This issue’s TOPICS :

TOPIC 1Creative Shop Names...

TOPIC 2Sheila Barnfather receives her well deserved Quiz prize...

TOPIC 3Gill Pithers displays more of her paintings of venues in the area...

Issue No : 026 January 2021

Sheila Barnfather gets her Quiz prize...Back in June 2020, we had our first Choral Quiz in the 7th Issue of the WDCS Newsletter. This was not the easiest of quizzes to tackle, but Sheila did and answered all the twelve questions correctly, giving her a 100% score.

Well done, Sheila and many congratulations. For this, Sheila won the Chairman’s Prize which was delivered to her house by Henry on the 30th October 2020, delayed mainly by the coronavirus situation.

Creative Shop Names...

CAN YOU HELP...Could anyone who remembers a lady called Gwen Williams, in the Choir in Denis Powell’s time, please let Henry know?

We have an enquiry as to the whereabouts of any of her family.

Painting 1 Painting 2

Painting 3

Painting 4 Painting 5

From Gill Pithers...Hello Everyone! This is Gill Pithers from the alto section of our choir hoping you are all keeping well. Here are some more of my paintings showing venues within ten miles of Wolverhampton. Do you recognize them? This time there is an ‘odd-one-out’. This picture is executed in ‘mixed-media’, the term artists use to mean, not just paint but perhaps an addition of collage or ink applied with a special pen. Can you spot the picture which is water colour and ink? I hope you enjoy my work. (Answers to where these painting venues are... at the bottom of this page.)

Answers to painting venues :No.1 - Headmaster’s House, Penn Road No.2 - Farmhouse at Woundale (Watercolour and Drawing Pens)

No.3 - The Old School House, Claverley No.4 - Claverley No.5 - St. Bedit Biscop, Wombourne

This issue’s TOPICS :

TOPIC 1Martha Argerich, one of the greatest pianists...

TOPIC 2The History of the Pen from 2000 BC to the present day...

Issue No : 027 January 2021

Martha Argerich... one of the greatest pianists

Martha Argerich was born in 1941 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, her paternal ancestors being Catalans and her maternal grandparents were Jewish immigrants from the Russian Empire.

She started playing the piano at age three. At the age of five, she moved to teacher Vincenzo Scaramuzza, who stressed to her the importance of lyricism and feeling.

She performed her debut concert at the age of 8, playing Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 and Beethoven’s First Piano Concerto. In 1960, she made her first commercial recording, which included works by Chopin, Brahms, Ravel, Prokofiev, and Liszt; it received critical acclaim upon its release in 1961 and she rose to international prominence when she won the seventh International Chopin Piano Competition in Warsaw in 1965.

Martha has often remarked in interviews of feeling “lonely” on stage during solo performances. Since the 1980s, she has staged few solo performances, concentrating instead on concertos, chamber music, and working with instrumentalists in sonatas.

Her aversion to the press and publicity has resulted in her remaining out of the limelight for most of her career. Nevertheless, she is widely recognized as one of the greatest pianists in history. Her performance of Liszt’s First Piano Concerto prompted this review: “It was an unforgettable performance. Martha celebrated her 75th birthday in June this year, but that news doesn’t seem to have reached her fingers. Her playing is still as dazzling, as frighteningly precise, as it has always been; her ability to spin gossamer threads of melody as matchless as ever”. She returned to the Proms at the age of 78 in 2019 to perform Tchaikovsky’s First Piano Concerto under the baton of Barenboim, a performance described as “mesmerizing”.

She has been married three times and has three daughters, one from each marriage. As of 2020, she is cancer-free after being diagnosed in 1990 and 1995 and since then being in remission after treatment, some experimental.

Watch her playing Liszt in 1966 by linking to : https://youtu.be/LhInwkq4nAw Mike Coope

Never sing in the shower!

Singing leads to dancing, dancing leads to slipping, and slipping leads to paramedics seeing you naked.

So remember…Don’t sing!

We all get heavier as we get older, because there’s a lot more information in our heads.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it.

Martha playing Liszt, Hungarian Rhapsody No.6 in Munich in 1966

The History of Pens...The creation of the pen has essentially facilitated the very basis of our civilisation. It is through writing that we have been able to create, share, and learn. Pens have made it possible to retain and communicate knowledge and information and create works of art. The writings of Shakespeare and Milton wouldn’t exist if they didn’t have the tools to somehow immortalise them physically.

