NEWS (March 2010): Baggeridge Colliery/Winter Teaser Answer/Coseley Baths

Baggeridge Colliery

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

The speaker is Vic Smallshire a well known Black Country local historian with a strong interest in canals and mining. His presentation covers the history of one of South Staffordshire’s most famous pits.

From the dawn of the C20th until the late 1960s Baggeridge pit exploited Thick Coal, often called ‘the 10 yard seam’. At its peak well over 2,000 miners were employed – at closure around 600.

Vic Smallshire’s meticulous research brings the old mining community back to life. Anyone with family connections will find the evening most rewarding.

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

2010 Winter Teaser

2010 Winter Teaser

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

The tramway is the clue. The Wolverhampton to Dudley route passed through Sedgley and Upper Gornal. Closure came in November 1926 suggesting this view of Kent Street in Upper Gornal, looking towards Sedgley, was taken some years earlier. All the houses in the foreground are still standing.

Coseley Baths - The End

Following closure in August 2009 a long and vigorous campaign was fought by the Save Coseley Baths supporters. However, the bitter exchanges with Dudley Council did not prevent demolition taking place in March 2010 when the Birmingham based Coleman & Company reduced the 1963 building to rubble in a matter of days.

Coseley baths demolition
Coseley baths demolition close up