The family of a long-serving railwayman, Arthur Jackson, donated his retirement certificate, a group photograph, his ID card and pass and finally his whistle, for which we are very grateful.
Barry Bull found two more colliery tokens to add to our collection, one from Britannia Colliery and one from Taff Merthyr.
The first item is a welcome addition to our collection of mining memorobelia, a leather belt with the initials ‘NCB’ stamped on it.
This was kindly donated by Rob Duffill.
The second item is a booklet about the Walsall Steam Raiway, which was found in a collection of old magazines given to the museum by Clive Smith, a long-time friend of the museum.
This was very coincidental as only about three weeks ago, our man Godfrey had found a couple of references to this railway an an old narrow gauge magazine!
From the booklet:
A couple of interesting links:
http://walsallsteamrailway.webs.com/
The following link was about a show in the Arboretum:
http://chasewaterstuff.wordpress.com/2010/06/28/a-bit-from-the-scrapbook/
Posted in Museum Exhibits
Tagged Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Coal Mining, Great Wyrley, Hazel Slade, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Lichfield, Miniature Railway, National Coal Board (NCB), NCB, Norton Canes, Old Railway Lines, Pelsall, Staffordshire, Steam Trains, Walsall, Walsall Arboretum, Walsall Steam Railway, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
This Cannock & Rugeley Colliery wagion plate is not the most common item ever seen in the museum – in fact, no-one we have asked has ever seen one! This obviously makes it a bit special. Unfortunately, it has a crack (repaired) through the right-hand bolt hole – I wonder how that happened?!
This next item, a book for the library, has come along at a good time – as we have recently seen the return of the horse-drawn parcels van.
It should be pointed out that the horses in this book used to pull carts, vans, etc. unlike the Chasewater Railway Museum version, which seems to prefer to ride in them!
The final item was a raffle prize at the recent Gerald Reece talk about Brownhills, and shows Brownhills High Street in the early 1900s, won by one of the museum staff. If you’ve seen the photo on Brownhills Bob’s site, the bald headed bloke on the back row, right-hand side!
http://brownhillsbob.com/2014/11/30/happy-talk/
Posted in Museum Exhibits
Tagged Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Brownhills High Street early 1900s, Burntwood, Cannock, Cannock & Rugeley Colliery, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, CRC, Great Wyrley, Hazel Slade, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Including a Local Colliery Wagon Plate, Lichfield, Norton Canes, Pelsall, Railway Horses, Staffordshire, The Latest Museum Arrivals, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
First up, a fairly local wagom owner’s plate, from Florence Coal & Iron Co.Ltd. of Trentham. This is a recent purchase.
Next, two local bricks to add to our collection – one from Walsall Wood Colliery and one from the Cannock Chase Colliery Co. I think I am right in saying that the Cannock Chase bricks came in three markings – CCC, CCCC and our latest – CCCCo. We have a four Cs one and now a three Cs and Co – now we would like a three Cs one, so if anyone has one in the shed or somewhere, we can find a good home for it!
These two bricks were generously donated to us by our friends, the Burntwood Chase Heritage Group
This loco whistle is on loan from a member who is thinkning of buying an engine. The engine he is thinking of hasn’t got a whistle at the moment so this will be a start! It will also give our curator something to polish other than windows!!
It will be in the museum until needed to be fitted on the loco.
A recent addition to the Museum collection of badges, etc. is a Great Western Railway silver medallion issued to Charles Hewlett in 1947 in recognition of fifteen years’ service to the railway’s St. John’s Ambulance Service.
Charles (known locally as Charlie) had a long career with the GWR in South Wales; he was the last Shed Master at Pontypool Road before it closed.
Around 1940-41 Charlie administered first aid to a man and woman in Oxford Street, Griffithstown who had had their throats cut by the woman’s husband after he discovered a case of infidelity. In spite of Charlie’s first aid the pair later succumbed to their injuries.
