WHGMag11_Layout 1 02/10/2011 12:41 Page 1 Wellingtonia Issue 11: Second Half 2011 Only £2.00 Newsletter of the Wellington History Group, rediscovering the past of Wellington in

IN THIS ISSUE WELCOME AGAIN! The Five Towns ****************** Wrekin Trail sn't it odd to think that history Page is the latest is a never-ending facet of our booklet to 2. Local News lives, whether we like it or not? I be issued by 3. Noticeboard & Contacts One of the most predictable Wellington 4. The Preston Hoard comments I hear from people of Local all ages (including, sadly, school 6. Pains Lane Races and Agenda 21 children) is 'history is boring.' Wellington Connections Group. However, when asked what 8. 1961 Groups they are interested in, the answers It includes basic historical details 9. The Ercall Woods are always (not just sometimes or and other information for those 10. The Eytons and the occasionally, but always) subjects energetic souls wishing to take a which are, in themselves, just a cycle tour of conurbation's small aspect of history in its 12. Gas Works main traditional settlements: widest sense (cars, sport, 'media Wellington, , , 14. You Ask, We Answer studies', fashion, 'culture' and so Madeley and ... and not 15. Looking at the Lunns on). forgetting Hill, of 16. 50 Years Ago: 1961 When it's pointed out that course. everything concerning man- (and, 18. Dothill – The Day I Copies of the booklet are yes, woman-) kind that just Bought an Estate! available free from local libraries. happens to be written down is, er, For information of LA21's other 19. Drinking in History history, it can take a while for the booklets, visit 20. Photo Recall implication sink in. And it's quite ww.wellingtonla21.org.uk reassuring to see that little spark * of understanding when the message hits home. So yes, I would say that everyone who is A view of The Ercall Woods ... interested in anything is, one way see page 9. or another, an historian, whether they like it or not. Every event or development, from family (mis)fortune to global disaster, from hair styles (it's a while since I had one but I have a good memory) to clothing fads (as a teenager, would you have been seen sporting a manufacturer's label in public? Certainly not!) and even where and how often you do your shopping ... it's all history. So, as long as humankind is able to communicate, history will always be with us. Hoorah!

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LOCAL NEWS

ur new season of public talks began in September Owhen group chairman Neil Clarke (above) led a large contingent of entusiasts around places in (once part of Wellington parish) associated with ironmaster industrialist William Reynolds (1758-1803). In October, Allan Frost spoke about internationally-famous Recent economic trends have Wellington writer Hesba Stretton A major development in been well and truly bucked not at the town's annual Literary simply because libraries are being Wellington is almost Festival. See opposite for our closed and their budgets severely complete. The project has schedule of forthcoming talks. met with some criticism and slashed throughout but also because the new premises in New Chair has certainly changed the Wellington will feature some eoff Harrison (bottom left), face of the town centre south innovative concepts and the most takes over as our chairman of Walker Street ... let's hope recent technological facilities. in November. He came to for the better. The intention is for there to be G Wellington in the early 1970s to easier and more readily available teach at a local secondary school. access to information for those He always had an interest in nitially opposed to the idea of engaged in family and local history and has done much vast sums of public money history research than has research over the years, and Ibeing spent on ambitious previously been possible. continues to do so. projects in long-established towns The above photo (reproduced 'I began to look closely at (for example, Madeley, Dawley here by courtesy of building history, like a lot of people, and Wellington), the reinstated contractors G F Tomlinson was through family history, a interest Labour administration at the taken a few months ago, and shared with my wife, and this Borough now seems keen to make shows the new library segment of developed into leading courses in greater use of Wellington's Civic the civic complex towards the top Researching Family History. Quarter building by relocating left. 'Locally, in particular, I am additional council staff there than The public should be able to interested in the history of the was originally conceived. make use of these significant ; this has been This can only be good for buildings by the end of November. nurtured by regular attendance at Wellington's economy, in theory at Make sure you pay a visit! Oh, St. Catherine’s church and led to least, if only because a larger and while you're in that area, see if the publication of A Family – A number of employees is expected you can spot the former 1910 Manor – A Church a couple of years to spend at least some of their Wellington Baths date stone. hard-earned salaries in the town. ago, attempting to give a story of But that's not all. the parish and its people. Of great significance is the 'I believe that history is about impending opening of a new people and how they have library in the town, the first for influenced events and locations almost 110 years. The former through time. To study this, it is building in Walker Street necessary to ‘dig beneath’ stories incorporated remnants of the and ‘granny’s tales’ to find out the 1840ish union workhouse ‘true ‘ happenings (as far as this is extension, plus a glass and possible) but to admit, at times, concrete extension opened in 1962 that the ‘story’, plausible as it may by former librarian Philip Larkin. be cannot be confirmed as ‘fact’. '

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I NVITATION TO OUR WELLINGTON NOTICEBOARD ANNUAL GENERAL HISTORY GROUP PUBLIC MEETING TALKS 2011-12 THANK YOU ON WEDNESDAY 16TH All meetings start at 7:30pm in for donating £330 to our NOVEMBER 2011 Wellington Civic Offices unless SUPER BOWLS APPEAL, otherwise stated. Also watch Press For the first time since our for announcements. Admission is especially Wellington Civic creation four years ago, our free but donations are invited. Society, Wrekin Historical Annual General Meeting will * Group and Wrekin Museum Monday 14th November be held in public so that you Partnership, and those who gave VISIT TO SHROPSHIRE ARCHIVES AND anonymously. A cheque has now can take the opportunity to ROWLEY'S HOUSE MUSEUM, been sent to the archaeologists influence future activities. SHREWSBURY (see note on left) * and we'll report again when the After the formal part of the Wednesday 16th November preservation work on the meeting, our editor and ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING artefacts unearthed during founder chairman, Allan Frost, and Allan Frost: excavations behind Edgbaston will give an illustrated talk on WELLINGTON INNS (AND OUTS) the Inns (and Outs) of some * House in Walker Street has been Wednesday 18th January completed. Wellington pubs. Allan Frost: WELLINGTON’S LORD MAYOR OF LONDON Visit to Shrewsbury on Monday 14th November * Wednesday 15th February SHROPSHIRE ARCHIVES AND ROWLEY'S HOUSE MUSEUM, SHREWSBURY. George Evans: THE WREKIN HILLS Places are limited and need to be booked in advance. * Call 01952 402459 to book and for details of arrangements. Wednesday 21st March Neil Clarke: WELLINGTON'S WREKIN LOCAL STUDIES FORUM TURNPIKE ROADS * An indication of the popularity of local history in the Telford and Wednesday 18th April Wrekin area is given by the number of groups involved in exploring and Shelagh Hampson: promoting the Past. Wellington History Group is just one of many others JOHN FLETCHER & WELLINGTON and supports the work done by the Wrekin Local Studies Forum. CONNECTIONS * * The Forum is a group that meets quarterly to share information, Wednesday 16th May expertise and resources and to plan joint ventures. Its members Geoff Harrison: represent local history, family history and civic societies, reminiscence A WALK ON THE WYLDEMORS groups, museums, archives, libraries, colleges and the local authority. * Wednesday 20th June * GUIDED TOURS OF ALL SAINTS One of the most useful aspects of Forum activity is an updated six- PARISH CHURCH AND ST. PATRICK'S month Calendar of Events which includes meetings and talks due to CATHOLIC CHURCH take place in the Telford & Wrekin area. A published version of the Meet at Lych Gate, 7:00pm Calendar is available from public libraries and can be accessed via the * Forum's web site at www.wlsf.org.uk, where further information on Wednesday 18th July history and other history-based societies can be found. Peter Holt: THE HISTORY OF ORLETON HALL

