People contributed newspaper cuttings, internet research, lists of former industrial businesses, old family and work photos, and images of types of industrial machinery. They told us stories of a bygone age, of a prosperous beautiful town which lives on in their memories.
These all contributed to our understanding of the past and Brierley Hillness.
Images and memories
Below are a selection of scanned photos and extracts from audio recordings which give a sense of Brierley Hill before the late 1970s.
View from Chapel Street Estate when Round Oak Steel Works still dominated the landscape. Contributed by John Timmins
“All the big firms they all had a social club. I mean Round Oak social club we used to go dancing there as a teenager, I used to have dances every Friday night… and then Marsh’s one, that’s still standing… and they all had their football teams, and the cricket teams and they used to have outings and children’s parties… I can remember going to children’s parties at the brickyard where dad worked. So it was very much involved, there was all this involvement… There was this sort of sense of pride…and competition.”
Jeanette Grazier, Stourbridge (from audio recording)
Listen to a clip of Jeanette sharing these memories.
Image of Round Oak Farm, Merry Hill. Contributed by Pete Glews (associated memory below)
“It was a farm of grassed-over pit banks… Ken Thomas (the farmer) used to keep Devon Red cattle… so in those fields on a nice sunny evening you could have the light reflecting off these Devon Red cattle… it was lovely. When they moved out… saw Cis once, that’s his wife, and, you know… apparently the story was she never came back to Merry Hill when they left… she never saw it. “Hello Cis, how you doing?” “Oh, alright”, she says “Not come back have yer? “No”, she says “they’ve put some shops there haven’t they?”
Dave Galley, Brierley Hill (from audio recording)
Listen to a clip of Dave telling this story.
“And at one time of day when it was Brierley Hill the park was lovely… along the front by the war cenotaph there was always lovely gardens. They were Brierley Hill gardeners who used to be based down in Wordsley… but their main thing was the front of Brierley Hill. There were benches and flower gardens and grassing. It hasn’t been looked after for years”.
Dennis Andrews, Brierley Hill (from audio recording)
Newspaper cuttings about historic events in Brierley Hill, contributed by David Newton
“Fire brickworks they mainly were, mainly centred on Brettal Lane and The Delph […] My gran worked there as a brick moulder until she was in her 60s. And lots of my family worked in that particular one. Over the road from that it was known as George Kings, down The Delph there was at least two that I can think of and also every brickyard had its own clay pit or clay mine, if you like, so they’d mine the clay locally and then use it in the brickyards.”
Jeanette Grazier, Stourbridge (from audio recording)
Jeanette tells us more about the brickworks.
Picture taken by member of Dudley MIND
“The solider on the top (Stanley Harley), he worked at Round Oak Steel Works, but it was the ‘Earl’s’ in those days… it was never called Round Oak Steel Works, it was the ‘Earl’s’… and he’d been through the first world war and he was in one of the Guards… and they had him as the model for that.”
Dennis Andrews, Brierley Hill (from audio recording)
Jeanette tells us about the High Street shops and vibrancy of town.
“When the Earl of Dudley arrives to open it (The Danilo, built 1937) there’s crowds outside, but they are all looking the other way, waiting for George Formby to come up from Quarry Bank…”
Dave Galley, Brierley Hill (from audio recording)
“(George Formby) put his head through the curtains and said “turned out nice again” and the whole of Brierley Hill erupted.”
Ned Williams, local historian and author (from audio recording)
Ned recounts this important event in the history of Brierley Hill.
More memories…
Round Oak Steel Works Reminiscence
Have you got memories of the town you’d like to share?
Please reply below and add these to the site.
Brierley Hillness 
Hi everyone, this site may just be what I need, I’m researching my Grandmother’s family tree, her family lived in Brierly Hill and the surrounding area. The family name was Pearson, she had four brothers, Kenneth (Ken), Bert, Arthur and Thomas (Tom). I was sure that Bert married a lass from Liverpool and moved there to live but he was an informant on this sisters death certificate in 1950 and again on his mother’s in 1966, the address given was 56 Ryder Street, Wordsley, Brierly Hill. I have also been told by a family member that Bert had a shop in Brierly Hill. I think Tom worked in the glass works and I know my Grandma worked in service at Red House Clent from around 1929 to 1932. Their mother was Minnie Pearson, she was a widow and was remarried in 1936 to a William Reece. I was wondering if anyone would know of the family and be able to give me any information about any of them ? Thank you for any help. Regards Sue
Hi, looking for any info about the Megabowl please
Hi my names Mark White, i have tried to search my nan and grandfather, who was known as Arthur and bett of the Beef (Round of beef) and then the Blue Brick next door at Round oak top of wallows (Brierley Hill) if anyone can help please reply.
Just looking for info on my Nan who lived in Bent Street in 1942 when she gave birth to My Dad Alan. Her name would have been Minnie Pinfold and later Homer.
Grateful to anyone who remembers either of them.
Many Thanks
Lot’s of Homer’s in Brierly Hill. Getting them to reply, is a bit of a challenge. My great grandfather, was a Homer who moved from there, back around the turn of the 19th century. I am also trying to contact any cousins that I might still have in the area, but, have not had any luck.
I too was born in bent Street in 1960 I often drive past the house! Do you remember the old victorian bent Street school that used to be at the end, now sheltered housing…the coal merchant also?
I am also researching my family tree and trying to find any living relatives of George hickman born in Cooper avenue brockmoor, was a bus driver for midland red for many years married to Ellen and had 3 children.
It’s like they’ve dropped of the face of the earth
I don’t remember Bent Street school, before my time but I believe my Dad went there.
He now lives in Redditch but often talks about Brierley Hill & Round Oak.
my late nan lived in one of the tower blocks by the Delph.
She died in 1978 i believe.i had moved with my parents to South East London in 1969 but loved and missed my Nan so much. I loved it when we drove up to see the family.
I always remember an old lorry parked up in Hill st I believe. My Nan lived on the top floor of one of the tower blocks. Her name was Martha cook.
I was born in Moor Street in the late 50’s my mom used to take me into Chatin and Hortons the department shop, oh it was lovely , the money used to be put in tubes and they used to shoot round the shop, there was Pioli’s , marsh and Baxter , Potters amazing bread , the old pet shop, the Teaser pub, Jones tv shop, Co op, I loved the town and still do , my family name was Holds and Ambrose
I am looking for information on distant relatives. The family name is Homer. I don’t know my Great grandfather or grandmother’s names, but, the children were John, William, Frank and Eliza. The name that I know was Homer, but, if there was bad blood in the family, the name could have changed. I know that Great Grandpa Homer was a “tinner”, tin miner, who moved the family to Birmingham, so that he could work in the steel industry. From there the family moved to London and while they were there, a repesentative, from The Steel Company of Canada came looking for steel workers and moved the family to Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. I am not looking for money. I am just looking for distant relatives.
Nick Allport. I was born in Spingfield Road Brierley Hill in 147.I worked InDian Oak Steel works and other places in the1960’s. Because of illness and circumstances I left the area but I am proud to say Brierley Hill made me. I am now a retired senior lecture I have 2 degrees and a PHD. I have met a lot of people who thinking are clever but the cleverest most skilled people, I can remember, came .com the Brierley Hill area.
Sorry for the typos .Should read Mick Allport.Round Oak Steel works 1947
You are quite right, we had many educated and skilled people in Brierleyhill , metal glass, history, .. it was all taken away from us , and now the younger generation are “trying to remember” and charging for it .. just sit with older folk .. they will tell you for nothing .. just memories .
The problem I have found whilst now researching my roots is that, like most children, you never listen to the old stories that used to whizz around your head!
I remember the good old days before merry hell being built, oh how Brierley Hill and dudley shone! How busy it was..how clean it was…the grand looking shop frontages..sadly now gone
Marsh and baxters factory where the Moor centre not stands…the old victorian police station at the top of the town tucked away..the old post office….2 Marsh and bacters shops..chattin and hortons..so posh!….lovely Brierley Hill Market.. the fishmonger at tge back and good old Teddy grays.
Coop…fine fayre…woolworths..the old victorian library with the constant noise of the librarian on the front desk stamping your books out with a date stamp and ink pad!….Brierley Hill swimming baths with tge canteen upstairs….Brierley Hill football ground I think where one of tge car parks is now at the bottom. Of asda?
Hi my great granddad Harry Jenkins had a shop/bakers in brettell lane silver end and lived in crescent avenue does anyone know how or why silver end is so named
Jon Turner
I remember Jenkins’ bakery! We would buy bread there almost every day. We lived in High Ercal Ave.
My dad worked for Mr Jenkins he delivered the bread on a push bike . Can you remember the PO Dicky Didlock, and Shakespeare Barbers ? Silver Street Chapel and the Anniversary.Also old Harold Thompson .My God ,its 50+ yrs ago .
Yes, I remember Didlocks, and Price’s shop next to the bakery. Also remember Harold Thompson.
Talking about Round Oak (the Earl’s) I remember that some staff used to use Ada’s public house which backed on to Round Oak when they had time !!! between casting ,moulding , fettling etc and remember there was a Access directly at the rear of the pub !! There was a row of terraced houses alongside as well and I remember a girl called Janice who married a gent named John ,,She used to visit my mom and sometimes ide walk her home ( for safety) She worked at a supermarket opposite jack brown’s cafe !! I often wonder what happened to her and is she still about !! Happy days
Hiya Alan,
Used to go for lunch at Mrs Brown’s cafe’ When I worked at Marsh & baxters, loved Mrs Brown’s burgers…
I have recently joined and hope someone can help me, I was born in harts hill Brierley hill in 1950 in a 2up 2down house which was owned by my dad’s uncle, who’s name was F B Taylor Furniture shop, furniture removals, storage, Weddings, funerals, Taxi’s. I’m also looking for any photo’s of the shop and or harts hill. My dad’s name was Bernard Taylor who was disabled. The house I was born in was connected to the entrance to the yard where all the vehicles were kept and two large double maroon gates for security, next door to our house I think were 2 more houses before the shop with no one living in them except for someone using them for storage, who’s name I think was Mr Webb he stored mountains of Galvanised buckets, bowels, dustbins, mop buckets. etc…The house/shop next to the other side of the double gates was a haberdashery owned by a Mrs Hill… Also, can anyone remember Marsh and Baxters, Re- the two shops in Brierley hill can anyone remember the colour of the letter heading and facade frontages over the shops especially the small one at the end of the town many thanks?
Hi Graham I remember Bernard because as a kid I used to help Bernard and jack with the removals, I Even went to at Ives with them on a house move. Bernard did the packing because of his leg and me and jack would do the tooing, and frowing,. Jack before the war was just about to become a professional boxer but after the war he’d lossed the chance. What was amazing about jack was he could play the piano beautifully we moved a baby grand and after installing it in the house the lady asked jack to play … Dick was the owner by then .. He was great with me even lending me his Vittesse 6 one weekend. I lived in terrace street opposite.
