Uknown group from Norton, described as ‘Henry and Amy with Family’ – image kindly donated by Alan Harvey.
I had a great response last week to reader and friend of the blog Alan Harvey’s pictures and material from Norton Canes, an ongoing thread that started with Alan requesting more stuff about the village be featured here.
In the week, Alan sent me two more pictures from his collection and a news article from the Lichfield Mercury. I have a bit of a query over the one image, which I’m a bit sceptical of, if I’m honest.
Alan wrote:
Hi Bob,
Thanks for posting the photos of Norton Canes, I’m glad that they have aroused some comment.
I’ve not many more of general interest but here are a few. The penny farthing bicycle was not a photographers but used for many years about the village. The Female Friendly Society, it seems, needed a male Secretary in 1910.
Alan Harvey.
That’s not 1851, but what a great image. Kindly supplied by Alan Harvey.
Thanks for the photos. The the one with the bike is a cracking image, but it has the date 1851 on it. That, I’m afraid, is not possible. The bike (a relatively modern roadster, not Penny Farthing) has pneumatic tyres – note the valve in the front rim. At the earliest, that places it about 1895, but the rod brakes and front acetylene lamp suggest about 1910. This 1914 BSA ladies roadster is similar, and exhibits equivalent technology – including the rubberised pedals and Brooks sprung saddle. I’d welcome more comment on this, but that definitely isn’t 1851.
If anyone can identify the bike model, that would be splendid.
The newspaper clipping is fantastic. I’m sure Pedro will have much to say about the Whitehaven disaster, and the comments of the Revered Pimblett. I’m hugely amused by the Brownhills West Glee Party – what the very…? However, note the handing out of books to scholars. A long way – in a few years – from the educational void described by the correspondent to The Graphic in 1896.
Thanks, Alan, this stuff is wonderful.
Norton Canes News, from the Lichfield Mercury of May 27th, 1910. Image supplied by Alan Harvey.
Wesley Hall.—At the Wesley Hall on Tuesday evening, the annual meeting and Sunday School prize distribution took place. Mr. Stanford presided, and the artistes were Mrs. T. Mills, Mr. Thomas Mills, and The Brownhills West Glee Party. Mr. W. Cliff was the accompanist. The books, numbering 140, were presented to the scholars by Mrs. Baker. On the motion of Mr. J. Weldon, junr., seconded by Mr. B. Bound, the usual votes of thanks were accorded at the close.
Female Friendly Society. — On Monday afternoon, in the Memorial School, the annual tea of the members of the Primitive Methodist Female Friendly Society was held. About 260 were present. Subsequently Mr. Henry Harvey (secretary) read the financial state- ment, which showed the income to be .£290 14s. 2d., and expenditure £168 18s. 9d. The number of deaths during the year was 17. The dividend paid to each financial member was 10s. The membership at the present time is 277.
The Whitehaven D’saster.—On Sunday at St. James Parish Church a special sermon was preached by the Rev. J. B. Pimblett (Rector), and a collection was made on behalf of the widows and orphan children bereft of the wage-earners by the terrible disaster at Whitehaven. There was a large congregation. The reverend gentleman dwelt upon the dangers of the collier’s occupation, and spoke in appreciative terms of the various institutions for the treatment of the injured, mentioning in this con-nection the valuable work done at the Accident Home, at Littleworth. The. Rev. W. Quibell, Vicar of Hednesford, he described as the miners best friend. The collection realised the sum of £5 14s. 6 1/2d.
As usual, please comment here or mail me on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Cheers.