EVENTS Chat n Char this Thursday, 13th April starting at 10am as usual in the Salem’s Main Hall with the title ‘A Day at the Races’ with Roger adding ‘you can wear your best hats if you want to!’
OUR SALEM BASE is open from 9am – 2pm every Tuesday and this week we are holding a get-together of different lines of the Farnell family from 10am onwards with our researchers on hand to help. There will be at least five of the family attending but it is open to everyone.
REQUESTS Judith has just discovered our history group through the internet and emails about her research on her Stokes family ‘Up to now I have been looking in the wrong place as I thought it was Heath Hayes as my Mum used to go and stay on a farm with her Aunt Marinder Stokes who lived there. I am one of the great granddaughters of Lavinia Stokes but my mum and her sisters and brothers have all passed on now but I remember asking about family history so when I found the mention of Inkerman and Marinder Stokes etc I knew we have the same family.’ So Judith is appealing for any help we can provide.
RESPONSES Our researchers have turned up plenty of information for Julie on her Morgan family but it has become more complicated than expected. Elizabeth Morgan (b1864) moved to America in 1910 with her second family and she died there. We are still trying to unravel the marriages however but we have discovered more information on them to pass on to Julie.
The list of donors subscribing to the building of St Mark’s listed last week has prompted members acknowledging the generosity of their forefathers.
And Roger Betts emails ‘Recent references to Methodist chapels in Landywood remind me that I still have a prize awarded to my mother, Alice Whitehouse, in 1906 for “regular attendance” by Upper Landywood Primitive Methodist Sunday School. The prize was a 433 page tome on H.M. Stanley’s travels in Africa. She was 5 years old at the time!’
WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK 50/100 YEARS AGO by Mike Belcher
13th April 1967 Activities at the Cheslyn Hay’s Salem Youth Club.
13th April 1967 Celebration of the golden wedding of Mr Daniel Smith and Mrs Caroline Smith with details of their lives.
13th April 1967 Two of Cheslyn Hay Working Men’s Club’s long serving members died during the weekend. Both were former presidents. Albert Parker and Harry Lockett with full details of their lives.
14th April 1917 Meeting of the Cheslyn Hay Local Relief Committee and Red Cross Society listing the net proceeds of Miss Scragg’s concert and all the garments forwarded on.
14th April 1917 On Easter Monday, a football match was played on the Barn Flat Ground, Cheslyn Hay, between a local team picked from the Old Coppice and Great Wyrley Collieries, and a team from the 16th Leicester’s. Full details with all the local players named.
MEMORIES Further to Peter Cadman’s reference to the buses that travelled along the A34 Mike Birch and Derrick Middleton add their own recollections of different buses and their routes.
EDNA BROWN (nee DAVIS) Details of Edna’s life after she had passed away on Tuesday, 28th March, aged 81.
ADRIAN HAWKINS Son of Major Harold Hawkins MC of The Crescent in Low Street and although he moved away several years ago to Stroud he will probably be remembered as part of the group Johnny Tremayne and the Liberties in the sixties. He died last week in Stroud.
trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net

