Wolverhampton City Archives are seeking submissions for the fifth annual Wolverhampton Local History Symposium, to be held at Bantock House Museum on Sat 19 Feb 2011. Researchers selected to speak at the event will have a chance of winning the local History Bursary worth £150.
The aim of the event is to encourage original research into a previously untapped aspect of Wolverhampton’s history and heritage. Entrants chosen to speak will be asked to give a twenty minute presentation of their research at the Symposium. The bursary of £150 will be awarded to the winning entrant to assist with further research.
For further details contact:
Wolverhampton Archives & Local Studies
Molineux Hotel Building, Whitmore Hill, Wolverhampton WV1 1SF
01902 552480 or email archives@wolverhampton.gov.uk
Tuesday 16 November 2010
Monday 1 November 2010
Black Country Society AGM
The Black Country Society AGM will be held on Wednesday 23 March 2011, starting at 7.30pm, prior to our speaker, who's topic is 'Whistling Round the World'.
The meeting will be held at the Black Country Living Museum.
All members are welcome, this is your opportunity to discuss issues relating to the Society.
Mike Pearson (Editor)
The meeting will be held at the Black Country Living Museum.
All members are welcome, this is your opportunity to discuss issues relating to the Society.
Mike Pearson (Editor)
Sunday 17 October 2010
Black Country 1969 DVD released - pre-sales available from Amazon
As friends and supporters of MACE I’m emailing you all today to let you know that (as some of you already know) our first DVD release, The Black Country 1969, will be released on 1st November – and that, as well as being available to pre-order directly from MACE, it is now available for pre-order via Amazon.
The full Amazon link is: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Black-Country-1969-DVD/dp/B004413DYQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1286889646&sr=1-1
The full Amazon link is: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Black-Country-1969-DVD/dp/B004413DYQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=dvd&ie=UTF8&qid=1286889646&sr=1-1
LAUNCH OF THE 2011 MIDLANDS FAMILYAND LOCAL HISTORY FAIR
Details of the third West Midlands Family and Local History fair have now been finalised.
Organised by the West Midlands Group of Family Histories Societies, this major event will take place on Saturday, 6 August 2011 at the Worcester Rugby Club, Sixways Stadium, Worcester from 10am until 4pm.
Phil Bufton, co-ordinating member of the Group said: "This event has now become an important fixture in the Family History Fair Calendar.
Because of this and in order to accommodate the growing number of organisations wishing to attend, we had to obtain larger premises.
Worcester Rugby Club, which is easily accessed from Junction 6 of the M5, provides a great deal of space on one level, with considerable car parking nearby.
The Club has wonderful amenities and should provide a perfect venue for a wonderful day out."
Further information for organisations wishing to book places can be obtained from Phil Bufton, philbufton@hotmail.com or from Jackie Cotterill, gensec@bmsgh.org. Website http://www.rootsweb.com/~ukhfhs/wmag.html
Organised by the West Midlands Group of Family Histories Societies, this major event will take place on Saturday, 6 August 2011 at the Worcester Rugby Club, Sixways Stadium, Worcester from 10am until 4pm.
Phil Bufton, co-ordinating member of the Group said: "This event has now become an important fixture in the Family History Fair Calendar.
Because of this and in order to accommodate the growing number of organisations wishing to attend, we had to obtain larger premises.
Worcester Rugby Club, which is easily accessed from Junction 6 of the M5, provides a great deal of space on one level, with considerable car parking nearby.
The Club has wonderful amenities and should provide a perfect venue for a wonderful day out."
Further information for organisations wishing to book places can be obtained from Phil Bufton, philbufton@hotmail.com or from Jackie Cotterill, gensec@bmsgh.org. Website http://www.rootsweb.com/~ukhfhs/wmag.html
Sunday 3 October 2010
St John's Preservation Group - WATERPROOFING WORKS - £16,000 FUNDS NOW AVAILABLE
At the St John's Church Preservation Group committee meeting on 7th September (our first committee meeting which was also open to the public) we agreed unanimously to 'go for it' and use £2095 from our reserves to make up the £16000 we needed to raise to waterproof St John's Church. This decision was made possible by the £3000 donated by Mr Richard Whitehouse a few weeks ago. Without this money we could not have risked using our reserves as we would have been left with no reserve at all. We have a policy of reserving 10% of all earned and donated income against contingencies and future replacements/renewals. We are also very grateful to Mr Bill Wilkinson who donated £2000 so that we could open the office/drop in centre next door to the church in May. The drop in is proving to be invaluable as a contact point and place to bring donations.
We have notified the Diocese that the funds are now available and we are awaiting a reply regarding the next steps to be followed. The 'faculty', the permission needed for work to take place on a church building, was granted a year ago so we are hoping for a short time line - certainly we want to see St John's waterproofed for this winter.
We are now, for a short time, (we hope), allocating all funds raised to reinstate the reserves, before we can move on to the next appeal.
We feel this is a good time to mention that no-one in the Preservation Group has as yet ever claimed any expenses ie petrol, bus fare or telephone. Those who volunteer have considered these costs to be an extra donation to the cause.We have no paid staff. Please keep sending your donations, raising funds for us and bringing clothes, shoes, tombola prizes etc to the drop in. Without this regular support we can't operate and we massively appreciate every single donation.
Many thanks again to all who have helped to raise this £16,000 - the list is too long to mention here but a list will be prepared. This has been a real community effort involving individuals, pubs and clubs and a loyal local media who have followed our efforts to Save St John's very closely. This is the first step in a long process of saving and restoring St John's - but it will be done and the good news still is of course that the last survey in January 2008 confirmed that the building is repairable and did not need to have been fully closed to the public. Our next aim is obviously to get the building re-opened even if only for a few hours a week.
LIGHTNING CONDUCTOR
More good news here. English Heritage have now approved the fitting of a Pulsar Lightning Conductor to St John's subject to agreement regarding how it will be fixed to the tower roof.
A Pulsar Lightning Conductor protects the whole building whereas the more traditional lightning rods as fitted now (but broken) protect only the tower and one third of the rest of the building. The building has no lightning protection at all at the moment.
We are now awaiting arrangements for the churchwarden to give access to the contractor to gain access to the tower roof, from inside the tower to see how the Pulsar can be fitted - whether a tripod will be needed or if a roof fitting is possible.
