Editorial

Here we are again. It is time for the next Bridgtonian already. As editor I am very grateful to those members who keep finding articles for me to publish. The magazine can only be as good as the material provided. I am sure that many of you have interesting stories to tell about “the old days”. We would love to receive them to publish. Sometimes people won’t do this because they say that their writing or their spelling is not good enough. Don’t worry about that. It is my job as editor to sort out all that. Nobody will see your mistakes except me and I won’t tell anybody! So how about it? Tell us something interesting about life as it used to be.

At the time of the last magazine Tony Pearson had resigned as Chairman and we had made no plans to cope with the situation. None of us felt that we could take over from Tony so we have decided to tackle the job in a different way. The role of Chairman is being shared by three of us with the lead being taken as follows:

January to April: John DeveyMay to August: David BattersbySeptember to December: David Williams

However, please feel free to talk to whichever one of us you prefer to talk to if something concerns you or interests you.

Our monthly talks have continued to provide a wealth of interesting information. In March we had to have a last minute change of plan as Peter Hart was ill. David Battersby stepped into the breach, both entertaining us and educating us with a range of pictures of Old Cannock. In April Derrick Middleton brought us even closer to home with a fascinating look at North Street. In May our speaker, Arthur Aston, covered a more specialist field with his talk on “James Watt and Steam Engines”. Arthur’s talk was very interesting and his knowledge on related subjects was truly impressive.

David Williams (editor), 13th June 2015

BRIDGTOWN CONCERT SHOW BAND

On Monday 1st June Bridgtown Concert Show Band provided us with an excellent concert in aid of our funds. It was held at Bridgtown Social Club in Walsall Road. They had provided us with a good concert last year but this year’s presentation was even better with a quality and range of music which meant that there was something for everybody.

Here we see the band in action under the direction of Sean Middleton, its musical director. Their programme included “What a Wonderful World”, “Sax Bomb”, “I Dreamed a Dream”, “All that Jazz”, “Mamma Mia””In the Mood”, “Tipperary” and ended with “Land of Hope and Glory” where we all joined in with a good sing.

Musical Director: Shaun Middleton

Saxophone soloist: Josh Dean

It was a great night, thoroughly enjoyed by all. We are inviting them again sometime next year. Do not miss this event from a band proud to carry the name Bridgtown in their title.

LIFE IN 1930s BRIDGTOWN

In our last edition I reported that we had received communication from Norman Seedhouse, son of Howard Seedhouse. Norman now lives in Norway but has sent us memories from his childhood. We shall publish extracts from this over the next few magazines.

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1930s Bridgtown is remembered as an industrial village of terraced workers’ houses built mostly in the 1800s. In between them were busy and noisy factories and steel works, but nevertheless there was an active community life. The name was apt as there were road, rail or canal bridges on all sides. These had to be crossed, over or under, in order to enter or leave the village. In this small community were three Methodist chapels, one Anglican church, an elementary school, many pubs and, scattered through the streets, several grocery shops, a butcher’s and a general store in North Street.

Our Home

It was in this village that I was born in 1933 at 44 Union Street. My first home was simple. The house was rented and typical of the brick-built slated-roof houses in that street. There were three bedrooms upstairs, a front room facing the street on the ground floor, a living room facing the back, a very basic kitchen/scullery, an outside toilet and a cellar for food and coal storage. The front door opened directly on to the street, while the back door and kitchen were reached through a passage, known as the “entry”.

There was gas lighting but no gas stove, so that cooking and heating had to be done by the coal fire range in the living room. The gas light hung from the middle of the ceiling in the living room. Every so often holes would appear in the gas light element so that it had to be replaced. A new gas element was quite limp, looking like a white and silky little muslin bag. However, once it had been lit for the first time it became a rigid, though fragile, ash coloured bulb, glowing an incandescent white. Upstairs, when I went to bed, I had the comfort of a little paraffin night lamp.

In the kitchen, a cold water tap over a stone sink was the sole source of water for cooking and washing. Two large black kettles were usually kept “singing” on the range and were carried about as necessary. Sometimes, at the weekend, I watched how father shaved with an open razor, standing in front of a small mirror with his hot water and lather in a shaving mug in front of him.

