Cradley & Local Links

1861 census Searchable transcription of 150,000 people by Richard Griffiths, includes the parishes of Cradley, Netherton, Lye, Quarry Bank, Amblecote, Oldswinford, Kingswinford, Brierley Hill, Dudley, Halesowen and part of Quinton. Very reliable!

Bev Pegg Cradley's minstrel and former gaffer of Cradley Castings Ltd.

Billinghams of Cradley If you are tracing Billingham ancestors, especially in Cradley or Cradley Heath, this is the first place to look.

Brettle and Brettell Family History Site about Brettle family history by Jack Brettle.

Colley Lane Primary School A Message from the Headteacher, Handbook & Prospectus, Diary & Events, Curriculum, Sports & Clubs, etc.

Cradley Library One of Dudley Council's branch libraries, in Colley Lane, opened on 26th March 1936.

Cradley Primary (C of E) News, maps and information about this Anglican school and its admissions.

Cradley Providence Methodist Church Includes the "Centenary Celebration" written by Mr F Willetts and published in 1956 to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the church.

Halesowen Roots Local and family history of Halesowen, includes Cradley material, for example, The Southall's of Cradley and Hales Owen

My Black Country Family Steph Robinson's ancestors, mostly from Cradley & Halesowen, with a few from Rowley Regis & Netherton. The main names are: ROBINSON, HODGETTS, HARPER, PARSONS, SOUTHALL, SOUTHWELL & BARNSLEY.

Overend Methodist Mission Overend Methodist Mission in Banners Street is an amalgamation of the Wesleyan Society that first began to meet in Cradley in 1766, the Primitive Methodist Society that was founded in Cradley Heath in 1827, the Primitive Methodist Society that started in Cradley in 1836, and the People's Mission, Overend that was founded in 1905.

St. Peter's Parish Church The Parish Church is part of the Halas Team Ministry of five churches around the Halesowen area. The web site is mostly about what is going on today, but the church has a history dating back to 1789.

Derby County Football Club's Rams Trust Steve Bloomer - Cradley-born legendary footballer - left Cradley to play for Derby County Football Club (the Rams). A century later the Rams Trust maintain contact with Cradley Then & Now group.

Two Gates Ragged School One of the two Cradley Ragged Schools, the only ones left in the country. And 2017 is the 150th anniversary of Two Gates.

Wikipedia - Cradley A brief history - you can add to it…

William Caslon Biography of William Caslon, typefounder, born in Cradley in 1692.