Events
Speakers night Thursday 28th November 2019 ,Salem Schoolroom, High Street, Cheslyn Hay, commencing at 7.30pm Admission £1.00 including refreshments.
The theme  is “Have Bell – Will Yell”. We are welcoming Martin Wood, Shrewsbury Town Crier who will talking on the Trials and Tribulations of the Worlds Tallest Town Crier!! who stands a mere 7ft 2ins tall. 

Our Salem Base
Our Salem Base is open from  9am – 2pm every Tuesday

What Happened This Week 50/100 years ago…by Mike Belcher
Cannock Advertiser  20th November 1969  A “fry up” supper raised £6 for the Salem Sunday School modernisation fund.
The fish and chip meal was arranged by the church’s special efforts committee, and was prepared by Mrs. I. Cartwright and Devereux.
20th November 1969  Parents see new school at Glenthorne Primary School, organised by headmaster, Mr. D. J. Bickley.
18th November 1919  In Memoriam in loving memory of Maud Mary, aged 27, the beloved daughter of Benjamin and Lucy Potts.

18th November 1919  Chat from Cheslyn Hay On Monday evening a good company assembled in the Christian Endeavour room under the auspices of the Debating Society.

Another junior club, Littlewood Albion, opened the season on Saturday by a visit from Shareshill Villa Reserves with details.

Responses  We received a thank you email last week from Donald Parbrook, his grandfathers (Rev. George Parbrook) cousin was Harry Brevitt who was one of the fallen of WWI named on our the War Memorial  with full details.

General News
We are nearing the end of our 25th Anniversary year, Cheslyn Hay & District Local History Society was set up in 1994 and has grown in strength over the years. In 2010 the society acquired an archives room to the rear of the Salem Methodist Church Hall which became open to the Local Community and Society Members every Tuesday from 9am till 2pm. All of our extensive library of Photos have been digitalized and copies are available to purchase.  All the local parish registers and cemetery records have been transcribed and are searchable by name on our database. If you would like a search on our database please send us your family details and we can send you more details of any entries we find and the cost if you require copies.
suewashington.cheslynhayhistory@btinternet.com

Events
Salem Methodist Church, High Street, Cheslyn Hay are holding their Christmas Fayre on Saturday 23rd November 11am – 3pm.
Cheslyn Hay Comminuty Choir will be performing at 11am. Refreshments including light lunches will be available. You can visit Santa Grotto and there will be various stalls selling books, cards, crafts, Bric-a-Brac etc
We will be having a table selling our New Book and other publications, hope to see you all there .

Our Christmas Chat n Char Party
We have received some emails from our members thanking us for such an enjoyable morning , it was well worth all the hard work knowing how much the party was appreciated, thank you to everyone who helped make the morning such a success, and a special thank you to the Cheslyn Hay Community Choir who put together an excellent concert for us at such short notice.

Our Salem Base
Our Salem Base is open from  9am – 2pm every Tuesday

What Happened This Week 50/100 years ago…by Mike Belcher

Cannock Chase Advertiser  13th November 1969
Higher standard and more entries at the Cheslyn Hay Great Wyrley and District Chrysanthemum Society show.  Full details.

13th November1969  Funeral Mr. Frank Paxton of 14, Wesley Avenue, Cheslyn Hay.

13th November 1969  Story of the Cheslyn Hay Legions sink or swim meeting
13th November 1969 Details of Cheslyn Hay Methodist Play Group’s coffee morning.

No reports for Cheslyn Hay this week in 1919

This Week in Cannock Chase Courier 1953
6th November1953 As no other department of the County Council is interested in land in Pinfold Lane, Cheslyn Hay, surplus to requirements for a primary school, the Education Committee is to sell it.  Full details.

13th November 1953  Mr. G. Bladon, Mr. T. Southern and Mr. G. Whitehouse were voted by the committee life members of the Cheslyn Hay Over 60s Club, with free refreshments and competitions.

13th November 1953  Enoch Jukes of 7. Saredon Road, Cheslyn Hay, was admitted to the Royal Hospital, Wolverhampton, with a fractured leg and injuries at the Hilton Main Colliery.

