2013

6th October 2013
Apologies for the lack of news in the last 6 months but due to unforeseen circumstances I have not been able to update this site.
I hope to rectify this as of now and will try to update as soon as possible when news occurs.

Over the spring/Summer period we have been working hard on various projects. The indexing of our archives is an ongoing task not made easier by illness and a shortage of volunteers with computer experience. Preparations for the upcoming exhibition and our annual book and Bridgtonian quarterly all have taken its toll on the team. It is hoped that the Bridgtonian will be ready for the Exhibition, but unfortunately the book will not be ready until our November Event, the Slide/music display of the 1977 flower festival presented by our friend Ron Darby. This will start at 10am to midday on Wednesday 20th November at the Community Centre .

9th May 2013
Please note there is a change in the events calendar. Due to illness the North Street Talk by Dave & Dec has had to be postponed. However, Cheslyn Hay History Society have stepped in and Peter |Cadman will give a talk on the History of Cheslyn Hay over the last 2,000 years. It is hoped that the North Street Talk will be given by Dave & Dec in July.

4th April 2013
Could you please note a change to our AGM date , it is now being held on wednesday 24th April at the Bethel Church starting at 10.00 am and all members are welcome.

28th March 2013
This is the time year we need to renew our membership. The fees are the same as before at £5.00 per annum. If you cannot get to our events or see any of the team you can post a cheque made out to “Bridgtown & District Local History Society” to : Bob Brevitt, 4 Windsor Rd, Cheslyn Hay, Walsall, WS6 7EN .

27th March 2013
We lost a founder member of the Society this last week and a staunch Bridgtonian in Mr Hilton Baugh. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him.

20th March 2013
I hope some of you have noticed the new Notice board on the corner of North Street and Union Street. This is a joint venture between the Parish Council and this Society. We have half the space and the Council, the other half. This was generously provided with monies from the Conduit Trust, the Parish Council Fund, The Pritchard Group. We are in the process of inviting all parties to join us to “commission” the Board.

A Brief History of Bridgtown

The earliest information describes a mill in Walk Mill Lane and this is supposed to date back to the sixteenth century, being quite close to the old Roman Road, the Watling Street.  There was also a toll-keeper’s cottage on the Walsall Road but not much besides prior to the nineteenth century.  At this time the name Bridgtown was not used.

In 1859 there was Long House Farm on the Watling Street and 6 houses on the Walsall Road.  Soon after that the land was developed by the Wolverhampton Building Society following the opening of the local collieries.  Streets were laid out and houses were built.  The Bridgtown Estate belonged to the then Lord Hatherton.  Its boundaries were Watling Street, Bridge Street, Walsall Road and North Street.  The land on the other side of North Street was known as the Bridgtown West Estate and belonged to a Mr. Cotterell.  The name Bridgtown was almost certainly devised because of the high numbers of bridges and, indeed, it seemed to be impossible to enter Bridgtown without crossing either over or under a bridge!

The Walsall to Hednesford railway line had been constructed between 1856 and 1858, causing the level of the Walsall Road to be lowered considerably near to the junction with Bridge Street.  Soon afterwards came the development of the canal system and the construction of the 13 locks between Churchbridge and Leacroft.  Bridgtown had superb communication links, by road, by railway and by canal.  By the time 1870 came the village was growing rapidly and was considered to be a fine example of modern planning.  By 1880 people were talking about Bridgtown becoming bigger than neighbouring Cannock and residents were demanding their own railway station.

As well as the collieries came the pioneering work of men like William Gilpin and Cornelius Whitehouse, developing industries that made use of local coal supplies.  So it was that Bridgtown was a thriving energetic community all through the first half of the twentieth century.  Then the nature of industry began to change and planners wanted to separate housing from industry. The days of Bridgtown seemed to be numbered and the village came near to extinction in the early 1980s.  But planners did not reckon on the indomitable  spirit and will of the Bridgtown people.  The village lives on and today regeneration continues apace!

The earliest information describes a mill in Walk Mill Lane and this is supposed to date back to the sixteenth century, being quite close to the old Roman Road, the Watling Street. There was also a toll-keeper’s cottage on the Walsall Road but not much besides prior to the nineteenth century. At this time the name Bridgtown was not used.

In 1859 there was Long House Farm on the Watling Street and 6 houses on the Walsall Road. Soon after that the land was developed by the Wolverhampton Building Society following the opening of the local collieries. Streets were laid out and houses were built. The Bridgtown Estate belonged to the then Lord Hatherton. Its boundaries were Watling Street, Bridge Street, Walsall Road and North Street. The land on the other side of North Street was known as the Bridgtown West Estate and belonged to a Mr. Cotterell. The name Bridgtown was almost certainly devised because of the high numbers of bridges and, indeed, it seemed to be impossible to enter Bridgtown without crossing either over or under a bridge!

The Walsall to Hednesford railway line had been constructed between 1856 and 1858, causing the level of the Walsall Road to be lowered considerably near to the junction with Bridge Street. Soon afterwards came the development of the canal system and the construction of the 13 locks between Churchbridge and Leacroft. Bridgtown had superb communication links, by road, by railway and by canal. By the time 1870 came the village was growing rapidly and was considered to be a fine example of modern planning. By 1880 people were talking about Bridgtown becoming bigger than neighbouring Cannock and residents were demanding their own railway station.

As well as the collieries came the pioneering work of men like William Gilpin and Cornelius Whitehouse, developing industries that made use of local coal supplies. So it was that Bridgtown was a thriving energetic community all through the first half of the twentieth century. Then the nature of industry began to change and planners wanted to separate housing from industry. The days of Bridgtown seemed to be numbered and the village came near to extinction in the early 1980s. But planners did not reckon on the indomitable spirit and will of the Bridgtown people. The village lives on and today regeneration continues apace!