Wellingtonia Issue 13: Second Half 2012 Only £2.00 Newsletter of the Wellington History Group, rediscovering the past of Wellington in

WELCOME! IN THIS ISSUE ****************** nlucky for some, but Page hopefully not for us: issue 2. The Burying Ground 13 of our magazine is U 3. Notices and Contacts packed with historical information which we trust will interest and 4. WWI Memorials entertain, and inspire comments 6. Sunnycroft like, ‘Well, I never knew that!’ 7. Early Rising Club I think that’s what makes the 8. Wrockwardine subject so fascinating. When any of us, from professional to semi- C of E Boys School professional to amateur to family 9. Picnicking on historians (but not necessarily in The Wrekin, 1783 any order of preference as we all 10. Blackshirts in have something to contribute) Wellington part 2 delve into areas of the past, we frequently uncover or rediscover 12. In the News: 1962 aspects of the daily lives led by 14. Wellington’s our ancestors which lead to a First Bank raised eyebrow or two. 15. Mine Host at History, whether political, The Raven economic or social, deals with The Above: 24th August 1912. There can’t 16. Apley Castle: Past, but it’s a constantly living be many employers whose loyal staff subject in which each of us can contribute not only for a Silver An Amenity for All find something new and well Wedding gift but also for a hand- 17. Book Review worth recording in family albums, inscribed Testimonial. Arthur Barber, 18. In Print: 1912 learned journals, books and, of younger son of firm’s founder, 20. More Imagery course, magazines such as this. auctioneer and property developer John Read on, and enjoy! Barber, and the one most unlikely to steer the business into continued success, was a major contributor to Wellington’s prosperity from the 1890s until his death in 1929.

Left and right: The last occasion upon which a reigning queen of Great Britain and (Northern) Ireland celebrated a Diamond Jubilee was 22nd June 1897. Eager to continue tradition, this enormous bonfire was erected on The Wrekin Hill where it attracted, as such commemorative conflagrations inevitably do, a massive crowd.

Visit us at www.wellingtonhistorygroup.wordpress.com THE BURYING GROUND Allan Frost

ver the years, I’ve often now lies a few metres east of the Neither of these arguments is been asked whether All Church Street railway bridge. supported by any evidence and OSaints parish churchyard That a few mortal remains must be regarded as conjecture or was once considerably larger than (some think as few as two wishful thinking. Bear-bating, for it is today, and if many mortal persons) were disinterred and, example, tended to be held in remains were disturbed when the according to local lore, reburied in market places or in enclosed yards cutting for the railway was created a field affectionately nicknamed behind public houses, not away in the late 1840s. Boney Bank near Wrockwardine, is from the centre of towns. The answer to both questions is largely undisputed, and we can be The fact that a weighbridge ‘No’. fairly certain that the concept of a existed in the Bury Yards brings to In fact, when the medieval mass exodus of dead souls is mind Mrs Gamp’s dust-heap in church was built during the nothing more than a myth. Dickens’s Martin Chuzzlewit and twelfth century, the burial ground Some confusion has arisen in strongly suggests that Wellington’s surrounding it was considerably the last few decades when the Bury Yards were, for a while, smaller, and expanded over the ‘Bury Yards’ or ‘Berry Yards’ have simply the place where the town’s centuries as the population of the been brought into the equation. rubbish was deposited, scavenged extensive parish expanded and the Referring again to the above and (like today) recycled. corresponding need for graves map, the yards were once sited in increased. a rectangular plot straddling a The full extent of the ‘burying small part of the hockey-stick- ground’ is best seen in maps shaped lane running roughly drawn up before 1849 (when the west-east and cutting through the passenger railway opened in the letter ‘S’ in ‘Lord Forester’. centre of town) and, in my A later reference to Bury Yards experience, the clearest is the hand appears on an 1882 Ordnance coloured version of the 1830s map Survey map (right) after which the created by John Wood for the first remaining portion of this plot of Duke of Sutherland, an extract of ground was renamed Victoria which is shown above. Avenue around 1887 as part of The Burying Ground is Queen Victoria’s Golden Jubilee coloured pale blue and depicts celebrations. tree-lined walkways, several paths The origin of the name has and a dog’s hind leg boundary on been seen as confirmation that the the southern side incorporating church burying ground extended the pre-eighteenth century ‘Old this far or, if it didn’t, then it must Vicarage’ which stood roughly be a reference to where bear- above where the railway track bating took place.

2 Wellingtonia: Issue 13: Second Half 2012 The next issue (14) of WELLINGTONIA is intended to be NOTICES available from the day of the next Wellington Midsummer Fayre, which should take place on a Saturday in June 2013. For details of the Midsummer Fayre and all manner of ARLESTON MEMORIES information, visit www.wellingtonunderthewrekin.co.uk AND HISTORY GROUP Following on from the OUR PUBLIC TALKS TO JUNE 2013 success of their Norah Admission is free but donations are invited after each event. Wellings event, this group All talks take place in the Wellington Civic & Leisure Centre will be holding a (check at Reception for exact room) and start promptly at 7:30pm. PRINCE'S STREET * * * SCHOOL DAY 14 November 2012. Martin Walker CHARCOAL BURNING at the Watling Centre (behind * * * the shops in Road) on 9 January 2013. John Lenton Saturday, 27th October, METHODISM IN THE WELLINGTON AREA * * * from 11am until 4pm. 13 February. Neil Clarke Bring along photos and school MIDLAND RED AROUND WELLINGTON reports, but most of all your * * * memories – including those of 13 March. Claire Reeves places in the area around the SUNNYCROFT: A BREWER, A WIDOW & THREE GENERATIONS school, like the Pop Works, OF A LOCAL FAMILY Woodhall's horses, Wellington * * * Laundry, Victoria Colliery and 10 April. Ken Ballantyne Nagington's Dairy. WELLINGTON AND WWII Oh! Don't forget to try a Mr. * * * Buttrey's Star Sum and win a 8 May. Geoff Harrison prize for the first correct answer! WORSHIP ON THE WEALD Allan Frost hopes to be here * * * selling his popular books until 12 June. Allan Frost about 1:00pm, and George Evans TRAVEL BY STAGECOACH will hopefully be in attendance * * * to share his memories of teaching Also watch local press for details of other events. at Prince's Street School. Call Dave Barnett on 01952 244922 or email him at FAREWELL TO WELLINGTON GRAMMAR SCHOOL [email protected] for Plans are afoot to arrange a memory-evoking event and a further details of this and other last-chance visit for ‘Old Boys’ to the buildings of the events. former Wellington Grammar School in Golf Links Lane. Make sure you come along, and bring your family and friends See www.tinyit.cc/WGS for details and contact Phil Bryant – show them what a good school at [email protected] to express an was like! interest and obtain updates.

