C. F. G. Clark - The Curiosities of Dudley and the Black Country, From 1800 to 1860

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Transcribers Note: I can do no better than to refer the reader to the authors own words: This Work is an exact reprint from the original, and the errors in spelling and the peculiar Grammar of the Author have been faithfully followed.

Adverts

Advert for Charles Hale (Furnishing)

Advert for A. J. Baird & Co. (Drapers)

Advert for C. F. G. Clark & Son (Chemists)

Adverts for William Smith (Wine and Spirit Merchant), W. C. Wood & Son (Grocers)

Advert for Squire Knight's Celebrated Purifying Family Pills

Advert for James Wood (Wines and Spirits)

Adverts for Grainger & Smith (Woollen Merchants), Joseph Guest (Confectioner)

Adverts for Abraham Green (Vet), Alfred Langham (Ironmonger)

Adverts for E. Long (Accountant & Auditor), A. Whitford (Grocer)

Adverts for Steam Brewery (Wine and Spirit Stores), Thomas Plant (Brewer)

Adverts for Joseph Stevenson (Clothier), Matthew Smith (Brewer)

Adverts for Joseph Eld (Cigar Merchant), Whelpton's Pills

Adverts for the Dudley Herald and Wednesbury Borough News, Samuel Waring (Tailor)

Adverts for E. Hollier (Chemist), R. U. Dudley (Mercer)

Adverts for R. Dickinson (Timber and Slate Merchant), Joseph Gwinnutt (Lemonade, Soda Water, Potass and Seltzer Water Manufacturer)

Advert for Crosswells Ales

Adverts for W. Davey (Photographer), Duff and Son (Glass, China and Earthenware Merchants)

Adverts for J. B. Higgins (Plumber and House Decorator), J. B. Higgins (The American Oil and Lamp Stores)

Adverts for Arthur G. Knapp (Chiropodist), Jas. Goffe & Sons (Mineral Water Manufacturers)

Adverts for J. F. Timmins (Glass, Lead and Paper Hanging Warehouse), S. J. Perks (Silversmith and Jeweller)

Advert for Squire Knight's Eye Ointment

Adverts for Dr. Macann's Tincture, Thomas Reynolds (Manufacturer)

Advert for The People's Family Life Assurance and Sick Benefit Society

Adverts for Joseph Alfred Brooks (Bottler), William Edward Rudge (Cooper)

Advert for S. F. Turner (Manufacturer of Brass & Iron Bedsteads)

Advert for Queen's Cross Works, Dudley

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decoration

A chiels amang ye takin notes,

And, faith, hell prent it. Burns.

The Curiosities of Dudley
AND THE
Black Country,
From 1800 to 1860 :

Also an Account of the Trials and Sufferings of
DUD DUDLEY
WITH HIS
METTALLUM MARTIS:
The First Artificer in Iron,
MADE WITH
Pit Coale and Sea Coale, in 1618:

Being some lively and instructive Traits of the Peculiarities
of the Inhabitants and their Doings in the
Coal and Iron District: also,

AN ACCOUNT OF
THE ERECTION OF ST. THOMASS CHURCH.

COMPILED AND EDITED BY
C. F. G. CLARK, Carr Villa, Dudley.

---

PRICE 2/6.

---

Birmingham:
BUCKLER BROTHERS, PRINTERS, YORK PASSAGE, HIGH STREET.
1881.

---

Entered at Stationers Hall.

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Dudley Castle from Burnt Tree Road, 1810

DUDLEY CASTLE
FROM BURNT TREE ROAD. 1810.

---

Preface.

Yea, it becomes a man

To cherish memory where he had delight,

For kindness is the natural birth of kindness,

Whose soul records not the great debt of joy,

Is stamped for ever an ignoble man.

Sophocles Ajax.

In placing the following pages before the attention of the inhabitants of Dudley and its vicinity, I am actuated by the desire that the memories of the past generation, with all its fierce struggles for social and political predominance, and its efforts to promote local progression, may be faithfully portrayed in the mirror of its own doings, reproducing many forgotten scenes and events enacted in this Borough, which to the writer of these pages, and many others, afforded then as it will afford now a fund of amusement and reflection, such as is only to be obtained at the fountain of memory and observation.

The fact of being myself the collector of this large pile of printed information for the last 40 years, emboldens me to chronicle the Events and Curiosities of Dudley in such a succession of past years as will at once convey to my few remaining contemporaries a lively recollection of once stirring events, which the present generation of active public men in our midst may perhaps deign to learn therefrom a lesson of experience and profit. These curious events having been written at the time they occurred, removes the historian out of the region of fancy and speculation, giving a clear and unbiassed insight into the ways and doings of the past generation of our active townsmen.

When this history of events began, Dudley was comparatively a small country town, separated from Birmingham by the Horseley Fields and Bromwich Heath; it was governed by a Court Leet of the Manor of Dudley, which body annually elected a Mayor and High Bailiff, &c. There was also in force a Local Town Improvement Act, of some considerable date, administered by townsmen of property and position in the town; but this Commission always fought shy of any Sanitary or Drainage improvements, but contented itself by levying town rates up to a very circumscribed area in the town. Periodically, as the funds accumulated, important improvements were occasionally made in the Market Place, by buying up and removing entirely what was then known as the Old Middle Row, of all descriptions of tenements and old and dilapidated buildings, resulting in our now possessing the most spacious Market Place in the county. Both Bush Street and Upper Vicar Street, leading into King Street, were widened by this local Authority. The town rate varied from 1s. to 2s. in the pound annually, but is now extinct.

My book closes with the Life and Trials of Dud Dudley, whose narrative I have printed in its entirety. If ever a public inventor deserved some public recognition for his inventions as the first Artificer in Iron made with Pit Coale, that man was the renowned Dud Dudley, who lived and died in our midst.

The Ironmasters, Coal Masters and inhabitants of Dudley and its district could not perform a more enduring and graceful act than by placing an iron column in our midst to commemorate the inventions of Dud Dudley, the great Ironmaster.

C. F. G. C.

---

THE
Curiosities of Dudley
AND THE
Black Country.

1820. In these days Dudley could boast of its vigilant Pitt Club, and there were very bitter rival factions of Whigs and Tories in the town, the miserable affairs existing betwixt the Prince Regent and his discarded and illused Consort led to much heat and animosity amongst parties in the town, which tended to sever some of those social bonds which add so much to the good feeling of any locality.

On October 1st, 1819, a large public meeting was held in the Town Hall, under the auspices of the Mayor and leading inhabitants of the town, for the purpose of adopting a dutiful and loyal Address to His Royal Highness George Prince of Wales, Regent of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. The Mr. Francis Finch, so prominently figuring in this debate, was a highly respectable merchant, resident in the town. Being a gentleman of superior intelligence to his compeers, he was looked upon as the leader of the Whig party in the town, and, accordingly, fought their political battles.

The most notable event which occurred at the commencement of our recital was the Coronation of George IV., 1821. Dudley, though breathing a strong and hard pulsation for the unhappy Queen Carolines Stuart-like stains of human weaknesses, was not behind neighbouring towns in loyal demonstrations toward the Royal Family of England. On July 17th, 1821, we find it recorded that a numerous meeting was held at the Town Hall, to inaugurate the coming Festivities; The Right Honourable Viscount Dudley and Ward sent fifty guineas towards carrying into effect the loyal purposes of the meeting, which was accomplished by a public subscription. Divine Service was performed at 10 a.m., at the Parish Church. All the school children in the town were marshalled into the Castle Yard and regaled with

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