This section acts as an archive for all those pieces of news we collect that are relevant to those interested in the history of Sedgley Manor. Since today's news becomes tomorrow's history we hope this section of our site is evolving into a 'recent' history section.
March
2013 - A Nostalgic Tour of Old Tipton / Winter Teaser
Keith Hodgkins, vice chairman of Tipton Civic Society
shows archive
photographs of Tipton between the 1900s and the 1970s. A teaser
photograph reminding us of local industry.
February
2013 - Black Country Murders
Ian Bott presents an illustrated talk based on his book about tragedies between 1900 and 1958; an evening of crime and mystery – solved and unsolved.
January
2013 - Our Love Affair with Wheels/The Bullring in Snow
A members and visitors evening for sharing
memories about bicycles, motorbikes and cars. Everyone is invited to
bring along artefacts, photographs, posters and memorabilia or just
tell stories about their love affair with wheels. An excellent old
photograph of the Bullring under a blanket of snow.
November
2012 - Dudley Canal Trust /Autumn Teaser
Vic Smallshire (Chairman of Dudley Canal Trust) presents a slide
show that records the restoration and conservation of a vital piece of
the waterway. Work began in 1964 and a rolling programme of
improvements has made this venture into a remarkable tourist
attraction. A new centre for visitors is at the design stage and
ambitious plans are still to be realised for some disused tunnels.
A local water source stretched memories.
October
2012 - Upstairs, Downstairs/Coseley Scouts
Patricia Boyd recounts the real lives of Victorian servants. Coseley Scouts Centenary.
September
2012 - St. John's Church preserved, Olympic Torch in the manor, Summer
Teaser
Deb Brownlee and Chris Smith talk about St. John’s and the
project to bring it back into use. Also the Olympic Flame reaches
Coseley. A well known name appears somewhere surprising.
May
2012 - A Sparky Talk and the Spring Teaser
John Hughes reminisces about the days before low energy bulbs and fused plugs, and a rather unusual water feature now playing host to a rarity.
March
2012 - Black Country Railways, Winter
Teaser, Winter Walks and a Coseley Calendar
Keith Hodgkins traces the evolution of main lines and branches with vintage images recalling the days when the region’s industries were well served with a network bringing in raw materials and leaving with products as diverse as steel bars and sausages. A well known Sedgley building with an interesting past, a stately home, and a local calendar.
February
2012 - Hackwood’s Wednesbury
Ian Bott's illustrated talk celebrates the life and hometown of an influential Black Country and Staffordshire historian, Frederick William Hackwood (author of Sedgley Researches [1898]).
January
2012 - Sporting Memories/Autumn Teaser Answer
A members and visitors' evening for sharing their memories of
sporting events and personalities connected with the Black Country and
further afield. In addition there will be notes on London’s three
Olympic Games and an opportunity to test your knowledge of obscure
local sporting links. A railway station in the manor.
November
2011 - Black Country Living
Museum
This illustrated history of the site provides an opportunity for potential visitors to see how the 26 acres of derelict industrial land have been turned into Britain’s friendliest open air museum.
October
2011 - 22nd Barnett Memorial Lecture - Beer, Bets and Bull-Baiting
Mary Bodfish portrays a C19th
Black Country where the working classes had a lifestyle steeped in
drink and gambling, and 'enjoyed' bloody amusements like
prize fighting and bull-baiting with dogs.
September
2011 - Restoring Old Photographs/Summer Teaser Answer
Eddy Hickey presents a jargon free approach to
removing creases and reducing other damage to priceless old
photographs. A vital piece of woodwork.
May
2011 - AGM/Walking the Wren’s Nest/Spring Teaser Answer
Friends of the Wren’s Nest give details of the latest projects
and routes to explore as well as explaining the unique history of this
National Nature Reserve. A large sculpture interestingly located.
March
2011 - The
Last Days of Steelmaking at
Round Oak/Winter Teaser Answer/Census 2011
Keith Hodgkins, vice-chairman of Tipton Civic Society, gives a slide
show of photographs of Brierley Hill's
Round Oak Steelworks. A local landscape - but where and how was it
formed? Happy birthday to the census.