HISTORY GROUP CONTACT DETAILS Other officers of the Wellington History Group committee are: President: George Evans. Please address all correspondence to: Chairman: Geoff Harrison. WHG Secretary: Joy Rebello, 6 Barnfield Crescent, Wellington, , Shropshire, TF1 2ES. Treasurer: Wendy Palin. Tel: 01952 402459. email: [email protected] Wellingtonia Editor: Allan Frost. DISCLAIMER: Every effort has been made to ensure that the information in this publication is correct at the time of going to press. Wellington History Group cannot accept responsibility for any errors or omissions, nor do opinions expressed necessarily reflect the official view of the Group. All articles and photographs are copyright of the authors or members of the Group and must not be reproduced without prior permission and due credit. www.wellingtonhistorygroup.wordpress.com 3 In Wellington there are six WWI MEMORIALS Phil Fairclough Memorials to the fallen of the Great War: 1. The Lych Gate at All or thousands of years men Saintsparish church, as seen in this have raised memorials to Unveiling Ceremony booklet. Ftheir victories in war and to honour the heroic deeds of their war leaders. From Ancient Egypt to Greece and the Roman Empire, these memorials still remind us of these events. In more modern times, the tradition continued with the construction of the Wellington Arch in London, the Arc de Triumph in Paris and the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin. After the First World War, sentiment changed dramatically. It was not only victories and great war leaders that were remembered but, in their hundreds and The pain and sorrow of the thousands, all over our country, tragic loss of life in the First World memorials were set up to War was still very fresh in the remember the ordinary soldiers 1920s. Survivors wanted to who had died in that terrible remember their loved ones the conflict. The general public had way they remembered them before been traumatised by the vast loss their front line service, confident, of life. vibrant and youthful, as they had 2. The Cross outside St Patrick's Local committees sprang up of been when they left to fight. Church, with plaques: their own accord wanting to mark Seldom is the terrible reality of the great sacrifices their men had death and suffering displayed as it made. It was not imposed from was experienced on the battlefield. above, the spirit was very Only now are raw images of democratic. The heroism of this reality being openly ordinary soldiers was to be displayed. One of the most remembered, not just the deeds of moving is the depiction of a 17 the great and powerful. year old soldier being shot for These memorials took several cowardice at the National War forms. Some followed the example Memorial at Alrewas (see photo of the Cenotaph ('empty tomb') in below) and the statue of a London. Some, like the one at weeping mother with her dead , depict an ordinary soldier son in Berlin. soldier, at ease with his rifle. A few show soldiers waving as they went off to war and death. Others depict an archangel, often fully armoured, standing over the names of the dead (St. Michael in The Quarry, ). There can be a strong Christian theme but in many this is totally lacking. The pre-Christian angel of Victory with laurel wreath is based on the ancient Greek statue of the Winged Victory of Samothrace (see photo at top of next column). However, it is rare to find any as obviously pagan as the Valhalla in Regensburg, a huge memorial hall modelled on the Parthenon in 3. The screen inside Christ Church Athens. with associated plaques. It is a

4 Wellingtonia: Issue 13: Second Half 2012 To the memory of the valiant men of Wellington who gave their lives for their country Behind the tree lined Wrekin lone, The golden sun sinks down—, Resplendent sight, exceeded now, Dear lads of Wrekin Town, By all the glory you have won— Your fadeless fair renown Through shot and shell and poisoned air Brave lads of Wrekin Town! The oldest hill the world doth know Was for your homes a shade. You left with sighs its dear delights— very large structure, forming the order, not in order of Grim sacrifice was made. rood screen (above), also military rank, a small Long as our hill, on plain enthroned, stretching back into the nave. victory for equality. O'er tyranny shall frown, The plaques of Your valiant deeds shall cherished be, 4. The Chapel of the original Old memorial for the Great Hall School (now a private house), O men of Wrekin Town! War at All Saints were Holyhead Road. Brass plaques The stately gate beside the street unveiled on 6th May record names of the fallen and That busy feet o'er tread 1922 when the Lych have been relocated to the chapel Shall call to mind in days to be Gate was presented to at Wrekin College: The dauntless honoured dead. the Urban District “In peace we take Industry's path” Council. Major General Sir Charles Townsend Each citizen shall say, KCB, DSO, MP “Because the men whose names we see unveiled the tablets Flew to the war away”. etched with the names The radiance of their priceless youth of the dead. Lit up the battlefield, General Townsend Illumed the trench, flashed o'er the top; was elected as MP for They did their life blood yield the Wrekin in 1919 as That henceforth tranquil hours should be an Independent 5. Wrekin College Chapel: For each Salopian son. Conservative. During Dear lads of Wrekin town, your grit the war, he had led an Indian Army Division A glorious victory won to capture Baghdad Whene'er our matchless toast is given, from the Turks, but “All friends the Wrekin round”. failed in this objective. To you who freely gave your lives, He was captured and Each grateful heart shall bound— spent the rest of the “To all friends round the Wrekin high— war as a prisoner, To you who left its shade to die”. Sarah Barker

comfortably housed by the Sultan in a villa near Istanbul. His Indian troops did not fare so well. 6. St. Catherine's Church, Eyton Shortly after the 1922 unveiling ceremony, (aside). Sarah Barker wrote the above poem which was published in the Wellington Journal on There appears to be some doubt 13th May 1922. about plaques from the Methodist The poem shows the pride that the local Church in New Street which may people of "Wrekin Town" had in the great still be in store since the former sacrifice that their sons had made for our building was demolished in 2003. future. It is quite significant that, after Ordinary citizens were remembering their a national debate, it was decided own, locally in their own community, and in to list the names on the war their own way. memorial plaques in alphabetical www.wellingtonhistorygroup.wordpress.com 5 SUNNYCROFT Claire Reeves

The Lander family first occupied Sunnycroft on Holyhead Road, Wellington, 100 years ago. House and Visitor Services Manager Claire Reeves provides this history of the property.

ucked away from the bustle of Holyhead Road in TWellington is Sunnycroft. Every year the late Victorian Villa death when Mary (below) at Sunnycroft and it becoming the welcomes thousands of National purchased Sunnycroft. family home that so many people Trust visitors but it still remains She extended the property to appreciate and love today. an undiscovered secret to many create a new Entrance Hall and JVT Lander was outgoing by who live in closer proximity. The Cloakroom, a Billiard Room and nature and was well known in original house, commissioned by Dining Room, with bedrooms Wellington. He had become a John George Wackrill (below) who above the extended part and made solicitor in 1881 and established a owned the Shropshire Brewery in the Villa look like the impressive practice in Walker Street. Holyhead Road, was finished in and unexpectedly large house it JVT and his son Jack both held 1880. does today. appointments as Shropshire The modest house was then The next owner was Mary Jane County Coroners and County extended in 1899 by Mary Jane Slaney’s brother in law, John Registrars. In addition, JVT was Slaney, the widow of John Hiatt Vernon Thomas Lander (‘JVT’) Chairman of the Wellington Slaney, who owned Slaney’s who purchased Sunnycroft in Markets Company. He was also Vaults in Wellington. They lived at 1912. This marks the start of three the second president of the old The Vineyard until after John’s generations of the Lander’s living Wellington Farmers Club and, at one time, chairman of The Wrekin Cottage Hospital. JVT decorated much of Sunnycroft as it is seen now, in particular the Staircase Hall which was very much in the ‘baronial style’ with deer heads, a sword and a bear-skin hearth rug which, as the story goes, he used when playing with his granddaughters by chasing them with it over his head! JVT employed three live-in staff at Sunnycroft; two maids, Jesse Bird the cook, and Florence Blackmore (Nan) the children’s former nanny, as housekeeper. Despite JVT calling all the boys he

Visitors playing in the garden at Sunnycroft.

