BrownhillsBob's Brownhills Blog

People who follow my 365daysofbiking Tumblr journal will be aware by now that there was something special about yesterday’s entry. I’ve actually completed 365 days of biking.

Is it time to let the sun set on this project?

Every day, come rain or shine, I’ve got on my bike and rode it somewhere.

You can find an easy to browse archive here.

These journeys were mainly commutes, of course, but there have been pleasure rides, hard slogs in the Peak District, on Cannock Chase and down country lanes. Some rides have been very long, some short circuits in the rain and wind. But everyday, I just got on a bike, in pretty normal clothes and rode. Why? Because I like riding a bike. A middle aged bloke, with middle aged spread, just going where I want or need, under my own steam, with a camera.

Of course, this project hasn’t just run for a year. It’s run for 21 months, but I failed over new year 2011-12, when I got food poisoning and couldn’t ride for two days. Committed to keep my word, I restarted the clock and rode all year.

I was quite glad, really. The first year had been dry, and easy to cycle in. The last nine months, I think I’ve proved that I’m no fair weather cyclist. This was quite important to me. I wanted to show that this whole thing was possible, and that it was possible if you weren’t Bradley Wiggins, just a normal man on the normal roads with all that entails.

The snail. It’s a bit metaphorical. Or something. He overtook me on Shire Oak Hill.

Oddly, people seem to be interested, which I find puzzling. I found a hit counter for Tumblr – a blog platform I’ve come to actively hate the mechanics of – and installed it a couple of moths ago. The journal seems to get about 1,000 hits a week or so. I thought it was possibly doing a couple of hundred. People comment and ask questions. It’s a nice thing to do and write. I have enjoyed it.

Sometimes, finding a good image on a black day is bloody hard. The photography is crap, and shows the work of a geek who works their camera by fiddling with it continually until the right result pops out. There are peculiar obsessions and operational tics that many readers find irritating. My spelling, use of language and prose seem even worse there than they do here (usually because it’s written when tired).

I certainly didn’t impress this wee fellow. For that, at least, I apologise.

Friends and readers have taken issue with a number of things, not least my obsession with the water level at Chasewater, and the repeated photos of Rugeley Power Station. It’s been remarked that I take a lot of photographs of railway stations. Thats true, very often, they’re my destination. Destination is one part, the other, the journey.

I’ve tried to convey my passion for stuff. I do that here, but on the 365days journal, it’s more immediate, shorter and often, more gutteral. I’ve tried to take folk along for the ride. To see what I see. Flowers, views and architecture. Busy streets, weeds growing from buildings, the beauty of the seasons changing. I’ve collected and spread seeds, fixed punctures and discussed bad road use. I’ve lamented potholes, lost architecture, flytipping and the headwind. I’ve cycled in tears, and laughter. It’s has been, is now, and will always be a hard, solitary road.

One of the things that’s been useful is that people can see from what I’ve created that I’m not flat, emotionless or rational. There are nonsensical passions, indiscriminate rants and a distinct love of the outdoors. It has been me, and just about everything I feel, love and do that I can share.

Lost pumpkins were not regular features, but this one was memorable.

I’ve never been a bike zealot. I don’t think everyone should get on a bike. I do believe, however, that some folk might find riding one beneficial, or enjoyable. If this disjointed pile of irrelevance has done anything at all, I hope it’s encouraged at least one person to saddle up and go look at something they didn’t know was there before. I’ve found things through compiling it I didn’t know were there. Many times, I’ve come home and looked stuff up, or canvassed opinions.

The whole exercise has made me look at stuff in a different way. I’m really appreciative of that. The anguish I suffered when I was ill over wimping out really hurt me. This is something I’ve been thoroughly committed to.

The stats for the year are thus: 2 pairs of tyres, 5 pairs of brake pads and 9,348 miles. That’s about 25 and a half miles a day. A scary total of 13,653 photos have been taken. On the journal so far, there have been 1,458 posts.

So now, with the year complete, what do I do? I’m asking you folks, the readers. I’m feeling the thing is getting a bit weary; some stuff seem to be cropping up more than once (often down to poor memory), and I just wonder if I’ve worn the concept out. The problem is, I can never read my stuff the way others do. It’s impossible to perceive your own work.