EVENTS No events this week.
OUR SALEM BASE is open from 9am – 2pm every Tuesday. Open to everyone.
REQUESTS Just received this enquiry from Julie Morgan ‘I wonder if you could help with any information of my husband’s grandfather, John Thomas Morgan, born 27th March 1880 in Chase Terrace and we think his mother was Elizabeth Morgan born 1864 in Brownhills, who married Thomas Henry Webb of Burntwood in 1888. John Thomas married Lucy Bradbury and two of their children were born at Chasetown before they moved away from the area.’ They were a mining family with connections to Cheslyn Hay as John Thomas Morgan’s grandfather was a James Morgan born here in Cheslyn Hay in 1822 and we have a photograph of one of James Morgan’s daughters-in law but still not much more information. So can anyone researching the above mentioned families add any more information?
RESPONSES The response to Geoffrey’s request for information on his grandfather, William Farnell, has been immediate and a meeting at the Salem connecting three lines of the Farnell family has been arranged for a ‘get-together’ at our Salem Base on Tuesday, 11th April starting at 10am. Anyone with an interest in the Farnell are most welcome.
I have checked out John’s request to see if any of his Russell ancestors subscribed to the building of the church in Great Wyrley and we have listed them below.
WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK 50/100 YEARS AGO by Mike Belcher
6th April 1967 News and activities from the Cheslyn Hay Young Wives Club involving Margaret Thomas and Andrew and Stephen Williams of 10 Low Street.
6th April 1967 The success and background of the Cheslyn Hay (Salem) Lawn Tennis Club.
7th April 1917 A meeting of the Local Relief Committee and Red Cross Society, on Friday evening with full details concerning the ‘Roll of Honour’.
7th April 1917 The endeavours of the boys at the local school under Mr W J Simkin providing funds for the National Egg Fund.
MEMORIES This week come from Moss Fisher who responds to Peter Cadman’s ‘Memories’ and adds his own amusing ones on the fifties and what the daily routines were with stories about George Lunt, Jean and Linda Hemmingsley, Maurice Cooper and Glen Ridgway.
WHAT’S IN OUR ARCHIVES After a meeting of the Inhabitants and Owners of Great Wyrley and Cheslyn Hay on 23rd March 1840 this is the list of donors subscribing to the building of a new church, St Mark’s, in Great Wyrley. Headed by the Duke of Sutherland and Lord Hatherton, there were many individual donors from these families – Walhouse, Inge, Lane, Hordern, Smith, Greensill, Sayer, Bowdler, Green, Marshall, Hatton and Strongitharm. Plus individual donors which are all listed in the full newsletter.
trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net

If anyone would like to become a member, memberships are now due for 2017/18. £5 – the same as last year. All cheques to be made out to CH&DLHS and posted to Rob Allan, 9 Coltsfoot View, Cheslyn Hay, Walsall, West Mids WS6 7BG – or via Paypal (see our website www.chdlhs.co.uk) or at our Salem Base.
EVENTS We welcome Richard Field as this month’s speaker on his favourite subject ‘Sir John Betjeman’. This Thursday, 30th March, at the Salem starting at 7.30pm. Admission £1 including refreshments. Everybody welcome.
Our team, led by Peter and Caroline Cadman, had another World War II Day last Monday. This time at the Featherstone Academy and they drew quite an appreciative reaction, not only from the staff but from all of the pupils themselves. A rewarding day.
OUR SALEM BASE is open from 9am – 2pm every Tuesday. Everyone welcome to view our archives and our collection of over 8,500 photographs with advice at hand.
REQUESTS The success of our website (www.chdlhs.co.uk) continues unabated and we continually receive requests from people discovering our site through entering a family name for research. Here a few recent enquiries, all of which are being dealt with this week.
From Constance ‘I’m the granddaughter of Connie Matthews. I would love any information relating to her sad death in 1953 at the Great Wyrley Church House mentioned in your newsletter of 20th January 2013. I’m intrigued as I was named after her but never had the pleasure of knowing her.’ Has anyone any memories of Connie to help Constance in her quest?
Peter Stallard has just come across our newsletter dated 19 October 2014 and would like to see a copy of Mr David Blount’s Class Photograph from the early sixties to revive memories of his old schooldays.
From John Burns who is looking for any information, maps, photographs or reference which might illustrate and/or discuss the extent of open cast mining works that took place, in the past, at or about the Quinton Estate Great Wyrley.
Geoffrey Norman Farnell, son of Horace Norman Farnell and grandson of William Farnell, who was born on the Bonk, has contacted us as he wants to know more about his Farnell family. Geoffrey says he, unfortunately, never had the chance to spend any time with his grandfather William, who was in the South Staffs and gassed on the Somme. His Army number was 6970 and Geoffrey has his medals.
And John from Reigate asks if any of his Russell ancestors subscribed to the building of the church in Great Wyrley ‘for the needs of the local population of 1,547 containing the very poorest and most ignorant in Wyrley and Cheslyn Hay’ adding that this would be unlikely though as they were probably among the poorest and most ignorant!
We are also delighted to comply with a request from the Shareshill Village website wanting four articles which we published in September 2008 to be forwarded to them so that they can include on their own website.
RESPONSES Another example from our website activity is a comment about the life of Cornelius Whitehouse from Celia Godwin dated 4th August 2009, Ray Griffiths replies ‘ I also lived in Bridgtown from the age of 4 in 1936 until the early 1960s and attended Park Street Methodist Church and the youth club. I first learned three of the most well known of the Cornelius Whitehouse carols at Bridgtown Boys School in the early 1940s. Two of the carols were very popular in Bridgtown at that time. My dad had a copy of eight of his carols which I used to play on the piano. I left the Cannock area in 1973 but I still have that music and still play some of the carols at Christmas time.’
ARCHIVE ADDITIONS/ARTEFACTS/DONATIONS A Garforth’s Miners Lamp, made by Eccles, and used by the Deputies. Donated by Paul Ridgway.
WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK 50/100 YEARS AGO by Mike Belcher
30th March 1967 Details of the flood problems for the residents of Low Street, Cheslyn Hay with quotes from Mrs D Dawson of Plot 4 and her neighbour, Mrs S Birch.
30th March 1967 Glancing Backwards from the “Advertiser” 28th March 1942
A story involving two sick old-age pensioners, Mr S Steadman and Mr A Wilkins. Involved are Mr Parkin, Mrs Ballance, Mrs Whitehouse, Mrs Withington, Mrs Mansell,Mr R Pee and Mrs Mellor.
30th March 1967 A special meeting to purchase the Old Falls clay pit at Cheslyn Hay.
31st March 1917 The Sunday School Anniversary in connection with the Primitive Methodist Church was held on Sunday, with names and full details.
31st March 1917 For several years a football carnival has been held on Good Friday, for the Wolverhampton Hospital or the Red Cross Society on the Barn Flat Ground. It has been decided this year to arrange a football match between a team from the Old Coppice Colliery and the Great Wyrley Colliery and a Military team (19th Leicester’s), the proceeds being in aid of the Local Relief Fund and Red Cross Society.
WWI COMMEMORATION This April we commemorate the death of 17100 Thomas Russell of the 2nd Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment, who was killed on 28th April 1917 aged 39, son of Henry and Mary Ann Russell, of 26 Queen Street, Cheslyn Hay, and buried with honour at the Arras Memorial.
ROGER WOLLASTON Roger has sadly passed away last Tuesday, aged 76. Born and bred on the village, Roger, worked as an electrician, but he had a lifetime’s involvement with the Salem Church in many aspects and was well respected by everyone. Funeral will be on Tuesday, 4th April at the Salem at 10.30am.
trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net