6 Wellingtonia: Issue 13: Second Half 2012 to take his annual holidays in hours at a time in order to play matches! Today, visitors can play badminton on the main lawn, just as the girls and their father would have played tennis and croquet during long summer afternoons. Joan Lander (right), Offley’s eldest daughter came home from London where she was teaching at the Royal school of Needlework to nurse Offley in his old age, and met ‘Tommy’ and all the when he passed away in 1973 she Joan’s determination and frugal housemaids ‘Frances’, Sunnycroft inherited Sunnycroft. Joan nature prevented Sunnycroft from is still in touch with several continued to take commissions falling into the hands of descendants of the domestic staff and taught classes from developers and, prior to her death and has learnt much about the Sunnycroft. in her 80th year, she approached house from their family stories As far as possible after the the National Trust and left the and recollections of this time. death of her parents, Joan estate to them in her will. JVT died in 1942 and his son, continued the practices of her In 2011, Sunnycroft welcomed Thomas Offley Lander (above) father and grandfather’s time, some 18,000 visitors, sharing the purchased the house from his selling seasonal produce and story of the Villa and the lives of father’s estate. making jams, jellies and chutneys the people that lived within it. Father and son had always every year, right up until her Sunnycroft is open Friday, enjoyed hunting trips together death in 1997. She lived very Saturday, Sunday and Monday locally and prior to moving to frugally but kept up her father’s between 10.30am and 4pm from Sunnycroft, Offley and his family standards with a strict daily March to November and, for the lived at Highfield House in timetable, punctual meal times first time, weekends from Wrekin Road and then Buckatree and tea at 4pm. Visitors came by November to February with Hall (now the Buckatree Hotel). invitation only, and tradesmen and special Christmas opening from Offley was married and had two customers were received at the 15th to 23rd December inclusive. daughters: Rachel and Joan. back door. To this day we have For more information, visit A different character from his many visitors recall that they www. father, Offley established the would often be left waiting before nationaltrust.org.uk/sunnycroft or Allied Iron Foundry as managing their exact appointment time www. director and was very particular arrived and Joan allowed them facebook.com/sunnycroftNT. about punctuality, finances and entry into the house! living a life that was quite regimented. EARLY RISING CLUB Allan Frost The collection of eight long case clocks at Sunnycroft were he Manchester Chronicle before the church clock has Offley’s, along with another 35 published this article in a finished striking six.' watches and clocks still held in the February 1841 edition of the Quite what these Early Risers collection. These were all set to T newspaper: got up to isn't recorded but it chime and meal times were strictly EARLY RISING CLUB.–A club wasn't the only one with that adhered to. On Sunday evenings under this title exists at name at one time or another. the family would sing hymns Wellington, Shropshire, and The Early Risers cricket club around the player-piano in the numbers very many young men existed in Kingston-upon-Hull in Drawing Room, the girls not being among its members. The first 1888; it's tempting to presume the allowed to partake in any other regulation of the club is–'That Wellington club followed a similar activity apart from during WW2 every member of this Society shall, pursuit. However, why would when they were allowed to knit from the 4th of May to the 25th they meet on a bowling green socks for soldiers. September, in the present year, belonging to an hotel if it wasn't to Although this must have been and in every succeeding year from play an early game of bowls? quite hard for young girls growing the 25th March until the 25th And why on earth would a up, Offley did have a sporting September, meet at the Alcove group of young men want to exert side, his ice skates remain in the upon the Talbot Bowling-green, by themselves at such an ungodly Master Bedroom and, before he six o'clock in the morning, or hour when their norm would be was injured in the First World War, forfeit three-pence; and no staggering their way home after a was a keen badminton player and members will be excused unless night's entertainment, or tucked the first captain of the Shropshire they are, or have been, upon the up in bed? team. So keen was he that he used green, by the regular entrance, Does anyone have an answer? www.wellingtonhistorygroup.wordpress.com 7 coloured in pink. These were the WROCKWARDINE C OF E BOYS SCHOOL George Evans countries we ‘owned’ such as India, Australia, Canada, Burma, a lot of Africa and so on. We had to e moved to Admaston in looked like this: A B C D E, etc., the know their names and capitals. 1930 and I was sent to quick brown fox jumps over the lazy Some books were about other Wthe boys’ school in dog. We became very good at this countries. I remember reading that Wrockwardine. Changing school is style of writing because if we Greece was like a patchwork quilt, always a bit traumatic and I didn’t made any mistakes we were which was not helpful because I’d know anybody there but the local caned. never seen a patchwork quilt. lads were mostly friendly and I’ve Arithmetic was addition, Nobody explained; asking never been one for starting subtraction, multiplication and questions was not encouraged. trouble. division of numbers, then of We learned the C of E However, one boy, for no money – that’s £ s d and farthings; catechism. It begins, ‘What is your reason I understood, hit me after weight – tons, hundredweight, name, N or M?’ What the ‘N or M’ school. I went home crying and quarters, pounds, ounces; distance meant I never found out and still told my Dad. He said, ‘Hit him – inches, feet, yards, furlongs, don’t know. It went on about, ‘The back tomorrow’ and showed me miles. pomps and vanities of this sinful how to do that. So next day I went We spent a lot of time learning world and all the sinful lusts of up to Tommy and he tried to hit tables by rote, not only the 2X, 3X, the flesh’. I’d thought it was me again, so I hit him, several etc., but also the more complicated pumps and wondered if they were times, quite hard. This loosened measurement tables. A particular water pumps or running shoes. one of his front teeth and made his speciality was the long tots and ‘Don’t ask, you’ll get into trouble,’ nose bleed. We were both caned short tots. There was a number I was told. Many years later I for fighting. Nobody hit me again, square on the blackboard; we had learned the meaning of, ‘the sinful 'though I think I was usually the to add across and put the total, lusts of the flesh.’ We all passed ‘odd man out’; Admaston kids then add down and total, then add our catechism and were confirmed were not popular with the the totals down and across, which as, ‘a child of God . . .’ Wrockwardine lads. had to come to the same Grand Our first ‘foreigner’ turned up The school was in The Avenue Total. Or else . . . This was a total – Witislav Ondra as I remember. and was only for boys over seven. waste of time but we became very Wonder where he is? He was Girls and infants (that’s wenches quick and accurate. Czech and his father was building and babbies) went to the school by There were long wooden desks the ‘Beet Factory’. He was bright the church. We had nothing to do with cast iron frames for several and wore long black stockings in with them. boys, with a single long seat that winter. We wore woollen shorts all There were two classes, one for we all sat on. To stand up it had to year round with knee length the 7 to 11 year olds and one for be raised – but only if everyone socks. Some of the lads had holes the big lads up to 14, which was stood. If you sat in the middle you in the backsides. We wore ties, the statutory leaving age. There couldn’t get out without the others jackets, caps and mackintoshes. were two teachers; Tommy Parker moving. There were ceramic ink We played rough, boyish looked after the little ‘uns and pots to dip our pens in, kept games at dinner time after ‘Billy’ Billy Mainwaring (pronounced topped up by monitors. Breaking a had taken out his tuning fork and Mannering), the head, taught the pen nib was a catastrophe. sung, ‘Be present at our table, big ‘uns. The only other adult ever There was a big map of the Lord’. There was no table; we ate to visit was the vicar, who helped world with the British Empire our butties in the playground. I with the religious education. Secretaries, helpers, dinner ladies and all the host of ancillary people nowadays found in every school had not been invented. The syllabus was simple – reading, writing, arithmetic and scripture. Reading was simply the whole class having the same book and taking it in turns to read a paragraph or so. The books were old and well used. As there were several year groups in each class, those not ‘reading round’ were given other books to read. Writing was a simple matter of copying from the blackboard. It

