Rowley Regis - A selective history
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Contact us on rowley2011@hotmail.co.uk
Contents (scroll down to view)
Where is Rowley Regis
Rowley village
The Hail-Stone
Where has a thousand years of history gone
Rowley Regis a royal hunting ground
Rowley village a description
Reminiscences of Rowley from early 1900s
Map of Rowley village 1803
Ode to the Rowley Hills
Rowley village in the twenties
On Rowley Hills
The boundary of Rowley Regis
Rowley Regis and Rowley Somery
Rowley - origin of the name
Rowley and the Romans
Pr Saxon times
Saxon times
The Manorial system
St Giles parish church
The Haden family
Vestry rule - the power of the church
Time Line
Rowley places
Rowley people;
Rev George Barrs; Harry Pugh and Ann Gill; Mary Carter; Mary Smith and the twin boys; John and Elizabeth Tibbetts; James Woodhouse; The Audens; Miss Henrietta Mary Auden; Joseph Beasley; John Troman and Elizabeth Bennett; William and Mary Brookes. Stainton, Price and Noott.
King Charles and the flight from Worcester
The Rowley Hangman
Why is Rowley not still like Clent
The story of Warrens Hall
The evil of drink in Rowley
Religion in Rowley
Rowley Hall
Inventory of Thomas Grove of Rowley Hall 1693
Rowley and the Jews Harp.
"The distinctive appellation of
Rowley, proper, accurately
designates the elevation, on which
the parish church, surrounded
by a populous manufacturing
village, becomes an
object of distant perspective through an
extensive tract of
country."
Rowley village
Around the church until the 1970s there was Rowley Village again a settlement from ancient times, None of the old buildings now survive apart from the Robert Peel, once the village gaol and the Bulls Head at either end of the village. The buildings in between were demolished by Sandwell Council due to a road widening scheme which never happened or supposed subsidence which is denied by past residents. Modern housing now replaces the old buildings. The village boasted Rowley Hall again an ancient structure which was used as a hiding place by members of the Gunpowder Plot when they fled after the failure. At the time of the industrial revolution Rowley Village carried on the ancient trade of nail making amongst the farming and was once a large scale producer of the Jews Harp as it stood astride the 30 foot seam a vast coalfield it and the surrounding area soon fell foul of its legacy
Rowley Village was surrounded by fields and overlooked by the rest of the Green Rowley Hills and the gigantic Hailstone which stood at the summit of Hailstone Hill a wonder that people travelled many miles to admire. The views from the Rowley Hills are magnificent and on a clear day stretch as far as the Black Mountains of Wales.
The Hail-Stone.
This curious
rock, adjoining to the highest of the chain,
presents a bold
feature on the western frontier. It consists
of a vast cubical
pillar abutting against a lofty acclivity. (i)
Surrounding it
on all sides, and scattered in great profusion
through the
copice which spreads over the slope, and strewed
in multiform
fragments at it base ; are innumerable blocks of
the
constituent substance forming the subject of this memoir.
Dr.
Plot considers this stupendous pillar as a work of art,
resembling
the wonderful masses exhibited in the ancient
structure of
Stonehenge, but this idea is evidently erroneous.
In many of
the rude clustered masses contiguous to the pillar,
some degree
of crystallization is observable.
A brief reference is given to a standing stone / glacial erratic said to be a sacrificial alter stone to Thor (5). Hailstone, Turners Hill Rowley Regis, West Midlands Local folklore tells of Thunor, standing astride the Clent Hills near Stourbridge hurling a boulder at Woden on Turners Hill. The boulder became known as the Hailstone. It was blown up in 1879 after local concern about 'demonic' hoofprints which were found to emerge from the stone and wander over the area (6).
Unfortunately not the Hailstone but an outcrop of Rowley Rag giving an indication of what it was like.
The Hailstone
Unfortunately all of this no longer exists although you can still see traces of country side around Turners Hill and a careful look will see remains of stone walls assembled from the world famous Rowley Rag. There is the recently renovated 16th Century farm on Portway Hill and its not too difficult to image what it once was like. Past residents still see the village in their imagination and it is the purpose of this web site to recreate it for nostalgia or posterity or the sheer pleasure of the memory.
Residents of Rowley forget or are unaware that in the not too distant past Rowley was rural, the village running down from the church at the top of Rowley Hill, was surrounded by farmland, and remained so, way into the Industrial revolution. A church has stood on the top of the hill since the 12th Century, at least, although the present incumbent is the fourth building on the site. The varied architecture of the village stood until 1970 when the council decided on wholesale demolition. Today only the ancient streets and lanes survive and the Rowley Hills retain only a vestige of their former glory.
"Where has a thousand years of history gone ?"
There has been a settlement at Rowley for nigh on a thousand years. St Giles church which stands at the top of the hill is the fourth known on that site, the first can be dated to the 12th Century.
Rowley grew into a typical medieval village with a church, manor house, mill, green, fish pond, court house, common land and a village pound; varied architecture reflected the ages through which it had passed. It was owned at first by the King, hence "Regis", later by the Earls and Barons of Dudley. It remained more or less like this until the 1960s when the local council pulled down the village, wholesale, due to subsidence (disputed by residents)and to make way for a road widening scheme which never happened.
This hand drawn map shows Rowley from Springfield to Blackheath in 1803; a self contained community surrounded by farm land and green fields.
Look at it today and we might well comment "where has a thousand years of history gone".
ROWLEY REGIS. A ROYAL HUNTING GROUND.
It has been a long time since the craggy hills of Rowley Regis were the hunting ground of Mercian Kings. Their wildness has been tamed by the hand and machine of man. They are not as craggy as they were, extensive quarrying has seen to that.
Towards the end of the seventeen hundreds, due to the creation of McAdam and Telford’s new roads, there was an urgent demand for a durable roadstone, and Rowley Rag, a hard basaltic rock was in great demand.
The quarries are still there, but the forty odd pits in and around Rowley at that time have long been closed. Some of the quarries have been filled in by masses of waste from nearby Birmingham, proving that a large hole in the ground can be a lucrative possession for a district council, the land has been reclaimed and grassed over. Parts of Rowley’s hills are looking green again.
The region was inhabited in pre-Roman times. Celtic burial mounds have been discovered. So also have Roman coins bearing the head of Galba who reigned in the year AD 68-9.
My grandmother was born in Rowley Village. When she was a child, 150 years ago, she did not go to school, but spent her time making nails. Most of the children at that time in Rowley did this unless they worked in the pits. The main trade, quarrying, was actually considered too tough for even these hapless children.
I lived within the sound of blasting which took place in the quarries. People set their clocks to the time of day when the ground was rocked by thunderous blasts and earth shaking tremors. Many people were injured by falling rock. The name Hailstone Quarry is metaphorical. The blasting charges sounding like the crack of doom, sent several tons of rock exploding high into the air, to come hailing down again onto the unprotected workers underneath.
Turners Hill climbs to a height of over two thousand feet, and is logged on some old maps of the area as ‘Cloudland.’ Once it was noted as being the highest agricultural point in the British Isles, because there was a farm on top of the hill. It was also said that on fine days one could see the Bristol Channel from this point. Another fact, which was frequently stated, was that should one throw a boomerang eastward from the top of Turners Hill it would touch nothing until it reached the Ural Mountains in Russia.
What else can I say about Rowley Regis? Until now nobody except the natives have found it a very interesting place. Like most Black Country towns it tends to ooze over and merge with its neighbour. Once it filtered through to Blackheath on one side. Now Blackheath is no longer on the planner’s maps. Its name has been taken away and part of it was designated to Rowley and part to Halesowen. On the other side Rowley melts into Old Hill, except that Old Hill has been taken off the map too and now half is in Cradley and the other half in Halesowen.
Rowley Regis was one of the many places that made the Ironmasters and Pit owners rich. Their great houses are still to be seen in the green of the surrounding countryside.
Eastwards, looking from the top of the hill, lies the sprawling urbanity of Birmingham while Westwards is a glorious vista of the hills and valleys of Shropshire, Worcestershire, the Malverns and Clees, and in the distance the mountains of Wales.
Rowley is definitely in the Black Country but there are still farms to be see, relics of the pre-industrial revolution. It is a region full of marl holes, canals, pubs pitshafts, and chapels. The new merges with the old as the past continually raises its head.
You won’t find much about Rowley except in specialist books written by people who loved the place. Another shift of boundaries and it may well be forgotten altogether. Maybe someone will at times recall that it once supplied the whole world with ‘Jews’ Harps,’ those strange musical instruments on which people wrecked their front teeth. And of course its Ragstone. As long as there are roads to be built this tough shiny blue-green rock will be needed, and when in the far off future al this has been worked out, and the great wounded gashes on the hillsides are grassed over, peace will descend, and once again it could become a place of sport and recreation. A playground fit for kings.
Clarice Hackett.
Rowley Village a description.
"Gradually we come to flourishing hedgerows, and wheat-fields, and the lower slope of the Rowley Hills, a range nine hundred feet in height, whence the view over the region of darkness is singularly striking in contrast with sunshine and verdure. From the visible portion of the landscape we can easily infer the beauty that must have pervaded the whole country before it was subjugated by havoc and smoke, when every slope had its wood, every hollow its rill, bordered by pleasant pastures; when Dud Dudley was making experiments, and proving that iron could be smelted with coal, with manifest economy to woods and forests. He would not recognise the landscape now; but the hills rise above it, and refresh the eye with pleasant scenes, interspersed with quarries, from which is dug the blue basalt, the Rowley Rag of builders.
The higher we go the more rural is the way, till we come to the village of Rowley Regis, whose church is as conspicuous from miles around as that of Harrow, and here the click-click, and thump-thump of hammers in nearly every house, make us aware of having arrived among the nail-makers.
The whole village resounds with the strokes, and each cottage has its little forge occupying the place of the wash-house. We look into one after another and see none but women at work, three or four together, assisted in some instances by a boy or girl. The fire is in common; and one after another giving a pull at the bellows, each woman heats the ends of two slender iron rods, withdraws the first, and by a few hammer-strokes fashions and cuts off the nail, thrusts the end into the fire, and takes out the second rod, and gets a nail from that in the same way. So the work goes merrily on; the rods growing shorter, and the heap of nails larger. " It ain't work as pays for men," answers one of the women in reply to my inquiry," " and 't ain't much better than clem- min' for women." To make a pound of ' fine clout' requires three hours, for which the pay is threepence- halfpenny : so it is hard work to earn a shilling a-day. The woman being a comely body, I ask her why she had not married, to which she replies " I hanna seen my mate yet; and 'tis better to do 'ithout than have a bad un."
In another cottage two women are busy over ' countersunk tips,' for which the pay is two shillings a pound; but the nails are small, and the heads must all be eone-shaped, hence, " 'tis good work to make half-a-pound a-day." One of the two lamented that the days were past when she could begin on Tuesday and earn thirteen shillings a-week. Poor woman! she had to come to the anvil the day after her baby was born, because her husband had long been out of work. She sits down to comfort herself with a pipe of tobacco while we talk, and says : " We be poor foak here, and mun dew what we can."
The founder of the Foley family was a nail-maker of this neighbourhood. He went to Sweden twice with his fiddle, where he cunningly made himself acquainted with processes of the manufacture then unknown in England, and thereby on his return achieved fortune. Now women make nails for a penny an hour, and are conquered by machines, which pour out a stream of nails in tons upon tons every week".
Reminiscences of Rowley from the early 1900’s
There was a pump in Rowley village, a water pump, and folk would address their letters by it, instead of putting the house number, they would write “ 2 past the pump” on the envelope.
I don’t ever remember the pump working it was like a lot of men – too idle to lift their arm.
Around 1900 , dad said, the sewers were laid in Rowley village and thy dug up the floor of the house to lay them.
Electricity was connected in 1936. Anybody could wire up your house but the MEB had to pass it. A lot of people didn’t want it because thy thought it was dangerous.
The Quack – If anyone wanted to commit suicide it seemed as if thy always went and jumped in the Quack. It was a large marl hole just beyond Rowley Hall. There were little bays at the sides where we learned to swim. I remember them trying to find a body, they floated a loaf on the water with some quicksilver in it, it was supposed to settle where the body was.
Where Britannia Park is now, used to be Jack Haden’s farm.
I remember a rural spot with farm joining farm for two or more miles gradually taking upon itself the less attractive industrial visage with accompanying smut and smoke. The trees died before our eyes, barns became workshops, the smithy a modern garage and the old wheelwrights shop next door where the shire horses stood awaiting their turn to be shod has blossomed out as a body builder and sprayer.
The first memory of Blackheath is a few small shops but with thatched cottages still standing and cornfields adjoining shops, an ancient pub had a lovely circular garden where an occasional fox cub or monkey would be tethered to the tree in the centre of the garden as an attraction to the customers, next door a tiny shop, a strange little place where the more strange owner sold nothing but onions with a few bunches of sweet herbs. Where did that queer fellow find onions to stock his shop all the time?
