Cradley Then and Now - local heritage project to raise the profile of Cradley and to promote and protect its heritage
This was the wording on the poster advertising the first meeting of the Cradley Then and Now group on Monday 3rd November 1997 at Cradley Library. It sums up the aims and intentions of the original committee comprising of Walter Hughes, Julie and Kevin Powis, Michael and Steven Hill and Jill Guest.
The first meeting was well attended, and the group has grown steadily until at the present time (May 2001) we have over 100 people on the mailing list and a regular attendance at the meetings of between 60-80 people.
The original meetings were held at Cradley Library but because of growing numbers and lack of space the venue was changed for the Christmas meeting in December 2000 to the Park Lane Unitarian schoolrooms where the group has been made very welcome and meetings have since been held.
Events held since 1997 include: taping of memories (see Cradley Files in Then and Now book), collection of dialect words (again, see book), photographic competition, Christmas socials, family history talk, Black Country video, Cradley Quiz, day trip to Dudmaston Manor, talks on the history of Cradley Churches, Cradley churchyard, shops up Colley Gate, Beechtree Pits and coal mining, visit by M.P. Debra Shipley, Faggots and Peas evening, and three Cradley Days.
 |  | | | Cover of "Cradley Then & Now" | |
|
In October 2000 the Cradley Then and Now Book containing the Heritage Trail and Memories was launched. In the six months since over 200 copies have been sold, with orders from all parts of the British Isles, as well as further afield from America and Australia.
Cradley Then and Now members have helped or had stalls at the Cradley Neighbourhood Festival in 1998, the Dudley Local History Fair in September 1998, and the Cradley Playdays at the Bernard Oakley Memorial Gardens in 1999 and 2000. As well as organising the very successful Cradley days, the first of which was held at Cradley High School in October 1998, the second at Cradley Community Centre in October 2000, and the third at Colley Lane Primary on 5th October 2002.
An offshoot of the original group has been the Black Country Crafts Class, which is held on alternate Wednesday afternoons from 2-4pm at Park Lane Unitarian Schools. This was started in July 2000 to try to preserve some of the dying Black Country crafts. We normally have about 10-12 ladies with occasional gentlemen visitors, including one who came to serenade us on the organ. So far we have tried corking and rug podging. The first rug with the emblem of the flame and chalice of the Unitarian Church was finished and handed over at the carol service last Christmas, and it now hangs on the wall of the schoolrooms. The second rug was begun in January 2001 and hopefully will depict the famous industries of Cradley, chainmaking, mining and brickmaking.
The latest project the group is involved with is a book of memories of Colley Lane School, which celebrates the centenary of the opening of the girls school in 2002. It is now planned to build a new school on the existing playing fields and demolish the old one afterwards. We are therefore hoping to preserve as much of the history and memories of the old school as possible.
Cradley Then and Now is not just an historical society; it is a meeting of old friends, the making of new ones and the opportunity for people to talk together. At the time of writing, the Committee are Walter Hughes, Julie and Kevin Powis, Bev Walton, Maurice Cole and Jill Guest.
For further information, including how to obtain a copy of the Cradley Then & Now book, and other local publications, please email Jill Guest.
Cradley Then and Now Dates for 2005| Chairman: | Irving Billingham | | President: | Kevin Powis | | Treasurer: | Jill Guest | | Secretary: | Bev Walton | | Committee: | Julie Powis, Brian Knowles, Enid Billingham, June Farmer |
was seven years old in November 2004. We always welcome new ideas, both for meetings or speakers, or anything to do with Cradley, please speak to any of the committee if you have any new ideas. There will will be an admission charge of £1. Refreshments included. All meetings will be at Park Lane Unitarian Hall, on the second Monday in the month, starting at 7:30 pm unless otherwise advertised. The programme is subject to change without prior notice. Dates for 2005
- Monday 14th February 2005
- Ned Williams
For the love of Chapels
- Monday March 14th 2005
- Suzy Scott
Black Country Living Museum
The workers Institute Cradley Heath
- Monday 11th April 2005
- John Cooksey
Slides of Cradley
- Monday 9th May 2005
- Monday 13th June 2005
- Monday 11th July 2005
- John Boynton
Local Railways
- Monday 8th August 2005
- Visit to St. Peter's Church
- Monday 12th September 2005
- Monday 10th October 2005
- Jean Weston and Marlene Price
Pioneers, Preachers and Personalities. 2nd part of Monumental History of Lye
- Monday 14th November 2005
- Monday 12th December 2005
- December Christmas meeting
The Committee would like to thank everyone who has helped to make 2004 another successful year for Cradley Then and Now. As well as our regular meetings we have had two coach trips, one to Baddesley Clinton and one to the Hop fields, and a visit to Two Gates Ragged School. The fourth Cradley Day was held at Providence Methodist Church Hall in October and was very well attended. The money from the raffle held on that day being donated to Rollercoasters, a local playscheme for special children. And in December the latest Cradley Then and Now publications were launched, a transcription of the Vicar of Cradley's notebooks of 1857 and 1863, an asset to anyone researching their family history with Cradley connections. Cradley Crafties
Meetings are held on alternate Wednesday afternoons at Park Lane Unitarian Hall from 2 to 4 pm. Variety of hand-made crafts made to order. Cradley Then and Now is proud of its links with the Cradley Website. Over 220 pages about Cradley www.cradleylinks.com and all its friends who have one thing in common: CRADLEY
Further details of all events from Jill Guest
Tel: (work) 01384 812885
E-mail: jillguest@blueyonder.co.uk |
![Cover of "Cradley Then & Now"](javascript:showImage('original/cradley_then_and_now_cover.jpg','Cover of "Cradley Then & Now"',591,858))
