Images kindly shared by Chris Booth. Click any one to see a larger version.

A second set of period images here this weekend from old friend of the blog Chris Booth he’s sharing out of the Clayhanger Methodist Church collection – this time of the 1995 demolition and reconstruction of the Church Hall, situated just off Clayhanger Lane.

Last weekend’s set of the 1985 Centenary March has proven very popular.

I believe the reconstruction may have been a community benefit, or an act of beneficence of the builders of the new estate behind, but I’m not certain. The materials used in the estate are certainly very similar to those employed in the new hall.

It’s said the original wooden hut was from either the POW or army camp on Cannock Chase, but this is unproven.

In 1926, the miners above used their strike time to decorate the Clayhanger Chapel . Taken from ‘Memories of Brownhills Past’ by Clarice Mayo & Geoff Harrington.

The original hall was very recognisable in a 1926 photo in the Bill and Clarice Mayo Collection of striking miners decorating it. It certainly looks in better condition them but this was clearly a huge age for a wooden building.

Chris has asked me to point out that Clayhanger Methodist Church have a great Facebook group which you can access by clicking here and of course, everyone is welcome.

What do you recall of the reconstruction, or evenings in the hall? You can comment here, mail me on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com or hit me up on social media.

I’d like to thank Chris for yet another wonderful, evocative set of images that really help us bring history of the area back to life.