Hi: A bit more searching on the internet has come up with the sale in the late 19th century of the Birchley Coppice Estate, which contained Whiteheath Villa. This house was about half a mile south-west of the present Birchley Island, so assuming they are linked it must have been a considerable estate. So very possibly Birchley is an old estate name going back centuries. Has anyone heard of it? Best wishes Paul Prescott

Hello Sandra Don't know the origin on the name Birchley - but Birchley Island got it's name from Birchley Park which used to be just before the island, coming from Dudley direction. There's a pub there now and offices. I spent many happy hours in that park in my younger days - used to walk it there from the top of Oakham. Maybe someone will know the origin of the "Birchley" name - something to do with trees I would think. Langley got its name from the Long Ley or long meadow, so it might be the same sort of thing. Maggie ======================================== Message Received: Apr 01 2009, 02:26 PM From: "sandra harper" To: [email protected] Cc: Subject: [Black Country] (no subject) Has anyone any information on how "Birchley Island" Oldbury came by its name. Thankyou.Sandra Harper. ------------------------------------- The only List that specifically covers the whole of the Black Country. Run by Black Country folk who were born and still live in the area. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message http://thesaltfamily.tribalpages.com/ www.familytrails.net Researching : SALT, BARKLAM/BARTLAM, LOWE, JONES, RILEY, DEAN, SAUNDERS, BURBRIDGE, BURNS, BROWN, FOSTER, HUMPHRIES, STACKHOUSE, SCANLON, SHIRLEY, WEAVER, BENNETT

Sandra: Birchley Island only dates from the 1970s, when the M5 motorway was completed. Before that, it was a simple cross-roads, where the A4123 Birmingham - Wolverhampton New Road crossed Birchfield Lane. On that cross-roads, stood Birchley bus garage which backed onto Birchley Park. However that cross-roads itself only dated from 1927, when the Birmingham - Wolverhampton New Road was built. So the question comes down to one of why that area was known as Birchley. The 1902 Ordnance Survey map (Alan Godfrey) shows the area to be entirely fields and old coal shafts. The word "Birchley" doesn't appear at all, although Birchfield Lane does. The 1900 book "Picturesque Oldbury" (great title!) includes a section on local parks and recreation grounds, but no Birchley Park. The 1857 Map of the Township of Oldbury also shows no Birchley, but does have Birchy Field Lane, which name also appears in the earliest censuses. The 1830 map of the Parish of Halesowen, Shropshire, which included Oldbury, also fails to mention Birchley. So the earliest written reference I can find to Birchley dates only from Birchley Park in 1936 and Birchley bus garage in 1937, although I'm sure the name must go back at least a little earlier. As to the meaning, it surely has a similar root to Birchfield, alias Birchy Field, Lane, and refers to the birch trees that once grew there. Paul Prescott Born Birchfield Lane, Oldbury. ----- Original Message ----- From: "sandra harper" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, April 01, 2009 1:34 PM Subject: [Black Country] (no subject) > Has anyone any information on how "Birchley Island" Oldbury came by > its name. Thankyou.Sandra Harper. > ------------------------------------- > The only List that specifically covers the whole of the Black Country. Run > by Black Country folk who were born and still live in the area. > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Has anyone any information on how "Birchley Island" Oldbury came by its name. Thankyou.Sandra Harper.

Thank you to everyone who has replied to my request abour Pear Tree Lane. I will now take a trip up there and try to find where my ancestor died. Kind regards, Linda

Hi Linda Pear Tree Lane is still there , its not far from Dudley Top Church round (the back end of it that's the easy way to put it ) , Not many houses but it has a lot of works units , and its by a canal basin , if I remember right if you carry on along it it leads you on to the Pedmore Road to Merry Hill Cassy Assistant Admin Black Country Potteries, and Wolverhampton Lists ----- Original Message ----- From: "Linda Marsh" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, March 31, 2009 12:48 PM Subject: [Black Country] Peartree Lane, Dudley > Hi everyone, > > I am researching my family history and have found a death which happened > at M & H Grazebrooks at Pear Tree Lane. > > Can anyone tell me where this would have been or still is please. > > Thank you > > > Regards, > > Linda > ------------------------------------- > The only List that specifically covers the whole of the Black Country. Run > by Black Country folk who were born and still live in the area. > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.5.285 / Virus Database: 270.11.32/2030 - Release Date: 03/30/09 08:40:00

