Cheslyn Hay & District Local History Society

Mike Birch from Australia would like to know more of the Cheslyn Hay/Great Wyrley railway as he remembers the station was sited on the Station Road bridge and Cheslyn Hay was one side and Great Wyrley the other. On Sundays he and his mates would catch the Bloxwich train to Rugeley town then walk to Trent Valley to spend the day trainspotting.  He didn’t think there was a station serving Landywood in those days as there is today and there was only one station in Bloxwich.  Mr Beeching closed this line down many years ago and it remained closed for many years apart from goods trains and when diversions were needed.  Can anyone help?  New member Andrew has sent us a remarkable 137 page long document of the descendants of Joseph Shorter the shoemaker with over 200 descendants including many local names – Dace, Lawson etc. Andrew also supplies more information on the recent enquiries from the Lawson, Stokes and Thomas trees.  and he had information of both sides of Wilfred’s family. And Dorothy from Stone adds to the John Whitehouse and Lydia Dace saga as they were Dorothy’s g-g-grandparents and Julie responds to the Wilkes/Bentons query with full details of their trees as they were also her great grand parents.  A series of new photographs this week include several of the Don and Diane Dance Centre over the last forty years, the christening mug of Joseph Stokes of 1846 and a photo of Joseph Kempson Stokes who was killed in WWI, Emily Hackett in the munitons factory, the Honeytots from the 1960s, Pinfold Lane School photo of 1959 with Mr Martin and Mr Blount and six photos of the Bullivant family including the weddings of Edgar Herriott and Violet as well as Albert and Marion Turner. And for the archives this week we have more newspaper cuttings and pictures of Pinfold Lane football team captained by Jimmy Goodman and vice captain Ronnie Benton, athletics picture of Ian Lawson and two Speech Day pictures and articles including Sid Boswell, Carol Johnson and 13 others.  A price list of Bullock Brothers (Edge Tools) Ltd of the 1950s and a reference for James Whittingham dated 4th July 1951. Newspaper reports from 50 and 100 years ago include the funeral of 30 year old Enoch Marshall that was attended by 2000 people and the death and inquest of local man Sydner Barbeck. The Memories article this week gives a first hand account of Cheslyn Hay as it was in 1946 with all the shops, buildings etc. We welcome all visitors to our base open as usual every Tuesday at the back of the Salem from 10am – 3pm. Fuller details can be forwarded on any of the above items by contacting me at the email address below. trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net

No Comments »

Requests this week include family history enquiries for the Pace and Emery families and responses to previous enquirers provide much information on the Bennetts, Flowers and Stopp families.  Also details of the Dace and Whitehouse marriage and their families as well as the Isaiah, Sophia and Joseph Bate query.  Plus more on the Peppers, Garratts and Westwoods.

New photographs this week cover a complete collection of the Bullivant, Owen, Platt, Bickley and Herriott families.  And new additions for the archives include the signing on forms of Sid Perry for Grimsby Town   in 1937 and a newspaper cutting of him captaining Great Wyrley Juniors in 1933/34 with all names included.  A newspaper cutting of the Golden Wedding Anniversary of Mr & Mrs Joseph Stokes before the war.  A Joseph Kempson Stokes letter home during WWI and his Marriage Certificate to Agnes Cross, together with his Death Certificate and their daughter’s Birth Certificate.  A newspaper report on the death of Sam Bullivant of 7 Cross Street , plus copies of the sale of two houses 163 and 165 Station Street purchased by Fred Perks and George Allman and a Tithe Redemption Certificate for 179 and 181 Station Street by Henry Perks dated 1913.  The newspaper reports of 50 and 100 years ago cover a fire at Wynn’s shop, a branch of the Junior Imperial League being set up and fifty years ago Dora Davis of 10 Wesley Avenue qualified for being a doctor.

And this week’s Memories cover the Bray family, the Parbrooks and the Griptons.

And another 57 viewings on the staffspasttrack website on our Cheslyn Hay photographs in the month of June.

