Redditch,Up the bank & Down the Ditch : 2014

WEBHEATH

1914-1918

All quite on the Home Front;A scrap book of life as it appeared in the Redditch Indicator!

St Philips, Webheath.

The Church was erected in 1870 through the Cooperation of two Land owners. Richard Hemming a local Needle master and owner of the Bentley estate who gave the land and Lady Henrietta, Baroness Windsor of Hewell Grange who provided most the money to build the church. The cost of building the church was around £3,000, and it was designed by the Architect Mr F Preddy in the early English Style. St Philips was the daughter church of St Bartholomew’s Tardebigge, and in that roll ministered to farmers, estate and factory workers alike, its 200 seats were free, no ‘pew rent’ was charged.

Church and Parish Life.

Between the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria on June 28^th 1914 and the start of the First World War on August 4^th 1914, life continued very much as normal. In July two outings had been organised by the church. The Choirboys annual outing was to Blackpool on the train, they were accompanied by the Rev and Mrs M Davis also on the treat were some of the girls from Mrs Davis’s Bible Class. The party started out at 4.45 Saturday morning and arrived home early Sunday morning, ‘tired but happy’. The children’s mothers had their own outing to Warwickshire stopping at Stratford on Avon on to Luncheon in Leamington and then Warwick were they had tea before driving back to Webheath in horse drawn brake’s, they were again accompanied by the Rev Davis and His wife.

After the declation of war the services continued as before, however at the children’s October Harvest Festival service, the offerings of fruit given by the young people were passed on to the Belgium Refuges who had been housed in Redditch. Collections were taken at all the Harvest services and these amounted to £2.10s. The money was given to the Redditch War Distress Fund which helped the wives and children of the men who had been called up or volunteered and people thrown out of work by the war.

The Parish’s main meeting place was the school room were the Sunday school was held, this was a timber hut attached to Pump house Farm. Here the Parish council met normally once a month. Social gathering attached to the church and Temperance Society were also held in the school room. Whist drives, sales of work and concerts for the local Soldiers and Sailors comfort fund were held there too.

At the 1915 Easter services the children brought ’Easter eggs’, these hens eggs were given to wounded service men probably those who were in the Tardebigge VAD hospital that was the village hall before the war. After the Sunday school sermons in 1916, a men’s service was held. The address was given by the headmaster of Halesowen Grammar School. He urged,” greater watchfulness and plain speaking, especially in the education of children, instead of the narrowness of the past. A fuller, broader and more spiritual atmosphere must be created by us for the next generation”.

The Sunday Schools annual treats still took place, these were teas held at larger homes of the congregation with games taking place in an accommodating farmers field, weather permitting. The choir boys outing for 1916 was a day at Bidford on Avon “were they spent an enjoyable day”, by the river.

In August 1917 the war shrine was dedicated this was a wooden structure fixed on the west wall of the church facing the road. It held and still holds the names of the fallen and roll of honour naming the serving men of Webheath and district, including 20 former choirboys. Canon Dickens of Tardebigge church passed away in November 1917 and Rev M Davis resigned as curate of St Philips in 1918. Rev Herring became the next curate for Webheath.

Webheath Curates

The Rev R M Davis was curate in charge of St Philips Church of England church, Webheath, which was in 1914 part of Tardebigge parish, were Canon Dickens was the vicar. The Rev Davis had been curate since 1912; he and his wife lived in Pumphouse Lane. The former curate Rev J Christie Lodged with Mr Bartlam at Pumphouse Farm. Both the Mr and Mrs Davis were busy in the parish especially with the children and young people.

The Rev Davis was keenly interested in Education. He was the chairman of the Bentley Elementary School mangers and took Religious education classes there. He also inspected the schools register and logs, and sat on the Redditch Higher Education Committee, and with other local vicars delivered religious instruction at Redditch Secondary school. He was the inspector of Church of England schools in the Bromesgrove area for the Worcester Diocese.

