Some history on Aldridge in the County of Staffordshire

Aldridge

Aldridge is a parish and well-built village, with a station on the Walsall and Wolverhampton extension of the Midland railway, pleasantly seated 3½ miles north-east from Walsall, 7 from Lichfield, 10 from Cannock, and 126½ from London, in the Handsworth division of the county, Walsall union and county court district, South Offlow hundred, Rusthall petty sessional division, rural deanery of Walsall, archdeaconry of Stafford and diocese of Lichfield. The parish is lighted with gas from the works of the Aldridge Gas Company. A branch of the Birmingham canal passes through the parish. The church of St. Mary is an edifice of stone in the Perpendicular style, consisting of chancel, nave, aisles, north porch, and an embattled western tower containing a clock and 5 bells. In 1853 it was enlarged, the north aisle and chancel rebuilt, the church entirely re-seated, and the western arch opened. The east window and several others are stained. An organ was placed in the church in 1859. In the south wall of the chancel is an ancient recumbent stone effigy, supposed to represent Robert Stapleton [temp. Hen. III,] the founder of the church, and at the west entrance under the tower is another effigy in chain armour, cross-legged, with helmet and sword, and supposed to commemorate one of the Alrewiche family. There are also other monuments and the church affords 540 sittings. The register dates from the year 1660. The living is a rectory, average tithe rent-charge £408, net yearly value £429, including 40 acres of glebe with residence, in the gift of the Master and Fellows of St. John's College, Cambridge, and held since 1893 by the Rev. Charles Manley Roberts BD, late Scholar of that college. A Wesleyan chapel was erected in 1850 and a Primitive Methodist chapel in 1890. The charities left for distribution among the poor amount to about £300 yearly. There is also a charity for the instruction and clothing for 20 poor girls, and a benefaction for the maintenance of the parish clerk. Here are the extensive brick and tile works of Messrs. John Beddow & Sons, Messrs. Joseph Joberns & Co. the Aldridge Colliery Co. Limited, and others. There are also several collieries. The Manor House is the residence of Mrs. Tongue. Aldridge Lodge is the residence of Frederic F. Clarke esq. and Portland House of Frank James esq. D.L., J.P. The trustees of the late Randal Francis Tongue Croxall esq. J.P. who are lords of the manor, the Hon. E. Swynfen Parker-Jervis J.P. of Little Aston Hall, Major William George Fetherston Dilke D.L., J.P. of Maxstoke Castle, Warwickshire; William Harry Cooke M.D., J.P. Frederic Fuhrmann Clarke esq. and Lady Emily Foley, of Stoke Edith Park, Herefordshire, are the chief landowners. The soil is various, clay and gravel; subsoils, clay and gravel. The chief crops are wheat, barley, oats and potatoes. The area is 2,748 acres of good land; rateable value, £14,088. The population in 1891 was 2,206.

Aldridge is a parish and clean and well-built village, pleasantly situated 3½ miles north-east from Walsall, 7 from Lichfield, 126½ from London and 10 from Cannock, in the Eastern division of the county, Walsall union and county court district, South Offlow hundred, Lichfield diocese, Stafford archdeaconry and Walsall rural deanery. A branch of the Birmingham canal passes through the parish. The Walsall and Wolverhampton extension railway [a branch of the Midland] has a station here. The church of Saint Mary was, in 1853, enlarged, the north aisle and chancel rebuilt, and it was also entirely re-seated, and the western arch opened. There are some good modern stained windows, especially the east window of the chancel. The east window of the north aisle was the gift of the poorer inhabitants of the parish at the time when the church was restored. Four others are memorials. An organ was placed in the church, in 1859. There are several monuments, and in the south wall of the chancel the remains of an ancient effigy, in a recumbent position, supposed to be that of the founder of the church. There is also at the west entrance the figure of a Crusader. The register dates from the year 1660. The living is a rectory, yearly net value about £400, with residence, in the gift of the Master and Fellows of St. John's College, Cambridge, and held by the Rev. Jeremiah Finch Smith M.A. of Brasenose College, Oxford, who is rural dean of Walsall. A Wesleyan meeting house was erected in 1851. The charities left by various individuals for distribution among the poor amount to about £28 yearly. Here are the extensive brick and tile works of Messrs. Joberns & Co. and others. There are also several collieries. R. F. Tongue Croxall Esq. is lord of the manor. The principal landowners are the Hon. E. S. Parker-Jervis, R. F. T. Croxall Esq. C. F. Dilke Esq. Edward Tongue Esq. F. F. Clarke Esq. W. H. Cooke M.D. and Lady Emily Foley. The soil is various, clay and gravel; subsoil, clay. The chief crops are wheat, barley, oats and peas. The area is 2,748 acres of good land; rateable value, £10,800. The population in 1871 was 1,418.