Should I continue the story, or end it on a high here? I’m happy to continue, but I could also accept it’s time to stop. I have no idea what I should do.

Most of all, I’d like to thank everyone for riding tandem, and showing such remarkable interest in something so trivial. Thanks.

I found this image on Tumblr the other day. I don’t recognise it as Walsall. Is it? If so, where? I don’t recognise the oblique junction at all.

Further, why are people taking perfectly smart historical images, and vandalising them with crap typography?

Don’t recognise the bridge, basin or wide open space. Pelsall, perhaps? Click for a larger version.

Yesterday, a beautiful thing happened on the blog while I was busy, largely getting muddy on Cannock Chase (3 times now I’ve frozen my bits off in darkened, wet woodland, and still not a picture of a badger to show).

Before I left the house, I posted forward a query from Australian Kesa about her family roots in Brownhills, and the sleuthing trio of Andy Dennis, David Evans and Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler aced it all day. The material they found, and the kindness and dedication they showed in doing so was just why I love doing this, and why it seems to be a good resource.

Gentlemen, and Kesa, I salute you all.

I get very confused about religious history and the various sects, and genealogy isn’t my particular bag either. It’s a shining illustration of teamwork and community spirit that experts come together to help folk out in this way.

The only thing that bothers me slightly is it seems to indicate that the blog works better when I leave it along and ride my bike instead…

Anyway, just to catch up, Peter Cutler sent the following clips for Kesa from the Friday, 23 May 1903 edition of the Lichfield Mercury, fresh from the archive. I know he’s already transcribed them, but they’re nice to have.

To Kesa: anything else we can do, please ask.

From the Lichfield Mercury, 23rd May 1903. Click for a larger version.

From the Lichfield Mercury, 23rd May 1903. Click for a larger version.

Question 29: Where is this plaque (Street name for one point, number for another point)? (I didn’t take the image, and I rather the person who took it didn’t answer, please!)

Cheers for all your wonderfully sporting answers to the new year quiz!

Right. Last night, I scored the quiz so far. I will do so again tonight. Here’s the results so far. I have also added two questions on this article which I forgot to put in the main one, and are rather good. Answer them here, on or the main quiz post.

Oakparkrunner is currently leading with 4 points.
Grande Pablo is second on 2 points.
Fred Butler, Karen, and Julielem have 1 apiece.

Questions 4,5,13,14,15,17,25 & 26 have gone.

Questions 6,11 and 27 are there for the taking.

I think some are easy and will leave you kicking yourselves. If you go for a walk or drive tomorrow, I think 1,2,8,9,18 are really easy for the observant and I’m surprised nobody has got them.

Some of the more obscure questions, the answers are in past articles. Think laterally. Some can work with the help of things like Google Earth/maps.

Cheers for being such good sports!
Keep head scratching, and I’ll settle up the scores again on Sunday night.

Cheers
Bob

Question 30: Where is this, and what does it indicate? The answer lies in a post on the blog somewhere…

i don’t think the Primitive was this one, on Coppice Lane… Image from David Vodden’s ‘Around Pelsall and Brownhills in old photographs’

Just pulling this enquiry into the light that was submitted a couple of days ago. Anyone got any ideas – is the Primitive the one on Coppice Lane, Mount Zion or one of the ones up West? I get confused between the different Methodist chapels.

G’Day Bob

I stumbled across you rather cool blog while searching my family history. Turns our most of them were coal miners from Brownhills and Essington Woods. I am hunting for any old photos of Hope Cottage Road Ogley and the Primitive Methodist Church in Brownhills any ideas where i might be able to find them I am in Australia so can’t visit.
Thanks Aussie Cynic

aka Kesa

Hope Cottage Ogley Road sounds familiar. Any ideas?

Kesa -Thanks for your interest, you are one of a growing Antipodean audience. Welcome to Brownhills! if you have any names there are several people here well into genealogy, so do drop us a line…

Comments here, or mail to BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com, please.

The weather’s awful, it’s been a very wet Christmas, so I thought I’d give blog readers something to chew on over the new year week. Here’s a picture quiz to tease and provoke debate.

