History
Milestone
Blakedown Recreation Rooms
Churchill Pound
Local Genealogy
Old Photographs
Milestone
We are fortunate to have an original milestone in the village. This is sited on the A456 Birmingham Road and indicates that there are 14 miles to travel before reaching Birmingham.
From the 23rd February 2006, the Department of Culture, Media and Sport
have included the following structure within the Statutory List of Buildings
of Architectural and/or Historic Interest, as Grade II: Milestone in Blakedown
Village
"Milestone. C18 with C19 alteration. The milestone is made of sandstone
with a later cast iron plate refacing it. It takes the form of a rectangular
slab with a tooled surface, and rounded top. A later early C19 rectangular
cast iron plate with a raised rim and lettering in relief is attached to
one face. This reads "TO BIRM 14 MILES". It is believed to be
one of two remaining milestones of this set, the other being in Edgbaston,
Birmingham. The stone is near its original position on a grass verge, having
been moved when the road, now the A456, was straightened in c1930.
HISTORY: The Birmingham to Blakedown turnpike road was made after a 1752
Act of Parliament for repairing the roads in the counties of Worcester,
Stafford, Salop and Warwick and trustees were appointed for the road leading
from Blakedown to Birmingham in 1753. In 1807 the milestones were ordered
to be repaired which involved fitting them with cast iron plates inscribed
with the distance from Birmingham.
Simon Roper-Pressdee
Conservation Officer (Historic Buildings)Wyre Forest District Council"
It can be found specifically on the first
bend coming into Blakedown from Kidderminster.
The image shows a close up view of the milestone
confirming the 14 miles still to travel until
one reaches Birmingham City Centre - probably
Colemore Row and the Cathedral - although
this is just speculation.
If you know where the mile point centre is
for Birmingham then let us know.
PS
It is not Villa Park or St Andrews - we know
that for certain (it may be Edgbaston County
Cricket Ground in the authors view though!)
Blakedown Recreation Rooms 1904-2003
As the Blakedown Recreation Rooms nears its'
Centenary we thought it appropriate to give
the local residents some history of the club
of which we are very proud.
It was given and furnished by George Edward Wilson of Albright and Wilson who lived at Park Hall and Henry Lewis of Dudley House (ex. Roxhall) for the use and enjoyment of the Blakedown Residents as a snooker club.
In 1904 the room started with about 60 members and ended the year with a balance in hand of 10shillings and 4pence. In 1954 the room had 36 members with a balance in hand of £63.00, in 2002 the club was still very active with some 50 members and a healthy bank balance.
In 1922 a marble tablet was erected in the club by the president G.E. Wilson containing 43 names of past and present members of the Blakedown Recreation Room who served in the Great War 1914-1918. There is also an enlarged photograph of Leonard Dunsby, the one member who made the supreme sacrifice.
Mr. G.E. Wilson and Mr. H. Lewis actively
supported the club until their deaths in
1927 and 1919 respectively.
At the Annual General Meeting on the 2nd
May 1938 Mr. W.H. Grazebrook recorded that
the rules for the election of Trustees and
other officers were contained in the deed
registered with the Charity Commission.
In 1954 one had an impression of refined
comfort on entering the room with two billiard
tables, only one of these being a full size
table, the floor covered with linoleum and
in the winter the warmth came from three
gas fires. Since then the club has been extended,
it now has three full sized tables, carpet
throughout and the luxury of central heating
along with other facilities. Rex Williams
opened this extension in 1991 and gave a
demonstration of his ability on the snooker
table to the pleasure of the members.
The tradition of the club still continues
and adds greatly to the amenities of the
village, with four trustees and a dedicated
management committee actively involved.
Anyone wishing to know more about these amenities can contact any member of the committee.
M.J. Pitt (Secretary) Tel. No. 01562 700818
24 March 2003
Churchill Pound
The term pound means an enclosure. The word
has Saxon origins and is a place where straying
or illegally pastured animals were confined.
The Pound in Churchill is made of brick,
but others are simple fences or made of local
stone. A pound usually has a single entrance,
sometimes with stone jams, wooden gateposts
or brick pillars. Pounds came in a large
variety of sizes from a few square meters,
like at Churchill, to pounds over 0.5ha in
size.
Once pounds went out of use, many became
derelict and were demolished, but Churchill
is lucky enough to have retained a pound
in good condition. The following photos can
be clicked for a full size image.
 |
 |
 |
| Baches Pool March 1989 Click on the image to view photograph full size. Photograph courtesy of The Express & Star Newspaper |
Baches Pool July 2009 Photograph taken from the same position Click on the image to view photograph full size. (courtesy Bob Whiston) |
The Old House at Home taken circa 1873 Click on the image to view photograph full size. Photograph courtesy of The Express & Star Newspaper |
If anyone knows anything of Churchill and Blakedown's history and would be interested in sharing their knowledge, or if anyone has any old photos, interesting anecdotes, myths or legends about the area, it would be nice to include them on this page. Email me at Webster