The Lightning Conductor will be funded by a £5000 grant from Dudley MBC Central Area Funds Committee.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEASIBILITY STUDY
The feasibility study is very behind schedule. We are still working with the consultants and St John's Church Steering Group on the contents and wording of the questionnaire. The delay has been partly our fault with slow responses due to us trying to consult widely, which has been difficult with key people who we wanted to speak to being away on holiday. As at when we do agree the form (which shouldn't be long now) we will need an ARMY of volunteers to deliver the questionnaires and fetch them back, and very quickly if we are to pull back some of the time slippage.
Please email if you will be willing to help.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VICTORIAN SOCIETY ARTICLE - The Victorian Society, Birmingham & West Midlands Group - Autumn 2010 Newsletter ON ATTACHMENT
Big thanks to the Birmingham and West Midlands Victorian Society for their loyal support for our cause. Please read the article in the current magazine which is on attachment and consider joining the society if you have an interest in Victorian and Edwardian architecture. St John's Church dates from the Victorian era.
Link to the Birmingham and West Midlands Group http://www.victorian-society-bham.org.uk/
We have notified the Diocese that the funds are now available and we are awaiting a reply regarding the next steps to be followed. The 'faculty', the permission needed for work to take place on a church building, was granted a year ago so we are hoping for a short time line - certainly we want to see St John's waterproofed for this winter.
We are now, for a short time, (we hope), allocating all funds raised to reinstate the reserves, before we can move on to the next appeal.
We feel this is a good time to mention that no-one in the Preservation Group has as yet ever claimed any expenses ie petrol, bus fare or telephone. Those who volunteer have considered these costs to be an extra donation to the cause.We have no paid staff. Please keep sending your donations, raising funds for us and bringing clothes, shoes, tombola prizes etc to the drop in. Without this regular support we can't operate and we massively appreciate every single donation.
Many thanks again to all who have helped to raise this £16,000 - the list is too long to mention here but a list will be prepared. This has been a real community effort involving individuals, pubs and clubs and a loyal local media who have followed our efforts to Save St John's very closely. This is the first step in a long process of saving and restoring St John's - but it will be done and the good news still is of course that the last survey in January 2008 confirmed that the building is repairable and did not need to have been fully closed to the public. Our next aim is obviously to get the building re-opened even if only for a few hours a week.
LIGHTNING CONDUCTOR
More good news here. English Heritage have now approved the fitting of a Pulsar Lightning Conductor to St John's subject to agreement regarding how it will be fixed to the tower roof.
A Pulsar Lightning Conductor protects the whole building whereas the more traditional lightning rods as fitted now (but broken) protect only the tower and one third of the rest of the building. The building has no lightning protection at all at the moment.
We are now awaiting arrangements for the churchwarden to give access to the contractor to gain access to the tower roof, from inside the tower to see how the Pulsar can be fitted - whether a tripod will be needed or if a roof fitting is possible.
The Lightning Conductor will be funded by a £5000 grant from Dudley MBC Central Area Funds Committee.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
FEASIBILITY STUDY
The feasibility study is very behind schedule. We are still working with the consultants and St John's Church Steering Group on the contents and wording of the questionnaire. The delay has been partly our fault with slow responses due to us trying to consult widely, which has been difficult with key people who we wanted to speak to being away on holiday. As at when we do agree the form (which shouldn't be long now) we will need an ARMY of volunteers to deliver the questionnaires and fetch them back, and very quickly if we are to pull back some of the time slippage.
Please email if you will be willing to help.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
VICTORIAN SOCIETY ARTICLE - The Victorian Society, Birmingham & West Midlands Group - Autumn 2010 Newsletter ON ATTACHMENT
Big thanks to the Birmingham and West Midlands Victorian Society for their loyal support for our cause. Please read the article in the current magazine which is on attachment and consider joining the society if you have an interest in Victorian and Edwardian architecture. St John's Church dates from the Victorian era.
Link to the Birmingham and West Midlands Group http://www.victorian-society-bham.org.uk/
Are You a Bell Ringer?
The St John's Church Restoration Group are looking to set up a handbell ringing group. Anyone interested please email Deb Brownlee at debbrownlee@hotmail.co.uk
Tuesday 24 August 2010
Dave Swarbrick (Fairport Convention) only Black Country Night
RoosterSpake Presents The Legendary Dave Swarbrick (Fairport Convention)
Venue: "The Omma un Chain Music Club", The Crosswells Inn Langley
Date: Saturday October 30th Tickets £6.00
Contact: Lozz 01384 231013 lozz@blackcountrypodcasting.com
Only Black Country Appearance Don’t Miss!!
Full support Local Artists Support all local ‘live’ ‘original’ music.
Venue: "The Omma un Chain Music Club", The Crosswells Inn Langley
Date: Saturday October 30th Tickets £6.00
Contact: Lozz 01384 231013 lozz@blackcountrypodcasting.com
Only Black Country Appearance Don’t Miss!!
Full support Local Artists Support all local ‘live’ ‘original’ music.
Thursday 19 August 2010
Women Chain Makers Strike
Wednesday 19 October 1910 marked the end of a nine week strike that involved around 1000 women chain makers living in the area immediately around Cradley Heath who refused to work until they all received the newly-agreed minimum rate of 2½d an hour. Small chain making was the first industry to obtain minimum wage legislation, and local people, rightly, look back on the part they played in this campaign with pride.
Thanks to the arrival of Pathé news in June 1910, the scandal of the women’s sweated labour attracted world-wide interest and sympathy from influential people who gave their support to the cause.
The meeting where the dispute ended was held in the schoolroom of Grainger’s Lane Primitive Methodist Church, the same place where it had begun on 22 August, when the formidable Mary Macarthur of the National Federation of Women Workers inspired the women to stand up for their rights. It was from these same premises that the women received their strike pay, and there that they held a mammoth tea-party with bread supplied by well-wishers. Sadly that building was demolished in 2007, after its congregation had re-located to Overend Methodist Mission. The leadership of the church in 1910 included people from all sections in the dispute, and some of their descendants are members at Overend today.
It seemed highly appropriate to commemorate the centenary of this event locally and so a celebration service is being held at Overend Church, Banner’s Lane, Cradley on Sunday 17 October at 6.00 pm. All are welcome to attend. Further details from Margaret Bradley 01384 567274.