Charlie was awarded a St. John’s Ambulance gold medal following the incident. The medal has been retained by Charlie’s nephew but we now have the 15 year medallion on display.
The murderer incidentally was sentenced ‘at his Majesty’s pleasure’ but on the death of King George VI he was released from prison.
Arriving home – but not under its own horse-power…..Donated by Earl Lanesborough, Swithland Hall, Leicestershire in the 1960s, going first to Hednesford and then Chasewater.
Its most recent use at Swithland having was as a residence for a few laying hens.
Placed on long-term loan to Shugborough Museum in the 1970s as they could provide covered accommodation. The loan was renewed in 1995.
Returned in very good condition to Chasewater Railway September 1st 2014.
When in for repairs it was normal practice for the LMS to remove old company (in this case, Midland Railway) plates and replace them with LMS ones. The LMS didn’t exist until 1923.
Horse-Drawn Parcels Van
Still in LMS livery and painted in the company’s crimson lake colours, horse-drawn van No.4990 is outside Craddock’s shoe factory, 18 September 1952. Wolverhampton’s railways thrived on the sheer quantity of goods traffic emanating from the town and nearby Black Country. As ‘common carriers’ however, they were obliged to carry anything from heavy plant to small parcels, the latter requiring delivery from the goods yard to the customer, usually by lorry, or as in this case, by horse-drawn van.
The van not looking too happy at the Hednesford Depot
Posted in Museum Exhibits, News
Tagged Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Delivery Vehicles, Great Wyrley, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Lichfield, Midland Railway horse-drawn parcels van, Norton Canes, Old Railway Lines, Pelsall, Shugborough Museum, Staffordshire, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
The Chasewater Railway Museum has been given a letter dated 1957 from the Cannock & Rugeley Collieries in reply to Mr. H.C.Casserley’s request for permission to visit the Colliery for photographing the locos, etc.
Mr. Casserley was a very highly regarded railway photographer who had many books published.
The letter was kindly donated to the Museum by Mr. Debens.
This was not to be his first visit to the Colliery as we have in our collection a photo taken by Mr. Casserley of the CRC loco ‘Birch’ dated 1946!
The coal industry was nationalised in 1947.
The first one, the North Staffordshire Railway Company Coat of Arms, we have had for a long time but has been kept in stores until recently.
The second one is a recent acquisition by our curator, a Rhymney Railway Coat of Arms.
The final one for now is a Chasewater Railway badge dated 1995, loaned to the Museum by a visitor from Burntwood after finding it at a Car Boot Sale.
Our curator has unearthed two maps of local lines, the Norton Branch and the LNWR Five Ways Branch
6″ scale map in card cover, dated 1903, shows (and entitled) Norton Branch, does, however, also show part of the MR Walsall Wood Extension and Chasewater
Two chains to the inch scale plan of the LNWR Five Ways Branch, 1897. Shows the entire branch in good detail
The first is a rubber stamp – marked ‘Brownhills LMR 7’ – and it’s not very often that we see something quite so local!
This was given to the Museum by Colin Marklew of Brownhills and came from the Brownhills Station goods yard off the Pelsall Road. Many thanks Colin.
Photo taken from Brownhills bridge looking towards Pelsall
The next item is a cast iron sign ‘Private’ given to the Museum by David Townsend from Wednesfield, who has helped us in the past – thanks again David.
This was found in the burned out remains of Essington Wood sjgnal box.
Finally – a reminder of the latest book from the Cannock Chase Mining Historical Society – ‘Cannock Old Coppice Colliery’ (Hawkins Colliery 1875 – 1960)
Now on sale in the Museum – Price £10.00
Posted in Museum Exhibits, News
Tagged Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Burntwood, Cannock, Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley, Hazel Slade, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Lichfield, Norton Canes, Pelsall, Staffordshire, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Wolverhampton
Chasewater Railway Museum 