Hi Alan,
Thank you for your response and your memory of working with my dad, I used to go with my Dad also in the early 60s, as I left school in 65 and started work I had to stop going with him. I assume that Dick was the new owner of FB Taylor? in the late 60s, I think my Dad left in 1967 not sure. I remember moving piano’s how could I forget, I used to place the trolly under, very heavy! I also remember a competition at the GALA on holly hall park smashing them up so they fit through a tyre, I’m still looking for photo’s of harts hill around that time but eh , wished I’d have had a mobile phone then…
Yes Grah. Dick Griffith’s was the new owner. He was a butcher but took over the company and I think a daughter married a Taylor (estate agent ) I may be proved wrong Dick Looked after the staff and was always fun to work for even though I only helped out unofficially,,,Jack was a gentleman and it was hard to think he was going to turn pro bit lost the chance because of the war. Good luck with your research. Alan
Hi Graham, I certainly remember you & Bernard, & Jack … Bert Taylor had 2 daughters, Dorothy & Audrey, & I am Dorothy’s daughter Julie. I loved going to Grandad’s & playing in the furniture storage sheds at the back of the shop with your brother Ian. Mum passed away last year & I am still in the process of sorting out her house. So far I have only come across very few photos of Harts Hill and look forward to being able to go through them with mum’s sister Audrey. I know Audrey has some photos too. I think you had spoken to Mum a few years ago but I can’t find your details, it would be good to be in touch.
Hi Julie,
I’m so sorry to hear that your mother my Godmother passed away last year, I didn’t know, please accept my condolences. I too can remember playing in the Furniture storage sheds and helping My Dad in school holidays although I can’t remember Jack. I also played in the yard where the Vans and cars were, Yes I have a few photo’s and would love to be in touch, but I don’t think I should put contact details on here if you know a way I would like to stay in touch… My full name is on (Facebook) and my middle name is my Dads middle name (NEW***)
Think they were Red letters !The end shop by Talbot St I do beliveit was called Knotts .
Hi Gail, you are right the shop originally was Knotts Butchers (my gran bought me sausages from there every week) and was eventually taken over by Marsh and Battersby.
Sorry, Marsh and Baxters.
Hi we used to live in the maisonettes in Ketley fields Bromley Lane and wondered if anyone has any photos of when they were still 2 storey’s High 12 blocks in total.
We lived there from New until 1971 was when we moved my maiden name being Roberts living at 114.
Thank you
I was a young child and lived at 37. It was the upper level which has since been removed. We were there 1965 to 1968. Fantastic memories. Went to school at Bromley Hills. Regular trips to Brierley Hill Baths.
I to went to Bromley Hills 1965 to 1971
Mr Jones was headmaster
Mr brown
Mrs Davies..music teacher?
Miss garnett..art teacher I think taught us to write italic
Can remember having a small bottle milk every day and taking in turns to be milk monitor
Food cooked fresh in kitchen every day …yum 😋 and seconds if you wanted
Tables I think sat 8 kids octagonal with jug of water
Concrete and custard
Blamonge
Spotted dickand custard
I went to the Bromley Junior School in the early seventies,
Head Mr Higginson
Mr Siviter ..loved times tables.
Mr Rollinson played piano so thinks music teacher.
Mr Taylor did great assemblies.
Mr Cheslyn with his hook hand used to tell us Beowulf and Grendell stories.
I was in Mr Darby’s class and Mr Siviters.
I also lived in the Bromley maisonettes , 2nd block in from knotts farm on the bottom. I remember Brian and Glen Jones, I remember a Dougie. My Dads name is John Smith (big miff), mom Maureen and my brother Dale
Crickey small world we lived in 3rd block from farm…114, but remember Glen Colin and Brian…I you remember mrcand ms Jones at end of your block…Alan, Dorothy, Stan, Christine and Mark?
I remember a Mark Jones , had red hair? There were also the Welshes, mom and dad Brian and Maureen, at the time sons Billy and Robert and later Chris.
I remember a site manager who as kids we used to call Burt the shirt, dont ask me why.
Yep burt the shirt lol….he used to be the caretaker for all the blocks.
Yes I remember the welches also…Leonard and lesley gore lived in last block near to farm..their mom was Welsh I think and remember her dressing up kn Welsh costume
Andrew mcgregor and his family in 2nd block from shops on lapwood avenue
There were actually 7 blocks of maisonettes at ketley fields I lived there myself (but no photos) oh and by the way how is Dougie?
I lived on the upper level of the 2nd block (number 37). Happy memories of life there with lots of kids to play with. There were endless games of football as well as fantastic areas to roam around before all the big housing developments.
Happy memories indeed.
Front door left open
Collecting wood to see which block could have the biggest bonfire
British bulldog 1 2 3 played on the grass invetween each ock
The shutes which took your rubbish down
Hanging a rope swing under Bromley Bridge
Blackberry picking on the railway
Hi Chris just spoke to Dougie he remembers you.
Did you have a sister he says …what number did you’ve at
The problem I have found whilst now researching my roots is that, like most children, you never listen to the old stories that used to whizz around your head!
I remember the good old days before merry hell being built, oh how Brierley Hill and dudley shone! How busy it was..how clean it was…the grand looking shop frontages..sadly now gone
Marsh and baxters factory where the Moor centre not stands…the old victorian police station at the top of the town tucked away..the old post office….2 Marsh and bacters shops..chattin and hortons..so posh!….lovely Brierley Hill Market.. the fishmonger at tge back and good old Teddy grays.
Coop…fine fayre…woolworths..the old victorian library with the constant noise of the librarian on the front desk stamping your books out with a date stamp and ink pad!….Brierley Hill swimming baths with tge canteen upstairs….Brierley Hill football ground I think where one of tge car parks is now at the bottom. Of asda?
I lived on Crestwood park and remember the night the roof was blown clean off the first block in Ketley Fields it also brought down a tree on Bromley lane quite a distinct tree it was tall with a bend in the trunk
we lived at No.21 1st block opposite the new shops on the Crestwood estate when the roof blew off January 2nd 1976, remember such a bang and then the Police knocking doors and telling us to get out..We walked to my Nans in Blewitt Street..Mon & Dad had to go to Council next day and were given keys to a House and told they had 2 hours to clear everything in a council wagon..Ended up giving them the rent book to Blackwater close on my dads birthday 29th November 1976, my Mom still lives there, but we lost dad in 2015. Also the Brass key that was on the door was made by my Dad at The Bean, and was also a copy of the actual key..only found out recently the key was still there long after we moved out…Pat & John Mason, I’m the youngest Neil, Lynne was eldest then Stuart in the middle
We lived in the block that the roof blew off. I don’t remember anything about it as i was only 3yrs old at the time. My older sister was 5.5yrs old.
I rember when the roof blew off one of the blocks, but in 1971 i was only 9 sorry
My grandfather lived in 31 Bank Street in 1891 at the age of 3. His parents, both 37, were William Davis and Selina (Lee). Looking on Google Earth the house is no longer there. Interesting to note that there is a nursery opposite with some headstones in front. Was there a cemetery here?
I am researching my family tree.
My great grandfather was born on 25th January 1858 at the Round Oak. His name was Jesse Collins and his father was Aaron Collins who was an engine fitter.
I am curious to know what the Round Oak was and why he was born there?
Thanks,
Ian Black
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Round_Oak_Steelworks
Not sure if you will see this reply, but by any chance would this be Elsie May Whittaker (maiden name I believe) that you are referring to?
Hi Louis
Sorry don’t think so Elsie may go my family were Hickman
Hello
My Nan’s maiden name was Hickman and had a brother called Trevor. Did Trevor have a sister called Winifred?
Hi Linda what was your names Christian name please??
Did they live at 12 cooper avenue brockmoor
Thanks
Lynette
Not sure about the address but there was Trevor, Alice, Gertrude and Winifred (my Nan). Still researching the information but definitely the right sort of area.
Anyway thanks for the reply
Regards
Hi Linda just opened my ancestry and hopefully we are related.
My grandad Trevor hickman 1900 to 1972 did indeed have a sister called winifred who I have come to a standstill will born 1911?
Also winifred Herbert hickman 1914 to 1953
John Herbert hickman my gggf was married to Gertrude Herbert 1880 to 1952
They had 13 children who was your nan?
Would be great if you could help.
Are you on ancestry??
Lynette
Sorry Linda
Winifred your nan 1911
Alice 1902 to 1969
Would you be happy to share any details pics of your nan would be great if you were on genes or ancestry even better if you lived locally
Lynette
Hello Lynette
Sorry I missed your replies. It looks like Trevor and my Nan Winifred were siblings. I have more information about Nan and can source a photo. Would be nice to keep in touch – I live in Stourbridge.
I am constructing a family tree on My Heritage. We need to find a secure way to exchange information if you’d like to.
Regards Lynda Petford
Yes please have replied to you on my heritage would be lovely to meet securely and exchange photos
Does my email address show
Lynette
Hi Linda hope you pick this up
I live in Kingswinford
I was born opposite the danilo in 1959 round oak steelworks loomed up behind our back garden brierley hill was a thriving market town with a football club Brierly hill alliance attracting crowds if well over 500 under floodlights pubs dotted everywhere where did it all go so many happy memories of bygone days
i remember the fielld it was on john street if im not wrong its now a posh health center and my dad worked at round oak steel works he was there when there was an explosion and ppl get badly hurt then about 2 years later thatcher sold it abroad along with other british firms …
My nan and grandad lived in Pearson St, always remember the football field at the bottom of the garden. All gone now for asda
Have got copies of the plans to build asda an how it would mean the old houses in Pearson St being knocked down. Also remember when visiting nan having to dodge Royal mail vans as they were at the far end of Pearson St.
which house in pearson street ?
30 Pearson Street
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Hi
30 Pearson Street, it was called Stanley House.
They lived there from 69 to 78 ish
Then moved to wall heath.
Them and Jones a couple of doors down were the only ones left to go
I too remember the football club, if I’m correct it was located where the old health centre (hearing centre) and part of the bottom end of the asda car park is now located (back entrance of Brierley Hill market end)
My dad, who was a bus driver for many years for the Midland Red based at the old Harts Hill Garage once took us there I think to watch him play? Midland Red also used to have it’s own social club and every year we used to go on a coach load up to Blackpool to see the illuminations and then the wonderful Christmas Party.
From what I remember as I was quite young at the time I have an image in my mind of large tin buildings, but I might be wrong.
Do you remember the old Brierley Hill Cricket Club (now David Lloyd Leisure Centre) and the old Marsh and Baxters club located in Brierley Hill?
Looking through old photos of Brierley Hill the other day (doing my family tree) came upon one of Brierley Hill High Street (Chatin and Hortons where we used to go and see Santa each year) next to Marsh and Baxters one shop (still standing beautiful top of that building, looks victorian) they also had another Marsh and Baxters shop further down the town nearer to the Civic Hall /Police station now where my nan used to purchase her meat and more importantly her butter which they used to wrap up in brown paper.
I remember a row of cottages opposite the police station which is now a grassed area next to the wedding shop that is now (but used to be I believe the old Conservative Club)?
The old Marsh and Baxters factory opposite the old Victorian Library, can remember the pigs being walked across the road before the inevitable.
The Horseshoe pub on the one corner?
The Limes Club opposite the library, now long gone, the rows of pubs down Level Street, before the level crossing where the trains used to run through to Round Oak Steel works.
There used to be a row of houses / shops running down the Brierley Hill Road (where the wall of the new Moor Centre now sits, and a row of houses / shops / cottages on the opposite side of the road just before the County Express Offices.
Co-op (now a carpet showroom) Fine Fayre, Woolworths which used to be next door to the jewellers (T. Baker)?
The original Police Station at the top of the town where there used to be a water fountain I think, the old Victorian Post office.
