New article - Made in the Manor

Made in the Manor is a reminder of the dramatic changes in the manufacturing base of Sedgley, Coseley and the Gornals that took place over the C20th.

An interesting compilation of firms and their products that we hope will prompt feedback.

2009 Spring Teaser Answer

Dating a building is usually quite a challenge. Sometimes precise dates can be found on foundation stones and nameplates. Here the date is given! We asked you to locate the property and try to sort out its brief history.

Sedgley’s largest superstore opened in 1987. Although eye-catching, the design was controversial. It was part of the Argyle Group and operated as Presto. Later the High Holborn supermarket passed to Safeway and finally to the Co-Op in August 2004.

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.

2008/2009 Programme

The current programme of talks is available here. Additional details will be added throughout the season.

2009 Summer Teaser

What’s it represent? Where is it? The underlying news story has a community up in arms. Send us an email with your answers.

SPOTLIGHT ON ... Turls Hill Lane

A centuries old bridleway running along a boundary between the old villages of Woodsetton and Ettingshall was subject to a major upgrading in spring 2009. The Woodsetton Charitable Trust secured over £90,000 in grants for land drainage, surface reinstatement, fencing and hedge cultivation.

It is part of a journey that can be walked eastwards from All Saint’s Church in Sedgley to the centre of Coseley. The route can easily be picked out on a 1798 map of Staffordshire and it is likely to have existed before 1600.

The origin of place names is always in dispute and Turls Hill is no different. Some favour a derivation from the Turley family, others from the Anglo-Saxon meaning the head or top of the hill. And spellings include Terhull, Turles Hill, Turleys Hill and today Turl’s Hill or Turls Hill.

On Friday 1st May 2009 short speeches by Trust secretary, David Bates and Sedgley Councillor, David Caunt marked the completion of improvements. Then a symbolic finishing touch was made to the footpath by Crusader a ten ton steam road roller made by Aveling & Porter in 1926. The vintage roller belonged to Robert Bate from Fordhouses, Wolverhampton.