When you came out of school you had to go and collect a bucket of coal before you had your dinner and the same again at night. Sometimes you had to do it before you went to school, w’ed have a bucket and a rake that we called a “munter” and go over the pit bonks.
Granny would stand no nonsense, after hitting uncle George over the head with a cast iron saucepan for some misdemeanour she examined it closely and declared; “ if yo’d a med it run out mi lad, I should’nt alf a paled thee”
Women were hard they worked in the brew-house in the back yard until they were nine months pregnant, went in the house and had the babby, lived for a week on gruel and then went back to making chains and nails outside. Often they had twelve children but we were happy, very happy.
Saturday night the children were tubbed and dosed with brimstone and treacle. Then they were put to bed while granny washed their underclothes. In the belief that cleanliness was next to godliness she made sure no child of hers was going to Sunday school with soiled clothes.
Blackheath had two cricket teams that played at Britannia Park and at least six football teams, Coombs Wood; Rowley United; Blackheath Town; St Pauls Vics; Blackheath Thursday; Rowley Associates.
It was awful really but when a pig is killed by someone at home all of us kids would gather round to watch. It was a sort of entertainment, they would wash the pig’s bladder and we would use it as a football, it would last for a few days. I was about 10 at the time so it would be about 1926.
When they slaughtered a pig it had to be done before dawn so that no flies could get on it. The young kids would have to stand around with lamps held up so that they could see to butcher it. You never had pork in the summer because of the maggots- you couldn’t keep it.
The cutting up was a fete with a drop of home brewed ale for the butcher, his helpers and for mom and dad then the huge booney pie, that exclusive black country delicacy, what a supper it was. Then the salting and three weeks later the real harvest home, when father hung up his two pitchers which were to provide a food reserve for nearly a year.
We were terrified of the local policeman, he used to hit the youngsters if they did wrong. It was better that way – there was no violence or rape in those days and we could all go ut and leave the door unlocked.
If the police saw you doing any wrong they’d give you one and if you complained when you got home they’d give you another one because they knew that you’d been up to something.
We were playing down the canal one day against instructions playing on sunken boats with just a bit showing above the surface of the water. I jumped from one to another and in I went. I pulled myself out knowing that I’d get a good hiding for it if I went home wet so we gathered lots of firewood together and I stayed there for about three hours drying my clothes. I nnednt have bothered though because by the time I got home mother already knew about it and I got a good hiding anyway.
you used to hear the hooter sound at the quarry just before 11am and just before 3pm to warn you of the basting. Along with other factory hooters you could tell time without a clock. Before they had the hooter at the quarry a bloke named Sammy Vine used to blow a trumpet before the blasting started, they used to stop you going up Turner’s Hill until after the blasting. If the blasting caused any damage to your house a repair man from the quarry would come and fix it.
Map of Rowley Village 1803.
Full oft on Cambria’s breezy hills
I’ve stood, and gazed upon the scene,
of rushing streams and sparkling rills,
of shady woods and meadows green.
and oft upon some jutting peak,
I’ve watched the vessels scudding by,
and heard the seagull’s plaintive shriek,
like a new born infants cry.
But still I love the Rowley Hills,
to rest upon their verdant brow,
when spring dispels old winter’s chills,
and starts to work the spade and plough.
I cannot stand upon their heights,
and view the ever rolling sea,
but every where my eye alights,
recalls some memory sweet to me.
and when the lark his song shall raise,
at early dawn in grateful trills,
I’ll join with his humble praise,
to him who gave us Rowley Hills.
Rowley Village in the Twenties.
We could get almost everything we wanted in the Village; Hortons, Mrs Tromans, Miss Good, Mrs Oakley, and Mr Aldridge, were all general stores. S and E Parkes and Hortons were coal merchants. Mr Parkes and his daughter Lois sold all kinds of hardware and paraffin in one shop and drapery in the other. Hortons also sold fish and chips in one shop and Dan Bennett, lower down the Village also sold fish and chips. His shop is still there. Fish and chips used to cost one penny for a fish and one penny for chips. Mr Aldridge's shop was also the sub-post office. Albert Taylor was a butcher and I think Levetts also had a butchers shop too. Mr Downing, Mrs Taylors father, used to sell whitening, glass, putty and such. T P Moyle and Co, on the corner of the Village and Church Rd, was almost like a supermarket. Tibbetts sold newspapers, toys, haberdashery, cigarettes and tobacco, and nearly everything else you can think of. They also had a hairdressers next door.
There were plenty of tradesmen too. We had a regular order for milk and the milkman came to the door in his low milk float every day. He carried his churn and measures and you handed him a jug. The creamy milk was tipped into the jug from the half pint, or quart measure. The baker came every day too, we had Hopewells from Blackheath, and sometimes the bread was still warm. Their carts were always high carts with very high wheels.
Several green grocers came on different days, Hobb's came round with hardware, the pots and pans clinking as they rattled passed. Some of them would call to attract the attention of potential customers. Mr Levett the butcher used to call advertising his meat "roast, toast, baked or boiled, frizzled or fried" Mr Talor used to shout "meat buyer" with an inflection on the last syllable. Mr Moore, the fishmonger would chant "herrings alive, six dead out of five, two eyed steaks sixteen ribs to the inch" Joey "line prop" so called because that was what he shouted also sold bean and pea sticks. Billy Horton delivered coal by the load, he bought it across Curral Rd and tipped it by the gate. A load was a calculated ton. Could be slightly under or over, but you paid by the weight on the delivery note. Then there was Sylvester. In the winter he sold dried herbs, in the summer he came around selling sticky fly papers. He used to shout "catch yer flies, catch em alive, catch yer flies, all alive"
It was not uncommon in the twenties to get hawkers knocking on the door. A lot of them were gypsies but some were ex servicemen, often limbless, selling sundries, boot and shoe laces, matches and the like.
On Rowley Hills
The Boundary of Rowley Regis.
The borders of Rowley Regis have existed virtually unchanged as an administrative unit since at least Domesday, the Manor and later the parish and now the township form an elongated strip of what was south Staffordshire protruding into Worcestershire and bordered by Tipton to the north, Oldbury to the east, Halesowen to the south and Quarry Bank, Netherton and Dudley to the west. All parts of the parish can be seen from the magnificent vantage point of the Rowley Hills. The “capital” of Rowley Regis was obviously Rowley village until superseded by the likes of Blackheath at the industrial revolution. The rest of the Manor/parish was made up of scattered hamlets which included The Brades, Tividale,Oakham,Knowle, Tipperty Green,Whiteheath Gate,Windmill End,Hades, Reddal Hill,Corngreaves,Hayseech and Gorsty Hill.
If we were to follow the borders of Rowley Regis in today’s terms we would perhaps start at Cradley Forge by the Woodman pub at the bottom of Quarry bank, following Mousesweet brook thru the nature reserve of the same name, Newtown lane, Brook Lane. Cut thru Halesowen Rd at Bluebell Rd and Gawne Lane at the bridge by Bramble Close on to Bumble Hole via Cobbs engine house, thru the Dudley Rd at Banklands Rd and up over Warrens Hall Park and the Rowley Hills cutting the Oakham Rd near Tansley Hill Rd. Over and down to the Wolverhampton Rd @ Hill Rd and on to Groveland. The boundary then turns right to Brades village and follows a line at the rear of Oldbury Rd thru Pencricket and Whiteheath cutting Blackheath at the Market place then following the Halesowen Rd to Gorsty Hill and Lodgefield Rd to Halesowen/Haden Hill Rd near The Crescent, it then follows the River Stour via the Gunbarrel works, Bellvale, Overend Rd, thru Cradley Rd at Bridge Street and on, once again to Cradley Forge.
Rowley Regis and Rowley Somery
From time unknown Rowley was divided into two Manors; Rowley Regis (Kings Rowley) an ancient Royal Manor and Rowley Somery named after the de Somery family, Rowley Somery consisted of scattered lands within Rowley Regis, the two Manors operated separately with separate Courts, but their History is intertwined and at some point they came under the same ownership. Here is a map of Rowley Regis with Rowley Somery within it.
Rowley This famous English name is of Anglo-Saxon origin, and is a locational surname deriving from any one of the various places called Rowley in Devonshire, County Durham, Staffordshire and Yorkshire. The place in Devonshire is recorded as "Rodeleia" in the Domesday Book of 1086; that in Durham was recorded as "Ruley" in 1229; Rowley in Staffordshire was found as "Roelea" in the 1173 Pipe Rolls of the county; while the Rowleys in East and West Yorkshire are both recorded as "Ruley" in 1227 and 1246 respectively. All the places share the same meaning and derivation, which is "the rough wood or clearing", from the Olde English pre 7th Century "ruh", rough, overgrown, with "leah", thin wood, glade, clearing in a wood.
Roman occupation of Rowley proved by finding of substantial hordes of Roman coins @ Hawes, Rowley Hills and Cakemore "At Rowley Regis which is situated on a lofty peninsulated tract, which stretches into Worcestershire, between the parishes of Bradley and Dudley, there was found, some years ago, a pot of a globular form, which contained 1200 Roman silver coins, of 140 different sorts. Some of them bore fine impressions of the Roman emperors, Galba and Otho. " From History, Gazetteer and Directory of Staffordshire by William White 1834
“In removing one of these barriers (a ragstone wall) about forty years ago was found, a little to the South East of the Hailstone, an earthen vessel nearly full of very ancient Roman silver coins. It was deposited in the foundation of the wall, when or by whom cannot possible be ascertained, but certainly not till after the Romans were in possession of this country. A little below the surface of the ground , and over it, lay a broad stone a few inches thick. The wall adjoined the public highway. The vessel resembled what is called a “save all”. The coins must have been put into it through a slit near the top, it being without any other entrance. In number they were not fewer than seven hundred. In compass they were about the size of sixpences, but much thicker. They had been made in the reigns of different Roman Emperors, whose image and superscription many of them bore. The ignorance of the person into whose possession they came, or his folly, or both, led him to sell some of them at the price of old silver, to allow some to be put into the crucible, and to squander away nearly all the rest as if of no value whatever. Three or four, however, together with a small fragment of the vessel that contained them, have lately fallen into the hands of the clergyman of the parish. One bears the image ANTONINVS AVG T.R.P. , XXVIII: that is Marcus Antoninus in Tribune Authority the 28th time. In the reverse is a female figure in a sitting attitude, holding something like an urn, raised on a very high foot. The inscription is : IMP VL COSIII., that is, imperiator the 6th time. Consul the Third. Antonius reigned nearly 23 years, and died in his 75th year, AD 161".
"Two of the coins seem to have been made in honour of Faustina, wife of Augustinus. One bears her image with the inscription DIVA FAVSTINA. In the reverse the letters AVG I TI only are legible. The other is in nearly the same state".
"In the year 1804 about a mile south east, at Cakemore in the parish of Halesowen another vessel containing coins ofthe same description as the above was found. It was considerably less than the other and the pieces fewer. It was deposited in the earth a little below the surface. The finder was a most ignorant man who had drowned his senses to gratify his appetite, and the greater part of these coins shared a fate similar to that of the others. A few of them also fell into the hands of the clergyman above referred to The oldest bears the image of Nero and is inscribed IMP NERO CAESAR AVG PP> In the reverse are three standards; the middle one surmounted by a large eagle; the other two seem to have entwined serpents with the same device above, all of which are nearly defaced; but there is no inscription. Nero reigned Thirteen years, and died in the 31sy year of his age AD 70, it is therefore possible this coin may be 1770 years old. ”from the journal of the Rev George Barrs, curate and vicar of Rowley Regis 1801-1841
Pre Saxon England. “ The only points we can fix at that remote age are the tenure of the Westminster monks succeeding that of King Edgar. To this king's possession was handed down, most probably from the long line of the Kings and Earls of Mercia. the whole of the extensive tract extending from the Severn bank, which-in those times was the boundary of Staffordshire, down to Arley, Kings and Kington in the south part of Worcestershire, across by King's Norton and Birmingham, by Rowley Regis in the west;Newton Regis, King's Bromley including Needwood Forest, Kingston, Cannock Chase, Brewood, and Kingswood at the Shropshire borders. This territory included the forests of Cannock, Needwood, -Brewood, Kingswood, Morfe and Kinver ;and in point of fact, at that period, nearly the whole of the County of Stafford, was a sort of grand centre of the royal shooting and hunting ground, and surrounded by and more or less in connection, with other forests of even larger extent, such as Arden, Sherwood, Dean, Wyreand Shirlet;the whole forming a truly royal chase.”
From Perton of County Stafford by E.A.Hardwicke 1897.
Anglo Saxon times . “Most people lived in small rural communities a couple of dozen or so homes circling a village green or extending up and down a single winding street (as in Rowley Village) The centuries leading up to 1000 were the years in which people picked out the crossroads or stream crossing where they thought they could piece together a living. Villages built around a green may have originally been constructed in a circular pattern to provide protection from wolves or other marauders. By the end of the first millennium every modern English village existed and bore its modern name and the names can tell us whether the identity of that village was primarily shaped by the Anglo Saxons or the Danes.” As stated above Rowley is of Anglo Saxon origin. It is not clear where the original Rowley village green was placed but there was an animal pound on a piece of land in front of St Giles church as late as the 19th Century and Rowley Wake, a livestock and hiring fair was held in a field next to the Church in September on St Giles day.