Answers to most of the questions can be found in the past articles of this blog, my 365daysofbiking tumblr, or by going exploring. If an answer seems obvious, it probably is…

Just to make it interesting, I’ll offer the prize of a case of Backyard Beer (or something nice to equal value if you’re a non-drinker) to the winner. There will also be sub prizes of books to people who come up with particularly good answers. The books will go on a totally arbitrary basis for contributions that catch my eye.

To give everyone a sporting chance, comments will open at 8pm tonight.

Points will be awarded to the first person to comment the correct answer to any question. All questions worth one point unless stated. After that, no points will be handed out for answering it again. I will tot up the scores as we go. Answers will only be accepted as comments to this post, and my decision will be open and final.

Remember to include the number of the question in your comment, otherwise it won’t be counted!

Don’t worry if your comment is held in moderation, I will take the submission time if necessary.

I don’t expect anyone to get lots right. If the result is a draw, I’ll hold a tie breaker. What form that will take will depend on the result.

The competition will close at 12 noon, Saturday 5th January 2013, but I’ll leave it for fun, reference and interest. My decisions will be final, and I’m doing this for fun. Please be sporting.

All images are from the local area unless stated – where they’re not, they’ll be from no more than a few miles away.

Good luck!

Question 1: Where is the above ornate house plaque (Street, bonus point for house number)?

Question 2: Where is the above boarded up oval window?

Question 3: Hand made and stamped W. Gilbert bricks. Where are they laid?

Question 4: The above artwork is at Catshill Junction. Who made it, what is it called and when was it unveiled?

Question 5: Where is this corridor?

Question 6: What sculpture is this sign guarding, who was the artist, and why is the sign ironic? Correct spelling essential, please.

Question 7: Further afield, this isn’t local, but it’s near, and I don’t expect anyone to get it… but where is this splendid roofline? 2 points to the correct answer.

Question 8: Where’s this date plaque, and why is now a bit odd?

Question 9: Groovy mosaic. But where?

Question 10: Who are these chaps?

Question 11: Where is this notch in the canal bank (under which bridge) and what’s it for?

Question 12: Where’s this manhole? It’s supposed to be bolted down, but isn’t. Why should it be bolted?

Question 13: Where was Chasewater Heaths signal box formerly in use on the British Rail network?

Question 14: What are these people doing and where are they?

Question 15: Further afield, but still in the borough. Where was this?

Question 16: This horizontal barcode sign is actually on the Chester Road at Shire Oak. What was it’s purpose? Amey clearly don’t know their Streely from their elbows.

Question 17: An interesting variety of chimneys. Which building do they crown?

Question 18: Where and what’s the significance (historically)?

Question 19: What are these men celebrating the completion of?

Question 20: Who are these dapper local businessmen, and why was Sally their poster girl? (one point for each part)

Question 21: This derelict corn mill was demolished several decades ago. Where was it?

Question 22: Where is this tail fin sticking out? Street name and house number, please.

Question 23: Not in the immediate locality, but near, where is this splendid cow? Street name will do.

Question 24: Where is this, and who would feel the effects if it were operated?

Question 25: Who’s this lady?

Question 26: When and where was this, and why weren’t we invited?

Question 27: Where is this, and where was it mistaken for?

Question 28: Where is this washtub, and what was it used for?

walsall Wood from the air to the southwest, looking northeast up the Lichfield Road to Shire Oak and beyond. Note the Shire Oak Brewery chimney at the top of the hill. Image diligently hunted down and donated by David Evans. Click to marvel at the full size version.

Here’s a quick one while I’m a bit tied up with other stuff. This image was featured here in various forms before, but never at this size or clarity. David Evans, reader and contributor extraordinaire, has spent no little time hunting down a good copy for all to marvel at.

David Said:

Hello Bob

This is a complete, in focus, intact scan of my 1926 aerial photo for your readers to enjoy sometime.

Please if you can, put this on the blog. It is just  as good as the original photo… And you can clearly see the Fold in Friezland Lane, the cot in Brownhills Road, Bulls Head Yard, Higgs bungalow (there’s one for the locals!), the tennis courts behind the church and another tennis court (which belonged to a well-known person), a couple of local bakeries, a blacksmiths forge or two, the railway staion in all its glory, just a clip of the Bloodtub, a snooker room, the Royal Exchange fold ,the newly extended  school near Streets Corner, a certain thatched cottage, the Rookery, the windpump, the back to backs in Brownhills Road, Lovers Lane and much more!