Who invented the Pen?The first people to invent the pen as a basic tool to write were the ancient Egyptians. The oldest piece of writing on papyrus dates back to 2000 BC. Pen Lifeline 2000 BC: Egyptian Reed PenTo write upon parchment and papyrus, the Egyptians created a reed pen. These early pens were fashioned from the hollow, tubular stems of marsh grasses - especially bamboo plant. One end of this tool was cut into the shape of a pen nib or point and then the reed’s stem was filled with a writing fluid that would flow down to the nib when squeezed.600 AD: Quill PenOf all the writing instruments, the quill pen was in use for the longest period of history - from 7th to the 19th century. Europeans used bird feathers to produce this tool; the best feathers were those taken from living swans, turkeys and geese. These feathers were then dried with a gentle heat to remove any oils that may interfere with the ink. Next, the end of the feather must be shaped and sharpened with a knife. This was then dipped into an inkwell to fill the hollow shaft of the feather that acts as a reservoir. These ink pens were durable, but had to be sharpened often. To do this, the writer needed a specific knife, which is where the term “pen-knife” originated. This type of pen actually also changed the way that people wrote. At first, language was written using all capital letters, but as the pen became smoother to use, they developed faster styles, more decorative styles of handwriting with smaller letters.1822: Steel-Point PenThe reign of the quill ended when John Mitchell from Birmingham began developing a machine-made steel-point pens on a mass scale. These were still ink pens and functioned in the same way as quill, needing to be dipped into ink, but were sturdier and much less expensive. Their popularity took off and historians believe that by the 1850s half of all dip pens were made in Birmingham. Even the development of education and literacy can be attributed these more accessible writing instruments. Although this was the point of mass production and popularity for the steel-point pen, archaeologists have discovered metal nibs in Ancient Egypt and bronze pen points in the ruins of Pompeii, dating them back to around year 79.1827: Fountain PenThe inconvenience of having to keep dipping a pen to replenish its ink supply fuelled the creation of the fountain

pen, which holds in a reservoir and passes it through to the nib. It was first Petrache Poenaru, a Romanian inventor, who received a patent for the invention of the very first fountain pen with an ink barrel in 1827. However, the design was never perfected and had major flaws: the flow of ink was not regulated and resulted in either no ink at all or blotting. It was in 1884 that Lewis Edson Waterman developed and gained a patent for the three-channel ink feed fountain pen. The design ensured a smooth flow of ink during writing, and revolutionised the pen into a portable tool. Throughout the 20th century, the design underwent a number of innovations, including the use of a replaceable and refillable ink cartridge and range of plastic, metal and wooden fountain pens.1888: Ballpoint Pen HistoryThe ballpoint pen was a turning point in the evolution of the pen that takes us up to modern day. It was a durable, more convenient writing pen that could write on surfaces such a wood, cardboard and even underwater. At that time during the 19th century, this was a revelation that essentially ended the era of ink writing. The first ball pen is first linked to American inventor John H. Loud. Loud received a patent - one of many during the development stages - but yet the design never actually produced a satisfactory flow of ink for the writer. It was not until a couple of decades later in the 1930s that another attempt at the ballpoint pen is made by Lazlo Biro, a Hungarian journalist living in Argentina during World War II. As a journalist, he was all too familiar with the annoyance of ink smudging on paper. He came up with the idea to use quick-drying ink instead of the usual India ink and to introduce a small metal ball that rotated. The ball would work to keep the writing pen from drying out and would distribute the ink smoothly.In 1943, Lazlo and his brother Georg, a chemist, were granted a new patent. They went on to make their first commercial models: the Biro pens - now a household name that has become synonymous with ballpoint pen. The British government would then go on to buy the rights for the pens so they could be used by Royal Air Force crews. They favoured the ball pen since it was a sturdier and could write at high altitudes unlike the fountain pen that would flood under such conditions. The Biro was so successful in the RAF that they became widely used by the military, which brought it to the level of popularity it still has today.The rollerball was only invented by the 1980s by Japanese company Ohto. The rollerball pen is the same design as the ballpoint pen, but instead utilises water or gel-based liquid ink that provides a writing style very similar to the fountain pen. Fountain pens continue to be used and admired, although these refillable ink pens are often seen a collectors’ items. Some of the most expensive fountain pen ink can cost around £30, but the most expensive fountain pens are around £100,000.Other developments include the modern felt-tipped pen which was developed by the Yukio Hore. These pens are used in many creative environments and renowned for their ability to write on many different surface - these have even been developed into permanent markers or suitable for specific surfaces like CDs.Even in the era of technology, the pen remains a crucial tool within our society. The act of writing has formed a very unique part of our culture and humanity. Mike Coope