I can remember my mom taking us to use the Launderette (I think it is now an Indian Restaurant and that row of houses used to overlook the old Steelworks.
The Danilo picture house in later years a nightclub and now empty and forlorn.
Brierley Hill used to be a thriving market town (and from a childs viewpoint) a joy to visit with your nan on a saturday morning, especially if they brought you a 1/4 sweets from Teddy Grays market stall.
My moms large extended family hail from Brockmoor and surrounding areas, my Grandad working at Round Oak, where a good many other people worked.
The Old Bottle and Glass pub (now located at the Black Country Museum) was at the top of my nan’s street, with a shop next door which is now a house,
The pub opposite which is now a Premier food shop.
Brockmoor Foundry, I was pleased to see is still standing, again, quite a few of my relatives worked there.
Does anyone remember the old corner shop at the bottom of Cooper Avenue on the left hand side of the road, and what it’s name was?
Fields used to be where Buckpool school now stands, Samson and Lion still there, but there used to be a small shop just down the road from it which is now a house.
The old Swan Pub (now new houses) the Scout Hut next door, further down the road as you amble down to the lights to go into Wordsley, Frys Diecasting (again now houses)
I seem to remember there was possibly a pub on the opposite side of the road which was knocked down to make the road wider.
The Old Chinese shop directly opposite the traffic lights at the bottom of the road, where I think a lorry once crashed into it,
The beautiful old Richardson Hall next to the pub (think it was originally an Art School) again now just a row of buddlia growing there but the pub still stands next door.
Dewhursts butchers used to be opposite I think.
Cooksey’s shop was on the corner of Cooper Avenue/Nagersfield Road. The hill going down to Lower Valley was always “Cooksey’s Bonk” to the locals. I grew up in Cooper Avenue, where everyone went in the Bottle or the Happy Return in the evening.
Hi Karen what number did you live at…. my nan and grandads was number 12.
Number 11 which would have been opposite. It was odds on one side of Cooper Avenue and evens on the other. I lived there from late 60’s till about 1983.
Spooky think my nan and grandad lived there from new build as doing family tree and tge census shows them there until the year they both died in 1970
Whenever I drive down through to wordsley I still look over to their house… Daft I know but so many happy memories
My grandad used to sit on the little wall opposite the canal and watch the world go by don’t know how he never got run over but then not do much traffic on the road then.
Do you remember my nans neighbour ria?
I do remember a Ria, but she lived down Ellis Avenue. Little Ria most called her. I remember the Cartwright family at No.1, Woods at No. 3. No. 5 had a few different occupants, one being the Edwards. Haycrofts at No. 7 (bookies in Brockmoor opposite the church). No 9 Rounds. No. 13 was the Chances. No. 15 Bills. No. 17 Dearns. No. 19 Wilcox No. 21 Westwood. Opposite was Whiles, James family, Hickman family (later Jones) and another Chance family on the end by the Marl Hole. What was your grandparent’s surname?
Hi Karen
My nan and grandad surname was hickman and ria sure we knew her as little ria lived next to my nan at the 1st house presume number 10?
Yes I remember the Hickmans. The Jones family moved in to that house when I was in Hawbush Junior School. Your family member, Maureen was good friends with my mom. I think I was confusing Ria with Martha Westwood – who did live in Ellis Avenue.
Karen, may seem like a really strange question but do you know when Cooper Avenue council estate was built?
I think my nan, grandad and all of the kids were born here.
Thanks
lynette
I would say around 1930’s. Most of the new council estates were built then. Hawbush, Pensnett, Wallows, etc.
Thank you karen
My parents ran the bottle and glass prior to it going to the BCM. Alf and Edna
Hi Ron,l
Come from Brierley hill , and I went to bent street school,is there anybody out there that went to the same school,l lift in 1956.and l started work at hickmans that was in Brockmoor.my name is Brian Marsh.
Hi Ron
Bottle and glass was my grandparents local as they lived at 12 cooper avenue just across the road…. Trevor and Elizabeth hickman.
I believe my aunty Maureen worked there as a barmaid when she was younger.
I don’t know why I would have gone on there but I have a memory of going into a room at the front (bar)? And into the smug which I think was at the back??
Lynette, I remember all the places you mention. The shop next to the pub was North’s went to school with Alan.
Hi Kevin,
Is North’s now a house? I can remember going in there with my nan’s shopping list even when I was quite little perhaps 7 or 8? No problems with children popping up the road on their own then and being in danger.
I also remember a policeman from Brierley Hill coming down to the lampost on the opposite side of the road in a cape and using a phone on the lampost I think to phone into the station???
There always seemed to be a lot of pubs about then, the Bottle of Glass now up at the Black Country Museum where my Aunty Maureen worked as a barmaid, my nan used to go in the snug whilst grandad of course went in the bar!!!
Grandad, like many worked at Round Oak Steel works in his youth I think, my mom used to regale tales of how the kids had to take it in turns to take his supper up to him…. no catching of buses…. just walking up from Cooper Avenue to Round Oak, and handing over his flask and sarnies.
Do you remember the amount of pubs there were the length of Level Street, seemed to be loads, but I suppose with the amount of men that worked there they were needed!!!!
I can remember my mom telling me that all of them learned to swim in the canal… grandad literally threw them in just opposite, it was a matter of you either sank or swan, my mom was the only one out of all of them who literally sank and never learnt or wanted to learn to swim and was terrified of water thereafter.
I can remember him taking me down with him (down the minehole I think it was called, so we would go down to the bottom of his back garden at 12 cooper avenue, and walk down the hill which eventually led us to where the premier shop and new houses are now situated at the bottom and into the bookies there for him to place his bets, from what I remember as a child it seemed to be just like a big shed??
Most of my nans relatives seemed to live in the vicinity as did my aunts an uncles, where we used to walk to visit, no car as not rich enough.
We would walk across the ‘cracker’ on bromley lane where we lived and on to nans at cooper avenue, have a cuppa and then possibly go and visit one of the other relatives, Hawbush road, Brooklands Estate, down to wordsley, Ryder Street, Ashwood Avenue, Tack Farm Road, Balmoral Road,
Do you remember the Wordsley Carnival? we used to meet up every year at my Aunty Joans in Tack Farm Road, as the floats used to tour the streets and then finally end up at Wordsley Park for the fair….. goldfishes in bags, and coconuts to win!
The Raven pub was opposite then, now new flats, the Red Lion around the corner, now Sainsburys, The Old Cat, still there Im pleased to see, no call I suppose now when you can buy cheaper from the supermarket, but sad nevertheless.
Hiya. It’s not a memory but more a request of history of the blue brick/tap house. I’m the recent landlady, and love to know the history of this pub from the very first days to the present. Any photos and information would be fantastic. thank you.
Michelle Davis
My nan used to run the Blue Brick in the late 40’s early 50’s. her name was Aletha Hill.
I knew John turley from Delph road i lived in rocks hill. Pat Cochrane
My Dad’s cousin lived in drunken rowhis name desmond Cochrane my dad was jim
This is fascinating to see. My great-aunt Dorothy lived at 25 Parkes Street after the War. My great grandfather lived on Fenton St.
My mother was born in Moor Lane in 1916. Her father Thomas Bastock was a market gardener and sold produce in the market. My mother was one of 8 children. She told stories about playing on Earl of Dudleys mines tips.
My Nan lived at 34 Moor Lane, the family was called Sankey and her name was Doris
The pub was called THE WOODMAN. I remember Tommy Wells, He’s buried in Brockmoor church and it is writen on his grave stone ( Gone to his final meeting)
Hi can anyone tell me if there is a church yard in Brockmoor,or a chapel. I believe my dad is buried there but never been able to find it. Is name was Joseph Dunn, AND PASSED AWAY IN AUGUST 1945 REGARDS CAROL NEWELL
Hi Carol, there is a churchyard in Brockmoor it’s on the right-hand side going down the road towards where the steelworks used to be, just follow the High St. in the direction of Wordsley.
Thanks Derek next time I am up in the midlands that will be my first point of call, Hope the grave is still there ,only my brother Harold seemed to know of its place but said it was long gone. and he passed away many years ago, Regards Carol
I was wondering if anybody on here has any memories of the Hawbush area from the 50’s and 60’s, as my mom was born in Pritchard Avenue in 1947. Does anybody have any memories of the Hickman family. Elsie and Trevor were my grandparents?
Hi Andrew I had an uncle Trevor Hickman whose wife was my auntie Elsie by marriage don’t know if they are the same people?
They used to live in the marionette in Bromley lane?
Uncle Trevor was one of 11 children born and living at number 12 Cooper avenue Brock moor to Trevor and Elizabeth Hickman
Hi Lynett my mom lived at 56 coopers ave I believe in the late 40s earley 50s with my dad and5 children they then moved to Brierley hill when my dad passed away, my mom was called Florence my dad joseph last name Cunneen
Hi Andrew is there anyway you could contact me regarding Uncle Trevor and Aunty Elsie please as I am currently compiling our family tree and cannot find any details whatsoever of Uncle and Aunty. The only knowledge I currently have is that they lived in the next block to us in the Maisonettes in Ketley Fields, Bromley Lane.
I know that they had 2 children Trevor and Elsie May?
Hi Andrew I believe we are related via your mom..my cousin her mom …my aunt and her dad …my uncle trevor??
Hi my family were Cartwright who married waldron but left in the early 1900 s to coal mine in derbyshire They were chain makers and miners in the day
Hi Susan, my name is Derek Marsden, I was born in Delph Rd in 1948 and lived there until. 1961, I remember the Goss and the Delph chapel, the chapel was situated at the back of Beamans field, you gained access via a lane which was opposite Corbett Rd. You are correct in what you say part of Withymoor Village is now on the land where the chapel was. Strangely we moved to Leys Estate in 1961, I remember Lennie Wells very well a very clever man, used to build his own rockets and owned a few motorbikes. When news went around that. Len was firing one of his rockets we would all follow him down to the launch site a place we called the Cracker. The pub you talk about was the Woodman Inn which I lived next door to. Hope this has helped you, best wishes Derek.
HI derek my name carol dunn we moved to corbett road 1949 when i was 5 we used to play down bearmans filed it was just over the road I believe that the gypsy used to meet down there good old daysi moved away in 1960 but my mom lived there i think till 1980 regards carol
Hi Carol, you might have bumped into my brother ( Barry Marsden ) at some stage he’s about your age, he went to Mount Pleasant school. We used to play cricket and football in
Beaman’s field,until he arrived to see his horses then we would all scatter, he was a mean man. Anyway Carol, best wishes Derek.
I knew your brother, I lived in Amblecote Road, used to go to the Delph Church on Sundays had to walk to school at Mill Street, past the cottage Spring and Corbett Road, running the gauntlet of Mount Pleasant boys
Hi David, I remember you if it was you who had a friend Alan Short?
Yes there was a gypsy guy and his wife came every year, his name was George. I lived in Delph Road (two doors from Barn in the terraces) from 1959-1964 till i was 7 with my parents Marj and Ivan Penn who bought the house from a man named i believe Harry Marsden. I dont think he had any legs, so reason for selling
Hi Linda, my name is Derek Marsden the son of Harry Marsden , we lived at 84 Delph Rd, my parents rented the house from Mariah Hopson who lived farther down the Delph towards Silver End. My father was injured in WW2 resulting in the injuries to his legs. I also went to Mill St. and recognise the names of the teachers you mention, can’t remember the gypsy guy and his wife but can remember playing football and cricket in Newman’s field. Have lived in Kidderminster since 1974 so have lost contact with a lot of people but love reading about the Briefly Hill area. Best wishes Derek.