I am so grateful to a certain kind artist whose own meticulous computer records have saved this photo for everyone to enjoy .

My grandma lived in Brownhills Road and locally we talked of ’round the Cape’.

The common there was orignally common grazing. I wonder if there is a drover connection, and also possibly then with Friezland Lane’s Fold, which first showed as an enclosure on the common.

kind regards

David

Here’s one that’ll be useful for anyone working with community or voluntary groups who’s looking to better use the net and social media in particular. I know lots of local groups would find this useful.

Coffee Comforts is a great new independent coffee shop in Walsall, right where the Tandy Store used to be. Image from their website.

Walsall Social Media Surgery is a free, informal advice surgery being held in Walsall this evening at Coffee Comforts at the foot of Tameway Tower, on the corner of Bridge Street and Goodall Street. It all kicks off at 6:30pm and runs until 8:00pm.

When you get there, you’ll find loads of friendly techie types full of free, informal advice, ready to help you gat more engaged through social media. Dan Slee, from Walsall Council’s press office is involved and he’s a decent and helpful chap.

The organisers had this to say:

A social media surgery is a pretty informal gathering of people who want to learn how to use the web to communicate, campaign or collaborate. They are deliberately relaxed. You will get to sit alongside someone who understands good ways to use the internet and they’ll show you useful free tools. If you like what you see they can help you set up your own.

Are you interested in using blogs, text messages, Facebook, Twitter and other free web sites to help a group or organisation that you belong to? Do you already have a web site for your organisation that is difficult or expensive to update? Are you looking for an easier way to promote your activities or to share information, photos and videos online? Walsall Social Media Surgery is a free advice session for community and voluntary groups, clubs, societies and small arts organisations. Come along to find out how you can use free web sites and services to organise activities, promote events, raise funds, collect feedback from your participants and keep a record of everything you do.

You’ll get practical hands-on advice for putting social technology into action for your cause, to help you reach a wider audience and promote the good work you do. No boring speeches, no jargon. If you’re at all curious, come along.

I notice that today, Susan Marie Ward has published another cracking post on the Staffordshirebred blog. I know I keep banging on about her stuff but it really is a must read for local history types. Along with Lichfield Lore and the sadly dormant Tamworth Time Hikes, Susan’s work is becoming an essential stopping off point for anyone into the quirkier side of South Staffordshire history.

The reason I flag up the latest work is that it details Little Wyrley Hall, and a remarkable article about it, which anyone interested in the history of coal mining and land ownership in Brownhills will be fascinated to read.

It should be brought into even sharper relief for anyone who heard the musings of Gerald Reece last Friday at the talk in Brownhills, as Susan did.

In the process of looking at Wyrley Hall for this blog post, I also came upon a rather remarkable blog about little-known and little talked about private country houses called Handed On. There’s a brief post on there covering Wyrley Hall, but my attention was snagged by several other great posts there. Excellent stuff.

Please do visit Staffordshirebred, and if you haven’t already, please subscribe. I’ll keep banging on about this, it really is a fine blog.

Click on the screenshot to read the whole post at Staffordshirebred…

Stuart Williams of the Walsall Local History Centre has sent me a press release for the new book he’s written. Stuart, as regular readers will be well aware, is a top local history operative and one of the team working hard to preserve our communal history at Essex Street.

Stuart is well known for his work in local history and community writing – his Bloxwich Telegraph blog is very popular, and he’s published great books before under the auspices of Walsall Local History Centre.

Here’s what he had to say:

Looks like a cracking book – Stuart is an accomplished and engaging writer as folk will be aware from his Bloxwich Telegraph blog, previous books and newspaper columns.

Reflect on Walsall’s history this Christmas with new book launched by borough archives

An exciting new book is all set to be launched next week by Walsall Local History Centre – just in time for Christmas!

The Essex Street archive’s latest, ‘Reflections of Old Walsall’, is written by staff member Stuart Williams and contains twenty illustrated articles on aspects of local history in and around Walsall Metropolitan Borough.

And the book is being launched at a special FREE public event at Walsall Museum on Thursday 6 December from 10am – 12 noon, with a talk about the book at 10.30am followed by book sales and signing at 11am then videos and refreshments to conclude.