Thanks to the arrival of Pathé news in June 1910, the scandal of the women’s sweated labour attracted world-wide interest and sympathy from influential people who gave their support to the cause.
The meeting where the dispute ended was held in the schoolroom of Grainger’s Lane Primitive Methodist Church, the same place where it had begun on 22 August, when the formidable Mary Macarthur of the National Federation of Women Workers inspired the women to stand up for their rights. It was from these same premises that the women received their strike pay, and there that they held a mammoth tea-party with bread supplied by well-wishers. Sadly that building was demolished in 2007, after its congregation had re-located to Overend Methodist Mission. The leadership of the church in 1910 included people from all sections in the dispute, and some of their descendants are members at Overend today.
It seemed highly appropriate to commemorate the centenary of this event locally and so a celebration service is being held at Overend Church, Banner’s Lane, Cradley on Sunday 17 October at 6.00 pm. All are welcome to attend. Further details from Margaret Bradley 01384 567274.
Monday 26 July 2010
Sandwell - Forging Links project
I am an artist working on Forging Links, a project based in Sandwell that aims to engage the young people of Sandwell with the area’s industrious past and present. I wonder if you would be interested in helping the project by publishing this request for information on your website? Or passing it on to anyone you think might be interested?
What are your memories of Sandwell’s famous factories?
Do you have a story to tell about them?
Did you work for Patent Shaft, GKN or Accles and Pollock, just to name a few?
We would like you to send us your personal stories about Sandwell’s industries, so they can be brought to life through Forging Links.
Forging Links is a project that hopes to engage the young people of Sandwell with the area’s industrious past and present. Over the next 12 months we will be working with local people and Sandwell Council’s Museum Service and Community History and Archive Service to uncover the secrets of Sandwell’s industrial past. All the stories and memories collected will be used to create a website and exhibition which aims to present the heritage to a new generation.
If you would like to share your stories please send them to Forging Links, Multistory, 1st Floor, Landchard House, Victoria Street, West Bromwich, B70 8HY, or e-mail forginglinks@hotmail.com.
Kind Regards
Katie Shipley
http://www.katieshipley.com/
http://www.listeningtoyoureyes.blogspot.com/
What are your memories of Sandwell’s famous factories?
Do you have a story to tell about them?
Did you work for Patent Shaft, GKN or Accles and Pollock, just to name a few?
We would like you to send us your personal stories about Sandwell’s industries, so they can be brought to life through Forging Links.
Forging Links is a project that hopes to engage the young people of Sandwell with the area’s industrious past and present. Over the next 12 months we will be working with local people and Sandwell Council’s Museum Service and Community History and Archive Service to uncover the secrets of Sandwell’s industrial past. All the stories and memories collected will be used to create a website and exhibition which aims to present the heritage to a new generation.
If you would like to share your stories please send them to Forging Links, Multistory, 1st Floor, Landchard House, Victoria Street, West Bromwich, B70 8HY, or e-mail forginglinks@hotmail.com.
Kind Regards
Katie Shipley
http://www.katieshipley.com/
http://www.listeningtoyoureyes.blogspot.com/
Share the places you love at www.heartoflandscape.com
Everyone has their own special places – it might be a park or an area of countryside; an historic building or a modern development; it could be a place where you like to relax and unwind or socialise with friends. The interactive map on the Heart of Landscape website allows you to locate, share and celebrate your favourite places and landscapes in the Black Country.
Perhaps your landscape is a place you know well and have fond memories of; or maybe it’s a new place you’ve found that you want to tell others about.
The website will be open throughout June and July. Visit the website or listen to Beacon Radio for more information on the Heart of Landscape, including your chance to vote for your favourite place in the Black Country online during June. In July there will also be an Event Day at one of the landscapes on the map.
Whatever your favourite places might be, the Heart of Landscape website allows you to put them ‘on the map’ so that other people can learn about and enjoy them! You can also give your ideas for how they can be improved. All these ideas will be recorded and collected into a report on what makes the Black Country special.
http://www.heartoflandscape.com/
Perhaps your landscape is a place you know well and have fond memories of; or maybe it’s a new place you’ve found that you want to tell others about.
The website will be open throughout June and July. Visit the website or listen to Beacon Radio for more information on the Heart of Landscape, including your chance to vote for your favourite place in the Black Country online during June. In July there will also be an Event Day at one of the landscapes on the map.
Whatever your favourite places might be, the Heart of Landscape website allows you to put them ‘on the map’ so that other people can learn about and enjoy them! You can also give your ideas for how they can be improved. All these ideas will be recorded and collected into a report on what makes the Black Country special.
http://www.heartoflandscape.com/
Saturday 17 July 2010
Tales from a churchyard – local history coffee morning - Tipton Library
Tales from a churchyard – local history coffee morning Tipton Library
Tuesday 27th July 10.30am – 12.30
Tipton Library is pleased to announce the latest in its popular series of local history coffee mornings when local author and historian Chris Smith will be coming in to talk about his latest book ‘Tales from a Churchyard’ on Tuesday 27th July at 10.30
The book tells tales of the churchyard at St John’s Church, Kates Hill which boasts many famous inhabitants including William Perry, the Tipton Slasher.
There will be copies of the book on sale and there will be a special raffle in aid of the Save St John’s Church appeal to win a local history goody bag
Robert Hazel, library manager, said that the events are always well attended and we look forward to another interesting morning. The book is full of wonderful stories and it should be a very popular event.
The event is FREE admission by ADVANCE ticket and tickets can be obtained by calling the library on 0121 557 1796
For more details on the campaign contact Deb Brownlee on 0787 119 5042. For more details on the library please contact Robert on 07500 608746
Tuesday 27th July 10.30am – 12.30
Tipton Library is pleased to announce the latest in its popular series of local history coffee mornings when local author and historian Chris Smith will be coming in to talk about his latest book ‘Tales from a Churchyard’ on Tuesday 27th July at 10.30
The book tells tales of the churchyard at St John’s Church, Kates Hill which boasts many famous inhabitants including William Perry, the Tipton Slasher.
There will be copies of the book on sale and there will be a special raffle in aid of the Save St John’s Church appeal to win a local history goody bag
Robert Hazel, library manager, said that the events are always well attended and we look forward to another interesting morning. The book is full of wonderful stories and it should be a very popular event.
