Merry Hill, Staffordshire

[Berrie]

Where is Merry hill in Staffordshire. Is it near Quarry Bank/Kingswinsford? I'm looking for the parents of John Simkins Watts, born 1882 in either Merry Hill or Quarry Bank.

[Tittensor ONS]

Hi Berrie, there is a reproduction of the 1901 OS map for sale on-line (e.g. Waterstones) with the title: Brierley Hill (East) with Quarry Bank and Merry Hill 1901: Staffordshire Sheet 71.07 - Old O.S. Maps of Staffordshire.

Regards,

Paul

Tittensor One-Name study homepage: www.tittensor.com

[KGarrad]

On the 1891 census (the first after his birth), John is a boarder at school.
Class RG12, Piece 2361, Folio 36, Page 27
8 Church Road, Harborne, Staffordshire

Eliza & Caroline Tonks were the Principals.
11 pupils and 2 servants.

I think you might have to purchase the birth certificate to find his parents?

March qtr 1882
Stourbridge district    vol 6c, page 190

Watts, John Simkins

[Berrie]

Thanks for your replies. He's not a close relative. Perhaps I'll find him in someone's tree.

[KGarrad]

Nothing of use on any census!
1891, 9 yrs old boarder, b Merry Hill
1901, 19 years old, Engineer, b Quarry Bank, living in Exeter

Using Google Maps, Quarry Bank is 0.6 miles from Merry Hill (or rather the Merry Hill Shopping Mall)

[Berrie]

He seems to move about a bit! In 1911 he is in Devon I think. He is mentioned in the will of Alice Watts, spinster,  who died in Devon in the 1930's. Not sure how he is related to her, perhaps nephew or even her son? He died in Devon.

[angel~eyes]

Not only is there a place called it but my Dad lives v close in Quarry Bank which is on the main stretch - bus route as Merry Hill is now one of the biggest shopping centres in the area. Until abt 1987 it was virtually wasteland and sparsely populated until the Richardson brothers came and developed there. Happy hunting x

[giraffe]

There is a Pub in Wolverhampton called 'The Merry Hill'. It is where what I think is now called the "Five Ways" junction of  Trysull Road, Finchfield Road, Bhylls Lane, Langley Road, and (I think) Coalway Road. The trolley buses from Wolverhampton town centre used to turn round at this junction, and go back into town. I think the area was Penn Fields.
This was before the Merry Hill Shopping Centre was built.
giraffe

[ronnicooper]

There is a Pub in Wolverhampton called 'The Merry Hill'. It is where what I think is now called the "Five Ways" junction of  Trysull Road, Finchfield Road, Bhylls Lane, Langley Road, and (I think) Coalway Road. The trolley buses from Wolverhampton town centre used to turn round at this junction, and go back into town. I think the area was Penn Fields.
This was before the Merry Hill Shopping Centre was built.
giraffe

Just for clarification - no, Penn Fields was a different area. You're referring to Merry Hill itself. I used to catch the trolley bus to town there when I was growing up in Bhylls Lane and there would frequently be a delay while the trolley was put back on the cable after their parting company negotiating the roundabout!