February
2011 - Time Gentlemen Please! – A Gallery of Pub Signs/Winter
walks
Local historian, Ian Bott, with a slide show celebrating the fine
tradition of pub naming and a few recommendations for getting out and
about.
January 2011 - That's Entertainment – Stage, Screen and Radio
A members and visitors' evening for sharing memories of the entertainment offered to Black Country audiences via theatre, cinema and radio/TV.
December 2010 - Autumn Teaser Answer
A not completely forgotten pioneer craftsman.
November 2010 - Victorian Boiler Explosions
Philip Jones presents his award-winning research into local
Victorian boiler explosions, which, unfortunately, weren't as uncommon
as one may have hoped.
October 2010 - 21st Barnett Memorial Lecture
Editor of the community magazine Village Voice, Chris Smith,
highlights some of the more unusual stories that have appeared in the
magazine over the last five years.
September 2010 - Ticket to China/Summer Teaser Answer
Geoff Harrison, SLHS chairman, recollects 1980s China which he
visited as a member of a Board of
Trade party engaged in discussions with their ceramic industry. Ruins
with a continental link.
May 2010 - AGM/The Longbow/Spring Teaser Answer
Mark Cooper, secretary of the Bowmen of England Archers, tells the
story of a famous English weapon of war. A famous local landmark
features in the Spring Teaser.
March 2010 - Baggeridge Colliery/Winter Teaser Answer/Coseley Baths
Vic Smallshire discusses the history of one of South Staffordshire’s most famous pits. A street scene in the Winter Teaser. Also the end for Coseley Baths.
February 2010 - Picture Postcards from the Black Country
Ian Bott with a miscellany of evocative Black Country images selected from the once popular medium of picture postcards.
January 2010 - World War Two Remembered
A members and visitors' evening for sharing memories of the war years.
November 2009 - SLHS 25th Anniversary - 1984 ~ 2009/Autumn Teaser Answer
Founder members reminisce about the Society's early days
and the local history museum that operated for sixteen years. A teaser
of a site.
October 2009 - 20th Barnett Memorial Lecture/Summer Teaser Answer
Building Stones of the Black
Country Area drew attention to local buildings and, in a similar
vein, a sculpture (sadly) now in storage.
September 2009 - Kinver Rock Houses/Welcome to Sedgley
Season opener - David Bills provides some insight into the famous
red sandstone houses. Also Sedgley gets a new sign.
News shorts from summer 2009
May 2009 - Looking at Yesterday/Spring Teaser Answer
Following the 2009 AGM, Society member, Eddy Hickey will be showing
slides and photographs of Dudley and Wolverhampton that he has taken
over the last forty years. A date on a building in the Spring Teaser.
Graham Worton, keeper of geology and manger at Dudley Museum and Art
Gallery, and nationally recognised expert on the Wren’s Nest
limestone
workings, looks at pits and quarries in Sedgley, Coseley & the
Gornals.
February 2009 - Dudley Castle/Winter Teaser Answer
Adrian Durkin, Exhibitions Officer at Dudley Museum and Art Gallery,
traces the development of castles and highlights Dudley as a fine
example of the changes over the centuries. The Winter Teaser shows a
collection of Victorian buildings.
January 2009 - Made in Sedgley Manor/Autumn Teaser Answer
A members and visitors' evening for sharing
memories of industries and places of work in Sedgley, Coseley and the
Gornals. A poignant memorial features in the Autumn Teaser.
Christine Buckley shares her experience in researching family history.
October 2008 - Andrew Barnett Memorial Lecture
An open forum led by Society members Trevor Genge and George Blackham – Who cares about the heritage of Sedgley, Coseley and the Gornals?
September 2008 - Bilston Steelworks/Summer Teaser Answer
Memorabilia, photographs and a digital presentation promise to revive memories of Bilston Steelworks. Also a church interior revealed.
August 2008 - Out and About over the Summer
A round up of relevant events over the summer holiday period.
June 2008 - Spring Teaser Answer
A local preaching cross.
May 2008 - AGM plus 'Sketches and Memorabilia'
The 2008 AGM is followed by Ron Baker and Bryan Hollies showing, respectively, sketches and items from Sedgley's past.
April 2008 - St. George visits Sedgley!/Trevor Genge Award
News of the St. George’s Day Pageant organised by Dudley MBC. Trevor Genge receives the Thomas Attwood award for education.
