Willenhall History

Into the 20th Century

Doctor Tonks and the Memorial Clock

Almost everyone who has entered Willenhall Market Place will be aware of the tall memorial clock at the southern end, which is dedicated to Doctor Joseph Tonks, who cared deeply about the poorer members of society and sadly had a relatively short life.

Joseph Tonks was born in Spring Bank, Willenhall, on 5th May, 1855 to Silas and Lucy Tonks. Silas was a master padlock smith and the family is believed to have moved to the Forge Tavern in St. Anne’s Road, on the corner of Sharesacre Street, shortly after Joseph’s birth. Silas was licensee of the pub.

In 1861, the family moved across the road to the newly opened Spring Bank Tavern where Silas was again the licensee. He stayed until his death in 1888 at the age of 61, when his wife Lucy took over and ran the pub until her death in 1896. Her daughter Emily, now married with the surname Handley, then became licensee.

Joseph’s early education was probably at St. Anne’s Church School in Ann Street, or the National School, that was on the corner of Doctor’s Piece and Lower Lichfield Street.

The memorial clock.

On leaving school he trained for five years under Doctor Moses Taylor, a surgeon at Cannock and also studied medicine at Queens College, Birmingham, from where he graduated in 1879, to become a member of the Royal College of Surgeons.

Now qualified, he decided to start a medical practice in Wolverhampton Street, Willenhall, where he stayed for about a year. In January, 1881, local surgeon Doctor William Pitt died at the early age of 46. Soon afterwards, Joseph Tonks took over Doctor Pitt’s practice at number 3 Walsall Street. In the 1881 census, it is listed that Joseph shared the house with his 33 years old medical assistant, Richard Dudley, together with his wife Emma Dudley, their four children and a 14 year old servant named Harriet Hatchaner.

On 30th, October, 1888 Joseph married 18 years old Clara Banks at St Anne’s Church, Willenhall. She was the daughter of Jonah Banks and his first wife Eliza Thompson. Jonah’s firm, Jonah Banks & Sons Limited, of London Works, Clothier Street, Willenhall, was one of the oldest established companies in the town, having started trading in about 1790. The firm manufactured door bolts, door handles and gate catches etc.

Joseph and Clara had two sons, Reginald Ernest, born on 5th November, 1884 and Herbert Joe, born on 13th April, 1886.

Doctor Tonks and his household in 1885. Courtesy of David Parsons.

Doctor Tonks worked tirelessly to improve the health of the poorer people in the town, where he became known as ‘The poor man’s doctor’, charging just six pence per visit. He was a medical referee for the Prudential Assurance Company, a member of several societies, as well as the local Liberal Club, in which he became Vice President.

It seemed that Joseph would have a long and happy life, but things went very wrong on Wednesday, August 29th, 1888, at the Willenhall Horticultural Society’s annual show in the grounds of the Central Schools, in Stafford Street. One of the attractions was a hot air balloon ascent in the Countess of Dudley balloon, owned by Captain Morton of Oldbury. The balloon would be manned by Doctor Tonks, Mr. Joseph Baker, a local plumber and the pilot, Lieutenant Lempriere. This was to be Joseph Tonks second ascent in the same balloon. His first ascent was when it was used at the previous show, three years earlier.

The balloon arrived at nine o’clock and was quickly inflated. The weather looked favourable, but at the last minute it was decided that only two people should make the ascent instead of three and so Mr. Baker stepped out of the basket. As Lieutenant Lempriere called ‘Let go’ a gust of wind caused the balloon to rise at an oblique angle. The balloon rose to a height of about ten feet, followed by a descent of a couple of feet on to the fence that surrounded the school ground.

The balloon rapidly got free and rose to roof height, but collided with the chimney of Mr. John Perry’s shop at 49 Stafford Street, causing it to fall down. The balloon then struck both chimneys in Mr. William Wallern’s house, also causing them to fall down. The balloon rose yet again and collided with the chimneys of Mr. Collett’s house and finally with the chimney of the Haden family’s house, before being torn apart. The envelope was wrapped around the chimney, and the basket was left suspended by its netting, about ten feet in front of the house.

The onlookers must have been shocked at what they saw and worried about the safety of the two men. Haden family members also had a narrow escape. Mrs. Haden was in the yard with her three children watching the ascent. When the chimney fell, they rushed for shelter in the house, with Mrs. Haden carrying the youngest child. Before they entered the house, Mrs. Haden and the child were knocked over by a discharge of sand from the balloon and were only able to get to safety thanks to Mrs. Haden’s sister, who managed to quickly drag them into the house. It seems likely that they would have been badly injured both by the sand and falling bricks. It was later discovered that the balloon had been filled with around ten percent less gas than normal.

