Newsletter November 1998

Meetings usually take place each month on the first Wednesday of the month at 7.30pm (unless announced otherwise). Indoor meetings will be held at the Broseley Social Club in the High Street unless announced otherwise. Car parking at the back.

Note: At times, both the parish magazine and the Bridgnorth Journal have carried incorrect details of our meetings. The Newsletter sent out to members contains the accurate, definitive programme. If in doubt, check with the Newsletter!

Web Site: www.dewhirst.ndirect.co.uk            Email:    blhs@dewhirst.ndirect.co.uk

Programme for the remainder of 1998:

Wednesday 2nd December:        Dinner at the Cumberland Hotel with after dinner talk by Ivor Southorn.
**There is still just time to book seats for this meal. Bookings direct to David Lake on 01746 762813. For menu see September Newsletter.

Change of Committee:

At the AGM in October the existing Committee agreed to stand again. The only changes on the Committee are as follows:

David Lake becomes Curator with overall responsibility for the Society’s collection of memorabilia and artefacts.
Diane Shinton takes over from David as Membership Secretary.

The present Committee:

Annual Wilkinson Lecture.

This is a new event which will maintain the Society’s strong interest in John Wilkinson. It will occur each year and will feature a talk on a subject pertaining to Wilkinson. This year’s talk is in April; details as in the 1999 programme below.

Proposed Programme for first half of 1999:

Wednesday 6th January: Shops and Trades of Broseley.
Wednesday 3rd February: Alan Robinson ‘Geology and Mines of the Ironbridge Gorge and surrounding area.’
Wednesday 3rd March: TBA
Wednesday 7th April: Annual Wilkinson Lecture. Ron Davies ‘John Wilkinson and Bradley.’
Wednesday 5th May: Mrs Harvey ‘Broseley Working Women’.
Wednesday 2nd June: Rex Key ‘Stepping back at Legg’s Hill’
Wednesday 7th July: Steve Dewhirst will lead a gentle evening stroll from the Social Club; c.3 to 4 miles.
No August meeting.

Note: the programme for the rest of the year will be outlined in a subsequent newsletter.

Wrekin Local Studies Forum.

A copy of the Wrekin Local Studies Forum 1998-99 information leaflet is enclosed with this Newsletter for members’ information.

Journal.

Broseley Local History Society incorporating the Wilkinson Society Journal will be sent to all members in December.

Maws and Co. 1904.

Over two dozen members and friends crowded into an upstairs room at the Social Club to hear Janet Collins talk about the work she has been doing in conjunction with IGMT Archives dept. She described the work involved in cleaning and cataloguing the tiles and memorabilia associated with Maws and Co. As an illustration, she read extracts from the board meeting minutes from 1904. That was a time of change with the introduction of railway wagons and increased mechanisation in the works.

It was amazing to learn of some of the places to which Maws supplied tiles. These included the Mysore Pavilion in India, Harrods Foodhall, the Carendon Hotel and three stations on the Bakerloo Underground line.

As well a fascinating talk, Janet Collins explained about the wealth of information available to the interested student of family or local history to be found at the Archives. There is a large transport archive and anyone interested should contact John Powell at the Museum.

Legge’s Hill Pipeworks Site.

In addition to the article in the September Newsletter, an article appeared in the Bridgnorth Journal (Broseley page) of 6th November concerning this site. Society member Rex Key is looking for 70,000 to help secure this site and preserve the kiln remains for posterity.

Note: Rex will be giving a talk to the Society on this subject in June. See Programme for details.