The author, who has been writing on behalf of the borough’s archives service and local studies library for the past twelve years, said about the book:

‘Walsall Metropolitan Borough includes a number of distinctive towns and villages.  The long history of these places and their people is full of fascinating facts, strange snippets and obscure origins.

‘Reflections of Old Walsall includes subjects from local heroes like Walsall’s greatest aviator Flt Lt Webster to coalman’s son and Bletchley Park code-breaker Harry Hinsley via spooks and spectres, the remarkable Highgate Windmill, Aldridge’s Naval VC, Bentley’s ‘Giant’s Causeway’, one of Queen Victoria’s greatest diplomats – from Birchills(!), the time Sherlock Holmes came to Walsall, Walsall’s electric trams which were “better than Blackpool” and Bloxwich’s war poet Harold Parry – plus many more!

‘If you thought the story of old Walsall was just about the leather industry and Sister Dora, then you’re in for a few surprises with this book.  Even the essential Sister Dora article takes a very different track to the usual story…”

The titles of the articles are:

• A Bridge By Any Other Name

• Bentley’s ‘Giant’s Causeway’

• Things that Go Bump in the Borough…

• From the Earth to the Moon – Highgate Windmill

• From Red Books to the Red Planet – W. H. Robinson

• One Man and His Books (to say nothing of the dog)

• Remembering Aldridge’s Naval VC

• Sister Dora and the Steam Engine

• The Battle of Walsall

• When Sherlock Holmes came to Walsall

• Better than Blackpool: Walsall’s Victorian Tramways

• An Englishman’s Castle: Council housing in Walsall

• From Dixon of Dock Green to Gene Hunt

• Flaming brilliant: Walsall Fire Brigade

• From Guild Hall to Civic Centre

• Going to the ‘flicks’ in ‘Sixties Walsall

• From Borneo Street to the Stars

• The Hinsley Enigma – Decoded

• From Birchills to Beijing – Sir Harry S. Parkes

• Remembering Harold Parry – Bloxwich War Poet

The illustrated A5 72pp softback book is ideal for dipping into, and costs just £6.99.

Stuart’s previous book for the Centre ‘Billy Meikle’s Window on Walsall’ is also available separately for £5 – making the pair a great present from the past this Christmas!

After the launch the book will be available from Walsall Local History Centre and Waterstone’s in Park St, Walsall, plus Walsall Museum and Walsall Leather Museum.  Other local history books on numerous subjects are also available from the Centre.

Telephone 01922 721305 for details and to check stock availability – or pop in to Walsall Local History Centre in Essex Street, Walsall, WS2 7AS.  Walsall Local History Centre is part of Walsall Council.

Ho, ho and indeed ho. Get your copy now – they make great presents for older folks, or anyone into local history.

Brownhills Methodist Church – scene of a remarkable event. Picture by Facade66 on Panoramio.

I’ve just had an email from David Evans, who did such a fine job of organising and hosting Gerald Reece’s talk on Brownhills this evening at the Methodist Church Hall in Brownhills.

David and I would both like to thank all those who turned out – what was apparently in excess of 100 people – but none of it would have been possible without the generosity of time and spirit of the wonderful, entertaining and fascinating Gerald Reece.

Just by pitching up and showing an interest in our communal history, £520 was raised for Macmillan Cancer and that is a very fine thing indeed. That doesn’t include a private, separate and welcome donation pledged by a reader in remote parts.

This is what community interest, exploration and involvement can do. Thanks to everyone, the Methodist Church for being such good hosts, the folks doing the refreshments and David for his tireless work in getting this thing going.

Thanks, Brownhills. You showed you still have great community spirit tonight. Wonderful.

I look forward to Gerald continuing his quest and seeing the results. He really is a most remarkable man. Thanks, old chap.

Here’s an article I’ve been sitting on for a while, in order that I might run it in the build-up to Gerald Reece’s forthcoming talk on the local history of Brownhills, which is taking place this Friday, 30th November at the Methodist Church Hall in Brownhills. Gerald is certain to discuss mining history, and it’s worth bearing the points made so eloquently in this article in mind.