The event is FREE admission by ADVANCE ticket and tickets can be obtained by calling the library on 0121 557 1796
For more details on the campaign contact Deb Brownlee on 0787 119 5042. For more details on the library please contact Robert on 07500 608746
Sunday 4 July 2010
St John's Church Preservation Group news
Members of St John's Church Preservation Group aiming to save and restore St John's Church, Kates Hill are overjoyed following the news that a grant of £5000 from the Church Urban Fund has been approved which will go towards the cost of the essential feasibility study 'The Future For St John's Church', which engages specialist architects and community consultation experts to establish a sustainable future for the 170 year old Grade II listed building and includes assessing local demand for the church to be re-opened as an Anglican place of worship.
This means that grants totalling £12,000 have now been approved towards the initial appeal for £31,000 which was made up of £5000 for a new Lightning Conductor, £16,000 for waterproofing works and £10,000 for the feasibility study. The new grant means that Preservation Group funds formerly allocated to the feasibility study can now be used towards the waterproofing.
A grant of £5000 was recently approved by Dudley Council Central Dudley Area Committee for the Lightning Conductor, and a grant of £2000 was also recently granted by the Diocese of Worcester towards the feasibility study. Deb Brownlee chair of the Preservation Group "We have been working closely with the church authorities through the St John's Church Steering Group chaired by Archdeacon of Dudley Fred Trethewey and the grants now approved along with £14,000 we have raised to date means that we are now just a tantalising £5000 away from getting the restoration work started. We urge our supporters not only to share in our joy at receiving such magnificent help both from Dudley Council and the Church authorities but also to help us with a big push now to get this last few thousand in so that work can start. What a day it will be when the scaffolding goes up!"
Archdeacon Fred Trethewey says: “I am delighted that the Church Urban Fund has awarded the PCC of St John’s a grant of £5000 towards the costs of a feasibility study on the future of St John’s Church building. This is in addition to a grant of £2000 which has been made through the Diocese of Worcester. It will enable the Steering Group to progress its investigation into future possibilities and also enable funds to be released to carry out repairs on the building”. Patron of the group Dr Carl Chinn, "This shows just what incredible results can be achieved with a combination of support from local people and partnership working. I call on the people of the Black Country to throw their full weight behind the St John's Church Preservation Group and make sure that this last £5000 is raised in record time."
Anyone wishing to help can send donations to St John's Church Preservation Group, The Old School House, St John's Road, Kates Hill, Dudley, DY2 7JT. Donations of tombola prizes especially bottles and unwanted gift sets are also desperately needed and can be brought to the Preservation Group stall on Dudley Market any Saturday or to their new drop in centre in the Old School House which is open Monday to Friday.
Supporters can also run or jog to help raise funds at the Kates Hill Fun Run, organised by the St John's Church Preservation Group as part of the St Thomas's Community Games Programme and taking place on Wednesday 7 July on Green Park, Kates Hill. The run consists of up to 8 laps of the park, total distance just over 2 miles. Entry costs £2 for adults and £1 for children. Registration starts from 5pm on the day and the run starts at 7pm. Anyone who can obtain further sponsorship can get a sponsorship form from savestjohnschurch@hotmail.co.uk or by calling into the drop in centre. Telephone contact number is 0787 119 5042. There will be catering on site and anyone running in fancy dress will receive a small extra prize. All proceeds will go towards the church waterproofing appeal.
Supporters are also encouraged to collect their loose change and organise any other events they can eg coffee mornings and jumble sales to help raise funds. More information about the work of the Preservation Group can be found on http://www.savestjohnschurch.zoomshare.com/or by visiting the group on their Dudley Market Stall every Saturday. Donations can be sent to St John’s Church Preservation Group, The Old School House, St John’s Road, Dudley, DY2 7JT.
This means that grants totalling £12,000 have now been approved towards the initial appeal for £31,000 which was made up of £5000 for a new Lightning Conductor, £16,000 for waterproofing works and £10,000 for the feasibility study. The new grant means that Preservation Group funds formerly allocated to the feasibility study can now be used towards the waterproofing.
A grant of £5000 was recently approved by Dudley Council Central Dudley Area Committee for the Lightning Conductor, and a grant of £2000 was also recently granted by the Diocese of Worcester towards the feasibility study. Deb Brownlee chair of the Preservation Group "We have been working closely with the church authorities through the St John's Church Steering Group chaired by Archdeacon of Dudley Fred Trethewey and the grants now approved along with £14,000 we have raised to date means that we are now just a tantalising £5000 away from getting the restoration work started. We urge our supporters not only to share in our joy at receiving such magnificent help both from Dudley Council and the Church authorities but also to help us with a big push now to get this last few thousand in so that work can start. What a day it will be when the scaffolding goes up!"
Archdeacon Fred Trethewey says: “I am delighted that the Church Urban Fund has awarded the PCC of St John’s a grant of £5000 towards the costs of a feasibility study on the future of St John’s Church building. This is in addition to a grant of £2000 which has been made through the Diocese of Worcester. It will enable the Steering Group to progress its investigation into future possibilities and also enable funds to be released to carry out repairs on the building”. Patron of the group Dr Carl Chinn, "This shows just what incredible results can be achieved with a combination of support from local people and partnership working. I call on the people of the Black Country to throw their full weight behind the St John's Church Preservation Group and make sure that this last £5000 is raised in record time."
Anyone wishing to help can send donations to St John's Church Preservation Group, The Old School House, St John's Road, Kates Hill, Dudley, DY2 7JT. Donations of tombola prizes especially bottles and unwanted gift sets are also desperately needed and can be brought to the Preservation Group stall on Dudley Market any Saturday or to their new drop in centre in the Old School House which is open Monday to Friday.
Supporters can also run or jog to help raise funds at the Kates Hill Fun Run, organised by the St John's Church Preservation Group as part of the St Thomas's Community Games Programme and taking place on Wednesday 7 July on Green Park, Kates Hill. The run consists of up to 8 laps of the park, total distance just over 2 miles. Entry costs £2 for adults and £1 for children. Registration starts from 5pm on the day and the run starts at 7pm. Anyone who can obtain further sponsorship can get a sponsorship form from savestjohnschurch@hotmail.co.uk or by calling into the drop in centre. Telephone contact number is 0787 119 5042. There will be catering on site and anyone running in fancy dress will receive a small extra prize. All proceeds will go towards the church waterproofing appeal.