March 2008 - Sedgley Parish – An early C19th Vicar’s Book/Winter Teaser Answer
Dorothy Inett brings the Rev. Girdlestone's parish record to our attention and recounts some of the business of the Sedgley parish at that time.
February 2008 - Discovering Dudley: An Update
An illustrated talk by Peter Boland (Principal Conservation Officer of Dudley M. B.) covering the regeneration of Dudley town centre and the opportunities for revealing a rich heritage dating back to medieval times.
January 2008 - Wish You Were Here
A members and visitors' evening of sharing memories of holidays -
expect to see postcards, photos, brochures and souvenirs.
December 2007 - The Black Country Urban Park Big Lottery Bid/Autumn Teaser Result
Re-opening of the man made limestone caverns under the Wren’s Nest National Nature Reserve featured strongly in the Black Country Consortium’s submission to the Big Lottery Fund.
November 2007 - Dudley Archives
A visit to Coseley to see the Dudley Archives & Local History Service.
October 2007 - 18th Barnett Lecture/Summer Teaser
Trevor Genge's personal reminiscences about Andrew Barnett was the subject of the 2007 Andrew Barnett Memorial Lecture. Summer Teaser answer.
August 2007 - Wolverhampton History Website/Himley Exhibition
The Wolverhampton History and Heritage Society website and Himley Hall exhibition.
June 2007 - Summer Walk/Spring Teaser Result/Cycling in the 1890s
Walking the Whitehouse way and making sense of of a cryptic teaser.
The AGM is followed by George Blackham's illustrated talk covering schools and schooling in Sedgley Manor since 1800.
March 2007 - The Stourbridge Canal/Winter Teaser
The snow delayed talk on the Stourbridge canal and result of the Winter Teaser.
January 2007 - Shops in Sedgley/Autumn Teaser
A members and visitors evening aimed at sharing memories of shops, shopkeepers and shopping in the 40s and 50s, also the result of the Autumn Teaser.
December 2006 - Christmas at the Summer House/Coseley Civic Trust Launched
Lighting up time in Gospel End/Coseley Civic Trust constituted and busy fighting to save Mount Pleasant School from demolition.
November 2006 - Coseley's Avenue of Remembrance
Coseley Urban District Council’s first official war memorial involved the planting of trees on both sides of the Birmingham New Road.
October 2006 - 2006 Andrew Barnett Memorial Lecture/Summer Teaser/Sedgley Flag
The Kinver Light Railway was the topic for the seventeenth Andrew Barnett Memorial Lecture, the Summer Teaser and details of the Sedgley flag.
September 2006 - Dudley Castle Talk
The Society’s new season of talks begins with John Hemingway (Archaeological Officer for Dudley MB) on the History & Archaeology of Dudley Castle.
Leave the car at home and 'walk the manor'.
June 2006 - Spring Teaser Result/Surname Surprises
Something for those with knowledge of Lower Gornal or an interest in names and locations.
May 2006 - Discovering Lower Ettingshall
The now traditional end-of-season walk this year visits Lower Ettingshall.
April 2006 - The Whitehouse Diaries
Society members Lorna Stevens and Trevor Genge follow up the AGM with an illustrated talk about the Whitehouse family - Victorian iron masters.
Apologies for our downtime between the 6th and the 9th March 2006.
Trains and Trams in March, the Summer Teaser result and Winter picture
February 2006 - Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal in Watercolour
Ettingshall based landscape artist, Ray Whitehouse's second visit to the Society to display and talk about his watercolours. Ray recently finished a project researching and recording the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal and its surroundings.
January 2006 - Newspapers, Magazines & Comics
Members and visitors are invited to bring along old newspapers, magazines and comics, and share memories and ‘treasures’.
December 2005 - Sedgley Flag Raised
On Saturday 10th December 2005 the 1st Sedgley Scout group raised the new village flag, the design of which is based on the civic badge of the defunct Sedgley Urban District Council.
December 2005 - Summer Teaser/Dud Dudley
John Hemingway (Archaeological Officer of Dudley Metropolitan Borough) on the trail of Woodsetton’s iron smelting pioneer, the illegitimate son of Lord Dudley - Dud Dudley.
