BrownhillsBob's Brownhills Blog

Edgar Pritchard in a self-portrait. Clearly a remarkable and talented man.

I love keeping this blog – sometimes, it’s hard work, and sometimes it gets on top of me, but then something will turn up that makes it all worthwhile, and that’s why it’s so very enjoyable.

Such an event has just occurred – a history thread that started here with the 1934/5 Brownhills Carnival film, and has progressed incrementally through small jumps, called at more film in the form of the curious Hope Springs Eternal recording, then expanded suddenly with the recent contributions of Margaret Thompson.

The link through all these things is the film-maker Edgar Pritchard, brother of Syd, immortalised in Bill Mayo’s recent book. Edgar was a talented cameraman, and today I can share a 1952 film with you called ‘The Poacher’s Apprentice’.

I know very little about the 20 minute silent story, which was found by Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler in the University of East Anglia Film Archive; but it’s beautiful for a number of reasons – not least because it was filmed in and around the village of Hints, near Tamworth.

Tis is the Old Schoolhouse in Hints, from my 365days journal about 5 years ago. Note no bellcote.

To those who know the area, lots of familiar places crop up in this remarkable cinefilm; the Church, ford, Rookery Wood, the old Schoolhouse. It’s also a portrait of a lost age; the last gasp of rural Staffordshire life before everything changed. In not many films do ferrets get a starring role.

I was amused to note the artistic licence with the ‘school bell’ – that’s actually on the Church. Little things like that make it for me.

The bell is actually on the Church – and hasn’t rung in a while due to the delicate condition of the structure.

The child actors in this film may well still be around. Can they be named? Can we contact them?

The archive only says the following:

Amateur; Natural History

A young boy befriends a poacher and they go ferreting by night. Includes shots of hand scything and a village school.

Background Information:

The boy is seen reading `The Poacher’s Handbook’ by Ian Niall. This was first published in 1950.

 Distributor: Institute of Amateur Cinematographers

There is much to write about this work, but I won’t waffle on just yet. Wallow in it. Get a cuppa or crack a beer, sit down and absorb it.

I added the music to make it flow – if it annoys you, turn it down. I have so much more to say on this in the next week or so. But for now, just watch.

Thanks to Peter, David Evans and particularly Margaret without whom none of this would have been possible. Thanks, all.

Comments please – or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Cheers.

I received an interesting piece in the week from reader Ian who’d found a couple of posts I’s written around 2011 about the (still derelict) old bungalow at the old driveway to Shire Oak Quarry, just of Shire Oak Hill on the A461 near Sandhills.

It turns out that Ian lived in the house for a while, but not only that, he remembers his father setting up the shop Toms Cabin, a carpet shop in the spot formerly occupied by Ladies Hairdresser May Brown. May was, of course, wife of noted barber Tommy Brown who used to operate from a shed in the back yard of May’s shop.

Ian has written a lovely piece about those days, and what he remembers of them including a wonderful artefact of Tommy’s. I thank him profusely for his wonderful contribution and will say here and now that I would welcome any further memories or images – this is wonderfully well written and it’s a joy to be able to feature it here.

Thanks, Ian.

Situtated at the fenced off, disused Lichfield Road entrance to Sandhills Quarry, I spotted this derelect, boarded up bungalow. It turns out that reader Ian lived there, and it was once quite a place!

Hi Bob,

Love your blog 🙂

I grew up in Brownhills, I was 8 when we moved here from Wales in February 1974.

My Dad was the Area Manger for Topmix, Hoveringham Group. We lived in the bungalow in the quarry lane. I know a fair bit about that house and surrounding gardens/orchard. There was even a tennis court there back in the day! The lawn turf was from Warwick Castle grounds. You have a pic of the bungalow in its current state on your blog. I signed up and commented but not sure it’s gone live yet [It has – Bob].

Anyway, in 1978 my Dad was made redundant so he bought a shop on the High Street.