8 Wellingtonia: Issue 13: Second Half 2012 had to go to the Post Office and drink a glass of boiled milk, PICNICKING ON THE WREKIN, 1783 Neil Clarke standing outside. I hated it but it ‘did me good’. We charged around the village owadays people from near playing fox and hounds, tin can and far visit the Wrekin to murky, tops, marbles, hide and Nsample its delights, seek and tip cat, especially in the whether for a healthy climb, a Avenue and Gorsey Bank. panoramic view from the top or a Billy wore a brown plus four picnic on its slopes. The Wrekin, suit, stockings, a tie and brown with the swingle boats and shoes. He smelled of carbolic soap, donkeys at the Halfway House, pipe tobacco and his last meal. was a popular destination for There was a door between his Sunday School outings in my house and the classroom. ‘A man younger days; and, a generation or severe he was and stern to view... so previously, the Pointons had Well had the boding tremblers provided horse-drawn brakes learned to trace the day’s disasters from Wellington railway station on his morning face’. That’s and a refreshment pavilion in the Matthew Arnold and it sums up Forest Glen for visitors. Billy. But the trek to the Wrekin had Nobody was allowed to be been going on long before that, illiterate or innumerate; that was and we have a delightful account 'We went upon the Wrekin sooner beaten out of us. of such an occasion in the year than usual this year, that my children I was alternately bored, 1783. might partake of the pleasure. The terrified or both and learned very In the late eighteenth century, weather was pleasant, though rather little at school but in the evenings the ironmaster, Richard windy. From the top of that hill the Reynolds (pictured), organised I read The Children’s prospect is so rich, so extensive, so annual picnics on the Wrekin for Encyclopaedia edited by Arthur various, that, considered as a members of his family and their landscape only, it beggars all Mee – all ten volumes. friends. description; and yet I cannot forbear Wellington Boys’ High School, In August 1783 the party mentioning the tufted trees in the where I continued my education, included John Wilkinson, the adjoining woods, upon which, was a completely new world. ironmaster, and his occasioned perhaps by the daughter Mary; Samuel More, uncommonness of the scene, I always A BRIEF HISTORY OF WROCKWARDINE Secretary of the Society of Arts, look down with a particular pleasure, C OF E BOYS' SCHOOL who was staying with Wilkinson as well as survey those more distant, he school (now a private at his Broseley home; and which are interspersed among the dwelling) was closely Theophilus Holbrooke, curate at corn and meadows, contrasted with connected to the village's T and soon to be the the new-ploughed fallow grounds and Church of St. Peter. It was built in husband of Mary Wilkinson. pastures with cattle; the towns and 1837 and paid for by Mrs Cludde Samuel More kept a journal of villages, gentlemen’s seats, farm of Orleton Hall on land donated his travels round the country, and houses enrich and diversify the by her husband Edward. on this occasion he recorded that prospect, whilst the various companies It had spaces for 103 children the various participants arrived at of harvest men in the different farms but attained averages of only 75 the top of the Wrekin on foot or on within view enliven the scene. Nor are (1851), 65 (1878), 78 (1891) and 63 horseback, and ‘sat down to the cold the rivers that glitter among the (1913). To cater for local needs, a collation which was spread on the laughing meadows, or the stupendous twice-a-week night school ran for green turf and regaled ourselves mountains which, though distant, a period: it had ten pupils in 1877. heartily with it’. appear awfully dreary [i.e. Mrs Cludde continued to A tour of the summit followed, threatening, on their own] without support the school with generous and Richard Reynolds and Samuel their effect considered part of the gifts and also provided a cottage More then demonstrated an easy landscape only.' rent free to the master, whose way to save some of the mile-long To Richard Reynolds the salary was £45 a year; a teacher's walk back to the waiting carriages Wrekin was a special place, and he house was erected by 1856. by sliding down the steep mossy wanted to share his enthusiasm The school closed in 1940, slopes on their backsides! for it with those who were invited whereupon 'seniors' relocated to The emotional effect a visit to to join his annual picnics, friends the new Wellington Senior Council the Wrekin had on Richard and family alike. School at Orleton Park and juniors Reynolds is clearly shown in his It sounds as if those who to the former girls' and infants colourful description of an earlier participated in the year 1783 had a school elsewhere in the village. annual picnic: jolly good time! www.wellingtonhistorygroup.wordpress.com 9 At the conclusion of the meeting it BLACKSHIRTS IN WELLINGTON PART 2 Phil Fairclough was found that quite a number of those present had sustained injuries to He was given a very good hearing head and body, many of those due to FOUR BLACKSHIRT but when he switched over to more kicks received when struggling on the MEETINGS IN WELLINGTON__ IN 1939 delicate questions the crowd got ground. H Hobson Cooke who opened the Forty Blackshirts march to fidgety. meeting was among those injured. Market Square It was good humoured __ interjections to start with but with This is the third successive occasion 'Protect our women mention of the rise of Germany under on which he has been assaulted in this town. Two of the casualties had to be against__ the mob' Herr Hitler he met opposition. Heated arguments followed and taken to hospital where one was Speakers named as Hobson the crowd pressed nearer the speaker detained for an X-ray on the jaw, Cooke and Michael__ Goulding and he was dislodged from his where a fracture was suspected. Phil Fairclough continues his platform . Another meeting is being arranged investigations. The car was on two wheels and the shortly. police cleared the way for the visitors The Wellington Journal printed the n the last issue of Wellingtonia, to leave. A member of the audience following account on 27th May we published two personal appealed to the crowd to give the 1939. It is quite long, so the main accounts of the British Union of orators a safe departure. highlights have been extracted. I In the next minute the crowd had Fascists (BUF, alias Blackshirts) cleared. Crowd pelt Blackshirts, meeting in Market Square on ugly scenes at Wellington, Saturday May 20th 1939 and a THE THIRD BUF MEETING ON 20TH Police have hectic time very brief biography of the MAY 1939: THE RIOT! movement's leader, Sir Oswald Here is the report from the Fascist Scenes perhaps unprecedented in Mosley. weekly newspaper Action for 27th the history of Wellington took place in May giving the BUF viewpoint. The Square on Saturday. WHAT THE PAPERS SAID IN 1939 It is interesting to note that the The Blackshirts who comprised There was extensive coverage in opening speaker at the meeting both males and females marched from the Wellington Journal about the was named as H. Hobson Cooke, Park Street into The Square carrying riot on 20th May and the previous who may have addressed the 1st the Union Jack and their own banner. BUF meeting in the Square on 1st April meeting. There was no April. There were two articles in The police formed a human ring mention of Sir Oswald: the BUF news paper Action on round the Blackshirts. 27th May and 24th June. The One section of the crowd was Wellington Journal also reported on shouting, ringing hand bells and a Special Meeting of the Urban RED VIOLENCE AT WELLINGTON blowing whistles whilst the other part District Council on 9th June. For the past few weeks highly attempted to sing Rule Britannia. organised bands of imported Red The crowd surged forward and real hooligans have been attempting to trouble commenced; pandemonium as smash British Union meetings in THE FIRST BUF MEETING IN THE dozens of eggs, tomatoes, oranges and Wellington Shropshire. SQUARE, MARCH 1939 cabbages went hurtling through the This campaign of violence reached There is very little information air. Blows were freely exchanged. its climax last Saturday, when the about this, except that the Chief mob brutally attacked the thirty local Major Golden [Chief Constable of Constable said it passed off fairly supporters of the British Union who Shropshire] spoke to the Blackshirts quietly 'with a certain amount of surrounded the platform. who made an attempt to sing the disturbance'. It was not reported Although hopelessly outnumbered, National Anthem. in the press. British Union supporters fought back The Police formed an outlet for the THE SECOND BUF MEETING valiantly and drove back the mob. In Blackshirts to leave by way of Duke ON 1ST APRIL 1939 all the Reds attacked six times, yet not Street at the entrance of which a final Blackshirts get "Warm Welcome” once were they able to achieve their rush was made by a certain section of at Wellington objective of breaking through to the the crowd. An attempt was made to Speaker Removed from Platform speaker's car. seize the Blackshirt Banner and many A car drew up in the Square shortly Every form of violence was used. blows were struck. before 8.00pm and an improvised Missiles were hurled from the crowd and The Blackshirts were ushered platform was placed in the customary sticks, screwdrivers and bars were used down Walker Street onto Wrekin position. A youthful speaker in various sorties. Road with a large crowd in the rear. expounded the views of the British It is to the credit of the British Union The police formed a line across the Union and everything went well for supporters present that the meeting was highway and the crowd which had some time. kept going for some considerable time. followed then dispersed.

