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What’s making the headlines in Sedgley

Sedgley historian looks to unearth history of The Limes

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A drawing by Ron Baker, of The Limes as it might have looked in its Victorian heyday.

A Sedgley historian is appealing to local residents to get in touch with any information relating to landmark property, The Limes, which was the former residence of famous Black Country chainmaker, Eliza Tinsley.

The early Victorian house, located on the corner of Dudley Road and Catholic Lane, is currently being turned into flats after standing empty for many years. And, to help future generations and prospective buyers learn more about this iconic building’s history,  Dudley Council  has asked Martin Jones to help gather information and photos from local people to produce an interpretation panel explaining its history.

Piecing together the history of The Limes

Martin, who organised the popular exhibition ‘Sedgley’s Diamond 60’ last year to coincide with the Queen’s Jubilee, says:  “We want local residents who may have lived or worked at The Limes since the war to come forward so we can piece together this historic building’s recent story.”

The Limes was built by the Tinsleys in around 1851, shortly before Thomas Tinsley died, probably from cholera. His wife Eliza carried on the family business, expanding it dramatically to the point where she employed over 4,000 outworkers in Cradley Heath in 1871.

Researchers have traced subsequent owners up to World War II, but its more recent past is sketchy. During the war it was used by firewatchers, Air Raid Patrol and the Auxiliary Fire Service, and during the 1960s by Sedgley Urban District Council as offices, until the abolition of the authority. After that a computer company rented it before it was vacated and became derelict.

Martin can be contacted on 07947 068023 or mmjones29@blueyonder.co.uk

Swap Cupid for historic crime this Valentine’s Day

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Sedgley residents fed up with Valentine’s Day can follow their passion for historic crimes instead next week, when well-known Wednesbury historian, Ian Bott, presents an illustrated talk on Black Country murders.

The event, on Thursday, 14th February, forms the next meeting of Sedgley Local History Society and promises to take visitors back to the early 20th century with a rich catalogue of gruesome crimes – some of which still remain unsolved.

Ian, an accomplished author who has complied his ghoulish findings into a book, Dark Secrets From Murder Casebook, says:  “From bustling high streets to quiet, leafy parks – it is never easy to know where some of the Black Country’s most gruesome murders have taken place.”

“We are often blissfully unaware of the darker secrets that are hidden in the past of housing estates, town centres and parks.”

Historic Crimes in Sedgley

The historic village of  Sedgley has been home to many curious incidents, including the suicide of a bankrupt steelmaster in Turl’s Hill House before the 1930s.

During World War II, the allegedly haunted building was used to house Belgian refugees, earning it the nicknames of ‘The Belgian Yard’ or ‘The Belgians’ before being demolished in the late 1960s.

The next meeting of the Society takes place on Thursday 14th February at 7:30 pm in St. Andrew’s Church, Bilston Street, Sedgley.

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

Spring into action at Sedgley Community Centre

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As Sedgley residents wave goodbye to winter and look forward to warmer, sunnier weather in 2013, there’s a packed programme of events lined up at the community centre to keep everyone entertained.

Many more events will be added as the year progresses – this is intended as an overview of confirmed events so far.

  • 16th February 2013 Coffee Morning followed by Fish and Chip Lunch
  •  20th April 2013 Coffee Morning
  •  18th May 2013 Spring Fair and Ploughman’s Lunch
  •  15th June 2013  Coffee Morning
  •  29th June 2013 Afternoon – Strawberry Fair
  •  20th July 2013 Coffee Morning
  •  17th August 2013 Annual Flower Show
  • 21st September 2013 Harvest Coffee and Ploughman’s Lunch
  • 19th October 2013 Coffee Morning
  • 16th November 2013 Victorian Christmas Fayre – Pork Sandwich Lunch
  • 7th December 2013 Afternoon – Christmas Concert

Sedgley Community Centre is situated in Ladies Walk, Sedgley. Call 01902 678490 for more information on any of the above events.

Ann’s Finest Foods helps spice up shopping in Sedgley

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The shelves at Ann’s are stocked with authentic ingredients

While some larger town centres are struggling to offer shoppers a wide range of choice, one new food store in Sedgley is defying the odds and helping keep the village a bustling retail centre.

Mee’s Thai at the Bull’s Head in Bilston Street is already one of Sedgley’s most popular restaurants, so when owner, Ann, decided to open up a store selling fresh Thai produce, she knew there’d be a healthy demand among locals and visitors from across the West Midlands.

She explains: “Before our shop was launched, it was quite difficult to obtain a decent selection of necessary Thai ingredients in most of the West Midlands. Even in Birmingham, with a diverse Asian population, most of the Asian supermarkets offer products at relatively high prices with dates of manufacture going back 1-2, even 3 years.