Other officers of the Wellington History Group HISTORY GROUP CONTACT DETAILS committee are: President: George Evans, 18 Barnfield Crescent, Please address general correspondence to: Wellington, The Wrekin, TF1 2EU. WHG Secretary: Joy Rebello, 6 Barnfield Crescent, Tel: 01952 641102. email [email protected] Wellington, Telford, Shropshire, TF1 2ES. Chairman: Neil Clarke, ‘Cranleigh’, Wellington Tel: 01952 402459. email: [email protected] Road, Little Wenlock, Shropshire, TF6 5BH. Wellingtonia Editor: Allan Frost, 1 Buttermere Tel: 01952 504135. email: [email protected] Drive, Priorslee, Telford, Shropshire, TF2 9RE. Treasurer: Wendy Palin, 35 Pembroke Drive, Tel: 01952 299699. email: [email protected] Wellington, Telford, Shropshire, TF1 3PT. Tel: 01952 244551. email: [email protected] 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.

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THE PRESTON HOARD Mary and Geoff Harrison

Following on from the Willowmoor Hoard in Wellingtonia issue 10, we now have another hoard for you to consider ... this time near Preston.

n recent months many people throughout the country have Ibeen dipping into their pockets to secure the Staffordshire Hoard for the nation, so that our lost history is not lost to a foreign culture. The discovery of the Staffordshire Hoard fired the public imagination – real ‘treasure’ found quite locally. No such ‘fanfare’ greeted the finding of the Preston Hoard almost 200 years ago, but then 38 years ago by a man when identifies a John Hooper, farmer of again it was not a treasure of gold digging a drain in a field near 120 acres employing 3 workers, and jewels but a collection of five Preston; it was about 4 or 5 feet born at Kinnersley, living at bronze age axes. from the surface, not on the Hadley Park. John was only a “These ancient implements moors, but on the confines. The child of 6 in the Census of 1841, so were found in a field by a man implement is of bronze, and must he would have been the son of named William Pickering, a farm have belonged to some very George who farmed with his labourer, when digging there ancient inhabitants of this country brother Thomas at Kinnersley, about 48 years ago. The exact spot ,,,“ enumerated in 1841 Census. where they were dug up is about There can be little doubt about William Pickering, the 20 yards south-east of the culvert the find, Rev Houghton was discoverer of the hoard, is also where the Crow Brook crosses the Rector of Preston-on-the-Weald enumerated in the 1841 Census, as main road from Kinley Wick to Moors and Mr Hooper was a an Agricultural Labourer aged 25, Preston. One of the celts was farmer at Kinnersley, more than apparently living with his mother shown to me by Mr Hooper of likely the tenant Elizabeth (aged 60) in Kinnersley Kinnersley.” This is from a report, on whose land village. dated 1880, in the Ordnance the hoard was The story of the Preston Hoard Survey records. The location is found, later gets misty from here on. Charlotte marked on early maps of the moving to Eyton in her book ‘Geology of area. Hadley North Shropshire’ in 1869 writes The reference to ‘celt’ Park. The about ‘celts’ found on the Moors. perhaps needs some Census “Some bronze celts, of artistic clarification; what you and I of 1871 workmanship, were found in would describe as ‘axe heads’ are draining near Preston. They are classified by archaeologists and now in the possession of Mr given names such as palstaves, Cooper of that place.” It is more celts and axes. Here I will stick than likely that Charlotte made an with the general term of axe. error with the names Hooper and A few years earlier, in 1871, the Cooper. This is undoubtedly the Rev. W Houghton gave a talk and Preston Hoard. stated “this celt which I hold in After the registration of the my hands, and which Mr Hooper, find to the Ordnance Survey in of Hadley Park, has kindly 1880 the Hoard seems to have allowed me to show you, enables disappeared. Unfortunately these me to throw some little light. This records of OS were destroyed in interesting relic of a remote age the blitz of 1940 as they could well was, with 4 others, found about have ‘shed more light’ on these

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objects. The record quoted earlier and the Welsh Marches. She lived it was found somewhere locally was in correspondence to Lilly with her family in the on the Eyton estate.” Chitty and identified the find as area of Shropshire, and in the A comment from the being ‘registered’ by Rev 1920’s met a number of well- Discovering Shropshire’s History Houghton, Mr Hooper and J established archaeologists and web-site interprets Miss Chitty’s Anslow Esq, all men of some through them developed her observations as “It seems likely, standing in the area so there can interests in the subject especially therefore, that the axe at Eyton be no doubt of the authenticity of in recording and documenting Hall was from the Preston Hoard, the find; but where is it now? finds from the area she grew to …” There are some clues. know very well in Shropshire and Although there have been In 1952 Miss Chitty visited the Marches. She gained honours ancient finds in the region of Eyton Hall, then the home of Capt. being elected a Fellow of the Eyton there is no evidence of the A.C. Eyton and previously the Society of Antiquaries in 1939 and discovery of any other bronze axes home of Charlotte Eyton his niece, later awarded an OBE in 1956. She in the area. and sister-in-law of his late wife. A lived to the grand age of 99 dying Consider for a moment, the previous Eyton, Thomas Campbell in 1979. chronology Preston Hoard found a well known naturalist and friend about 1840; discussed by Rev of Darwin, had built onto the Hall Houghton 1871; registered with a ‘museum wing’ to house his the Ordnance Survey 1880; Miss extensive collection of specimens, Chitty studies and describes the including skeletons and fossils and Eyton axe in 1925 and the Eyton other historical artefacts collected Estate dispersed between 1950 and over the years. 1956; is it at all possible that new Amongst these artefacts Miss evidence will be revealed? Chitty found “a handsome bronze The answer must be ’not much palstave: no label was attached or chance’, unless you know associated and there was nothing differently! to suggest its source or history, but With It would appear that the axes, I had brought with me a tracing of regard or the majority of them were in the OS drawing of the Preston axe, to the the possession of the Hooper and on this it fitted almost exactly, axe at family in the 1880’s, perhaps one though differing in minor details.” Eyton became the property of the Eyton Miss Chitty on measuring the Hall, Miss family. When the Eyton estate was length found it to be the same as Chitty is dispersed much of the content of that of Mr Hooper’s axe but it not the personal ‘museum’ was appeared to be 4mm narrower. convinced transferred to the Shropshire Again “If the face of the Eyton that the axe Museum Service. One must axe were portrayed in outline she saw and assume the unlabelled axe was perspective, the general effect of studied quite one item in this transfer. Indeed the side-view would be almost closely is part of the Preston there are quite a number of bronze identical with the Preston Hoard; “One can only regret that axes in their inventory that are not drawing.” an element of uncertainty as to its labelled in any detail. Before we go any further history must remain until some Has the Preston Hoard been perhaps a short biographical note label, drawing or description can dispersed, a small part ‘hidden’ in about Miss Lilly Chitty would be be found to prove its identity the Shropshire Museum collection appropriate. She was an amateur beyond question. If it is not to be but the rest still in the possession archaeologist well known for her accepted as one of the axes ,from of the descendents of the Hooper work on prehistoric sites the Preston on the Wealdmoor family? particularly in the west of England hoard, the natural surmise is that Will we ever find an answer?