My Randle Grandparents, Mother, Aunt and Uncle all lived in South Street facing the bottom of the baptist chapel graveyard (where some of the family are buried) from 1904 until the flats were built. The house had been left to my Grandmother in her father John Jeavons’ Will. My Granddad Randle was a barber and had a shop on one side at the front of the house . My family had lived in that area for 200 years.
Hi Connie, my Gran and Grandad lived next door to the Post Office in Delph Rd not far from the bottom of South St. I remember my Gran taking flowers to a grave in the Baptist churchyard. I love reading about Brierley Hill it brings back lots of memories. Best wishes Derek.
Hi Derek, Thanks for replying. Yes I know exactly what you mean. I read through the census’ of those times and the names of neighbours come back to me that she used to mention. My Uncle Shadrack Westwood used to live there also. My great grandfather had a pottery at Silver End and I dig and delve through all the families, they’d probably say I’m nosing but they’re still alive whilst we remember them.
Hi Connie, my Gran and Grandad lived next door to a Mr and Mrs Westwood they had a son named Graham could they have been your relatives?
Don’t know about that Derek. There were a lot of Westwoods in that area.
Hi again Derek, I see from an earlier post you went to Mill Street school, well so did my Mother and Aunty and my sister Vi, but all in different decades. My mothers decade had the headmistress Miss. Edith Parnell who was a bit of a tartar. Miss Parnell is buried in St. Michael’s Churchard. Regards to you, Connie
Hi Susan, I don’t know about a grave yard but will ask my brother, he’s a little older than me so he may remember. I can tell you a little story about your Uncle Len. He used to have a motorbike and sidecar, one Saturday he took me and two friends to Ludlow, the bike broke down and the police towed us up onto Ludlow common where we spent the night. The next day with a little help we managed to get the bike to the top of the Clee Hill where we were met by my father who towed us back to the Keys. On arrival we were met loads of people who were standing on the street corner. We had only been away for the night but we thought we had all done something wrong. Anyway Susan, best wishes Derek.
Sorry Susan, the above should say towed us back to the Keys.
Hi Derek my name is Peter cooper and I knew you back in the day
Hi Peter, I remember you very well, one of my memories is when used to pilay football in the street down The Leys Estate. I’m 75 now but still play football for I hour 3 times a week, 2 sessions jogging 1 session strictly walking. Live in Kidderminster now, miss the good old Brierley Hill. Hope you are keeping well.
Morning Susan, my brother doesn’t think there was a graveyard at the Delph Chapel, hope this helps. Best wishes Derek.
HI Susan I lived in coopers av Brockmoor till i was 5years old IN 1950 my mom then re married a William Catwright then we moved to Brierley hill don’t know if they ARE same family there was a lot of them.regards carol.
My grandparents lived in Pearson Street brierley hill in the 70s. Their house was knocked down to make way for the bypass and asda, their house would be on asda car park edge to the road, I found some plans of the proposed route.
My grandad owned the malt shovel in harts Hill in the 50s again I found the photos of the pub xxx
My grandparents lived in the first house on the left coming up from the High street, their name was Carey
Anyone know Hills shop, bottom of old Fenton St, owned by my Uncle Len, he had 2 lorries.Bob Hill
BOB just wondered if you know of any graveyards in brockmoor ,Trying to trace my fathers grave he was buried there in 1945 is name was joseph dunn and lived at coopers av glad of any info regards carol
Alan do you know where job and Drusilla Cartwright might have lived in1860s or earlier? Am descended from this branch of Cartwright. Also where Fox Oak colliery might have been located? Am in Canada if you can help would be appreciated.
HI alan my name is carol i remember a lot of the cartwrights my mom married bill cartwright who lived at corbett road we had to move from our house at coopers av brockmoor when they got married there was a lot of them and a lot of us my dad joseph dunn died of TB in 1945 I was only 8 weeks old don’t remember much but i do remember the move regards carol
Hi Alan, my mom was Betty cartwright she lived at 8, Corbett Road, she was the youngest child
Mary
Billy
Walter
Muriel
Beryl
Iris
Jack
Betty
My moms parents were Bill & Lottie Cartwright. Lottie died when she was a baby. Hope this is of some help.
WE LIVED AT 8 CORBETT ROAD ROUND ABOUT 1950 WHEN MY MOM MARRIED BILL SHE WAS CALLED FLORENCE
HI PATRICIA. MY MOM MARRIED BILL CARWRIGHT I BELIEVE AROUND 1949 HER NAME WAS FLORENCE SHE HAD 5 CHILDREN WHEN WE MOVED TO CORBETT ROAD I REMEMBER ALL THE NAMES ABOVE AS I WAS THE BABY OF THE FAMILY AT THE TIME AGE ABOUT 5 YEARS OLD. WE MOVED FROM BROCKMOOR MY DAD DIED OF TB HIS NAME WAS JOESEPH DUNN.
Sorry it’s the 1871 census not 1861!
Hi
I have been researching my family tree and it states that my ancestor Sarah Ann Round traded from 106 High Street from 1861. I am from South Wales and don’t know the area at all. I’m not sure whether it is the High Street Dudley or the High Street Brierley Hill as it just says Woodside on the census and I found two High Street near there. It says that it was near a street ‘Blue Pig Row’ but this doesn’t seem to exist. Does anyone have any ideas where the High Street could be?
Many thanks
Beth
My gran Smith lived in Blue Pig Row , Woodside many years ago, researching my family history, many street names changed over years plus wide roadening took place also,, Type into your computer in Google Maps Holly Hall, Dudley, Zoom into it and look for St Augustines church, to the left of church look for the road A4036 (Highgate Road,) this was High Street, Woodside years ago now Highgate road (A4036) if you schroll down the google map on the right hand side of A4036 you will come to Crossgate Road, the curved part of this road is were Blue Pig Row was years ago, Crossgate road was Cross street years ago. Are you on Facebook if you are I could attach a copy in messenger of an old map of 1880 which will show High Street, Woodside, of that year.
Hi, does anyone know the name of the shop that used to be in Campbell Street Brockmoor. Mr Joseph Andrews and Mrs Phoebe Andrews owned it?
Nicola, my Aunty and Uncle used to live at 62 Campbell St and my aunty informs me that the shop was run or owned (not sure) by a Mrs Cathy Price and when she retired it was taken over by her daughter Mavis. That’s all the information I have been able to find, hope it is of some use. All the best Bob
Hi Bob,
Thank you very much for your reply it’s much appreciated. We knew about Mrs Price’s shop and we knew it couldn’t have been that one. We’ve got very limited information at the moment but what I do know is they lived at Number 50 Campbell Street. However we can’t seem to locate that house and we we’re wondering if it’s been knocked down. If you speak to your aunt or uncle again “without sounding cheeky” ask them if they knew of a family called the Andrews’s my grandad was called James and he had 3 brothers Ernie, Stanley and Joseph and they had a sister but not sure on her name. If you can’t do that then that’s fine. Thank you for your time and information.
I’ve recently moved to Brierley Hill. I was looking at the history, which fascinates me.
I wanted to know. Was the Indoor Market building. I’m keen to has it always been a market? Or was the building something else before ?
Hi Martin, I am 66 yrs old and was born in Brierley Hill. The market hall has always been a market for as long as I remember. I will ask my mother if she has any further information.
Dear Martin,
My name is Robert Brooks I am 70 years of age and was born and bred in Brierley Hill. In all that time the old market has always been as you see it now. I couldn’t tell its exact age, maybe someone else may know that. I hope this little bit of information has been of some help.
Yours sincerely,
Bob.
I’m 53 …. I remember brierleyhill market … my mum used to take me up on the bus from wordsley regularly … we never had a car so bus or walk was the only option .. I went to hawbush school …
I believe u tube has some old footage of brierley hill and surrounding areas .. especially the old pubs … and pigeon flying …
I am trying to find out what 52 high street was in the 50s up to 2011 any one know
I don’t know what it was trading as in the fifties, there was a bit of news in one of the free papers the other night. 52 High street is a cafe trading as “Jennys”, it is up for sale at £100.000. Sorry I can’t tell you what it was before but I will keep on trying. All the best Bob
Why was it called Silver End
Does anyone remember reg Morris he was married to Janet Cartwright?
Hi Jean, I rem EJ s very well in Turners Lane as my Granddad was the engineer there, and when they moved to Moor St, it is good that the entrance gate has been preserved, good memories of being young, Regards Alan.
Hi Jackie, Yep, it is a small world, Dot was my wife but we were divorced in 1983 so I moved out, then she sold No 69, as you say, Nan and Granddad next door No 71 and Mom Dad and Brother No 73, also that you live close to my Dad, I have lived in Devon now for 33 years. Regards Alan.
Hi Sheila, yep, that was me, have to say regrettably, cannot remember you though, flat was No 27 moved out of there around 1973 / 4. You will have to tell me a bit about yourself to see if I can rem you. Regards Alan.
Hi Derek, the headmaster at that time was an old chap called Mr Darcy Jones, the last year was Mr Yates the next Was Mr Gregory, the next down was a Mrs Brough, she moved to South Africa, but the very first year was a Miss Hancock, frightening woman to young children.
And Mr Weston
Hello David, hope you don’t mind me writing to you, but I have an interest in the name Cartwright. I have been attempting to trace the family history of my mother in law, Jean Smith, who grew up in the Quarry Bank and Delph area. We have had some difficulty with her mother’s mother’s maiden name, who Jean insists was Cartwright. No documentation seems to exist. Emma Cartwright was born in 1876 in Quarry Bank and married David Harris, one of their children being Maud Elizabeth Harris. Does any of this ring any bells with you? We believe the Cartwright branch of the family were connected to a ladies clothes shop, which Jean remembers visiting, as a little girl in the 1930s. Thanks. Sue Thomas
I was at Mill Street when Darcy Jones was headmaster, Mr Yates was there also Mrs Brough and the primary school teacher was Mrs Deeley and Mr Mcgregor taught music and played the violin. My name was Linda Penn
Hi Linda, My Dad, Geoff Marsh, had a friend called Jack Penn who lived at 97 Station Road, Brockmoor in 1950. Would you be any relation to Jack (John). My dad has passed now but we have a 21st Brithday Key gift from Jack and we are also trying to put names to faces in photographs. It woulkd be good to hear from you if related and especially if you have any pictures of Jack you could share.
Many thanks Paul Marsh. PS I now live in Australia. Cheers
Hi Paul do you have a brother named Gary,if you do your dad was my brother,and my name is Brian Marsh,an I Live in Brierley Hill,and your dad had a brother named Harry,an sister named Betty. Which have passed away,hope you are all keeping well keep in touch,Brian.
I
Hi Brian. Can’t see a reply from Paul but I’m pretty sure that you are right… I am Geoff’s grandson, and son of Tony (Paul and Gary’s brother). I remember Auntie Betty vividly from when she used to come into Dad’s shop… and I also remember visiting Uncle Harry and Auntie Hilda as a child.
sorry Shiela my last name is Hinton
Hi Shiela, yep knew Irene and Ron well, they lived 4 doors up from me we were 69 so they must have been number 77, the house they live (lived) in an old woman called Agnes lived in, loadsa stories from the Drunken Row and the people up there.
