Cradley Heath memories
Here are memories of Cradley Heath and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Cradley Heath or a Cradley Heath photo.
Moving to The West Midlands
We moved from The Medway Towns in South-east of England in the early nineties to the West Midlands to go narrow boating on the canals. I worked for premier narrow boat builders Les Allen and Sons at Velencia Wharf in Oldbury and we bought a small seventeenth century cottage in Corngreaves road nearly opposite Corngreaves Hall beside what was then Clancey's Foundary and the river Stour. The Hall was then in use or part use, as the clubhouse and car park of Corngreaves Golf Course which was a municipal eighteen hole course where I walked my Alsatian dog night and morning for the five years we lived happily in Holmestead Cottage. At the time there was a part derelict but nearly intact nail making shop built onto the back of a cottage just up the road, which still had the little forge and all the rusted tools hanging from the rafters, in the Highstreet near the railway station the site of the large chain makers where the anchor chain for... Read more
Memories of West Midlands
Quarry Bank
To me the first eleven years of my life, growing up in Quarry Bank, was the most enjoyable. I was born Kenneth Graham Sewell, on the 26th January 1947, at 59 Saltwells Road, now renamed White City, and the whole country was in the grip of the worst snows for years. I can remember from when I was eight months old and can recall being held in my mother's arms, watching our new council house being built. Number 3 Montgomery Crescent was to become a wonderful place for me, with my dad Joe, mom Lily, and my sister Janet. And later at number nine, a boy named Danny Priest was to become my life-long friend. One fine memory I have is of the Queen's coronation in 1953. The government doubled the sugar ration so as our mothers could bake cakes for the celebrations. Chairs and tables were lined up all down our streets and they were festooned with red white and blue. And that day was the best day... Read more
WESCO Not TESCO - The First Ever Supermarket in The UK?
I have so many wonderful memories of growing up in Quarry Bank - from moving into the brand new 'fashion houses' when I was 3; four of us on a motorbike, with me wedged between mum and dad (Wes Archer) as he negotiated the roads before they were finished (my 7 year old sister, Jenny, on the back!); the proud opening of the shop in Lawnsdown Road - it was actually called W.E.S. & Co and became the social focus of the estate - only recently did we realise that dad was way ahead of his time with the name of the grocery-cum-sweet shop that my mother, Hilda, ran cheerfully for several years. She sold just about everything Dad brought back from an Aladdin's cave beyond Dudley. And every day I was allowed 2 custard tarts and a Mars bar before I did my homework. No wonder I have so many fillings! In the early days we often played 'armies' in the 'oods behind the houses, made... Read more
Nan's House
Mr grandparents lived at 80 Dudley Road. This property was many years earlier a public house (I think it was called the Raven or the Blackbird). It was next to the railway line. To this day it has helped to give me a love of steam engines.
I remember the Christmas tree was at the top end of the high street (later it was moved to the Cross). The Clifton cinema had been converted to a toy store, it was like an Aladdin's cave. John Webb and his pony and trap were a regular sight.
Later I would work in Lye, first with the parks department of the council, later for Annabel's florist. I love the humour and warmth of Lye people, my immediate family have all at some time felt the love of Lye people.
Like all places, Lye has changed, and I don't think for the better. Ok, the slum housing has gone, but what has replaced it, yet more (modern) back to backs. I remember the... Read more
Memories of Lye in The 1950s
I too remember the Clifton Cinema and the temp. cinema, also the Salvation Army. There was 'Thornley' who sold veggies from his horse and cart, also 'Kitson' who sold bread from his horse drawn van with his brother, 'Wacaden' milk, the knife grinder who came round on his bike and coverted it into a grinder, gas lamps in the street, and where I lived at 19 Hayes Lane, gas and electric was in the house, Lye church when it had a steeple, the water tank opposite the Clifton from which my father Josh saved a small boy from drowning. Orchard Lane Infants School, also the Juniors and Valley Road Secondary Modern, where Jeramiah Harper was the headmaster.
Just a few of my memories, I've hundreds more...
Keith Shaw
Finding an Old Friend in Lye
I wonder if anyone can help me? I'm looking for a girl I grew up with - Mary Brettel was her maiden name, she lived in Stourvale Road off Hayes Lane where I lived. Mary left there in about 1958 when she was 13 or 14 years old and moved to High Park Avenue in Norton. Her father Ben and his brother Stan and his son David owned a holloware factory in Lye, BRETTLE BROTHERS, opposite the Station pub. I last saw and spoke to Mary in the late 1960s
at Lye Labour Club. I would love to find her again after all these years and talk over old times, I do hope someone can help.
Keith Shaw.
Memorybank total
We're very pleased and excited by your response so far to our "Share your Memories" community.
You've shared 28,855 memories of 5,947 towns & villages across the UK - keep them coming!
Find Memories
Simply search for your favourite places to read others' memories and share your own.
Tips & Ideas
Not sure what to write?
It's easy - just think of an important place in your life and ask yourself:
How does it feature in your personal history?
What are your best memories of this place?
How has it changed over the years?
How does it feel, seeing these old photos of your favourite place?
Do you remember stories about the local community, its history and people?
Start now!
It's easy to add your own memories and reconnect with your shared local history. Search for your favourite places and look for the orange "Add your Memory" icon to begin.
Places this week
Here are some of the places you've shared memories of this week:
- Sedlescombe, East Sussex
- North Coates, Lincolnshire
- Wrexham, Clwyd
- Worcester, Worcestershire
- Knaphill, Surrey
- Helsby, Cheshire
- Greystoke, Cumbria
- Netherbury, Dorset
- Draycott-In-The-Clay, Derbyshire
- Lundin Links, Fife
- Dagenham, Essex
- Kirkandrews-On-Eden, Cumbria
- Thornton Heath, Surrey
- Lowestoft, Suffolk
- Taxal, Derbyshire
- Easington Colliery, County Durham
- Blaenllechau, Mid Glamorgan
- Bethesda, Gwynedd
- Orpington, Kent
- Crook, County Durham
- ... and lots more - Browse this week's memories now.
Your memories
To jump straight to the memories you have added already to the Community, click here
I Remember When...
This stunning compilation highlights some of the best stories selected from the thousands contributed here on the
Frith website. The result is an absorbing chronicle of British life from the Second World War to the mid 1960s.
A colourful treasure trove of memories, "I Remember When" is an
irresistible mix of personal stories and recollections that affectionately reveal the detail of everyday life in Britain.