The toilet was reached by going down the yard to a little whitewashed room with a water closet flushed by a chain hanging from the tank above. In winter this room was lit by a paraffin hurricane lamp which also served to keep away the frost. At the end of the yard was an earth patch where a few vegetables grew. At the side were two wood-and-netting chicken houses which gave us a regular supply of eggs. At the bottom of the garden was the carpentry shed which father had made himself and where he worked on small carpentry jobs for people around the neighbourhood.

In the corner of the living room was a luxury; the wireless cabinet that father had made. This housed a real wireless, as radios were called then, behind two doors. Beneath this apparatus was a shelf holding the batteries, one large flat box containing dry cells for the high voltage, and two rectangular glass jars with little carrying handles providing for the low voltage high amp circuit. These jars were accumulators which required re-charging at intervals and, since we had no electricity at home, this meant a journey into a shop in North Street that ran a re-charging service at modest cost. Carrying the jars to the shop was one of my errands. Here our discharged jars were simply exchanged over the counter for another pair already re-charged. I noticed a line of such jars on a shelf on the wall, all wired up for this purpose.

Norman’s memories will be continued in future editions. He will remind us more about his home, his work, his free time, street life, the weekly routine, money, Sundays, starting school, the coming of electricity and life during the second world war.

Ivor Cooke, the artist

In our last magazine we told you about Ivor Cooke who is a very successful artist with his paintings in great demand. At our 150 year celebration event, he presented the Society with a painting of the old Mid-Cannock Colliery viewed from the Walsall Road. He also later made a donation to the School of one of his paintings showing Coppice Colliery (better known as Hawkins Colliery). In order to allow a wider audience to view these paintings showing closed local collieries, they are now displayed at the Chase Museum in Hednesford. Here is a photo of one of the paintings but why don’t you pop into the Chase Museum and see them for yourself?

EATING IN THE UK IN THE FIFTIES

 Black puddings were mined in Bolton Lancashire. Jellied eels were peculiar to Londoners. Hors d'oeuvre was a spelling mistake. Fish was only eaten on Fridays. Fish didn't have fingers in those days. Eating raw fish was called poverty, not sushi. Ready meals only came from the fish and chip shop. For the best taste fish and chips had to be eaten out of old newspapers.

    Doctors' Law   - If you don't feel well, make an appointment to go to the doctor, by the time you get there you'll feel better

HISTORY SOCIETY NEWS

At the time of the last magazine Tony Pearson had resigned as Chairman and we had made no plans to cope with the situation. None of us felt that we could take over from Tony so we have decided to tackle the job in a different way. The role of Chairman is being shared by three of us with the lead being taken as follows:

January to April: John DeveyMay to August: David BattersbySeptember to December: David Williams

All of us are determined that our society will continue to prosper and to bring to fruition the many projects in which we are involved.

There is to be a new book published later this year. John Devey and David Williams are working hard already on this, as yet untitled, book. It will show lots of photographs that have not been published before.

All of “the team” are also working on a longer-term project, the publication of a proper “History of Bridgtown” which will catalogue the growth and development of our village and include many stories from days gone by. It will probably take about two years before this enormous task is completed.

Our Churchbridge book is selling well but there are still a few left if you have missed out on our latest book. Bridgtown Memories is now completely sold out unfortunately but there are still copies available of Bygone Bridgtown, Bridgtown Born & Bred and Bridgtown and Beyond.

We are still asking for World War 1 memorabilia 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?

Restoration Route for Canal

The Lichfield Canal Trust has published its proposed route for the restoration of the Wedges Mills to Great Wyrley stretch of the old canal.

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The water still flows although most of it is now underground. This is shown below, the photograph showing the current situation at Churchbridge. David Suchet is the Vice - President of the Local Canal Trust.

To help you understand where this photograph was taken, please note that the road above the bridge is the Watling Street and the Toll road can be seen on the left of the picture. Sainsbury’s store is in the background.

Our Dora

Dora Richards was born at 72 North Street in April 1916. You will realise that recently she reached the splendid age of 99 years. Dora was a dancer from the age of 4 and, after she had started school in Walsall at the age of 14, she took dancing lessons from a Mr. Blacksby in that town. By the age of 19 she had achieved her British Association Teacher of Dancing Diploma. One year later she opened her own School of Dancing at the “Public Rooms” adjacent to the police station in Cannock.

Dora met and fell in love with Jim Leighton, a young trainee chemist. Inevitably the war intervened in their romance but true love prevailed and they married in London in May 1941 as the capital was enduring its worst-ever air-raids. Back in Cannock her dance teaching was in great demand and she became a local celebrity.