This issue’s TOPICS :

TOPIC 1The Birth of the Virtual Choir - St Giles’ Festival Choir perform their new song...

TOPIC 2Listen to the virtual Contemporary Choir from Warwickshire singing ‘This is me’. from the film ‘The Greatest Showman’..

TOPIC 3The History of Cake Baking... This will make your mouth water !

Issue No : 028 February 2021

The Birth of the Virtual Choir...At the onset of the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020, all choirs around the world were forced to cease rehearsing, meaning that their concert plans for the future had to be either postponed or cancelled.

Prior to this, The Big Choral Census, produced by Voices Now, stated that 2.14 million people were now singing regularly in choirs, with a record 40,000 groups now operating across the UK. The number of listed choirs is around 7,000, with the rest made up of school and church groups.

Many choir members became totally frustrated with this situation and starting looking for ways that they could continue practising, singing and performing within the guidelines announced by the Government.

This resulted in the birth of the virtual choir. There is an active choir based in the Buckinghamshire village of Cheddington, 10 miles east of Aylesbury and known for its many orchards to the extent that when the railway arrived in 1838, the station handled more plums than passengers.

Cheddington has a choir, the St Giles’ Festival Choir and they were determined to do something about the situation. Their spokesman commented “We thought it was time to do something a little less serious, so we decided to share with everyone the joys, trials, tribulations and novelty of being in a Virtual Choir.

Inspired by members of the choir, written by Julie Stanley and produced by Sophia and Alistair Razak (age 19 and 16), they persevered and now proudly present their brand new song, “The Birth Of The Virtual Choir”.

Enjoy their amazing achievement on YouTube at https://youtu.be/fUdoCgnj9qA

Another Virtual Choir in Warwickshire...The Contemporary Choir based in Stratford and Leamington Spa and under the directorship of Melissa Asbridge, vocalist and vocal coach, recently performed ‘This is me’ from the film ‘The Greatest Showman’ -Have a listen at https://youtu.be/9Ll97pXkBdo

Cronacoaster noun: the ups and downs of a pandemic. One day you’re loving your bubble, doing work outs, baking banana bread and going for long walks and the next you’re crying, drinking gin for breakfast and missing people you don’t even like.

We hope you are all enjoying the regular newsletters, but in order to keep these going we urgently need more contributions from choir members - You could tell us about your hobby, a special holiday, your favourite music pieces, etc... Just email to me at :mike@sensorland.com

The History of Cake Baking...

To misquote Monty Python what have the Ancient Egyptians ever done for us? Well, they’ve given us cake for a start! Roman and Greek history records cake-making but according to food historians it’s the early Egyptians who were the first skilled bakers. We’ve come a long way from there; what the Egyptians – and even mediaeval Europeans – called cake wouldn’t be recognisable to us as such today. Although the Egyptians wouldn’t even have called it cake; that’s a word that has been used in Britain since the thirteenth century, and is a derivation of the old Norse word, kaka.

First CakesThe first cakes bore a strong similarity to bread. The Romans sometimes added egg or butter, and sweetened the dough with honey, sometimes including nuts or dried fruit. The richer you were, it seems, the more often you could eat cake, and they frequently formed part of banquets. In 14th century Britain, Chaucer writes of immense cakes made for special occasions. He records one that was made with 13 kilograms of flour and contained butter, cream, eggs, spices, currants and honey.A prime feature of a cake was its shape: round and flat. Shaped by hand into a ball, the dough naturally relaxed out to a circular shape. By the seventeenth century, cake hoops were being used to cook the cake. Made of wood or tin, these ensured the cake kept a neat round shape.

