 |  | | Cover of "Cradley - Impressions from Old Photographs" |
"Cradley - Impressions from Old Photographs"
This is the first of Peter Barnsley's two collections of photographs of old Cradley and its people, with accompanying text, published in 1992.
The photographs have come from many sources, both professional and amateur. They include John Smith, Charles Frank Everitt, Edwin Beech, George Flavell, and Peter Barnsley himself.
Discover the solicitor who was also a flautist and philanthropist, which building was known locally as "the pepperpot", the General who was not in the military and the income tax collector who was the caretaker at Colley Lane School and Cradley's school-attendance officer; and the multi-talented decorator, local councillor and amateur actor (who we can add was also the local cub scout master during the 1950s and into the 1960s).
The author seems to have a fascination with Cradley street lights, which in no way detracts from the wealth of detail about individuals at work, rest and play in the streets of Cradley. There are many ancestors to be found pictured in this book.
 | | | Cover of "A Cradley Album" |
“A Cradley Album”
The second of Peter Barnsley's collections of old photographs of Cradley is titled A Cradley Album. The first created such an interest that in less than two years Peter had enough material for a second book. We are looking forward to the third.
As the author says: "The appeal of old photographs is based partly on curiosity, and partly on the common human emotion of nostalgia (of all longings, the one that must remain forever unsatisfied). To crave for the return of past times - often of times beyond the reach of our own memories - is a familiar experience for most of us."
Amongst the photographs are stories of Cradley's XLCR Band, Carnival Day and the Village Nuts. There is also the tale of the horse attached to a bread van that bolted in Ladysmith Road, galloped into Maple Tree Lane and down the High Street until it came to a standstill against the wall of a chain shop.
 | | | Cradley High Street has a peaceful, almost somnolent air on a quiet summer afternoon in 1958. Ken Bradney's butcher's shop is under the awning on the right, with Wilf William's greengrocery on the far side of the step. The Holly Bush is immediately below Willetts' bakery, with the Cradley Pentecostal Mission (previously the Robin Hood Inn) on the opposite corner of New Street. The sign of the White Horse is just visible in the background. Photograph and caption from A Cradley Album |
 | | | Homer Hill Youth Club Football Team, photographed before a home game against Blackheath Wanderers on 19th January, 1952. The team, which played in the Halesowen Youth League (for under-21 sides) was based at Homer Hill (now Cradley High) School, where its home matches were held. Back row (left to right): Roy 'Tubby' Woodhouse, Haydn Briggs, Gerald Meyer, Peter Barnsley, Ken Cox, _ Smith, Wilf Wllets, George Hughes (manager). Front row: Ron Priest, Geoffrey Green, Fred Hughes, Raymond Heath, Don Hill. Photograph and caption from A Cradley Album |
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![enlarge](javascript:showImage('original/cradley_album.jpg','Cover of "A Cradley Album"',350 ,512 )){kind=small}
 on the opposite corner of New Street. The sign of the White Horse is just visible in the background. Photograph and caption from A Cradley Album',640 ,487 )){kind=small}
 was based at Homer Hill (now Cradley High) School, where its home matches were held. Back row (left to right): Roy \'Tubby\' Woodhouse, Haydn Briggs, Gerald Meyer, Peter Barnsley, Ken Cox, _ Smith, Wilf Wllets, George Hughes (manager). Front row: Ron Priest, Geoffrey Green, Fred Hughes, Raymond Heath, Don Hill. Photograph and caption from A Cradley Album',800 ,501 )){kind=small}