Private Residents
Abbey James, Penhard House
Armstrong Wm. Lamb, Leigh's Wood House
Arrowsmith Mrs. North Heath House
Butler John, Bay Tree House
Chamberlain Ralph, Mount Pleasant
Clarke Frederic F., Aldridge Lodge
Cliff Jabez
Cooke William Harry M.D.
Cresswell Benjamin, Northwood Villas
Dudley Rev. Henry Thornton M.A., The Beeches
James Frank J.P. Portland House
Joberns Joseph, The Grove
Marlow Thomas, Cedar Court
Monro William, Northwood Villas
Morris Joseph Owen, Mount Pleasant
Pickin Mrs. Sheldon House, Stubbers Green
Pomfret Richard, Northwood Villas
Potter George Gybbon, Moss House
Proffitt Mrs., Woodbine Cottage
Rowbotham John Henry, Leigh's Wood Villa
Smith Rev. Jeremiah Finch M.A. Rectory
Smith Mrs., Beech Tree Cottage
Tongue Captain V., Manor House
Warr Benjamin, Northwood Villas
Warr William, Northwood Villas

Commercial
Adkins Frederick, Boot & Shoe Maker
Aldridge Colliery Co. Limited; office,
Burlington Buildings, Birmingham
Aldridge Gas Co. Ltd. [Frederick Watson, sec]
Arblaster Edmund, Farmer, Druid's Heath
Aston David, Grocer and General Store
Bate William Henry, Farmer, Mill Green
Bates John, Boot & Shoe Maker
Beddow John, Brick Maker
Bird Charles, Boot & Shoe Maker
Boys John, Farmer, Shrubbery Farm
Butler John [Mrs.], Girls' School
Chamberlain Ralph, Architect & Surveyor
at Mount Pleasant and Walsall
Colley Richard, Butcher
Cooke William M.D. Surgeon, Walmar House
Cotgrove John, Tailor
Crumpton Henry, Saddler
Darby Mrs. Ann, Red Lion
Davenhill Henry, Farmer
Elkin George Oldham, Cabinet Maker & Hosier
Gisborne William, Stationer
Green Samuel, grocer
Halford Charles, Boot & Shoe Maker
Hall Mrs. Elizabeth, Irish Harp, Mill Green
Haughton William, Farmer, Berry Farm
Highway Thomas, Miller and Farmer
Howse William, Anchor
Insley John, Wheelwright
Joberns Joseph & Co. Brick & Tile Makers
Joberns Mary Ann, Bull's Head
Leigh's Wood Colliery Co. Limited
Longmore Isaiah, Farmer
Marlow & Potter, Solicitors
Mills George, Farmer, Mill Green
Myatt James, Farmer, Red House Farm
Myring Thomas, Bricklayer
Nash John, Baker [Pure Bread], Victoria House
Osbourne Henry, Shopkeeper
Payne Clement, Farmer & Dairyman
Perry John, Market Gardener, Druids' Heath
Potts Thomas, Grocer & Corn Factor
Proffitt Joseph, Farmer & Maltster
Reynolds Vincent, Butcher & Farmer
Rhodes Jane, Swan
Riddell Wm. Winter, coal master, Victoria Col.
Robinson John, Blacksmith
Rodgers John, Butcher
Shaw Joseph, Farmer
Shepherd Ann, Farmer, Boston Lane
Smith Daniel, Wheelwright
Street Mary Ann, Elms
Towers Joseph. Plough and Harrow
Tudor Mary, Farmer, Mill Green
Victoria Brick & Tile Co. Limited
Watson Frederick, Boarding & Day School
Webster Adie, Tailor and Post Office
White Charlotte, Tobacconist
Woolner Hy. Drill Propr. Barr Common
Wright Henry, Blacksmith

Related Newspaper Articles

"Aldridge Unionists and the teaching profession have lost a highly respected member by the death, under tragic circumstances, on Tuesday. of Miss Gladys Gilbert of "Letton Dale," Walsall Wood, Aldridge. A very enthusiastic Unionist, Miss Gilbert entered the polling booth on Tuesday morning but collapsed and had to be conveyed home where she died about 8 o'clock the same evening. Coming to the village as a child some thirty years ago with her parents, her father having been appointed as station master, Miss Gilbert had her childhood schooling at the Aldridge Pariah schools, and after passing her examination, returned as a teacher there. She was very closely connected with the Unionist movement in the village and for the past four years has occupied the position of assistant secretary. Her father retired from the railway a few years ago and during a recent illness of Mrs. Gilbert, the deceased nursed her back to her usual health again. For the past few months Miss Gilbert has not been very well but her death, coming as it did, was a great shock to the whole of the district. The funeral will take place to-day [Saturday] at 3 o'clock at the Parish Church."
"Died in Polling Station"
Rugeley Times : November 7th 1931 Page 8

"At Aldridge and Rushall General Licensing Sessions on Monday, Supt. J. H. Hall reported that 20 males had been convicted of drunkenness during the year, this being the highest figure for 10 years. Commenting on the increase in convictions, Ald. J. F. W. Bmns [chairman] said it had no doubt resulted from the increased population, due to the new housing estates that were springing up. "We live in serious times, and owing to the war, extra difficulties and responsibilities are placed on the licensees, but the Bench feel they will do all in their power to maintain the good name of the district," Ald. Binns added. In the interests of public health, the Bench last year gave an instruction that a supply of hot and cold water should be installed in all public bars, and they were pleased to note that the owners had complied with that request. All the licences were renewed with the exception of the Queen's Hotel, at Pelsall, consideration of which was adjourned until March 11th."
"More Convictions for Drunkenness"
Staffordshire Advertiser : February 17th 1940 Page 2