The doctor managed with difficulty to descend down one of the ropes to safety, while the lieutenant descended by means of a ladder. He managed to escape unhurt, other than being badly shaken and bruised, but the doctor had received a wound about 2 inches long and an inch wide in the fleshy part of the left thigh. He was also badly bruised on his left knee and left shoulder.

When Doctor Tonks reached the ground, he visited the marquee to assure everyone that he was not too badly injured and was then taken home by a friend. It was not realised that although the injuries would take some time to heal, they would result in his early and untimely death.

Initially he seemed to be on the road to recovery. In 1889 he passed an examination for the Licentiate of the Apothecaries Hall, Dublin, which enabled him to add the letters L.A.H. to his name and he became Medical Officer for the Guardians of the Poor and also Public Vaccinator for the towns of Willenhall and Short Heath. He also continued with his heavy workload, but his health began to deteriorate and was a source of concern to family and friends. The deterioration continued, so much so that shortly after nine o'clock on Thursday, May 2nd, 1891 he passed away, just three days before his 36th birthday. At the time, his widow Clara was just 27 years old with two children to look after. Doctor Tonks was buried 5 days later at Wood Street Cemetery, Willenhall.


Doctor Tonks' family grave in Wood Street Cemetery.

Clara and her children moved from their home in Walsall Street to enable Doctor William Bott M.R.C.S. who had become Doctor Tonks' assistant, to take over the practice. He is listed as a surgeon, medical officer and public vaccinator for the Wolverhampton Union. Clara and the children are believed to have moved to Harper Street, where they lived for several years before moving to Clothier Street.

In the 1920s, Clara and her younger son, Herbert Joe, moved to Wolverhampton, living in Cemetery Drive, which was between what is now Aspen Way and Merridale Cemetery. All that stands there today is a row of garages. Clara died on February 27th, 1946 at the age of 82 and was buried in the same grave as her late husband. Herbert Joe survived her for just over a year. He died on 11th March, 1947 at the age of 62 and was also was buried in the family grave. His younger brother Reginald Ernest Tonks, died in 1962.

The Memorial Clock

Many local people were saddened and shocked at the loss of their doctor, who in his short lifetime had done so much to help the residents of the town. As a result a meeting was held in the New Inn, Walsall Street, now called The County. A memorial committee was formed and the landlord agreed to make a room available for future meetings.

The committee decided to raise money to erect a drinking fountain in memory of Doctor Tonks. Mrs. Tonks readily gave her support to the plan and many generous donations were quickly received. Money poured-in and it was realised that something far grander than a drinking fountain could be built.

Willenhall Local Board of Health was contacted to ask permission for a drinking fountain to be erected in a prominent place. Meanwhile a design was drawn-up for a drinking trough for cattle and dogs, with four clock faces, by Messrs Boddis, sculptors and stonemasons of Birmingham. It was to be built in Hollington and Bath stone with a clock supplied by Messrs Smith of Derby, surmounted by an ornamental frame. The total estimated cost was £250.

The Local Board of Health recommended that the memorial should be built in the Market Place, the supply of water for the drinking trough being supplied by Wolverhampton Corporation. Work on clearing part of the southern end of the Market Place in readiness for the building of the memorial, began in April 1888 and building work rapidly progressed. It was decided that the day of the inauguration of the memorial should be a general holiday.

Some of the dignitaries at the unveiling ceremony.

The unveiling ceremony took place at 4 o'clock in the afternoon on Tuesday 10th May, 1892. It was a bright sunny day and large crowds gathered in the Market Place and along the route to be taken by the procession.

Many shops and factories closed and a large number of flags and banners were flown. The long procession started from Stringes Lane at about 3 o’clock and included members of the local and school boards and members of local friendly societies. The procession also included ‘D Company’ of the 3rd Volunteer Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment, the Fire Brigade and military prize bands.

A platform had been erected in the Market Place to accommodate the Memorial Committee, town dignitaries and guests. Mr. James Carpenter Tildesley, ex-Chairman of the Willenhall Local Board of Health presided at the event.

The memorial was unveiled by the surgeon Lawson Tait. Afterwards there was an official banquet with yet more speeches. The day was a great success, everything went as planned.

The plaque on the memorial clock.

Another view of the memorial clock.

On the first anniversary of the unveiling, Wednesday 10th May, 1893, a dinner was given to celebrate the successful event. On 31st July, 1986 the memorial was Grade II listed. It is still one of the best known structures in the town.

