Picture Postcards from the Black Country

The next meeting of the Society takes place on Thursday 11th February 2010 at 7:30 pm in St. Andrew’s Church, Bilston Street, Sedgley.

The speaker is Ian Bott a well known Wednesbury local historian, writer and collector of Black Country stories. His slide show is a miscellany of evocative Black Country images selected from the once popular medium of picture postcards.

In 1870 the Post Office introduced blank cards – pictures followed twenty-four years later. The early years of the C20th saw Black Country folk not only sending cards from their holiday resort, but also receiving cards from home with pictures of local views! This appetite for images left a countrywide legacy for archivists and collectors to examine.

The evening is a must for photographers, picture postcard fanatics and history buffs. A great opportunity to see the sepia snaps of yesteryear.

As usual visitors are invited to come along – cost £1.

Forthcoming events

Unless otherwise stated, the talks take place in St. Andrew's Church, Bilston Street, Sedgley in the main body of the church.

THURSDAY 11TH MARCH – 7:30 pm

"Baggeridge Colliery" - Vic Smallshire’s research brings the old pit back to life.

THURSDAY 13TH MAY – 7:30 pm

Annual General Meeting followed by "The Longbow" - Mark Cooper tells the story of this weapon of war and peace.

THURSDAY 10TH JUNE – 7:30 pm [Meeting place & details of walk to be announced]

Evening Walk – Trevor Genge is your guide.

Sedgley Local History Society [SLHS]

Sedgley Local History Society [SLHS] is a Black Country group based in the village of Sedgley, which is situated at the northern tip of Dudley Metropolitan Borough and just 3 miles south of the centre of Wolverhampton.

Here, the heritage of the Manor of Sedgley, in south Staffordshire, is focused through its nine villages - Sedgley, Gospel End, Cotwall End, Upper Gornal, Lower Gornal, Woodsetton, Coseley, Ettingshall and Brierley. A history of people, places and events.

Please contact us if you have any comments, suggestions, contributions or questions.

Website changes afoot

You may have been surprised by a sudden sideways jump of this web page - no it's not you it's us! Over the next couple of months you may notice a few changes to the site. Nothing too radical just a few incremental improvements.

2010 Winter Teaser

I spy something beginning with ‘t’. Search this postcard scene from ninety years ago for clues to the village street. Send an email naming the location.

2009 Autumn Teaser Answer

In its heyday the buildings on this site provided a vital service to the community. We asked what was the use and where is it?

This was the site of Lower Gornal gasworks east of Musk Lane and entered from the long gone Gas Street! The District Gas Company Works, a Victorian enterprise, was acquired by Sedgley Urban District Council in 1882, and through the 1948 Gas Act the undertaking transferred to the West Midlands Gas Board. Production continued through the 50s and possibly early 60s. Prior to final demolition in 2008/9 a collection of redundant buildings was utilised as a small industrial estate.

The Society does not have a decommissioning date or photographs of the gasworks. If you can further our research please send an email.