Supporters are also encouraged to collect their loose change and organise any other events they can eg coffee mornings and jumble sales to help raise funds. More information about the work of the Preservation Group can be found on http://www.savestjohnschurch.zoomshare.com/or by visiting the group on their Dudley Market Stall every Saturday. Donations can be sent to St John’s Church Preservation Group, The Old School House, St John’s Road, Dudley, DY2 7JT.
Wednesday 16 June 2010
BACK TO 1837 – BUT WHERE DO YOU GO THEN?
A one-day course designed to help people to research their family tree before 1837 will be held on Saturday 9 October 2010 at the Birmingham & Midland Institute, Margaret Street, Birmingham.
The course, co-ordinated by Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy and Heraldry (BMSGH) ,will cover Parish Registers and Bishop’s Transcripts; indexes; poor law records; early Wills and Inventories. Most of these records prior to civil registration in 1837 are held at local record offices and libraries and are not available on the internet.
The course starts at 10.00am and finishes at 4pm. The cost is £5 for non-members of the Society. The Society’s bookshop will also be available on the day.
For further details, please contact Jackie Cotterill on 01562 743912, email: gensec@bmsgh.org or visit the BMSGH website on http://www.bmsgh.org/
The course, co-ordinated by Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy and Heraldry (BMSGH) ,will cover Parish Registers and Bishop’s Transcripts; indexes; poor law records; early Wills and Inventories. Most of these records prior to civil registration in 1837 are held at local record offices and libraries and are not available on the internet.
The course starts at 10.00am and finishes at 4pm. The cost is £5 for non-members of the Society. The Society’s bookshop will also be available on the day.
For further details, please contact Jackie Cotterill on 01562 743912, email: gensec@bmsgh.org or visit the BMSGH website on http://www.bmsgh.org/
Sunday 13 June 2010
Dawn to Dusk in the Black Country by Giggetty
Brian Langtry, the founder member of the Black Country folk group Giggetty, has contacted me recently. Many years ago he did several black and white drawings featured in The Blackcountryman magazine, several of them illustrating the poems of Jim William Jones Dudley’s foremost serious poet who is featured on the “Dawn to Dusk” CD.
The album “Dawn to Dusk in the Black Country” was the first and best selling album produced by Giggetty and copies can be seen to change hands on auction sites quite frequently the album having become something of a collectors item.
Brian has recently digitally re-mastered the album, which can be purchased from http://www.giggetty.co.uk/ and is now setting about getting the availability of this to the many interested folk of the Black Country.
I have suggested that Brian pens something for the next issue of The Blackcountryman, so we can learn a little more about Giggetty's past.
The album “Dawn to Dusk in the Black Country” was the first and best selling album produced by Giggetty and copies can be seen to change hands on auction sites quite frequently the album having become something of a collectors item.
Brian has recently digitally re-mastered the album, which can be purchased from http://www.giggetty.co.uk/ and is now setting about getting the availability of this to the many interested folk of the Black Country.
I have suggested that Brian pens something for the next issue of The Blackcountryman, so we can learn a little more about Giggetty's past.
Tuesday 8 June 2010
TIPTON HARRIERS CENTENARY PROJECT - NEWSLETTER 3, MAY 2010
What’s been going on? It has been some months since we last updated you on what has been going on. In some ways the project has been overwhelmed with kind responses and offers of information to the various appeals.
The focus has been on the first 50 years and various material has been assembled to allow a “write up” of the period to 1960. This has been painstaking work involving trawling through minute books, newspaper archives and every copy of Athletics Weekly to try to find details of the Harriers and their athletic & social activities.
Each archive has to be scanned, read and documented properly and then returned safely. A number of informal interviews have been done with the likes of Allan Rushmer, Doug Fownes, Ron Bentley, Jack Corfield, Fred Tonks, Joe Gripton, Keith Boydon, Alf Breakwell & Harry Haden who have all given a fascinating insight into the Harriers and what the Club meant to them.
Keith Atkins & Peter Griffiths have done a presentation on the Harriers & the Project at the Public Library in Tipton attended by around 30 people. Later in the year the Library hopes to have a presentation on Sport in Tipton with the Harriers & Athletics playing a significant role. More on this when it arrives.
What is still to be done? To give you some idea of the scale of the work done to date there is already over 2400 pages of A4 notes in the form of a chronology that lists what the Harriers have been doing over the years. This document, in it’s own right, forms a significant historical statement of the history of the Harriers. It will of course continue to grow as new facts, figures and stories are unearthed and added. A large amount of facts are being amassed, but this needs filtering and transformed into a readable and interesting document.
There is a significant period to cover. The group have yet to look in detail at the career and contribution of Jack Holden, and to cover the Track & Field aspects of the Club that took off during the early 1970’s. Early approaches have been made to to Ray Fletcher & Alan Clay for their recollections on this aspect of the history. It is hoped to interview past members such as Roger Walters (sprinter and renowned coach) for their recollections of the sport in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s when track and field league competition was just taking off. This will compliment the material contained within the extensive writings of Roy Langford.
If you have any thoughts, recollections or ideas as to who should be spoken to then please get in touch.
What will be produced later this year is something that will relate the history, evolution and spirit of the Harriers. To this end Peter Griffiths has started the massive task of authoring this document.
It appears that the Club have lost track of a number of key club trophies and cups. We would like to try & track them down in order to photograph them and restore them to their proper place. If you know the whereabouts of any Club awards please let us know.
Official Function & Reunion Plans - Sadly unable to report much progress on this matter as the Club Committee have only just started to devote time and effort into thinking about the Centenary any events it plans to hold to help celebrate the occasion. Tom Wood, current Chairman, says this is in now in hand.
How Can You Help? We may have been inundated but that does not mean we do not want to hear from you. If you have any material and recollections that you feel could be included then please come forward and contact any of the three named at the bottom of this entry. If you feel you can write something down then please do so. It does not matter if it is handwritten or typed. If you are in contact with any other old members or their families then please pass a copy of this on to them. Also please let us have their contact details.