The memorial clock in the late 1920s. From an old postcard.

A late 1920s view of Walsall Street.

An earlier view of Walsall Street, looking towards New Road.

The Midland Bank and Market Place.

A New Cemetery

By the late 19th century, Willenhall’s graveyards were rapidly running out of space, and a new cemetery became a necessity. It was decided to build a cemetery on farm land in Wolverhampton Road West, Bentley, acquired from the Earl of Lichfield in 1894.

The new cemetery was designed by the town surveyor, Mr. B. Baker, who planned the site to include a mortuary chapel, and a sexton’s lodge.

The cemetery entrance. From an old postcard.

Work started on the site in July 1896, and was carried out by Mr. Owens of Wolverhampton. During the following year the site had been prepared, and drainage work undertaken. The chapel, lodge, and walls were constructed by Mr. Thomas Tildesley, who began working at the site in July, 1897.

The new cemetery was officially opened by Thomas Nicholls J. P., Chairman of Willenhall Urban District Council, on the 16th July, 1900, in front of a crowd of around 2,000 spectators. The final cost of the project was £7,725.12s.0d. Somewhat more than had been previously expected.

From an old postcard.

The Boer War

Many Willenhall men joined the army, and fought in the Boer War in South Africa between 1899 and 1902. Twenty three of them lost their lives. They joined the following regiments: the South Staffordshire Regiment, the Shropshire Light Infantry, the Worcestershire Regiment, the Imperial Yeomanry, the North Staffordshire Regiment, and the East Kent Regiment. They are recorded on two plaques at the back of Willenhall War Memorial.

The bonfire built to celebrate the Coronation of King George V and Queen Mary, on the 22nd June, 1911.

Willenhall Choral Society. From an old postcard.

Spring Bank Stadium

The stadium, which was built on the north side of Temple Road, opened on Monday 4th September, 1905 with a match between Birmingham (now Birmingham City) and the Willenhall Swifts. It was watched by a large crowd who saw Birmingham win by 3 goals to 1. The ground became the headquarters of the Swifts and continued to be so until the First World War. The last match before the war intervened, took place on the 30th October, 1915 between the Swifts and their local rivals, the Willenhall Pickwicks. After the war the two teams amalgamated to form Willenhall Football Club, with Spring Bank Stadium as their headquarters. The new club played its first game on the 26th April, 1919 at Walsall, with a return match at Spring Bank the following week. The team played in the Birmingham and District League and won the league championship in 1922.

By 1930 the number of spectators had drastically fallen, and the club found itself in financial trouble. The club went into voluntary liquidation, and Spring Bank Stadium was sold and converted into a greyhound track. Greyhound racing continued on the site until 1980 when the owners, Ladbrokes decided to close the stadium because of falling attendances. It was sold to Barratts, who demolished the stadium and built around 100 houses on the site. It is commemorated in the names of a couple of the streets that were built on the site; Stadium Close, and Circuit Close.

Willenhall’s present football team, Willenhall Town was formed in 1953 and plays at its site in Noose Lane.

The First World War

When war was declared on 4th August, 1914 large numbers of Willenhall men joined the local regiments and soon found themselves fighting abroad, in France, Belgium, and as far afield as the Dardanelles.

Many of them lost their lives during the fearsome fighting in the trenches at the Somme, and at Ypres, Paschendaele, and the Gallipoli Campaign.

They are remembered thanks to the war memorials at Portobello and Willenhall. 312 names are recorded on the Portobello war memorial, and 445 names are recorded on the Willenhall memorial.

The people of Willenhall are well known for their generosity. During the war they collected £204,309 for the war effort.

As the war progressed, local manufacturers received orders for war work from the Ministry of Munitions, and produced many items including gun parts, shells, hand grenades, and horse shoes.

The Portobello war memorial. From an old postcard.

A photo from an old postcard celebrating the collection of £204,309 during Willenhall War Weapons Week. Enough to buy 81 aircraft.

An old postcard showing some of the celebrations in the Market Place at the end of the First World War.

Cinemas

Willenhall's first cinema, the Coliseum, opened in 1914 in the old Hincks family’s malthouse on the corner of Bilston Street and New Road. This was soon followed by the opening of a second cinema, the Picture House, which opened in Stafford Street on the 19th April, 1915. The Picture House was a purpose-built cinema with first class facilities, whereas the Coliseum was housed in a not very suitable building, with inferior facilities. The Picture House was the more successful of the two, particularly when ‘the talkies’ arrived.

From an old postcard.

Another view of the Picture House. From an old postcard.