Alan.
Hi Alan Hinton, Were you married to Dot, and lived in Brick kiln Court flats ?
Hello Alan , just reading your blog and noticed we too lived at 69 High Street ( Drunken Row ). We had it off Dot in 1985 and lived next door to your grandparents , Lillian and Wilf. Your mom and dad and brother further down .I now live about 6 doors away from Stan….small world ….lol 🙂
Hi Andy, nice to hear from you. I very rarely go onto this site myself so quite a surprise for me as I’d forgotten all about the comment I’d made originally. We must be related – would love to see the photos but don’t know how we do this. Would probably involve scanning them etc and you might not want to do that, I understand. Best wishes Mandy.
When did the old Turks head close
I was born in 236 Moor Lane in 1956. The family moved to Brockmoor in 1966; where I lived until 1983.
Hi Alan.
My grandparents used to live at 268 Moor St.
They were Joe and Elsie Timmins (Elsie nee Pickett).
Joe worked at Round Oak Steel Works (The Earl’s).
They were regulars at Brierley Hill Labour Club.
Reading the posts here is like being back in their house when I was 12!
Andy.
Hi, Andy,
My Dad was Josiah Pickett born 1918 so I think we are connected in some way.
Dad’s brothers and sister were Frank, George, Lillian and Bertha? that I can remember but there were step-children too and they were all born in Brockmoor. The pub at the Black Country Museum was their local.
Dad worked at the brickworks in Brierley Hill and I used to go with him sometimes to switch on the pump on a Sunday or the pit would flood. Various names for the brickworks The Planet, Price-Pearson Refractories being two of them but I was only 7 – 10 years old but do remember the tramp in the warm kiln and the women doing ‘men’ jobs.
Hope we have a connection not many Picketts around.
All the best, Mandy Pickett.
Hi Mandy,
Sorry, I’ve not visited this site in ages.
I’m pretty sure we may well be related as I asked my aunt some family history a while ago and she gave me some old photos.
I have one of Joe and Dorothy Pickett with a their little girl, Mandy.
I also have one of Frank Pickett in military uniform.
Small world!
Andy.
Hi Mandy,
I’m sure we are very much related.
The way my aunt (Ruby) explained it is:
Josiah was Elsie’s brother. She was born 1909.
Elsie (my Nan) often mentioned Aunt Lil Spiers and I may have met her when I was very young.
Sorry to hear about your daughter; MS can be bad.
I’m more than happy to send the pictures to you but not sure how.
Elsie and Josiah were full siblings (amongst others) – Richard and Beatrice were the step brother and sister.
Have a think about how I might get the pictures to you.
Take care,
Andy.
Hi Andy, So nice to offer the pictures they will be so interesting. If you mean actual photos that you can hold in your hand, perhaps there’s somewhere local – pub or something – where we could meet up. I am in Pedmore but anywhere that’s not too far for either of us. See you soon? Mandy
hi my brother Harold dunn worked at the brickworks fom when left school till he did his national service then went back to work there when he was demobed
Hi Alan, Was your mom either Ruby or Barbara?
Hi Audrey, nice to hear from you, to answer your question, no. my mom was called Gwen.
AHi Audrey, I think it’s Andy Higgs on this site who will have a connection with Ruby and Barbara. They are both relatives of mine too – I think Barbara has MS the same as my daughter. I don’t think that I ever met them but my Auntie Lil Spiers (nee Pickett) used to talk about them when she came round to my mom’s house when I was growing up. My Dad was Josiah Pickett. I wish I could remember the actual connection and how we are related, it might have something to do with my Dad having stepbrothers/sisters that I never met. Please keep me informed. Mandy Pickett.
Hi Audrey,
Yes, Barbara Timmins.
Unfortunately, Mom passed away in 2011.
Did you know her?
Andy.
My Grandparents Lived in Pedmore Road in the 1920’s. My uncle was born there in 1926 in a house called “Tarmac House”, my gran said it was a huge house, and mum told me she had to walk several miles to school. Grandad was an engineer and worked for Constable Hart. His name was Samuel Smart and my gran was called lilian, my mum was called Rita.
Hi Alan just come across your website while looking for information on a place (homes) called Jackaroo Court or as someone has told me the tailway bridge in Brockmoor was called Tackaroo bridge. I believe that the houses were between Moor St and North St. any information would be appreciated as my ancestors lived there .
Regards Colleen
Hello Colleen , just seen you post regarding the houses on Tackeroo Bridge. My Great Grandparents lived in those houses too. Theirs was on Moor Street almost opposite the entrance to North Street. Terraced houses whose front door opened directly onto the footpath. It probably wasn’t so bad then as there wouldn’t have been so much traffic then. My Great Grandparents surname was Fellows and their house was either first or second house from the bridge. More terraced houses formed a square at the back , all surrounding a central yard. The houses were knocked down in the late 1950’s and replaced with modern homes. My late father was a frequent visitor as a child and mentioned surnames of Snead , and Salt from other houses. I hope this has been some interest to you….Jackie
Hi colleen I used to l94 Moor Lane I remember my mom talking about tachyon bridge. I also remember a lady called mrs salt who lived I the houses opposite north street she used to get coach trips up to the pantomimes when we were children
Hi colleen I used to l94 Moor Lane I remember my mom talking about tacaroo bridge. I also remember a lady called mrs salt who lived I the houses opposite north street she used to get coach trips up to the pantomimes when we were children
Ii also have ancestors listed as living at 1 jackeroo 3 court which makes it sound like tenement buildings no records at Dudley archives have you been able to find out more
regards diane
Hi Sheila, I do remember Harold very well, my younger years was spent in the Delph with my grandparents due to my parents working, used to fish in the canal and there was Harold Thompson, my grandad worked at EJ & J Pearsons in the Delph and on the way in would give Harold a bottle of tea every morning and to ask him to keep an eye on me playing and fishing by the canal, there was some talk of him being some relation to my gran, who knows, could tell you a bit more about Harold and his life but that is another story.
Alan.
Hi, I used to work in the offices of E.J. & J. Pearson from 1966 until the offices moved down to Moor Street, I worked there until 1970 and left when I was pregnant with my first born. I remember Harold Thompson too, we used to give him some of our sandwiches from lunchtime.
My name is John Green. Phylis and Ernie Green were my parents. We lived at number 12 New Street. Along with my brother Peter Green we moved in 1959 to Oldbury, then later Burntwood nr Lichfield. My Aunty Dos was a teacher at the Sunday School for many years, located at the top of New Street in the old school. Prior to being confirmed I travelled on the bus back to Brierley Hill to attend the Sunday School. Our Aunty Cissie was cook for the directors at Marshes and Aunty Dos was a nanny for their children when she was young.
Hi Sheila, Yep do remember Shakespears being a laundry, the name of the chemist was Emmetts, and yes Ted Perry you are right, got my memory working again lol, do you remember Wilf The Cobbler over by The Commercial by the bus stop? I was born and bred up The Drunken Row and used to play with Jack Fullers kids in their garden as it was only over the fence. I now live in Devon been here for 34 years but my dad still lives in Brockmoor.
Alan.
Just one more thing Alan, do you remember Harold Thompson, the tramp who used to sleep in the brickworks down the Delph?
Hi shelia I remember Harold ThoMason he was a cousin of my mother
hi my name is carol i used to live in Corbett i remember Harold very well he lived in an old air raid shelter we used to take him food when we had some spare
Hi Carol, I lived in Delph Road until about 1960, our garden backed onto the gardens of Corbett Road. We then moved to Brockmoor, there is a cemetery at Brockmoor Church which is on the main road heading to where the steel works used to be. Hope this helps. Best wishes Derek.
thanks derek must have a look next time I’m in the midlands
Hi Derek, sorry to jump in here, my mom Betty cartwright lived in Corbet Road she was the youngest child. She had older Brothers & sisters Jack, iris, Beryl, Muriel, Walter & Billy
They all lived in Corbett Road till they flew the nest.
I know my mom Betty went to mount pleasant school. Anyone throw any light. 😀😀😀
Hi Alan, my aunty Irene and ron lives up the drunken row. They have lived here since 1960. What’s your last name please.
Kelly. My mom an dad kept the Rose and Crown in Bromley by church.
Hi Nicky, yep do remember Ron and Irene they lived at number 77 up the Drunken Row , before they moved in a woman called old Agnes lived there, have repaired Ron’s television many times years ago.
Hi I want to remove my post from this site but can’t work out how to do it. Can you delete it please. My name is Susan Bradley and the post was put on in November 2018.
Thanks
Hi Susan. I have found three posts or comments from you in November 2018. Shall I delete them all? Suzanne
hi alan my name is barry pearce i aws born in the old commecial i remember a lot about the old days wish it was like that now My dads name was ernie pearce i bet a lot of people remember him as the steward of baldwins club down cresett lane
I knew Ernie very well, used to work with him at Baldwins,1957 till it closed. He was a great bloke, always jovial and funny.
My Dad’s cousin lived in drunken rowhis name desmond Cochrane my dad was jim
Hi Alan,
Yes, I remember allmof those places. I think the paper shop was Ted Perrys, and there was Annie Conns fruit and veg shop over the road, on the corner. My brother and I used tonpay up “the back lane” which was the lane between the post office and ShAkespeares. Do you rmember when Shakespeares was the laundry? Depends now old you are, but the local Policeman was Jack Fuller, when I was little, and the Police house was in Norwood Road. All the kids were scared to death of him.
Lovely memories.
Thank you for those x
Hi again, I think I recall the cobbler you mentioned, but not his name. I can vaguely
rmember the shop by the Commercial. I can remember Mr Harris, the ice cream man, and was fascinated by a growth on his hand which looked like another thumb, I couldn’t take my eyes off it when he was scooping ice cream onto the cones. Silly things we remember! I lived inStation Road, on the opposite side of the road to Hortons shop, there was also Wilkinsons shop over The Green, opposite the big sign boards on the station wall. I went to Brockmoor Infants and Junior School, and Mr Blomley was the Head of the Juniors. Very happy memories.
My mom still lives in Brierley Hill, and remembers the Nast House, but has no idea why it was known by that name.
(please excuse typos). X
Hi Sheila I was also at brockmoor and remember Mr
Bromley well I remember a lot of the placos well that you mention.
Hi Sheila I was born in Campbell street and remember all that you have mentioned. I can remember the laundry by the post office and the Viking chip shop on the corner by Percy’s the paper shop. Can you remember the co op shop opposite the commercial pub along with the cross keys pub and the mansion pub. The cobblers used to be in new town I think and his name was vince if I recall. I went to the little chapel in Campbell street too. Happy days, sorry have only just come across this site thanks for reminding me of my childhood
Hi Sheila, Thanks for your mems of old Brockmoor we need more of them, do you rem Harrises ice cream and sweet shop opposite Princes shop on the corner of the Drunken Row, then Yarnolds shoe shop next to Harrises then Smallmans the butcher opposite Marys, then the chemist, was it Hewitts?. Opposite the chemist was the News Paper shop, the name eludes me at the moment, round the corner past the old Brockmoor House was Station Rd, with the Post Office and Shakespears electrical shop where I worked repairing Televisions, Radios, Irons etc. Do hope that this adds to your memories.
Regards
Alan.
