Cradley, a History
by Barry G. Willetts and Hazel M. Clifton, 1997  |  | | | Cover of "Cradley, a History", by Barry G. Willetts and Hazel M. Clifton, 1997 | |
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Clifford Willetts (1896-1980), O.B.E., began work on what was later to become "Cradley, a History" in the 1960's and 1970's.
Later, he related part of it to his grandson Glen for a college history project.
To commemorate what would have been the 100th birthday of Clifford Willetts on 20th October 1997, his son and daughter (Barry and Hazel) drew together his work, and published it as A History of Cradley.
This history of Cradley looks at the ancient township boundary, the 1851 census, some of the famous people associated with Cradley, the charities established for the people of Cradley and the price of England's Glory matches a century ago.
Clifford Willetts explains where Dungeon Head and the Gaol Yard used to be (they were different places.) He describes how Dick's Hill, formerly the Innage, was made to provide a short cut from the windmill in Two Gates Lane to Windmill Hill, to convey flour. And there was another Innage, between the top of the old High Street and Blue Ball Lane.
The result is a fascinating miscellany of the long-ago Cradley which Clifford Willetts knew so well.
We read of street names over the centuries; the history of its Park, schools and churches; and the meaning of local dialect words like herzen, housen, cor, shor and fittle.
And we learn how the Wars of the Roses in the fifteenth century changed the course of the history of our ancient manor of Cradley.
Cliff tells the story of the woman making arrangements for her wedding who was asked by the Registrar if she was a spinster. She replied: "No, I'm a puddler at the Brick'ell."
Like its cover, this book is gold. It speaks simply and eloquently of the history of Cradley, and of the lives of the ordinary men, women and children who lived, worked and died there.
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![Cover of "Cradley, a History", by Barry G. Willetts and Hazel M. Clifton, 1997](javascript:showImage('original/cradley_a_history.jpg','Cover of "Cradley, a History", by Barry G. Willetts and Hazel M. Clifton, 1997',424,600))
