Saturday 27 March 2010

Broadfield House Glass Museum/Stourbridge Canal

Broadfield House Glass Museum/Stourbridge Canal have announced the 2010 programme of guided walks.

Following on from their successful launch last year, 2010 will again see a series of walks exploring glassmaking and associated industries along the Stourbridge Canal.
'Jewels on the Cut' is a gentle stroll of around one and a half miles (plus return), taking in the historic glassmaking quarter between The Bonded Warehouse at Stourbridge and Red House Glass Cone in Wordsley. The interpreter is Graham Fisher, waterways enthusiast and outreach agent for Broadfield House Glass Museum. Walks indiated are open to the public (under 16's by arrangement) and private group bookings can be arranged separately. Places are limited; further details and booking via Broadfield House Glass Museum, 01384 812745.
Dates are

25 April (Dudley Walking Festival)
30 May
27 June
25 July
29 Aug (Stourbridge International Festival of Glass)
19 September

Monday 1 March 2010

Cradley Heritage Lottery Funded project

Dear Editor,

You may remember you were good enough to review Harry's DVD 'A Story of Cradley Heath' some time back in your magazine. The aim of that work was to record how Cradley Heath was before the coming of Tesco's, the demolition of old buildings and construction of the by-pass. When we look at that now, and the state of the High street shops and big market, the change is unbelievable (our description of the present situation is dire).

The present project is aimed at collecting memories, stories, photos etc. of and about Cradley so that they can be captured for the future, and also at encouraging people to participate in the project in this way. Knowledge, and the meaning of photos, artefacts etc get lost as time goes by. Eventually there will be a heritage pack produced and a series of DVDs - Cradley's History and Cradley People, Cradley at Work and Play and Cradley at War.

There will be a Cradley at War Meeting at 7.30pm at Park Lane Unitarian Church Hall in Cradley on Monday 22 March. It's free entry, everyone welcome, bread pudding and tea/coffee, biscuits. Anyone with interest in the project can come along, or contact Harry on the telephone number below.

The 'Cradley Then and Now Group' usually meet at the same venue on the 2nd Monday of the month - £1 admission with free refreshments.

The project will last about 15 months in all, to finish (hopefully) in November. I must emphasise that it is Cradley (where Harry and I were both born and still live) that the project is about, not the Heath!

Hopefully this will reach people who otherwise might not hear about the project, and lose the opportunity to contribute.

Val and Harry Bloomer
Tel: 01384 635969