BRIDGTONIAN AUTUMN 2014Chairman’s Comments

With only two weeks before our Annual Exhibition is upon us, life remains hectic.  Many hazards have been placed before us over the Summer months, but progressively we have emerged stronger for the experience.  Temporary premises at Bridgtown School and Bethel Church have allowed us to continue our Programme of Events, and our medium and long term objectives have inevitably become more focused.  We will, of course, keep you abreast of relevant plans and activities. It is reassuring that having resolved communication problems the last two events at Bridgtown School provided audiences of 70 and 80 respectively.  It augers well for those Winter days when we return to Bethel, firstly with a Derrick Middleton "Special" on the shops and personalities of North Street and at Christmas we look forward to the visit of local multi-talented choir Bel Canto. By the way we intend to provide a further Magazine in December.  Remember any contribution or comments to the Magazine would be very welcome.

 Tony Pearson1st October

Your Magazine

We are now well on the way to “catching up” with missing editions of The Bridgtonian. There will be a further edition available early in December.

Ed.

Cornelius Whitehouse Day

Wednesday 9 th July 2014 at Bethel Church

David Battersby relates how he came to organise the day and reports on its success:

Some time ago I went to an event organised by Cheslyn Hay History Society called Elliott Lucas Company Day. It was arranged for former company employees and management. There I met Jim Wise who said “If they have managed to have a day here for Elliott Lucas, why can’t we fix up a day in Bridgtown for Cornelius Whitehouse on the same basis?” I had known Jim for many years from the time when we played badminton with the Cornelius Whitehouse team at Park Street Methodist schoolroom.

His idea stuck in my mind. Then, when I had the good fortune to meet a young lady called Donna Wilkinson who told me she was related to Cornelius Whitehouse, I started to think about doing something about it. I asked Donna if she had any information about him or about the company. Sadly she said that she had none but told me that her cousin, Barry Whitehouse, did. So it was that I contacted Barry and a whole treasure trove of information was forthcoming.

Barry had kept a Whitehouse Scrapbook and even a stuffed hedgehog on which the company trademark was based. He had a gold medal won by the company in New Zealand, catalogues and many other things. He allowed us to photograph his scrapbook and preparations were begun for this special day.

Wednesday 9th July 2014 was earmarked as an appropriate day and all current members of the Whitehouse family were invited (see photograph below) as were all the ex-employees that we could identify. Members of our team put together boards of photographs of the family and of employees, with pride of place going to the photographs of Cornelius Whitehouse himself and his two sons.

We displayed a copy of the scrapbook and Barry brought along the stuffed hedgehog and the gold medal. Other family members brought photographs too. They brought articles of agreement of the company, some of Cornelius Whitehouse’s music and many other souvenirs.

Unfortunately a photograph of former employees was not taken. This has left me with the task of visiting them all individually to correct this error.

It was a grand day enjoyed by all who attended and there was plenty of nostalgic conversation forthcoming. No doubt many stories from the past unfolded.

Should we repeat the exercise for other Bridgtown companies?

How Our Society Started

Here we complete the article written a number of years ago by our chairman Tony Pearson. It is the tale of a boy growing up in Bridgtown. It was sent to Professor Carl Chinn and part of it was published in the Express & Star in September 2007. Its publication was a major factor in the formation of our society. We are now reading the parts of Tony’s article that have never before been published. This episode concludes the story.

“The Hole in the Hedge” by Tony Pearson

Memories and Reflections of a Bridgtown Boy

Although I had tap dancing lessons when I was 9/10 years old I had no idea whatsoever in regard to Ballroom Dancing. I had fallen for Ann West from Hednesford and needed to attend local dances if I was to meet her. Somehow I had to persuade my friends to join with me but, like me, nobody had any ballroom ability. We concluded that it would be a laugh and, anyway, it would be well worth it to see all those beautiful girls, including some from our own Youth Club, including Sandra Cliff and Sylvia Anslow.