Extract from “The year 1000. Robert Lacey 1999”
nors and their records
The
Manorial System
People often use the word 'manor' to mean a manor house. The manor was actually a country estate, which was run from the manor house.
In the Middle Ages land ownership was tied to national security. Under the feudal system all land was owned by the king. He granted territories to his earls and barons in return for military aid in need. They in turn granted lands to men who fought for them. Thus the land and its people could be protected without a standing army. The system broke down in the later Middle Ages and feudal tenure was finally abolished in England, Ireland and Wales in 1660.
The basic administrative unit was the manor. Ideally a manor was enough land to support a cavalryman - a knight's fee. He needed not only food and clothing for himself and his family, but armour, weapons and horses. The acreage needed varied according to the quality of the land. England had about 5,000-6,000 knights' fees.
It was natural for a son to follow in his father's footsteps, taking over a manor and the duty to fight. But once it was accepted that fees were inherited, then a manor could be held by a disabled man. Or it could be divided between daughters. So it might be more convenient to commute military service to a money payment. Over the centuries this gradually became the norm. So knighthood was not inherited with the manor. As a code of chivalry developed in the Middle Ages, so the prestige of the knight rose, and with it the expense of maintaining armour and trappings. Knighthood became an honour, but one that some manorial lords preferred to avoid. Even today a knighthood remains an honour to an individual person. It is not inherited. The lord or lady of a manor was simply the person who held it. Manorial lordships are not part of the peerage.
Those holding manors direct from the Crown were called tenants-in-chief. Mainly these were barons and earls. In 1086 they held half of England. However the king kept about a fifth in his own hands. His manors could be granted direct to knights, who would then be tenants-in-chief. The rest of the English manors were held by the Church - mainly by monasteries or cathedrals.
Manorial administration and its records
The
lord of the manor kept some land in demesne - farming it himself. The
rest he let, or left as common pasture and wasteland There were two types of manorial tenant: villein and free. The
freeman held land by deed and paid a fixed money rent. After
centuries in which the rent remained unchanged while its value fell,
such rents were nominal. The villein worked on his lord's land for
certain days in return for his own.
All tenants had to attend the manorial court, held usually in the The lord or his representative presided. From the 13th century onwards the business done was recorded on court rolls. That included the lord's decisions on which villein would hold what land. As it became usual for the villein to be given a copy of the entry in the court roll relating to his holding, such a tenure became known as copyhold. In Tudor times copyholds began to be replaced by leaseholds. The 1922 Law of Property Act finally abolished copyhold tenure.
Not all manors had a resident lord. A lord who held several manors might chose to live in one, and place a resident bailiff in charge of each of the others. Or the demesne farm could be let on a leasehold. In either case a chief house for the manor would still be needed, The manorial lord not only built the manor house but frequently founded a church beside it or chapel within it. He could be involved in much other building in the manor too. Any building expenses would be recorded in the manorial accounts.
Sometimes a survey of the lord's land would be made. A medieval survey was not a map, but a written record of property, listing tenants and their acreages, rents and/or services to the lord. One type of survey - the extent, made on the death of any manorial lord or baron holding land directly from the Crown, did briefly describe the manor house and its surrounding farm buildings
The St Giles parish registers
The Staffordshire Parish Registers Society (SPRS) has just published its transcription of the St. Giles, Rowley Regis, Parish Registers Part 4 covering the period from 1813 to 1849. The three earlier volumes of the registers were published by the SPRS in the period 1912 to 1916. It was extremely fortunate that the Society, founded in 1900, had chosen to transcribe these particular registers early in its existence for St. Giles suffered a fire on June 18th, 1913 and was burnt down. Most of the original parish registers were in the Parish Chest and suffered badly from fire and water damage. The damage to these registers makes anyone interested in church, local or family history cringe. Part 3 of the printed registers gives some indication of the condition that the registers were found in after the fire. For example, the earliest volume covering the period from 1539 to 1624 is described as "Shrunk to exactly half its former size. Number of leaves complete but barely legible owing to damage by fire and water". Another register was described as "So soaked in water that in spite of all efforts to preserve it, it rotted away and had to be destroyed". Two registers survived intact for they were at the time of the fire in the custody of the Parish Register Society, being transcribed. Fortunately, the SPRS had transcribed all of the registers up to 1812 so at least the contents of the registers were made readily available for future local historians and genealogists. The latest volume now to be published by the SPRS covers the period from 1813 to 1849, as stated above. Because most of the registers for this period are not in a fit state for inspection or use, the transcript is mainly based on the so-called Bishop's Transcripts. In 1598, all incumbents of the Church of England were instructed to henceforth make a copy of the entries in their Bishop which, in the case of Rowley Regis, was the Bishop of Worcester. Whilst the Bishop's Transcripts were supposed to be faithful copies of the original registers this was not always the case. However, for Rowley Regis, these Bishop's Transcripts remain the only full original record of the Rowley entries for that period. Some of the original registers, although badly damaged, have survived from the fire and are held at the Sandwell Library. One or two of the volumes have been restored when possible. Each page had to be divided into two separate sheets by professional restorers and a strengthening sheet inserted before the front and back sections of the page were reunited. During the period covered by this current transcription, Rowley Regis was a Chapelry to St. Leonard's Church at Clent. Thus from 1776 to 1816, Lyttleton Perry was the Vicar of Clent with Rowley Regis, being followed by Joseph Sharpe in 1816. On his death in 1825, Adolphus Hopkins took over until he died in 1855. These Vicars were essentially based at Clent, whilst the day-to-day running of the Rowley Regis Church was vested in a Curate. The Curate of Rowley Regis in the early part of this period was the Rev. George Barrs who held that office from 1800 to 1840. For the next five years there were a sequence of incumbents, namely E.J. Burke, Frederick Foot, J.H. Sherwood and T. Massey. William Crump became Curate of Rowley Regis in 1846. It had long been realised that the linkage of Rowley Regis to Clent was outdated, since at this time, Rowley Regis was a populous community expanding rapidly with the development of industry, whilst Clent remained a fairly small, mainly agricultural parish. At the time of the 1831 Census, Rowley Regis was recorded as having a population of 7,438 and increasing rapidly whilst Clent was only a mere 922 which was fairly static. It was thus agreed by the Ecclesiastical Authorities in 1845, that on the death of the then Vicar of Clent with Rowley Regis, the two parishes would be split into two distinct parishes. The Rev. Adolphus Hopkins died in 1855 and from that date Rowley Regis was elevated to a parish in its own right. The registers transcribed cover the baptisms, marriages and burials for the period 1813 to 1849. The original registers were of a pre-printed format and hence required only certain specific information on the parties concerned. However, fortunately, one or two of the Curates of Rowley did provide more information than the minimum required. To take a few examples from the Burial Register for 1813, we have on the 21st March the burial of Sarah Lovell aged 60 "a gipsey woman who with the others of the same fraternity had resided in the parish during the winter" and John Slater "very poor but truly believing in Jesus Christ". On the 7th April the burial of Sarah Bennett aged 20, "A dwarf and dumb idiot and a dwarf of not much above three feet high". The register is rather unusual in that although there was no column in the register for the cause of death, the incumbents at the time obviously thought it useful to record this for posterity. Taking 1820 as an example, 106 people were buried. The most frequent cause of death, claiming nineteen lives, was said to have been "decline", a condition that seemed to affect people of all ages since the youngest to die of this cause in that year was aged just three months whilst the oldest was aged 54. That children's complaint, measles, was the next largest cause of death with some 14 children dying from it in that year. This was closely followed by smallpox which claimed 12 lives. (How fortunate we are to live in a period where both of these diseases don't carry the same risk). "Bowel complaints" came next, presumably a reflection of the quality of the water and of the food people ate. This was followed by "natural decay", a rather graphic description of the effects of old age. Another facet was the risk of bearing a child with four women dying in this year during child birth. The modern scourge of cancer didn't really figure, with it being the cause of death in only two instances. We mustn't think that everyone in this period was doomed to a short life. There were many residents of Rowley Regis who lived to a ripe old age. Many made it into their seventies and eighties whilst some five over the period covered, from 1813 to 1849, made it into their nineties. The oldest death recorded was of Thomas Brooks of the "Town" who was buried on the 20th January 1837, aged 101. His cause of death was that graphic phrase, "natural decay"! We have seen that measles and small pox caused significant deaths but perhaps the most feared of all was cholera. In common with many other Black Country towns, Rowley Regis was hit by the cholera outbreak in 1832. The first death from this cause was recorded on the 16th July when Rhoda Davis, aged 22 was buried. From then on, over the next two months, there were continual burials due to cholera. It seemed to peak in mid August when on the 12th there was one such burial, two on the 13th, six on the 14th and five on the 15th. One can but imagine the horror and fear that this wave of deaths caused. The disease continued through into August, by which time a total of 72 people had died from this cause. Rowley Regis was by no means an isolated area for these attacks. They were prevalent during this period throughout the Black Country. Whilst Rowley Regis suffered 72 deaths in its population of about 7,500, bear a thought for Bilston which suffered 741 deaths in a population of only twice that size. The registers also give an insight to the occupations carried out by the residents of Rowley Regis at that time, since there was a requirement to enter the occupation of the father when baptising a child. Again looking at the entries for 1820, a total of 88 of the entries gave the father's occupation. Way at the top of the list was "Nailer" with 45 entries, meaning that half of all the fathers were engaged in the manufacture of nails. The next nearest occupation given was "farmer" which perhaps was a surprising second with ten fathers giving this as their occupation. Next were labourers at eight, after which we were down to one and possible two of a variety of occupations. These included "Collier" (1), "Blacksmiths" (4), "Tool mender" (1), "Tracemaker" (1), and "Pincer Maker" (1). Standing out from all, was the one entry for the gentry class, namely William Eagles Johnson who was described as a "Gentleman" of Portway.
The St Giles Registers
A descendant of the Haden family (C W Bassano writing in 1921) stated that there were (are?) five vaults under St Giles church, presumably he is referring to the third church.
1 The Haden family of Haden Hall, the vault is under the chancel – entrance being within the church just outside the chancel – built by Henry Haden who died in 1675 aged 42 and was buried in the vault, his wife Mary followed in 1717, Elizabeth presumably their daughter 18.08.1732 and Henry their son 09.10.1736 aged 77, These are all recorded on one floor stone headed “Hic Sepulti”, on another floor stone headed “underneath are buried” are recorded Mary Haden 17.03.1810 aged 88; Ann Smart 25.02..1819 aged 92 and Elizabeth Kendrick 19.09.1826 aged 95. Mary is a daughter of Thomas Haden,the latter two, Ann and Elizabeth, were daughters of Henry Haden who died in 1736.
2 Rev Georg Barrs – built by himself on south side of chancel, large enough to hold six coffins, the vault contains Elizabeth the wife of his son Frederick, himself in 1840 and wife Mary in 1844.” Rev George Barrs died on 26.08.1840 and was buried in the family vault which now lies in the south transcript on 02.09.1840 aged 69 years”. His widow Mary was also buried in the same vault 26.03.1844 aged 79 years. Both died at Haden Hill.”
3 Mr Dan Hill – only occupant – stone bore no date – Daniel Hill was a Farmer and Iron Master of Rowley village, he lived with wife Nancy in a farmhouse next to the church they farmed 66 acres one of the largest farms in Rowley. They had two daughters Ann Elizabeth and Mary both of whom married sons of the Rev George Barrs, Ann Elizabeth to Alfred Haden Barrs 20.07.1840 and Mary to Frederick W G Barrs, Frederick and Mary are buried in the Barrs vault. Daniel Hill died aged 51 in 1831 of a burst aorta, his wife Nancy remained in Rowley until her death in 1875 when she was not able to be join her husband in the family vault as burials within church walls was forbidden after 1853. She was interred in the vault of her son in law Alfred Haden Barrs.
4 Thought to be of The Russell family of Rowley – The Russell family or as they were originally known De Rushales were granted the manor of Rowley regis by King Henry II in 1154 but eventually lost out to the Somery family (see Rowley time line). A Thomas Russell is on a muster roll from 1539 and a William Russell of Portway Hall on a hearth tax list from 1660 William Russell an iron monger rebuilt Portway Hall in 1664 . A Daniel Russell of Rowley fought with Cromwell at the battle of Worcester during the civil war. It is not known which of the family is interred in the vault
5 Possibly the Sheldon family of Rowley – A very old Rowley family associated with Brindlefield Hall ,Tividale a Richard Sheldon lived at Rowley as early as the 14th century, together with sons Maurice and Richard, a grandson John moved to Beoley in Warwickshire. A descendant, Lady Monins, (Elizabeth Brimfield of Derretts Hall, Tividale) who founded the first school in Rowley in 1703 was certainly buried at St Giles in 1705.
