Billy

Hallo Bill,
An interesting piece as ever and plenty to comment on.
Sad to say the The Severn Stars has followed the fate of many pubs,closed down and turned into residential accommodation. Nice place though Trysull still having two pubs, unusual for a small village. The Plough, Banks/Marstons and the Bell, Holdens of Woodsetton.

As John Mcintyre points out everyone seems shorter than today, probably the lack of food by today’s standards. But as most of them would be flat out on the floor at some stage during the night, its all a bit academic. None were great beauties, not even the women, a bit like Kidderminster.
Mary Ann Hughes and Ann Maria Spruce, nice pair, I’d pay to see them wrestling at the Civic on a Saturday afternoon. You say of Mrs. Spruce, she’s got more scars than a navvy, If push comes to shove my money’s on Mrs. Spruce and I’d have thought twice about asking for Mary Ann’s hand in marriage.
Of the men, Francis Mathews stands out, a locksmith but employed by Illidge and Son, of Great Brickiln Street, where I lived in 1940, who were Brass Founders and one of the 192 bicycle makers based in Wolverhampton. I see he lived in Zoar Street, Bill is it my memory or was there a fish and chip frying range maker in Zoar Street. I have a memory in the back of mind of reading the makers name while standing waiting for my Friday nights tea.

George Stephen Fisher stands out, a painter with one leg, not good on a ladder, only did ground floor work I would imagine. He certainly came under the description of the permanently, one leg legless.

They all seem to have this penchant for a having a tattoo of a ladies bust or is it the bust of a lady on their forearm. One with a weakness for ladies bosoms was Stanley Winter, he had one each arm, Eagles, Snakes, Ships, Flags, Clasped Hands, a Wreath, and Two Butterfly’s but loyal and patriotic with a Tattoo of the King and Queen on his chest.

Hello Ann
Request to join our facebook group Lost Wolverhampton and put your request on there
You will find Myself and perhaps others will find many pictures to remind you of your holiday trips including The Colonades (The Arches) as they are known.
Best Wishes Billy.

In my first sentence in the above it should read supposition, and not superstition,

This was a tragic event from over 150 years ago, and with respect to the people involved we must still be careful in our superstition.

In March of 1851 Catherine Morris had lost her child in a horrible fire, and in tragic circumstances. She was living with James Sones in Ipswich as man and wife. At the Inquest it was found that she had left her child, according to a witness, for maybe up to quarter of a hour. Further witnesses said they had heard nothing good or bad about Catherine, that Catherine was fond of the child and a good mother. Another that the parents were both fond of the child.

The jury’s verdict was that the child was accidentally burned, but they found unanimously that Catherine was guilty of great neglect for leaving the child as described. I cannot find any evidence to say that Catherine was drunk and incapable at the time of her child’s death, or indeed that she was an alcoholic and a prostitute

Thank you for the information, Pedro, most appreciated, I must admit I didn’t delve into the history of the lady involved – My main aim as a Wolverhampton historian was to give an insight into the places of interest in the story published by the two gentlemen credited with writing the story.

You will have to give me their names Jackie perhaps I may recall them.

Very interestinğ history of a log gone part of the town.Can you confirm if Montrose St was part of Carribbea İsland?

Hi Rosemary – All though Montrose Street was shown on the 1842 Wolverhampton Tithe Map there were only a few buildings at that time nothing much regarding housing. The slum district of Carribee was really limited to the area from Stafford Street east as far as Carbery Street (Westbury Street).