What are we after? One aspect we feel we would like to explore is to see if we have any old film material taken of the Harriers in action. Does anyone have any old cine films that contain footage of say road relays, track meetings, boxing day handicaps? Have they been converted to video/DVD? If you have, then please get in contact to add this different historical aspect to the project.
It is now clear that we are missing Club Minutes from 1976 onwards and would like anyone who may be has sets hidden away in a file/box to let us have them. Copies of AGM Annual Reports etc. would be a good insight as they often contained a resume of the activities of the club during the year.
We are still after any of the following:
Old photographs
Scrapbooks
Club magazines
Newspaper cuttings
Race programmes
Race results
Tipton 10 Mile Race Results
Club badges & stickers
Club Ties
Old club memorabilia
In fact we are interested in anything if it relates to Tipton Harriers. It doe not matter if it is just 1 or 100 items. We are interested.
We would like to borrow any items and as part of assembling as big an archive of material on the
Harriers for future generations we will then get them scanned/photographed. This might take a few weeks depending on how much there is.
Rest assured it will be safe with us and by helping out we will be preserving a valuable part of our local and national heritage. So get in your lofts and sort us out some stuff!
Please get in contact with Keith Atkins (see below).
Contacts
Keith Atkins – 01902 674335
36 Shenley Avenue, Woodsetton, Dudley, DY1 4LR
Pete Griffiths – 0121 458 2880
62 Old Oak Rd, Kings Norton, Birmingham, B38 9AJ
Chris Holloway – 01225 309124
tipton.harrier@yahoo.co.uk
The focus has been on the first 50 years and various material has been assembled to allow a “write up” of the period to 1960. This has been painstaking work involving trawling through minute books, newspaper archives and every copy of Athletics Weekly to try to find details of the Harriers and their athletic & social activities.
Each archive has to be scanned, read and documented properly and then returned safely. A number of informal interviews have been done with the likes of Allan Rushmer, Doug Fownes, Ron Bentley, Jack Corfield, Fred Tonks, Joe Gripton, Keith Boydon, Alf Breakwell & Harry Haden who have all given a fascinating insight into the Harriers and what the Club meant to them.
Keith Atkins & Peter Griffiths have done a presentation on the Harriers & the Project at the Public Library in Tipton attended by around 30 people. Later in the year the Library hopes to have a presentation on Sport in Tipton with the Harriers & Athletics playing a significant role. More on this when it arrives.
What is still to be done? To give you some idea of the scale of the work done to date there is already over 2400 pages of A4 notes in the form of a chronology that lists what the Harriers have been doing over the years. This document, in it’s own right, forms a significant historical statement of the history of the Harriers. It will of course continue to grow as new facts, figures and stories are unearthed and added. A large amount of facts are being amassed, but this needs filtering and transformed into a readable and interesting document.
There is a significant period to cover. The group have yet to look in detail at the career and contribution of Jack Holden, and to cover the Track & Field aspects of the Club that took off during the early 1970’s. Early approaches have been made to to Ray Fletcher & Alan Clay for their recollections on this aspect of the history. It is hoped to interview past members such as Roger Walters (sprinter and renowned coach) for their recollections of the sport in the late 1960’s and early 1970’s when track and field league competition was just taking off. This will compliment the material contained within the extensive writings of Roy Langford.
If you have any thoughts, recollections or ideas as to who should be spoken to then please get in touch.
What will be produced later this year is something that will relate the history, evolution and spirit of the Harriers. To this end Peter Griffiths has started the massive task of authoring this document.
It appears that the Club have lost track of a number of key club trophies and cups. We would like to try & track them down in order to photograph them and restore them to their proper place. If you know the whereabouts of any Club awards please let us know.
Official Function & Reunion Plans - Sadly unable to report much progress on this matter as the Club Committee have only just started to devote time and effort into thinking about the Centenary any events it plans to hold to help celebrate the occasion. Tom Wood, current Chairman, says this is in now in hand.
How Can You Help? We may have been inundated but that does not mean we do not want to hear from you. If you have any material and recollections that you feel could be included then please come forward and contact any of the three named at the bottom of this entry. If you feel you can write something down then please do so. It does not matter if it is handwritten or typed. If you are in contact with any other old members or their families then please pass a copy of this on to them. Also please let us have their contact details.
What are we after? One aspect we feel we would like to explore is to see if we have any old film material taken of the Harriers in action. Does anyone have any old cine films that contain footage of say road relays, track meetings, boxing day handicaps? Have they been converted to video/DVD? If you have, then please get in contact to add this different historical aspect to the project.
It is now clear that we are missing Club Minutes from 1976 onwards and would like anyone who may be has sets hidden away in a file/box to let us have them. Copies of AGM Annual Reports etc. would be a good insight as they often contained a resume of the activities of the club during the year.
We are still after any of the following:
Old photographs
Scrapbooks
Club magazines
Newspaper cuttings
Race programmes
Race results
Tipton 10 Mile Race Results
Club badges & stickers
Club Ties
Old club memorabilia
In fact we are interested in anything if it relates to Tipton Harriers. It doe not matter if it is just 1 or 100 items. We are interested.
We would like to borrow any items and as part of assembling as big an archive of material on the
Harriers for future generations we will then get them scanned/photographed. This might take a few weeks depending on how much there is.
Rest assured it will be safe with us and by helping out we will be preserving a valuable part of our local and national heritage. So get in your lofts and sort us out some stuff!
Please get in contact with Keith Atkins (see below).
Contacts
Keith Atkins – 01902 674335
36 Shenley Avenue, Woodsetton, Dudley, DY1 4LR
Pete Griffiths – 0121 458 2880
62 Old Oak Rd, Kings Norton, Birmingham, B38 9AJ
Chris Holloway – 01225 309124
tipton.harrier@yahoo.co.uk
Sunday 2 May 2010
Blists Hill Victorian Town
Blists Hill Victorian Town, Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust, is one of eleven museums and galleries in the running to win the Art Fundprize 2010 of £100,000.
The Museum celebrates and preserves the heritage of the early Industrial Revolution and there are many links between the area and the Black Country.
You can vote for the Museum at http://www.artfundprize.org.uk/ this would be a worthy museum for Black Country Society members to vote for.
The Museum celebrates and preserves the heritage of the early Industrial Revolution and there are many links between the area and the Black Country.