Cake in RitualAround the world, cakes have played a central role in people’s worship and rituals, with the circular shape symbolising the cyclical nature of the seasons and life. The Chinese offered up round cakes at harvest time to honour their moon goddess, Heng O; Russians traditionally made blini, thin round cakes, to pay their respects to a god;

and the ancient Celts, on the first day of Spring, rolled cakes down a hill hoping to persuade the sun to keep on rotating. Even today, at any special event, there is likely to be a cake of some sort involved in the Celebration, but now let’s get back to how the flat bread-like cake evolved into today’s Victoria Sponge.

Giving Cake a RiseWhile yeast was the prime raising agent at first, it was in the middle of the nineteenth century that a discovery was made that changed how cakes were made, how they looked and how they tasted. Alfred Bird, a British chemist, introduced an improved type of baking powder, a mixture of bicarbonate of soda and an acid, as a raising agent in the place of yeast. This allowed for greater leavening with less effort, and this, combined with an improvement in temperature accuracy and constancy in ovens, meant that cake baking really took off - even if it was in slightly different directions depending on country!

Around The WorldIn Britain, cakes have a wholesomeness about them; they’re satisfying. Simple ingredients are taken and combined to make something yummy and, usually, quite substantial.On the other hand, the French word, gateau, suggests a much lighter cake, often filled with cream (or more likely crème patisserie) and fruit, very beautifully decorated and presented. Other European cakes tend to be along similar lines or richer, like Sachertorte, or more Pastry-based. While ‘home-made’ is a prized label in Britain, our European counterparts are more likely to sing the praises of the local patisserie.In Eastern Europe the cakes are darker, spicier and fruitier.America took cake baking to its heart and has a fine tradition that blends home-made (like brownies) with fancy (like frosted devil’s food cake).

Changing TrendsThe ability to make the lightest of sponges or the most delicious Fruit Cake was one of the prized virtues of a housewife for the first half of the twentieth century. Then the Sixties’ brought women’s lib, ushering in a different era, where women left the home to go out to work leaving

little time or inclination for home baking.But things, as we said earlier, tend to be cyclical. Eating healthily - and knowing what’s in what we’re eating - is valued more than ever today. And, as anyone who has ever come home to a warm kitchen and the smell of a cake baking will tell you, ‘Nothing beats a home-made cake!’ Mike Coope

This issue’s TOPICS :

TOPIC 1The well-known Flautist, Sir James Galway...

TOPIC 2A short History of Stained Glass...

Issue No : 029 March 2021

Flautist - Sir James Galway...Sir James Galway, OBE (born 8 December 1939) is an Irish virtuoso flute player from Belfast, nicknamed ‘The Man with the Golden Flute’. He established an international career as a solo flute player. In 2005, he received the Brit Award for Outstanding Contribution to Music at the Classic Brit Awards.Galway was born in North Belfast as one of two brothers. His father, who played the flute, was employed at the Harland and Wolff shipyard until the end of the Second World War, while his mother, a pianist, was a winder in a flax-spinning mill. Surrounded by a tradition of flute bands and many friends and family members who played the instrument, he was taught the flute by his uncle at the age of nine and joined his fife and drum corps. At the age of eleven Galway won the junior, senior, and open Belfast flute Championships in a single day. His first instrument was a five-key Irish flute, and at the age of twelve or thirteen, he received a Boehm instrument. He left school at the age of fourteen and worked as an apprentice to a piano repairer for two years.He subsequently studied the flute at the Royal College of Music under John Francis and at the Guildhall School of Music under Geoffrey Gilbert. He then studied at the Paris Conservatoire under Gaston Crunelle and Jean-Pierre Rampal and privately with Marcel Moyse. After his formal musical education he spent fifteen years as an orchestral player.He has played with Sadler’s Wells Opera, Covent Garden Opera, the London Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. He auditioned for the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra under Herbert von Karajan and was principal flute in the orchestra from 1969 to 1975. He then decided to pursue a solo career.In 2003 he formed the Music Education Consortium together with Julian Lloyd Webber, Evelyn Glennie, and Michael Kamen to pressure the British Government into providing better music education in schools. He was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1977, and was knighted in 2001, the first wind player ever to receive that honour.He now lives in Meggan, Switzerland, a village near Lucerne, with his third wife, the American-born Jeanne Galway, whom he married in 1984. They often tour together, playing duets and, in addition, give master classes. Mike Coope

CAN YOU HELP... Yes!Back in Issue 26, we put out a plea to choir members asking if anyone knew the whereabouts of the family of Gwen Williams who used to sing in our choir in Denis Powell’s time.