All vaults are completely enclosed with strong walls of brick and mortar and were many feet below the surface of the church floor, all interments were in lead coffins.
In 1853 an order was passed forbidding further interments within church walls, the Barrs family considered this a personal affront to their family and petitioned the then Home Secretary in 1856 to no avail.
In 1862 the vault of Alfred Haden Barrs son of George Barrs was built outside the church, it measured 7.6” by 6.6” and eleven feet high, it eventually contained
Eliza Ann Barrs – wife of Alfred Haden Barrs 1875
Mary wife of Frederick Barrs 1904
Alfred Haden Barrs himself 1877
Frederick W G Barrs, his brother 1875
Ann Eliza Haden his half sister 1876
Mrs Hill (Nancy) his wife’s mother 1875
When the third church was built a faculty was obtained to extend the walls to cover this vault and so bring it within the church building. What happened within these vaults when the church was the subject of mining subsidence at the end of the 19th century is not known. It is believed that the headstones for the Haden vaults were removed from the ruins of the church and kept at Haden Hall after the fire of 1913 and not returned to be included in the new church building, presumably these are still there!
There was possibly another grave or vault within St Giles, when Stebbing Shaw visited Rowley in preparation for his History of Staffordshire, published in 1798, he noted that there was a white marble slab within the church with just three letters carved upon it, unfortunately he did not say what these three letters were and the marble slab does not survive but it could mark the grave or vault within the church of one William Orm a prominent Rowley landowner with holdings in both Rowley Regis and Rowley Somery who’s will stated that he desired to be buried “in the Churche of Rowley under the marble stone” at his death which occurred in 1611. (Edward Chitham)
records of longliv
At a hamlet called Portway, in the parish of Rowley Regis, in the county of Stafford, are now re- siding a Postdiluvian pair, the husband upwards of one hundred years of age, and the wife more than ninety. They have been married more than threescore and ten, and have had six sons, all now living. The person who vouches for the authenticity of this fact, is one of those sons, and now a broker in Birmingham: but what conduces to crown the anecdote is, that this very son, who though but fifty years of age himself, has brothers bordering upon seventy, and was in the state of wedlock twenty year» with one of the largest women in. England, who never bore him a child; but during the lapse of his matrimonial state, he has had' no less than ten illegitimate bantlings looking to him as the father, and he takes no little pride in proving that he himself has not been brought into the world without fulfilling the first great commandment, " increase and multiply."
From “Sporting Magazine” 1796 William and Mary Brookes in St Giles.
384 1727 Anne daughter of William and Mary Bp 399 1729 Jane daughter of William and Mary Bp 415 1732 William Brookes and Mary Windsor Married 419 1733 William son of William and Mary Bp 429 1736 Joseph son of William and Mary Bp 441 1738 Mary daughter of William and Mary Bp 455 1741 Thomas son of William and Mary Bp 456 1741 Jane daughter of William Bur 470 1743 Sara daughter of William and Mary Bp 471 1744 Sara daughter of William Bur 487 1746 Anne daughter of William and Mary Bp 505 1748 Sara daughter of William and Mary Bp 521 1751 John son of William and Mary Bp 536 1753 James son of William and Mary Bp 550 1756 William Brookes aged 49 Buried 552 1756 Charles son of William and Mary Bp 880 1774 William Brookes and Mary Richards widow Married 805 1796 William Brookes aged 101 Buried 848 1812 Mary wife of William Brookes aged 80 buried
The Rowley Hangman George Smith 1805-1874. Hangman
Period in office – 1849-1872. George Smith was born in Rowley Regis in 1805 and was a prisoner himself at Stafford when he entered the “trade” as an assistant to Calcraft. His first job was assisting at the double hanging of James Owen and George Thomas outside Stafford Gaol on the 11th of April 1840. He learnt the job and was able to perform executions himself, principally in the Midlands. Smith’s most famous solo execution was that of the Rugeley poisoner, Dr William Palmer for the murder of John Parsons Cook, before a large crowd at Stafford prison on the 14th of June 1856. Smith was to hang a further 14 men and one woman at Stafford, the last in August 1872. He assisted Calcraft at the first private hanging in England (of Thomas Wells see below) in August of 1868. He was renowned for his long white coat and top hat which he wore at public hangings. Smith's son, also George, assisted at 3 executions at Stafford prison. Initially, it is said that he was hired by the Under Sheriff of Staffordshire to save the cost of bringing Calcraft up from London. With the advent of a good rail network, Smith, like Askern and Calcraft, could operate much further a field in later years. George Smith carried out two private executions, the last at Stafford on the 13th of August 1872, when he hanged 34 year old Christopher Edwards for the murder of his wife. Why is Rowley not still like Clent, the story of Warrens Hall
Warrens Hall as an area is best known today as a country park based in an old industrial mining site straddling the boundary of Sandwell and Dudley and encompassing the foothills of the Rowley Hills. Before this it was Warrens Hall farm, the farm building being on the Oakham Road and still existing today as a care home. The land attached to the farmhouse still retains its rural feel and is used as riding stables with bridal paths and various field for grazing. It is the last vestige of once verdant countryside, akin to the Clent Hills, in an area decimated by the industrial revolution.
The farm house on the Oakham Road is not, however, the original main building and the land seems to have been purchased in the late 16th Century, in two packages, intended as a country estate for minor nobility with a Hall being built shortly afterwards, this Hall or capital messuage was situated just off what is now the New Dudley road just inside the Rowley Regis parish boundary.
We can ascertain that a Walter James (Gent) purchased two areas of land within Rowley in the late16th and early 17th century. The first transaction reads;
“on the octaves of St Michael, 28 Elizabeth (1586) – between Walter James, gentleman, complainant, and William Grove of Rowley, deforciant, of 40 acres of land, 30 acres of meadow, 60 acres of pasture, and 10 acres of wood in Rowley. William remitted all right to Walter and his heirs, for which Walter gave him 130 marks of silver.” Walter James is not said to be of Rowley suggesting he came from outside the area and there is no mention of a house or building which leads us to surmise that a Hall was newly built afterwards. This land is what would become Warrens Hall farm, the Hall would became known as James Hall and later Warrens Hall.
The second transaction would see an extension of his holdings by the purchase of adjoining lands 20 years later
“Ist June 1605 1 jun 3 James (1605) - Deed of bargain and sale by Roger Rowley of Rowley, Worfield Shropshire, gent and his son and heir William Rowley of Rowley, gent, to Walter James of Rowley alias Kings Rowley, Staffs, gent, of meadows, pastures and lands called the Railes, Cursies alias Fresberye and Hammonds Meadow at Rowley alias Rowley Regis in consideration of £230.”
A later map (1798) shows both parcels of land adjoining and named separately as Warrens Hall farm and Turners Hill farm. 
We can identify land in the second transaction, bought from Roger and William Rowley, as what would become Turners Hill farm due to the names of fields quoted in the deed, these correspond to our map of Turners Hill farm, we assume therefore that the first parcel of land corresponds to Warrens Hall farm.
This would seem to have completed the purchase of land in Rowley. Part of the land was in the Manor of Rowley Regis (Kings Rowley) and part in the Manor of Rowley Somery and so came under the jurisdiction of both the Earl of Dudley and the Duke of Sutherland respectively.
“ The family of James, of Rowley, Staffs, was descended from Walter James, brother of Henry James of Forfield, Belbroughton, son of Edmund James of Astley by Anne widow of Richard Corbyn of Hall End Co Warwick” Heraldry of Worcs p312.
There is no mention of Walter James in the Rowley Regis parish register, entries begin with his son Edward in 1608. We find that Walter James lived at Corbyns Hall in the late 1590s, maybe due to inheritance, leaving his son at James Hall. The following entries appear in the Rowley parish register;
p30 12/10/1608 Mountford son of Edward James Bapt p30 18/11/1608 Mountford son of Edward James Bur p32 08/12/1609 Edward son of Edward James Bapt p34 24/12/1610 Frances son of Edward James, gent, Bapt p36 28/04/1612 Elizabeth dau of Edward James, gent, Bapt p38 01/08/1613 Dorothy dau of Edward James, gent Bapt p40 03/10/1614 Mandlyn dau of Edward James, gent Bapt.,
This is the last entry for this branch of the James family in the register. In 1622 Edward James sold perhaps the remaining portion of his land in Rowley.
“on the Quindene of Easter 19 James 1 (1622). Between William Ruston, compainant, and Edward James, gentleman, and Joice his wife, deforciants of 1 cottage, 1 garden, 10 acres of land, 8 acres of meadow, and 8 acres of pasture in Rowley and Rowley Regis. Edward and Joice remitted all right to William and his heirs, and granted that they would warrant the said tenements against Roger Rowley and William Rowley and their heirs, and against all others claiming by the said Edward and Walter James, gentleman deceased, for which William gave them £41”
This tells us two things, that the land sold was part of that purchased from Roger Rowley in 1605, and that Walter James, Edwards father, was deceased. It would seem safe to assume that this is when the James family ended all connection with Rowley.
In 1647 Nicolas Ebrall appears on the suite roll of Rowley Somery
Entries in the St Giles parish register are as follows
P38 09/06/1613 Nicolas Ebrall and Alyceod Northwo Wed P39 10/07/1614 Agnes daughter of Nicolas Ebrall Bapt P46 07/09/1618 William son of Nicolas Ebraule Bapt P57 ? Nov 1625 Margaret ? daughter of Nicolas Ebraule Chrs P97 03/01/1648 Nicolas Ebraule Bur P151 09/11/1661 Richard Awden and Margaret Ebrall Mar P189 09/04/1676 William Ebrell Bur
Nicolas Ebrall died in 1648, in the 1650 Court Baron roll Richard Amphlett is listed as a freehold landowner Ebrall is crossed out in the 1663 suite roll and replaced by “Mr Amphlett” we do not know the relationship between Ebrall and Amphlett. It is later documented that Amphlett owned both Warrens Hall and Turners hill farms so we must assume that the previous incumbent after James was Nicolas Ebrall although we do not know the relationship between Amphlett, Ebraul and James.
In 1647 also John Sparry appears on the suite roll
In 1663 rent roll John Sparry is crossed out and Richard Amphlett inserted, Court Baron for April 1663 states “ We find Mr John Sparrey deceased, Mr Amphlett his heir at full age, but what advantage falls to the Lord by the death of any of the above the jury know not”
Sparrey and Amphlett.
The Amphletts inherited land in Clent and Rowley from John Sparrey in the mid 17 cent, via William Amphletts wife . Frances, Richard Amphlett his son lived in Rowley for a time before moving to Clent soon after 1660. John Sparry and Richard Amphlett are shown as a principal freehold landowners on Rowley Somery manor court rolls, they undoubtedly owned land in Rowley Regis manor also. William Amphlett 1588–1662 married Frances Sparry 1573–1667 children, Marie 1615-?; William 1620-1681; Frances. The land that Richard Amphlett inherited from Sparry is not thought to include Warrens Hall or Turners Hill. A survey of the Regis manor in 1556 states; “ Henry Sparry – one messuage called Whites tenement and one moore called Baremoore and one croft with a foldyard called Hilboes land” and in the 1771 Somerey survey: “William Amphlett holds freely by deed a certain tenement and lands by Bearmore” both pockets of land are shown on the 1798 map, they are in “lower rowley” near to cradley heath and old hill   The following shows relationship between Sparrey and Amphlett and shows importance of Sparreys in Clent.
“The Sparrys had been in Clent since 1273 and for nearly 300 years were the ‘village squires’”. (clent history society)
“Henry Sparrey, gent., the son of Roger Sparrey, who seems to have been a man of some importance in the neighbourhood, being described in a deed of this period as valettus coronae, and who held land at Hagley and in other parishes, was buried in Clent chancel on Dec. 2ist, 1589, and on the 23rd February in the next year it is entered in the register that the vicar received a fee of 6s. 8d. for his burial. He married Rose Pype, sister of Sir Richard Pype, Lord Mayor of London in 1575, and his granddaughter Frances married William Amphlett of Hadsor, in the church of the parish of Salwarp, on Dec. i8th, 1614”.
Both estates (james/Warrens Hall and Turners Hill) came into the hands of the Amphletts,probably by inheritance, we have found no land transactions but there is proof of possession in later years. The Amphletts held the lands for a considerable time rented out as farmland.
Amphlett in St Giles
P47 13/01/1618 John Amphlett and Margaret Evans Wed P71 06/07/1640 John Amphlett Bur P118 24/01/1654 Elizabeth daughter of Richard Amphlett gent and Anne Bap P121 10/10/1656 John son of Richard and Anne Bap P125 13/05/1659 Dorcas daughter of Richard Amphlett gent and Anne Bap
The Amphlett name was gone from Rowley by 1665 when Henry Warrend was in possession of lands in Rowley including James Hall.as a tenant of Amphlett
“Richard Amphlett aquired land at Clent mid 17 century and in 1666 was living at Clent House”
Joseph son of Henry and Anne is the first mention of Warren in the St Giles registers.