May Brown was retiring and selling the hairdressers shop, No 22 High Street. Her husband was Tom Brown and he had a barber business behind the hairdressers. It was originally nothing but a little shed but later he had an asbestos building erected which was quite big. When we got the shop it was still as it was when he was running the business there. I’m afraid the only thing I have from back then is this poster I have attached. Yes, it’s really from Tom Browns barber shop! Don’t know why I kept it, I think I took it to show my grandparents in Manchester so it just ended up in all the stuff I’ve kept over the years.

I think a few readers could do with this! What a wonderful thing. Image courtesy of reader Ian.

What’s funny is that my Dad already had a name for the shop before he bought it. Toms Cabin. Mrs Brown couldn’t believe it. It was a carpet shop.

I remember Mrs Brown had a sheltie dog called Sheena.

The Wolsey car they owned was still in the garage behind the shop when we bought the shop in 1978. I don’t think Mrs a Brown drove. It hadn’t been moved for years but old Mrs Brown used to have someone charge the battery and start the engine every so often. A guy who my Dad knew bought it off Mrs Brown.

I remember the lady that owned the fruit and veg shop was called Marie. She had a mustard Rover P6 but was a shocking driver…

The shop in between the fruit and veg shop and Mrs Browns hairdressers was bricked up for years. (Wood Brothers bike shop was the other side of us across the alleyway by the way). We eventually bought the bricked up shop, No 22 I think it was, from the council and extended the carpet shop. When we knocked through it was like a time capsule. It was a newsagent/sweetshop. I was only a kid but I remember everything was from the 60’s. Magazines had Elvis and the Beatles on them. Sweets still in jars, cards on the counter with hair combs on them etc. Unfortunately my dad didn’t really think any of it was of value so it all got skipped by the builders 🙁

I’ve got some pics somewhere of the shop when it was Toms Cabin and also the later extended Carpets and Curtains by Toms Cabin.

I can remember a bunch of stuff about the High St shops etc if you’re interested in anything particular.

Hope this was interesting for you.

All the best,
Ian.

Here’s a couple of quick ones for Saturday afternoon, that relate to posts from the last week or so – and pretty interesting they are too.

First of all, do you remember this remarkable image supplied by Margaret Thompson?

A wonderful image shared by Margaret Thompson of Brownhills from where the Miner is today, looking down the High Street towards Shire Oak. Click for a larger version.

Well, photo restoration whizz and top pal of the blog Lisa Ashby has waved her magic wand over it, and behold:

And… wow. The same image restored by Lisa Ashby. What a terrific job by a very talented lady!

I think you’ll agree is a vast improvement, and I thank Lisa most profusely – it should be noted that Lisa its available to carry out restorations of images for anyone who’d like projects undertaken, and if you drop me a line I’ll hook you up. Lisa’s previous remarkable work can be seen at this article here and her stunning restoration of the Royal Oak image a few years ago.

Lisa has also been in touch regarding the ‘Who’s that girl?’ conundrum from last weekend, where we were debating the identity of the rather well built lady in he right centre of this 1926 image of what is believed to be a Walsall Wood soup kitchen:

A much debated image of a group outside the old Wesley Chapel in Walsall Wood. Image from ‘Memories of old Walsall Wood’ by Bill Mayo and John Sale.

Lisa had this to say:

I just read your article about ‘Louisa Holden’ (not Julia)[Must stop posting when tired, so sorry – Bob] and my belief that she is in the soup kitchen photo…. The same mystery woman does also appear in the the other soup kitchen photo standing behind the table on the right.

Here are those soup kitchen photos and a photo of Louisa and my great grandfather, William Holden which was taken a good 7 or 8 years later.

Composite image of the lady in question, supplied by Lisa Ashby. Click for a larger version.

Louisa’s health had started to get worse and she was getting on for 54 so she would look similar but not exactly like she did in the photos. The shape of her face is similar, the lines around her mouth are similar, her build, her forehead, the way her hair line raises on the right side of her face all would suggest she is the lady in the soup kitchen photos.

I also noticed that the lady in the photo you posted in the ‘Who’s that girl’ piece is taller than the average women of her day, but Louisa was short and the lady in the photo is shorter than the guys around her.