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PAINS LANE RACES AND WELLINGTON CONNECTIONS Jim Cooper

contract to build offices, goods Pain’s Lane Races, held warehouses and stables in in what became St. George’s, Shrewsbury and Newport. A were closely associated with contract to build the Smithfield at the annual Oakengates Wellington followed and in 1854 Wakes. This article looks at he moved his steam sawmills to the involvement of people Oakengates. Millington went on to erect some of the finest buildings from the parish of in the area; Oakengates Church Wellington. The races were was built in 1854, St. Georges first held in 1840, but it was Church of England Schools in 1860 not until 1842 that anyone and the first Co. Cottage was named in newspaper Hospital in Gower Street, St. adverts or reports. George’s in 1873. (That this fine building is now so dilapidated is much to the shame of Telford’s ain’s Lane Races, held at leaders.) what became St. George’s, The expansion of his business Pwere always closely must have been a significant factor associated with the annual in Millington relinquishing the Oakengates Wakes but this article duties of Clerk of the Course times in the space of two weeks to looks at the involvement of people following the 1849 meeting. His discuss the situation. In Ketley, the from the parish of Wellington. The final tour of duty should have bodies of Bessy Kelfort and her races were first held in 1840, but it been one for celebration but with mother were found in each others was not until 1842 that anyone less than two weeks to go the race arms on 20 September. That same was named in newspaper adverts committee cancelled the event. day the authorities cancelled the or reports. The country was gripped by the race meeting. Millington did not From 1842 to 1849 the Clerk of fear of cholera, prayers were made sever all involvement with the the Course was John Millington, a in the churches and medical men races; in 1854 he was one of an builder and saw mill proprietor all over the country were on alert. eleven man committee set up to from Ketley. His home, View In , where 62 deaths raise funds and commission a House, still stands today. By 1849 occurred in the seven weeks up to portrait to honour the founder of the railways were coming and in 15 September, a newly formed the races, Joseph Taylor Phillips. August that year he won the Committee of Health met seven Each year the race committee and their friends enjoyed an ordinary (a dinner) at the George © Shropshire Archives Inn when they appointed the Race Steward(s) for the following year. The Steward was little more than a figurehead, though he might be called upon to adjudicate in the event of a dispute. In 1844 one of two stewards was 31 year old Dr. George McKnight from Mossey Green. The following year it was a close neighbour of his, John Williams of Ketley Hall. Williams was a partner in the Ketley Co. and his father Henry had been the right hand man of William Reynolds who built the Ketley inclined plane. The Steward in 1848 was St. John Chiverton Charlton (above) of Apley Park, Wellington. He was the owner of over 3,900 acres in and around Wombridge, and a prestigious member of the race committee that

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Conservative, published a splendid Pains Lane Races, a miserably wet report that named twenty nine of day, the Grand Stand very full & in those who sat down to the the midst of the Races it broke down ordinary at the George Inn. without a moments notice: I escaped Among them were two notable very well but many had bruises & one © Shropshire Archives Wellington men, John Slaney and poor man that was under nearly John Barber. Both were very killed.' In 1888 John Slaney’s son capable business men. John Barber William married John Barber’s the auctioneer has been well daughter Sarah. documented by Allan Frost but Another longstanding family John Slaney is not so readily business in Wellington during the recognized, unless the name time of the Races was that of John 'Slaney’s Vaults' springs to mind. Houlston, printer, binder, year. Both of his sons were to fill Like Barber, Slaney had founded a bookseller and stationer. John the same roll. In 1851 William St. family business that outlived Houlston’s first involvement at the John Charlton (above), heir to the himself. They were friends and he races was the printing of race Apley Estate, was a young relates in his diary how in 1848, he cards (see example below) steward at just twenty years of 'Went to Manchester with Mr Jno detailing the races, the runners, age. His brother Thomas )below) Barber to settle for a lot of Railway the jockeys and their colours. A officiated in 1858 and again in Shares I have bought. Put up at the new service, that of Auctioneer 1861, though by then he had Clarence Hotel kept by Miss and Appraiser, was advertised by adopted the surname Meyrick in Laidlaws.' His diary also reveals John Houlston in 1842, and in 1864 order to inherit his mother’s that he was at the Pain’s Lane he was auctioning two horses at family estates. Races again in 1852. 'Attended the Races. Thomas Campbell Eyton had the Stewardship in 1856; he had only recently inherited Eyton Hall and had been resident for some years at the Vineyard in Wellington. He was a founder of the Wellington Waterworks and Wellington Coal & Gaslight Co. He was also a distinguished naturalist and corresponded with Charles Darwin for many years. He held a commission in the South Salopian Yeomanry Cavalry and acted on behalf of the Sheriff of Shropshire, the Earl of Powis, during the 1842 Chartist riots in the east Shropshire coalfield. Identifying those who attended the races, but who were not officials, is largely a matter of luck. They were rarely mentioned in newspaper reports unless they were involved in some incident of interest. However, in 1851 one newspaper, the Shropshire © Shropshire Archives

© Shropshire Archives

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1961 GROUPS Jason Thornfall Left: New Street Methodist Youth Club occupied a school in Paignton, Devon, for their annual holiday in 1961.

Back row: Ron George (coach driver), Jim Wylie, Rev. Colin Groom, Charlie Gale, Ken Poulter, Brian Donaldson, Ian Donaldson, -?-, Ron Poulter, -?-, - ?-, Godfrey Harrison, Neville Archer, Gerald Rochelle?, David Davies, Allan Frost, David Frost, Ray Taylor. Middle: Colin Lane, Mary Fletcher, -?-, -?-, -?-, Mary Frost, Ida Jones, Phyllis Taylor, Marion Butler, Bert Butler, -?-, Ken Jones, Les Frost. Front: -?-, Joyce Phillips, Kay Hullin, Mary Butler, Vivien Taylor, Margaret Frost, Angela Morris, Jennifer Pearce, Marion Dolby. Right: Children at the Vineyard Children's Home staged a Nativity Play, 'The Lovely Lady of Bethlehem'. Taking part were Vera Hemsworth, Ann Hutchinson, Jennifer Cleaton, Douglas Price, Mary Page, Leslie Harris, Phyllis Pugh, Edith Ralphs, Arthur Broadhurst, Michael Evans, Ronald Mullinder, Colin Mullinder, Raymond Owen, J.Lloyd, Roy Fox, Anthony Roberts, Roy Mullinder, Jean Cleaton, Sheila Bursnell, Susan Payne, Christine Davies, Jennifer Davies, Miss Parsons, Miss Page, Elizabeth Hemsworth, Tommy Glaze, Barry Pugh, Michael Power, Christopher Harris, Raymond Smith, Ronald Fox, David Smith, Ronaldf Boustred, Norman Davies and Diane Smith.