Origins of Cheslyn Hay
During the medieval period the place name ‘Cheslyn Hay’ referred to one of the seven ‘hays’ which lay within Cannock Forest.  The hays were districts which were managed for game, woodland and pasture by bailiffs on behalf of the King; after the 14th century it appears that the hays were the last remaining vestiges of the once much larger Cannock Forest.  The precise area covered by Cheslyn Hay in the later medieval period is unknown.  The historic core of Cheslyn Hay is focused upon an area we now know as High Street, Low Street and Queen Street and  was known as ‘despite the expansion of settlement across this area through infilling and the re-development of older properties during the mid to late 20th century.  However, this historic core retains 19th century red brick houses, some of which have been rendered, which are probably associated with the development of industry during this period.  Similar houses also survive on Cross Street whose straight course suggests a later date of origin.  Settlement was located on Dundalk Lane, the northern portion of Moon’s Lane, Upper Landywood Lane and Landywood Lane by at least the late 18th century.  Some of this settlement which originated in the 17th century is confirmed by the survival of a row of Grade II Listed cottages of this date in Dundalk Lane.  Timber framing survives to the rear of these properties which have seen early 18th century and late 20th century alterations. Expansion begins in the early 20th century along Station Street where red brick semi-detached houses survive.  By the 1960s the housing expansion had concentrated at Littlewood and Glenthorne.  The main period of expansion occurred in the last three decades of the 20th century to make the village what it is today.Wyrley Bank’ by  the late 17th century and Cheslyn Hay by the late 19th century.  The three lanes, all of which are shown on Yates’ map (1775), retain their original winding course

suewashington.cheslynhayhistory@btinternet.com

Events   Its our Christmas Chat n Char this Thursday 14th November
Due to the general election we had to cancel our Christmas Chat n Char party on the 12th December. Bring your pennies on 14th November and we will have our Christmas Party early, Parliament isn’t going to stop us have a good time.
Remembrance Sunday
This Remembrance Sunday at the 11th hour we are remembering everyone who gave their lives fighting for their country the 57 men on our War Memorial who died in the Great War, also to the memory of the men who gave their lives in the Second World War 1839-1945
Our Salem Base  Our Salem Base is open from  9am – 2pm every Tuesday

What Happened This Week 50/100 years ago…by Mike Belcher

Cannock Advertiser  6th November 1969  Members of Cheslyn Hay Wesley Guild reminisced with headmaster of their village school, Mr. J. R. Martin, when he gave a talk last week entitled “those were the days”.
6th November 1969  Swimming Supervisor Mr. Ernest Carter has retired. Story of his life and achievements.

Cannock Chase Courier  8th November 1919  War Work Record.  Watch has accomplished value of communal kitchens
8th November 1919  Thomas Lockett, of Cheslyn Hay, who failed to appear at the last court, was brought up on a warrant.  Full details.

suewashington.cheslynhayhistory@btinternet.com

Events  No events this week.

Our Salem Base  Our Salem Base is open from  9am – 2pm every Tuesday

What Happened This Week 50/100 years ago…by Mike Belcher

Cannock Advertiser 16th October 1969
Janet Smithyman’s poetry will appear nationally in a book entitled “Children as Writers”  Janet, aged nine, of Wesley Avenue, Cheslyn Hay, was entered into the competition by her form master Mr. John Cartwright.

16th October 1969  Dispute over the use the village football pitch

16th October 1969  Film show at harvest supper

16th October 1969  The funeral of Mr. Ernest Walker of 14, Station Street, Cheslyn Hay.

Cannock Chase Courier  18th October 1919
Story of over a quarter of a century of history of Cheslyn Hay Cricket and Football club.

Law and Order  John Davis, Cheslyn Hay, appeared before the Court for being drunk and disorderly.

Contempt of Court  In connection with the previous case, Thomas Lockett, of Cheslyn Hay, failed to put in an appearance in answer to a charge of using obscene language. 