When Mrs Price, the last member of the Hincks family, died, her estate, including the Coliseum was put up for sale. It was purchased by John Tyler, a local councillor, builder, plumber, and decorator, who with his daughter Norah, decided to replace the cinema with a modern state of the art design.

An advert from 1937.

The building became the Dale Cinema, seating 1,150 people, including 250 on the balcony. It opened on the 31st October, 1932 with a showing of ‘Viennese Nights’, in Technicolor, with high quality Western Electric sound. Norah Tyler continued to run the cinema until her death in 1945 when it was acquired by J. L. and A. H. Brain who ran a cinema at Aldridge.

With the increased popularity of television, cinema audiences started to dwindle, and Willenhall, like many other towns eventually lost its cinemas.

The Picture House closed on the 2nd May, 1959 and was demolished in 1961. The Dale continued in operation until the 30th December, 1967, then reopened as a bingo hall on the 16th February, 1968.

In the late 1990s it was converted into a public house, appropriately named ‘The Malthouse’, a J. D. Wetherspoon’s pub, which opened on the 21st December, 1999.

It began to suffer from a lack of customers and so was put-up for sale. It finally closed its doors on Sunday the 26th March, 2023.

The Dale Cinema in the 1930s. Courtesy of John Hughes.

An advert from 1965.

View the Willenhall entry in the Midland Counties of England Trades Directory of 1918

The Inter War Years

The Willenhall War Memorial.

Willenhall’s War Memorial on the corner of Stafford Street and Field Street was officially opened on the 30th September, 1920 by Lord Dartmouth.

The memorials were dedicated by the Reverend H. P. Hyatt on the 4th June, 1922.

There are two plaques commemorating those who died in the First World War, and a large and small plaque commemorating those who died in the Second World War.

Two other plaques set in the boundary wall commemorate those who died in the Boer War. In between them is a small plaque stating that the tablets were moved to the war memorial in 1964 having been removed from the gate piers at Wood Street Cemetery.

One of two plaques dedicated to those who died in action in World War One.

The memorial for those who died in World War 2.

Municipal Housing

The local population steadily increased during the 19th century and the early years of the 20th century, so that new houses were badly needed to reduce overcrowding, and to improve living standards amongst the poorer members of society. The council’s Housing and Town Planning Committee held its first meeting in November 1918 and considered the possibility of buying land for new housing.

The 1919 Housing Act gave local authorities the responsibility to provide suitable housing for the expanding working class population.

In August 1919 the council purchased land in Temple Road for the building of 74 council houses, which were to be the first council houses in the town.

Over the next few decades, thousands of council houses were built throughout the town, and much of the open land disappeared.

The houses were built in many areas including Spring Bank, Wolverhampton Road, the southern side of the Memorial Park, and the area to the east of Rose Hill.

From an old postcard.

Willenhall Football Club. Date unknown. Courtesy of Tony Highfield.

In 1931 Willenhall lost its passenger train services at Stafford Street railway station when the LMS withdrew passenger services on the old Midland line. The railway remained open for goods until the 1st November, 1965.

An advert from 1937.

World War 2

Although fewer lives were lost during the Second World War, its impact was just as great as the previous conflict. In September 1940 the council launched an appeal called ‘The Willenhall Fighter Aircraft Fund’. It raised £6,750 to pay for a Spitfire aircraft which was presented to the government on behalf of the local people, and named ‘Willenhall’.

A few weeks later Willenhall directly experienced the might of the German Luftwaffe during the town’s first air raid. On the 20th November, houses were destroyed in Ward Street, Ann Street, and Springvale Street, and St. Anne’s Church was slightly damaged. 12 people were killed, and many were injured, or left homeless. The homeless were initially cared for by the Salvation Army at the Citadel in Moat Street.

Those killed were: Clara Bird, Ronald K. Bird, Thomas Bird, Joyce Fox, Frederick Jones, Lily Jones, Mary Jones, William Moreton Jones, Joseph Lockley, Geoffrey Morris, George Morris, and Owen Morris.

There was a second air raid on 31st July, 1942, this time on the Wolverhampton to Walsall Road. It seems that German aircraft were following the railway line, and dropped bombs en route. Four people were killed, and several houses and part of a factory were destroyed.

Those killed were Beatrice Farrington in Peel Street, Ada Maria Handy in New Road, Joseph Richard Dudgon in Wolverhampton Road, and Charles Henry Banks, also in Wolverhampton Road. The civilian dead from the air raids were buried in a special part of Bentley Cemetery.

An advert from 1937.

An advert from 1926.