10 Wellingtonia: Issue 13: Second Half 2012 asked for safe escort for the women and the loud speaker car. Under circumstances of considerable difficulty, the members of the BUF, together with their car and other property were safely escorted away from the scene of the meeting. The Chief Constable continued, saying that the procession and meeting were 'extremely provocative' and 'strongly resented' by the people of Wellington. He said a serious situation could arise in future and recommended an Above: Mosley speaks from the top of approach to the Secretary of State a loudspeaker van, London, 1938. banning any such procession held (Photo from British Union Collection, by the BUF for a period of three and not the meeting was very University of Sheffield.) months under section 3 of the strange as all the trouble took Right: Mosley at Shrewsbury, 1934. Public Order Act 1936. place in the meeting. The article (Photo from Wellington Journal.) Only processions could be ends: Bottom: Mosley and the Blackshirt banned under the Act. It was not It is not known if the Home salute. (Hulton Getty Collection.) possible to ban meetings. Secretary has agreed to a ban on processions in Wellington, which is SPECIAL MEETING OF THE COUNCIL A FOURTH BUF meeting was particularly ridiculous since all the On 9th June the Journal printed a planned for June 25th or July 30th. trouble on the previous occasion took further article about a special Wellington Urban District Council place at the meeting and not during meeting of Wellington Urban felt it should not be held in The the march. District Council seeking to ban Square or even on Council land at In any case a meeting will be held further fascist processions with an the junction of Regent Street and on July 30th and MICHAEL application to the Secretary of Watling Street (adjacent to the GOULDING will complete the speech State. A very detailed letter from football stadium) but rather on a which the hooligans interrupted on Major Golden on what had circle of land at Bennett's Bank. May 20th. Neither Red Violence nor happened at the riot on May 20th There is no press report Blue Obstruction by the local council was received. Here is a summary confirming that this meeting took will deprive the British Union of its of the main points of the letter: place. political rights. He confirmed there had been Report 24th June 1939 It is interesting that none of three meetings of the BUF at WELLINGTON COUNCIL WANTS BAN these contemporary reports says monthly intervals in The Square , ON BRITISH UNION MARCHES that Sir Oswald Mosley spoke at each on a Saturday evening, and at This article published by Action any of the three meetings. The the first there had been a certain reports the Chief Constables letter, only names mentioned are those of amount of disturbance. highlighting his comment that it the BUF speakers: Mr. Hobson His report on the second was the crowd that made the Cooke, who was hospitalised with meeting repeats the details already trouble and to ban the procession his injuries on the 20th May, and published in the Journal on 8th Mr. Michael Goulding, who was April: due to speak at the planned fourth 20TH MAY, THE THIRD MEETING meeting. The Riot. The speaker at the second A procession of FORTY members of meeting on 1st April was the British Union marched from The described in the Journal as Lawns, 400 yards to the Square. It 'youthful'—clearly not Sir Oswald. was orderly and gave rise to no If anybody has memories of these trouble until entering the Square events, please contact us. ...they were strongly resented by the The concluding article on the audience and were met with cries jeers Blackshirts in Wellington will and a few missiles. appear in the next issue of Disorder and free fighting ensued. Wellingtonia. After some 35 minutes, the situation deteriorated further and a Extracts from Action reproduced suggestion was made to the leader of from Special Collections, Cadbury the British Union that the meeting Research Library, University of should be terminated. He agreed and Birmingham. www.wellingtonhistorygroup.wordpress.com 11 OCTOBER INTHENEWS: 1962 Joy Rebello and Shelagh Nabb ONE-DAY RAIL STRIKE – STATION DESERTED features, it also has some Another trip down traditional qualities, the building Memory Lane via pages of dating back to Charles II. The Cottage is ideal for parties the Wellington Journal. and club functions. People can have a good time ‘and laugh as AUGUST loudly as they like in an WELLINGTON STATION BANS atmosphere of informality at what TRAIN SPOTTERS is a unique innovation in the field A diesel train pulling into of social rendezvous in the Wellington station recently had to county’. The first national rail stoppage brake violently because ‘train since the 1926 General Strike spotters’ were running on the SEPTEMBER turned out to be anything but lines. ULTRA MODERN LIBRARY chaotic in Shropshire. This latest act of foolhardiness Alternative communications has resulted in the railway were well in hand and the strike authorities banning all spotters went down as being ‘orderly, quiet from the station. The behaviour of and well mannered’. the boys could no longer be The Post Office commended tolerated. the public for only sending There were also instances essential mail, and the Council where boys had been seen sitting chartered 20 buses to get children on the edge of the platform as to school. The strike went off expresses had gone through. without incident at Wellington. Posters had been mutilated and every poster on the station had In spite of inexcusably insulting TEA-TIME FOR ROSA had to be changed in the last three Wellington and folk using the weeks. facilities at the town library during As many as 40 so-called the (fortunately) less-than-three- spotters were on the station at any year period he was librarian here particular time and up to all kinds during the Second World War, of mischief. poet Philip Larkin was invited to Unfortunately genuine spotters formally open the glass-and- would also have to suffer the ban. concrete extension adjacent to the But apparently boys genuinely original Edwardian building. interested in the hobby usually Pictured above are Cliff went to Crewe or Stafford during Buttery, Cllr. S.C. Parker, Cllr. C.F. the holidays where they could see Cordingley, Larkin and respected many more engines. librarian Laurie Marsh. The extension (below) cost £22,600. BARBECUE ON THE WREKIN Larkin’s later reputation as a An event was held at Wrekin poet of some note has done Cottage, half way up The Wrekin, nothing to dissipate feelings of in aid of St. Jude’s House Working resentment still harboured by Boys’ Hostel. those who felt the lash of his The principal organiser was tongue all those years ago. Wolverhampton probation officer, Rosa the Donkey was donated to Mr. John Robinson. The House is Vineyard Children’s Home to the run in liaison with the Church of delight of its 70 child residents. Temperance Society. Here, Home Superintendent C.F. Apart from the barbecue there Jones helps a four-year-old lad to were donkey rides and vehicle feed Rosa. rides to the summit. The donkey was a gift from Mr The event also served as and Mrs Marner, Woodlands opening night for the Cottage. Farm, Ironbridge. This has been newly decorated with a bar, piazza, sun-shaded POOL GIFT tables and a refreshment porch. In The 70 children at the Vineyard addition to the contemporary Home, Wellington, have had a

12 Wellingtonia: Issue 13: Second Half 2012 The ‘uncles’ are also raising money for another home, the Sunshine Home at Overley Hall near Wellington. Here, too, every child has a birthday present and the Home has received a garden house.