We are living in a time when the sanitisation of some aspects of our industrial and social history is sadly rife. Reader and top contributor to the Brownhills Blog, Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler, has been doggedly and thoroughly researching the history of the Harrison family and their commercial and social operations for some time. He has written two previous articles,  The Harrison Dynasty (Part One: The Early Years,1763 to 1841) and The Harrison dynasty: Beginnings in Coal, 1849.

This is a follow-on piece, where Peter returns to his feeling that some historians aren’t quite as probing as they should be, and that the family weren’t the socially responsible industrialists they would have liked to have been considered to be.

As ever, I thank Peter most profusely for this remarkable and fascinating work. Apologies for holding it back, but timing is everything. Cheers old chap.

On with the piece…

Harrison Family 1849-1877

The Harrison Family entered the field of coal mining in 1849 via the lease of Brownhills Collieries, on the land of Phineas Fowke Hussey. There is the publication William Harrison Company Limited by the CCMHS (2006) that traces their involvement up to Nationalisation. This is an excellent technical book and provides a time frame for further discussion. However there are several errors, and the conclusion as discussed in article ‘In pursuit of Truth’ article is very much open to question.

(Above: The modern-day location of Norton Hall)

Due much to the work of Andy Dennis we can piece together a picture of the first years. William Harrison Snr had married Sarah Strongitharm in Middlewich in the the year of 1892, and in 1898 William Harrison Jnr was born, also in Middlewhich. Nothing is learned of the family before this date, but they must have been reasonably well off; however, in their wildest dreams they could not have imagined how their wealth and possessions would accrue after moving to Walsall.

The first mention I can see is a record of a William Harrison Snr as Church Warden at St Matthews in 1810. This seems like a good move to become recognised in the local community, and to ally oneself with the established Church. He also has connections through his partner George Strongitharm and the lime trade.

As we have seen it is William Harrison Jnr who was Lime Master in 1841 living in Stafford Street Walsall, which must have been quite close to the Lime Works. At that time there seems to have been a demand for lime, and this must have provided a basis for him to venture into coal. Living with him and his wife were his son William Bealey Harrison (3), who would become known as the Captain. Also other sons John (13) and Edward (1) and a daughter Eliza (6).

I believe this to be Norton Hall. The picture was featured in an article by the Express and Star. Please click on the image to see the photo at source.

1850 saw the death of WH Snr, just after the family had entered into coal [1], and possibly it was this inheritance that provided the finance for the new ‘family home’ of Norton Hall. Norton Hall had previously belonged to a John Hawkins Esq and nothing remains of the Hall today, but the position was situated on the site of a Medieval moat at a point where Norton Hall Lane becomes Church Road. In the 1851 census W Harrison Jnr is now 53 years old and down as a magistrate. His son WB Harrison is now about 13 years old and attending Appleby Grammar School, while his elder brother John, by 10 years, is at Christ College at Cambridge.

It must have been around 1858 that WH Jnr obtained Eastland House in Leam Terrace, Leamington Priors (later Leamington Spa). The House being previously on lease to an Elizabeth Storer. It looks as if he is now in semi-retirement as he is listed as living there in the 1861 census. I cannot find any record of the House in Leam Terrace, but a Flourence House was sold recently for £1.3m! By 1871 WH Jnr was living at Clifton Villas, Leamington with his daughter until his death in 1877. An old ink on paper sketch can be seen here…

Clifton Villas. Retirement home, perhaps? Image from ‘Windows on Warwickshire’. Click on the image to visit the source site.

So from around 1860 the business is being run by WB Harrison and his brother John from Norton Hall. Their business interests also went further afield in 1864, being founder members of the Cannock and Rugeley Colliery Company, and later part of the Sandwell Park Collieries. In 1867 they increased their holdings in the lease of Wyrley Common to include the Deep Seam and 55 cottages, mainly in the Coppice Lane area, at a rent of £3 per annum each [1]. They may of course been involved in many other ventures.

In the article ‘In Pursuit of the Truth‘ I raised several questions concerning the conclusion reached in the CCMHS Book, and so for this particular period I give my alternative views. In the article The Harrison Dynasty: beginnings in Coal, 1849, the dubious idea that they ‘gave employment to thousands’ was discussed.