EVENTS  Bridgtown Local History Society have a Speakers Morning this Wednesday, 15th March at the Bethel Chapel in Bridgtown starting at 10am with Derrick Middleton giving a talk on ‘Bridgtown’s Park Street and East Street’.  Open to everyone.

OUR SALEM BASE is open from 9am – 2pm every Tuesday.  Everyone welcome.

REQUESTS  Norma emails from Michigan after the recent mention of Walter Bull, ‘he was the postman for Upper Landywood where I grew up.  My Dad, Frank Bowen, told me that Walter was his cousin, but I have since been trying to find the connection.  My dad’s father was William Henry Bowen and William’s mother was Mary Bull who was a Bowen before she married John Bull but try as I might, I have not been able to connect the dots’ and Norma asks for our help.

RESPONSES  Re Phil’s memories of the Prisoners of War, Iris also recalls them working on digging out trenches around where the Holly Bush is today and relates two very poignant stories told by her mother Lucy Heminsley.

Keith Rothery, the Methodist archivist, has now been able to provide more information for Rosie on her quest in researching the Primitive Methodist Chapel which moved to Jacobs Hall Lane in the 1920s and Keith gives full details from the Minute Book of the Trustees Meetings for Jacob’s Hall Lane Primitive Methodist starting from 29th April 1915 at the Newtown Chapel.

