2026 – Spring Teaser
The White Chimneys pub on Abbey Street, Lower Gornal was demolished over 40 years ago. The site remained empty until this Spring.
Send an email if you know anything about the replacement building or pub.
Sedgley Local History Society [SLHS]
Sedgley Local History Society [SLHS] is a Black Country group based in the village of Sedgley, which is situated at the northern tip of Dudley Metropolitan Borough and just 3 miles south of the centre of Wolverhampton.
Here, the heritage of the Manor of Sedgley, in south Staffordshire, is focused through its nine villages - Sedgley, Gospel End, Cotwall End, Upper Gornal, Lower Gornal, Woodsetton, Coseley, Ettingshall and Brierley. A history of people, places and events.
Please contact
us if you have any comments, suggestions, contributions or
questions.
Please note that genealogy isn't a prime interest of SLHS - it's a huge specialist area in its own right. We provide a list of useful sites on our genealogy links page that will help you to begin your research, however if you have a specific query drop us a line!
Sedgley Heritage Trails
During 2019 two trails were researched covering nearly forty places of interest within easy walking distance of Sedgley Bull Ring.
A leaflet was then prepared by Sedgley Evening Townswomen's Guild with support from Sedgley People's Archive and Sedgley Local History Society. There was specialist help and advice from Dudley MBC who printed the final version.
The trails can be followed using the street map alongside notes and pictures.
Follow this link to download a copy of the leaflet and enjoy the trails.
2026 – Winter Teaser Answer
This photograph was taken in the 1890s. Although he never lived in Sedgley Manor his knowledge of the nine villages and whole of the Black Country was unsurpassed.
We asked if you could name this English teacher.
Frederick William Hackwood (1851 - 1926) was born in Wednesbury. His book 'Sedgley Researches', published in 1898, was the standard reference for Sedgley Manor at the time and has been widely quoted ever since. Library copies are available.
Hackwood's legacy of nearly thirty books covering the Black Country and Staffordshire are still highly regarded by today's researchers. The histories of Wednesbury, Tipton, West Bromwich, Smethwick, Willenhall and Darlaston are of particular interest.
The SLHS 2025 / 2026 Programme
The 2025/2026 Programme promises a season of informative and stimulating talks from local experts.
Take your pick from presentations covering urban housing projects, Home Front reactions to the Great War, short films, the history of Dudley Castle, Birmingham's criminals and gangsters and, in May, Smethwick's famous Soho works. As usual there's something for everyone.
Meetings take place at St. Andrew's Church on Bilston Street in Sedgley, and are scheduled for Oct / Nov 2025 and Jan / Feb / Mar / May 2026. The Society is very friendly and, as always, visitors will be most welcome.