Most of her married life was spent at 3 Bridge Street. The house was always a hive of activity with scores of dance classes and rehearsals for various productions.

She spent her 99th birthday enjoying a meal with her daughter and two sons and their families at a local restaurant . She enjoyed the day with a house full of flowers. She received about 90 cards in all and received good wishes from friends locally and abroad.

The day was a busy one for Dora with relatives and old pupils from her dancing days all calling to see her. It was good to see her in excellent health and to find her remembering all who visited her at home.

She was feted by various organisations to which she belongs, such as members of the Probus Ladies Club. Everyone ensured that she had a very pleasant birthday. Not surprisingly everyone is looking forward to April 2016.

Another Celebration

In our last edition we reported on the death of Professor Ray Smallman, whose brother Tony wrote a fine obituary for us. This picture shows their sister Barbara on a more happy occasion for the family. It is the celebration of her Diamond Wedding on 19th March.

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Sad news

It is with sadness that we report on the deaths of three former Bridgtown men in recent months.

Doug Williams was well known to many through his work over many years for the RAFA, the Royal Air Force Association. Doug grew up in Church Street.

We are also sad to report on the deaths of two men from the same family, Colin and Brian Gethin, older brothers of this month’s speaker, David.

It would be good if someone could write more information about these men for inclusion in the next magazine.

The Start of a Heritage Trail

Exciting news as we extend our influence.

For some time we have working on the idea of putting up notice boards around the area to mark the most historic points in the development of Bridgtown and its immediate neighbours. The first of these is now coming to fruition. We have secured funding for a notice board on the new development taking place at Churchbridge. The board will have two faces which are reproduced below and opposite. It will stand in the outside seating area of the new Costa Coffee outlet.

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The signs are extremely large and will be in a prominent position. Hopefully they will remind both casual visitors and local people themselves of the proud history of our district.

Many more of these notices are planned around the area and will be erected. All the signs have the name of our society very clearly displayed. The signs themselves are similar to the large notice board on the Union Street and North Street corner.

Derrick Middleton has led this initiative on behalf of the society and all his hard work is starting to show dividends.

BRIDGTOWN SAGA

The story I’m about to tellAbout a village you know so well;It started its life to suit a cause.Industry was there, transport the only clause.So they built the house close to their work,Little cottages, two up two down.Gradually the place did growTerraced houses all in a row.Even the wealthy of that dayChose to live there. It often happened that way.You see it was such a friendly place,A cheerful word, always a smiling face.

Two world wars came and soFathers and sons went to face the foe.The pride they felt they could not hide,For homes and country they fought side by side,And for those who fought and for those who diedThey placed a cenotaph, the village’s pride.It’s the centre of this well-known placePointing to the sky in Godly grace.

In the early sixties the authorities declareBridgtown it is, we’ll put industry there.The people don’t worry. It’s been part of their life,A life filled with bustle and pleasure and strife.Then in the seventies the authorities do sayAll houses must go, and we will have our way.The people say “NO”, we won’t let you do this deed.To fight for our rights an Action Group is what we need.

Bridgtown Residents Action Group is the people’s choice, A group of men and women to be the village’s voice.For many long years the villagers fightTo retain a community, surely our right.Who has the right to say our village should die?It isn’t you and isn’t I.Generations have come and gone.Who has the right to say “This should be the last one”?We need our homes. We need to industrialise.But together we could compromise.

Jeanette P. Cartwright, 1978

BRAGJeanette wrote the above poem at the height of the crisis in Bridgtown. She was one of a group of people who fought tooth and nail for our village to survive. It was still to be many years before they halted the bulldozers and the removal of housing. Much later the story had a happy ending when BRAG won its battle and Bridgtown was saved.

Even so, Bridgtown remained run-down for ages and it is only in recent years that regeneration has gathered pace and the future for the village is a positive one. First BRAG and then the parish council have worked tirelessly to move things forward, but in my view there remains much to be done. In my view this now-growing community needs new community facilities.

Where are the modern-day residents to build on what these people fought for? Where are the people who will step forward and create a new community centre or a new village hall? It is the only way that Bridgtown can create a modern-day version of that old community spirit that was the heart of Bridgtown.

(The above is my own personal viewpoint: Editor)