Members of Wellington Girls' High School Choir, 1961

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emerges to join the brook through THE ERCALL WOODS George Evans the Ercall/Lawrence quarries that empties into the Buckatree pool. In a few places there are and quarries there is a long history hich is the second deposits of Rhyolite, Lower of use of the rocks. There seem to highest hill in The Comley Sandstone and the be traces of the beautiful pink WWrekin forest? Most fossiliferous Shineton shale. The Granophyre that is sometimes local people would answer, ‘The particular interests of geologists, called Ercallite in the surfacing of Ercall’ and be wrong, because however, are the unconformities the Roman Watling Street and also Maddocks Hill, south of the Ercall between Cambrian and in ‟s reconstruction is actually higher, despite the huge Precambrian rocks and wave as Holyhead Road. amount of rock extracted from it, marks in the Quartzite. Both appear to have used though not so well known. This is a very complex and Granophyre chippings as a top However, the Ercall (see aerial interesting area and is frequently dressing and these were photo on page 1) certainly seems visited by students of geology, extensively used for gravel drives to be the second hill of The Wrekin confirmed by its designation as a in big houses – Apley, Orleton, range, especially when seen from Site of Special Scientific Interest Dothill and Sunnycroft, among Wellington or anywhere else to the (SSSI). Some of the vegetation is others – in Victorian times. It was north. regularly cleared so that the rock then referred to as Ercall Gravel. Most us think of Ercall woods formations can be examined. The much softer Tuff rock, a as the area between Ercall Lane One of the important early mixture of volcanic ash and lava, and Wrekin Golf Course, bounded explorers of the area was Charles is at the east end of the hill and is in the west by the Forest Glen Callaway, a Doctor of Science in cut through by the M54. road and in the south east by the Geology who investigated this and This rock was designated as too M54. other places in nineteenth Century soft to provide hardcore for the That is the area I am writing and wrote about it. motorway; though I have been about. It includes the Ercall hill He taught at Hiatt’s Ladies told it was, in fact, used for some and also the smaller Lawrence hill College and was buried in our of the roadway embankments, to the west of the Ercall. Nearly all local cemetery. Dr Calloway’s life surreptitiously. Trucks carried off this area is wooded, much of it and times have been studied by the rock excavated from the ancient coppice oak but some is Wendy Palin, Wellington History cutting, turned at a road island much more recent, the resurgent Group‟s Treasurer; I hope she will and returned to deposit it for the forest that has replaced quarrying. write about him some time for embankment. So I am told. Tuff The woods to the north of the Wellingtonia. was also sold years ago as a Ercall ridge are owned by Telford The Shropshire Wildlife Trust cheaper substitute for Granophyre. & Wrekin Borough council, and their volunteers work hard to The other main rock to be inherited from Wellington Urban preserve and protect the found in the area is Wrekin District Council and Shropshire vegetation and creatures of the Quartzite; this has been the target County Council, except for a small woods. of the huge quarries on the Ercall patch opposite Buckatree Hall To some of us the most ’ and Lawrence hills for the Hotel, which is the hotel s fascinating aspect of the whole construction of Telford New property. The rest, including area is the way Nature has fought Town’s superstructure. Lawrence Hill, was bought by the back and the natural forest has The enormous destruction of Shropshire Wildlife Trust from been recolonising the quarries, the hills, the vegetation and Lord Forester with a lot of local gradually turning the ‘moonscape’ wildlife is the price this beautiful help a few years ago. back to its natural beauty. landscape has had to pay for the There was great consternation Resurgence of Nature is a quite construction of Telford. Was it in the 1980s when Lord Forester, wonderful yet little appreciated worth it? who owned most of the wood, occurrence. Unfortunately the During operations the quarry proposed building holiday chalets term ‘scrub’ is too often ascribed workers discovered traces of gold in the quarries which were just to it, suggesting waste land. It is in the quartzite. Excitedly they beginning to recover from the really ‘baby forest’ and will examined it and wondered if it extraction of millions of tonnes of develop anywhere, especially in was in economic quantities. To rock to provide hardcore for our gardens, where it can be a ’ their intense disappointment they Telford s roads and buildings. The delight or a pain depending on found, after some calculation, that plans were greatly disapproved, our attitude to wildlife. the cost of refining the gold was especially by local dog walkers, of These woods are quite unique more than the price for it at local whom there are many. Eventually, and some of the most diverse and jewellers’ shops. after much argument and protest complex places on Earth. There are also iron deposits the council rejected them. Although used frequently by and at one point is an ‘ochre Although the woods seem to be local walkers they are spring’, where rusty red water wild apart from many pathways insufficiently appreciated.

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THE EYTONS AND THE Neil Clarke

The landed classes played a leading role in financing the building of in this country in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. A local example is that of the Eytons of Eyton Hall and Wellington, successive generations of whom were involved in the promotion, construction and management of the Shrewsbury Canal.

The Eyton Estate of disorder by industrial workers John Rocke (Vicar of Wellington), Thomas Eyton, born in 1753, on the Coalfield in times of hunger both of whom were also fellow inherited the Eyton estate on his and distress, as at Madeley Wood canal shareholders. father’s death in 1776. This in 1795 and in 1800. comprised land at Eyton upon the He appears to have exerted a Canal management Weald Moors, Wellington, patriarchal influence over local Thomas Eyton not only promoted and . affairs and was sympathetic to the and invested in local canals; he Although the family’s ancestral Anti-Slavery movement in its was also involved in their seat was at Eyton itself, Thomas’s early years. management. He chaired several father had moved with his family of the annual general assemblies c.1760. to a mansion in Wellington Canal promotion and the management committee which was apparently more Thomas was involved in setting meetings of both the Shropshire commodious than the family up banks in Shrewsbury and Canal (which was built from coal home in Eyton that had never Wellington; and, presumably mines and ironworks in the been fully restored following the because of his financial acumen Oakengates area down to the depredations of the Civil War. The and social standing, he had in 1787 at , with a new Eyton family home, later been appointed Receiver General branch to Coalbrookdale) and the described simply as ‘The of the Crown in Salop, with the Shrewsbury Canal; but he had a Mansion’, was on the then duty of forwarding to the more sustained involvement in the northern edge of the town. Exchequer taxation collected in the latter. Perhaps this is not county, such as the land tax. He surprising, since he had a far A gentleman of the county had shares in the three canals built bigger stake in this 17-mile canal - Like his father, Thomas Eyton was in Shropshire during the ‘Canal he had sold some of his land to the to play the traditional role of Mania’ – the Shropshire (1788-92), company for the construction of landed gentleman in the social and Shrewsbury (1793-97) and the canal; he was likely to get a political life of the county, and he Ellesmere (1793-1805); but better return from the greater took up a number of county posts although the first two paid a number of shares he held; and the after he succeeded his father. But steady return on investments, it canal would directly help the first, he had to marry: his wife was not until after the Ellesmere development of his Eyton estate. Mary was the daughter of John Canal was amalgamated with the Thomas was elected to the Rocke, who owned property in in 1813 that its first management committee at the first Trefnanny, Montgomeryshire and dividend was paid. All three of Annual General Assembly in July in Shrewsbury. Thomas became these companies 1793, held at the Talbot Inn in High Sheriff of Shropshire in 1779 banked with the Shrewsbury bank Wellington, and he regularly and later Deputy Lieutenant, and of Eyton, Reynolds and Bishop. attended committee meetings in 1791 he was Mayor of These three partners were fellow during the canal’s busy Shrewsbury. From 1795 to 1809 he canal shareholders; and they were construction years from 1793 to was Captain of the Wrekin joined as partners in the bank in 1797; thereafter his attendance was Company of the Yeomanry 1793 by the ironmaster John more erratic, but he rarely missed Cavalry and was called out to help Wilkinson and a little later by the annual general assemblies. The deal with the occasional outbreak Eyton’s brother-in-law, the Rev. earlier meetings of the canal

