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Hednesford
Hednesford maps
Historic maps of Hednesford and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis. View all Hednesford maps
Hednesford area books
Displaying 1 of 4 books about Hednesford and the local area. View all books for this area
You can read extracts and browse photos from these books.
Memories of Hednesford
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memories of Hednesford.
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Tivoli Picture House
I remember my Uncle Keith taking me to Saturday morning pictures at the Tivoli. I used to have a 'birthday' every 3 weeks so we would get the free sweets they gave away on your birthday. Great times. I miss him so much.
Hazel Slade House Racing Stables
I was an apprentice jockey with master Robert Charles Ward from 1954 to 1960, then I went in the Forces, then I emigrated to Australia and now live in Victoria, in Langwarrin. With reference to Mrs Gillian Barsby, her brother, Mr Fred Griffiths, I knew him, he used to open the gates at the railway crossing just down from the stables at Hazel Slade, and he used to come down to the stables in the afternoons. I also used to go into the Hazel Slade Inn after the races. If any of those people want to get in touch with me they are very welcome. I could write a book on the stables. I will pass my phone number on, there's 11 hours in time difference, or they can email me at: chrisandclive@yahoo.co.uk The phone number is 0397895626. Yours truly, Mr C Brookes.
Tobacco Shop
I remember walking home from Hednesford Raceway, with my Mom, on Sundays and visting a little tobacco shop. My Mom would buy a bag of snuff for her Nan from there. I remember a little old lady working there and the fantastic smells in the shop.
Ice Cream Shop
The ice cream shop was near the big Catholic church at Hednesford, the church had hydraulics which were adjusted annually to keep in level from mining subsidence. The shop served the best ever ice cream soda in a tall glass with straws, my favourite was orange pop with vanilla ice cream. My Grandad Titley used to walk my cousin and I there for a Saturday treat. We walked over the fields at Chadsmoor and would watch the racing pigeons returning home.
The Tivoli in Wartime
I remember the Sunday concerts at the Tivoli during wartime. These were produced in a very professional manner and were a wonderful morale booster for the local people during some very dark days. One Sunday the same concert was being performed at the Tivoli and The Empire on the same night and the artists were running between the two cinemas all evening. A trip to the cinema followed by a cup of tea and a bun at Sally Lowe's Cafe under the clock was quite a night out, how times have changed!
Hednesford
The picture of the Van in the main street of Hednesford is I think the Co-op grocery delivery van. Just below the woman was then a Co-op grocery store. The van was driven by a man by the name of Tommy; I unfortunately can't remember his surname.
I worked at the Rawnsley Co-op branch in the 60s when I was 17, the Manager was Ron Berks. It was my job to walk to all the outlying areas to collect customer’s orders namely, Wimblebury, Hazel Slade, Cannock Wood, Rawnsley New Village and Gentalshaw... The orders would then be put up and packed in boxes and I would go out on delivery with Tommy on Fridays and Saturdays in this van.
Hednesford
I remember Kings fish and chip shop in Uxbridge Street, it's now a Chinese takeaway, also Trabulis Cafe, soup and exra bread for 8d (old money). In the 60s we used to go for our dinner when I was at Littleworth Boys School (now Kingsmead Tech College), also the Anbatina Cafe in Market Street next to the Lichfield Laundry, all knocked down now and replaced by a bookies, an off license and bank. Also the indoor market. Hednesford was sadly left behind by the renovation of Cannock but in those days Hednesford people were so friendly, lived their till I was 22, now in Norton Canes though my family are still there. Saturday night at the Civic saw some great bands, we would go for a drink in the Anglesey Hotel then across the road to the Civic, 4/6d in old money, great days.
Uncle Frank's Cinema - The Tivoli
I believe the Tivoli was owned by my Uncle Frank Williams, who lived in the 40s at Tree Tops, a modern (then) bungalow in the vicinity of Rugeley. He was my father's brother and I think he also owned the cinema at the other end of the main road (was it the Empire?) Previously he either owned or leased Cannock Picture House. He had a poster business (mainly cinema posters) where my father Erskine Williams latterly worked - first situated in Cannock and then around 1942 at the Red House (now replaced by a large industrial estate) on the East Cannock Rd, opposite the Globe Inn. I lived there in 1942 with my parents and younger brother.
I have only today (April 11 2007) discovered that the Red House was at one time an important horse racing establishment owned by a Mr Rooney. I remember during WW2 that there were a number of stables in the courtyard.
I recall around the time I lived there taking part in... Read more