It’s also possible that on the photo taken outside the church that William is standing on her right hand side, by the time the joint photo was taken he was ill with pancreatic cancer and so would look similar but show signs of age and illness. Until someone can prove to me that it is not Louisa in the photo, I will always believe that it is!

Cheers
Lisa

Well Lisa, you’ve made an excellent case there, and thanks for your well thought out reasoning, which I’d appreciate reader input on: comment here, please or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Cheers.

The work Drew puts into his films is incredible. Image from Yamination Studios.

Just a quick one folks – later this afternoon on the Sky Arts channel will be the premier showing of Walsall Wood film maker and animator Drew Roper’s feature ‘At Issue’.

The program will be shown this afternoon (Wednesday 6th January 2016), at 4:50pm on  Sky Arts (Channel 223 on your Sky box), and it’s a wonderful thing by a very creative local lad.

Andy Roper (of Walsall Wood Football Club fame) said:

Hi Bob

I wondered if you were interested in celebrating with me and the family the recognition this local Wood lad is now getting for his animation talent.

He’s spent the last ten years or so building his portfolio and struggling in a very difficult industry, after a previous and successful graduation at Solent university in Southampton he is now getting his big chance. This latest short film is being shown on Sky Arts on Wednesday 6th January 2016 at 4:50pm.

Many thanks
Andy Roper

You can find out more in this Birmingham Mail article here, and visit the Yamination Studios Facebook page here.

I love to see local creatives getting well-deserved exposure. Click on the screenshot to read the article.

This is a remarkable image, I’ve never seen before; I’d guess it’s turn of the century, no later than 1915. On the left, Brewes bakery and the old Coffee Shop (later Plumber’s Paradise). On the right, The Station Hotel, and behind it, William Robert’s Station Brewery. I’ve never seen this image before. Image generously donated by Margaret Thompson – click for a larger version.

A quick heads up for a remarkable photo that’s just dropped into my inbox from the young David Evans – it has been very generously donated for use by the blog by the last known retaliative of Syd Pritchard, Margaret Thompson.

Syd (not Sid!) was the protagonist of a wonderful book released last year by local history legend Bill Mayo – I believe there may be a few copies still available.

Margaret has contacted David, and the two have got together over a cuppa and some wonderful historical material has come to light – and this image is just a taster. Note that this is the clearest image of the Station Brewery I’ve ever seen, and shows the product of an empire built up by William Roberts, Brownhills’ greatest businessman.

Also visible are the old coffee  shop on the corner of Lichfield Road (later Plumber’s Paradise), Brewes Bakery opposite, and a busy High Street with an assembled crew of interested kids. From the appearance I’d say it was taken between 1900-1910, and is a close relation of a much inferior card published by George Lewis.

David has done a wonderful job of enhancing the image.

I thank Margaret for a wonderful donation, and extend the hand of friendship – there is much to be explored with the Pritchard historical arc and I’m very grateful that we’ve been allowed to share it. A true act of historical felicity by Margaret.

Comments please, or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Thanks.

This postcard, from Jan Farrow’s ‘Around Brownhills and Walsall Wood in old picture postcards’ is by George Lewis, and I’d say was the same photographer, on the same day.

I’m no lover of heights and the thought of constructing or maintaining this thing fill me with fear… my respect to those who built it and look after it is immense.

Last Tuesday, I took time out to do something I’ve been meaning to for a while – cross the Severn bridge by bike, so while in Bristol, I chose to take a look at the Clifton Bridge while i was there too.

It was a beautiful day and I had a wonderful time.

As readers will know, I love architecture and engineering and the chance to see three suspension bridges was not to be missed – and in fact, it was four really, if one includes the Wye bridge, directly joined to the Severn.

Clifton Suspension Bridge is a tour de force of Victorian Engineering hubris by Brunel – a structure constructed less for utility and more as a demonstration of prowess; sadly construction halted midway due to Brunel’s lack of money and wasn’t completed until five years after his death. But what an epitaph.