Poll tax return for Rowley 1666 “Warren Henry and Elinor , children John Edward Joseph Sarah, servant Rebecca Worley”
Suite Roll for Rowley Somerey 1670, Henry Warrand replaces Richard Amphlett. Richard still appears as a landowner suggesting Warrend was renting the James hall estate which later became known as Warrens hall.
Rowley Somerey survey 1717 John Warren is a member of the homage, there is also the following item in the survey
“that the said William Amphlett Esq holds freely by deed certain land belonging to unto his house called James Hall in the possession of John Warren by the yearly chief rent of 3s.” This proves James Hall/Warrens Hall was rented to Warrens.
Warren in St Giles
P137 14/05/1665 Joseph son of Henry and Anne chr P164 21/02/1668 Samuel son of Henry Bap P175 18/10/1671 Elener Wife of Henry Warren buried P185 27/10/1674 Henry son of Henry and Sarah bap P190 16/07/1676 Henry son of Henry buried P194 07/02/1677 John Warren and Hana Willetts mariied P196 04/12/1678 Hanna daughter of John and Hanah baptised P202 1680 Hanah daughter of John and Hanah buried P203 26/07/1681 John son of John and Hanahbaptised P209 05/11/1683 Sara daughter of John and Hanah baptised P222 30/05/1687 Mary daughter of John and Hanah baptised P224 20/01/1688 Mary daughter of John and Hanah buried P229 28/04/1689 Thomas son of John and Hanah baptised P230 20/10/1689 Thomas son of John and Hanah buried P247 04/09/1689 Thomas son of John and Hanah baptised P269 04/06/1700 Hugh Dixon and Hanah Warren married P301 06/11/1709 Hannah wife of John Warrand buried P323 17/05/1715 John Warren and Anne White married P338 09/01/1718 Thomas Warren and Sarah Bassett married P465 21/02/1742 Anne wife of John warren buried P471 31/01/1744 John Warren and Elizabeth Russell married P492 11/03/1747 John Warren Jnr aged 62 buried P514 13/06/1750 John Warren from Birmingham buried aged 98
We cannot trace the origins of the Warren family but their tenure would seem to have lasted over 80 years, until around 1750, James Hall became known as Warrens Hall. John Warren from Birmingham buried 13/06/1750 aged 98 is maybe the John Warren who married in 1677 and this perhaps gives an indication of their origin.The death of John in 1750 and his son John Jnr in 1747 marked the end of their tenure.
A deed dated 25/03/1749 William Amphlett of Hadnor rented James Hall and lands to Benjamin Woodhouse.
“ 1, William Amphlett of Hadsor Worcs Esq. 2, Benjamin Woodhouse of James Hall, Rowley Regis, Staffs, Yeoman Messuage called James Hall and lands in Rowley Regis rent £50.10s.”
A deed dated 03/04/1770 Christian Amphlett, widow of William, rented James Hall to Mary widow of Benjamin Woodhouse.
“ 1 Christian Amphlett of Hadsor Worcs. 2 Mary Woodhouse of James Hall, Rowley Regis, Staffs, rent £75 per acre converted to tillage”
Christian Amphlett widow of William married Thomas Holbeche of Droightwich Worcs 26th April 1772.
The marriage settlement between these two stated;
Date:26 Jun 1772 (i) Thomas Holbeche of Droitwich, Worcs., Gent. (ii) Christian Amphlett of Hadsor, Worcs., Widow (iii) Richard Norbury of Droitwich, Esq. Before marriage of i) to ii), providing for ii)'s dower out of property in Rowley Regis. Signed, sealed and witnessed.
08/06/1780 Richard Amphlett passed his interest ? in Warrens Hall and Turners Hill to John Amphlett his brother.
“ 1 Richard Amphlett of Hadsor, Worcs Esq, 2 Rev John Amphlett, Rector of Hadsor Capital Messuage called Warrens Hall; messuage called Turners Hill and other messuages and lands in Rowley Regis signed sealed and witnessed.”
Christian Holbeche (widow of William Amphlette by previous marriage died in 1807.
01/07/1808 John Amphlett received a considerable sum from the sale Warrens Hall and other Rowley lands including Turners Hill house;
“Messuage called Turners Hill and lands belonging in Rowley Regis; Turners Hill farm; capital messuage formerly called James Hall and now called Warrens Hall and land belonging at Rowley Regis; Warrens Hall farm, Rowley Regis, 2 pieces of land in Dudley now called Far Dudley Piece and Near Dudley Piece formerly called Cookes Land. Consideration £1800 invested in consolidated bank annuities for John Amphlett and £3800 to be invested in parliamentary stocks”
We think this is when the industrial revolution intervened in the fate of the estates due to the rush to extract valuable coal deposits.
There is confusion as to the combined interest of Amphlett/Holbeche in the properties during the period from 1772 to 1898, because we know from the map of 1998 that Thomas Holbeche second husband of Christian owned both Warrens Hall and Turners Hill although he never lived there, he also bought another piece of land giving access to Warrens Hall in the enclosures of 1807 and reclaimed Land Tax in 1799 . We have been unable to ascertain when Thomas died which may offer an explanation.
Mining (windmill End colliery sunk in 1830) and the building of the Netherton canal tunnel (The first sod was turned by the Lord Ward on 31 December 1855 and the canal opened on 20 August 1858) finally put paid to this Hall and the estate by the mid 19th Century when all traces of an important building had vanished. If a line is drawn between two pepper pot air vents the netherton tunnel passes directly under the Hall. The Hall was still occupied in the 1841 census by Benjamin Darby a farmer but is not mentioned by 1851.
Farming limped on at both Warrens Hall and Turners Hill for many years to come despite the wanton exploitation of the land .
Rowley Regis was inhabited by various gentry families in the 17th and 18th centuries when the area was quite spectacularly beautiful, the number slowly declined as the industrial revolution progressed and families located to more desirable places in the unspoiled countryside surrounding Rowley Regis.
The histories of Clent and Rowley are intertwined, the Barons of Dudley owned both, Rowley was once part of Clent parish, the original Rowley church was a chapel of Clent, the vicar of Clent was the vicar of Rowley, many people of Rowley married in Clent. Hales Abbey owned or leased land in both. It is thought that the Domesday survey omitted Rowley in its own right as it was considered part of Clent. Land owners leased or owned lands and houses in both and many Rowley folk visited Clent on Public holidays. Eventually, perhaps due to the vanity of the Rev George Barrs curate of Rowley, Rowley became a parish in its own right and the connection was lost. What Rowley people fail to realise however is that Clent has retained its rural setting and is what Rowley would have been like today had not the five mile seam of the South Staffs coal field not been found under the Rowley soil. This was also responsible for the demise of the yeoman farmer in Rowley, the country estates such as Warrens Hall and the rural society which had prevailed for hundreds of years. The Lords of Rowley Regis and its sister manor Rowley Somery retained the ancient mineral rights to their lands and even when they were sold they still came under the jurisdiction of the Manor which gave the Lords the right to dig up and exploit minerals on any land in the Manor irrespective of the wishes and livelihoods of the incumbent. Inns taverns and beerhouses The Evil of drink in Rowley.
At any one time there were around twelve alehouses, inns, taverns and beerhouses in the immediate area of Rowley village. Drink played a large part in the lives of villagers, originally because ale was safer to drink than water, and later because of the very hard working lives of ordinary people; in other words it acted as an anasthetic.
When the Rev George Barrs came to Rowley in 1801 he described the inhabitants as follows; " The majority of people were scarcely civilised and accustomed to a life style in which drink, vice, and immorality bore unbounded sway; bull baiting and cock fighting were the popular amusements of the day"
In 1830, in an attempt to curtail the out of control consumption of gin by the working classes, the Beer Act was passed, this resulted in an explosion of Beer shops which could only sell beer and could be opened by virtually anyone.
Vestry records of St Giles record; " At a public meeting in 1841 it was considered that steps should be taken to prevent the alarmng increase in wickedness and immorality from the vast number of beer shops and public houses which abound in the Parish."
"Since the national pest the Beer act came into operation in 1830 they (parishioners) have become more dissolute, their morals more corrupt, their habits more idle and unthrifty."
Many establishments operated as sidelines, or were tommy shops, owned by foggers, who paid wages in them, or paid in tokens to be spent on the premises so exploiting workers more than ever.
A Tommy shop - as in tommy rot, selling substandard or adulterated foods at inflated prices. A Fogger - doled out iron to homeworkers and collected finished goods, often short changing the worker at both ends of the transaction. A Beer house - it sold only beer, not spirits, and provided no lodgings. Beer houses were often sidelines for men in other trades such as farmer, carpenter, builder, nail factor or blacksmith. The Royal Oak, Springfield Todays 60's building is not the original, we cannot tell how old the original was but "Royal Oak" is associated with the flight of King Charles 11 after the battle of Worcester, in 1651, when he hid in an oak tree to escape Cromwells troops. Springfield is at the foot of the Rowley hills, on the border of the old Warrens Hall estate. On the 10th September, 1651, Charles 11 passed over the Rowley hills, through Rowley, Bleak heath, Lapal, and on to Bromsgrove. There are (were) three "Royal Oaks" in close proximity on this route, even equidistant from each other.
The Hailstone, Knowle.
Named to commemorate the Hailstone, a gigantic outcrop of Rowley Rag which stood atop Hailstone Hill and could be seen from miles around. It was demolished, by explosives, in 1899, due, in part, to its association with Devil worship. As befitted its reputation, two men were killed in the process. The pub is still trading today.
The Cock at Cock Green.
A sign on the pub says it dates back to 1693. Originally a farm house,but selling ale at least since 1814, not much more is known and its ancient origins have been masked by various extensive alterations. Still trading today
The Bulls Head, Tipperty Green.
Once the headquarters of the Rowley Brewery, brewers of "fine Rowley Ales". Thomas Williams aquired the pub and its brewery in 1875. He eventually owned many properties in Rowley and supplied 14 pubs from his newly built Brewery opposite the Bulls Head. His son sold out to Ansells in 1927. Still trading today, a shadow of the former empire.
The Portway Tavern, Perrys Lake.
In close proximity to the entrance to Rowley Quarry in an area known as "Heaven" the Portway Tavern was once the haunt of quarry workers after a long shift. Owned by the Levett family up to 1900, who were also butchers in Rowley and Blackheath for many years. Demolished in 1984
The Beehive, Hawes Lane.
Situated between the Ward Arms and Club Buildings, incredibly, vitually nothing is known about this establishment except that it appears on the census from 1861 to 1901, the owner in 1881 is one Joseph Hadley described as a retail brewer, probably a beer house.
The Ward Arms. Hawes Lane
A premier hostelry in Rowley village at the beginning of Hawes Lane , once nicknamed the “Well of Bethlehem” because parishioners came straight from the church next door. Probably replaced the Court House (see below) when it was demolished around 1848.
The “Court House”, or “Lord Ward's Court House” or "Lord Dudley's Court House"
Named in trade directories from 1818 to 1834 the landlord being John Hadley or Widow Hadley. The Lords of Dudley were owners of the Manor of Rowley Regis for centuries and this was the Rowley Manor court house. Situated on the “waste” between the Church and the village end of Church Row it was Demolished around 1848 when the new (second) church was built and more space was needed. It is not known when it first became a pub but leases show the Building dating back to at least the 17th Century.
The Ring O Bells, Rowley Village.
With an adjoining malthouse and a brewery at the rear, it was opposite the Ward Arms at the top of Rowley village, no picture exists but a sign hung above the door depicting the bells of St Giles remained when it was converted to a private house in the 1930s.
The Grange Inn, Church Road.
Previously "Rowley Grange" the home of Dean Hill a farmer and nail master, it was surrounded by an orchard and had stables at the rear, later the home of Thomas Williams of Rowley Fine Ales and converted into the Grange Inn in 1936 via a license transfer when the Royal Oak, Blackheath, was closed. Before it was demolished in 2004 residents tried to save it because of "its historical importance" but to no avail.
The Church Tavern, Rowley village.
A sigifnicant building, probably 17th century, at the top of the village opposite Curral Rd. Named in trade directories and the census of 1841 and 1851 it was a 3 story building with a ragstone arch connecting to the building next door. Later converted to 2 dwellings. According to deeds it was, indeed, previously a coaching inn, the stone arch being entrance to yard and stables behind. Demolished with the village in 1970
Swan or White Swan, Rowley village.
Just below the Church tavern on the other side of the hill. Frequented by business men, it was here that the original Rowley building society was formed in 1799 for the purpose of erecting 14 dwellings at Club buildings (Stanford Drive today). This was the 14th such society in England and members met at the Swan over substantial repasts to discuss progress. The Swan closed around 1920 and was replaced by a private house.
Kings Arms Rowley village.
Just where the Doctors surgery is today, halfway down the village, apparently a purpose built pub who's licensees doubled as manufacturer of Jews Harps (Daniel Bowater 1834) and nail iron monger (Thomas Parish 1845) Demolished with the village in 1970.