The very next Saturday night, with much trepidation, Maurice Benton and I surreptitiously crept into the Co-op Hall. It was packed and, yes, the girls looked delightful. We made our way to find seats at the back of the hall, but still enabling us ample viewing opportunities. We hoped that a Ladies Invitation dance would enable us to break the ice and we lived in expectation. Time just went on and on for us two timid individuals. It appeared that the night would be fruitless but then I could not believe what I saw: my friend Mike Thomas was dancing with “that girl”!

My heart sank. It seemed that I was wasting my time but – no, my challenging genes came into play! I just had to ask her for the next dance. How I did it I just do not know, but from deep inside I found unknown courage. I swept across the floor to claim my prize. Hesitantly she agreed to dance, unaware that my first teetering ballroom steps were about to explode. Wearing the foot uniform of the day, my thick soled “creepers” were totally inappropriate! Within a dozen steps we fell, albeit gently, but this performance was repeated over and over again. What a lady! She was understanding to the point of suggesting that we should sit out the remainder of the dance.

Somehow, conversation flowed and a few minutes later Ann suggested that we tried to dance again. Frankly, it was not much better but the end of the evening was in sight. As we approached midnight my courage was in top gear. I sought, and gained, permission to escort Ann to Cannock Railway Station so that she could catch the last train to Hednesford. It was Saturday 31st March 1951. I don’t know what happened to Maurice Benton but, after putting Ann on the train, I ran the mile and a half to Bridgtown in Olympic record time! I know I did not sleep but I do remember that, in my excitement, I had failed to arrange a further meeting. What a twit!

Amazing coincidences happen as life unfolds. I was to experience such an event the following week. I had problems with my bicycle and that forced me to use the bus service to my job in Wolverhampton. On the Tuesday, following my weekend foray on the dance floor, I was still on Cloud Nine. I finished work at the normal time and walked from Waterloo Road to catch the bus. As I approached the bus stop there, unbelievably, was Ann West in the bus queue! No, I must be dreaming; but yes, she recognised me and smiled. I was panic stricken to know what to do or say. Who was the elderly lady with her? Somehow I managed to speak to Ann and be introduced to her mother. Little did I know that this “coincidence” was the stepping stone that directed me to a joint path for the rest of my life. Ann had her sixteenth birthday within a matter of days. We had established a relationship that continues to the present day. Many adventures, happy and turbulent times, emotional and gratifying times, ensued.

The Bridgtown Boy was on the threshold of becoming a Man! But that is another story!

Tony’s article has not only been a wonderful personal record of his early life but a compelling Social History account. We thank him for sharing it with us. Ed.

Tony Bibb remembers...............

The Leather Mill, Wedges Mills

As a child the view from my bedroom across the field at the rear of our house in Wedges Mills was of the Leather Mill Cottages.  This site goes way back in history as the site of one of the local mills around the area.

The Leather Mill was a grey pebble stoned two storey  building comprising two residences with a quite spacious garden space which was enclosed by hawthorn hedges, but with small internal areas.

There was no sanitation there, other than an outside earthen loo down the garden near to the Saredon Brook watercourse. Also the only fresh water supply was from a spring which gave forth its sweet bounty just outside the upper garden hedge.  This was also the source of red hot water cress that burned the mouth when tasted and was much sought after by family and friends. However it was necessary to siphon out a number of creepy-crawlies whenever one of us scooped an ewer of water from the spring head before it could be stored for use in pitchers. After a winter’s frost we needed to first break the surface ice to gain access.

Being away from the main roadway it was a quiet idyllic spot in summer - accessible by a footpath next to the Village Hall, through two open fields from the main road at Wedges Mills, clambering over two wooden stiles, at which point the main footpath continued on to the top of Lodge Hill to Cheslyn Hay, whereas a left turn was the way to the Leather Mill.