The Severn Bridge is a classically elegant 1966 work that’s actually four bridges in one – the Aust Viaduct, the Severn Bridge, Beachey Viaduct and Wye Bridge. The viaducts are pier structures, while the river crossings themselves are two different designs of suspension.

Visible from the surrounding landscape is the Second Severn Crossing, built in 1996, and motorway only. This Ronald Weeks designed structure is, to me, timeless and a classic illustration of great British engineering.

All in all a great day, and a 30 mile ride from Bristol to Chepstow, on great cycle trails and generally quiet urban roads. I commend it to anyone.

For more of this kind of thing, 365daysofbiking is still running and coming up to four uninterrupted years of daily pedal-pounding.

Lots of wind turbines on the Severn Estuary. Even the lorries have them fitted.

Chepstow is gorgeous, too – but very hilly.

The Avon through Bristol is historic and beautiful

It’s a long uphill grind. WOuldn’t want to do this every day.

The anti-climb measures are considerable. The box and wiring to the left are sensors listening to the condition of the cables, constantly monitoring stress and unusual noise and vibration.

There are some mad buggers about, clearly.

The Severn Bridge is older, built in 1966.

Downhill at last!

Crossing the bridge is an experience. Terrifically windy, the deck vibrates with the traffic.

The sun over Bristol is a wonderful sight after such bad weather!

The view is stunning. It’s a long way down to the Avon!

The Clifton Observatory has a passage down into a rock cave near the top of the cliff.

From the Chepstow side, it looks more daunting.

Such a great morning.

I have no idea what this is about, but it’s rather cute.

Chepstow seems to be doing quite well.

The Second Severn Crossing is motorway only, but I think it’s beautiful, and clearly a close relative of the Dartford Crossing.

Also crossing the Severn at this point, high tension electricity cables. One pylon stands on it’s own pier.

I must return here.

The elegance of the design is superb. It wasn’t finished until after Brunel’s death.

The mudflats of the Severn and Wye estuary.

This curious cottage in Westbury on Trym is in the middle of an urban area.

Symmetry.

Clifton really is gorgeous.

The geology here is interesting too – Limestone shales, rock, green mudstone and red mudstone, Nosng through the talus is interesting.

I’d ridden from down there,

The pylons are very tall (to accommodate the sag, presumably) and sinister-looking.

Climbing the path from the Avon river trail to the bridge was hard work!

A Gilbert Roberts design, it’s sparse and beautiful.

That first sight of the Clifton Bridge is still arresting.

This reminds me of the seaside

Extra fencing has been added in recent years.

Severn Beach – heavily industrialised and a reminder that this is quite an urban area

The first pylons back on the banks behind the big ones are curious, too. Again, platforms on top.

And down… now I understand the speed limit of 15MPH!

The strange fittings are lights. I believe the bolts are sometimes replaced.

The two pylons either side of the bridge are of a curious design I can’t work out. Why the added platforms at the top?

An astounding 1957 brutalist water tower stands on Clifton Dows.

That carriage is mobile and used for maintenance purposes. Rather you than me, mate

If your washing falls, I guess it’s gone…

This cuddly lad was hanging around outside a street corner cafe waiting for his dad.

The chains were recycled from the Hungerford Footbridge, The steel cable is for maintenance workers to attach climbing gear to.

This has been a notoriously grim spot since it opened.

Such a great view and a lovely day.

The curves and lines of the Clifton Bridge are almost organic.

Bristol is a remarkably varied city that’s continually changed with the times.

When something is right, it just shows. How gorgeous is this?

The nods to Art Deco are surprising.

Clifton is architecturally eccentric to say the least.

These motors open sectional windbreaks designed to control wind effects on vehicles passing the bridge towers.

The Second is a very long bridge, with a suspended middle section.

Te cables and supports are very minimalist.

…will be along tomorrow. Promise 😉

Bob

Shire Oak Grammar class of 1964: image held at Pelsall Local History Centre where a full size version can be inspected.

I’ve just had a wonderful enquiry from ex-Shelfield resident Moira McCormick, who’s after some help tracing members of a lost band from Shire Oak Grammar School, and also memories of Sheffield Youth Club and Walsall Wood.

