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“shake the hand of the great George Smith”
It is difficult if not impossible to really know what a historical character was like – think of the polarised positions we take over Richard III, controversies over movie portrayals of Queen Elizabeth and Alexander the Great, and movie-makers themselves playing fast and loose with the historic record – Ridley Scott’s recent biopic Napoleon has… Continue reading
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The Twentyman Cross
A beautiful carved stone cross stands in St Bartholomew’s churchyard in Penn, reminiscent of 9th century crosses dotted around the British Isles. The cross is dedicated to Alfred Charles Twentyman (1833-1908) J.P., chairman of Wolverhampton Hospital and international merchant, exporter of iron goods, agricultural items and guns. Alfred’s father was Liverpool-born Lawrence Holme Twentyman (1783-1852) a… Continue reading
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“There is some corner of a foreign field…”
As Remembrance Sunday approaches we thought a few stories of men (and it was predominantly men) who served, often making the ultimate sacrifice, in either of the World Wars, and who came from, or had strong connections with, the Black Country, would be timely. But where to start? There are over 1500 graves cared for… Continue reading
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“I shall be glad when this is all over.”
One of the very first World War One war memorials is on the edge of the Black Country. It is a beautiful stained glass window from the workshops of William Morris and Co., designed under the supervision of the Morris and Co. Artistic Director, JH Dearle and installed in St Mary’s, Oldswinford, in December 1915.… Continue reading
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Another Black Country MP record.
This should be the last post about Members of Parliament for a while – but I felt having featured Alfred Dobbs and his record for being the shortest serving MP of all time I really shouldn’t pass over the opportunity to mention another Black Country MP – this time the holder of the record for… Continue reading
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Edward Legge . . .MP ?
Given our recent focus on MP’s I thought it would be apt to mention Edward Legge, 5th son of the 1st earl of Dartmouth, the one who had established Sandwell Hall as the family seat in 1710. Edward Legge (born in 1710) had joined the Royal Navy as a 16 year old and passed his… Continue reading
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Not a record you’d want to hold!
There are some records that you really don’t want to hold. For example, Tom Collins set a record for the longest wait on a trolley in a hospital (over 77 hours before he was found a bed) in 2001 (I fear this may be broken this winter), the stuntman Evel Knievel broke or fractured 433… Continue reading
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Sir Rick Astley
The splendid Astley tomb at Patshull, a rare surviving portrayal of Royalist Troops in the 17th century. Sir Richard Astley (Rick?) is pictured leading the troops. He raised a troop of horse for King Charles I and served as captain during the first Civil War, possibly fighting with Lord Loughborough’s regiment. The Astleys, Royalists during… Continue reading
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Forgotten burial grounds of the Black Country #1
Most people in West Bromwich know of Providence Place, the new office and hotel development next to the old Cronehills colliery site and close to the new Tesco. But not many people, including many who work there now, know the origin of the name, nor what still lies beneath the car park. In 1810 a… Continue reading