“Since opening Ann’s Finest Foods, we’ve been serving not only the local community who have developed a taste for Thai cuisine, but also immigrant Asian customers who are pleased to know they can order a large selection of fresh, quality products at prices lower than the larger stores can offer.”

Authentic Thai ingredients instore or online

Anyone who loves the fresh tastes and aromas of authentic Thai cuisine will be impressed at the range of authentic produce stocked in Ann’s shop. Exotic fresh ingredients such as Thai mushrooms, lychees, galangal, lemongrass and Thai coriander line the shelves, while there is a huge range of oils, sauces, noodles, rice and frozen delicacies to choose from.

Because she’s committed to only selling authentic Thai ingredients, Ann doesn’t stock any of the brands that might be found on the shelves of a supermarket. She explains: “There are a few companies that offer pre-made, relatively expensive, packaged ‘Thai’ soups and sauces with adjusted flavors that aren’t genuine. We try to avoid selling these as a matter of principle. Everything found in our store is something you’d find in a kitchen in Thailand.”

Ann’s Finest Foods is open all week and is located at 20, High Street. Alternatively, visit the website here, which has lots of useful information and recipes for anyone who loves real Thai food.

 

 

 

Sam takes the plunge for Alzheimer’s Society

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Sticking to your New Year resolutions? One Black Country boy certainly is!

Sam Britton, a 23 year old marketing executive from Dudley, has taken it upon himself to raise at least £100 for the Alzheimer’s Society by swimming 100 lengths without a break – the equivalent of 2.5 kilometres or nearly two miles, which will take him an hour to complete.

The challenge will take place at 12 noon on 2nd March, Wombourne Leisure Centre, Ounsdale Road.

Sam said: “It’s not going to be easy, at the moment I can only manage 10-15 lengths before I need a break. Plus after a festive season full of turkey, mince pies and the occasional pint I now have to stick to a strict diet and several hours’ training in the pool every week.

“Four years ago my family and I were directly affected by Alzheimer’s when I lost my nan to the disease. The Alzheimer’s Society helps the individual suffering with the disease and their family through what is a very difficult time.”

So, when you’re heading home after a tough day at the office to put your feet up, please spare a thought for Sam who will be heading to the pool for another training session.

If you would like to support Sam’s efforts and help him reach his £100 target, visit http://bit.ly/SuIi73 and pledge whatever you can. To keep up to date with his progress follow @sam_britto on Twitter.

More than 135,000 new cases of dementia occur in England and Wales alone every year – that’s one every 3.2 minutes.

The Alzheimer’s Society is a membership organisation that works to improve the quality of life of those affected by dementia in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

For more information on Sam’s efforts please contact him at sam_brit@hotmail.co.uk

Halloween Hocus Pocus at Dudley Zoo

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Halloween fun – here’s 10-year-old Rhiannon Westwood and Kevin Adams, from Sedgley, entering into the Halloween spirit.

FANG-TASTIC! That was the verdict from witches, ghosties and ghoul friends who joined the Hocus Pocus family fun at Dudley Zoological Gardens last night.

Creepy Crawly Crafts and monster face painting took place in the Discovery Centre and Queen Mary Suite where there was also some very scary dancing!

Here’s 10-year-old Rhiannon Westwood and Kevin Adams, from Sedgley, entering into the Hallowe’en spirit.

There’s always something interesting going on at Dudley Zoo. Check out the daily updates in Latest ZooNooz at  www.dudleyzoo.org.uk

Last chance for Dudley Zoo free panto tickets

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Hurry, hurry, it’s your last chance to grab free panto tickets!

Dudley Zoological Gardens is sponsoring the dress rehearsal of Jack and The Beanstalk at The Grand Theatre in Wolverhampton and has got more than a thousand tickets to give away for the December 7 panto date.

The family favourite will feature Loose Women presenter Sherrie Hewson, veteran entertainer Keith Harris, plus the lovable Orville, with Nigel Ellacott joining the line-up as the distinctive dame.

DZG CEO Peter Suddock, said: “We are delighted to be teaming up with a premier theatre that’s on our doorstep and hope everyone will enjoy Jack and The Beanstalk at The Grand – particularly those who join us at the dress rehearsal – and then book into Santa’s Jack and The Beanstalk-themed grotto at DZG.”
Dudley Zoo is also looking for charities and local organisations who would like to join them at the dress rehearsal on Friday, December 7 at The Grand, in Wolverhampton, starting at 7pm.

If you think YOU or someone you know is eligible please get in touch and tell them why.

Contact julia.marketing@dudleyzoo.org.uk or call  01384 215313 – there are more than a thousand tickets to give away!!

 

Sedgley Woman Uncovers Memories of Dudley Zoo

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Trainee keeper Alex Randle with the book about Dudley Zoo’s animal collection in the 1950s.

