The entry for Cradley in Kelly's 1860 directory lists 77 individuals.
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CRADLEY.
CRADLEY, a very extensive and populous parish, formerly belonging to the borough of Halesowen, is situated 2½ miles east of Stourbridge, 3 south from Dudley, and 9½ from Birmingham in the county court district of Oldbury. The town itself lies a little off the main road; it is in the diocese of Worcester, in the Hundred of Halfshire, Worcestershire archdeaconry, and deanery of Kidderminster, with a population in 1851 of 3,383. It forms part of a populous, mercantile and manufacturing neighbourhood, in which the iron trade is carried on in all its branches. The soil in general is a rich clay, fertile in all kinds of grain, and excellent pasturage, and the lands on the north and west of NETHEREND (a part of the township of Cradley parish) abound with coal and ironstone. A court baron and a court-leet are held at Cradley, on the last Tuesday in October, at which the steward presides as judge, assisted by a jury of respectable inhabitants. The living is a perpetual curacy, annual value £151, in the gift of the Vicar of Halesowen, and held by the Rev. J.H. Thompson. Here also are places of worship for the Unitarians, the Baptists, the Wesleyans, and New Connexion Methodists; attached to the first is a National school, under the government inspection. That belonging to the Unitarians is supported partly by endowment and partly by an annual collection. The number of free boys is 30, of girls 12. The extensive ironworks of Messrs. Evers and Sons are in this district, and are engaged principally in the manufacture of superior qualities of iron, by the charcoal or wood coal, process ; and Messrs. Noah Hingley and Sons are extensively engaged in the manufacturing of anchors, anvils, and chain and chain cables. There are likewise manufactures of sword blades, files, rasps, vices, anvils, hammers, nails, bayonets, anchors, chain cables, bellows, felt hats, fire-bricks, hats, and woollen yarn. Ironstone and cement works are extensively carried on at the Hayes, Messrs. George Atwood and Sons, proprietors. One mile from the northern extremity of Cradley, in a romantic vale, agreeably diversified with plantations of firs, is a spring of salt water, called the Lady Well, highly esteemed on account of its medicinal qualities. In the summer it is very much frequented. Lord Lyttelton is lord of the manor. In 1852, a grant of land was made by the sons of the late Rev. George Biggs (a former vicar of the parish of Halesowen), for the enlargement of the burial ground of this parish.
NETHEREND, COLLEY GATE, OVEREND, TWO GATES and COLMAN HILL are near the town.
PRIVATE RESIDENTS.
Bradshaw Mr. Ellis
Cochrane Rev. W. [Unitarian], Netherend
Hingley Mr. Noah, Chapel house
Homer Mrs. Colley gate
Homer Mr. Joseph, Park house
Homfray Jeston, esq. Coleman hill
Horton Mrs
Thompson Rev. Joseph H. B.A. [incumbent], Colley gate
Wood, Mr. Thomas, Colley gate
COMMERCIAL.
Adams Jabez, British Arms, Overend
Attwood James, butcher
Attwood William, butcher
Beasley Joseph, Blue Ball
Bishop John, tanner, Park side
Bloomer Thomas & Son, nail manufacturers, Colley gate
Bloomer John, carpenter, Colley gate
Bloomer Josiah, Robin Hood
Bridgewater John, grocer
Brookes David, draper
Cemm Thomas, Bridge inn, & vice manufacturer
Clewes Thomas, mop maker, Park side
Cooper William, beer retailer, Colley gate
Darby Joseph, tailor, Windmill hill
Dawe Joseph, shopkeeper, Colley gate
Emmett George, shopkeeper, Netherend
Evers Samuel & Sons, manufacturers of charcoal horsenail rods, best & common iron wire pads for fencing, cables, bars &c. Cradley forge
Fellows Joseph, maltster
Fellows Susannah (Mrs), miller
Fellow Thomas, Old Mogul, Netherend
Fennell Sidney, surgeon
Finch Simeon, Old Two Gates
Forrest Edwd. shopkeeper, Windmill hill
Fox Thomas, Fish, & maltster
Gadd John, cider retailer
Gill Daniel, butcher & shopkeeper, Windmill hill
Grove John Haden, grocer, Colley gate
Harper & Moore, coal masters, manufacturers of Stourbridge fire bricks of all descriptions, fire clay retorts, crucibles & glass house pots of all kinds, & proprietors of best glasshouse pot clay, Lower Delph
Haddock John, plumber & painter, Netherend
Harper Joseph, farmer, Homer hill
Hawkeswood Joseph, beer retailer
Hawkeswood Richard, boot & shoe maker, Colley gate
Hawkesworth William Herbert, Sun, & shopkeeper, Overend
Hingley Noah & Sons, iron merchants & manufrs. of chains, cables & anchors
Hingley James, butcher & beer retailer
Hipkiss Henry, iron manufr. Lodge forge
Hipkiss Sarah (Mrs.), iron manufacturer, Rag mill
Hodgetts Charles, hat manufacturer & felt works, Park side
Hughes Isaiah, Holly Bush
Jones Joseph, accountant
Jones William, maltster Netherend
Jones William, Black Swan
Kendrick William, beer retailer
King Brothers, proprietors of Stourbridge clay & manufacturers of fire brick, glasshouse pots &c. &c. Netherend
King Joseph & Co. brick & tile manufacturers & coal masters, Netherend
Laister Thomas, maltster, Colley gate
Leonard Samuel, May Pole
Mason James, farmer, Overend
Mole William, beer retailer, Colley gate
Mole William Henry, blacksmith, Colley gate
Newth William, beer retailer, Colley gate
Oliver William, beer retailer, Colley gate
Paddock Hannah (Mrs.), shopkeeper
Rock William & Co. nail, chain cable & trace manufacturers
Roper Wm. beer retailer, Colley gate
Shaw Wm. beer retailer & shopkeeper, Netherend
Smith Samuel, grocer & druggist
Stringer Wm. beer retailer, Netherend
Tandy James, butcher, Colley gate
Tate Abel, Bull's Head
Tate James, shopkeeper
Thomas Henry, beer retailer, Netherend
Tibbetts Joseph, Shovel inn, & shopkeeper, Park side
Warr John, beer retailer
Williams Eliza (Mrs.), Netherend tavern, Netherend
Wyer Judith (Mrs.), beer retailer
Wyer Samuel, plumber & glazier
Wythes Joseph, linendraper & grocer
Yeomans Williams, tailor
POST OFFICE.- Mrs Elizabeth Christopher, receiver. Letters arrive from Brierley Hill at 7.15 a.m. ; dispatched at 6 p.m. The nearest money order office is at Cradley heath
PUBLIC SCHOOLS:-
National, Mr. Rigg, master; Miss Chamberlain, mistress
Unitarian, Mr. Thomas Henry Billingham, master ; Mrs. Billingham, mistress
COACHES from Stourbridge to Birmingham & back, daily, pass through