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Rowley Regis and World War II

MissSarahG1

MissSarahG1

Brummie babby
Hi everyone, I am currently carrying out some research on St Giles church in Rowley for the centenary of our 4th (and current) building next year. I wanted to include some information about both world wars and the impacts on the local people and businesses. I have information for WWI but not WW2. I would really like to have information as I said about the impact on local businesses and families, also if there were any battlements installed nearby (I know there was something on Turner's Hill) and the closer any information you can provide is to the church the better.

Thank you :)
 
A few from 1940…

FEB 1940 Meat shortage. Butchers receive a third of normal requirements.

Staggered holidays for school children. One weeks instead of usual mouth. Further holidays considered in light of events.

June. 1940 Mayor denies scurrilous and scandalous rumours of leading men being imprisoned because of their views.

Charity distribution mostly to children, aged and needy folk in district for winter months.

Municipal pig club to be started. 5 pigs to begin with, kept at Waterfall Lane, Old Hill. Householders to save waste.

October 1940 Rowley Regis to have 250 evacuees, all possible use of unoccupied houses will be made.
 
MissSarahG1 said:
Hi everyone, I am currently carrying out some research on St Giles church in Rowley for the centenary of our 4th (and current) building next year. I wanted to include some information about both world wars and the impacts on the local people and businesses. I have information for WWI but not WW2. I would really like to have information as I said about the impact on local businesses and families, also if there were any battlements installed nearby (I know there was something on Turner's Hill) and the closer any information you can provide is to the church the better.

Thank you :)
Click to expand...
You might have already seen it but there is a brief mention about a gun or battery known as 'Big Bertha' situated on Turner's Hill see Home Guard website link below
 
Latest pig news…

January 1941….Bonus paid to Municipal Pig Club, run by employees of the Town Council. Of 30 pig's purchased, 15 have been told to the Ministry of Food.

September 1941…Pilfered Pig Food…Much of the Pig food that was being collected under the local scheme was being pilfered from bins. A warning was given that stern measures would be taken to stop it.
 
Hi, re: St Giles Church

I'm involved in the restoration of a pair of lamp posts in the churchyard. The posts have been without their lamps for a long time, and we are investigating their history in order to produce something as close to the originals as possible.

We think the lamps were installed in the late 20s or 30s, and were changed from gas to electric, possibly in the 50s. Therefore we are particularly interested in photographs from 30s-50s, which could hopefully show us what they looked like originally. It would also be a fantastic addition to our documentation of the reinstatement of the lamps.

Does anyone have any old pictures of the church in which you can see the lamp posts?
 
joannaerck said:
Hi, re: St Giles Church

I'm involved in the restoration of a pair of lamp posts in the churchyard. The posts have been without their lamps for a long time, and we are investigating their history in order to produce something as close to the originals as possible.

We think the lamps were installed in the late 20s or 30s, and were changed from gas to electric, possibly in the 50s. Therefore we are particularly interested in photographs from 30s-50s, which could hopefully show us what they looked like originally. It would also be a fantastic addition to our documentation of the reinstatement of the lamps.

Does anyone have any old pictures of the church in which you can see the lamp posts?
Click to expand...
Hi Joan,
No pictures or drawings in Edward Chitham's history of Rowley Regis? Sandwell Archives or local Rowley Library? I can see some old pictures on line, but no lamp posts.

Another approach would be to photograph a lamp post now and post the photo. I think it is likely that it would be a standard metal ornamental gas lamp, we might even be able to discover the manufacturer? Many churches had gas lamps which later converted to electric.

Good luck in your search.
 
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