The Rev Davis resigned from St Philips in early 1917; however he stayed on when asked to by Cannon Dickens after his successor Rev Kane was preferred to a parish in Warwickshire. The Davis’s were presented with a cheque from over hundred parishioners collected when he first resigned but presented when he stayed. Mrs Davis was also given money collected at a whist drive and “which was placed at Mrs Davis’s disposal’

The Rev Davis finely left the following year in June 1918, to take up a post at St Mary’s a large industrial parish in the heart of Nuneaton Warwickshire, he would be covering two clergymen who had gone to serve as Chaplin’s at the front.

The Rev Herring took up the position of Curate from 1918 to 1920, he saw the war memorial stone put in place and dedicated and the also after a long campaign by the parishioners land and money to build a parsonage.

WAR SHRINE.

The Webheath Shrine was dedicated in August 1917, there were at least two other shrines in Redditch. One in Headless Cross and the shrine at the Headquarters of St Stephens Scout troop. The first war shrines appeared in East London Streets in 1916 and became a popular form for communities to remember the men they had lost and those who were serving abroad. The Church of England embraced the idea, and many shrines were in church grounds.

The Rev Davis took “a lively interest “in the creation of the shrine. Readymade shrines could be purchased and this seems to be the case with the Webheath Shrine. The Shrine was “purchased by general subscription by all classes”. The wooden shrine originally had doors with glass in them, at the top of the Shrine was the words ‘The great Sacrifice’. Inside there was a shelf to put vases of flowers on. And a wooden cross with a crucifix in its centre, on each side was a hand written list, one held the names of the fallen, seventeen names at that time. The second longer list was the Roll of Honour, of around a hundred names of the local men who were serving their country.

The shrine was unveiled on the Saturday the 10^th August, on what appears to have been a damp day. The Earl of Plymouth had promised to open the shrine but he was engaged elsewhere so Archdeacon Peile took his place. The Shrine had been placed on the west end of the church so it could be seen from the road.

There was a short service held in the church with the Rev Davis reading the lession then palm 23 was sung, during the singing of ‘O God our help in ages past ‘, the clergy, choir and congregation processed out to the West end of the church. Were the Archdeacon conducted the rest of the service, unlocked the shrine and gave a short address.

“He said they had met that day for the good object of paying honour to the brave men, to and those who were living and fighting for their country and for those who had laid down their lives for the cause. One of the bright sides of the war was the courage and endurance of our “contemptible” little army which they had at the declaration of the war. These were also the qualities’ of the citizen army which had been formed and sent out in thousands and tens of thousands. They went on to keep up the cause in every part of the world. It was good to honour the brave honour their sacrifice and endurance. ....... They admired and paid reverence to the men at the front on the ships and in the aeroplanes”.

After the address, the shrine was Dedicated and blessed, by the Archdeacon. The last post was sounded by buglers and service finished with a hymn.

THE WAR MERMORIAL

Even before the war had ended committees had been set up to build memorials to the fallen across the county in cities, towns and villages’. Webheath’s committee was set up in 1919 and collected money for a permanent stone.

The war memorial was unveiled on 17^th October 1920 by Colonel Godwin DSO, CMG. The memorial is a tablet, a plain stone it replaced the War Shrine on the west end of the church. The tablet contains twenty four names of men from Webheath and district. On to top of the of the stone, an inscription with the words.

”to the memory of the men of Webheath and district who fell in the Great War 1914 -1918”.

Thomas Alexander, Oscar Andrews, John W Andrews, Albert Baker, Thomas Beckensale, Harold Morgan Bowen, Charles Broom, Leslie St Claire Cheape, Hugh Grey Cheape, Albert Clayton, Arthur Clayton, Charles Futrill, William Futrill, Edwin Gibbs, Frank Griffin, Benjamin Harper, Arthur Harris, Thomas Hawthorne, Edward Farley Hunt, Stuart James, Ernest Morris, Jack Smout, Thomas Such, Frederick Waters.

