Wolverhampton's Blue Plaques
 Bantock Park, Merridale Road,
Merridale Lane, Pelham Street,
St. Mark's Road, Birches Barn Rd.,
 Compton Road, Richmond Road
Commemorating:
Alderman A.B. Bantock J.P.

Sponsored by:
Friends of Bantock House Museum and Park

Location:
On the front of Bantock House Museum, Finchfield Road.
Alderman A. Baldwin Bantock was  mayor of Wolverhampton from 1905 to 1907 and 1914 to 1915. Amongst his many public duties, he joined the Board of the Wolverhampton and Midland Counties Eye Infirmary in 1892, and was elected Chairman in 1910. He was also a freeman of the County Borough of Wolverhampton. On his death in 1938, he left his house to the town.
Commemorating:

John & Sir Charles Marston

Sponsored by:

Melissa Marston and Marjorie von Harten

Location:

On the front of 'The Oaks', Merridale Road.

John was born at Ludlow on May 6th 1836. In 1851 he became an apprentice with Edward Perry of Richard Perry, Son & Co., tinsmiths and japanners of Wolverhampton. He later founded Sunbeamland in Paul Street, and went on to manufacture the successful Sunbeam bicycles and motorcycles. John was Mayor of Wolverhampton from 1889 to 1891 and his son Charles was an enthusiastic archaeologist who received a Knighthood in 1926.
Commemorating:
The restoration of Old Merridale Farm.

Sponsored by:
C.J. Sedgemore and H.J. Sedgemore.

Location:
On the front of Old Merridale Farm, on the corner of Merridale Lane and Merridale Road.
The plaque commemorates an excellent restoration of what has proved to be Wolverhampton's oldest building. Before work commenced the building had been derelict for some time and was in a very poor condition. Its future was uncertain.

During the restoration sandstone walls and foundations were uncovered, which date back to the 12th century.
Commemorating:

Alfred Noyes C.B.E.

Sponsored by:

His children Hugh, Veronica and Margaret.

Location:

On the front of the Co Operative Funeral Services, St. Mark's Road.
Alfred Noyes was born in Wolverhampton on 16th September 1880. The family moved to Aberystwyth where his father became a teacher. He went to Exeter College, Oxford, but failed to take his degree. His first volume of poems, The Loom of Years was published in 1902. He joined the Roman Catholic Church in 1927 and published a book called The Unknown God in 1934. His autobiography Two World's For Money was published in 1953. He died on 25th June 1958.
The plaque on front of the Co Operative Funeral Services in St. Mark's Road.
Commemorating:

The Rev. Brian S. O'Gorman, preacher.

Sponsored by:

The Methodist Church Wolverhampton and Shrewsbury District.

Location:

On the front of Beckminster Church, on the corner of Birches Barn Road and St. Phillip's Avenue.

The church tower showing the plaque.
Commemorating:

Clyno Cars

Sponsored by:

Wolverhampton Glass & Windows Limited

Location:

Pelham Works, Pelham Street.

Note:  Clyno never occupied Pelham Works. Their factories were at the other end of Pelham Street.
Clyno was founded by cousins  A. P. Smith and F. W. A Smith in 1909, at Thrapston, Northants. The company manufactured motorcycles using engines produced by the Stevens Motor Manufacturing Company of Pelham Street. On 15th October 1910 the business was transferred from Thrapston to the Steven's old works in Pelham Street. 

This photograph shows the Clyno works as they are today. The company also occupied Fort Works on the opposite side of the road. The company was initially very successful, but the motorcycle market collapsed after the first world war. Frank Smith was interested in producing cars and formed the  Clyno Engineering Company (1922) Limited.
This photograph shows Clyno cars leaving the works. In its heyday Clyno was the third largest car manufacturer in the UK after Austin and Morris. It's price cutting policy led to financial problems and the company went into liquidation on 11th February 1929. During its lifetime it had sold over 15,000 motorcycles and 40,000 motor vehicles.
Commemorating:

Compton Hall

Sponsored by:

Dr. G.J.K. Darby

Location:

Compton Hospice, Compton Road

Compton Hall was built between 1840 and 1850 by leading Wolverhampton architect Edward Banks, for Thomas Elwell, who was a hardware merchant. William Morris designed the last of his wallpapers for this house in 1896 and called it "Compton". The Hall was once occupied by Sir John Morris, the Mayor of Wolverhampton who was knighted by Queen Victoria on her visit to Wolverhampton in 1866. The Hall became Compton Hospice in 1982 and was officially opened by the Duchess of Kent, who is the Patron.
Commemorating:

Norman Craven Brook P.C. G.C.B. K.C.B. C.B.

Sponsored by:

The Old Wulfrunians Association

Location:

104 Richmond Road
The plaque commemorates Norman Craven Brook P.C. G.C.B. K.C.B. C.B., who lived here from 1914 to 1921 and was educated locally at the Grammar School in Compton Road.

He was Secretary of the Cabinet from 1947 to 1962 and Joint Permanent Secretary of the Treasury, and Head of the Home Civil Service from 1956 to 1962. In 1963 he was created Baron NormanBrook.

The photograph shows the plaque on the front of 104 Richmond Road.