Linda Marsh wrote: > Hi everyone, > > I am researching my family history and have found a death which happened at M & H Grazebrooks at Pear Tree Lane. > > Can anyone tell me where this would have been or still is please. > > Thank you Hello Linda, The company was M & W Grazebrook. The brick office building is still standing alongside the canal, but the works stopped trading some years ago and is now an industrial estate. If you go into google maps and type in the search box "Hulbert Drive" rather than Pear Tree Lane (typing this in comes up with Pear Tree Lane, Coseley) you will find it. I used to work at Grazebrooks in the 1960s. Regards Jean

Hi everyone, I am researching my family history and have found a death which happened at M & H Grazebrooks at Pear Tree Lane. Can anyone tell me where this would have been or still is please. Thank you Regards, Linda

Hi Listers The West Midlands BMD has been updated with the following records .... Added 7,620 Births for the Walsall Registration District:- 2,495 for Walsall, registers at Walsall Register Office (1885-1887) 5,125 for Walsall First, registers at Walsall Register Office (1960-1963) regards Bill Many Thanks to you all for your hard work in making this possible..... ======================================================================== The Staffordshire BMD can be found at http://www.staffordshirebmd.org.uk and the West Midlands BMD at http://www.westmidlandsbmd.org.uk ========================================================================

Hi Listers The Staffs BMD has been updated with the following records .... Added 47,108 Deaths for the following Staffordshire Registration Districts :- East Staffs RD (Burton-on-Trent) - Burton-on-Trent (code BOT), 1985-1993) Uttoxeter (code U), 1986-1993) Stafford RD (Lichfield) - Lichfield (code L), 1911-1960 Tamworth (code T), 1911-1960) Sutton Coldfield (code W), 1932-1934 regards Bill Many Thanks to you all for your hard work in making this possible..... ======================================================================== The Staffordshire BMD can be found at http://www.staffordshirebmd.org.uk and the West Midlands BMD at http://www.westmidlandsbmd.org.uk ========================================================================

Hi Listers, Does anyone have any idea where I can get a map of Yardley, showing the Coventry Road, and Victoria Terrace. I can't get the info. Was it in Warwickshire, or Worcs back then? Would be nice if some one has a map I could have a copy of please. Thanks in advance. Janet.

Hi Listers The Staffs BMD has been updated with the following records .... Added 98,090 BIRTHS for the following Staffordshire Registration Districts:- Lichfield RD:- Lichfield (code L), 1900-1910 1912-1960 Fazeley (code F), 1901-1906 Tamworth (code T), 1901-1910 1912-1960 Sutton Coldfield (code W), 1932-1933 Stafford RD:- Gnosall (code GNO), 1857-1860 Stafford (code STD), 1855-1862 Stone (code STE), 1851-1855 East Staffordshire RD (Burton-on-Trent):- Burton-on-Trent (code BOT), 1837-1866 added:- 15,399 MARRIAGES for the following Registration Districts:- East Staffordshire (Burton-on-Trent)RD :- 23 for Anslow, Holy Trinity, registers at East Staffordshire (1989-2007) 571 for Barton-under-Needwood, St James, registers at East Staffordshire (1959-2007) 392 for Branston, St Saviour, registers at East Staffordshire (1964-2007) 1,130 for Burton-upon-Trent, All Saints, registers at East Staffordshire (1951-2007) 96 for Burton-upon-Trent, St Chad, registers at East Staffordshire (1992-2007) 42 for Dunstall, St Mary, registers at East Staffordshire (1986-2007) 240 for Hanbury, St Werburgh, registers at East Staffordshire (1968-2007) 63 for Hoar Cross, Holy Angels, registers at East Staffordshire (1987-2007) 14 for Needwood, Christ Church, registers at East Staffordshire (1966-1996) 38 for Rangemoor, All Saints, registers at East Staffordshire (1987-2007) 631 for Rolleston, St Mary, registers at East Staffordshire (1960-2007) 150 for Shobnall, St Aidan, registers at East Staffordshire (1975-2008) 2,272 for Stapenhill, St Peter, registers at East Staffordshire (1956-2008) 549 for Stretton-with-Claymills, registers at East Staffordshire (1968-2007) 146 for Tatenhill, St Michael & All Angels, registers at East Staffordshire (1959-2007) 2,123 for Winshill, St Mark, registers at East Staffordshire (1869-2008) 24 for Wychnor, St Leonard, registers at East Staffordshire (1986-2007) 246 for Yoxall, St Peter, registers at East Staffordshire (1959-2007) 344 for Abbots Bromley, St Nicholas, registers at East Staffordshire (1950-2007) 34 for Blithfield, St Leonard, registers at East Staffordshire (1991-2007) 107 for Bramshall, St Lawrence, registers at East Staffordshire (1956-2008) 10 for Croxden, St Giles, registers at East Staffordshire (2001-2007) 2,245 for Uttoxeter, registers at East Staffordshire (1837-1974) Stoke-on-Trent RD:- 1,003 for Cliff Bank, Chuch of our Lady of Angels and St Peter, registers at Stoke-On-Trent (1942-1974) 1,999 for Civil Marriage (SRO), registers at Stoke-On-Trent (1956-1958) 1,153 for Wellington, St Luke, registers at Stoke-On-Trent (1947-1974) regards Bill Many Thanks to you all for your hard work in making this possible..... ======================================================================== The Staffordshire BMD can be found at http://www.staffordshirebmd.org.uk and the West Midlands BMD at http://www.westmidlandsbmd.org.uk ========================================================================