Memories  Mike Shorter emailed us last week.  It was a bit like “Back to the Future* when I read in this week’s newsletter about my dad (Harry Shorter) being fined 5s 6d and that my mother to be (Hettie Brough) gave a recitation in the Sunday school. At the time they were only aged 15 and 16!

General News

“The Forgotten Places and Characters of Cheslyn Hay”
Our new book that was launched at the Exhibition is priced at £5.00. Postage and packing worldwide will be £5.50 and postal rates for  United Kingdom deliveries will be £1.50  If you wanted a book but didn’t get to the exhibition,  call  Malcolm Podmore 07794 418295 we can deliver locally free of charge.
If you interested in purchasing any of our previous books please contact Malcolm on the above number.

suewashington.cheslynhayhistory@btinternet.com

Events
This years Exhibition in terms of visitor comments, ranked as one of the best we have ever produced 350 visitors made the event a tremendous success. The overall effect of the 25th Anniversary ‘cake’ and the room layout was stunning. The mining Exhibition was very well received, particularly the information boards which made it so easy to follow the mining processes. The result reflects the hard work put in by the committee over many weeks and months and was a credit to every one involved especially Roger Moore whose fantastic eye for design made it so special.

Photo right: Centre Display In Preparation. CLICK HERE to see more photos.
Thanks to all who participated and those who visited our 25th Annual Exhibition

Roger had a full house for last Thursdays Chat n Char where Peter Cadman presented a very interesting talk titled ” Blast Off”, he  spoke on some of the mysteries of space travel fact or fiction you can decide for yourself.

Our Salem Base
Our Salem Base is open from  9am – 2pm every Tuesday

What Happened This Week 50/100 years ago…by Mike Belcher

Cannock Advertiser  9th October 1969  Funeral of Mr. Horton of Cheslyn Hay
9th October 1969  Residents threaten to take law in own hands over the “blind corner” in Cheslyn Hay’s Coppice Lane.

Cannock Chase Courier  11th October 1919  The local “derby” at Shareshill, between the village team and the United, who won by the only goal of the match.  
Memories

Mark Chatterton has sent us an original newspaper cutting ( transcript below)  dated 1916 of the wedding of his grandparents accompanied by a group photograph of the same wedding for our archives.
A very interesting wedding was solemnized at St. Marks Church, Great Wyrley, on Wednesday, the contracting parties being Corporal Wm. Chatterton, R.A.M.C., son of Mr. And Mrs. Thos. Chatterton of Crewe, and Agnes E. Hampton, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. Hampton, of Cheslyn Hay. The bride is well known in the district, and the ceremony, which was performed by the vicar (the Rev. S. Edalji), was attended by a large number of relatives and friends.  The bride, who was given away by her father, wore a charming dress of Charmeuse silk, and she was accompanied by two bridesmaids. Miss M. Chatterton and Miss M. Tew.  The service was choral.  The hymn, “O perfect love,” was sung and Mrs Smith (organist) played Mendelssohn’s Wedding March at the close.  Later in the day, the happy couple left for London, where the honeymoon is being spent.  A large number of useful and costly presents were received.

General News
“The Forgotten Places and Characters of Cheslyn Hay”
Our new book that was launched at the Exhibition is priced at £5.00. Postage and packing worldwide will be £5.50 and postal rates for  United Kingdom deliveries will be £1.00  If you wanted a book but didn’t get to the exhibition,  call  Malcolm Podmore 07794 418295 we can deliver locally free of charge .
suewashington.cheslynhayhistory@btinternet.com

Events
Roger’s Chat n Char is this Thursday 10th October 2019 starting at 10am in the Salem as usual. Our Talk will be “Blast Off“

Our Salem Base
Our Salem Base is open from 9am – 2pm every Tuesday

Salem Event
The Salem are hosting an entertainment’s evening on Saturday 12th October at Salem.
The after dinner entertainment is provided by Limelight. A duo who provides music and monologues from the Victoria Old Time Music Hall era.
Tickets are £12 and include a 3 course meal.
Doors open at 6pm to sit down for a 3 course meal for 6:30pm
Tickets available from
Kate 07907443569   or  Claire 07875658332