NOVEMBER LOOK-OUT CLUB COUNTS near £2000 open air swimming The Look-out club of Prince’s pool (above) provided for them by Street Junior School, as part of their ‘uncles’ – as they are Road Safety, counted how many affectionately called – of the motorists turned incorrectly into sergeants’ mess at RAF Cosford. Regent Street when travelling from This is the latest action of the the Buck’s Head pub westwards ‘uncles’ who, since 1954, have along along Watling Street. provided all kinds of comforts for ‘I’ll show my kiddies that the children. adults are not as clever as they Now completed, the 30ft by think they are’ said teacher George 15ft pool will come into use Evans, leader of the club. towards the end of next spring and all that remains to be done is WINIFRED ATTWELL OPENS BAZAAR the testing of the filtration plant. Mr Jones, Superintendent of the Home, told a Journal reporter this week that the pool would meet a tremendous need and no longer would they have to improvise by fitting a hosepipe to the greenhouse tap! ‘We shall never be out of the sergeants’ debt for all that they have done for the children. Since they first entertained the children at Christmas 1954, it has been their practice to provide each child with a birthday present and Christmas has not been overlooked either. A child can say Miss Winifred Attwell, the popular what he would like - within reason of pianist, opened the Christmas course – and the sergeants invariably Bazaar of the Horder Centre meet the request. On one occasion a Helpers for Arthritics held at child asked for a rabbit hutch and he Belmont Hall, Wellington. was given one – almost as big as a Miss Attwell delighted the house’ he added. young children when she played Mr Jones went on to say that Jingle Bells accompanied by the pantomime and circus tickets and children’s voices. Miss Attwell was holiday pocket money were presented with a bouquet. provided and this year they would be going to Cosford for Bonfire DECEMBER Night and the evening would DERBYSHIRE IN SHROPSHIRE conclude with all the children ‘Miss Nugent’ (right, later Emily being entertained to supper. Bishop), played by actress Eileen He said they were also Derbyshire in ITV’s 1960 soap indebted to the boy entrants at opera Coronation Street, opened RAF Cosford and, at their recent Wellington cancer campaign at a harvest festival service, boy bazaar held at the Morris Hall. entrant Chaudhury of ‘D’ flight She declined a fee. No 3 squadron, had collected £5 Coronation Street is located in 10s for the home. ‘In all we have the fictional town of Weatherfield received about £70 from the entrants in Lancashire. A street plan is – our ‘nephews’ as we call them.’ provided here to assist followers. www.wellingtonhistorygroup.wordpress.com 13 concerns. In 1836 the Reynolds, WELLINGTON'S FIRST BANK Neil Clarke Charlton & Co. bank in Wellington amalgamated with three other east Shropshire banks to form the joint Established to offer assistance lthough the earliest banks stock Shropshire Banking Co. to local industrialists, the in this country date from These were Horton & Hill Wellington bank, like other Athe late 17th century, it was (established 1791) of Newport; unregulated banks, had to not until a century later that one Darby & Co. (established 1810) of negotiate the troubled waters of appeared in Shropshire – one of ; and Biddle, financial crisis in its early years. the earliest being that of Eyton, Mountford, Pidcock & Cope The first of these came at the Reynolds & Bishop in Shrewsbury (established 1824) of . The end of the Napoleonic Wars. There in 1792. Wellington branch of the were something like 32 bank The partners in this bank were Shropshire Bank was in Church failures in the country in 1815, and Thomas Eyton, owner of the Eyton Street and its manager was George locally the scandal surrounding estate and Receiver-General (i.e. Alexander Martin. (The premises Thomas Eyton’s suicide in January the Crown’s tax collector) of were the tall building behind the 1816 (described in Wellingtonia Shropshire; William Reynolds, of lamp post in the photo below.) issue 11) almost ruined the banks Bank House Ketley, a member of The Shropshire Bank. was he was associated with in the Coalbrookdale ironmaking closely connected to the local coal Shrewsbury and Wellington. partnership and a leading and iron industries and its fortune Both rode out the storm, but promoter of canals in east varied with their performance. the Eyton family lost its foothold Shropshires; and John Bishop, a It also suffered a series of at Wellington, the bank becoming Shrewsbury businessman. serious internal frauds, Reynolds, Charlton and The three were joined a year culminating in 1854 in the loss of Shakeshaft – Joseph Reynolds of later by John Wilkinson, £200,000 from the funds of the the original partnership, William acknowledged by Thomas Telford Wellington branch caused by Charlton of Apley Castle and as ‘King of the Ironmasters’, who speculation by the bank’s William Shakeshaft, a Wellington operated ironworks in Shropshire manager. However, it recovered businessman. at Willey (near Broseley), and from this setback and by 1870, By 1822 the Wellington bank Snedshill and Hollinswood (near when its head office was in was known as Reynolds, Charlton ). Horsefair, Shifnal, it had branches & Harries, with premises in the In 1805, two of these partners, at Dawley, Ironbridge, Newport, Market Place. Eyton and Wilkinson, together Oakengates and Wellington. A business crisis in this country with Joseph Reynolds, established The Shropshire Banking Co. in 1825, that saw the failure of the first bank to be opened in was taken over by Lloyds Banking some 60 banks, led to an Act of Wellington. Joseph Reynolds of Co. in 1874. Parliament which permitted the Ketley Hall, the half-brother of The Wellington branch establishment of co-partnerships recently deceased William remained in Church Street until with any number of shareholders Reynolds, was an ironmaster with the merger of Lloyds with the and a right of note issue outside works at Ketley and Madeley Trustees Savings Bank in 1995, London. Wood. John Wilkinson, who had soon after which it moved to its As a result, many private banks opened a new ironworks at present site in Walker Street. There were absorbed by these joint-stock Hadley in 1804, died three years had been a Savings Bank in banks, creating larger and larger after the Wellington bank opened. Walker Street since 1835. The original TSB (below, as seen in 1960) opened in September 1951.