Our Salem Base will be open as usual on Tuesday 10am to 3pm.

More information can be obtained by emailing: trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net

No Comments »

We have our usual display at the Great Wyrley Carnival next Saturday 25th June throughout the day on the Star field at Great Wyrley from midday.
And  on Sunday we have the Cheslyn Hay Gardens Open Day. Best place to start is at Dorset House 68 Station Street, then nos 76 and 82 followed by hot pork and turkey baps (highly recommended) at 97, followed by 79 (cakes etc).  Also 16 Rosemary Road, 60 Coppice Close, 16 Frensham Close, 2 Cleves Crescent, 13 Hatherton Street and the allotments behind Cheslyn Hay Club. £3.00 per person includes admission to all gardens with no charge for children. Unfortunately no wheelchair access.
Our Salem Base will be open as usual on Tuesday 10am to 4pm.
We have had a request this week on the Fletcher family tree and an appeal for more information going back to William F Fletcher whose son William married Elizabeth Ellen Hitchens on 11 July 1864.
Also does anyone know the whereabouts of Brendan Mountfield who lived in Littlewood Road and went to Queen Mary’s Grammar School in Walsall in the fifties.
Gordon Pace from Canada adds some confusion to the Baker enquiry emailing that he’s found a Dace and a Pace marrying Baker around the same time.  John Pace (b 4 June 1788) m Letitia Baker with daughter Elizabeth Pace (Chr C/Hay 25 Aug 1823).  And John Dace also marrying a Letitia Baker 31 Dec 1821 in Cannock.
Photographs received this week are of the Feltons, Harts, Paradines, and two of Reg Hawkins and his family.
And for the archives copies of Horace Horton’s official ARP Card, and Post War Credit Certificates and a Baptism Certificate for Eunice Maud Horton dated 17 January 1923.  A newspaper report on the death of footballer Maxie Potts and the Official Scorebook of Cheslyn Hay Cricket Club for season 1922 which includes the names of Elwell, Lawson, Altree, Bown, Horton, Marshall, Linnell, Goodman, Hood, Mason, Hawkins, Perrins, Kingston, Williams, Perry, Adams, Gallatley, Pratt, Mason, Hodson and Brough.  Also Membership Cards for the 1928 and 1929 seasons with a full list of patrons and committees.  And three articles on the growth of the Cheslyn Hay and Great Wyrley since Roman times, the local geological history and a general history of the area.
And this Memories come from a fascinating stroll around the village in 1946 and how things have changed.
More information from any of the above can be obtained from the email below.  Free of course.

trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net

No Comments »

Norman emails to help Joan from Canada with ‘John Pearce married Ann Collier, who was born in Dudley in 1805 and their son was Enoch who moved to Cheslyn Hay in about 1863.
Our Salem Base will be open as usual on Tuesday 10am to 4pm and last week we had six visitors including a member of the Pepper family researching her family tree.  This was a pure coincidence after Marlene’s request of last week on the same family. We were able to supply photographs and in particular the newspaper cutting of her g-grandfather’s death down the pit.
Two new photographs this week include the sons of Charles and Eliza Fletcher during the Second World War – Colin and Charles on one and Dennis and Reginald on the other.
Last week’s requests were met with more successful responses this week.  Re the Benton enquiry, Joseph married Sarah Taylor on 28th August 1825 in Aston Birmingham.  Also the Perry family home in the early 20th century was Rosemary Road or as it was then known the Railroad.  And Iris (nee Whitehouse) will be contacting Gary in France to update him as Willie Wilkes is part of her direct family line.
And for our archives we have received a copy of Henry Hawkins 1925 will, newspaper cutting of Wolves player George Bowen (b Cheslyn Hay), a Sunday School Prize Book presented to Enoch Pearson in March 1898, the Official ARP Guidebook for the Householder and the Air Raid Warden and a very interesting edition of the Illustrated London News of June 1913.
And for this week’s ‘Memories’ we just include a couple of snippets that have been generated from recent comments in the Newsletters.  More on Ron’s story of his father’s accident down Hawkins’ pit and the death of Frank Hemmingsley.  Also the story of Bill Whitehouses’s life together with three amusing stories from an old evacuee including one with Ernie Carter the old Headmaster.
And as mentioned last week we have over 150 Births, Deaths and Marriage certicates available and here is the list.  All are available at our Base but if anyone wants copies they are £1 each including postage but please check with me first for Christian names etc to ensure it’s the right certificate!

