Sedgley residents can uncover the fascinating story behind the rise and fall of one of Woodsetton’s most influential families at the Sedgley Local History Society meeting this Thursday, 14th May.

Lorna Stevens has spent more than 10 years researching the Whitehouse family, whose money was made and lost in coal mining and running blast furnaces during the Victorian era.

And, in the course of her research, Lorna has discovered some intriguing stories, papers and diaries which shed light on this famous local family’s dramatic fall from grace.

The Whitehouses, whose grand home was Turls Hill House (pictured above), had strong links to All Saints Church, Sedgley and St Mary’s, Hurst Hill.

The meeting, which starts with a very short Annual General Meeting before Lorna starts her presentation, begins at 7:30 pm at St. Andrew’s Church, Bilston Street, Sedgley.

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

The air raids of the First World War left a trail of destruction across the UK. Photo by Toni Frissell.

During the First World War, about 50 Zeppelin raids were made on Britain, killing more than 500 civilians and injuring more than 1,300. And, at the next meeting of Sedgley Local History Society, local residents can hear all about the deadly raid on the Black Country in January 1916.

Derek Nicholls, a local historian from Tipton, has spent 18 months researching the deadly raid on Tipton, Bradley, Wednesbury and Walsall inflicted by a Zeppelin that had lost its way. In around half an hour, the L21 had destroyed homes and buildings, killing about thirty five and injuring twenty.

With stalemate on the Western Front Zeppelin raids started in January 1915 with bombs dropped on King’s Lynn and Great Yarmouth. Three unsuccessful attempts to bomb central Birmingham resulted in only minor damage on the outskirts. The city was saved by applying a stringent blackout policy.

The next meeting of the Society takes place on Thursday, 13^th November, at 7:30 pm in St. Andrew’s Church, Bilston Street, Sedgley.

As usual, visitors are invited to come along – admission £1. Annual membership of the Society costs £5 and gives free access to the programme of talks.

All About The Gornals With Ned Williams

‘The Gornals’ is the latest book by hugely popular local historian, Ned Williams.

This is Ned’s 50th book and, for many members of Sedgley Local History Society, he couldn’t have chosen a better subject. He covers Upper & Lower Gornal, Ruiton, Gornal Wood and The Straits in 200 pages of text and photographs.

The book will be launched on Friday, 14th November, at 2.30 pm at Zoar Methodist Church and later the same day at 7.30 pm at Upper Gornal Methodist Church. A Grand Book Launch with special guests and a presentation of ‘Gornal on Film’.

At both events, the paperback edition costs £10 and a limited hardback edition costs £15. (Later in bookshops the prices will be £13.50 & £18 respectively.)