The nearby bluebell wood was home to foxes which were sometimes seen skirting the wooded area but which never approached the buildings.  This wood extended in a narrow strip as far as Walkmill Lane, Bridgtown and was bounded on its North by the Staffs & Worcester canal with its locks and horse drawn barges, while running right through the wood was the Saredon Brook. The scent of the bluebells hung heavily in the air in summer as did the  aroma from the native onion scented plants.

In winter, snowfall access was extremely difficult as it could only be gained on foot, there being no vehicular access whatsoever.  All shopping and furniture had to be hand-hauled to its destination.

I spent many happy childhood hours there with the Hopkins family who were family friends during the late 40s and early 50s. .   Peggy and her daughter Carol lived in the front part of the building which comprised a small lounge with a kitchen on the ground floor and a bedroom on the first floor. This was accessed by a tight narrow spiral type staircase. It was so cosy in winter with light supplied from oil lamps strategically placed.  There was a shared ground floor  washroom with a large copper boiler for the weekly wash.

The Foster family resided in the rear part of the house.  This family also had relations in Gilpin’s Cottages on the main Wolverhampton Road.

With the advent of the new extended sewage filter plant, the Cottages were demolished in the 1960s or 1970s. They gave way to two large filtration lakes which still exist on the site today. This also brought an end to the ancient lower footpath from Wedges Mills to Cheslyn Hay, with its wooden stiles.

The higher public footpath still exists today alongside the Chasegate Public House and Lodge Hill affords an excellent vista of Cannock, Hednesford Hills and the surrounding area.

EATING IN THE   UK   IN THE FIFTIES

* Coffee was only drunk when we had no tea... and then it was Camp, and came in a bottle.

* Figs and dates appeared every Christmas, but no one ever ate them.

* Coconuts only appeared when the fair came to town.

* Salad cream was a dressing for salads, mayonnaise did not exist.

* Hors d'oeuvre was a spelling mistake.

* Soup was a main meal.

HISTORY SOCIETY NEWS

This year’s new book will be launched on Sunday 19th October. The book is about Bridgtown’s older brother, Churchbridge! This book has been written by our Churchbridge expert, John Devey, who will be on hand to provide you with an autographed copy for your bookshelf.

We are still keen to pursue our interests in property in the Bridgtown area if we are to leave a real legacy for future generations of Bridgtonians. We do not have the funds for such a venture and it will be necessary for us to apply for necessary grants to achieve our aims. In addition we shall still need to raise a lot more money through new activities and events. We need the support of members in order to achieve our aims. Equally if anyone has a good idea for fund-raising please share it with us.

World War 1 memorabilia is needed for a display we are planning to mount at some relevant point in time. Please search your homes to see if you have anything that you can lend to us to commemorate the Great War. So far we have collected information but no pictures at all. Can you help?

We still have lots of copies of Bygone Bridgtown and Bridgtown Born & Bred and Bridgtown and Beyond for sale. Every time we sell one of these books it is another £5.00 towards our fund-raising. Do you know somebody who would like copies of any of them?

It is intended that, in the future, the society will produce a proper history book detailing the growth and development of Bridgtown. This is a long-term project that will take some time to complete but we believe that such a book needs writing and the planning of this official record has now begun.

Recently Derrick Middleton and David Battersby gave a talk about Bridgtown to a number of officers of Cannock Council. Most of them knew nothing at all about Bridgtown as they live in other parts of the county but they were very interested in the talk. They were keen on our suggestion that a number of commemorative plaques should be erected around the village.

At our monthly meeting next March the speaker will be Rev. Peter Hart whose talk will be “From Football to Vicar”. Many of you will know that Peter was a regular member of the Walsall team some years ago.