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company were held at the Talbot, make Thomas Eyton a rich man. Assembly in October 1816. So Haygate (Falcon) and Cock inns in But, with his main source of now, following the death of his Wellington and the Talbot at income affected by the agricultural father and the loss of family assets, , but after 1798 all depression that came with the Thomas Eyton junior left the meetings up to the time of Eyton’s defeat of Napoleon, Thomas’s family’s Wellington residence and death (1816) were held at the financial affairs took a turn for the returned to the ancestral land at Bucks Head, Long Lane. worse. To maintain his style of Eyton. It was left to the Hill family The Shrewsbury Canal had a living he had apparently been ‘bondsmen’ to negotiate with the number of notable features and, as embezzling funds in his role as Exchequer a reduction in the a committee member, chairing Receiver General; and it seems amount they had to pay to settle many of the crucial decision- certain that, threatened with Thomas Eyton senior’s debts – making meetings during the exposure by the Exchequer, he and this took four years. construction years, Thomas Eyton committed suicide on 22 January can at least share some of the 1816. Newspapers simply The new squire credit for the decisions to build announced his death as ‘Monday, structures such as the inclined at his seat in Wellington, after a few plane at Trench, the series of days illness, Thomas Eyton Esq.’ But eleven guillotine locks between a contemporary diary reveals that Trench and Eyton, the aqueducts he had fired a pistol down his over the rivers Tern and Roden, throat; and this was presumably and the tunnel at Berwick. The done with the intention of leaving committee had originally no external injury to the body and appointed Josiah Clowes as so attempting to avoid the scandal engineer (‘under William of suicide which might ruin his Reynolds’) but, on his death in family and cause a run on the The new squire of Eyton soon set early 1795 and with the work on banks where he was a partner. It about restoring his family’s the canal incomplete, Thomas also seems likely that he took his fortunes. Within a few years he Telford was engaged to finish the own life because he could not face had established a new mansion job of construction. Thomas Eyton members of the Hill family of and in 1825 commissioned a has been credited with the idea of Hawkstone and Attingham who survey of his estate that would suggesting the use of iron for the had stood security for him in his reaffirm his landed rights. completion of the aqueduct over financial undertakings and who Following in his father’s footsteps, the Tern; but it seems more likely now, following his exposure, faced he had been a shareholder and that Telford and the most a massive demand from the committee member of the experienced of the committee Exchequer. Shrewsbury Canal since 1810. He members, William Reynolds, who was absent from meetings were aware of the developments Financial consequences immediately after his father’s that were taking place in the use However, immediately after his disgrace, but was back on the of iron at the time, convinced death, all but Thomas Eyton’s committee by October 1817. Eyton of the practicability of the settled estates was seized by the Thomas Eyton supported a material for the Longdon Crown and, following an plan first mooted in the mid-1820s aqueduct. It then appears that injunction on 6 and 7 February at for a canal from Norbury, through both Telford and Reynolds were the Falcon Inn in Wellington, this Newport, which would link with involved in the design of the was sold to recover his debts. His the Shrewsbury Canal at structure, the cast-iron parts for canal shares were sold as part of Wappenshall and provide the which were made at the latter’s this process. On hearing that the county town and the East Ketley ironworks. Eyton & Rocke bank in Shropshire Coalfield with an Shrewsbury was having to outlet to the national canal suspend business, the committee network. This was to be a branch of the Shropshire Canal switched of the Birmingham & Liverpool their account to the Wellington Junction Canal, authorised by bank of Reynolds, Charlton and Parliament in 1826, with Telford as Shakeshaft; but the committee of engineer. Eyton was present at the the Shrewsbury Canal did not take committee meeting of 9 October such drastic action. where the plans were given the When the bank reopened, with final stamp of approval: three new partners joining Thomas For Shrewsbury to benefit fully Eyton junior and Rev. John Rocke, from the link, the Shrewsbury Fall from grace the committee made the latter Canal, built as a tub-boat canal, Rents from his estate and profits treasurer of the Shrewsbury Canal, would have to be improved from from his investments, including and this appointment was Wappenshall to the county town, those in canals, had helped to confirmed at the canal’s General to enable the larger main-line

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boats to use it. Eyton was in A third generation the chair at some of the meetings At this time a third generation in the early 1830s when the member of the family became required improvements to the involved with the Shrewsbury Wappenshall-Shrewsbury section Canal. Thomas Campbell Eyton, of the Shrewsbury Canal were born in 1809, was the son of discussed. It was agreed that eight Thomas Eyton and nephew of bridges would need to be rebuilt Charles Montgomery Campbell (a and the two locks at Eyton upon partner in the Salop Old Bank and the Weald Moors widened. treasurer of the Shrewsbury Canal from October 1824). A friend of Charles Darwin, he was himself to become a distinguished naturalist, and when he inherited the Eyton estate on the death of his father in 1855 he established at Eyton Hall a museum to house what was widely regarded as one of the finest private natural history collections in the country. Company (which had absorbed Thomas Campbell Eyton joined the Birmingham & Liverpool Work was completed by the the committee of the Shrewsbury Junction Canal two months end of 1834, and early the Canal in 1836, and like his father earlier) to discuss amalgamation following year the main line of the and grandfather he played an and railway conversion. The Birmingham & Liverpool Junction active part in the management of Shropshire Union Railways and Canal and its Newport Branch the canal. In its last decade as an Canal Company was formed the were opened. An immediate independent company, he following year, with the improvement in the prospects of occasionally chaired meetings; and Shrewsbury Canal as a constituent the Shrewsbury Canal and its in July 1845, he was one of three member. shareholders was acknowledged at committee members deputed to [Thomas Campbell Eyton’s the annual General Assembly in attend meetings with the interest in railways will be examined October 1835. Ellesmere & in a subsequent article.]

GAS WORKS Allan Frost (see notice below), apparently 'between the top of Tanbank and by blacksmith William Edwards. the Wrekin road' ... possibly in Rising gas prices are At that time, the firm supplied Foundry Road. Thomas Campbell very much in the news lighting around the town centre Eyton (see photo above) was one these days. Wellington and the acceptance of gas as a of the driving forces behind the used to produce its own means of providing light received venture, named Wellington Coal and Gas -light Company. gas supplies, as these a boost in 1841 when St. John Charlton of Apley Castle paid for Some time before 1868, the notes reveal. gas to be used to illuminate All business seems to have relocated Saints parish church. to the Great Western Goods Yard ne of the earliest references Demand must have grown over in the west of the town, thus for gas production in the next few years because, in enabling coal (from which town OWellington dates back to 1851, a new gas works was built gas, as opposed to today's natural February 1852 with an gas, was extracted) to be advertisement for 'Coal for sale' at transported easily to the works. the Gas Works on Mill Bank. By 1882, gas was stored in two Sadly, I've been unable to find out holders (see plan below); a third more about this concern. It's possible that the advert should have stated 'Tan' and not 'Mill' Bank; we may never know. At Gas Works was already in existence on Tan Bank since the late 1820s. With premises roughly where the entrance to the car park opposite Landau Court now lies, gas was produced and distributed