“Ye that live on Mid England pastures green remember us and think what might have been.”

As the weather was ‘inclement’, most the service was held in the church rather than the especially built platform in the church yard. After Matins, Colonel Godwin gave the Address.

“This memorial was raised as an everlasting testimony to those who gave their lives for their mother county. It was a war waged by the will of the people to prevent the Germany riding rough shod over Europe, trampling small nations under her feet and finally assuming world power... Germany had been brought to her knees in the field, and in her fall brought down Russia, Austria, Turkey and others...”

After the address the congregation led by the choir and clergy the Rev F G Ellerton vicar of Tardebigge Parish and the Rev H C Herring curate in charge of Webheath church , processed the the church yard. Here a short service was held conducted by the Rev Ellerton who recited the dedication prayers, after which Colonel Godwin unveiled the tablet. The hymn “our help in ages past” was sang, the last post sounded the blessing given and the service ended. Among the people present was Lady Plymouth, Lady Phyllis Clive, Lord Windsor, the Earl of Plymouth was prevented from attending owing to an engagement in London.

The shrine was removed from the west wall outside the church to make way for the Memorial stone. It was restored and re erected inside the church by Mr W Lumbley, while Mr Treadgold rewrote the names on the shrine which had weathered since the shrine had been erected both them did the work for no pay. ”it may be said the work of both was neatly executed”.

Webheath Baptist Mission Hall.

The chapel was built in the 19^th century to serve the Webheath and the hamlets around it. It had a strong congregation and community. Webheath chapel stood between the larger chapel in Redditch and the oldest Baptist chapel in the district at Astwood Bank. The chapel closed and The Christadelphians took over the chapel in the last century and modernised and rebuilt the front of the building.

The chapel held services on Sunday and during the week, as well as running a Sunday school for the local children. The chapel had a strong choral tradition, two of the Harvest Festivals were ‘services of song, “White on to harvest “, and “Mills of God”, hymns and sacred music were sung with appropriate linking readings. The ladies of the congregation would ‘tastefully decorate ‘the chapel for all the special services.

The Sunday school had their special anniversary services were the collections were given to help the work of the Sunday school and the children lead most of the services themselves with hymns and readings. Once a year the school had a treat, Licky hills before the war, but during the war a local farmer’s field for games or tea and self made entertainment in the chapel if it was raining. Prize giving took place in December to bring the Sunday school year to an end.

The services were lead by Mr Southwick, Mr Mathews and the Pastor the Rev Wassell. The Pastor Married in August 1916 and the new Mrs Wassell was presented with a silver egg stand by the oldest member of the congregation on behalf of the rest of the community. Mrs Harrison said “it was a great joy to welcome Mrs Wassell and while the gift was a small one, she could assure Mr and Mrs Wassell it was given with a full hart”.

The members of the chapel had a comfort fund that sent out gifts to the men of the congration that was serving the country at home and overseas. In the February 1915 edition of the Redditch and Webheath Baptist News Magazine was a letter from Private B Lippett thanking members of the chapel for the gifts he had received. Sadly Private Lippett had died from wounds he received in the Battle of La Basse the month before.

Heathfield Road

The name of the road had been changed from Webheath Lane to Heathfield road a few years before 1914, and it was still some times Referred to by its old name. It was at the time the main road for the village with most the houses shops and the Post Office on the road.

However the condition of the road was a constant battle between the Parish Council and the rural district council surveyor, Mr Whitemore. In the Parish Council meeting of April 1915 the condition of the road was discussed.

“The road appears to have a soft foundation, with metal placed on the top of it. When the stream roller had been over it, the road was left in a switchback state.”

The councillors sent a letter asking the surveyor for the road to be attended too. Mr Whitemore sent a postcard back saying that the matter would be attended to. However six months later nothing had been done and the councillors sent a second letter. The road had become so dangerous that two local residents finding a large manhole (pothole) after heavy rain had taken it on themselves to call out the local roadman. They helped the roadman level it with three barrow loads of stone.