NEW PHOTOGRAPHS  One of Martins Garage & Transport before it was bought out by Churchbridge Motors in 1953, a Schrader’s ladies team in a Charity football match, Isaac Stokes at Dudley Training College in 1919, Constance Shacklock (1913-1999) Covent Garden opera singer who appeared at the Salem, also one of her students Marion McCullough, Cheslyn Hay Over Sixty Club outing, photographs of decorator Laurence Turner and his family Connie and John, one of Victor Steadman on the waste ground next to Mac Potts’ house in Pinfold Lane in the 1940s and four football teams of Cheslyn Hay & Great Wyrley in 1952, 1955, 1958 & 1959 with teachers Mr Gardiner, Stan Burton, David Blount & Mr Cadman and – Scott, Graham Benton, Graham Lee, – Emery, Ronnie Benton, Jimmy Goodman, – Richards, John Turner, David Hewitt, Kenny Beeston, Alf Rogers, Keith Lloyd, Alan Fidler, Denis Loverock, John Sneyd, Geoff Illidge, Don Pearson, Tony Perks, Jimmy Dace, Roger Richards, Les Rogers, Robert Whittall, Peter Whitehouse, Harold Sambrook, Ian McLachlan, Roger Denny, Brian Scorer, Clive Heminsley, Manfred Mock, Paul Cope, David Titley & Albert ‘Nipper’ Jones.  £1 per 8×6 Photographic Print.

ARCHIVE ADDITIONS/ARTEFACTS/DONATIONS  Complete set of CDs containing all the 1881 British Census and its National Index, ‘How to trace your Family Tree in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales and ‘The Sutton Companion to Local History’.

OLD NEWSPAPERS researched by Dave Washington  Auction sales of properties owned or occupied by John Cresswell, James Green, Mr Sayer, Thomas Crutchley, Robert Bird, Emanuel Forrester, Thomas Baker, James Brierley, Thomas Bladen, John Walker, Edward Read, William Jennings, Simeon Tuft, Richard Jones, John Allen, Joanathan Westwood, Mrs Russell, Mr W Sayer, Joseph Baker, Joseph Bond, Thomas Perks, William Birch, Mr H P Stanley, Mr W Turner all in the mid 1800s.  Also in the 1950s are auction sales of the redundant Fire Station in Station Street, ‘Talysarn’ 11 Station Road, Great Wyrley and 105 Littlewood owned by Mr J Rogers.  Plus stories concerning William and Mary Horton in 1956 and Mr & Mrs Alfred Hawkins in 1937.  Copy of any Newspaper Report £1.

WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK 50/100 YEARS AGO by Mike Belcher

16th March 1967  Fund raising effort by Cheslyn Hay’s Salem Special Efforts Committee to raise money for the renovation of the Salem Sunday School.
16th March 1967  Silent tribute was observed at the Cheslyn Hay’s Over 60s Club for one of the clubs oldest members, Mrs C Smith, who recently died.  Full details with Mrs D Smith  Mr and Mrs J Kingston,  Mrs C Hassall, Mrs D Smith, Mrs J Edwards, Mrs L Barker, Mrs Poxon, Mrs F Altree and Mrs G Plant.

17th March 1917  William Shorter, of High Street, Cheslyn Hay, boot and shoe maker applied on behalf of his son, Jack Shorter (18) for exemption from conscription.  Full details.
17th March 1917  Richard Jones  (37) also was appealed by his employer, Mr G H Hudson.  Full details.
17th March 1917  William Perks, grocery and provisions merchant, High Street, Cheslyn Hay, applied for his brother, Bertram Perks, (21) a grocer’s assistant.  Full details.

VOLUNTEERS   After starting the mammoth task last year of scanning all our 65 volumes of 8,500 photographs for a back-up system we have now only 16 volumes remaining.  However with new and more urgent projects that we are undertaking we just need a couple of IT literate volunteers, living locally, to complete the work.  One volume can be completed within one week.  Please contact me via the email address below and any help will be greatly appreciated.

GENERAL NEWS  I have just been informed by our member Moss Fisher
OUR WAR MEMORIAL  that the contents of our Royal Observer Corps bunker sited on Middle Hill have been now moved.  Full story given.The Parish Council have managed to procure some funding to have the plaques replaced in the war memorial.  The new plaques will be marble with the lettering incised and lead pressed into the letters and the same company that completed the war memorial cleaning have been contracted for the works, which will take approximately twelve weeks to complete.

