr E Bladon  and  Mr I Evans.   Also a news story about Marlene Dace, the 1961 Cannock Labour Party Gala Queen, her husband-to-be, Roy Pearce, her sister Judith, and friend Janet Illidge.
Reactions from previous ‘Memories’ include stories the renowned tenors Heddle Nash and Robert Easton, Arnold Hawkins and Joyce Bray.  Plus mentions of Fred and Clarice Biddle of 6 Dundalk Lane and Harry Bate’s horse Doll, and Aubrey Benton.
And finally details printed this week of the 14 year footballing career at Aston Villa of our old headmaster Jack Martin.
Further details can be obtained on any of these stories via the email below.
trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net

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OUR SALEM BASE will be open as usual on Tuesday 10am to 3pm. Last week we had a very informative meeting on the Kingston and Bird families.
REQUESTS Andrew Pearson requests information on the family trees of Brough, Baker and Whitehouse. In particular George Brough, son of Richard Brough and Rhoda Whitehouse (daughter of George Whitehouse and Lucy Brindley). Plus Joseph Baker born c1802, son of Joseph Baker a farmer of fifty acres in Essington and his wife Elizabeth Wooton, who married Ann Whitehouse (Rhoda’s sister). George Whitehouse and Lucy had five children Rhoda (b1792), Simeon (b1795), Ann (b 1800), Charlotte (b1804) and Charles (b1805). Any details of the above would be appreciated.
And a former resident off the village, Cynthia Williams, who lived here from 1976-1998 wants a jog to her memory! She has contacted us through our website and remembers the industrial estate that was built off Coppice Lane and recalls Sue’s Tyres and Carols Discount but there was also a furniture/beds place and a DIY unit. And Cynthia wants help – just to put her mind at rest!
RESPONSES Pauline Turner responds as her grandmother was a Tricklebank and has researched the Tricklebank family tree. She has a photograph dating back to early last century of four generations of them. They emigrated to Pennsylvania and returned to Cheslyn Hay. Also one of our researchers Violet has confirmed that George Tricklebank, born 1826 in Tamworth and married to Mary Ann Cooper was in Cheslyn Hay in 1841.
Also Violet confirms that there were two families of Moores in 1911 in Cheslyn Hay, but the Moore family was a noted sporting family off the village with Charlie playing 328 times for Manchester United.
And Andrew Pearson gives Maslen details of Joseph Lawson who married Eliza Hubery and sends six sheets of this family tree. They lived at 2 High Street Cheslyn Hay in 1881 and Joseph Edwin Lawson was killed in an accident down the pit when the cage crashed to the ground. Violet also confirms this and adds that Eliza died in 1900.
And Ron Whitehouse replies to Pam Jukes re her ancestor Samuel Whitehouse (b1768 and christened at St Matthews in Walsall on 8th July 1768) and his father was Matthew and mother was Sarah. Samuel himself married Mary Burrows on 15th April 1811at Kingswinford. Their children were John (b1811), William (1819), Reuben (18270 and Frederick (1831) and were living in Saredon Road in 1841. Samuel died in 1841 and Mary went to live with William in Essington when he married.
NEW PHOTOGRAPHS A large backlog to be catalogued shortly.
ARCHIVE ADDITIONS/ARTEFACTS DONATIONS A copy of the Public Unveiling of the Cheslyn Hay War Memorial including the Order of Service, hymns and the ‘Complete List of the Fallen’. A Framed Certificate for J Orby Hawkins on passing the Young Peoples Examination for the United Methodist Church at the Salem in November 1918. A newspaper report of the tragic drowning of Great Wyrley High School teacher Richard Turner in 1961. Several certificates of Births, Marriages and Deaths of the Kingston and Bird families including names such as Selvey,Griffiths, Heller, Morgan, Till and Waddison. Also Memorial Cards of Mellor, Iliffe, Locker, Whitehouse and Stacey. And a tile manufactured at Rosemary Tileries donated by Carol Adshead when she discovered it whilst having work done in her kitchen.
WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK 100 YEARS AGO ….. by Mike Belcher
2nd September 1911 The following officials have been elected for the ensuing season to manage the affairs of Cheslyn Hay United – Chairman of Committee Mr L Clewley, Honorary Treasurer Mr P Carpenter, Honorary Secretary Mr I Stokes and Mr Ben Carpenter has also promised his assistance. In addition to the players mentioned last week, the following have since signed – H Pearson (Cheslyn Hay Juniors), W Noake (Little Bloxwich Wanderers) and E Linney (Walsall).
At the Cheslyn Hay Unionist garden party on Monday, Miss Hampton and Miss Carrie Whitehouse had charge of the coconut shy, the “Hoopla” was in the charge of Miss Browell. The first prize of a guinea set of woods for bowling was won by Mr W Hemingsley, Mr A Banks taking the second prize of a pipe valued at 5s. The prizes in the tennis tournament, given by Miss Minnie Hawkins, were won by Mr. Morris of Dudley, a handsome timepiece, and Miss D Fisher of Cannock, a gold bracelet charm.
In last week’s report from 1911, I am informed that the footballer L Hubery mentioned is Stephen Leonard Hubery b1891 in Bridgtown, son of Stephen Hubery and Eliza Bertha Annie Hawkins.
MEMORIES Duncan adds a couple of his own recollections from Peter’s ‘Cheslyn Hay Pets’ and he emails ‘ A Mr Jenkins lived on the corner of Rosemary Road and Low Street and he had a pet duck. The duck used to wander along all the local streets but nobody thought of shoving him in the oven because they all knew it was Jenkins’s duck. I also remember when Fred Wooton ran the Post Office and he had a son called Godfrey, who wasn’t the brightest spark but because of who he was he was made an officer in the Salem Boys Brigade. On Armistice Sunday it was decided that the Brigade should march past and salute the War Memorial. The route was to be from Salem down High Street passing the Memorial on the right hand side and Godfrey knew he had to give the eyes left. At the last minute the route was changed taking the Brigade down Cross Street then right into Low Street passing the Memorial on the left hand side and the inevitable happened. Godfrey gave his troupe ‘Eyes left’ saluting Mr Jenkins who was standing in his usual place behind the hedge, facing the Memorial, flat cap and all!
But this week’ Memories comes from our archives researched by Pat Everiss entitled ‘Delivery Men and Women’.
Amongst the people who made deliveries in the village were two ladies Edie Parkes and Martha Thomas. Edie worked alongside Walter Bull delivering mail from the Low Street Post Office and Martha kept a shop in Hatherton Street and delivered her greengrocery by horse and cart. Harry Bate who had a shop in the High Street near Bobby’s Entry also delivered greengrocery. His horse was named Doll which was, by coincidence, also his wife’s name.
Bill Ansell from Station Street delivered coal. He used to keep his horse in Mr Elwell’s field at the rear of houses in Coppice Lane. Frank Burton of Company Buildings also delivered coal and during the bad winter of 1946/7 he built a sledge which his horse pulled through the snow to make the deliveries.
A village character named Archie would move the ‘allowance coal’ out of the street, where it was dropped, into the coal shed or cellar, for one shilling. And Albert Potts used to push a barrow to the old railway station in Station Road to collect fish arriving by train. This delivery was always destined for Mr Shirley’s Fish and Chip shop in the High Street opposite Pinfold Lane. And of course there was the milkman and Greensill’s farm in Saredon Road delivered it.
GENERAL NEWS If anyone is having trouble receiving newsletters in unreadable form please let me know so that we can sort the problem out.
trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net

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