Births (Fathers) – Barratt, Brevitt, Brough, Davis, Edmunds, Grigg, Harper, Hawkins, Jukes, Kingston, Marsh, Merchant, Moore, Norman, Pearson, Perks, Perry, Rhodes, Sanders, Steadman, Stokes, Tonks , Webb, Whitehead, Whitehouse.

Births (Mothers) -  Bate, Bird, Brevitt, Bullock, Davis, Edmunds, Evans, Farmer, Gill, Grimley, Handley, Harper, Hughes, Hyles, Jukes, Leadbeater, Martin, Nightingale, Rhodes, Sanders, Somerfield,  Sambrook, Sharman, Smith, Slocombe, Stokes, Smith, Stanton, Tufft, Thomas, Upton, Windsor, Whitehouse.

Marriages (Grooms) – Arnold, Baker, Bates, Boucher, Boulton, Brough, Bullafin, Collier, Davies, Dunning, Edwards, Grigg, Harvey, Kingston, Marsh, Martin, Nightingale, Norman, Pearson, Perks, Perry, Poyner, Pugh, Sharp, Stallard, Steadman, Stokes, Tonks, Turner, Webb, Whitehead, Whitehouse.

Marriages (Brides) – Arnold, Benton, Birch, Brevitt, Brindley, Brough, Butler, Causer, Davis, Dutton, Edmunds, Elliot, Farmer, Green, Grimley, Harper, Jukes, Layland, Lockett, Martin, Morgan, Nightingale, Norman, Parbrook, Pearson, Perks, Perry, Pritchard, Plant, Podmore, Rhodes, Stanley, Stokes, Smith, Slocombe, Savage, Sanders, Stanton, Turner, Wedge, Whitehouse, Whitehead, Yates.

Deaths – Arnold, Baker, Brough, Cartwright, Grice, Grigg, Groome, Hawkins, Jenkins, Kempson, Merchant, Nightingale, Norman , Pearson, Perks, Poyner, Reaney, Sharp, Stokes, Whitehead, Whitehouse.

trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net

No Comments »

Peter Cadman is giving a talk on his memories of his growing up in Cheslyn Hay in the fifties for our Thursday Coffee Morning. (9th June).  The title is ‘Remember When’ and I’m sure his nostalgia will be of interest to everyone.  Open at 10am at the rear of the Salem and all are welcome. Our Salem Base will be open as usual on Tuesday 10am to 4pm.  Last week we had 10 visitors including a nice get together of old friends to meet up with Arthur Davies from Canada. Requests this week come from Canada on the Pepper family who lived in the Great Wyrley Colliery yard in 1911 and would like to contact any of the family still in the area.  Also Gary from France is tracing his wife’s local connections of the Wilkes, Knowles and the Perry families.  Responses from last week include much more information on Joseph Baker, Elizabeth Perks and also Henry Pearson (b1791) and Sarah Whitehouse (b1795) from members with the same family trees. New photographs handed in include one of the Slings Cottages, a Chysanthemum Show, a couple of photos of the 1977 Jublilee Bowls Tournament at the Woodman and one of Harold Sambrook.  Also a postcard of Sheila Ridgway and Vera Pringle on the swings at the Rec and a group of children outside Picken’s shop all named as Brian Parry, Bobby \Picken, Geoff Stokes, Jean Parry and Eileen Evans.  Also donated for our archives are a New Testament of Elsie Fletcher 34 High Street, a Salem Sunday School service for Whitsuntide 1933 including 11 hymns as well as a handwritten list of wedding gifts for the 1935 Hawkins/Fletcher wedding listing all the donors and their gifts. And to complete Ron Whitehouse’s memories, we have a very poignant and a tragic story to remind us of what dangers the miners faced each and every day of their working lives and it includes the tragic death of the brave fireman Harry Hemmingsley in 1944, whilst Harry Whitehouse and Harold Kingston both survived.  More details of any of the above can be obtained by contacting me at   trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net