Malt Shovel, Rowley village.
On the lower corner of Rowley village and Siviters Lane it had an adjacent Malt House, Thomas Dixon in 1871 is described as a maltster and retail brewer. Later coverted into a retail shop. Demolished with the village in 1970
The Vine, Rowley village.
Between the Malt Shovel and the Britannia. No picture exists. Does not appear on cencus till 1861 when John Walters is described as a Joiner and Publican. He probably took advantage of the Beer Act 1830 to open a beer house to supplement his income. Run by Walters family till 1901 when it was taken over by Noah Harris, converted into a house in 1920s.
The Pear Tree Inn, Mincing Lane.
Bottom of Mincing Lane, a farm house owned by the Merris family till the 1920’s, then Joseph Mallin, both farmed 23 acres behind the farmhouse. Mincing Lane wells were situated opposite the farmhouse providing a source of water for brewing. The farm house was rebuilt as a pub in the 1930s and demolished in 1998.
The Queens Arms, Mincing Lane.
No picture exists and we are not sure where in Mincing Lane it was situated. The licensee in 1841 was Thomas Slim, a nail factor who also a grocer, so it was probably a beer house and tommy shop. Later it was operated by his widow, Sarah Slim, and then by David Ravenscroft, an engine smith and beerhouse keeper (1861 census) who changed the name to Jolly Toper. James Slim, son of Thomas and Sarah, moved to Rowley village and was a nail factor and provision dealer - the art of exploitation passed from father to son! Incidently, the dictionary definition of "toper" is a drunkard.
The Britannia, Rowley village.
A farm house next to the gates of Britannia Park which once formed part of its lands stretching up to Dobbs Bank at the top of Ross and also encompassing the Britannia Estate. Owned by the Mackmillan family, horn button manufacturers ,who built the endowed school. Later became a beer house and "tommy shop".Believed to be named after "Brit" Bolton, a retired circus strongman, who had connections with the cruel "sport" of bull baiting which was prevalent in Rowley especially at Wakes. Still trading today
Sir Robert Peel, Rowley village.
Widely believed to have once been the village gaol but ony the name supports this. More likely named after Sir Robert Peel as repealer of the Corn Laws who died in 1850. It appears, first on the 1851 cencus as a beer house, previously being listed as a smithy, doubled as a butchers and beer house house in 1871 when the licencee was Daniel Bowater. Once the local of Tommy Smart of Aston Villa and England who lived over the road. Still trading today
Allsops Beer House, Rowley Village.
A farm house just below Mackmillan Rd which operated as a shop and beer house in the 1850s. Demolished ?
Royal Oak, Blackheath.
Pre-dating Blackheath as a town. Situated on the crossroads to Oldbury, Halesowen and Quinton at Bleak Heath was an old coaching inn dating back to 17th century. Demolished in the 1930’s to make way for the market place and Blackheath traffic island. See Royal Oak Springfield.
Religion in Rowley Religion, in its various forms and denominations, has always played a major part in the lives of Rowley people. On top of the Rowley hills near the summit of Turners Hill there once stood a large exposed natural rock formation of Rowley Rag known as the Hail-stone. In pre Christian times it was likely used as a pagan religious site, it was also associated with the devil which, in part, led to its removal in 1879.
” From the face of a precipitous termination of the southern extremity of these hills rises a pillar of rock, known as the " The Hail Stone." I conjecture that the word hail may be a corruption of the archaic word holy, holy ; and that this pillar of rock may have been the object of religious worship in ancient times. The name may have been derived directly from the Anglo-Saxon Haleg stan, holy stone.”
There has been an establishment church on the top of Rowley Hill since the 12th century, and probably much earlier. Rowley was a typical medieval village, the church situated between the manor house (Rowley Hall) and the mill (at the end of the churchyard near Stanford Drive). The first church, which betrayed Saxon origins, lasted until 1840 when it was replaced by George Barrs, the second only until 1900 when it was declared unsafe and demolished due to subsidence, the third burnt down “in a fire of spectacular proportions” in 1913, and was not replaced by the forth and present church until 1923, due to the advent of the first world war.
The most notable incumbent of St Giles was the Rev George Barrs who was curate from 1800 to 1840, he was responsible for the rebuilding of the first church and for dragging the parish of Rowley from a state of “anarchy and proliferation” to an administration the envy of its neighbours. The state of the parish was such that it was
"Scarcely in a state of common civilisation.” The management of parochial affairs was in every possible sense the most corrupt and profligate."
“It took 20 years to establish the new system until in the end the parish was held up as an example of one of the best parishes in the kingdom.”
Rowley has a long history with dissent, in 1662 the then curate William Turton was ejected after the Restoration and the Act of Uniformity which compelled ministers to conform closely to the Prayer Book. “By 1684 it was said that only five nonconformist ministers were left in Birmingham: Bryan, Evans, Fincher, Baldwin and Spilsbury, although others visited the town frequently, notably William Turton, 'a very dangerous nonconformist' ejected in 1662 from Rowley Regis (Staffs.) and more recently preaching at Nantwich (Ches.). The accession of James II in 1685 led to a relaxation of the severity of religious persecution and in 1686 Turton became the settled minister of a Presbyterian congregation”
In 1823 six member families of the St Giles congregation defected from the established church believing that the Bible supports “believers baptism” which the Rev George Barrs was vehemently against. This resulted in the founding of the Providence Strict Baptist Chapel at Bell End, in which this exhibition is housed. The two most prominent ministers of this chapel were Daniel Matthews, minister from 1828 to 1888, and Alfred Dye, from 1888 to 1923, both of who’s reputation spread far and wide from Rowley.
“Matthews was an extreme isolationist, he never mixed even with other strict Baptists, he never preached anywhere else and never invited anyone else to preach at Rowley. This went on from 1828 to his death in 1888” “Alfred Dye related how God spoke to him in dreams, Mr Dye was an itinerant preacher, he had seen a chapel in his dreams where he knew he would be pastor, but he never came across that chapel, one morning he went for a long walk and he saw his chapel – it had no notice board, he was told the pastor had recently died, he had been there 60 years – he had never allowed another man in his pulpit. Alfred Dye said to himself, I shall soon be in that pulpit and be pastor there – and he was.”
In 1895 Joseph Ruston and others split from the Providence chapel after an argument over the installation of an organ, under the jurisdiction of Daniel Matthews such adornments were frowned upon, They went on, to found and build, the Ebenezer “Ruston” chapel in Hawes Lane. Joseph Ruston was minister from 1895 until 1922, the chapel was demolished in 1981. There was a memorial plaque in Rustons Chapel in Rowley Regis to his memory it said..."Erected to the memory of JOSEPH RUSTON in affectionate remberance of a faithful ministry of 21 years in this his first and only pastorate during which this house was built and dedicated to the Glory of God.”
The Endowed Mission and Sunday School in Rowley village has its origins as far back as 1703 when a bequest was made by Lady Elizabeth Monins for “teaching poor children of Rowley to read and write and be instructed in religion” After closing as an educational establishment the mission and Sunday school carried on in the original buildings opposite Macmillan Road until it was forced to move to its present address half way up the village in 1929. A notable preacher at the endowed mission was George Aldridge who was born in 1876 and lived all his life in the village until he died in 1962. He was the village post master and had previously spent 10 years as a travelling preacher taking horse drawn “gospel van” and his family throughout the midlands sponsored by the evangelical society.
On the sides of the caravan were two texts from the Bible. One was ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believe shall have everlasting life’. The other was ‘Greater Love hath no man, than that he lay down his life for his friend’.
The main Wesleyan Methodist chapel in Rowley was built in Hawes Lane in 1862, Its origins are obscure but in 1834 a trade directory mentions that “the Wesleyans and the Baptists each have a chapel at Rowley,” and there had been a Wesleyan presence in Rowley since at least 1821 when Joseph Parkes of Bell End licensed a room in his house in Rowley village for Protestant dissenters. George Aldridge attended a service at the Hawes Lane chapel, after hearing an itinerant preacher, and was subsequently converted before becoming himself a travelling preacher. Services were held at Hawes Lane until 1970, the chapel was finally demolished in 1973.
ROWLEY HALL 
Rowley Hall was “Capital messuage” or “significant house” in Rowley village in the Parish of Rowley Regis. It was a walled residence, surrounded by a large estate and situated just around the corner near the end of Church Road, at the top of what is now Newhall Road, not far from St Giles.
Photographs of Rowley Hall are very hard to find, one of these from the 1950s has only surfaced recently and is shown below along with other known images.   The original Hall house or messuage (significant house) dated back, perhaps, as far as the church (circa 1199). It was rebuilt during the 17th century and again in the 19th when the estate was turned into a working farm. By the end of the 19th century, however, there was extensive quarrying around the Hall, coming very close to the walls around it. The estate was further decimated by the opening of Rowley Hall colliery in 1869 and the Hall was finally demolished, along with the rest of the village around 1970 to be replaced by social housing; at this time it had been inhabited by the Noot family for over half a century..  Below is a plan of Rowley Hall and the Rowley Hall estate in around 1800 before the house was rebuilt for the last time. The last occupants of Rowley Hall (from around 1900 to 1970) was the Noot family, during the fifties and sixties I lived in Newhall Road and often was sent to Rowley Hall to buy apples from the orchard. I remember Mr Noot as an old man (to my young eyes at least) who habitually wore bib and brace overalls and was often unshaven so they would appear far from posh as previous occupants had undoubtedly been. There was a high wall around the majority of the house with the entrance at the top of Newhall Road, the wall extended up Church Road and along a passage next to the Grange inn and around the back of the grounds of the house to a row of four cottages presumably built and occupied by past estate workers, the wall continued to a further path which snaked around the grounds in a circular direction. At the edge of the track on this side the ground fell away in a sheer drop the result of quarrying right up to the wall boundary. As I remember the House was in two parts, the frontage shown above faced Newhall Rd, the Noots did not live in this part of the house and to my recollection it was empty and then at some point sub-let. To the left was an entrance in the wall, there was no gate. Inside the entrance there were overgrown trees on the left and outbuildings used as pig sties, on the right at the rear of the frontage was another part of the house, facing sideways, with a separate entrance where the Noots lived, to my recollection this part of the house seemed far older than the Georgian frontage. The only part of the house I went into was the kitchen which I remember as being enormous with high ceilings, wooden tables and sides of bacon hanging from hooks, at the moment this is all I can recollect and I regret not taking any more notice of my surroundings. After the house was demolished I remember seeing Peter Noot around Blackheath so the family may still be in the area and it would be good to hear their recollections.  Historically Rowley Regis is an area of South Staffordshire within the Hundred of Seisdon, it consisted of two Manors, Kings Rowley, and Rowley Somery. Kings Rowley an ancient demesne of the Crown and Rowley Somery, held “in Capite” by the Barony of Dudley. Both Manors were held for a considerable time by the Somery family until Rowley Somery was sold off in the 15th century to the Levesons or Dukes of Sutherland as a package with Lower and Upper Penn.
Rowley Regis was originally part of Clent and in religious terms became a Chapelry of Clent before becoming a parish in its own right in 18.
The Manor houses of both are the subject of conjecture, “Yee Brickhouse” at Knowle has been put forward as the Manor House of Kings Regis while there is some evidence which points to Rowley Hall as the Manor House of Somery, it was undoubtedly a principal house in Rowley Somery but it could be there was no official manor house. Neither building survives.
This article endeavours to trace the history of Rowley Hall otherwise known as “Old Hall” or “The Hall.