This plea was on behalf of musician, David Houghton and his wife.

Well, with help from Annette Mann and a bit of detective work, Gwen’s family was found with contact being made with her two daughters, Jane and Ceri plus her son, Mark.

When possible, a future meet up is to be arranged when memories of Gwen can be shared.Henry

John Bolus - Funeral...The funeral of John Bolus will take place at 12.45 on the Wednesday 24th March 2021 at the Holy Trinity Church, Ettingshall. There will be a link to the Service : https://www.facebook.com/MHTEttingshall and a link to the Donation and Tribute site : www.johnbolus.muchloved.com

A Short History of Stained Glass...

Coloured glass has been made since the ancient times, both the Egyptians and the Romans produced small coloured glass items, such as cups and vases. However, it is hard to pinpoint the origins of the first stained glass windows, it is suggested that the technique arose from jewellery making and mosaics.

We do know that stained glass windows as we know them today seemed to emerge through the substantial building of churches. Evidence of stained glass windows have been documented in British monasteries as early as the 7th century, with the earliest known reference being 675 AD when Benedict Biscop commissioned French workmen to create the stained glass for the windows of the monastery of St Peter. In the 10th century, biblical scenes were seen in stained glass windows in churches in Germany and France as well as decorative stained glass in England.

During the middle ages is when stained glass really peaked in popularity, this was due to it’s illustrative portrayal of the bible to a population, which was mostly illiterate. This period known as the Romanesque and early Gothic period saw the building of great cathedrals and churches, which were taller and lighter than ever before. The great window arches required large expanses of stained glass to fill them. In this era the stained glass artists used many pieces of coloured glass joined together by lead to create intricate deigns and patterns, which had enormous complexity. The stained glass windows were complex and illustrated the stories of the bible and the lives of saints.

However, the artists were not interested in how realistic the designs were, they emphasised more on illustration and ideas. This was reflected in their finished windows, which consisted of vividly coloured glass and sometime unsophisticated paintwork, nonetheless the windows created a beautiful atmosphere of light and colour in the churches and cathedrals in which they resided.

However, in the 15th Century the way that stained glass was made and viewed changed. The style evolved from the Gothic style to Classical. This new style portrayed stained glass more like a translucent picture, paler colours were used and the windows incorporated larger figures. The new style of stained glass lasted for about 300 years, It was viewed as a more sophisticated style and the glass painting reflected this.

Lead lines were viewed as more of an obstruction of the picture rather than a decorative item. The finished result looked more like a panel painting, and eventually most stained glass was made from white panels that were heavily painted to create the finished window. The stained glass of this era seemed to lose all of their previous glory and the atmosphere and symbolism that stained glass used to create was lost.

It was during this period, however, that stained glass became prominent in public buildings and houses. Painted details on simple transparent backgrounds were often seen. During the 18th century the removal of medieval stained glass was commonplace, the windows were destroyed and replaced with painted glass.

However, in the mid 1800’s, due to the revival of the Catholic church in England, a resurgence in Gothic architecture was seen. Many new churches and cathedrals were built and many old churches were restored. This resulted in the rediscovery of medieval stained glass techniques and the demand for stained glass in the old Gothic style that we most commonly associate stained glass with today.

English immigrants such as, William Jay Bolton and Joseph & Richard Lamb, were some of the first people to establish stained glass studios in America. The artists generally produced Gothic style ecclesiastical stained glass, which were the norm until the distinctive American stained glass style was developed. This style was developed by John La Farge and Louis Comfort Tiffany, who were painters that developed glass that produced a wide range of effects, without the need for glass painting. This glass was known as opalescent glass, the two soon became competitors and both received patents for the glass they invented. Tiffany is also thought to have invented the copper foil method rather than the use of lead, which he used to create lamps, windows and other decorative items. The Tiffany style had many imitators and was a very popular style through the turn of the 20th century,

The tastes in stained glass changed after WWI, as there was a revival in architectural accuracy, which in turn demanded Gothic style stained glass windows in NeoGothic Churches.