Hi, I used to live in Brockmoor, and also went to Moor Street Chapel, I remember Mr. Footman and there was a panist with very bad arthritis who used tomplay the hymns etc. I can remember her as clear as day, but can’t remember her name. I also remember Prince’s shop in Brockmoor and Mary’s. There was a chemist opposite Mary’s and Annie Conns shop was on the corner. This site has brought back many happy childhood memories. My brother and our mates used to play over the ‘Black Wagon’, which was an area off Moor Lane, but there are houses all over there now.
I look forward to reading some more posts.
Sheila
Hi sheila I used to live at 194 Moor Lane I also went to the chapel and miss Neil was the pianist my name is Maureen DAVIES was Hadlington
Hi Maureen when was it that you lived at 194 Moor Lane i used to live at 192 Moor lane from 1959 till 1983 Duncan Evans i also went to the chapel on the corner of Norwood Road and Moor Lane
Pam Barnsley
I have lived in moor street all my life, was born in 182, in 1939 and still live there. The woman who played the piano was Miss Neil. I used to go there too in the 1940’s
Hi sheila, do you remember anything about mr.harris 2 children or his wife. Would love a picture of the harris icecream shop.
Researching William Clare headmaster of Wesley School Brierley Hill from 1871 and his children Francis and Mary one time teachers at Pensnett Bromley School around 1916. Any info would be wonderful.
Hi Derek, Nice to hear from you and that my tales about the Delph bring back memories for you, must never forget the old days.
Sorry to say I do not remember you, but no doubt we would have met at sometime, do you remember some of the names of the area? Clinton, Shepherd, Cadwallader, Turley, Ellis to name but a few, good school friends.
Regards,
Alan.
It’s possible my dad was one of the Shepherds you’re referring to here. He was Charles, and his brothers were Geoffrey and Dennis. I think the address was Hawbush Road if I remember rightly!
my name is paul turley ,i was born in the delph and went to school with a david ellis between 1955 and 1965 at mill st school
Hi Paul, did you live a towards the end of Dean St off Hill St? must be 1956 / 58 if so i used to call for you on the way to school, I do remember a Paul Turley, got to be 60 years ago.
I knew John turley from Delph road i lived in rocks hill. Pat Cochrane
Were the Cadwalleders from Corbett Road?
Trying to trace George Moore records from 1848.Born Brierley Reply would be appreciated
Hi, Has anyone noticed the old clock in High St Brierley Hill with the name Jones Bros on it, Jones Brothers was a electrical shop dealing with Television, Radio repairs and general electrics, in the early 60s I used to buy germanium crystals there (the modern equiv of the cats whisker so to speak) to build crystal sets, cost threepence(threpence) I used to build them in an Englands Glory matchbox and sell em to anyone that wanted them for 5 shillings each telling them that they needed a ear phone or ear piece to listen to it and that a telephone ear piece was perfect, little did I know that most telephones in and around Brierley Hill was now short of an ear piece,I was about 12 years old, just a bit of information of the town.
There were 2 Jones brothers and the one was scarred on the face in the war. The other used to live a few houses from the top of Collis Street. On the corner of King Willliam Street and Collis Street Tom Chattin lived.
Fred Jones, injured in WWI, was my Grandfather. Fred still has children, grandchildren and great grandchildren living in locally, elsewhere in the UK, and in the US. I’m now living in the States, but was over at Christmas and made a brief pilgrimage to see the clock. Very nice that the Jones family is remembered.
Hi thanks for the reply 🙂 I really would like 2 know why its called the nasty house as its kinda strange that no one actually knows xxx
HELLO ALAN MY MOTHERS MAIDEN NAME WAS MILLWARD JUST WONDERING IF THEY COULD BE THE SAME MILLWARDS ANNA IS TALKING ABOUT KIM
Hello Kim,
How much do you know about your Millward family? They were big families and many of the men were bricklayers/builders.
My direct ancestors on the Millward side are:
Hannah Millward (1845-1931 My Gt Grandmother)
Her parents: Thomas Millward (1817-1891)
Mary Ann Corbett (1819-1891)
Thomas Millward’s parents: Thomas Homer Millward (1770-1857)
Sarah Bache (1774-1845)
Thomas Homer Millward’s parents: Joseph Millward (1708-1785)
Esther Homer (1735-1815)
There are many branches descending from these people. If you know any of your direct ancestor’s names on the Millward side, I could check to see if they coincide with any in my tree. I think there is a good chance if your Millwards were from Brierley Hill and Kingswinford area.
Anna
sorry I really not sure I do know that the murder tom millward done in 1931 in b hill was my great uncle tom kim
Hi Kim.
Tom Millward was my great uncle as well. My Grandad was Sam millward His sons are Derek ,Ron,Bill, Charlie( my Dad) daughters Olive, jean, Margaret, they lived in Springfield road ,Brierley hill. There was another Brother Jimmy, he died when he was about 5 ish he fell of the railway bridge at Silver End. Tom lived in Bull St the ice cream factory was there, dont know if it still is.
Any relation to Sandra millward who went to st marys school she must be about 73 now regards carol
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Hi, Regarding the information you would like about the Nasty House in Brockmoor, I lived up the Drunken Row in Brockmoor for 30 years and I remember two old ladies who also lived up the Drunken Row going to the Nasty House to play crib this was in the early fifties, not to sure as to why it was called that but can prob find out, something seems to come back to me as I think it was not allways a pub, just down the road on the corner of Norwood road was a shop that my dad used to buy parrafin from to put in oil lamps to stop the outside toilet from freezing up in the winter, i do know a fair bit about Brockmoor, a lot is forgot, but the more I think about it it does come back. Hope this bit helps.
Regards,
Alan.
I have just stumbled over this blog whilst searching my dads family tree and I was wondering if there is anyone out there from the pensnett area with some local knowledge. My Father’s parents lived in London, but for some reason my late grandmother gave birth to him at 60, high street, pensnett, kingswinford in 1928. My late father never spoke of his childhood, so I have never been able to uncover the truth about his past. I was wondering if the above address was a private residence or a nursing home for mothers to give birth in secret. Thankyou in anticipation for any help!
Yvonne
Please can someone explain to me why the Hearty Goodfellows in High St , Brockmoor was called the Nasty House ? Ive asked numerous people from that area , but no one seems to know , yet everyone called it by that name, many thanks
I’d be interested to know as well Researching my husband’s family at present and a relative of his Charles Henry Roberts ran the pub in 1891 and 1901. Also any information on Thomas Roberts and his wife Agnes Emma who married in 1869. Did they go abroad?
hello 🙂 im looking into the history of brockmoor an am really intrigued to find out why the pub in brockmoor was referred to as the nasty house?? i look forward to your replys
keileigh
Does anyone have any information on the old St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, which was destroyed in a fire? I’m currently updating the school website and would like to include a history of the school. Any memories or pictures that people may have of the school would be most welcome.
Does anybody remember Mary Ewing Allan, Headmistress of Mill Street Primary School, Brierley Hill 1924-1928. I am doing some research on her life. From this appointment she went on as Headmistress at Red Hall School in Lower Gornal until 1936. She was born in Thornliebank, Renfrewshire in 1875 She arrived, from Scotland,at the Cheslyn Hay School in 1904. Mrs Allan was described as a “Legendary Headmistress” in an article by the Black Country Society. If you have any information about her I would be very grateful. She was a remarkable lady, her first concern was for her pupils.
Hello,
i have recently moved into the building next door to the Barcleys bank and over the Mary Stevens Charity shop. By a photograph i have seen i have discovered it used to be @H.W Johnson (or Johnsons?). im fascinated by local history but cannot find much information on the building. does anyone have any recollection of this building or any information to pass on. I would be very grateful to hear back.
Thank you,
Mat.
Johnson’s was a haulier and a cabinet maker. I knew Mr Johnson (Horace) well when I was a child. My aunt was his housekeeper after he retired to Sussex (she had been a land girl on their farm near Kinver) and we spent all our holidays there in the 50s/60s/70s.
Hi, Alan. Thanks for your help. Perhaps my Dad worked at the Planet and then Pearsons. I remember it being called Price Pearson Refractories – we used to have big pieces of cardboard with this name on it in our verandah to wipe our feet on! So, I might be working on the brickworks site after all.
My brother’s name is Michael Pickett and he went to Stourbridge Grammer School after his 11 plus but I don’t know his junior/infant school – he’s 67 now.
As a family, we lived in Wollaston so probably not the boy you remember if he was from Brockmoor.
Thanks for your help.
Regards, Mandy.
Hello, Alan. Just came across your site when googling Planet Brickworks where my Dad worked in the 50s/60s. He used to take me with him at the weekend when he had to turn the pump on and off to keep the pit from flooding (I suppose). /I remember seeing women working there moving the bricks around and seeing the tramp who used to sleep in the kiln overnight. I was born in 1955 so can’t remember too much.
My Dad’s name is Josiah Pickett and he was born in 1918 at 62, Back Lane, Brockmoor and died in 1993.
I now work on the Delph Industrial Estate and wondered whether I am close to the area where I used to go with my Dad to work.
Hi Mandy,
Nice to hear from you, in response to your post, the Planet Brickworks was located on the right hand side of the road going towards Kingswinford from Pensnett, not far from Lenches Bridge, it was not in the Delph so quite a way from where you work.
The main brickworks local to the Delph was EJ &J Pearson, the entrance to the works was just round the corner in Turners Lane by the canal bridge in Delph Road, so I wonder if you have the right name of brickworks, again you mention a tramp, this was probably Harold Thompson, he was at E Js.
With regard to your dad, there was a lot of people called Pickett in the area at the time,do you have an older brother? I went to school with someone called Pickett from Brockmoor, Back Lane Brockmoor if I recall was a small road running off Station Road, between the small Post Office and a electrical shop called Shakespears,by the Brockmoor House pub, it had small terraced houses towards the bottom on the RHS then opened up to some garages and came out half way up bank street.
Hope that this helps,please contact me if I can help further.
Regards,
Alan.
Hi Alan,
I used to work in the offices of E.J. & J. Pearson 1966 – 1970, I remember Harold Thompson too as we used to give him some of our sandwiches from the canteen, E.J. & J.Pearson moved to Moor Street later on they were then called Price-Pearson Ltd and thats where I stayed until leaving in 1970 on maternity leave. I never went back to the offices,after having my children.
Jean Dudley
Hi i now have a unit where price pearson once was , just past severn dwellings bridge at the bottom of anchor hill
Hello Alan,
Very interesting to hear about the railyard opposite Foster Street; my 2nd Gt Uncle, Walter Edward Newton (who lived with his parents in Foster Street) became an engine driver. He started off by working as an engine driver for the iron works. He then worked at Stourbridge, first as a locomotive fireman and then later as an engine driver. In 1888 Walter was one of eighteen men to start up the ASLEF union branch at Stourbridge Shed. (I was going to enclose a photo of Stourbridge Shed but I don’t know how to download it to this website!)
I am sure Walter’s interest in trains must have started when he was a young lad, watching them at the end of his street. Also with Foster Street being sandwiched between the Oxford, Worcester and Wolverhampton railway line and the Kingswinford branch line, he would have been surrounded by them.
Anna
Hi Anna,
Let me tell you a bit about myself, as you may be wondering how I know so much of the area.