At this stage, were the Harrison family in the forefront of mining and colliery management? They were certainly in the forefront of mining in a business sense, but It would be wrong to see them in the same way as some of their contemporaries, such as John McClean, who was a true Engineer. At least in the Brownhills area they employed the ‘Butty’ system as can be seen in the article ‘The Truth will out’, concerning the 1861 Wyrley Common Pit disaster.

In the last quarter of the century larger-scale enterprises, and the hostility of the miners combined to bring the Butty system to an end [2]. It is interesting to note that, in 1868, a few years after the Cannock and Rugeley Colliery Company was formed, WB employed John Williamson as the Manager. Another true engineer and innovator he reformed the Company and it became one of the most prosperous concerns in the Midlands[3]. It could be said that any owner with the required intelligence could pick up a great deal from the exceptional persons around them at the time.

The proposal that the family ‘provided housing, a way of life and finance to the community’ suggests a positive influence, and therefore the first thing that comes to mind for this period is the question as to whether, along with the Butty system, they employed the Truck System of Tommy Shops.

We do know that in 1860 the family owned the Station Hotel as they leased, and eventually sold it, to the Big man William Roberts. From this Blog we see that ‘William Marklew is reputed to be the last operator of a Tommy Shop in the UK, and being closed when the Mine ceased operating and the Brick Kiln was closed’

From the CCMHS publication we are told that houses were built in the area near Slough Basin. From the Local History site of Hazel Slade (Hazelslade) we can gain an idea of what they were like, as 144 houses were built by the Cannock and Rugeley Colliery Company.

Cross Street, Hazelslade. Image from the Hazel Slade Local History site.

These were very much Company Houses, and as in other parts of the country, it is said that if a man was killed in the Pit, his widow was given notice. This can be seen at Denaby, near Doncaster.

Up in Scotland, and there seems little reason to believe conditions were any different, a detailed area by area description can be seen on the Scottish Mining Website.

There is a piece from the Falkirk Herald of 25th August 1870:

Eviction of Miners – In consequence of the strike of miners in the Slamanan district, a large number of the men who have left their work have been ejected from their houses. In the Sheriff Court on Monday, decision was given by sheriff Sconce against about forty men who had been served with summonses by their masters. The Sheriff said that as they held their house only as an appendage of their work, they would require to remove by Wednesday at noon, and pay the expenses of the action. In a similar manner in yesterday’s Court the Sheriff decreed against about 140 for the same cause. He trusted that they left their houses with extreme regret for the small cause which had led to their being required to do so, and hoped that they would soon go back to their work again. But in the present action the masters were quite right.

‘In 1861 WB Harrison is listed as Lieutenant and JP, and his brother John also a JP still living at Norton Hall… (this gives a clear indication of the rise in their fortunes and standing in the community, all due to their efforts in the mining of coal.)’ [1] WB had been a member of the Lichfield CC since 1855 and would later become President.

Is there not a tragic irony here? Justice is decided by the very same people who were the ‘masters’?

It was around 1860 that the family began their participation in ‘military life’. The country was gripped with the fear of a French invasion, England being the source of the manufacture of the bomb that was used in an attempt on the life of Napoleon III. Volunteer Rifle Corps sprang up over the country, and a National Rifle Association was formed. The Staffordshire Rifle Association came into existence, and WB Harrison was commissioned as an officer of the 22nd Battalion of the Brownhills Company in February of that year. (He would be referred to many times in the future as Captain Harrison.) They use a full military range on the South shore of the Reservoir. In July he offered a prize of £100 for anyone who could get first prize at the National Rifle Association contest.

William Harrison Limited was a huge concern, and a major local employer for many years. Here, Harrison workers are pictured with his rail wagons at Brownhills, date unknown. Picture from ‘Brownhills and Walsall Wood on old picture postcards’ by Jan Farrow.

My conclusion concerning the Harrison family involvement in mining, for the period 1849 to 1877, would be at direct odds to the short concluding chapter of the CCMHS publication [1]. They were in the forefront of the business, and far from giving employment to thousands, they had an overwhelming advantage in the purchase of labour. The profits of the business allow them to participate in the affairs of local justice, which of course consolidates their power. The houses are very much for the benefit of the Company, and maybe even some shops and Inns!

[1] William Harrison Company Ltd, CCMHS (2006)

[2] The Origins of British Industrial Relations, Keith Burgess

[3] CCMHS web site…the Williamson Family.