“The Rural district Council did not seem to understand the importance of Webheath. Heathfield road was used be a large and increasing number of people, new housing was being built and the road should be improved.”

In the March 1916 meeting, a letter was read out form Mr Whitemore explaining that a lack of labour meant that he was “unable to keep Heathfield road in the condition he would like”. The poor weather over the four years of war did not improve the condition of Webheath roads.

A heavy snow fall accompanied by strong winds in February 1916, brought down an oak tree near the post office, workman from Bentley estate cleared it up. The state of the road continued to prove a problem through the War and beyond.

A School for Webheath.

Webheath village was growing quickly with the building of new houses through the first two decades of the 20^th century and would continue to grow or the next eighty years. The increase in population meant there were more children in the area and no central school.

The local children went to four different schools depending on where they lived, Foxlydiate children would have found Tardebigge the closest school to where they lived. Some older children may have gone to the new school at Bridge Street. Those children who lived on Birchfield road and near the Rose and Crown would have walked along the busy road to the Headless cross school. The children at Hill Top went to Bentley school. Parish council members held posts as mangers on three of the school boards.

All the children had long Journeys to school the children going to Bentley had to cross the Swans brook. Entries in the Bentley log book have constant references to the weather and fact that children were arriving soaked, or that attendance among the infant’s was poor. In the Parish Council meeting of April 1918 the question of the brook was brought up. Mr Bartlem said,

“The children sometimes had to walk through water for 20 to 30 yards, he had known P.C Broom and his wife arrange to met the children and help them over, and he had done the same himself”.

By 1919 the need for a school had become even more pressing and the Parish council had written to the County Education Authority to ask for a school, there had been no progress on the matter by the council’s meeting May 1920. The previous year the Redditch District Education Committee felt that the district needed a mixed infant school, a view they still held. Mr Spires said an infant school should be provided at Webheath,

“The danger of little children having to make Journey to school along the main road where there was considerable motor and other traffic would be stopped.”

The County Council Education Committee asked for evidence, Mr Neasom conducted a census covering a radius half a mile from the post office. There were 75 children between 8 and 14, 80 children between 4 and 7 and 43 children under five. The census and other evidence were sent off to the committee.

The reply came, “it was impossible to deal with the question of a school for Webheath, the committee required very strong evidence before committing themselves”. Mr Lambly, chairman remarked that they had sent all the all evidence they could, but if the committee wanted further evidence they should go down “muskets way between 8.30 and 9 on a wet morning”

It comes as no surprise that the plea for a school for Webheath was turned down, and it was only after the next war that Webheath got what should have been a short term infant school based in the village hall and it wasn’t until 1959 when Webheath Infant School was finely opened.

Farms, Farming and Food Production.

There were several large farms in the Webheath and Foxlydiate; most of the farmers were tenants of the two large estates left in the area. The Sillings Estate had been sold in 1912, and most of the land along Cumpfield had been sold for building plots with Crumpfield farm, farmed by Samuel French, the last agriculture land left on the Webheath side of the road. Sycamore Farm stood near the cross roads at Hill Top, and farmed by Hedley Cook, across the road at Hill Top George English had a small holding and ran a milk round. Pumphouse Farm, was a mixed farm, Harry Bartlam ran it. At the top of Cur Lane was Boxnote Farm also the Bentley Estate office. Down Spring Hill lane was Spring Hill Farm ran by Mr Hill and at the top of the lane, Foxlydiate farm.

Birchfield Road, Foxlydiat Lane, Church Road, and Heathfield Road surround an area of land that had been the common until it was enclosed in 1771. Most of the land was part of the Plymouth Estate. The land seems to have been divide up into a number of smallholdings. The Estate also allowed two fields to be used as allotments; there had been 50 before the start of the war. A further 5 were provided during the war and after the war the demand was such that the Parish council wrote to the estate to ask if anther field could be used for allotments. The allotments were situated at the top of Church road.