The first mention of any building resembling Rowley Hall we can find is in an inquisition pertaining to a dispute over the ownership of a Rowley Manor between the heir of Richarde de Roule and the Crown in 1327. “ Phillip de Roule (dec) held in his demesne as of fee, on the day he died, the Manor of Rouleye of the King, in Capite, …… and there was a messuage there worth 18p yearly and no more because it was in ruins” The Manor is clearly Kings Rowley and not Rowley Somery but there is no way of knowing where the messuage was. The first mention of The Hall Old Hall or Rowley Hall is in a lease to a Henry Grove in 1552. “Lease for 40 years by William Wyrley of Hampstede, Elizabeth his wife and Thomas their son and heir apparent, to Henry Grove of Handsworth, bloom smith of a Hall in Rowley called the Old Hall lying beside a highway leading from the church towards Whiteheath with closes and open land” The location identifies Old Hall as Rowley Hall. William Wyrley whose seat was at Handsworth is the first owner of Rowley Hall we can positively identify although it is not thought he lived there having probably inherited by marriage from the Sheldon’s of Tividale. During the 16th Century the Grove family gained extensive freeholds in Rowley Regis in both the Somery and Kings Manors and for many generations played the part of the Squire in the area. The Rowley Hall estate had lands in both Manors but the Hall itself was definitely part of Rowley Somery, this is illustrated by the following entry in the 1717 Court Baron and survey of Rowley Somery;- “We present that Francis Eld Samuel Lee Gent and Thomas Saunders clerk do hold the house in wherein John Grove Gent and deceased did lately dwell in called Rowley Hall and one parcel of land called Poole Croft belonging to the same” More on this later. In the St Giles register for 1643 there is an entry which states “Elizabeth daughter of Thomas Willetts, Hall, baptised” We know the Groves had other properties in Rowley, notably Staresmore Hall near Old Hill, Sheldon Hall and Turners Hill House, so they may have sublet Rowley Hall at this point or Thomas Willetts was a live in servant. The following exchange of land within the North field at Rowley in 1672 indicates that Thomas Grove inhabited Rowley hall at this time. The North field was adjacent to the Hall and presumably part of it belonged to the Hall estate, previously having been a communal field divided into plots or strips. “Indenture of exchange between Thomas Grove of Rowley Regis, Gent, and William Russell of Rowley Regis, ironmonger, whereby Grove conveys to Russell a parcel of ground containing half an acre, in the North field in Rowley Regis, in exchange for another parcel of ground containing half an acre in the same field in consideration of 20 shillings received by Grove from Russell.” In 1692 on the 14th July, Samuel Lea of Aldridge son and heir of Thomas Lee (leigh) married Mistress Catherine Grove, daughter of Thomas Grove, Samuel and Catherine had two children baptised in Rowley church, Rachael-Maria, 09/05/1693 and Thomas 05/09/1694. Being the heir of Thomas, Samuel would have eventually returned to Aldridge when his father died. Thomas Grove died in 1693 being succeeded by his Son John. The Groves still occupied the Hall in the early 18th century, John Grove son of Thomas practised hunting and owned silver plate, playing the part of the Squire in the area, Mary his sister married Francis Eld in May 1703. According to Edward Chitham they lived at the Hall at first and some of their children were baptised at St Giles. The register reads;- “Francis Eld Esquire and Mary Grove married 20/05/1703” they had two children baptised at St Giles, John 04/04/1704 and Mary 26/11/1708, at a later date Francis is recorded as a JP. In 1705 there was a dispute as to the ownership of the Rowley Hall estate and house which resulted in an indenture dividing property into four parts between John Grove, James Grove, Samuel Leigh and Francis Eld. In 1714 it is recorded that John Turton of Rowley Hall (tenant?) left £10 in his will to the poor of Rowley. In 1746 John Eld of Windsor (son of Francis Eld) is recorded as taking the Justices oath of qualification in respect of his estates at Rowley. He did not own Rowley Hall itself because this part of the Estate was still in the hands of the Leighs of Aldridge through the marriage Catherine Grove to Samuel Leigh. When their son, known as , Thomas Fetherston Leigh died around 1755 his daughters Katherine and Mary, both spinsters, sold their estates in Rowley to pay his debts. John Eld was the purchaser for £1800. At this time according to documents, the tenant of Rowley Hall was Thomas Danks. Francis Eld died in 1760 being described as “of the middle temple” according to Edward Chitham the Hall was not occupied at this time and “there was no Squire at Rowley”. According to the Cradley Links website, “in 1796 John Eld died and his estates in Rowley were to be sold to set up a trust fund for his grandsons. The Eld family’s principal estates were in Seigford near Stafford though Johns parents lived in Rowley parish at one time and John was born there” The Earl of Dudley purchased some land in 1804. There is a gravestone in St Giles churchyard to the memory of John Walter “formerly of Rowley Hall” “and Mary his wife, erected by his second son Arnold Spilsbury Walter of Birkenhead, Chester.” He died 27/11/1830 aged 62 and she 18/02/1817 aged 43, they had 7 children all baptised at Rowley, Willian 1792, Mary Ann 1794, Arnold Spilsbury 1798, Eliza 1800, John Henry1803 Joseph 1806 and Sarah 1808. There is no record of the marriage of John and Mary in the St Giles register but a William Walter is a witness at weddings before the birth of William the son of John, he is likely to be Johns father on the basis that Johns first born son is a William. We have traced a John Walter son of William and Sarah bapt. 28/04/1769 at Haughton, Stafford and a marriage of John and Sarah at St Phillips, Bham in 1792 but no more is known of this family or when exactly they resided at Rowley Hall. In an 1803 map of Rowley, John Walter is shown as a tenant of Rowley Hall and Estate, the owner is. Around 1804 John Beet a business man who’s occupation is given as “Butcher” bought the estate and lived at Rowley Hall, he rebuilt the original hall and turned the estate into a working farm. He married his first wife Sarah (nee Higgs) 19/11/1818 and his second wife Margaret in 1828 Sarah having died in 1821 shortly after the birth of their daughter Elizabeth (20/07/1821). John Beet died in 1844, his widow was still at the Hall in the 1851 Census, all are buried in a large tomb at the front of the St Giles churchyard. The following information was posted on our forum by Jule64 “ My g g g grandfather John Blakeway worked for about 50 years (between about 1820 and 1870) at Rowley Hall for John Beet and his family. During his time there he was a labourer, farmer, gardener, manservant, footman, coachman and groom.” When John Beet died in 1844 Rowley Hall and the estate passed to his only daughter Elizabeth who was unmarried. She later married the Rev William Abiah Newman, a widower, curate of St Georges Wolverhampton in May 1848, they did not live at the Hall but in Cape Town S.A until 1855 and then at Warfield Hall, Warfield Co Bucks. As stated above Margaret Beet, widow and stepmother of Elizabeth was still at the Hall in 1851(Census). It was stipulated in the will of John Beet that she should be able to live at the Hall for her lifetime. The will also stated that should Elizabeth marry the estate would pass to her husband, should she predecease him, and then their children. Should there be no children £3000 should be raised from the estate and given to the grandchildren of John Beets cousin Richard Beet. This will was contested by William Abiah when Elizabeth died in 1855 but judgement was found in favour of the 4 grandchildren of Richard Beet so presumably the £3000 had to be raised from the estate and paid to them. By around 1860 and until at least 1866, the tenant of Rowley Hall was one Nicolas H Chavasse, his wife Mary and son Thomas. Nicolas was a partner in Knowle Brickworks with a John Jennings and later moved to Granville North Carolina where he appears in the 1880 census as a farmer. The Rev William Abiah Newman died in 1864, his wife Elizabeth having died in 1855, they had no children. The Rev William Alexander Newman who was William Abiahs son by his first wife, inherited the Hall and the estate but again he and his wife Bertha did not live at the Hall, but at Hatch Beaucamp in Somerset where he was rector. He leased the Coal and ironstone rights on the estate to Messrs Wright and North of Wolverhampton in 1865 and 1868 along with the Hall and four cottages (presumably those behind the Hall). Rowley Hall colliery opened in 1869 and manager Frederick North lived at Rowley Hall. to have sold part of the estate in 1871. The opening of the colliery and extensive quarrying would have spelt the end of Rowley Hall as a gentlemans’ residence, another victim of the Industrial revolution and exploitation of the land, that changed the face of Rowley Regis for ever. William Alexander died in 1885 aged 44, his widow Bertha was involved in the passing of the lease for Rowley Hall colliery from Wright and North to Bassano and Hawkes between 1892 and 1894, she also leased Rowley Hall quarry around 1890. William and Bertha had two daughters Ethel and Laura, it is not clear whether they inherited the Hall and estate or whether it had been sold. These details have been obtained from the Newman family papers at National archives. By the end of the Century there was extensive quarrying around the Hall coming as far as the walls around the house, this quarry was not filled in until the 1950s and 60s being finally built on during the 70s. The estate was further decimated by Rowley Hall colliery ,operated by Frederick North, and later Bassano, it flooded during the pit strike of 1921 and never reopened, by this time the Rowley Hall estate was a wasteland.  In the 1901 census at Rowley Hall, now described as two dwellings, is Samuel Dimmock (35), a mining engineer and wife Julia, the other occupant Samuel Mills (31) secretary to ?, and wife Martha. The Hall was finally demolished in 1970 by compulsory purchase. It was replaced by social housing along with the majority of Rowley village. It had been occupied by the Noot family since the turn of the century. In the 1912 edition of Kellys there are two people (families?) listed at Rowley Hall, they are Alfred Hickman Noot a Commission Agent and Frank Taylor, he was an industrialist at the village. In the introduction above it was recollected that in the 1950s the Noots only lived in what seemed to be the old part of the Hall and the Victorian frontage was let to another family, the 1901 Census and the Kelly entry would seem to support this. We do not know who actually owned the Hall at its demise but feel the Noots are a strong case as they were there in excess of half a century.
Notes on the article tracing the history of Rowley Hall. J Wilson Jones was the first historian to attempt a history of the Black Country and Rowley Regis in particular, published in 1950 it contains several references to Rowley Hall which we shall attempt to comment on. “Rowley Hall is mentioned Heath Tax 17 Century” ; Rowley Hall is not specifically mentioned on the transcript we have seen but many Groves are mentioned, among them; Hearth Tax March 15 1666 – Grove Thos and Marey; John and Marey, children. Servants; Thos Tarbee, Eliz Russell; Judith Russell; Eliz Hollinsworth. Mr Wilson Jones may have seen the original document mentioning Rowley Hall but it is not on the transcript. “ Research places it to be the Hall in possession of a Mr White at the time of the Gunpowder Plot – the conspirators fleeing from Holbech Hse, Kingswinford were hidden there when crossing the Rowley Hills to Hagley” It is a long standing tradition that the fugitives hid in Rowley but there is no evidence as to Rowley Hall or Mr White being in possession. “It is partly a 16 Century building” There was a 16 century and earlier building on the site. But it is said to have been completely rebuilt not on the original footprint but this seems to bear out my view that perhaps the old hall had not been completely demolished. J Wilson Jones presents various pieces of (circumstantial) evidence re “yee Brickhouse as being the Manor House of Rowley Regis manor and he dismisses Rowley Hall as “not being of great historical value” this is certainly not true, we make no claim as to its status but it did play its part as a premier house in the parish of rowley regis and was certainly regarded as a significant house in the Somery manor. “1666 hearth tax, houses with over three hearths in Rowley;- Ye Brickhouse, Rowley Hall, Brindfield Hall and Haden Hall”. This indicates that Mr Wilson Jones did indeed see the original document as the transcript does not verify this.
Another author who attempts a history of Rowley Regis is Edward Chitham, he seems to present a case for Rowley Hall being the manor house for Kings Rowley which we have discounted. “The original Rowley Hall could have been built at about this time (when the church was built) an inquisition of 1327 found that there was a messuage here but it was in ruins” “Probably only at Rowley village was there a group of buildings surrounding the Hall and Church, behind the Church was one of the open fields where the peasants farmed in strips, another field was probably below the Hall towards Bell End”. We Know the Rowley Hall was in Rowley Somery. “and it has been sugested that it was at Rowley Hall that the plotters hid” “1660 Hearth tax - among important inhabitants on the assessment list was Thomas Willetts at The Hall.” “stray animals were caught and kept in the village pound near the end of Hall Lane” “Enclosure Bill 1807 – 8 , among freeholders relieved of Manorial dues were those of John Beet the Hall farm” “Map of Rowley village in 1899 including Rowley Hall farm” “comparison of the 1800 parish map which shows the original location of the Hall with the early O/S map shows that as George Barrs states in his reminiscences, the new hall was not built on the foundations of the old. There is photographic evidence of a brick wall on a stone base which formed the boundary wall of a new enclosure. This stone foundation seems likely to have been the lowest courses of the east wall of the original Hall.” “by 1860 the following coal masters were to be found at Rowley Regis – Hall:- Holcroft and Pearson.” “Plan of Rowley Hall, showing location of original Hall and the Hall farm built in the early 19th century.” “at the end of the 19th Century there were quarries at ……...Rowley Hall.” “John Turton (of Rowley Hall) who gave £10 capital by his will in 1714.” “but in Rowley itself Bell End and Rowley Hall (pits) were still working.” (by 1901) “early 1970s , multi storey flats built at the Quack near Rowley Hall.” Information from both publications, along with further research, has been used in the above article Inventory of Thomas Grove of Rowley Hall 1693 This gives us an idea of the scale and scope of Rowley Hall in the 17th Century when it was a (the) prominent house in Rowley A true and perfect inventory of all and singular the goods cattle and creditts of Thomas Grove late of Rowley Regis in the County of Stafford, Gent, deceased taken valued and apprised the ninth day of February 1693 by us whose names are subscribed as follows.