Why do most people now only answer to questions asked by replying only to the person who asked the question? Many answers would me of interest to us all. Dave Carr

I read somewhere or other, that in the mid 18hundreds, a quarter of all children died before their first birthday, another quarter had died before 20 and another third was dead by fourty.So to die by thirty three would not seem to be unusual. In my great grand parents families at least one child died by ten but usually it was two. Even my maternal grandparents lost two due probably to insanitary conditions bob holmes

Hi Cassy, many thanks for that Olwyn

A very big thank you, John.? I had been thinking he was too young for his liver to be so far gone, but obviously not.? He must have been able to hold it together pretty well since he fooled both his sister and the licensing board.? What a sad, early, and preventable way to go.? Thank you so much for sharing your expertise. Regards, Lois -----Original Message----- From: John B Davies <[email protected]> To: [email protected] Sent: Wed, 18 Mar 2009 5:06 am Subject: [Black Country] FW: Cirrhosis of the Liver -----Original Message----- From: John B Davies [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 18 March 2009 11:02 To: '[email protected]' Subject: RE: [Black Country] Cirrhosis of the Liver Lois There are many references to Cirrhosis of the Liver which can be found by a Google search. But you should be careful with present day medical details for a death 140 or so years ago. I shall try to make my comments as simple and understandable as possible and relevant to the 1870s. No doubt there will be others armed with present day knowledge who will find fault with this. The liver is perhaps the largest solid organ within the body and performs a host of chemical functions upon which the health of the whole body depends. Cirrhosis of the liver is a condition usually of slow onset and long development where the delicate liver cells become damaged and replaced by scar tissue. The liver is large and at first has sufficient spare capacity to cope with the loss of properly functioning cells. You will appreciate that the earlier and heavier the abuse of the liver is, the earlier and more severe is the damage to the liver. The commonest by far, cause of this damage resulting in Cirrhosis was and remains the heavy consumption of alcoholic drink. The alcohol is usually ethyl alcohol. You should remember too that in the 1800s there were few if any national breweries and the control of brewing in the many small breweries and public houses brewing their own drink varied greatly. Many strange substances were sometimes added to these uncontrolled brews. Methylated spirit or methyl alcohol was one of these. At that time too the chemical industry was small and certainly did not produce the great variety of chemicals we have now. It has always been a commonplace that publicans die young and 33 as in your example although uncommon would not be rare. It depends largely on how much he drank and the atmospheric pollution of alcohol, tobacco, unwashed bodies and contaminants from customer's workplaces and of course his own hours in that environment. Medically the tests which we have today did not exist then. He would probably be unaware of his condition until it was far advanced. The licensing magistrates could only compare their sight of him with sight of other publicans. Many causes of cirrhosis are now known but the exposure to them in the 1870s would have been rare indeed. In recent years cirrhosis of the liver has been diagnosed in people in their 20s and there are cases in women. This is probably associated with the greater consumption of cheap liquor. Other causes may be hepatitis from overseas travel although "yellow jaundice" has been known for many years. This has been a very short answer to your questions but I hope it has been of some help. John B Davies Hermanus, South Africa -----Original Message----- I'm hoping someone can help me understand a death which occurred in the 1870's.? The victim was 33 and the cause of death was given by his widow as cirrhosis of the liver.? Less than six months earlier he had appeared at his sister's house (after several years of not hearing from him) and convinced her and her policeman husband that he was capable of providing for their son's education.? He was a publican, and I understand this would require a yearly appearance at the licensing board.? Curiously, he continued to appear for review for two years after his death.? BTW, his wife had remarried about three months after his death. I would like to know something of the course such a disease takes.? Could he seem healthy a few months before his death?? It may have only been one or two months after his visit.? We're not sure of the date of the visit.? Could he have been such a severe alcoholic and still passed the licensing review?? Would cirrhosis of the liver take a man who was only 33?? Doesn't it take longer?? Would there be other hazards a publican might face with chemicals that could cause such a death?? Ideas, anyone? Of course we are proud of his perseverance and diligence in continuing to report after his death. Cheers :),? Lois ------------------------------------- The only List that specifically covers the whole of the Black Country. Run by Black Country folk who were born and still live in the area. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Many thanks to all that replied to my question. Once again ask a question on this list and you will get several replies with the answer. This is a great list to be part of. Thank you. Ed Elks.