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was added by 1902, and a final The gas office (later 'Showroom under Gas Board . fourth by the 1920s, and indication and 'Gas Service Centre') opened The full extent of the Gas Works of rising demand. At least one of in Market Street (below). The can be seen in the above 1951 the holders (seen below, as seen in premises were previously used by photograph. a company brochure) was Wrekin Brewery and Ensor's In 1968, after Natural Gas constructed by C&W Walker of Mineral Water Works. replaced Town Gas, parts of the Donnington. Private gas companies were Wellington Gas Works were Gas was not only used as a nationalised in 1949 and controlled demolished although gas holders source of lighting streets and by gas 'boards': Wellington came remained for several years longer. public buildings, it eventually replaced oil lamps and candles in many homes. As the extent of underground pipework grew, so did the range of equipment which could use gas as a source for power and heating. The advertisement in Hobson's Directory for 1905 (bottom right) emphasised the benefits of gas in the home ... how could any diligent husband refuse to provide 'Labour Saving Devices' for his wife or domestic servant?

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YOU ASK, WE ANSWER

We get questions concerning our area’s history from all over the world. Here is some of the information we have been given which we hope will be of interest. If you have any questions, please send them to our secretary and we’ll do our best.

s there a pauper burial area in Wellington town cemetery? I someone think Cart Road needed Which is the oldest pub still in Strictly, no. As far as we've been to be renamed? Do you know? business in Wellington? able to ascertain, paupers tended If we include pubs currently up (i.e. if no relatives were able to pay On page 11 of Wellingtonia 10, for sale, could it be the White Lion for a separate grave plot) to be Park Junior school is mentioned as in Crown Street? Or the Dun Cow interred in unmarked graves in the now being called Wrekin View in Duke Street (after all, the lane in cemetery alongside one of the Primary school. which it lies was once named after boundary hedges to the Why did the name change? it)? Or the Raven (now called workhouse which eventually Periodically, local authorities need Rasputins) in Walker Street? Or became Wrekin Hospital. This to assess their education provision the Beacon in Market Square, workhouse on Holyhead Road attempting to match provision originally called the Bradford was opened in 1875 and replaced with expected numbers and Arms and subsequently Slaney's the original workhouse in Walker managing their school buildings Vaults)? Street. with regard to the efficient Perhaps it's the Cock Hotel on Records of all deaths, whether provision of schools. Holyhead Road, the Swan Hotel in pauper or ‘ordinary’, are held by Around 2001/2 there were serious Watling Street, the Plough in the Registry Office in Wellington. questions raised about the Plough Road or the former Red In some cases (but not necessarily structure of the buildings of Lion (ex-Wellington Arms and those who died as workhouse Orleton Lane Infants school, now Stellings Sports Lounge) on inmates), records may also serious enough to suggest that Whitchurch Road. indicate approximate or precise there may be the need for a According to trade directories, burial plots. However, bear in complete rebuild. all seem to have been in existence mind that not all plots benefit Wrekin & Telford Education in the 1820s. However, at least one from the provision of a headstone. Authority decided to amalgamate has been entirely rebuilt (the Orleton Lane Infants and Park Swan), so perhaps it should be Where was Cart Road? Junior schools in extended ruled out. It was the name previously given buildings on the North Road site – Some appear older than others, to Bank Road which links Mill the new school would be a but looks can deceive. For Bank to Regent Street; see the map Primary School providing for example, the original White Lion above. A shop, a grocer’s run by children from Early Years occupied a mere third of its Mrs. N. Walters in the 1930s, still (incorporating the Nursery unit present building (the bit on the left exists. established at Orleton Lane) to 11 when viewed from Crown Street) In 1937, the road boasted a years old. until it expanded into premises on Billiards Hall run by T. Jordan After due consideration, the its right during the early 1900s. which closed sometime between Education Authority accepted a The short answer is, sadly, we then and 1950, leaving only the suggestion to adopt 'Wrekin View simply don't know. Until the first Billiards Hall in Tan Bank for Primary' as the name for the quarter of the nineteenth century, devotees of the game. amalgamated school, which property deeds and other official It was during this period that opened its doors to pupils in records were not as precise as we the road was renamed Bank Road, September 2004 with a new Head have come to expect. So, unless for reasons we have not been able teacher Mrs Kathy Hobbs and a you have proof, it could be any to ascertain; presumably at has to staff which included some from one of these. do with Mill Bank, but why did both of the original schools. Or somewhere else ...

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LOOKING AT THE LUNNS Wendy Palin

The IGI came up trumps for Family history Ellen Lunn and gave me a research requires care and marriage on 25th November 1819 attention to detail. Here, of an Ellen TURNER to Vincent Wendy continues her Lunn at St Michael’s in Stone. (Sister Ann was also a Turner, experiences following on been put in contact with us by the having married George Prichard very kind and obviously efficient from the article included in 1834.) The pieces were coming record keepers at All Saints. in Wellingtonia Issue 8 together. As she spoke I hastily scribbled (which can be viewed on Searching a little closer to home notes. Ann and Ellen had an older the Pigot’s Trade Directory (these our website). sister, Mary, who had married Mr were the Yellow Pages of the day) George Bennett. Their only of 1828-9 listed Lunn & Moore as daughter, Ellen, who was baptised Grocers, Tea Dealers, Druggists, at St John’s, Burslem, Staffordshire Ironmongers & tallow chandlers, had, by 1841, ended up an orphan, located in the Market Place, and was taken in by her aunts Wellington. By 1835 Vincent was from Mill Bank. listed as gentry, living on Mill This young girl had married Bank while Samuel Moore was John Barber, a near neighbour, in running the business alone. Then 1847. The details poured out and Vincent disappeared off the radar more and more new names were completely. revealed. However, I still had no My mother had contact with had felt a warm glow of clear picture of where Ellen Lunn the lady who keeps the records at satisfaction when I had found fitted in exactly. Then my caller All Saints parish church; with her Ellen Lunn and her sister Ann said it: 'All the details are laid out I help it became clear that Vincent Prichard living in two of the above clearly in the Wills.' had died in 1836. We were also houses on Mill Bank. I was flabbergasted. So far, in provided with all the death dates Census details and book my family research, I had found for the Turner family that were dedications (see Ann's signature plenty to do without looking for buried in their vault in the below as written in 1856) had led Wills, and in all honesty I would churchyard. me to believe that the sisters were not have expected to find any. The Reviewing all my information, my Great Grandfather, Henry four Wills, when they arrived from I felt a little uncomfortable about Lunn Turner’s aunts, and that New Zealand, did indeed solve the birth date of the eldest Turner Ellen had been the cause of his the mystery. sister, Ann, as this was around unusual middle name, but I The key details were held in 1792 and that would have meant needed more concrete proof. the Will and two codicils of Ellen the mother was bearing Richard My G-G-Grandfather, Thomas Lunn that covered nine pages. The (surely her last child) thirty years Turner (b.1811) and his brother secret is revealed in the short, later in 1822. Not impossible but, Richard (b.1822) listed their simple phrase: 'The children of my with no time to spare to solve this birthplace as Stone, Staffordshire said late nephew Thomas Turner.' enigma, it would just have to wait. just like Ellen and Ann. I began to So Ellen Lunn was Great-aunt In the end, the answer came to look at the records from Stone, but to my Great Grandfather, one me in an unexpected way. Turner is a very common name generation further back than I had The phone rang and I found and it is difficult to be sure that placed her. She was not the sister myself speaking to a lady from you are following the correct line. to my G.G. Grandfather Thomas New Zealand who had been Eventually I found Richard listed Turner but to his father James. researching my Turners and had on the International Genealogical Index (IGI) with father James and mother Elizabeth Shipley, but it took a trip to Stafford Archives to pin Thomas to the same parents.