14 Wellingtonia: Issue 13: Second Half 2012 MINE HOST AT THE RAVEN Allan Frost

Butlers in 1960. Interesting, both the Foresters Arms and The Raven he restoration of The Raven (1967–1969) and finally The were two of the pubs in the list of Inn’s historic name after Caledonian (‘The Cally’) at tied houses belonging to the Tseveral years has been Oakengates (1969–1980). It was Shropshire Brewery on Holyhead greeted with relief by many who here that the concept of a Steak Bar Road when it was acquired by don’t approve of tinkering with went one stage further with the William Butler & Company in 1912. long established traditions—not railway-themed Platform One Because Butler’s only wanted least the daughters of Eddie and restaurant and meeting room the tied houses and not the Ada Sykes who recently presented (below). Shropshire Brewery itself, they sold the present manager with a Eddie and Ada subsequently it in 1913 with the stipulation that framed memorial. retired to The Woodlands, no beer be brewed on the premises. Joan and Margaret Sykes Ironbridge. Who on earth would buy a non- (whose surnames have since Eddie’s public houses were tied brewing brewery? Someone who changed through marriage) spent to William Butler & Company’s wanted the premises purely for use more than a few years in the pubs Wolverhampton-based Springfield as a bottling plant, most notably to tenanted by their father who is Brewery; they were all taken over bottle beers and ales made by still remembered with affection by by rival brewers Mitchells & national brewing firms (like former patrons. Guinness and Worthington) and Edgar ‘Eddie’ Sykes (1916– fizzy drinks produced by his own 1983) was born in Liverpool. He works as well as other married his Birkenhead-born wife manufacturers. Ada (1917–2009) in 1938. The unlikely purchaser was, of .A carpenter/joiner by trade, he course, O.D. Murphy—a man was working for building firm whose name would become Fletcher’s at Shrewsbury when, in synonymous with the Wrekin 1954, he decided on a change of Brewery, the Pop Works and Wine career – and became a publican. & Spirit distribution to pubs His first hostelry was the throughout Shropshire. Foresters Arms at Hadley, where he ran annual Harvest Festival celebrations. Between 1957 and 1967, he took the tenancy at The Raven Inn at Wellington where his woodworking skills enabled him to convert a room into an attractive and successful Steak Bar (right, with Terry the Chef). Bearing in mind that Eddie and Ada had introduced the (then revolutionary) idea of selling cheese and onion cobs alongside beer, the notion of a Steak Bar filled a gap that hitherto no one had realised existed. Upon requesting a move to a different location, Eddie and Ada ran The Monkmoor at Shrewsbury www.wellingtonhistorygroup.wordpress.com 15 difficult situation. Francis had had APLEY CASTLE: AN AMENITY FOR ALL Geoff Harrison ‘leanings’ towards the Royalist cause; his brother Robert was certainly a supporter of the life – it is common knowledge that n interpretation of the parliamentary cause: a classic case in 1909 the family of Sir John stated aims of the Friends of Civil War setting brother Meyrick were devastated by a Aof Apley Woods ‘to restore against brother. The young child tragic accident: the drowning of and celebrate the rich and intriguing Francis, aged 3, on the death of his Herbert Chiverton Meyrick while heritage of Apley Castle and to father, was heir to the estate and forcing his reluctant horse into the protect, foster and develop Apley Robert wanted ‘custody’ of the lake (see Wellingtonia issue 3 for Woods as a very special and valuable young child together with Mary details). A family so distraught amenity for the whole community to and Margaret. One can imagine that it is reported that the blinds enjoy and appreciate’. that it was not just ‘brotherly on the windows looking toward It is only very recently the concern’ that motivated this the lake were to be kept drawn so public have been allowed into the desire. After all, if Francis were to no more need they look over the very private grounds of a ‘landed die, Robert would inherit the lake. This story is told on one of estate’; for many centuries it was estates of his already deceased the present information panels in private land, the sole privilege of brother Francis. Widowed Mary the Woods. members of one family, the resisted and sent the children This was not the only tragedy Charlton family; from Robert de away for a while. During this which had befallen the Charlton Cherlton about 1290, to 1955 with absence she married Thomas family. The English Civil War, the Meyrick family, Thomas Hanmer. It was perhaps not so between Royalist supporters of Charlton having changed his much a ‘matter of the heart’ but King Charles I and Parliamentary name to Meyrick by Royal Licence rather the need for the support of forces of Oliver Cromwell set in 1858. a man in such troubled times. neighbour against neighbour, son Wander round these Thomas was also supportive of the against father and brother against woodlands and you will detect Royalist cause. This period of brother. ‘bits’ of the past, extensive views, family history was recorded by Francis Charlton, married to wide tree-lined walks (below) Mary’s future son-in-law, Richard Mary Hill, succeeded to the Apley opening to rural vistas, one to the Baxter. Castle estate in 1620; it was he (now fishing) lake in the distance. Robert ‘maintained a long and who completed the castellation of The lake, incidentally is relatively costly suit about the guardianship of his father’s mansion begun in new, being the result of excavating the heir . . . but the wise and good 1567. This mansion was the for clay to make the bricks to build mother Mary, durst not trust her only second. The first, crenellated by the last Apley Castle in the 1790s. son in the hands of one that was his king’s licence of 1327, probably Looking more closely, you may next heir; and she thought that nature stood on a site a short distance notice under your feet remnants of gave her a greater interest in him than away. brick-work or drains (bottom an uncle had. But . . . Robert being for Francis and Mary had three right) which indicate the ground Parliament, had the advantage of children: Mary (baptised at All level of the Hall demolished in strength, which put her to seek relief Saints, Wellington 10th July 1631), 1955. Some folk still remember the at Oxford from the king, and Margaret (baptised All Saints 18th ‘old hall’. afterwards to marry one Mr. Hanmer, September 1636) and son Francis Living in such a privileged who was for the king.‘ estate didn’t always insulate the (baptised All Saints on the 16th ─ The story of Apley Castle in family from the tragic realities of May 1639 it was noted in the this troubled time is beset by Parish Register ‘Son & deceit and intrigue. The Royal heir of Ffrancis Charlton garrison provided for the defence Esq. of Apley & Mary his of the castle and took advantage of wife’). Francis (father) was not to live much longer; apparently he was ‘old and grey’ when he married Mary. The death of Francis, recorded in the Parish Records of All Saints 2nd December 1642, a few months after the first Civil War battle at Edgehill, left his wife Mary with three young children in a very

