Some history on Yoxall in the County of Staffordshire

Staffordshire | Yoxall

More information on Yoxall to follow. I probably created the page as I had a link to Yoxall from another page. When building the site it is easier to place links as they crop up rather than go back later on. I realise this is frustrating if you were specifically looking for information on Yoxall. There is information on Staffordshire dotted around the website - click here for a suitable starting place.

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"On Saturday two men, named John Mewis and William Birch, left their homes, at Burton-on-Trent, and walked over to Yoxall, Hadley End, about four or five miles away. They called at a public-house and had some beer, and afterwards went to the Crown Inn, Yoxall, where they remained drinking until ten o'clock, and when they left returned to Hadley End, instead of making their way back to Burton. Mewis was at the time in possession of a gun which had been divided into two parts, and was concealed in a shallow pocket in the inside of his coat. At Hadley End they gained an entrance into a stable adjoining a butcher's shop belonging Mr. Potts. As soon as they were well inside, Mewis, it is conjectured, unfastened his coat, and the barrel of the gun [which was loaded with a cartridge] being suddenly released fell on the stable floor. The cap caught something which caused it to explode, and the whole contents of the gun was discharged into Mewis's thigh. He uttered an exclamation that he was shot and then sank to the ground, where he literally bled to death before any assistance could be rendered. From what we have been able to learn Birch asserts that he did not go into the stable at first, and he has no idea what caused the gun to explode. He heard the report and Mewis's exclamation, and then went into the stable. He at once went off in search of assistance, and Mewis was conveyed to a public-house. A doctor was sent for from Yoxall, but Mewis was dead before he arrived; indeed, it is said that from the time of the gun going off to the time when Mewis expired was not more than half an hour. The matter has been reported to the coroner, and an inquest will no doubt be held. Meanwhile Birch is in custody at the Burton lock-up on a charge of being in the stable for an unlawful purpose."
"Strange Fatal Accident"
Lichfield Mercury : April 11th 1879 Page 5

"A sensational "hold-up" occurred near Yoxall in the small hours of Monday morning, a young man being robbed, under the threat of a highwayman's revolver, of all the cash he had on him, £9 6s. 4d. Alfred Conway, an ex-soldier, of Hadley End, had been to Newborough on Sunday evening to see his fiancée, and was returning home at about 1.50 in the morning when the outrage happened. Mr. Conway thus described the incident to a "Burton Daily Mail" representative today:- I was riding past Wood Mill, a lonely spot between Hoar Cross and Yoxall, when by the light of my lamp, I saw two men ahead. As I passed one of them called "Aye" to me, and thinking he wanted a match or a cigarette, I put on the brakes and dismounted, as I am always willing to help anyone on the road if I can. "He immediately asked "Have you any money£" and his companion, who was walking a few yards ahead, closed in on me levelled a revolver at me. I could plainly see the weapon, for he was only a few feet away, but I can't say if it was loaded or not. I said "I've got a little copper and silver." I gave him some coppers, and one of them mad "Let's have the silver,' so I gave him two shillings. No sooner had I given him that money that he put his hand in my breast pocket and took away a little bundle of notes and the remainder of money - altogether they took £9 6s. 4d. When they were Satisfied they had got all my money one of them said "Bugger off now about your business," and they walked away for the woods in the direction of Hoar Cross and Newborough." "I can describe the men. They were both about 5ft 10in. high, and somewhere between 35 and 40 years of age, and were strong-looking men. One was dressed in a light jacket, moleskin trousers, and muffler, and the other in a dark suit and a muffler. I could make out all those details with the aid of my bicycle lamp. When I got home I knocked my father up, and we set out together to search for the men, but could see nothing of them. At Newborough I gave information to P.C. Eastbury, and when we got back home I also informed P.C. Carter." Yesterday two men were detained on suspicion, but Conway, on seeing them, at once stated that they were not the men who robbed him. Conway was in the Army for about 2½ years, and suffered severely from wounds and illness. He was sent out to France three times. For some time he has been in the service of Mr. Smith, butcher, of Barton, and it had possibly become known that he collected money in the district."
"Hold-Up Near Yoxall"
Burton Observer and Chronicle
April 30th 1921 Page 7

"A Yoxall man and his fiancée had an unnerving experience while cycling on the outskirts of Uttoxeter, the man having a miraculous escape from serious injury after having been pinned under a lorry for nearly two hours. William Thomas Cheese [30], of Long Croft Hall, Yoxall, and Dorothy Fradley, of The Knoll, Barton-under-Needwood, were emerging from Holly Lane [leading to Kingstone] on to the main Uttoxeter-Abbot's Bromley Road, and a Wilts United Dairies motor-lorry, driven by Thomas Charles Bridgen, of King's Bromley, was travelling on the main road in the direction of Abbot's Bromley. Miss Fradley turned out safely, but Cheese's cycle skidded and he ran into the lorry, which skidded in trying to avoid him, and ran into the ditch. Cheese and his wrecked machine were pinned under the font axle of the lorry, which rested on the man's legs. A passing doctor gave attention to Cheese until the arrival of Dr. C. J. Coventry. of Uttoxeter, and the lorry driver, police, and neighbouring residents set to work feverishly to dig Cheese out and jack up the lorry. The work was exceedingly difficult on account of the position of the lorry and the frozen state of the ground. Although he had no bones broken, he sustained a severe wound on the head."
"Cyclist's Awful Experience"
Burton Observer and Chronicle
January 2nd 1936 Page 8

"An unusual cricket match took place at Yoxall on Saturday, when Cannock Chase Colliery played the village team in a testimonial match to mark the retirement of Mr. A. Lester and to celebrate his 80th birthday. Mr. Lester has been a playing cricketer for 65 years. He is also the village rifle champion. In Saturday's match he was top-scorer for his side with 12 runs, and in one over of bowling he took two wickets for 2 runs. He is probably England's oldest cricketer, and at the match he was presented with a bat suitably inscribed. In scoring his 12 runs he batted for 45 minutes. Incidentally, in this match B. Horobin, of the Colliery, who is only fifteen years of age, took his 100th wicket for the season with the Colliery team and his School [King Edward School, Lichfield]."
"Yoxall has England's Oldest Cricketer"
Lichfield Mercury : September 16th 1949 Page 4