This is a wonderfully detailed enquiry, and I hope readers can help. Moira wrote:

Hi Bob

As usual at this time of year I go for a sentimental journey down Memory Lane and came across your blog. I grew up in Shelfield in the 1950s and sixties and worked at Walsall Wood Library for a while before going to Teacher Training College after which I lived in Jersey until relatively recently.

I always feel sad when my internet searches fail to locate any of the places I used to go to and any of the people I knew. I am really keen to catch up with any of the people who went to Shelfield Youth Club and Shire Oak Grammar School around 1964-67. I can’t remember the names of many of the people I knew then, but I do remember a pop group formed by guys from Walsall Wood. They were Ian Gwilliam whose mum managed the group, the other members being Lawrence (known as Boz) Barry the drummer and Brian, who all went to Shire Oak. I’m quite curious to see on part of your blog that Shire Oak School opening day was in 1967, but my classmates from St Francis School Primary in Shelfield were among the first year’s intake for Shire Oak in September 1961, not 67. I went to the Catholic Convent Grammar in Wolverhampton, hence not knowing the names of many of the people who went to the Youth Club as well as I would if I had gone to school with them. I remember Patsy Butler by name, David Kirk and that is about all.

If you have any info about any of the guys in that pop group or any of the Shelfield Youth Club members I would be really grateful. I look back on my days spent in the West Midlands with great happiness and would be so happy to meet again some of the people I knew at that time.

Thanks a lot
Moira McCormick

The confusion over the opening day pamphlet is because Shire Oak School was originally just the Grammar School; in the mid-60s the Secondary Modern was built, and opened in 67 – which is what the opening day program was for. The two schools co-existed in the same grounds until being merged as a comprehensive in the 1970s. To this day you can still see two distinct schools on the same site, although they’re the same institution now. I think it’s still divided at the east and west building or something like that.

Shire Oak today, as shown by Apple Maps. The ‘new’ Secondary Modern was on the left here, the Grammar to the right. You can actually see the difference in construction styles between the two.

Thanks for a wonderful enquiry Moira – that should get heads scratching! If you can help, please comment here or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.

In the mean time, do you recognise anyone in the film made by Brownhills Camera Club in the early 1960s? The school is Sheffield Comprehensive…

You can find out more about this film here.

A fine book by two of Walsall’s greatest historians: Jack Haddock and Ruth Vyse.

Here’s one I spotted courtesy of the kind person who bought me a copy of the 2004 book ‘Walsall Remembered’ by the great Jack Haddock and Ruth Vyse; years ago (and it was years) we discussed the legend of tank testing at Shire Oak Quarry during the Second World War – a passage in this book adds to the mystery.

Longer standing readers may recall we discussed the legend, of which I was initially very sceptical, but eyewitness accounts and incidental details cropping up over the years seem to indicate something was going on in the quarry with military vehicles, but we never got to the bottom of exactly what, or where they came from.

This passage (clearly written by Jack) adds some detail:

As I have said, during the autumn of 1941 I left school to commence work at Birchills bus depot. This meant less time for cycle rides but every available moment that could be spared was taken to observe the changing local situation. For one thing the Yanks were about to invade England. A few troop trains began to be seen passing Ryecroft Junction full of Gls. It was while we were waiting for one of these troop specials that we heard a new sound from the main Lichfield Road direction. We immediately pedalled to investigate and were thrilled to see our first tank, which I believe was a Valentine. It transpired that, owing to the war in the Western Desert of North Africa, the manufacture of tanks became a priority and orders for these tanks were given to the Patent Shaft Company of Wednesbury.

The reason for tanks rattling through Walsall was to test them for desert conditions. The most suitable areas for these tests were the sand pits near Shire Oak and Canwell, near Sutton. I well remember one of these monsters approaching The Bridge from Bradford Place with The Bridge traffic policeman standing well back from the spinning tracks. It clattered by Sister Dora’s statue complete with its lethal gun, passing the Town Hall, here, incidentally, one of the first tanks ever made was on display in 1916 to raise money for the First World War.

