Little Wenlock Noticeboard page 7
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Ken Jones has released his latest book:
"PITMEN,POACHERS AND PREACHERS"
Life and the Poor Law
in the Madeley Union of Parishes
1700-1930
by Ken Jones
As the acknowledged expert on the oral history of the East Shropshire Coalfield and Coalbrookdale, Ken Jones is well placed to write the history of the way the Madeley Union of Parishes were affected by the Poor Laws. These parishes include Barrow, Posenhall, Benthall, Broseley, Dawley, Linley, Little Wenlock, Madeley, Much Wenlock, Stirchley and Willey.He traces this history through the Old Poor Law and then the New Poor Law and demonstrates the hardships and poverty of those times. The book also examines the education of the poor and the important role of the Methodist Church at that time.
For one chapter, Ken draws on the oral history recordings he has made over more than 30 years and some of these many recordings can be heard on the CD included with this book. The black and white photographs show scenes from that time and include many of the ‘characters’ of the area.
The book is published by The Dog Rose Press, Ludlow, and is available from local bookshops.
Ken Jones has been appointed MBE in the Queen's Birthday Honours list in June 2010.
Warmest congratulations from the whole of Little Wenlock Parish go to Kenneth Jones, aged 88, who was honoured for services to the Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage site.
Ken, who is vice president of Ironbridge Gorge Museum Trust (IGMT), set up a scheme to record an oral history of the Coalbrookdale coalfield area.
The IGMT was set up to preserve and interpret the remains of the Industrial Revolution in the Ironbridge Gorge, and Ken who established the project to record the memories of older residents in 1975, said he felt "very honoured".
He added: "It came as a complete surprise. I never expected anything like this. I wouldn't like to guess how many hours we have. We must have had 300 or 400 people that we've spoken to over the years - some for half an hour, some for two and three hours."
Ken Jones said the audio and transcripts of recordings, which are stored at the museum's library, had links with the 1850s.
He said: "Some people were in their 80s and 90s - some speaking of memories of their father, grandfather and in some cases great-grandfather."
The IGMT was set up in 1967 and Ken Jones, who used to conduct guided tours in the area, first became involved in 1970.
Ken said: "The honour really is due to the people I've had the pleasure of working with, both staff and volunteers, and the people recorded over the years."
Any Questions comes to Little Wenlock
BBC Radio 4’s “Any Questions” is coming to Little Wenlock Village Hall on Friday 13th August. This will be a live broadcast
Admission will be by ticket only which are free. Tickets will be available from the 3rd July and can be obtained from Hilary Betts 505547 and Sue Parsons 505888.
The audience will be asked to put forward topical questions to stimulate debate. The broadcast starts at 8 pm, the hall will be open from 6.30 pm and the audience are asked to be in their seats by 7pm. This will allow time for people to put forward questions, this will allow Hilary and Sue to allow those on the waiting list or non ticket holders to fill any vacant seats not taken by 7pm. The production team also need time to sort out the questions and then to bring those asking the questions to the reserved seats at the front.