During both air raids the enemy aircraft were fired on by the anti-aircraft guns that were set up on an area of land between Ashmore Lake and Broad Lane South, known as the Five Fields. There were several large guns, searchlights, and radar which were manned by members of the Anti Aircraft Regiment. The site was totally unsuitable, being heavily waterlogged in the winter months, and so the battery only stayed for part of the war.

During the air raids, help was provided by the 100 or so volunteers in the Willenhall section of the Women’s Voluntary Service, and the town’s Civil Defence Services. The Willenhall Fire Service also helped out in the aftermath of air raids at Birmingham, Coventry, Liverpool, London, Manchester, and Plymouth.

Willenhall war memorial contains a plaque listing 93 names of members of the armed forces who were killed by enemy action during the war. Although the number is far less than in World War One, it still had a huge impact on the town.

The Post War Years

After the war, Willenhall continued as a busy, successful industrial town, much like its neighbours.

In May 1948, the houses in St. Ann's Square, which stood on the southern side of Ann Street, at the eastern end, past St. Anne's Church, were declared to be unfit for habitation and a demolition order was served on them. They were home for 50 to 60 people who then had to find alternative accommodation. The site was acquired by H. G. Smith, Steel Fabrications.

St. Ann's Square. From an old newspaper cutting.


View the Willenhall listing from a 1961-62 Trades Directory

In January 1965 the town lost Bilston Street railway station when the line was closed to passenger traffic.

An even more important event happened the following year as a result of the Local Government Reform Act.

Despite much local opposition, Willenhall lost its status as an urban district, and like neighbouring Darlaston, and Bentley, came under the direct control of Walsall Metropolitan Borough.

The Market Place.

By the late 1970s, Willenhall, and the other Black Country towns were beginning to feel the effects of industrial decline. Job losses were reported almost daily in the media, and many once successful businesses closed. The factories started to disappear, and many of the larger factories such as John Harpers, Josiah Parkes, and even Yale’s Wood Street factory, have now gone, something that was unimaginable only a few decades ago. Lock manufacturing in Willenhall has almost disappeared, only a handful of skilled lockmakers now remain in business.

Luckily the industry is still remembered in the form of the Locksmith’s House, in New Road. It opened in April 1987 as The Lock Museum, and has displays featuring locally made locks, one of the few remaining lock workshops, and an early 20th century lock maker’s home. The museum suffered from insufficient funding and closed in 2002, but luckily the Black Country Living Museum took the site over, and after a lot of investment, reopened it in 2003 as The Locksmith’s House. It is the country’s only dedicated lock museum.

Tom Millington and David Plant demonstrating at The Lock Museum.

An evening view of the memorial clock in the Market Place. Taken by Richard Ashmore in the mid 1970s.

Another view of the memorial clock, taken by Richard Ashmore in the mid 1970s.

The old Post Office in Wolverhampton Street, now a chemist. Taken by Richard Ashmore in the mid 1970s.

Sorting the Christmas mail at the post office. Richard Ashmore who took the previous three photographs is on the far right looking down.

A Willenhall messenger boy, from an old postcard.

Courtesy of Christine and John Ashmore.

Walsall Street in the 1920s.

A view of St. Giles' Church from Walsall Street, taken by Richard Ashmore in the mid 1970s.

An advert from 1948.

The largest development in the town centre took place in 2009 with the demolition of Yale’s Wood Street factory, and the building of the new Morrisons store, which opened in January 2010.

Although many changes have taken place over the last few years, Willenhall is still regarded as one of the most intact towns in the Black Country, still retaining much of its original atmosphere.

Many little workshops and factories remain around the town, giving a flavour of the once successful manufacturing centre.

Many of the lovely Georgian and Victorian buildings still survive, and the vibrant Market Place has kept much of its character.

Stafford Street in the 1970s. From an old postcard.

The Market Place in the 1970s. From an old postcard.

An earlier view of Stafford Street before the modern shops were built.

From an old postcard.

Some of the lovely old buildings that are to be found in the Market Place.

Much of the town centre is now designated as a conservation area, and so its character and charm will survive. Many Willenhall people are fiercely independent, and although the town is now part of Walsall, it still retains its own identity, and hopefully will continue to do so, and continue to prosper, for years to come.

The Town Crier, Cyril Richardson, in 2010. The 81 year old began his career as a town crier in the early 1990s, and has been doing it in Walsall since the mid 1990s.

On a sad note, part of the old Legge factory shown above, was severely damaged at the end of February 2011 after a mindless arson attack.

The Market Place at night. November 2013.

Another night time view of the Market Place.

The market in April 2014.

Another view of Willenhall market in April 2014.

The Bell in 2015.

Willenhall's well known memorial clock


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