Imprimis £ s d
The Deceaseds Wearing Apparel and money in his Pocket 05 13 11
In the Hall House. One Great Table Board and Frame and two Foarmes one Side Board Table and a pair of Side Tables 01 04 08
In the Great Parlour One Andiron one Fire Shovell and Tongs two Brass Standards one Side Table one Courd Seater Chaire eight Russia Seater Chaires six Turkey Work Chaires and two Pictures 05 11 08
In the Little Parlour One Oval Table six Turkey Work Chaires one Chaire Table one Iron Grate Fire Shovell and Tongs one Clock and Looking Glass 02 11 04
Books in the House 00 15 00
In the Kitchen One Iron Gayle one Iron Grate Fire Shovell and Tongs one Case of Pistolls two Iron Spitts one Jack one Cleaver one Pair of Bellows three Iron Candle Sticks Smoothing Irons and some other small things 01 18 06 One Old Table four Old Chairs one Warming Pan a little Foarme a Chopping Knife and Block one Frying Pan two Iron Dripping Pans one brass Chaffing Dish one Brass Mirror some iron things and some other small things 00 15 04
Pewter in and about the house 08 10 00 Brass of all sorts in the house 02 06 08 Beef and Bacon in the house 02 18 04
In the Bakehouse One Kneading Tub five other Tubs Pailes Gammes Baggs and other Trumpery One Old Iron Grate one Fire Shovell one Stool Maull Mill one Old Maull Wire and one pair of Racks one Brass Fornace 02 13 09
In the Dairy House Fire Shovell three Foarmes one Churner Cheese Pans and Seivers one Cheese Press two Tubbs Milk Pans and other Wooden Ware 00 17 10
In the Store House One Board two Wooden Trays two Old Chaires Foarmes one Grate some Earthern Ware and other Wooden Trumpery 00 08 02
In the Larder and Pantry One Poundring Tubb two Glass Bottles one Foarme two Shelves one Stone Jugg and some Earthern Ware one Table one old Glass Plate and two ……….. 00 14 00
In the Cellar One Hoggshead and nine other Vessels and Standards 01 06 08
In the Servant Mans Chamber One Bedstead and Bedding and all that belongs thereunto 01 10 00
In the Bakehouse Chamber One Pair of Bedsteads Feather Bedding two Bolsters Curtaines and Vallences three Blankets one Rugg and all that belongs thereunto 04 00 00 One Iron Grate Fire Shovell and Tongs one Looking Glass one Trunk Portmanteau one Side Table and four Folding Stooles 00 11 06
In the Maid Chamber One Feather Bed and Bolster and all that belongs thereunto 01 13 04 one Laundring Press two Coffers one Old Trunk 00 10 00
In the Little Parlour Chamber One Bedd Bedstead and all that belongs thereunto one Side Table one Chest four Legg Chaires and one Sword 01 12 02
In the Chamber over the Kitchen One pair of Bedsteads one Feather Bolster Curtains and Vallences and all that belongs thereunto one Iron Grate a Chest a Drawer one Greate Chaire one Trunk a Side Table one Twiggen Chaire and some little ………. one Looking Glass and three Chaires 09 02 04 one Silver Tankard and dozen of Silver Spoons and one Silver Cup 10 05 04
In the Yellow Chamber A little Half Head Bedstead and Bedding one Side Table and one Hatt Press 01 02 06
In the Closet over the ……….. Two Work Stooles one Coffer some Glass Bottles and Glasses one ………. Pott and some White Earthern Ware and one Cushion 00 18 02
In the Chamber over the Hall Linen of all sorts one Bedstead one Feather Bedd Bolster Cutains Vallences Counterpaines and all thereunto belonging 05 00 00 one Side Table six Chaires and Stooles covered in Red one Chest one Iron Grate Fire Shovell and Tongs one Redd Carpet 01 19 00
In the Cheese Chamber One Cheese Grater one Trundle Rodd three Spinning Wheels and one Rodd and one Slicer 01 11 09
In the Buttery Chamber One Bedstead Feather Bedd and all that belongs thereunto one Close Stoole one Side Table three Old Legg Chaires two Pillows 03 09 00
In the Chamber over the Great Parlour One Bedstead Feather Bedd Bolster Counterpain Blanket Curtains and Vallences one Side Table one Looking Glass three Chaires two Stooles one Carpet Fire Shovell and Tongs one Iron Grate Pillows and Window Curtains 08 19 00
In the Corn Chamber over the Stable Wheat Ready Threshed Corn three Old Barrels one Straw ……….. and one……….. and willow shoots 03 12 00
In the Stable Two Old Mares and one Poor Nag three Saddles Bridles and other……………… one Old Tubb to hold Corn 06 13 04
In the Great Barn Two Tunn of Hay some Few Oats and Oat Straw Husbandry Implements in and about the House 00 09 00
In the Cart House One Old Cart One Tumbrell and Header some Old Timber and some Loose Boards
In the New Barn Some Oates Unthreshed one Grinding Stone 00 03 04
Muck about the House and Grounds 00 15 00
Four Cows and two Cattle 12 06 00
one Hay Rick in the Grounds 05 15 00
Two acres and one half of Lent Corn growing 03 13 06
One Side Table in the Summer House 00 03 09
Appraised by us £137 12s 10d
John Grove Saml Leigh Mary Syddowns Mary Price
This is a rather fanciful article which appeared in the Blackcountry Bugle some time ago. The ragged circular wall which surrounds the one acre wilderness of garden from which the house barely emerges, is old by any standards. Its original local stone, breached by the years is patched like an old quilt, blocks of sandstone, tudor brickwork and common 19 century bricks are woven into the grotesque fabric. It once enclosed a fine orchard, but today, the dead and dying trees droop into the engulfing embrace of briar. The house itself is no less of an enigma! Once a property of fine proportions, the whims and necessities of various tenants have marred the original layout. Walled up doors, concealed beams and ill proportioned rooms have given it an air of mystery which is deepened by its known history. In 1603 Rowley Hall was occupied by Christopher Whitehead of the powerful local landowners from which Whiteheath derived its name. He was related to Stephen Lyttleton of Holbeache House, Kingswinford, who was deeply implicated in the aborted Gunpowder Plot. After Guy Fawkes' capture a party of his fellow conspirators fled to Holbeache House and were beseiged by a posse led by the High Sherrif of Worcester. Humphrey Lyttleton and Robert Winter were the only survivors of a desperate battle and they managed to slip away from the house and escape to Rowley where they were given refuge by Christopher White and other Catholic sympathisers. It was in the rambling subterranean apartments of Rowley Hall that the fugitives were most secure - and there is little doubt that the gloomy dungeon like cellars pictured in this article were 365 years ago the anarchists hideaway! Rowley Hall from an article in the Black Country Bugle. "The house itself has been undoubtably rebuilt and considerably altered during the intervening centuries but the cellars are almost certainly exactly as Lyttleton and Winter found them on that far away November night. The semi circular windows with thick iron bars, set into each separate "cell" are reminiscent of medieval dungeons and an old well, set into the floor of the largest of the underground apartments, no doubt constituted the Hall's original water supply - or had it at some time in the history of the property a more macabre purpose? The White family survived the disasters which overcame many Catholic sympathisers at the time of the Gunpowder Plot - a close friend of the family, Thomas Holyhead of Rowley was hanged for the part he played in sheltering the fugitives - remained in possession of the Hall. It was later owned by the Mansell family who were connected by marriage to the White's female line. In 1806 a gentleman farmer John Walters was in residence, and Rowley was still a rural area with thick woods and and farmland surrounding the close knit village. By 1830 Squire Beet owned the property. The sale of Rowley's glebe lands a decade later was to transform the area and there is evidence that the Squire played his part in the founding of Blackheath as an industrial township - for his name is perpetuated in Beet Street- and the tombs of both his and the Walters family can be seen in Rowley churchyard. Later in the century, Butcher Mills, a well known mine owner, occupied Rowley Hall before moving to a large house near the junction of Perry Park Rd and Waterfall Lane. Next came the Noot family who lived in Rowley Hall from from 1903 until a few months ago when Mr Jack Noot moved out. Vandals and looters have since turned the house into a tottering ruin but even their visitations have made little impression on the sturdy subterranean apartments which sheltered Lyttleton and Winter in 1605. When the walls above are finally reduced to rubble they will remain a buried capsule of history entombed in the Rowley hillside - dark man made archives which link Rowley with the most colourful and desparate plot in English history." Rowley and the Jew's Harp Although Jews Harps were made in the Black Country, perhaps for hundreds of years in large quantities, there is today hardly any tangible evidence of the craft apart from few price lists, census records, mentions in trade directories and a couple of old newspaper articles.
The buildings in which they were made have long since disappeared although the streets are still there, Shell Corner, Rowley Village, Hawes Lane, Club Buildings (Stanford Drive), Newtown on the edge of Netherton and the quaintly named Beggars Row in Cradley Heath.
If your lucky you can still purchase a Black Country Jews Harp via the internet if your very fortunate it could bear the name Troman or the Troman makers mark.
Somewhere there still exists a folder containing actual samples of Troman Harps made in the late 19th Century and a descendant of the troman family wrote a small booklet in the 1950s to record details of the manufacture and origin of Jews Harp making in the Black Country for posterity.
But generally although it’s a fascinating story hardly anyone today has any inkling that this area was at one time the world centre for the manufacture of this strange little instrument amidst the chains nails and anchors which made the Black Country famous. Everyone remembers the mighty Titanic Anchor produced by Hingleys of Netherton but no one remembers a little musical instrument called the Jews Harp produced by numerous families in the home forges of the Black Country. |
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Of all the unconventional instruments introduced into pop music in the Sixties – harpsichord and sitar, dulcimer and mellotron – one of the most unusual is surely the Jew’s harp. The Who experimented with it, as did Black Sabbath and (most appropriately of all) Leonard Cohen.
Or perhaps not so appropriately, since there is no evidence for such an instrument in Jewish culture. It may once have been a jaw’s harp, a little misheard, for it’s the jaw that does all the hard work, when it comes to playing the thing
If the name “Jew’s harp” is right, then it probably reflects the fact that this was a poor man’s instrument, a harp with just one string.
If you’ve never seen one on stage, imagine a piece of metal – usually brass or steel – bent into the rough shape of a keyhole. Down through the middle a thin tongue of tempered metal is attached, which vibrates when plucked with the finger. It’s this that gives the Jew’s harp its characteristic twang. Put the whole thing to the lips, and modulate the tone by varying the size of the mouth.
Versions of the Jew’s harp can be found in many parts of the world, but for its manufacture you have to turn to a handful of streets in the Black Country. It was the village of Rowley Regis, more than any, that cornered the world market in Jew’s harps.
The earliest Jew’s harps in Europe date back as far as the 15th Century, but by the early 1700s they had been added to Birmingham’s boundless catalogue of metalwork. A brass-maker by the name of Walter Tippin was producing, it was said, a cart-load of the instruments a day in 1715.
Perhaps the Birmingham trade was elbowed out by more lucrative work, for later in the century it is in the Black Country that it re-surfaces. This was, in many ways, a quintessential south Staffordshire trade, able to be carried on in the smallest of domestic workshops. The only challenging part was the fixing of the tongue, by which the instrument stands or falls.
By the second decade of the 19th century, it is around Netherton and Rowley Regis that the trade was concentrated.
A trade directory of 1822 lists 11 makers in the Black Country, eight of whom were in Rowley. The directory helpfully provides trade prices too.
A gross of the simplest type of harp, made of iron, came in at three shillings (that is, just one farthing each), the cost of a harp in tin or brass being a shilling or two higher.
As the directory also tells us, the harp came in more than one variety. For a little more, one could purchase an Irish or Glasgow pattern harp, instead of the “classic” form.
Like many other local trades, such as nail or chain making, the manufacture of Jew’s harps stayed in the family.
Four of the 1822 makers had the name of Troman, and this family, more than any other, kept the tradition alive well into the 20th century.
It’s believed that a series of cuts or scratch marks on the frame identifies the individual manufacturer, for no maker’s name was ever applied to the product.
It was in Club Buildings (now Stanford Drive), Shell Corner and Hawes Lane that the jew’s harp makers clustered, as well as in the hamlet of Newtown over in Netherton. One maker in 1834 – Thomas Sidaway – combined his profession with that of a publican at the (appropriately named) Golden Harp on Siddal Hill in Cradley Heath.
By the middle of the 19th century, however, the Jew’s harp makers were beginning to migrate from Staffordshire to Birmingham, which, I imagine, offered the economies of scale for greater productivity.
By then, most of their harps were being shipped to America, an order book which stretched them beyond the capability of a humble cottage industry.
The first maker to turn up in Birmingham was David Troman, who set up on AB Row (and later on Prospect Row) in 1839, and other Rowley makers soon followed suit. Birmingham also offered greater (and cheaper) access to brass.
David Troman’s sons, like good apprentices to the trade, then fanned out across the town, establishing their own Jew’s harp workshops in Heneage Street, Great Brook Street and Avon Street.
By the 1930s the Tromans no longer had Jew’s harps to themselves; by then they were being manufactured in Germany and Czechoslovakia too. Nevertheless, the Forward Manufacturing Co. and the firm of M. (Millicent) Troman & Co. of Great Brook Street, continued to supply international markets.
The United States alone was importing some 100,000 a week, though it was also beginning to manufacture its own. One maker – John Smith – emigrated from Rowley to New York State in 1883, and took his skills with him.
By the 20th century mechanisation had long since replaced the individual maker, and the end of this time-honoured profession was nigh.
The Birmingham-made Jew’s harps fell silent in 1950.
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