An old book discovered in the attic as she prepared to move house brought back fond memories of Dudley Zoological Gardens (DZG) for Mrs Lynette Collins of Sedgley recently.

Among the yellowing pages of 1960’s hardback The Zoo Keeper, by D H S Risdon, Lynette found a photograph of her late father-in-law, Ernie Collins, who headed up DZG’s Cats’ Section during the 1950s and early 60s.

 Lynette said: “The book is all about Dudley Zoo’s collection and reading it brought the memories flooding back and I remembered lots of stories Ernie used to tell about the zoo animals and staff.
“The photograph shows him cleaning out a leopard’s cage and the text explains the basic principles of zoo keeping, highlighting hard physical work and common sense as key to the job!”
She added: “I have donated the book to DZG archives as I’m sure they will find it most interesting.”

Insight into Dudley Zoo’s History

DZG Head of Media and Communications, Jill Hitchman, said: “The book offers a fascinating insight into DZG’s collection in the 1950s and early 60s and was written by Donald Risdon who was the zoo’s General Manager at that time.

 “It concludes with A Day in the Life of a Keeper, which is almost identical to today’s procedures and explains the importance of routine and commitment.
“One area that has changed is uniform – back in the 1950s staff used to wear a formal jacket and peaked cap, but modern-day zoo keepers wear more comfortable, casual, less restrictive clothes.”
She added: “The book has now been added to our new archives department and has already been passed around several members of staff who have found it very interesting reading.”

 

Reap the Rewards of Autumn at Sedgley Community Centre

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With summer nearly over, Sedgley Community Centre has a packed programme of events this autumn guaranteed to warm up those dark nights and keep everyone entertained.

On Saturday, September 29, Ashmore Male Voice Choir will be hitting all the right notes and treating guests to an evening of all types of music and monologues. Tickets for this event, priced at £4, are available from Mary Lavender on 01902 885816 or on the door.

And, as autumn moves into winter, what better than an evening of music and dancing to keep the cold at bay? The Sedgley Live event on Saturday, October 27, will feature a performance from Old Enough To Know Better, who will be getting everyone up on their feet with a selection of songs from the 60s, 70s and 80s. Also performing are Be bewitched, (bothered and bewildered) and a Frank Sinatra Cabaret.  This event begins at 8pm and Sedgley residents will be able to dance their socks off until late in the evening. Tickets, priced at £3, are available from Lesley Whitehouse on 07971 739042 or on the door. Bring your own drinks and enjoy the fun!

As the festive season draws near, get into the Christmas spirit with a concert from St Andrews Singers on Saturday, December 1, which starts at 2pm. Tickets for this event cost £3 and include refreshments.

Sedgley Community Centre, based in Ladies Walk, is well known for hosting a series of events for local residents throughout the year, including the popular Flower and Vegetable Show, which celebrated its 18th year earlier this month. Other well-attended events include the Sedgley Live Arts and Crafts festival and the harvest festival.

 

 

Discover The History and Future of St John’s Church

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Sedgley Local History Society will be hosting a talk dedicated to the preservation of St John’s Church, Kates Hill, Dudley

Sedgley residents can learn about the fascinating history of St John’s Church,Kates Hill, Dudley, as the new season of talks from Sedgley Local History Society gets underway.

During the event, held on Thursday, September 13 at 7.30pm in St. Andrew’s Church, Bilston Street, Sedgley, guests will be treated to an illustrated talk from group chair, Deb Brownlee and Chris Smith, editor of community magazine, Village Voice. The speakers will be highlighting the efforts of the St

John’s Church Preservation Group and how their project to restore this 1840s building to its former glory depends on community support in order to succeed.

The Significance of St John’s Church

St John’s Church is a hugely significant building in local history. Not only is it the burial place of William Perry, the famous Tipton Slasher, it’s also the last resting place of Julia Hanson, who is synonymous with Hanson’s beer and brewery. Marion Richardson, the famous art and handwriting teacher, is also buried there, and Reverend Edward Noot, who served at St John’s for 63 years until his death in 1905, was related to Edward Jenner, the famous physician who discovered vaccination and thereby helped eradicate smallpox in the UK.

This Grade II listed building was closed in 2002 due to health and safety concerns but, since forming in 2007, the St John’s Preservation Group has worked hard to demonstrate how it can be fully restored and take its rightful place in the community once more.

Numerous local celebrities have lent their support to the campaign, including former cycling champion Geoff Hill and Professor Carl Chinn – himself a descendent of the famous Tipton Slasher, William Perry.

Sedgley residents are warmly invited to the talk, which costs £1 to attend. Annual membership of the Society costs £5 and gives free access to the programme of talks.

Visit the St John’s Preservation Group’s website for more details on this important local landmark.