Does this add anything of use? I’m thoroughly convinced armoured vehicles were being tested there now, but I’m still curious as to why there, and where they might have been coming from.  A tank uses a heck of a lot of fuel, and in a time when fuel was in short supply they can’t have been going far under their own steam, surely?

I’d still love to know moire about this curious bit of lost history.

Please, if you can help with this or add to it, comment here or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.

A tank visits Walsall in 1918 fundraising for the war effort in 1918. Image from Walsall Local History Centre.

Looks wonderful!

Just a headsup that there’s an excellent new local history DVD out right now by great local historian John Sale, who has delved into his huge collection of historic photos and other material to select wonderful examples to share.

I haven’t seen the DVD yet, but I know it’s just £7.50 and is currently available from Claridges Electrical store in Walsall Wood High Street.

This would make an excellent Christmas present – especially if given with one or more of the other local history books currently available.

If you can’t get up there, drop me a line and I’ll pass your contact details on so you can obtain a copy direct from John.

John Sale is, along with all the local history old guard, someone I have immense respect and time for. John co-wrote several local history books with Bill Mayo, and is known for his warmth and extensive local history knowledge.

Looking at the flyer above, it raises a question, though. That’s the photo of David Yates on the Rabbit Bridge, featured here a week ago. The original (see above) appears to be a colour photo, but I and others only recognise it as a black and white image, due to earlier publication of it.

How many other local history images are actually in colour in their original form, but we now think are only black and white? An interesting point, I think.

I’m hoping the young David Evans might be able to cop John for a chat at some point, and I’ll certainly be getting a copy of this DVD and reviewing it here.

Please do comment here or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Thanks!

The huts in Lynn Lane – now long gone – were apparently used to house Italian POWs during the war; that period of use seems to be bracketed between periods in use by the Land Army. From Susan Marie Ward’s blog post: ‘My mother, (far right) and her best friend Betty Green, (far left), lean out of the window of the Land Army Hostel in Lynn Lane, Shenstone – 1948’

There’s been an interesting question been rattling around the wires between seasoned blog contributors over the past couple of weeks about Italian Prisoners of War in World War Two, and where they were held locally and the nature of their interaction with the local population.

In response to this susurration, Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler turned his attention to the matter in the last week to compile this article which I hope will spur further discussion.

What’s particularly interesting to me is that Susan Marie Ward, curator of the Staffordshirebred blog and great friend of this one, previously tangentially referenced the issue when she wrote about her mother’s experience in the local land army.

In her post post Susan publishes a photo (featured above) of her mother at the window of the ‘Land Army Hostel’ in Lynn Lane in 1948. Thus if the Italian P.O.Ws lived in there during the war, their use must have been transitory. She also mentions that Ukranian prisoners were held at Lincoln House in Shenstone during the same period.

I invite anyone with more information to contribute. The more the merrier. Comment here or mail me: BrownhillsBob t Googlemail dot com.

There’s a Times article here about the part such P.O.Ws played in our agriculture during and after the war. It seems to be a remarkable and largely unknown history.

Thanks to Peter for a wonderful talking point, and his usual diligent and challenging research.

‘Image Italian prisoners of war helping to gather England’s harvest in August 1941. Some married local women and stayed on’ – image from The Times/PA

Peter wrote:

In an exchange with our learned friend David Evans, the subject of a local Italian Prisoner of War camp arose, and also the interaction of the prisoners with the local community.

For POW camps there are a few lists that can be obtained from a Google search, all that give similar information, such as this one from the Guardian here.

It appears that there were nine camps in Staffs, the nearest ones being Flaxley Green and Wolseley Road, Rugeley and Shugborough Hospital.

I believe that there may have been a confusion between the terms camp and hostel as can be seen in the book ‘Discovering Stonnall’ written by the Lynn and Stonnall Conservation and Historical Society….

Opposite Lynn nurseries was the Women’s Land Army Camp… later Italian POWs stayed there.