You can vote for the Museum at http://www.artfundprize.org.uk/ this would be a worthy museum for Black Country Society members to vote for.
Friday 16 April 2010
LAUNCH OF SECOND EDITION OF TALES FROM A CHURCHYARD, ST JOHN'S CHURCH, KATES HILL
LAUNCH OF SECOND EDITION OF TALES FROM A CHURCHYARD, ST JOHN'S CHURCH, KATES HILL
St John's Church Preservation Group is delighted to announce that the first edition of Tales from A Churchyard has now sold out (first 250 copies) and the SECOND EDITION will be launched at a special sponsored booksigning event next Tuesday 20th April at the Quality Hotel, Birmingham Road, Dudley.The event will be sponsored by The Quality Hotel, Dudley.
Everyone is welcome to just come along and there is no admission fee.
Details are :
Quality Hotel (Ward Arms) hosts book signing and launch of second edition of Tales From A Churchyard, St John's, Kates Hill, Volume 1 with author and historian Chris Smith
There will be a short talk by the author about his book Tales From A Churchyard, St John's Church, Kates Hill, Dudley followed by a book signing.
Date: Tuesday 20th April. Time: 10.30am to 12pm
Programme:
10.30am Complimentary Tea/coffee
10.45am Introduction by Deb Brownlee, Chair, St John's Church Preservation Group
10.50am Illustrated presentation by Chris Smith (15 mins)
11.05am Book signing and further refreshments
11.50am Draw raffle
12pm finish
Fantastic sponsored Raffle prizes: (£1 a strip)
•A weekend away for two at QH other hotel in Torquay
•A voucher for a meal for two on a Friday night at QH Dudley
•Bottles
•Signed Tales From a Churchyard book
•Everyone attending this event will receive a voucher for a discounted Sunday lunch at QH (usual price £8.95 for three courses, discount voucher amount £6.95)
Anyone who would also like to be shown around the Quality Hotel on this day can be given a guided tour
The event will be held in the restuarant area of the Quality Hotel. There will be information tables for both the hotel and preservation group
Deb Brownlee "The Tales From a Churchyard book has been a resounding success and really opened people's eyes regarding what a goldmine of local history and famous people we have buried at St John's. Author Chris Smith has provided the most magnificent service to our cause and is donating all proceeds from the sales to our appeal funds. We are really proud to be going into the second edition so soon. "
For further information contact the Quality Hotel on 01384 458070 or St John's Church Preservation Group on 0787 119 5042.
St John's Church Preservation Group is delighted to announce that the first edition of Tales from A Churchyard has now sold out (first 250 copies) and the SECOND EDITION will be launched at a special sponsored booksigning event next Tuesday 20th April at the Quality Hotel, Birmingham Road, Dudley.The event will be sponsored by The Quality Hotel, Dudley.
Everyone is welcome to just come along and there is no admission fee.
Details are :
Quality Hotel (Ward Arms) hosts book signing and launch of second edition of Tales From A Churchyard, St John's, Kates Hill, Volume 1 with author and historian Chris Smith
There will be a short talk by the author about his book Tales From A Churchyard, St John's Church, Kates Hill, Dudley followed by a book signing.
Date: Tuesday 20th April. Time: 10.30am to 12pm
Programme:
10.30am Complimentary Tea/coffee
10.45am Introduction by Deb Brownlee, Chair, St John's Church Preservation Group
10.50am Illustrated presentation by Chris Smith (15 mins)
11.05am Book signing and further refreshments
11.50am Draw raffle
12pm finish
Fantastic sponsored Raffle prizes: (£1 a strip)
•A weekend away for two at QH other hotel in Torquay
•A voucher for a meal for two on a Friday night at QH Dudley
•Bottles
•Signed Tales From a Churchyard book
•Everyone attending this event will receive a voucher for a discounted Sunday lunch at QH (usual price £8.95 for three courses, discount voucher amount £6.95)
Anyone who would also like to be shown around the Quality Hotel on this day can be given a guided tour
The event will be held in the restuarant area of the Quality Hotel. There will be information tables for both the hotel and preservation group
Deb Brownlee "The Tales From a Churchyard book has been a resounding success and really opened people's eyes regarding what a goldmine of local history and famous people we have buried at St John's. Author Chris Smith has provided the most magnificent service to our cause and is donating all proceeds from the sales to our appeal funds. We are really proud to be going into the second edition so soon. "
For further information contact the Quality Hotel on 01384 458070 or St John's Church Preservation Group on 0787 119 5042.
Saturday 10 April 2010
The Fellows Pub - Dudley
Michael Nott is a journalist from the Wolverhampton Chronicle and is putting together a feature on the Fellows Pub in Dudley which sadly is due to close at the start of April.
The club has quite a history, but Michael is struggling to find any information out on it. He was hoping someone may be able to help me out with the history of the pub, when it opened, what used to go on in there, its importance to the town, ... etc.
Any help would be greatly appreciated
Please contact editor@blackcountrysociety.co.uk if you have any information and I will pass it on.
The club has quite a history, but Michael is struggling to find any information out on it. He was hoping someone may be able to help me out with the history of the pub, when it opened, what used to go on in there, its importance to the town, ... etc.
Any help would be greatly appreciated
Please contact editor@blackcountrysociety.co.uk if you have any information and I will pass it on.
Saturday 27 March 2010
Broadfield House Glass Museum/Stourbridge Canal
Broadfield House Glass Museum/Stourbridge Canal have announced the 2010 programme of guided walks.
Following on from their successful launch last year, 2010 will again see a series of walks exploring glassmaking and associated industries along the Stourbridge Canal.
'Jewels on the Cut' is a gentle stroll of around one and a half miles (plus return), taking in the historic glassmaking quarter between The Bonded Warehouse at Stourbridge and Red House Glass Cone in Wordsley. The interpreter is Graham Fisher, waterways enthusiast and outreach agent for Broadfield House Glass Museum. Walks indiated are open to the public (under 16's by arrangement) and private group bookings can be arranged separately. Places are limited; further details and booking via Broadfield House Glass Museum, 01384 812745.
Dates are
25 April (Dudley Walking Festival)
30 May
27 June
25 July
29 Aug (Stourbridge International Festival of Glass)
19 September
Following on from their successful launch last year, 2010 will again see a series of walks exploring glassmaking and associated industries along the Stourbridge Canal.