No Comments »

Our Salem Base will be open as usual on Tuesday 10am to 4pm but this week Arthur Davies is visiting us from Canada and he will be meeting up with some old friends and acquaintenaces including Dr Dora Mann (nee Davis) and Alf Newell and he would love to meet up with anyone from the old days. Arthur will be there at 2pm.
A request comes from Australia this week asks for information on the Bate/Bates family. In particular Isaiah and Sophia Bate (nee Stokes) and their son Matthew who married Eliza Whitehouse.  Isaiah died in a mining accident on 8 January 1864 at Great Wyrley.
And Joan from Canada requests details on John Pearce (b1806) and wife Ann Collier, Henry Pearson (b1791) and wife Sarah Whitehouse, Phoebe Whitehouse (b1791), William Biddle (b1801) and wife Maria Foreman.
Responses to recent requests include contact with the son of Albert Kendall, who was killed at the Leacroft pit on 26th January 1943.  And more is added to the Edward and Clara Brough information with news of their daughter Hannah who married Frederick Horton in 1889.  We have also put Joan from Canada in touch with one of our members who is part of the Biddle family and we have much more information on the John Whitehouse/Lydia Dace marriage as well as the Benton family.
New photographs include Carol Lyons with her Brownie pack, a Woodman Bowling team, nurse Lily Ewers, and one of nurse Ann Elsmore at the Isolation Hospital and a mystery photograph of a play at Great Wyrley High School.  Also for our archives, an old magazine featuring Birmingham in the 1930s.
From the recent ‘Memories columns, we have had information on PC Murtagh, Sgt Tommy O’Neil and a very poignant snippet on Oliver Cadman who was killed down Hawkins pit in 1938.
This week’s nostalgia covers tales of Claude Green of ‘Monty the Bull’ fame and life on Bunter Kinston’s farm in the 1940s.
Fully details can be obtained from the email below and we welcome all enquires.
trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net

No Comments »

Our Speaker this month is Marion Canning on Thursday 26th May 2011 at the Salem at 7.30pm, admission £1 including refreshments.  The title of Marion’s talk is ‘An Unusual Job for a Lady’.  She is excellent and one not to miss.
Our Salem Base will be open as usual on Tuesday 10am to 4pm.  Last week we entertained Arthur Davies from Canada, who says he will pop in again and see us again before he returns.
Requests this week include an enquiry on the history of Hawkins Colliery and one on the Pearson family tree from Cheslyn Hay.  And also information is sought on Charlie Towle the professional boxer.
And we had a marvellous response to last week’s enquiry from Joan in Canada.  Much information on Enoch Pearce and the Whitehouse/Dace marriage but we have also been able to put her in touch with someone who remembers Joan’s mother on her last visit here over fifty years ago.
Also we have been able to add much more to the enquiries on the Baker family and the Broughs. New photographs for our archives include Syd Perry of The Lot in kit who played for Torquay United in the 1938/9 season, a Brough family group that also include the Baileys, and one of the marriage of Lottie Read (nee Pratt) and Jack Bradford including the Pratts and John Riley.  Also a Tramps Supper held at the Salem Church in the early 1970s with Margaret & Bob Whittall, Neil & Ian Whittall, Les & Jimmy Moorhouse, Ivor, Julie Osborne & Gary Osborne, John Radford, Jim & June Bullock, Ruth Crook, Pat Mason and David Leach with many others unnamed. This week’s Memories include some amusing stories from the fifties about the policemen that served Cheslyn  Hay, including PC Merter, Tommy O’Neal and PC Alec Weeks.
More details by contacting me at – trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net

