Romsley & Hunnington History Society -

Meeting Report - September 2018

The first meeting of the new session of the Romsley and Hunnington History Society took place on Tuesday 25th September. The Speaker was John Billingham and his talk was called, "An Amble Around Staffordshire", the county where he was born.

John revealed that Staffordshire was full of surprises. Not too far away are the rock houses of Kinver. No one knows how long these caves in the sandstone have been inhabited, but could they have been the inspiration for J.R.R. Tolkien's tunnel homes of Hobbiton?

Another mysterious and very secret place was the Drakelow Tunnels, built underground by the Austin Motor Company so that they could produce their Spitfire engines. These tunnels were also proposed for a Regional Seat of Government during the war. Lichfield, famous for the Cathedral with three spires, was also the place where three famous men lived. Samuel Johnson, who compiled his dictionary; Erasmus Darwin, grandfather of Charles Darwin, who was a doctor; and David Garrick, an actor famous for his role as Richard III.

The River Trent runs through Staffordshire, and together with the canals, was an important means of transport for the china industry around Stoke on Trent and the Potteries. One of John's many fine illustrations was a picture of, "A Sagger Maker's Bottom Knocker" made famous by the television programme, "What's My Line?"

Staffordshire can also boast of having, "The Greatest Midlander of All Time": R.J. Mitchell, who designed the Spitfire plane. The other tribute to the war dead is based at Alrewas, the National Arboretum of War Graves.

Staffordshire proved to be a very interesting county and perhaps after John's talk, members of the History Society may be persuaded to visit some of the places which are on our doorstep.

The next meeting will be on Tuesday 23rd October at 7.30pm in the Church Hall, when Max Hunt will tell us about, "Shelsley Walsh, the Story of a Village." There will be meetings for the Court Rolls Group on Wednesday October 10th, November 7th and December 5th all at 2.30pm till 4.00pm in the Church Hall. Everyone is welcome.

Pat Evans

Meeting Report - October 2018

There were about 44 members present at the Romsley and Hunnington History Society meeting on Tuesday 23rd October, when Max Hunt gave a talk on, "Shelsley Walsh, The Story of a Village." About sixty years ago I remember sitting on a grassy bank amid noise and fumes watching a variety of cars attempt to climb up a very steep hill at Shelsley Walsh, in the fastest time. It was therefore very interesting to hear Max Hunt's account of how the smallest parish in Worcestershire evolved.

It was mentioned in the Doomsday Book when it was just a quiet clearing on a wooded slope. The Walsh family owned the land and built the Court House. Sir Richard Walsh became involved in the Gunpowder Plot when he pursued the plotters but failed to take them alive! The Manor was bought by the Black Country industrialist Thomas Foley who used the timber from the trees to make charcoal for his iron industry and a forge and water mill were set up and the village became industrialised.

The Manor then passed to the Dudley- Wards and in 1890 Montague Taylor bought the freehold. With the advent of the motor car, in 1901 he established the Midland Automobile Club. Hill Climbing became popular. In 1905 the first Shelsley Walsh Hill Climb took place and over the years it became quite an event. Apart from the War Years, it has taken place annually ever since and in 1932 the BBC's very first Sporting Outside Broadcast came from there. Eventually it became an international event with many well known racing drivers taking part.

Today the Hill Climb still takes place in the summer and Shelsley Walsh becomes alive with the roar of motor engines. The old Mill has been restored by a band of enthusiasts and still grinds corn and the little village welcomes visitors from everywhere. Max's talk was fascinating and was illustrated with some beautiful photographs.

The next Court Rolls meeting is on Wednesday 5th December and the next meeting of the History Society is on Tuesday 27th November at 7.30pm in the Church Hall when Paul Harding and Helen Lee will give a talk on, "Victorian Everyday Life." The first meeting in the New Year is on Tuesday 26th February when Max Keen will give a talk on, "Prince Rupert of the Rhine: King Charles 1st's Pirate Prince." Everyone is welcome

Pat Evans

Meeting Report - November 2018

There were 43 members and visitors at the meeting of the Romsley and Hunnington History Society on Tuesday, 27th November. The Speaker was Paul Harding with Helen Lees and the title of his talk was,"Everyday Life in Victorian England." Paul, with his usual humour and wit, admitted that Victorian times were his least favourite era and it soon became clear why this was so.

There were great divisions between the rich and the poor. Many people had moved from the country to the towns and cities to work in the new factories, hoping for a better life. This overcrowding had produced a housing crisis. Many small houses were built in terraces with a yard at the back, with a wash house and two outside toilets which served up to 44 households. Conditions were dreadful!

However, the proud Victorians strove to keep their houses clean, even scrubbing their front steps. On Monday was the ritual of Washday. The fire under the copper had to be lit early to provide the hot water to wash the clothes, which were hung out to dry in the yard, in the shadow of the factory chimneys, just the place for clean washing!

They cooked on a range, but in poor families there was very little to cook, while in rich homes Mrs Beaton dictated how her extravagant recipes should be carried out. In the factories there were many health and safety hazards and there were frequent accidents. You weren't safe at home either, as there was constant danger from arsenic in the wallpaper. One great innovation however, was the fact that all children had to go to school to learn reading, writing and arithmetic.

We all probably remember listening to members of our own families, who were born in Victorian times, which wasn't so long ago, speaking about the hard times, compared to life today. These tales were confirmed by Paul's very interesting talk which he illustrated with many authentic artefacts. We all went home, glad that we lived in the 21st Century!

The next meeting will be on Tuesday, 26th February at 7.30pm in the Church Hall, when Max Keen will give a talk on, "Prince Rupert of the Rhine, King Charles 1st's Pirate Prince." Everyone is welcome.

Pat Evans.