Bradmore wolverhampton, Gunmakers and Church Road

[giraffe]

Hi Uplands,

Truebritmega, posted an old map of bradmore area on 30 aug 09, which shows the position of a house called the Fernery.  Researching my family history i found that my great grandmother was in service at the fernery  in 1901.  The Fernery I think was situated where the flats are opposite bantock park on broad lane, I think the flats are called bantock court.  I would dearly love a photo of the house.

Kizzy

Hi Kizzy, perhaps if you tell us the name of your gt grandmother we can look up the answer to Truebrit's question?
Giraffe

[truebritmega]

Thank you for the info Kizzy, i wouldnt say im all that, up, on local history, but I do adore it, and Im always more and more curious  lol... as to Bellencroft, ty... I hadnt heard of a farm there, but yes I do know Bellencroft gardens, if I remember rightly its around halfway down bhylls lane? (when i left school I started as a national trust trainee at wightwick manor so i used to ride down bhylls lane every morn on way to work lol ) but I'll look into it and see what I can find, if i can see anything I'll let you know...

And as to the "Fernery", what it was for...... The only thing I can see is the defitnition via google...

"Web definitions for Fernery
 A fernery is a specialized garden for the cultivation and display of ferns"

[Kaliannan]

Bellencroft was the name of a large house which was knocked down and a bungalow built in its grounds. The house belonged to a Miss Laurie.I believe her family had something to do with mirros but I am not sure. After her death Bellencroft gardens were built. The farm was next door and was called Bhylls Farm as far as I know. In the 1950s it was occupied by some one called Theaker. It was demolished to build the council houses in Bhylls lane. It was approximately where the bungalows are now.
Regarding the two boys in the sewage works. there was a big search for them with local people police and fire. I was with a sub aqua club in attendance but did not get the boys out. From what I remember they were stck under a concrete overhang. Very sad time.

[Uplands]

A slightly different version of the above story taken from the 1914 Finchfield and Wightwick old Ordnance survey map.


The Bhylls was the home of a John Clarkson Major who became a manufacturing chemist. He was the mayor of Wolverhampton 1875-76 and after his time at the Bhylls the Lauries moved in and changed the name to Bellencroft  ( Mrs Laurie was called 'Bee' and her stepdaughter Ellen, hence the name) Miss Laurie was in charge of the ARP post in the second world war and was a character well known for her determination. The imposing Victorian pile that was the Bhylls was demolished to make way for her bungalow and Bellencroft gardens.

Bob.

[truebritmega]

good map I dont suppose that map has the church road area of bradmore on it?

[Uplands]

I have all that was printed of the Wolverhampton area but unfortunately the SW area finishes at the corner of Oxbarn. On page 1 of this thread I have posted that corner, missing a little bit of Victoria Rd.
I am always on the lookout for the latest issues so when one os printed I shall puchase it.

Bob.

[Kizzy cat]

Thanks for all the info on Bellencroft/Bhylls Farm.  Does anyone remember Bhylls Cottages and did they belong to the farm.  I have family called Bayliss living in Bhylls Cottages in 1904, (although this is listed as compton in 1904)  Would they be in the Byllls Lane area.

Kizzy 

[truebritmega]

sorry, cant answer that, but im sure someone will as to bayliss, there was Bayliss's in monmore green.. made railings and the like if i remember right... my gran may have worked there...

[judijee]

Hi all -
I've just caught up with this topic, and reading your posts has brought back such a lot of childhood memories.  My gran lived in Maple Road (just round the corner from the Gunmakers Arms) in a terrace of six late-Victorian houses that stood on the lefthand side.  I think they were demolished in the early 1960s, but the old lamp standard is still there where a crowd of us kids used to play hopscotch and skipping in the years just after the War.  It was originally a gas lamp, and when I was very small I would look out for the gaslighter coming round with his ladder to light the lamp of an evening. 
Gran and I often used to visit the Gunmakers to fetch a jug of stout, or else we'd go up to the Bradmore Arms and sit on the wooden bench in the 'outdoor'.  She did her shopping at a grocer's in Church Road called Brockhouse's (or Brocklebank's, I can't quite recall).  Another shop now long gone was in one of the terraced houses round the corner in Trysull Road - it sold wool and all sorts as well as having a post office, and was run by two sisters and their brother.
I was born in Birches Barn Avenue, and when I was around 12 or so we lived in Minsterley Close, on the other side of Trysull Road from Maple Road.   I've lived all over the place since then, but Bradmore has always meant more to me than anywhere else, so thank you to everyone who has brought back so many memories.

- judijee