No Comments »

Our base at the Salem will open as usual on Tuesday 10am to 4pm.
And requests this week are for the Perry family from Cheslyn Hay and in particular of the couple Florence Perry, who married Benjamin Hawkins in Fremantle in West Australia on 4 March  1913.
Florence was the youngest child of Joseph Perry (1853 – 1919)  and Mary Kent (b1856 d1890s).  And help is needed for the research of Henry Pearson (born c1801-05) who married Elizabeth Benton.  plus an enquiry for the Stanton connections in our area.
Also from Ontario a lady is researching her roots that involve the Pearce, Whitehouse and Dace families.
And once again we are indebted to everyone who takes the time to reply to our weekly requests to make this Weekly Newsletter so satisfying in helping so many members in their researches.  And this week is no exception.  Firstly we have the location now of Bleak House, plus details of  the Bentons in Upper Landywood and May Snape’s shop, and the Farringtons living in the house next door from 1940.  And Brian Hughes answers Jill’s request from Australia with a full and comprehensive family tree with certificates of the Withington family together with a very interesting story over the last 200 years.  It has been sent on to Jill but is available to our members on request.
But Jill Dorney’s request  about Joseph Baker from last week seems to have hit the jackpot.  Three detailed replies outlined family trees, births, deaths and marriages and even newspaper reports including other local families Perks, Evans, Wootton and Smith.   And finally more details were required on Simeon Tuft going back over 200 years.
In our request for more information on serving policemen and women in Cheslyn Hay, we have received this addition ‘In the 1950s at Brinsford Lodge Featherstone, the hutments that had been built to house the workmen building the factory complex there were left after the war and they were made into a teachers training college for the Malayans.  In the late 1950s there was a fire in one of the huts and several people died and it is believed that one of the policemen from Cheslyn Hay got a commendation for helping to identify the bodies.’
New photographs include the Price family dated 1942.  Beatrice (nee Wilkes) and Jim Perry of the Lot.  A childrens Christmas Party including Jean Parry, Janet Marshall, Mike Belcher, Annette Poxon, Maureen Bladen, Joyce and Pattie Brown,  Pam Shirley, Alan Courtney, Harold Sambrook and three Kingston sisters and a couple unnamed.  A very old sepia photograph of Edward and Clara Brough of the Lot – not dated but they married in 1833!  A 1954 presentation at the Salem with a clear view of the audience waiting for someone to name them. The last day of the William Baxter School and Tom Kingston on the steps of the Nelson Inn.  All available at our Base.
This week Memories come from Peter Cadman on ‘The Cricket Season on the Village’ with fond remembrances of his dad Joe Cadman naming Horace Horton, Percy Poole, Sid Thacker, the Grey-Davies brothers, Les and Jim, David Hewitt, Owen Lawson, Tim and Philip Perks, Ivan Massey, Frank Hemmingsley, Ian Scott, Mr Pee, Bill Cadman, Badger Wesley, Boyd Price, John Dicken, John Hemminsley, Gary Cooper, Tim Perks, Chris Grundy, Gary Cartwright and Chris Harrison.
More details can be had from emailing -
trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net

No Comments »