October 2005 - Newsflash (ish) and The Andrew Barnett Memorial Lecture
The speaker, Robert Earnshaw a Warden at the Wren's Nest National Nature Reserve presents an illustrated talk entitled 'The Geological and Industrial Past of the Wren's Nest'. The talk offers an opportunity to hear about Dudley's internationally acclaimed natural feature, thought by many to be worthy of World Heritage status.
September 2005 - 2005/2006 Season Talk I
"For A Glass Of Clean Water" - Trevor Genge distils the archives to tell the story of how clean water was brought to the Black Country.
July 2005 - Spring Teaser/Hansard/Hot Off The Press
A collection of front page items - SLHS gets a mention in London, teaser results, and a newspaper archive.
June 2005 - End-of-season walk
Looks like the route taken on the night may not have been quite as advertised.
May 2005 - Straits House link and Winter and Easter Teasers
Read a brief history of the threatened Straits House and catch up with our recent teasers.
April 2005 - Mobile Mast Locator
Find the mobile transmitters in your locality with this government site.
March 2005 - Himley Hall & Spring Round Up
Alan Peace, senior warden at Himley Hall, gives us an insight into this C18th local landmark. Other news items include a link to a unique Victorian photograph.
February 2005 - Dudley’s Unfolding History
Peter Boland, the Principal Conservation Officer of Dudley M. B. talks about the preservation of the remains of a glassworks under the newly created Stone Street Square, and the central Dudley scheme to highlight the development of the town from medieval times.
January 2005 - Sedgley Manor Memorabilia Evening
An open evening where members, and visitors, can share items from family collections and recall stories about past events and well known characters.
December 2004 - Autumn Teaser and Summer Answer
The results of the Summer teaser competition and link to the Autumn Photo.
October 2004 - The Turls Hill Project
David Bate, vice chairman of the Turls Hill & Swanbrook Valley Residents Association, talks about the Manor’s most exciting landscape protection programme.
September 2004 - Andrew Barnett Memorial Lecture
The Sedgley Local History Society 2004/2005 season opens with an illustrated talk by Ron Moss entitled, 'Backyard Industries of the Black Country'.
A collection of front page news briefs from June 2004: All Saint's
Anniversary reported, Coppice Baptist request help for a bicentennial
booklet, the Society's Summer Walk and results of the Spring Teaser
competition.
May 2004 - Trevor Genge Signs In with Book Five
Trevor Genge launches his fifth book of old photographs covering Sedgley and District at Queen Victoria Primary School, Bilston Street, with the opening being performed by the well known historian and broadcaster, Carl Chinn.
March 2004 - A Day with 'Time Team'
Trevor Genge tells us about his participation in the Channel 4 Time Team's sponsored National Big Dig Week.
February 2004 - Churches, Chapels and Pubs
Society member, Jennifer Hill, guides us through a pictorial presentation of some of the Manor's churches, chapels and public houses.
January 2004 - Our School Days
Members and visitors are invited to bring along books, reports, uniforms, badges and magazines to help stir some memories of local education.
December 2003 - Winter in the Manor
Seasonal greetings from SLHS and a photograph of a mystery location covered in snow to tax your minds at Yuletide.
November 2003 - Our Local Scene in Watercolour
Landscape artist Ray Whitehouse has recently finished a project researching and recording the Birmingham Canal Navigation and its surroundings as it cuts through the Black Country. On his first visit to the Society he'll display and talk about his watercolours.
October 2003 - Local Buses On Film
The Society's second meeting of the 2003/2004 season of talks sees John Hughes show some of his unique collection of cine-films and photographs covering the history of Wolverhampton Corporation's transport department from trams to trolley buses.
September 2003 - The 14th Andrew Barnett Memorial Lecture
The Society's 2003/2004 season of talks starts with the annual Memorial Lecture, given this year by John Hemingway, the Archaeological Officer of Dudley M.B.C.
July 2003 - Zoo and Castle are Divorced!
On Monday 21st July 2003 members of Dudley Council voted overwhelmingly in favour of a controversial £100 million redevelopment of Castle Hill - once part of Woodsetton village.
June 2003 - Village Names Live On
The May 2004 Local Elections will be based on new ward boundaries.
SLHS contributed to the consultation process by ensuring the ward names
reflected the communities they cover, as this article describes.