What Happened This Week 50/100 years ago…by Mike Belcher

Cannock Advertiser 2nd October 1969  Story of the Cheslyn Hay Working Men’s Club Male Voice Choir
2nd October 1969  Dead trees to be replaced around Mitre Road
2nd October 1969  Story of Karen Thomas dancing her way to fame
2nd October 1969  Rebuilding an old three wheeler is a labour of love for the Dickin family
Cannock Chase Courier  4th October 1919  Court case with Wilfred Lockett, Harry Shorter, Fred Biddle and Albert Wood disputing the charges.

Court case with Harry Russell of Queen Street and Thomas Kingston, Old Falls, both being found guilty.

4th October 1919  Chat from Cheslyn Hay
Several of the Cheslyn Hay collieries in the district have been working short time, and on Wednesday “The Nook Colliery” suspended all operations.
On Monday evening a well attended social was held in the Sunday Schools when the gifts of fruit from the harvest festival were sold.
On Thursday last a Bowls Competition in connection with the Talbot Club took place.  Results and prize winners listed.

Memories
John Russell Davison emailed us this week
I was interested in the entry from Doug Russell and his Locket grandparents (copied below).
I have a similar connection with Doug Russell and his several generations as my g.g.g.grandparents were Joseph Russell (c 1806-1850) and Ann Locket of Cheslyn Hay.  I’d be interested to learn if Doug and I are cousins
Doug Russell
“I attended Cheslyn Hay school from 1943 till 1949.  We lived at 70 High St…..last house on the left going up at the top of High St.  I think my grandma and grandpa  Mo and Liz Locket.….lived at 67 High Street but not quite sure.

General News
Don McCulloch’s funeral is on Friday, 11th October at Bushbury Crematorium at 12.15pm.  Don has been a long standing member who has contributed much to our Society donating all of his research into the schooling of Cheslyn Hay which includes the histories of Pinfold Lane and the Lot Schools  This is currently available in our Base archives as the ‘Don McCulloch Collection’.  Don started life in accountancy but switched to a more rewarding career as a teacher at Moat Hall and Landywood Primary Schools and there is no doubt that he will be warmly remembered by all the pupils that he helped throughout their formative years
suewashington.cheslynhayhistory@btinternet.com

Events

Our Annual Exhibition is at the Village Hall in Pinfold Lane on Saturday October 5th from 10.00 am till 4.00 pm. Entry is free.
We are celebrating 25 years as a Local History Society, please come and join our party. In the main hall will be our grand centre piece displaying our 25 year history. All the photographs in our archives will be available to view and copies may be purchased. As usual we will have experts on hand to help you trace your village ancestors and we also have a special mining exhibition with a memorial to a past member Reg Whittingham. Don’t forget to visit our tearoom where we will have a variety of cakes, bread and dripping and a ploughman’s platter on sale for you to enjoy with a cuppa.

“The Forgotten Places and Characters of Cheslyn Hay”
Our new book will be launched at the Exhibition The book is priced at £5.00.  Postage and packing worldwide will be £5.50 and postal rates for local ( United Kingdom) deliveries will be  £1.00
Our Salem Base

Our Salem Base is open from  9am – 2pm every Tuesday. Committee meeting Tuesday 1st October 1pm

What Happened This Week 50/100 years ago…by Mike Belcher

Cannock Advertiser  25th September 1969    Golden Wedding Anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Laurence Hawkins with details of their lives.
25th September 1969  Cheslyn Hay Youth Club’s programme of canoeing, camping, rock climbing and sailing are now including rifle shooting.
Cannock Chase Courier
Chat from Cheslyn Hay  27th September 1919   The annual Harvest Festival in connection with the Primitive Methodist Church was celebrated on Sunday with lectures and music.

27th September 1919  Walsall League Cheslyn Hay United v Wednesbury Old Park  Full details of match.

suewashington.cheslynhayhistory@btinternet.com