I came from Brockmoor, but due to work commitments at the time (parents) I spent my time in the Delph with my grandparents growing up, it was a great time, all my friends and close mates come from the Delph, my relations owned the Rock Tavern at the bottom of Hill St, Hansons pub,I went to school at Mill St infant and juniors, opposite the pub was Potter St and on the corner was a sweet shop owned by my dads gran, anyroadup, say no more.
I would think that at the time the railway was British Rail till it was all changed by the Beeching bit of the 50s and 60s, but the yard I do believe is still there, just above was the Royal Brierley Crystal Works , glass works in North St.
You say a relative was involved in the glass trade, my dads uncle Eric Ostin was the man that who did all of the glass for the Queen Coronation 1951/2 , and pictures of him were on the walls of Stuart Crystal showroom in Stourbridge for years, perhaps they were work mates.
I would love to see the pic you have, if you send mail to me, alan112@tinyworld.co.uk and attatch them to it I will get it.
Hi Alan, i also went to Mill St Primary, 1953- 1959 and also stayed at my grans 184 Delph Rd next to the Post Office, we lived further up the Delph between the Duke William and the Black Horse public houses. Your stories remind me of my childhood, gran and grandad worked at E J and J Pearsons, when i took my grandads lunch to work for him he would let me pull the cord to sound the bull for lunchtime. My name is Derek Marsden.
HI Derek, sorry I don’t remember your name, I was in Mill St Primary 1953 -58, and we had 2 Derek’s in class (Single Decker & Double Decker). We’re you one of these? My friend was Philip Roberts, the headmaster was Mr. Yates, and I remember Mr.Weston died while I was in year 6. I still have a a stool I made in that year. Graham Showell.
Hi Derek,
I have only just come across this site and your name started me thinking of school and school mates. Like you I went to Mill St infant and junior school, I started there in 1952 and moved on to Bent St hellhole in 1958.
Going back to Mill St a few names I remember are yours, Michael Pearson, Jennifer Jones, Sandra Wheel, Tommy Baylis, the bully Geff Brewer and the girl I fell in love with but hadn’t the heart to tell her was Susan Roach.
I used to live in New St right opposite the electric power house, our address was number 33, in New St lived John Knowels, Kenny Bowater, Michael wakeman, Jack Pickett, Pauline Rhodes, Freda Fullward and Mr & Mrs Green who owned the fishing tackle shop on the main road.
Any way that’s enough for now my name is Robert Brooks.
Hi robert ,,, I knew two robert brooks from bent street and mill street,,,,, I know one died many many years ago,,, mickeal pearson and myself were buddies for many years untill he got married,,, the schools bent street ,, mr wood mr unsworth mr smith (woodwork) with a wooden leg mr tipper mr brooks ,,,, cleaning the headmasters car on friday for half a crown smoking in the shelters,,, mr gregory,,,(come out the boy I name) used to beat us up a bit in the library ,, until we got bigger and braver and we would give him a bit,,,,,, you will no me robert,,, alan jones
Hi Alan,
As I said before it’s not very often I go on these sites but it is nice to hear from you. Tell me do you have a brother named John, I remember him as a big guy.
The other Robert Brooks you mentioned was Robert Henry Brookes, we used to call him Dot. When we left the hellhole Dot and myself started work on the same day on the open hearth furnaces at Round Steel Works. The men we went to work with couldn’t get used to having two Robert Brooks so they name Dot (Arnie Blogs), he went by that name until the day he died from cancer, I think he was about 37 or 38.
It’s not very often I say I hated anyone but Alf Tipper comes very close to that mark, I couldn’t stand the man.
If memory serves me right the last time I saw you was in the Talbot pub in Silver End a few years back.
That’s enough for now, nice to hear from you, hope you and your family are all well.
Yours sincerely,
Robert Brooks.
Hi Alan, i am looking for someone and i think you are related, do you have a son named Nathan? He and i were friends for some time and lost touch, and his dad had same name as you and was from Brierley Hill. If you aren’t i;m sorry to bother you, if you are could you message me at helaumur@yahoo.co.uk, many thanks.
Hello Robert, I remember you very well and most of the people you mention, had a bit of a thing for Pauline Rhodes but like you with Susan Roach I never told her. When I left Mill Street I moved on to Quarry Bank Senior School, living in Delph Road it was a lot closer than Bent St. Roger Barnsley and Trevor Davies also went to Quarry Bank. Moved to Kidderminster in 1974 but still love seeing and reading about Brierley Hill. Best wishes Derek.
Hi Derek,
Glad you got back to me and sorry it has taken a while to return the call but here goes, let’s see if I can remember anything else about the time we were school mates.
When we left Mill St school it was about that time when they were knocking all the old slums down (houses) in New St, Derry St, Hill St, Chapel St and all the houses down the Rock Steps.
My Mother and father were moved to Swanfield Rd on the Swan Estate about a 2 min walk from Audnum school, but I was not allowed to go there and I had to come from Wordsley to Bent St hellhole every day, for the first six months I had to walk there and back as no one in the family had a car. I was amazed that Trevor (Mouse) Davis was sent to Quarry Bank school as he lived in Albion St about 5 mins plus from Bent St hellhole. I see him pretty often he hasn’t changed much
There was one good thing about living in Wordsley and going to school in Brierley
Hill, I got to have two lots of mates many of who I still see to this day,
Pauline Rhodes Mom and Dad lived four doors away from my Mom & Dad and when her Dad died she became a bit of a wild thing. I have not seen her now for some 35 years, she had a daughter (forgotten her name) me and my mate used to call her Jim. I have been told (how true it is) she has been married three or four times and I am sure she came to live somewhere in your neck of the woods, all I know is she moved from this area and I have not heard of her since, She was a good friend and always good for a laugh and joke.
I have not seen the young love of my life Susan Roach since I was about 16 yrs old. Can you remember a girl in our class by the name of Janet Billingham, turned into a real beauty, she married a guy I have known for years.
Anyway that’s all for now, hope you and your family are all well and good, who knows we my bump into one another one day.
Yours sincerely
Robert Brooks.
Hi Robert, thanks for replying, I certainly do remember Janet Billingham and a few others, namely Jennifer Jones, Christine Brown (her Dad owned the coffee bar in Brierley Hill high street ) Christine Pugh, David Green, Margaret Taylor, Alan Lowe, Michael Pearson. I used to see a few of the lads when I played football for the Brierley Hill Youth Club but since then completely lost touch with everyone. You are right about Trevor Davis, my Mom worked at Woolworths, the back exit being next to his home. I did see Susan Roach about 10 years ago, she was working in a, chemist shop near the Moor Lane Centre, recognized her straight away. Anyway Robert thanks for bringing back a few memories. Take care, best wishes Derek Marsden.
hi robert yes i remember all those names i lived at number 37,from 1950 till rehoused when they were demolished in 1959, the entry used to run between your house and mick wakemans house, leading to one big open play area remember playing marbles with kellys eye with little dinkys, there was a green grocers shop just below called Mrs Parks next door lived the Richards those were the happy days you could leave your door unlocked then loads of memories on a sad note do you remember Carol Baker she had some illness which she died from also cant remember his first name his last name was Perry who used to live on the corner of Chapel st they used to sell secondhand furniture, he fell off the bridge and drowned down the Delph bridge by Turners Lane.
best wishes Jack Pickett
Jack Pickett, first of all, may I say it’s nice to see your name after all these years and glad that you are still with us alive and well. I remember all those things that you mentioned in your post especially Park’s shop when we could get a kit cat for three old pence, happy days indeed. I have been in contact with Micheal Pearson, Christopher Southall and Derek Marsden over the last few months on this site. I’m still living in Brierley Hill but in the posh part of it now, Silver End by Marshs club, I go in there most nights for a pint. On a sad note can you remember Patrick Clinton, he was killed in a motorbike accident over in Ireland not so very long ago, shame he was a nice guy. When my Mom and Dad were moved from New Street it was so nice not to have to go out to the brewhouse to fetch water and even nicer still not to have to go round the back of the brewhouse for the toilet, when it was dark you couldn’t find the newspaper stuck on the nail. Anyway, it’s nice to hear from you. maybe we might run into one another one day, all the best to you and your family and keep well. See ya, Bob
Hi Bob, Have just read your reply to Jack Picket and you mention that you knew Patrick Clinton and that he was killed in a motorbike accident in Ireland, he was one of my best friends at school, we started in the infants and moved up till leaving school, we had bikes for years, knew his family well, Gran Olive and Granddad Fred and his dad Ron who was in Australia for a few years, we lost touch 50 years ago then I moved to Devon 40 years ago, so sorry to hear that he has gone.
Regards.
Alan Hinton.
Thank you once again Alan for your memories. My Garndmother’s family had a Grocer’s shop at 9/10 Foster Street. The street used to be a dead end, but it’s now called Norwood Road and is extended. Do you know when it ceased to be Foster Street? (Foster street/Norwood Rd is off Moor Street). Just in case, I wonder if you recall any of these surnames: Simpson, Newton, Revill or Kelley?
Anna
Hi Anna,
I do know Foster St, and Norwood Rd, I can remember the chapel on the corner of Foster St and Moor Lane, my mother used to take me with her to jumble sales there, and a lady who used to be involved with the chapel was called Mrs Footman, she was the sister of a lady called Mrs Prince who had a fruit come grocery shop in High St Brockmoor, she had a daughter called Pat, Mrs Footman also had a shop in High St Brockmoor selling wool and things like that
Foster St was opposite the Rail yard entrance, the old rail trucks were loaded during the night and shunted around to be collected by the steam loco’s early in the morning, the clattering and banging all through the night could be heard from quite a distance, I do not remember any shops though, only the chapel,I think the road was driven through in the 50s,I can remember the newer houses being built, all council owed.
The names you mention do not ring any bells, sorry.
Regards Alan.
The names do not ring any bells
I am 8 years too late for this post but the grocery shop in Brockmoor was run by my Dad’s Aunt and Uncle – Ethel and Norman Prince. Pat is my second cousin and lives in Penn now. I was born in Hawbush in the prefabs next to St Paul’s church and moved at about 5yrs old to Silver End – High Ercal Avenue. My parents lived there til 2016 when they both died.
Thank you Alan, this is brilliant stuff. First hand experience of an area is priceless. I can picture what it was like. (I know relatives of mine made the chains for the anchor for the Queen Mary.)
My Gt Grandfather, Thomas Simpson, as well as living in the Delph somewhere as a child, also lived at, The Lye, Back Lane, Delph Rd, 24 New Street, 10 Bell Street and 95 Moor Street. I expect there were even more places than this, but these are ones that showed up on census returns or certificates. What was usually the reason for moving house so often? I assume people rented rather than bought. How would you describe these areas/streets I’ve mentioned? He worked as a glass blower and iron worker for most of his life.
Thank you Alan for your memories and being happy to share.