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that received the most attention 50 YEARS AGO: 1961Joy Rebello and Shelagh Nabb from hooligans are at Ercall Lane and Orleton Alley. £40 worth of damage had been January done to play equipment at the O D The Ratepayers’ Association have Murphy playing fields in the last 3 been successful in getting a special weeks. New public conveniences cheap day return railway ticket at Walker Street have had fittings from Wellington to – a ripped out by hooligans. reduction from 9s to 7s. June February Constitution Hill Infants’ School, Wellington Rural Parish Council April where over the last 100 years, decided to increase the salary of Wave of Hooliganism hits thousands of Wellington children their Clerk, Mr A. .E Phillips, from Wellington – children’s merry-go- have been educated will officially £72 to £100 a year. round vandalized, and later close at the end of July. The 48 * removed by Parks Committee as it children will then be transferred to Wrekin’s Hospital £60,000 scheme. couldn’t afford to foot the bill for Orleton Lane School or the new A new outpatients block is being repairs. school at Dothill. built at the Wrekin Hospital For the time being however Wellington at an estimated cost of An outbreak of hooliganism in £60,000 and is expected to be Wellington in recent weeks came and while their new school at completed by the end of June. to a head this weekend with North Road is completed, Roman The new building will consist wanton destruction believed to be Catholic children who have been of 3 main sections – orthopaedic on a scale never before receiving their education at the and physiotherapy, X-ray and experienced in the town, and left adjoining youth centre will consultative departments ... It will in its wake shattered shop transfer to Constitution Hill. completely absorb the clinics at windows and street lamps. Records of Constitution Hill date present on Haygate Road. This vandalism has led one back 100 years and it was in 1876 * shop keeper to ask the local Urban that the National School, as it was Members of the Wellington Council for shutters to protect his known then, was transferred to Electrical Association for Women shop front. Wellington police the School Board. have been learning how to mend issued an appeal this week for * that fuse, and how to do various members of the public to notify Cllr John Lovatt heard the word repair jobs to electrical equipment. them without delay if they see ‘Go’ from the new Chairman of They are receiving tuition in hoodlums causing damage. the Wellington Urban District washing machine and vacuum Most of the damage was Council, Mr George Evans – and cleaner maintenance so that the committed on Saturday night. A the spacious paddling pool at the man of the house will have a little plate glass window at the Bowring Recreation ground was competition and perhaps a few Maypole shop premises in New opened. more moments of free time! Street was smashed, in High Street As it was a cold and damp * a brick was thrown through the afternoon, children removed shoes Work is to start on extensions to window of the site offices of and socks for the opening Wellington’s public library ... it McAlpine Limited who are ceremony and after splashing to will be extended onto the site of engaged in building new blocks of the other side of the pool they cottages cleared some months ago flats and it destroyed a model of were each rewarded with an ice and a new feature will be a gallery the flat. lolly – including Cllr Lovatt! structure which will shelve the Mr John Twinney’s cobbler’s reference and technical sections. premises at 97 High street were July When extensions are completed smashed. Mr Twinney, who has Pedestrians only in Wellington’s the children’s library which was carried on his business for the last main shopping area. Talks of a opened at a site 50 yds along the 38 years, will be moving into a scheme to relieve Wellington’s street from the adult section 2 new shop shortly as his present traffic congestion and gradually years ago will operate from the premises are required for re- convert the main shopping area of present ground floor at the library. development. the town to a pedestrianised A cigarette machine outside a shopping precinct are going on March newsagents’ shop in Mill Bank between Salop County Council’s Over the last few years more and was badly damaged and 6 gates Planning Committee and more Shropshire traders have outside houses in Dawley Road Wellington’s Urban District opened their shops on Good were taken off their hinges and Council. Friday, an increasing tendency thrown into gardens. In recent The Committee says that the which local clergymen this week weeks as many as 24 street lamps preparation of a scheme to relieve described as 'very regrettable'. have been smashed and the ones traffic congestion and set the

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future pattern of development in lick or two of paint would make a the central area of Wellington is great difference all around. It was now being discussed with the hardly surprising then that the UDC. shopkeepers voted unanimously The scheme provides for the for the improvement scheme to go gradual conversion of the main ahead. shopping area of the town to a pedestrian shopping precinct. November To achieve this it would be New Methodist Church for necessary to provide a relief road Wellington? The two Methodist churches in Wellington – New around the central area with the Kop. In the midst of the fighting Street and Tan Bank – are likely to object of removing non-essential he was standing a few feet from be sold and a new church to serve traffic from the centre and to his Colonel Riddell who was both congregations will probably provide interconnected car park fatally hit by a bullet. be built on a site that has yet to be areas and for the rear-servicing of Above: dead British soldiers defined. New Street Church was business premises at the centre. after the Battle of Spion Kop, near built in 1882 and about 12 years This is subject to confirmation by Ladysmith, Natal. the County Council. [What a shame ago several thousand pounds were no-one anticipated the devastating October spent on a modernisation scheme effect the ring road would have on Town Planning Adviser to Civic and it has a membership of 174. businesses outside the town centre, Trust - Mr Tim Rock spoke to Tan Bank, only about 50 years old, like those along High Street. – Ed.] Wellington traders on street has 126 members. improvements. Mr Rock, an It is not likely a church will be August authority on the external painting built for several years, even if all Spion Kop veteran – 91 next of premises, said “We are going hopes of the amalgamation are week. Probably only man still through an awful khaki stage at borne out. living who took part in the battle the moment”. At a Methodist Conference held of Pieters Hill (February 1900) He had some pithy things to in Manchester 5 years ago a during the South Africa War, say about some Wellington directive was issued in which it George Poyser of 17 Herbert premises. He described one was stated that consideration Avenue – veteran of the Boer War building as “an example of should be given to amalgamation who still potters about in his Victorian folly”, another as “an when there were two or more garden – had some interesting amusing building in the Gothic churches in a particular area, and reminiscences, including leading a style” and generally left the the Wellington circuit is obviously section of men to the top of Spion traders in no doubt at all that a falling in line with this directive.

Above left: Trophy winners at the Wellington Smithfield Fat Stock Show, the first to be held by Messrs. Barber & Son following foot and mouth restrictions. Farmer W. Lawton's 18-months-old bullock won the cha,pionship and subsequently sold for £141.

Above right: Wrekin Ladies’ Circle held a Cowboys and Indians birthday party at the Forest Glen Pavilion. The event was advertised as a Wild West Night.

Right: 52-years-old Fred Abel and his 'one man circus' passed by Wellington. The Journal reported: ... passing through Wellington on Monday was a rather different type of circus, consisting of one man, two donkeys and a variety of dogs and rats. The only music came from bells on the donkeys' ears.