As men were called up, there was a shortage of labour. The County Council tried encourage the local farmers to take on women. At a Bentley meeting in April 1916 the farmers said that they did not need any more women as they had enough local women who were able to work when needed. What they didn’t say was thanks to a by –law children under thirteen could work on farm’s for three days a week for up to six weeks when applied for. And from the Bentley log, applications increased from 1917, many were from farmers applying for their own children for haymaking or potato picking.

Between 1914 and 1918, farming had to contend with some very wet weather and heavy winter snow storms. Potato blight was reported in 1916 and 1917, there was a Government scheme to promote spraying, and the council bought a sprayer to be shared by the farmers to prevent the problem in spring 1918.

Parish Council

Webheath parish council was formed in 1894, and dissolved in 1930. The members were local business men and farmers. Messrs T Buckley, W.H.M Ellis. J.T. James, J.T James, Mr W Blandon, H.F Chambers, S Neasom, C. W Owen and M Hill, among others. The meeting became fairly irregular as the war went on and like the local school boards quite a lot of time was taken up with dealing with government circler’s, from pig clubs, rat and sparrow clubs to spraying.

One of the main problems the council had to deal with was the condition of the roads, footpaths, and drains. Webheath roads were a constant issue, at one meeting Mr Ellis referring to green lane man holes said they were a danger to cyclists and, “to negotiate some of the them was as bad as going through the Dardanelles (laughter)”. It was pointed out by the secretary that Green Lane was Feckenham’s problem.

At the parish meeting in 1915 the problems of getting water to a fire in the village were debated. A notice was posted in the Rose and Crown giving the whereabouts of the village standpipes in an emergency. One had been misplaced but was found in the property of the late Mr White. It was decided to keep one in Miss Wyldes shed and at Mr J.T James. The Rev Davis wanted to know “how they would get on in the event of the fire in the church”. Mr James said the stand pipes were for buckets. Several members pointed out the Redditch Fire brigade would attach their hose to the fire hydrant and there would be no problem reaching the church.

Fox and Goose Inn

Mr Thomas Griffin, of the Fox and Goose Inn, Foxlydiate started a fund to supple the local men from Foxlydiate and Webheath, serving in the Army and Navy with tobacco and cigarettes. Over the four years of the war he collected £150, a number of fund raising schemes were used including Pea and Bean shows at the inn. In 1920 Mr Griffin was presented with an address illuminated by Mr Tredgold as a thank you from ‘his friends’.

Foxlydiate House

William Hemming the needle master built the house in the 1840s; the house was later sold out of the Bentley Estate. The house passed through a number of owners and tenants. By the outbreak of the first Worlds War, Mrs Victor Millward and Family lived there. They took a full part in the village activities and lent both house and grounds for those activities. In August 1915 the Millward’s entertained the wives of the soldiers and sailors of the Neighbourhood to tea. “The weather was delightfully fine and the company enjoyed the garden and the grounds “.

A drawing room meeting was held in aid of the, Scottish Woman’s Hospitals for Foreign Service. The speaker was a Miss Thurstan, who said she had not worked in the suffrage Hospitals, but she had been working as a nursing sister for the Belgium Red Cross and was sent to Brussels three days before the German occupation of the city. After six weeks all the English doctors and nurses were sent to the Danish’ frontier’ and realised. Miss Thurston then made her way into Russia and joined a Flying Ambulance Column in the front line of the Russian Amy. After this “thrilling account”, a collection was taken and £ 9 was given.

Forced landing

May 25 1918; Aeroplane Down, and aeroplane descended on Sunday night in a field near Webheath Church, the course was engine trouble. The machine passed over Redditch so low that many people thought it had come down in Easemore Road. By the noise of the engine it was clear there was some defecting and just before alighting this was more noticeable. A few minutes served to put the little fault right and the aeroplane quickly rose and continued its journey. Redditch indicator

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