Coffee morning should be special this week as it is a slide show and a talk on the ‘Razza’ presented by Derek Middleton and David Battersby.  Thursday, 12th May in the Lecture Room at the rear of the Salem starting at 10.30am and is free.
Our Salem Base will be open as usual on Tuesday 10am to 4pm.  Last week we had another four visitors with interests in the Perry and Kendall families.
Requests this week  include information on Joseph Baker born about 1802, son of Joseph & Elizabeth Baker who farmed in Landywood Lane Essington.
And from recent requests we are able to provide information on Walter Bull the postman, as well as Mrs Lawson’s (nee Owen) and Gladys Hewitt.   Also more details of the Bowen family tree including addresses and wills.  And a couple of anecdotes re some of the village characters Bunter Kingston, Claude Green, Nurse Flint and PC Harold Barnett.
An appeal for details of Bleak House in Great Wyrley and the dancing troupe The Bunnies or The Cats, split off groups from the Gingham Girls in the 1960s.
New photographs handed in include Rosemary Tileries in the 1940s with 13 workmen.  And some recently taken photographs of the Woodman before being demolished last week.  Also for our Archives two School Reports of Elsie Morris from Pinfold Lane School dated 1933 and an Abbey Dropforging Ltd brochure with its history and photographs.
This week’s nostalgia comes from Eileen (nee Whitehouse) from Cemetery Street relating to games everybody played in and around the war years plus life in the 1940s with mention of names like
Alan Goodman, Harry Bate and Cliff Titley.
More details from the email address below.
trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net

No Comments »

Our Salem Base will be open as usual on Tuesday 10am to 4pm.  Last week we had four visitors including Marion from Cardiff and we all shared a ‘eureka’ moment when we discovered the long lost Simeon Tuft family connection to Cheslyn Hay going back to the 1700s.
Requests this week come from Norma (nee Bowen) in Canada emails ‘My dad, Frank Bowen, was born and grew up at 4, Hatherton Street and I have been trying to trace his family but with little success. They were related to the Bulls and our postman was Walter Bull who, my dad said, was his cousin.  I was told the Bulls lived in the Fever Hospital.  I wonder if anyone there has any information about any of this?’
And responses to last weeks ‘Requests’ include details of  the families of Howard Benton and Doris and Sid Whitehouse from  Holly Lane, Upper Landywood. Plus a full family tree from William Whitehouse b1818 right down to his descendants today.
One new photograph of the Cheslyn  Hay Villa football team outside the Rose and Crown in the early 1920s including William Jellyman and his son.
And adding to our documentary archives this week is a copy of the Whitehouse family tree stretching back to 1821.  Also a St Marks Church Magazine June 1963, Cheslyn  Hay Carnival Programme 1977, 1983 Operation South Cannock Magazine with Joe and Bill Cadman photographed on the front cover, and copies of some wonderful items from the 1930s and the war years including the Rule Book of the Cannock Collieries Works League 1938/39, a Programme of Harrisons Sports Day 2nd August 1937, a Public Notice warning of the invasion and listing the Invasion Committee, a detailed list of names and addresses of the ARPs and a 23 page booklet listing all important Centres of Activities and all personnel from Billeting Officers to the WVS plus a map of the village highlighting all the pumps, wells and public shelters.  Also a chalk drawing of a seaside castle by Joseph Kingston on the back of his Club and Institute Union of Merit framed card dated 9th August 1939.
And the Memories Column this week relates to the plane crashes  in Cheslyn Hay during the war and Joe Cadman with his schoolday memories at Pinfold Lane and of teachers Miss Sanders, Miss Hulse, Dora Moseley (Mrs Cooper), Miss Abbey Sambrook (Mrs Fairfield), Corona Brough (Mrs Price), Walter J. Simkin, Ikey Stokes, Ernie Carter, Jack Martin and Mr Blount.  Plus other well known names from the village.
Fuller details of the Weekly Newsletter can be obtained for free by emailing
trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net

No Comments »