Anna
Hi Anna,
You are welcome to my memories of Brierley Hill and the surrounding area, needs to be passed on before it all gets lost, have to say do not remember Back Lane but my Gran lived at 201 Delph Road next door to the gas works, they moved there from 54 Hill Street, my grandad was the engineer for EJ&J Pearson in the Delph for many years, we had a relation living in New Street, Aunt Sarah she had a shop there a milinary type shop if I remember, a proper type of lady, she was old then, Bell Street, not many houses in it, the Marsh and Baxter slaughter house was in Bell Street and can remember watching the pigs being taken from Seagers Lane into Bell St for slaughter, the New Inn public house was on the corner, still there I believe but closed, have a picture of it with my grandad and Uncle George in the crowd just before a Sunday morning trip to Clent, no women included in those days, around 1928 /1930, Moor Street was at the other end of Bell Street and run into Moor Lane which went to Hawbush then to Wordsley, the library was in Moor St which became a training center for glass blowing and is still there, opposite was a WRVS center but has long gone, if you look at recent pictures you can see the new houses running into the old, running virtually parralell is Fenton Street whick took you to the train station and Brockmoor, perhaps the reason your grandad moved a lot was that somtimes houses came with the job if he had an important position.
A point to mention, between Delph Lane and Turk Street at the top was a mine owned by a chap called Tinker Round, he used to fetch clay up, perhaps coal as well till he hit a fault line and had to give up, it seems the more I chat about this the more I remember.
Alan.
Thank you Alan for describing the cottages. It gives me a better insight into what life was like for the Corbetts and the Millwards, whom both lived in Turk Street at different times. How close was the mining to Turk Street? I assume fairly close for part of it to collapse. I read an article of someone describing the blackcountry in 1850 and it sounded so grim, but obviously there were green areas still around and it sounds as if Turk street was greener than most.
Yes I have read both books that have been published on John Corbett and visited the chateau in 1984. Fascinating life. His wife, was also called Anna and lived in Somerset around 1900, coincidently in the area I now live. My father lived with his grandmother in Moor Street when he was a toddler and visited his grandmother frequently throughout his childhood. Dad and John Corbett both being baptised at St Micahel’s church in Brierley Hill. I haven’t visited Brierley hill since the late 1980’s. (I have lived most of my life in Somerset.) I have a 1901 map of Brierley Hill and have managed to work out where Turk Street was in relation to today’s maps and I could see that the path running through the Withycombe estate is following the same line as Turk Street.
Was the Delph Mission church still there when you lived in the area?
Anna
Hi Anna,
I cannot remember a mission or chapel there but at my age then we would not have taken much notice of it as there were chapels all over, probably due to the visit of John Wesley to the area years before, mining in the area is hard to describe as there were small mines all over and very close to Turk Street, the small ones were called Gin Pits which were walk in mines after the coal, but also there was fireclay mines, bringing fireclay up to make the bricks to line the many furnaces in the area as they could withstand the intense heat of the furnace to make the iron and steel of which the area was well known for, chain making,and ships anchors etc, did you know that close by in Netherton was a foundry called Hingleys and they made the anchors for the Titanic, sorry side tracking, the area was pretty grim in those days with the smoke and the glow of the furnaces, it is said that the devil once stood on Brierley Hill bonk and said that he would never complain about hell again, typical Black Country humour I think, this is how the Black Country name came to be, also Cradley Heath was known as the workshop of the nation.
As a lad coming from school, I can still vividly remember seeing the clay being brought up in like a large cylinder with water poring out of it, and of cause the clay and pit banks(spoil heaps) where we also used to play, letting fireworks off on them and being told off by the workmen as the banks were rather unstable and you could be buried alive if it slipped, these would have been the banks where your Gran would have picked the coal all around Turk Street.
Over the back from Turk Street towards Withymoor I can remember smoke coming up from under ground through cracks, this was due to the coal and ash being on fire, went on for years and a lot of the old shafts being capped, at first by timber but then by steel as the mines become worked out, then in the seventies come the open cast mining, this was mainly to clear the old shafts and galleries, let the ground settle and they built Withymoor village and housing estate, gone, all gone, save for the odd tree that was left, some still follow the line of Turk Street but it hard to see.
This is a long one, hope you have not been to bored,there is still a lot to say about the Delph.
Alan.
I was just scrolling through this site, by accident really, when I came across this article. Although I’ve moved many times I was born in Moor Lane Brierley Hill in 1946. my dad, John Bayliss used to take me for walks every Sunday and he told me that the chains for the Titanic were made a factory in Brettell Lane (I’ve forgotten the name but think it was Harrisons’s???) my mom was May Green and she was born in the Delph in 1908 and was left a house on her parent’s death .Apparently this was claimed for open caste mining in the early 30’s ? the Green’s lived in the Delph for generations, as my research is proving. I have newspaper articles regarding the death of one of her sisters. She was playing on Delph Bridge when she tripped and fell under a horse and cart and had her head cut off! The driver didn’t know he’d killed her, but was found it was accidental death. I love to read about the Black Country and I ,too, worked at Round Oak Steel Works where I met and married my husband in 1965.
as they say ,” you can take the girl out of the black country but not the black country out of the girl!!!” Lovely stuff.
How kind of you Alan. Bless you. It’s lovely to hear of your memories. You explain it so vividly, I can imagine how it was. What was the housing like in Turk Street? Were they terraced houses and 2 up 2 down, or larger? My Millwards were bricklayers and someone said they would have been well off but according to a black country website, in 1850 they would have been earning 24 shillings a week. This equates to about £90 a week now, so not a great fortune.
My 3rd Gt Grandmother worked on the pit banks. I assume she would have collected coal from the surface? My closest Millward, was my Gt Grandmother, Hannah Millward married Thomas Simpson. Hannah was the niece of John Corbett, the Salt King.
Kind Regards
Anna
Hi Anna,
Nice to hear from you again, Turk Street as I remember was mainly cottage type houses some were close together others not so, a few people had horses because I suppose the fields close by was were they could keep them, at the top, Amblecote Road end, there was a bit of a turn in the road and it went into a narrow track before it came out onto Amblecote road opposite Deeley Street, I do believe that at one time the road collapsed into a pit shaft, but I do not remember that.
John Corbett used to at one time have a canal barge business and used to take loads to and from Bromsgrove and this got him into the salt trade, he also built Chateau Impney and a few roads were named after him, but again well well before my time.
Do or did you come from that area or was it just your ancestors, I now live in Devon and have been here for over 30 years but still miss the Black Country a lot, I do come back from time to time and have a wonder about the area around the nine locks and The Goss and it is still brill ma wench.
Bye for now,
Alan.
hi Alan i also moved to devon in 1985 I came from Corbett road trying to find out if anyone knows if there is a grave yard in brockmoor my dad joseph dunn died in1945 of tb. is buried there he was married to Florence cuneen and had 5 children regards carol
Hi Anna,
Nice to hear from you, I did know a few Millwards in the area but your dates are a bit before my time but no doubt they are relations in some way.
In Turk St there used to be a small machine workshop, (never did know what they did there) but just behind the gates to this place was an old motor bike in the undergrowth, I scrounged this, but sadly it had no engine, but what a time we had belting down Turk St on this and pushing it all the way back to do it again, the surface of the road was mainly bricks and cobbles at the time, we got filthy dirty but it was great and worth the telling off and no tea, I was about 8 years old at the time, it ended up in the canal because my mate fell of it going up and down the pit banks on it and we could not get it out, probably still there.
Will look into the Millwards for you if you wish and will let you know.
Regards,
Alan.
What an interesting site , I was born and raised in Brierley Hill in and around the Delph, does anyone remember the methodist chapel in Hill St and Potter St with all the fighting on a Saturday night well before the flats were built? the Murder Bridge top side of Withymore before the open cast mining took place, EJ&J Pearsons my grandad worked there, Wilf Hinton, I used to play up Turners Lane and Turk St, fishing in the 1st pound of the 9 locks and under the bridge, talking to my mate Harold Thompson the tramp, anyroadup, so many memories, people have suggested I should write about my time there while I can still remember them, never know I just might.
Hi Alan
Wonderful to hear your memories about growing up in Brierley Hill. I definitely think you should write them down!! Keep in touch and feel free to share more on this site. Suzanne
Hi Alan,
I used to live next door to the Methodist Chapel in Hill Street and the fighting at most was outside the Spread Eagle and occasionally outside the Rock Tavern. I used to play on the canal-side at the bottom of Bradley’s field and around the old air raid shelters that supposed to be bricked up. I used to go scrumping in Turners Lane, and I know not many people can remember Turk Street. I should say that your memories are as good as mine.
All the Best
Hi Dave,
I don’t know if you remember me but we used to go to school together at Mill St infants and junior school, we used to play on an old derelict lorry the other side of a wall where an old house used to be, but had been demolished by then,sorry but cannot remember the name of the road, but it was just below what is now called the Promenade.
I do remember where you used to live, you used to go down the side of the chapel to a yard and I think that there was a well in the middle of it.
There was Turners Lane then Delph Lane, Turk St was a little further up Delph Rd and it had a bit of a s’ bend at the top and came out on Amblecote Rd right opposite Deeley St.
Do you remember the old woman that used to chase us off for scrumping, waving a stick, god help us if she had ever caught us.
Also do you remember that I once asked you if you could get some real German chocolate because I knew your dad was from Germany or that way, many many happy memories, my Gran lived at 54 Hill St then moved to Delph Rd right next door to the gas works.
Please stay in touch as I will, there probably is not many of us left.
Regards,
Alan .
Hi Alan. I remember you well. My sincerest of apologies for not getting in touch sooner. I cannot understand how I missed this post. That lorry was in Dean street. Stephen Billingsley lived just along from there. As for German chocolate, well the closest that I ever got to it was chocolate covered cakes and biscuits. Came back from Indonesia to UK permanently end of last year. Still addressed in Stourbridge. I’m on fb if you wish. Glad you remember me.
Hello Alan, my Mom, Dad Brother and I used to live at number 33 new St. The street name that you can’t remember is “I think” Dean or Deane St, Me and my mates used to play on the same old lorry.
Anyway all the best,
Robert brooks
Dear David,
I have just come across your name and it’s a name I haven’t heard since I was at Mill St infants and junior school. There was a girl in our class by the name of Mary Wilsdorf who I have not seen since I was eleven years old. Is she related to you in any way, if so please give her my kindest regards.
Yours sincerely
Robert Brooks
Hi Robert, yes, Mary is my sister. I haven’t seen Mary for about 5 years. I spend a lot of time in Indonesia with family. I went to Mill street infants from ’56. Miss Hancocks was mistress. At the end of that year she retired and went to Australia. Miss Whitworth was my next teacher, a fresher from uni. I thought she was brill. A lot of names I cannot remember but, there was Peter Gerard, Philip Chilton, Patrick Clinton, Alan Hinton, Mary Hunt, Susan Harris, Jackie Sheaf, Colin Pawson, Anthony Pugh, David Ellis. They were all in the same class. I do remember others, Pauline Cheese, Jennifer Jones, Jennifer Unwin, Donna Jinks, Robert Pearson. Sorry. But, it’s good to remember. Bye for now.
yes I also went to mill st infant and junior school. and remember some of those names.I lived in Chapel street, next door to the off licence .I also remember teachers Mr Gregory. Head Mr Jones. Mrs Brough and lovely Mr Yates. I now live on the Isle of Wight and last week was in one of the bric a brac shops and spotted a Sobrani tobacco tin. Mr Yates smoked this and gave us all one of his empty tins . does anyone remember that. Beverley Taylor nee Grice.
Hello Alan, I have MILLWARD ancestors who lived in Turk Street, Delph as Bricklayers from 1837-1891, so I was fascinatd to hear you knew of this street and played in it. The 1901 map of the area shows a Mission Church on Turk Street, which John Corbett provided the money for. It would be brilliant to hear of more anecdotes of the area. Anna
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