Beer, Bets and Bull-Baiting

The twenty-second Andrew Barnett Memorial Lecture takes place on Thursday 13th October at 7:30 pm in St. Andrew’s Church, Bilston Street, Sedgley. The speaker is Mary Bodfish, a member of Smethwick Local History Society.

Mary’s illustrated talk portrays a C19th Black Country where the working classes had a lifestyle steeped in drink and gambling. Furthermore, there were bloody amusements like prize fighting and bull-baiting with dogs attracting large noisy crowds. Tales and anecdotes are sure to flow at this meeting. Do come along and bring your friends.

As usual visitors are invited to come along – admission £1. Annual membership of the Society costs £5 and gives free access to the programme of talks.

[Andrew Barnett: 1909 – 1989 ~ Headteacher of Red Hall Junior School in Lower Gornal, Founder member of the Society and keen researcher of Sedgley Manor’s history. Barnett’s History of Sedgley is available in local libraries.]