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DOTHILL – THE DAY I BOUGHT AN ESTATE! George Evans

ne day in 1961, while I was Groom (the great timber merchant, for building than it had been when chairman of Wellington remembered in Grooms Alley). we bought it as ‘agricultural’ land. OUrban District Council, I Later ownership passed to HF This is the secret of the financing had a message from Reuben Hodgson mentioned above. He of Telford – buying agricultural Rushen, the Town Clerk, that he sold 197 acres and the house to land and selling it as building land wanted to see me in his office as Wellington UDC in 1956, by which brings in a huge profit. soon as possible. He had before time I remember him living at Many new street names were him the many sheets of paper that Hadley Park House. He later built needed and the UDC was looking made up the conveyance a house in Lilleshall, called ‘Hi’. for a whole lot of suitable names. document, transferring the During the Last World War As chairman of the planning ownership of the whole Dothill Dothill, like Admaston, was committee I was asked to make estate to the council. This was the defended against all enemies by out a list and sat down with the final part of the takeover of the the Home Guard and I well Ordnance Survey maps of land and needed the chairman’s remember roaming over the fields Shropshire, noting suitable river signature and the council’s seal to and round the pools on duty or and stream names, followed by complete the legal procedure. exercises. Don’t laugh too loudly village names. So if residents of Reuben explained the whole at my Dad’s little army – at least the Dothill area don’t like their process and witnessed my they kept all the Nazi hordes from addresses, they should blame me. signature on a document invading Wellington throughout The north part of Dothill could involving far more money than I the War without hurting anyone. not be developed until the Sewage had ever dreamed of. Then he In those days a man we called Works had been moved, as there heated sealing wax, dropped a ‘Jock’ (I never knew his proper would not have been sufficient blob on the paper and set up the name) farmed the land. ‘fall’ for the sewers to operate. small press that applied the official By the time I signed the This happened much later and the UDC seal. The council had conveyance, the UDC had many names there are not attributable to negotiated this sale several years plans for Dothill and so had me. Severn Drive was intended to before and had actually owned the Shropshire County Council, be much longer but someone land since 1956; all we were doing including Park Junior School, St. decided it had to be cut in two; was putting the finishing touches Patrick’s Primary School, Dothill otherwise it would have been to an arrangement that had been Infants and Junior Schools and the much easier to get to Shawbirch long agreed. Girls’ Secondary Modern School. from Wellington town centre than The vendor was Harry Also we had built the houses on it is now. That, I think, was a Hodgson, a Canadian, who was North Road and what was then mistake, causing some Shawbirch Managing Director of Joseph Hawkstone Court (seen being people to consider themselves not Sankey & Sons of Hadley Castle built, below) and Haughmond part of Wellington town. Works. He sold it to the council as Court, the tall blocks of flats. During my lifetime Dothill, ‘agricultural land’, at a much Part of the land was sold to the previously the residence and lower price than if there had there Shrewsbury firm of Fletcher estate of the Lords Forester, has been planning permission for the Estates, which began planning and changed from a large farming area housing and development we building many houses and the to what seems a comfortable, were intending. Not only the local shops. The money from reasonably well planned part of treasurer, Ollie Leighton, but also Fletchers paid for the rest of the Wellington. House prices reflect the two councillors who were land, as it was so very much more the view that it is a pleasant place chartered accountants, Sidney valuable with planning permission to live. Parker and Graham Murphy, assured us that this was an excellent deal and I’m sure they were right. Dothill was one of Wellington’s ‘berewicks’ at Domesday, nearly 1,000 years ago. Giles of Erdington, lord of Wellington, (who obtained the market charter in 1244) leased it to John de Praéres for the service of one sixth of a knight’s service. Lord Forester owned it for some time, until by 1922 it was owned by Ernest

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DRINKING IN HISTORY Allan Frost

More recently, after J.D. It's encouraging Wetherspoon realised authoress when local businesses take Hesba Stretton's name was utterly an interest in our history. inappropriate for a pub (although, You may not be an avid sadly, one or two town councillors frequenter of public couldn't see a problem with it), they decided to call their new houses, but here are two hostelry in New Street 'The well worth a visit. William Withering' (right and below). Their design consultants Art It shows William Withering. 'Not For Industry approached me to particularly special', I hear you provide a series of information say. Well, keep a close eye on it and images (some probably never while taking refreshment and all seen before by the general public) will be revealed. Watch it long relating to the history of the town enough, and you'll see even more. and The Wrekin Hill. I have to say, History has its humorous they've done a remarkable job in moments! decorating the walls with a I have to admit, it's good to wonderful display. think someone out there is Having completed this work, I interested in discovering more s a fair few people know, I was surprised when another firm about our town and seeks to have a rather large (1 Media Ltd of Kirkby Lonsdale) promote its past in a meaningful Acollection of images asked me for a series of Before, way. OK, despite being warned, relating to the history of our area. After, In Between and other Wetherspoon designers made the It's taken several decades to reach unusual scenes based roughly on mistake of saying William its present size, thanks mainly to those in Wellington Through Time Withering was born in Market so many people who have lent me and Telford Through Time. Square on one of their plaques, but treasured paper memorabilia for I strongly advise you to pay a the rest of the information seems me to copy. visit to the upstairs toilet. Take a fine and very well presented. These images have enabled me few minutes to look at the picture Both the Wrekin Inn and The to piece together countless aspects frame above the stairway. I won't William Withering are well worth of Wellington's past. Importantly, say why, but several people a visit. Have a coffee or something they also provide visual interest to seemed to spend an awfully long stronger and take your time to what could, without care, turn time sitting on the stairs, avidly examine the wonderful array of history into a topic drier than a watching it. illustrations and historical waterless wadi in the Sahara There's an identical picture information. Desert. Pictures are essential in frame on the right hand wall when I'm sure you'll be impressed, attracting attention. entering the pub from New Street. and leave a little wiser. However, pictures often need explanation, which is where it can be a challenge to ascertain the 'proper' story behind them. In an ideal world, a picture should be accompanied by, at the very minimum, a caption which contains accurate information. I was very pleased when the prospective tenant of the Wrekin Inn (above) in Wrekin Road asked for about twenty illustrations- with-captions to adorn the walls of the bar when the pub reopened. I was given free rein to choose the pictures, so I concentrated on a few old maps, The Wrekin Hill, the Wrekin Brewery and the pub itself as, given the pub's name, they seemed appropriate.

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PHOTO RECALL

ere's another selection of photographs to stimulate Hthe little grey cells (or, if you prefer, your memory). They show (clockwise from top right):

New school at Dothill, near Dothill Pool, 1961/62.

The Cock Hotel junction, 1962.

Fletcher Estates office and building work, 1961, on part of the Brooklands Estate.

Looking over the churchyard towards The Green, with the impressive Barclays Bank building at the junction of Church Street and Queen Street, 1961. The bank building was demolished later that year and replaced with a concrete and glass utilitarian edifice.

The Plough Inn, on the corner of Plough Road and King Street, 1961.

HELP! As always, we should appreciate it if you would get in touch with our secretary (contact details on page 3) if you have any old photos, event programmes or any other paper memorabilia to do with Wellington's past so that we can take copies.

20 Wellingtonia: Issue 11: Second Half 2011