PROGRAMME FOR 2025

From September 2024 our monthly meetings for members moved to the first Friday of each month in the Rococo Room at the Molineux Hotel, home of the Archives.  Meetings start at 11.00 am with refreshments available beforehand, and close by 12.45 pm

Visitors are welcome to attend any meeting, and admission is £3.  Lately, capacity has been tight, so those intending to visit must book first by emailing: friendswolvesarchives@gmail.com.

Extra Event

Wolves Heritage Walk

An exploration of the origins of Wolverhampton Wanderers FC before the move to the Molineux.  It features the area around Goldthorn Hill and Blakenhall in 19C.

Sunday 11th May meet at 11.00 am at the junction of Goldthorn Road and Needwood Close.

Street parking is available in Goldthorn Road.

The walk is  just over 2 miles with a cafe and toilet break about half way round.

The guide, Kevin Harris, is seeking donations for the Wolves 1877 Trust.  

Phone Kevin on 07432 013764 for further information.

Friday 6th June

Tales from the Coroner's Casebook - Life and Death in Georgian Black Country . Part one 1780-1826

This presentation examines jury cases of unexplained deaths, presided over by Henry Smith esq. - Coroner in the Black Country, 1802 - 1842. These include accidents, manslaughter, murders, suicides and visitations from God.   Join Coroner Smith's jury and reconsider some of the cases he dealt with during the first part of his long career.

Presenter:  Quintin Watt

Friday 4th July

Bilston when it was a country town

We are familiar with the Bilston of today. A product of exploitation of the rich mineral reserves: a consequence of the Industrial Revolution. This talk based on research from original documents will describe a different Bilston, that of 300 years ago. It will focus on ordinary inhabitants and their day to day concerns.

Presenter:  Jennifer Davies

Note this extra talk

Friday 1st August

The Men (and Women) of the Little's Lane Memorial

The talk will provide biographies of all the men listed, their lives before the war, fates during the war and, where possible, mention family members, and use them to illustrate living conditions in the infamous Irish quarter pre- and post-war.

Presenter:  Claire Jones

Friday 5th September

Habitual Drunkards, Felons and Incorrigible Rogues: Tales from the Wolverhampton Court of Quarter Sessions – Part 2

Presenter:  Heidi McIntosh, City Archivist

Friday 3rd October

AGM

A short talk on Catherine Fellows 1829-1912 – A forgotten Wolverhampton Sculptor

Presenter:  Anne Bailey

Friday 7th November

‘Elegant, Well-Mannered and Never Dull  –

The Church Architecture of Richard Twentyman’

Richard Twentyman, (1903-1979) the brother of the sculptor Anthony Twentyman, was a successful West Midlands architect based in Wolverhampton, known particularly for the churches he designed.  The talk, based on research into his life and career, explores how his architecture developed in response to changing social, economic and religious circumstances.

Presenters:  Aidan Ridyard and Chris Kennedy

Friday 5th December

The History of Dudley Castle 1071 - 1933
A fortress since 1087, Dudley has seen its fair share of sieges, political derring-do and royal visits - not to mention illegal mints, ghosts and great fires.

Featuring a quick change from medieval to civil war costume & weapons during the talk! 

Presenter:  Max Keen

No meeting in January 2026

Friday 6th February 2026

Tettenhall Towers

Presenters:  Tim Beech and Penny Smith