Many newspapers carried the first notice of arrival is January 1941 of Italian prisoners…

The first batch of about 2,000 Italian prisoners of war recently arrived in this country. They have been specially selected for their suitability for work on the land. They are at present being arranged into working parties, and will be placed in working camps in various parts of the country. It is the intention that these men shall be engaged primarily on ditching and drainage work in order to prepare some thousands of additional acres for ploughing up this Autumn.

Later in January 1942…

In view of the shortage of agricultural labour the government is anxious for Italian prisoners of war to be used on farm work so far it is consistent with national security. It has therefore been decided, as in the last war, to permit certain ‘good conduct’ prisoners to ‘live in’ on farms and work for the farmers. At the same time other good conduct prisoners will be transferred to a few selected hostels from which they will be available for employment by neighbouring farmers. Both schemes are experimental and will be confined at present to the neighbourhood of the existing prisoner of war camps. The prisoners selected to take part in these experimental schemes would have been working in agriculture in this country for some months, and would have shown that they will work well and are of good behaviour. They will be not be allowed near places the military importance, and it will be kept under general supervision by the military authorities.

Farmers in the Midlands, where the existing prison camps are located, and wish to have a prisoner ‘live in’ on their farms should make application to the County War Agricultural Executive… farmers within 10 miles of the hostels will have to fetch the prisoner and return him before blackout.

October 1942…

Arrangements are being made in Staffordshire for Italian prison of war to assist in pulling the sugarbeet crop. The National Farmers Union takes the view that arrangement should be made to provide similar systems for harvesting potato crops.

‘Discovering Stonnall’ also gives a few oral accounts of the interaction with the locals…

‘They had khaki uniforms with diamonds and rings and other shapes in different colours on their backs so they stood out. The village used to play them at football. They took over from the Women’s Land Army working on the farms. We never saw anyone guarding them. In 1943 they became more like displaced persons.

But not all went well as in July 1943 Captain Poole, MP for the Lichfield Division, is to ask a question in the House to the Secretary of State for War concerning Italian prisoners of war. The allegations that the Italian prisoners of war employed in the Tamworth district are able to purchase in their canteen large quantities of matches, razor blades, hair cream and another articles which are not available for the civil population, and will he see that giving humane treatment to such prisoners they are not placed in an advantageous position than the civil population.

Later in October 1943 the Lichfield Mercury carried the headline ‘Farmers and Italian prisoners of war: Rules and Regulations… to fraternise is unpatriotic’

Prisoners who work on farms are to be accommodated either in the prisoner of war camps, special billets, or on the farms, but at all times they come under the command of the Camp Commandant… It is therefore up to the farmers to ensure that both they, and the prisoners, understand the rules and regulations relating to their employment, and for the farmers to ensure that their prisoners obey them….

One of the concessions allowed to the prisoners is that they are permitted to go up to 1 mile from their billets when not on duty, and further when on duty, although their employer must always know where they have gone. If a prisoner is found loitering on the road and he stopped by a policeman, both the prisoner in his employer are likely to be involved in trouble. Prisoners are forbidden to go into towns or villages or to enter into houses or shops, although there is no objection to their visiting the house where another prisoner is billeted, provided the other prisoner’s employer is agreeable. They are not permitted to go into places of entertainment, or to any meeting where they could associate members of the public. They must be in their billets half an hour before blackout time, and in no circumstances are they permitted to be out of doors after the black out. It is essential, too, that the prisoners should always carry their identification papers.

While the use of bicycles by prisoners is generally forbidden, employers may apply to the camp commandant for permits for their prisoners to ride bicycles to church or in connection with their work, but police have instructions to arrest prisoners riding bicycles without permits. Fraternisation with prisoners of war is definitely unpatriotic. Some members of the public necessarily come into contact with prisoners in connection with their work. They should treat the prisoners with politeness, but should avoid anything in the nature of friendship or any association with them beyond that which is absolutely necessary in connection with any employment. It is a serious offence under the Defence Regulations for a member of the public to give a prisoner of war who is in place of detention money or the presents. On the other hand, the public should avoid provocative gestures or language to the prisoners of war…