The popularity of Opalescent glass continued to decline after the death of La Farge in 1910 and the death of Tiffany in 1933. New artists then arose who made stained glass for American Churches. The popularity of stained glass, with exception to church stained glass stayed in decline until after WWII. It was at this time that the abstract and expressionist art movement influenced artists to explore

expression in the medium of glass.

Since then stained glass has grown in popularity and has given rise to new and imaginative styles. This new golden age in glass was influenced by new technologies and the growing interest of learning stained glass as a hobby. We now commonly see stained glass in doorways and windows around our homes as well as in Tiffany style lamps. Decorative glass panels are commonly purchased to hang in our home and hot formed glass pieces are used as decorative additions. Newer artists are combining existing styles and developing and creating unique glass pieces every day. Mike Coope

This issue’s TOPICS :

TOPIC 1The five most popular cats in the UK according to Pets4Homes...

TOPIC 2Music can help heal the brain...

TOPIC 3A Short History of Wolverhampton...

Issue No : 030 March 2021

Music can help heal the brain...There's a thing called music therapy where licensed professionals help people with brain damage, heart problems, or with many different physical issues through the power of music. It's especially useful for people who have trouble speaking or comprehending language, whether because of a stroke or some other brain injury. Therapists use a style of singing with certain rhythms that can help bring back the cadence of speech.

The right side of the brain processes music while the left side processes language, so music therapy can help bridge the gap between the two. Music helps create new neurological pathways.According to the Medical profession, patients with speech problems are "capable of singing words that they cannot speak." And that's why using "melody and rhythm has long been recommended for improving" speech and language comprehension in patients. More facts on what music can do for you to follow... Mike Coope

1. The Bengal CatThe Bengal cat is classed as a hybrid breed, produced from the crossing of domestic cats (often Siamese) with the Asian Leopard Cat. The Asian Leopard cat gives the Bengal its beautiful and distinctive coat pattern, and sleek, silky fur.

The five most popular cats in UK... according to Pets4Homes websiteIf you are wondering what breeds of cat are popular at the moment, and what breeds are rising to prominence within the UK, Pets4Homes have compiled a list of the most popular cat breeds, based on the number of searches and adverts.

2. The British Shorthair CatOne of our native cat breeds, the British Shorthair remains popular year on year, and is one of the breeds most commonly bred for showing. The British Shorthair has a thick, plush coat that just begs to be stroked, and is a stocky, muscular cat with a solid build and rounded appearance.

3. The Persian CatThe beautiful Persian cat is instantly recognisable for its short-muzzled squashed-looking face and its long luxurious fur! Today’s most familiar appearance Persian cat is called the Peke-faced Persian, but a more traditional variety with a delicate face that has a normal conformation is known as the Doll-faced Persian.

4. The Siamese CatThe exotic and unusual Siamese cat is slinky, muscular and lean having a distinctive triangular-shaped face, large ears, and soft, strokable fur! They are renowned for forming very strong bonds with their owners and also have a very distinctive meow, which has been likened to the sound of a crying baby!

5. The Ragdoll CatThe Ragdoll has masses of cute-appeal, being a fairly large cat with a long fluffy coat, and a sweet temperament. They are named the ‘Ragdoll’ because they go totally limp when picked up, and they very much enjoy being cuddled and carried about! The Ragdoll cat is rather innocent and naive, and not particularly streetwise.

Remember when Woverhampton Town Centre was busy with cars and people, as seen in this photograph taken in the 1960’s...

Another recording from Ian on his Sound Cloud for all of us to enjoy - Prelude and Fugue in G minor.

As a reminder, the link is :SoundCloud.com/user-378375497

A Short History of Wolverhampton...The city is named after Wulfrun, who founded the town in 985, from the Anglo-Saxon Wulfruneheantun. Before the Norman Conquest, the area’s name appears only as variants of Heantune or Hamtun, the prefix Wulfrun or similar appearing in 1070 and thereafter.