CONNIE RICHARDS  Connie’s funeral was held at the Salem Church on Thursday, 9th March, with Connie having passed away on 13th February aged 98.  She lived in Wesley Avenue for many years after moving from Littlewood and was involved in many village activities throughout her life, not only as a member of our Society but a long standing member of the Town’s Women’s Guild.  Connie also worked as a cook at the old William Baxter School when it was based in Cheslyn Hay.

trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net

EVENTS Because of the response to our coach trip to York on Thursday 13th July, Roger might be booking a second coach. For anyone interested please phone 01785 212412 as soon as possible please.
OUR SALEM BASE is open from 9am – 2pm every Tuesday and this week our researcher Vi will be helping Pauline at 11am and Olwen at 12pm in researching their family trees of Hodgkiss & Morgan and Somerfield respectively. Open to everybody.
REQUESTS Our author Dr Alan Jones is still researching the Edalji affair and he is currently looking into the life and times of Dr John Kerr Butter who lived at Highfield House, Wolverhampton Road, Cannock from the 1890s until his death in 1920 and enquires if anyone has information on this gentleman.
RESPONSES More on Albert, son of our Manchester United’s Mac Potts and Jenni, nee Homeshaw from Australia responds with more memories re Maurice Stokes and her times at school and at the ‘brilliant’ St Mark’s Youth Club.
ARCHIVE ADDITIONS/ARTEFACTS/DONATIONS A few items of interest donated by Eddie Wise include an old raw plug tool with fibre raw plugs, an early Victorian hand made furniture pin and two pen nibs. Also three twopenny tokens to be spent behind the bar, two from the Lord Nelson and one from the Cheslyn Hay WMC, donated by Don Kingston.
OLD NEWSPAPERS researched by Dave Washington Sale of freehold investment properties and land in Cheslyn Hay by the trustees of the late T A Hawkins which include details of annual incomes and tenancies of 19, 21, 23 Rosemary Road, 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, 70, 72, 74, 76, 78, 80, 82, 84, 86, 61, 63, 65, 67 Low Street, 132, 134, 136, 138, 140, 142, 144 High Street, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 47 Saredon Road, Glenthorne House converted to 3 dwelling houses and a field, the site of the Sewage Works, in Saredon Road. Staffs Advertiser dated 12 Feb 1948. Newspaper Reports £1 each.
WHAT HAPPENED THIS WEEK 50/100 YEARS AGO by Mike Belcher
2nd March 1967 The success of the Cheslyn Hay’s County Branch Library with their two library assistants Miss J Humpherson and Miss C Denny
3rd March 1917 The outcome of the Billiard Tournament at the local Institute naming D Brian, F Pearson, F Smith and Mr T Williams.
3rd March 1917 Mr T A Hawkins meeting the Allotment Committee and allotees at the Institute to consider the Potato Seed Question, which is undoubtedly a very important matter for the Parish Council and the allotees. Full details given.
3rd March 1917 Crib Tournament at the local Working Men’s Club and Institute naming all the winners.
3rd March 1917 A very well-known and respected citizen, Mr John Hawkins of Low Street passed away on Thursday. Full details given.
3rd March 1917 An inquest on Henry James Gilbert (45) Pinfold Lane, Cheslyn Hay, who met his death while at Great Wyrley Colliery on February 21st with full details with Mr A E Fereday, Charles Gilbert, Isaac Clewley, S Price and Mr Browell.
3rd March 1917 Raising funds for the Local Relief Committee and Red Cross Society, a very successful concert was held at the Salem Sunday School, with details of Miss Scragg, the assistant teachers of the Infants School, and her pupils and the parts they played including in the play “Babes in the Wood”, with Raymond Allen, Doreen Smith, Florence Westwood, D Warrender, Gwennie Davis, L Schofield, Gladys Elwell, A Altree and E Boulton. Another play “Sleeping Beauty” in which the principal parts were taken by George Jones, Dorothy Wesley, Evelyn Perks, Ellis Wright, Elsie Price, Gertrude Turner, Edith Wilcox and Alice Morgan.
MEMORIES This week we complete the Cliff Titley interview with stories of Albert Jackson, Albert ‘Blower’ Russell and Charlie Fletcher, who was also the caretaker at the Salem.
WWI COMMEMORATION This March we commemorate the death of 30558 Garnett Albert Gripton of the 8th Service Battalion of the South Staffs Regiment with full details.
FREE TRIAL If anyone wishes to receive this newsletter every Sunday morning for the next eight weeks complete with all the details that have been omitted from these edited versions you are most welcome to do so without being a member by just contacting me at this email address.
trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net