This is how I recall the area around St John’s Square in my youth and the lasting impression I had from my first look inside St John’s Church, when I saw for the first time Wolverhamptons celebrated artists Barney’s Alter-piece, “The Descent from the Cross” on its backdrop of oak. […]
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A Saint Patrick’s Day Celebration To Remember
SHAMROCK RECIPIENTS: Father William Rooney assisted by Altar-boy William Howe giving Shamrock to schoolchildren at St Patrick’s Church, Wolverhampton, this morning on the occasion of St Patrick’s Day 1949. The flag of St Patrick adorned the pulpit in St Patrick’s Church, Wolverhampton today as the large congregation attended High Mass […]
Read moreA Change Of Scenery Around The Deanery
The illustrated talk I chose to do that day seemed appropriate for the occasion and the venue – The Civic Centre. Now with this talk I try to give my interpretation of how the area, now occupied by our present seat of government has changed in appearance over the past […]
Read moreChapel Ash Today, Looks Sad And Tired
But once upon a time it was twice in-spired! Advert – “NOW 1879-80 – Charles Clark coach and carriage builder Chapel Ash.” Chapel Ash was well established on this main arterial route, through Wolverhampton, as a fine residential and commercial centre, when the above Advert appeared in ‘Stevens Directory’, which […]
Read moreThe Ghost Of Saint Mary’s Lingers On
A fresco; which now has unfortunately been lost to the public eye. Was once on the south side of the Chancel of St Peter’s Collegiate Church, representing ‘The Lost Piece of Money’ and it commemorated the building and the endowment of St Mary’s Church thus – “Give God the glory […]
Read moreThe Lost Churches of Wolverhampton
A learned man once said – “It is all too easy in the name of progress to destroy the best along with the worst, and lament afterwards.” This Church arch featured recently as a “Picture from the Past” in our local newspaper, the Express & Star. Apparently this Gothic arch […]
Read moreThe Elephant Never Forgets
Query Corner “Hello Billy, I found your email address on your blog – which I stumbled across by accident. I moved from Wolverhampton more than thirty years ago but often look at the City websites to keep up-to-date. For many years, I have been trying to find someone with knowledge […]
Read moreStafford Street – This Was My Playground
Query Corner Working on my blog Lost Wolverhampton is without a doubt a labour of love, and when I receive an enquiry such as the one from Christine it certainly puts the icing on the cake. She emails: “Billy do you remember the lodging house on Stafford Street and Herbert […]
Read moreWholesale Destruction
After leaving school in 1952 I found employment with H.Goodhall Ltd, in the Wholesale Market in Wolverhampton as a groundsman and porter. I would say the first three years working here in the market (before a break for National Service) were the best three years of my working life. The […]
Read moreA Wartime Memory Of Saint Peters Church
Now here in the 21st Century, I still feel close to St Peters. My forebears had already lived close by St Peters Church for over a century. When my parents married and settled in Nursery Street, in 1936; I was born there the following year. From our house No. 11, […]
Read moreShow Me A Picture And I’ll Tell You A Story
Now, it may be the closeness I had with my parents and grandparents as a child that gave me this fondness for looking back at my life in Wolverhampton (Woffledom) . For it was through their environment I.E. (the centre of town) and their active life there, I came to […]
Read moreOur Tree Still Grows In North Street
Although housing was well established on the east side, it was mostly nurseries and gardens at the lower half of North Street.Now notice the line of the wall marked as “Jack’s spot” on this map, which was seen in 1870 as a ten foot wall that backed the lower yard […]
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