16 Wellingtonia: Issue 13: Second Half 2012 its strength and plundered their charge to the extent that Thomas BOOK REVIEW Hanmer went to Shrewsbury to complain to a higher Royal authority. Here his petition was interpreted as treason and he ended up in prison: ‘Instead of obtaining redress he was arrested, committed to prison and accused of high treason, and remained a prisoner till Rupert succeeded to the command of Shropshire’ so recorded Rev. John Webb. However, Thomas Hanmer’s release from prison was conditional: that he defend his house, putting the ‘public service’ threatened by the presence of before ‘private consideration’. In rough soldiers, her future other words, he was to defend uncertain. Even the strongest Apley Castle against person would be frightened and Parliamentary forces at his own unsure of which way to turn. expense. Fortunately battles don’t last Thomas armed his tenants and forever and this wasn’t huge, more servants to defend the Castle but of a skirmish yet still very Parliamentary forces attacked. horrifying. Despite a ‘gallant fight’, Apley The Civil War divided families. fter having successfully was overwhelmed. Hurts went deep, forgiveness was entertained and educated This tragedy was witnessed by not easy and many generations us with the Keen were to pass before bitterness was A Mary and her young children. In Foxhunter and Keen Shot, The the words of Richard Baxter, ‘it to be soothed. The Charlton family Keen Countryman’s Miscellany, (the castle) was besieged by the suffered at this time, along with the latest book by Orleton Hall’s parliament’s soldiers, and stormed other families of rank but there is Peter Holt, will undoubtedly and taken; where the mother (Mary – a personal hurt, a very personal appeal to a wide readership. Francis’s widow, now Mrs tragedy of seeing one’s servants, The quality of the research is Hanmer) and the children were, and tenants and friends lying dead impressive, and the author’s saw part of their building burnt, and before you, and your house training as a competent journalist some lie dead before their eyes, all of burning behind you. So it was for is evident in the easy style of them threatened . . . ‘ Mary, widow of Francis Charlton, writing. Even the presentation of One may imagine a picture of on that day in March 1644. the wonderful range of this young woman, children Now set aside for their information revealed between its clutching at her skirt, the noise relaxation, members of the public hardback covers is curiously and violence of battle, smoke can wander freely around the appropriate, as is the thoughtfully- drifting across the scene as her pleasant woodlands of Apley provided ribbon bookmark. home burned, the mutilated Castle . . . but we should not But what’s it all about? It’s a bodies of her servants and tenants forget the blood soaked into the clever collection of historical and lying all around, and constantly soil of those distant days. practical information concerning All Things Rural (I was going to say ‘Rustic’, but that might give the wrong impression). It’s all here, from biographies of famous farmers to country lore and practical advice on . . . well, suffice it to say it’s packed full of tasty morsels you can dip into whenever you have a few (or more than a few) moments to spare. Entertaining and enjoyable, informative and intriguing . . . it’s an ideal gift for anyone — including yourself! The Keen Countryman’s Miscellany, isbn 978 1 84689 120 5, is published by Quiller. £16.95. www.wellingtonhistorygroup.wordpress.com 17 IN PRINT: 1912 Joy Rebello and Shelagh Nabb

lways popular with family historians and doting Aparents at the time (a sentiment not always shared by his subjects), W. Cooper Edmonds captures the family-like spirit of the Old hall School on Holyhead Road in this 1912 school photo. Naturally, everyone appears clean and spotless for the occasion. Above:. October 1912–‘intrepid aviator’ Gustav Hamel gave monoplane flights in the grounds of Orleton Hall. It appears that his was the first aeroplane to land and take- off in the Wellington area. Gustav had been born in Germany in 1889; he and his immigrant family had become British citizens in 1910 yet newspapers persisted in ‘tainting’ him as still being German. Undeterred, and with a passion for flying these new-fangled contraptions, Gustav toured the English countryside giving flights to those who dared take the risk. He also took part in (and won) air races. Despite his young age, he was a highly experienced flyer, which makes his untimely death somewhat inexplicable. Having just purchased a new aircraft, he disappeared over the English Channel in May 1914 on his way back from Paris after buying a new Paris in a new 80 hp Morane- Saulnier monoplane.

Wellington High School for Boys opened in September 1912, utilising separate sections of the building already occupied by the Girls’ High School which had opened four years earlier. It was common knowledge that Miss E.B. Ross, headmistress of the Girls’ school, did not see eye to eye with Mr H.W. Male, headmaster of the Boys’ school. Attempts at strict segregation between the two schools, in spite of the locked gate separating playgrounds and similarly locked doors in the main hall and upstairs balcony, were not entirely successful. This grainy photo of the school, with its newly-painted sign to the right, appeared in the Wellington Journal. Although classed as a ‘County’ school, fees were levied to contribute towards the cost of learning materials, such as text books.

18 Wellingtonia: Issue 13: Second Half 2012 WELLINGTON NOMADS ‘Half- Holiday’ football team (right) whose players in October 1912 comprised Birch, Taylor, A. Clayton, Robinson, Jones, Cotton, Taylor (junior), T. Cooke, Reeves, Kendrick and C. Davies. Formed after a meeting in October 1911 of the Half Holiday Club (whose regular meeting place was the Station Hotel on town half-day shop-closing afternoons which, at the time, were on Fridays), the Club created a football team whose home ground would be at the Red Lion Hotel, Holyhead Road (by kind permission of the proprietor Mr Simpson). The team played for a couple of Wellington Nomads team, seen here outside the Red Lion Hotel, with club years (and appears to have won a officials and trainers, one of whom clutches a jug and pint mug presumably for trophy) before disbanding, pick-me-up purposes. The team played in a few friendly games from September possibly as a direct result of the 1912 onwards until joining the Jackfield Football League in August 1914. human demands of the Great War.

PICTURE POSTCARDS become highly popular in the two decades before 1912 and became even more so when previously monochrome images were given hand painted studio ‘colourisation’ treatment at the skilful hands of thousands of ‘colourers’. Francis Frith’s nationally- distributed postcards (as in The Wrekin Pathway below) came under increasing pressure from locally-produced offerings (like that of The Wrekin from Buckatree Hall, bottom right, issued by Wildings of Shrewsbury). Wellington Town Football Club team, 1912-13. Standing players, left to right: J. Jones, J. Hill, R. Corbett. Middle: J. Wilcox, F. Brown, G. Clarke, E. Deakin, G. Davies. Front: A. Morris, T. Nevison, A. Riley. The team ‘gained a brilliant victory over Aston Villa Reserve’. Photo: A.E. Bloomer.

www.wellingtonhistorygroup.wordpress.com 19 Right: The 1962 notice MORE IMAGERY which devastated passenger train services between Wellington and outlying villages. Local bus services enjoyed a brief rise in passenger numbers over the next few years, during which time iron rails and wooden sleepers were lifted and sold for scrap, and trackways were n March 1962, members of New converted into foot- and Street Methodist Youth Club cycle-paths. Ipaid a weekend visit to Below: Wellington Town Council Limefield Methodist Youth Club at recently acquired Going Home, a Bury in Lancashire, where they portayal of Wellington Railway were accommodated in members’ Station painted in 2006 by former homes. New College student Amy Hill. At Wellington, a reciprocal visit Amy is an ‘all round creative’ took place at what was the specialising in video production. church’s October Youth Weekend Other examples of her work can which usually incorporated a be seen at www.amylisahill.co.uk. ramble or visit to a landmark and a Saturday night ‘social’, followed by special services on the Sunday. Seen above (from the left) are Ken Poulter, Judy Starkey, Graham Shepherd, Dave Davies, Valerie Edyvean, ‘Pip’ Martin, Anne Edson and Andrew Horrocks. The exchange, which ran for several years and resulted in two Above, also 1962. Who remembers marriages, was the brainchild of Bates & Hunt, the chemists in New Rev Peter de Visme who had Street, which subsequently became become minister at Wellington in Partners and, more recently, 1959, having previously been Rymans stationers? As well as the minister at the Bury church. usual array of health-related and personal hygiene products, this It’s a good job History is was where Ilford camera films concerned with the past and not together with brewing and wine about forecasting the future. making kits were sold. In 1876, the Chief Engineer of the British Post Office, Sir William Preece, predicted: ‘The Americans have need of the telephone, but we do not. We have plenty of messenger boys.’

Right: Bowring Recreation Ground’s Bowling Club (founded in 1950) held its annual dinner and awards presentation in November 1962 at the Forest Glen pavilion. Pictured here (from left to right) are Cllr. George Evans, Jim Husband, Derek Wild, Fred Jones, -?-, Charlie Seabury, Ted Silvester, Jan Bancer, Walter Cotton, Bill Collier, John Stanworth, Ray Teece, Tom Rollason and Doug Tipping.

20 Wellingtonia: Issue 13: Second Half 2012