Hi Keith
I have my mom here with me now and I'm getting her to walk down Church Street in her memory. So here goes... So entering Church Street, facing the direction of the Oldbury Cenataph and the Weselyn Chapel is on the left. Left hand side corner was a building called The Noahs Ark, which used to a pub in previous years. Next door was Mr and Mrs Cox's sweet shop, who made his own toffee and sweets on the premises. Photograph shop where they did framing. A big house where the Territorials used to meet, which is still there. Nash's Ironmonger shop. Then the chapel on the corner of Wesley Street and the school on the left behind the chapel. There were houses on the opposite corner of Wesley Street. The Oldbury Police station next, which in later years changed to a library.
Go back to beginning of Church street, on the right hand corner of Church Street and West Bromwich street was a gospel hall. Next door was a row of terraced houses. Fish and chip shop. Walkers Newspaper shop. Mrs Moss's terraced house. And this is where she believes there was a big house. Tom Coopers Cobbler shop just before Orchard Street.
Bless her she's really dug deep. She does remember a butchers shop in Oldbury called Sam Wooldridge, which was in Birmingham Street, which is just around the corner from Church Street. Any connection?
There is a local historian named Terry Daniels if you would like any more information. He has hundreds of photo's too of the area. If you google Oldbury History Society you can contact him there. Hope we haven't confused!!
Regards
Carol