Our Guest Speaker this Thursday 28th April is Patsie Jarman on ‘Advertisements from Bygone Times’ at the Salem starting at 7.30pm.  Admission £1 including refreshments.
Our Salem Base will be open as usual on Tuesday 10am to 4pm.  Last week we had researchers on the Showell and Kendall family trees.
We have received a request from someone researching their Kendall family tree and who asks if anyone has any information on the death of Albert Kendall who was killed down the pit in January 1943.   Plus an enquiry from another researcher who has two families interlinked with Cheslyn Hay – the Daces and the Beasleys together with the address ‘Dace’s Lot’ where both families lived in the mid to late 1800s.
And more successful responses from last weeks enquiries include a full Withington family tree and confirmation of the marriage of Thomas Withington and Harriet Wood from Cheslyn Hay in 1873 and  more details of the lives of Trudge Harris and Ted Ridgeway.
Just one photograph handed in and it is of a presentation in 1950 with Frank Bowen receiving a trophy with Mr Starkey, George Head, Bill Lockley and three unnamed people looking on, and two family trees added to our Archives – the Pearsons Family Tree going back to Henry Pearson 1778 inc Wm Whitehouse b1818 and Eliz Benton d1887 and the Withington tree as mentioned.
And Dorothy Drage supplies this week’s Memories with her story of her connection with Cheslyn Hay and her times there with her beloved Gran Rose Craddock (nee Allen).
We have also been offered a record of Howard Benton and the local choirs in the early 1950s made on an old LP.  If there is any interest we intend to have it copied and transferred to a CD and sold, not to make any money, but purely at a nominal cost. Alan Jones is the organist.  All enquiries to me at this email address.
I’m always pleased to respond to any enquiries connected to Cheslyn Hay and the nearby areas.

trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net

No Comments »

We have a gazebo with a suitable display to celebrate St George’s Day on Saturday 23rd April at Harrison’s Club in Wharwell Lane in Great Wyrley, with the Town Crier starting the event with a parade at noon and it carries on throughout the afternoon.
Our Salem Base will be open as usual on Tuesday 10am to 4pm.
Two requests this week.  One from Jill, who left these shores for Australia in 1970, who is after more information on the family of Thomas Withington (b 1852 Gt Wyrley) who married Harriet Wood (b 1856 Wyrley) and one from Amanda who is trying to trace Bernard Masefield who lived in Queens Street at the 1901 census and believed to have married Matilda Morris.
Excellent responses to last weeks requests include four photographs of Mike Birch‘s father Harry as well three photos of Sheila Ridgway’s father Ted at Hawkins in the wartime Fire Service. And we also have photos of Sheila’s friends Mary Massey and Vera Pringle, but amazingly we are able to satisfy her request by supplying the Express & Star photograph of herself on the swings at the Rec.  And two members also recall her father Ted Ridgway with a couple of warm memories.
And Tony Bibb, who spent his earlier years in Wedges Mills relates stories of Trudge Harris and the Middle Hill Hutments. And further to Peter’s request, information is provided that ‘Joseph Edward Kingston married Mary Asbury in 1881 at Great Wyrley Church.  Joseph died in 1936 and Mary in 1946.  In the 1911 census they lived at 11 High Steet, Cheslyn Hay and their youngest daughter Florrie wasn’t born until 1907.  Mary’s sister Ann Asbury married Phineas Baker at Great Wyrley Church in 1888 and they lived at 18 Low Street.’
And Stuart Pearson has offered Lisa all his researches on the Whitehouses connected to his Pearson family tree, and Jean from West Bromwich has confirmed that John Whitehouse and Lydia Dace were married in June 1833 at St Peters in Wolverhampton and adds more information to the tree.
New photographs this week include a 1926 wedding of Herbert Smith of Coppice Lane and Hilda Bradbury Yates and families and one of Middle Hill before the Toll Road whilst we have had a base of a cup donated to us with a mystery.  It has 12 shields on the base, starting with winners Chadsmoor Progressive 1944 and 1945.  Uxbridge A is 1950, the Woodman won it in 1952 but the other 8 shields are engraved ‘Cheslyn Hay’, the last one being 1955.  Is it the base to a Bowls Cup?  And can anyone help with more information?  Also donated are some Marriage and Death certificates, School reports and Testimonials which include the names Frederick Craddock, George Wootton, James Hiram Pearson, Violet Jane Onions and Frances Colley.
After last week’s memories on WW II we have Olive Kendall’s (nee Whitehouse) wonderful memories of the 1930s.
Full information can be gained through contact at
trevor.cheslynhayhistory@talktalk.net

No Comments »