'Jewels on the Cut' is a gentle stroll of around one and a half miles (plus return), taking in the historic glassmaking quarter between The Bonded Warehouse at Stourbridge and Red House Glass Cone in Wordsley. The interpreter is Graham Fisher, waterways enthusiast and outreach agent for Broadfield House Glass Museum. Walks indiated are open to the public (under 16's by arrangement) and private group bookings can be arranged separately. Places are limited; further details and booking via Broadfield House Glass Museum, 01384 812745.
Dates are
25 April (Dudley Walking Festival)
30 May
27 June
25 July
29 Aug (Stourbridge International Festival of Glass)
19 September
Monday 1 March 2010
Cradley Heritage Lottery Funded project
Dear Editor,
You may remember you were good enough to review Harry's DVD 'A Story of Cradley Heath' some time back in your magazine. The aim of that work was to record how Cradley Heath was before the coming of Tesco's, the demolition of old buildings and construction of the by-pass. When we look at that now, and the state of the High street shops and big market, the change is unbelievable (our description of the present situation is dire).
The present project is aimed at collecting memories, stories, photos etc. of and about Cradley so that they can be captured for the future, and also at encouraging people to participate in the project in this way. Knowledge, and the meaning of photos, artefacts etc get lost as time goes by. Eventually there will be a heritage pack produced and a series of DVDs - Cradley's History and Cradley People, Cradley at Work and Play and Cradley at War.
There will be a Cradley at War Meeting at 7.30pm at Park Lane Unitarian Church Hall in Cradley on Monday 22 March. It's free entry, everyone welcome, bread pudding and tea/coffee, biscuits. Anyone with interest in the project can come along, or contact Harry on the telephone number below.
The 'Cradley Then and Now Group' usually meet at the same venue on the 2nd Monday of the month - £1 admission with free refreshments.
The project will last about 15 months in all, to finish (hopefully) in November. I must emphasise that it is Cradley (where Harry and I were both born and still live) that the project is about, not the Heath!
Hopefully this will reach people who otherwise might not hear about the project, and lose the opportunity to contribute.
Val and Harry Bloomer
Tel: 01384 635969
You may remember you were good enough to review Harry's DVD 'A Story of Cradley Heath' some time back in your magazine. The aim of that work was to record how Cradley Heath was before the coming of Tesco's, the demolition of old buildings and construction of the by-pass. When we look at that now, and the state of the High street shops and big market, the change is unbelievable (our description of the present situation is dire).
The present project is aimed at collecting memories, stories, photos etc. of and about Cradley so that they can be captured for the future, and also at encouraging people to participate in the project in this way. Knowledge, and the meaning of photos, artefacts etc get lost as time goes by. Eventually there will be a heritage pack produced and a series of DVDs - Cradley's History and Cradley People, Cradley at Work and Play and Cradley at War.
There will be a Cradley at War Meeting at 7.30pm at Park Lane Unitarian Church Hall in Cradley on Monday 22 March. It's free entry, everyone welcome, bread pudding and tea/coffee, biscuits. Anyone with interest in the project can come along, or contact Harry on the telephone number below.
The 'Cradley Then and Now Group' usually meet at the same venue on the 2nd Monday of the month - £1 admission with free refreshments.
The project will last about 15 months in all, to finish (hopefully) in November. I must emphasise that it is Cradley (where Harry and I were both born and still live) that the project is about, not the Heath!
Hopefully this will reach people who otherwise might not hear about the project, and lose the opportunity to contribute.
Val and Harry Bloomer
Tel: 01384 635969
Friday 5 February 2010
Rediscovering the music of a Black Country bugler
The musical heritage of the Black Country is a sadly neglected area, which is a great shame as there are many real gems just waiting to be unearthed and brought back to life. To this end, Stourbridge-born musician Fynn Titford-Mock (now in his final year at Newcastle University) will be co-leading a singing workshop and concert of the music of Black Country composers on Saturday 20th February, with the help of Stourbridge-based youth choir Stream of Sound and their leader Caroline Price. The event is called ‘Come Let Our Voices Join!’
Wednesday 3 February 2010
Captain Ahab's Watery Tales
Mike
I recently came across Eric Richardson's old booklet on the Lost Canals of the Black Country as part of my ongoing search for the remains of the abandoned canals in the area.
I have been posting my discoveries in blog fomat which can be found here:
http://captainahabswaterytales.blogspot.com
I am currently having a look at the Ridgeacre network - your members might be interested.
Andy (Captain Ahab)
I recently came across Eric Richardson's old booklet on the Lost Canals of the Black Country as part of my ongoing search for the remains of the abandoned canals in the area.
I have been posting my discoveries in blog fomat which can be found here:
http://captainahabswaterytales.blogspot.com
I am currently having a look at the Ridgeacre network - your members might be interested.
Andy (Captain Ahab)
Sunday 24 January 2010
Broadfield House Glass Museum/Stourbridge Canal
Broadfield House Glass Museum/Stourbridge Canal
Programme of guided walks - early notification for diary dates
Following on from their successful launch last year, 2010 will again see a series of walks exploring glassmaking and associated industries along the Stourbridge Canal.
'Jewels on the Cut' is a gentle stroll of around one and a half miles (plus return), taking in the historic glassmaking quarter between The Bonded Warehouse at Stourbridge and Red House Glass Cone in Wordsley. The interpreter is Graham Fisher, waterways enthusiast and outreach agent for Broadfield House Glass Museum. Walks indiated are open to the public (under 16's by arrangement) and private group bookings can be arranged separately. Places are limited; further details and booking via Broadfield House Glass Museum, 01384 812745.
Dates are:
25 April (Dudley Walking Festival)
30 May
27 June
25 July
29 Aug (Stourbridge International Festival of Glass)
19 September
RACE AGAINST TIME TO RAISE FUNDS FOR ESSENTIAL CHURCH BUILDING STUDY - SNOW DAMAGES CAMPAIGNERS EFFORTS
Members of St John's Church Preservation Group aiming to save and restore the historic Grade II listed St John's Church, Kates Hill are panicking as the harsh weather has stalled fundraising efforts and cost the group valuable fundraising time and money.
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