In 985, King Ethelred the Unready granted lands at a place referred to as Heantun to Lady Wulfrun by royal charter, and hence founding the settlement. In 994, a monastery was consecrated in Wolverhampton for which Wulfrun granted land in the area, this became the site for the current St. Peter’s Church.

Wolverhampton is recorded in the Domesday Book in 1086 as being in the Hundred of Seisdon and the county of

Staffordshire. It is held that in the 14th and 15th centuries that Wolverhampton was one of the ‘staple towns’ of the woollen trade, which today can be seen by the inclusion of a woolpack on the city’s coat of arms, and by the many small streets, especially in the city centre, called ‘Fold’ .

In 1512, Sir Stephen Jenyns, a former Lord Mayor of London, who was born in the city, founded Wolverhampton Grammar School, one of the oldest active schools in Britain. From the 16th century onwards, Wolverhampton became home to a number of metal industries including lock and key making and iron and brass working.

Wolverhampton suffered two Great Fires: the first in April 1590, and the second in September 1696.

On 27 January 1606, two farmers, Thomas Smart and John Holyhead of Rowley Regis, were executed on High Green, now Queen Square, for sheltering two of the Gunpowder Plotters.

There is also evidence that Wolverhampton may have been the location of the first working Newcomen Steam Engine in 1712.

19th century...The young Princess Alexandrina Victoria of Kent (later Queen Victoria) is known to have visited Wolverhampton in the 1830s and described it as “a large and dirty town” but one which received her “with great friendliness and pleasure”.

In Victorian times, Wolverhampton grew to be a wealthy town mainly due to the huge amount of industry that occurred as a result of the abundance of coal and iron deposits in the area. The remains of this wealth can be seen in local houses such as Wightwick Manor and The Mount (both built for the Mander family, prominent varnish and paint manufacturers), and Tettenhall Towers.

The railways reached Wolverhampton in 1837, with the first station located at Wednesfield Heath, now Heath Town, on the Grand Junction Railway. Wolverhampton railway works was established in 1849 for the Shrewsbury and Birmingham Railway and became the Northern Division workshop of the Great Western Railway in 1854.

In 1866, a statue was erected in memory of Prince Albert the Prince Consort, the unveiling of which brought Queen Victoria to Wolverhampton. The unveiling of the statue was the first public appearance Queen Victoria had made since the funeral

of her husband. Market Square, originally named High Green, was renamed Queen Square in honour of the visit. The statue replaced a Russian cannon captured from Sevastopol during the Crimean War in 1855, and remains standing in Queen Square.

Since 1900, Wolverhampton had a prolific bicycle industry from 1868 to 1975, during which time a total of more than 200 bicycle manufacturing companies existed there,

but today none exist at all. These manufacturers included Viking, Marston, Sunbeam, Star, Wulfruna and Rudge. The last volume manufacturers of bicycles left Wolverhampton during the 1960s and 1970s – the largest and best-known of which was Viking Cycles Ltd, whose team dominated the UK racing scene in the 1950s. Trolleybuses appeared in 1923, and in 1930 for a brief period the Wolverhampton trolleybus system was the world’s largest trolleybus system. The last Wolverhampton trolleybus ran in 1967.

England’s first automatic traffic lights could be seen in Princes Square, Wolverhampton in 1927. The modern traffic lights at this location have the traditional striped poles to commemorate this fact. Princes Square was also the location of the United Kingdom’s first pedestrian safety barriers, which were erected in 1934.

Sir Geoffrey Le Mesurier Mander, a member of the Mander family, was Liberal MP for Wolverhampton East from 1929 to 1945, distinguished for his stance against appeasement and as a supporter of the League of Nations. He was known as ‘the last of the

Midland radicals’. More recent members have included the Conservative mavericks Enoch Powell and Nicholas Budgen. Powell was a member of Edward Heath’s Tory shadow cabinet from 1964, until he was dismissed in April 1968 following his controversial Rivers of Blood speech in which he warned of massive civil unrest if mass immigration of black and Asian commonwealth inhabitants continued.

In 1974, as a result of local government reorganisation, Wolverhampton became a metropolitan borough. The United Kingdom government announced on 18 December 2000 that Wolverhampton would be granted city status.