David Battersby writes aboutWilliam Gilpin Photograph

Over many years I have developed an interest in the Gilpin family and the Gilpin works, but the one thing that has eluded me has been finding a photograph of the painting of William Gilpin, painted before his death in 1834. I have bought wills of various members of the family. On receipt of the will of Frederick Henry Gilpin, who died on 16th November 1887, I discovered that a painting of William Gilpin existed at that time as it was bequeathed to his eldest son Bradney Todd Gilpin, who was to die in 1894.

I then lost track of the painting until I received the will of Bradney Bernard Gilpin, dated 1939, in which he left the painting to his secretary Charles Douglas Hughes, or the governing body of Lancing College in the County of Sussex. I was not able to trace Charles Douglas Hughes or his descendants. I then contacted the college who informed me that they did not know of the painting. So I gave up its pursuit, presuming it to be lost.

Early this year Trevor MacFarlane rang me to say that he had received some correspondence from a gentleman called Stephen George Gilpin Keates who was interested in obtaining information about the Gilpin family, and he arranged that I should meet Stephen at Cheslyn Hay. This I duly did and his wife and he came to my home for lunch.

After lunch we retired to my study and I showed him many of the Gilpin records and items that I had collected. He then opened his briefcase and commenced going through many Gilpin items left to him by his father, one of which was a William Gilpin photograph of the painting for which I had been searching. Stephen very kindly copied the photograph and forwarded the copy of it to me. He said that the copy was for our Society records and that we were free to both copy and distribute it. We are happy to do this in recognition of the benefits brought to this area by William Gilpin.

Sadly, Stephen does not know where the painting is or how his father had obtained the photograph. Therefore there remains a mystery still waiting to be solved.

David Battersby30th September 2014

In the previous edition of this magazine this photograph was omitted.

It shows Peggy Greenway visiting Nancy Wylde on the occasion of her 104th birthday.

Nancy is the oldest living former resident of Bridgtown and she has a remarkable memory of people and events in the early part of the last century.

CANNOCK CHASE MUSEUM

Join us for the launch of Christopher John’s new bookA HUNDRED YEARS ON

Christopher will be giving two lecturesand signing copies of his new book

Thursday 6th November 20142pm-4pm

PEGGY GREENWAY

September 1st 2014 saw the 90th birthday of one of our stalwarts, Peggy Greenway. A special party was held for her at St. Stephen’s Church, Cannock. Many Bridgtonians were there to help her celebrate. Above she holds her special birthday cake and below some of our members join in the celebrations.

Derrick Middleton remembers

PAT COLLINS’ FAIR

After the war ended, life started to return to normal and Autumn brought three new experiences to the young people of Bridgtown. First there was the annual visit of Pat Collins Fair to the Brookfields site (via the Rumer Hill entrance), then there was Bonfire Night and finally the full celebration of Christmas.

We were never certain of the exact date of when the fair would arrive but we knew it was when the nights were getting darker. The first indication was when we saw the lorries beginning to arrive

(Note The Pat Collins name on the door of the lorry)

The word went round and everyone started looking to find a way to add to their pocket money, taking pop bottles back, doing jobs for neighbours etc. We knew it would stay for a week and we all started planning what nights we would be going. The sound of the music could be heard very clearly in the village and up Longford Lane so we were in no doubt when it was open. We would meet and walk up Walsall Road with the music ringing in our ears and we would meet our friends arriving from the Cannock direction outside the George. We were very excited when we turned the corner and got our first sight of the attractions.

Our first job was to walk round counting our money in order to work out what we could afford to go on. We wanted to go on the rides and visit the sideshows. On one occasion I remember very well, my father took me to see the Boxing. Two of the famous Turpin Brothers were among the boxers who invited local men to fight them. Anyone who went the distance won £5.

As we got older, we discovered that girls were not a nuisance and then the fair also had a second attraction. But that’s another story!

That week was certainly one that we would talk about for many months to come afterwards!

My memories of Bonfire Night, and the return of a full celebration of Christmas will be published in future editions.

If you have any memories of events such as the fair please contact any member of the management team so that you can share your memories in this magazine.