Among a few photos of Brereton Colliery was this one of loco ‘Vanguard’
(0-4-0ST Peckett 1491/1917 Acquired from Royal Arsenal, Woolwich 1920. Still at Brereton Coll. 1957, since scrapped.)
sitting by the Brereton Sidings signal box. This was taken by Don Dutton in 1960, after the closure of the pit. Don was the driver, ‘Perce’ Vernon (shunter), George Wilshaw (shunter) and George Blackburn (Boilersmith).
Among the visitors to the Museum on Monday, 27th May was our old friend Ron Bradbury, Chairman of Burntwood Council and also Chairman of the SCAMP miners’ memorial project.
He has generously given the Museum a copy of the book published by the Burntwood Chase Heritage Group for the Archive/Reference section.
The book will be on sale for a while in the Museum, price £8.00. As previously mentioned on facebook – May 16th, the memorial will be unveiled on June 8th at 2.00pm.
Scamp
It was in July 2008 that Chasewater Railway was first introduced to the SCAMP project when Ron Bradbury and the Burntwood Chase Heritage Group brought the maquette to the Railway and ran a fish and chip special train to raise funds for the statue. The maquette was proudly displayed in the Museum for a number of weeks before being shown at other venues. Now, some five years later, the project is nearing its completion.
The pony model – and friends!
Scamp unveiling
Real progress being made
A statue to commemorate Burntwood’s mining heritage is to be officially unveiled on June 8th.
The 7 ft bronze memorial has been created by sculptor Peter Walker, who hails from the town, and will be sited at Sankey’s Corner.
The artwork was about five years in the making and was made possible thanks to public donations and £10,000 of funding from local developers.
Ron Bradbury, of Sankey’s Corner Arts Mining Project (SCAMP) said: ‘After many years of fundraising, the dream of a statue to stand on Sankey’s Corner is about to be fulfilled.’
No time has yet been set for the official unveiling, which is open for anyone to attend. A book is being produced about the history behind Scamp and pit ponies and will be on sale at £10 each, containing a list of names on the plinth. All profits will go to Scamp.
Anyone willing to help by providing food or entertainment, or with funding, should call 01543 677789.
Posted in Museum & Artefacts, News
Tagged Aldridge, Brownhills, Burntwood, Burntwood Heritage, Chasewater Railway Museum, Cheslyn Hay, Coal Mining, Great Wyrley, Heath Hayes, Hednesford, Lichfield, Mining Heritage, Norton Canes, Pelsall, Pit Ponies, Sankey's Corner Arts Mining Project, SCAMP, Staffordshire, Walsall, Wolverhampton
Chasewater Railway Museum 