Its St Thomas Cassy Assistant Admin Black Country Potteries, and Wolverhampton Lists ----- Original Message ----- From: "O Sherwin" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, March 17, 2009 6:03 PM Subject: [Black Country] Parish church of Dudley > Hi Listers, > Which of the 2 churchers in 1858 would of been the Parish Church of Dudley > please? I think the 2 churches are St Edmunds and St Thomas Many thanks > Olwyn > ------------------------------------- > The only List that specifically covers the whole of the Black Country. Run > by Black Country folk who were born and still live in the area. > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without > the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 8.0.237 / Virus Database: 270.11.17/2007 - Release Date: 03/17/09 10:18:00

-----Original Message----- From: John B Davies [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: 18 March 2009 11:02 To: '[email protected]' Subject: RE: [Black Country] Cirrhosis of the Liver Lois There are many references to Cirrhosis of the Liver which can be found by a Google search. But you should be careful with present day medical details for a death 140 or so years ago. I shall try to make my comments as simple and understandable as possible and relevant to the 1870s. No doubt there will be others armed with present day knowledge who will find fault with this. The liver is perhaps the largest solid organ within the body and performs a host of chemical functions upon which the health of the whole body depends. Cirrhosis of the liver is a condition usually of slow onset and long development where the delicate liver cells become damaged and replaced by scar tissue. The liver is large and at first has sufficient spare capacity to cope with the loss of properly functioning cells. You will appreciate that the earlier and heavier the abuse of the liver is, the earlier and more severe is the damage to the liver. The commonest by far, cause of this damage resulting in Cirrhosis was and remains the heavy consumption of alcoholic drink. The alcohol is usually ethyl alcohol. You should remember too that in the 1800s there were few if any national breweries and the control of brewing in the many small breweries and public houses brewing their own drink varied greatly. Many strange substances were sometimes added to these uncontrolled brews. Methylated spirit or methyl alcohol was one of these. At that time too the chemical industry was small and certainly did not produce the great variety of chemicals we have now. It has always been a commonplace that publicans die young and 33 as in your example although uncommon would not be rare. It depends largely on how much he drank and the atmospheric pollution of alcohol, tobacco, unwashed bodies and contaminants from customer's workplaces and of course his own hours in that environment. Medically the tests which we have today did not exist then. He would probably be unaware of his condition until it was far advanced. The licensing magistrates could only compare their sight of him with sight of other publicans. Many causes of cirrhosis are now known but the exposure to them in the 1870s would have been rare indeed. In recent years cirrhosis of the liver has been diagnosed in people in their 20s and there are cases in women. This is probably associated with the greater consumption of cheap liquor. Other causes may be hepatitis from overseas travel although "yellow jaundice" has been known for many years. This has been a very short answer to your questions but I hope it has been of some help. John B Davies Hermanus, South Africa -----Original Message----- I'm hoping someone can help me understand a death which occurred in the 1870's.? The victim was 33 and the cause of death was given by his widow as cirrhosis of the liver.? Less than six months earlier he had appeared at his sister's house (after several years of not hearing from him) and convinced her and her policeman husband that he was capable of providing for their son's education.? He was a publican, and I understand this would require a yearly appearance at the licensing board.? Curiously, he continued to appear for review for two years after his death.? BTW, his wife had remarried about three months after his death. I would like to know something of the course such a disease takes.? Could he seem healthy a few months before his death?? It may have only been one or two months after his visit.? We're not sure of the date of the visit.? Could he have been such a severe alcoholic and still passed the licensing review?? Would cirrhosis of the liver take a man who was only 33?? Doesn't it take longer?? Would there be other hazards a publican might face with chemicals that could cause such a death?? Ideas, anyone? Of course we are proud of his perseverance and diligence in continuing to report after his death. Cheers :),? Lois

Hi Listers, Which of the 2 churchers in 1858 would of been the Parish Church of Dudley please? I think the 2 churches are St Edmunds and St Thomas Many thanks Olwyn