“Billing's directory and gazetteer of the County of Worcester, containing a descriptive account of every town, village, hamlet, etc., followed by a general directory”
CRADLEY, a chapelry to the parish of Halesowen, is distant about 2 1/2 miles E. from Stourbridge, on the road to Halesowen and Birmingham. It contained in 1851 a population of 3383 inhabitants.
Cradley is bounded on the N.W. by the river Stour, and coal and ironstone are found in great quantities and of good quality in this locality ; whilst on the opposite side the soil is a rich clay, and affords excellent pasturage. It is a very populous neighbourhood, and the chief trade carried on is the manufacture of chains, cables, anchors, nails, hammers &c.
The CHURCH is a plain but neat erection, situate at Church Hill. The Rev. Archdeacon Hone, Vicar; Rev. Charles W. Simons, Incumbent; Rev. G. A. Caley, Curate ; Mr. F. Simms, organist; Mr Thomas Home, Clerk1. Service - 10 30 a.m., and 6 p.m. ; Wednesday, 7 p.m.
The BAPTIST CHAPEL is a small2 brick building, situate at the top of the town. Rev. John Sneath, Minister. Service - 10 30 a.m., and 6 p.m.
The UNITARIAN CHAPEL is at Nether End. Rev. Wm. Cochrane, Minister. Service - 11 a.m. and 3.pm.
The WESLEYAN METHODIST CHAPEL is a large edifice3, situate at the bottom of the village. Rev. John S. Redsdale, Minister. Service - 10 30 a.m., and 6 p.m.
The PRIMITIVE METHODIST CHAPEL is a small building, and was erected in 1853. No stated Minister. Service - 10 30 a.m.. and 6 p.m.
The NATIONAL SCHOOL is supported partly by endowments, and the remainder by the children's payments.
THE UNITARIAN SCHOOL, for boys and girls, is supported by endowments and subscriptions. Thomas H. Billingham, Master; Mary Ann Billingham, Mistress. Average number of scholars - boys, 40; girls, 30.
DIRECTORY
Cochrane Rev. William, Unitarian Minister, Nether End
Homer Mrs. Sarah, Colley Gate
Jones Mrs. Elizabeth F, Tregarren House
Mason Mr Samuel, Nether End
Redsdale Rev. John, Welseyan Minister
Simons Rev. Chas. W., Colley Gate
Swindell James E., Esq., Magistrate
Adams Jabez, victualler, Bull's Head, Over End
Adams Henry, shopkeeper
Attwood James, butcher, Nether End
Attwood William, butcher
Beasley John, victualler, Blue Ball
Bennett Samuel, beer retailer
Bishop & Patshall, tanners
Bloomer Joseph, victualler, pawnbroker, and shopkeeper, Robin Hood
Bloomer Thomas, nail and chain factor
Brettell John, shopkeeper
Cemm Thomas, vice maker, jobbing smith, and victualler, Bridge Inn
Clews Thos. M., woollen mop maker, Park Terrace
Emmett George, shopkeeper, Nether End
Fellowes Joseph, malster and miller
Fellowes Thomas, victualler, Old Mogul, Nether End
Fox Thomas, victualler, Fish
Gadd John, cider seller and fruiterer
Gill Daniel, shopkeeper
Grove John H., beer retailer and shopkeeper, Colley Gate
Haddock John, painter and glazier, Nether End
Hall James, hair dresser
Harper Joseph, farmer, Colley Lane
Hawkeswood Joseph, beer retailer and shopkeeper, Yew Tree
Hawkeswood William, victualler, Rising Sun, Over End
Homer Thomas, Parish Clerk4
Hingley Noah, & Sons, ironmasters, chain and anchor makers, &c.
Hodgetts Charles R., woolstapler, Park Terrace
Howell Thomas, auctioneer, appraiser, victualler, printer, and stationer, agent to the Birmingham Fire Office, Black Swan
Hughes Isaiah, victualler, Holly Bush
Jones Henry, fruiterer
Jones William, maltster, Nether End
Kendrick William, beer retailer
King Messrs., Fire-Brick Works, Nether Endl house, Wassell Grove
Laister Thomas, maltster
Leonard Samuel, sen., shopkeeper and farmer
Mole Fanny, blacksmith and victualler, Colley Gate
Oliver Benjamin, contractor
Owen William, beer retailer and shop-keeper, Old White Lion
Parkes William, beer retailer, Crown
Parrish Henry, victualler, Two Gates
Rock Wm., & Co., manufacturers of nails, rivets, traces, chains, chain cables &c., and at 143, Gt. Charles St., Birmingham see advertisement
Simms Elizabeth, victualler, Crown
Smith Samuel, shopkeeper
Stevens John, chain maker, Nether End
Tate A., victualler, British Arms,Over End
Tibbets John, victualler, Old Two Gates, Park Side
Westwood Joseph, victualler, malster, and shopkeeper, Malt Shovel
Whythes Joseph, grocer and draper
Williams Eliza, victualler, Nether End Tavern, Nether End
Williams Joseph, beer retailer, Horse and Jockey, Nether End
Wood Thomas, spade and shovel maker, &c., Colley Gate House
Wright Alfred J., chemist, grocer, &c.
Wyer Samuel, painter and glazier
Wyer Samuel E, beer retailer
Yeomans W., tailor and draper, Colley Lane
Notes
The microfilm at the State Library of Victoria in Melbourne, Australia (which is almost certainly from the BMSGH films) from which this transcription was prepared shows four hand-written markings on the original, made by persons unknown. While not condoning the defacement of library books, it is intriguing that somebody felt strongly enough to make their thoughts known in this way.
1 The person has marked this as Clerk beadle, now dead. The words "now dead" would seem to indicate that the markings were made perhaps around the turn of the century.
2 Apparently the person felt that the Baptist Chapel was being slighted, for they have crossed out the adjective: small
3 Conversely, they have taken exception to the description of the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel: a large edifice
4 Again, Thomas Homer's title is corrected: Clerk Beadle