Never Goo to Weddins is a humorous Staffordshire dialect poem, but it also offers a fascinating glimpse into nineteenth-century village life. Through local speech, colourful characters and a wedding that descends into chaos, the poem captures the humour, customs and language of the Black Country and Staffordshire. This article explores its origins, meaning and enduring appeal as a piece of regional social history.
Samuel Morecroft was a man of many parts – basket maker, cycle manufacturer, inventor, undertaker, postmaster and local preacher. Written by one of his descendants, this richly illustrated article traces the life of a remarkable Victorian entrepreneur whose energy and public spirit left a lasting mark on Armitage. It explores not only his many businesses but also his family, community service and the changing life of the village he called home.
Jack Whitehouse lied about his age to serve in the First World War and went on to earn the Military Medal for rescuing a wounded comrade under fire. Returning to Armitage, he spent the rest of his life working down the pit, serving as a parish councillor and becoming a leading figure in the British Legion. His story reflects both the courage of a decorated soldier and a lifetime of service to his community.
Born in France during the eighteenth century, Antoine Albena Mountsoy survived capture during the Napoleonic Wars, served in the Royal Navy at the bombardment of Algiers and spent much of his life at sea before settling in rural Staffordshire. Researched by local historian Roy Fallows, this remarkable biography traces the adventures of a man whose extraordinary journey eventually brought him to Armitage, where he spent his final years.
What sort of a person was Edward Johns?
In 1912 the Lichfield Mercury told the remarkable story of John Bailey, an Armitage-born chorister whose supposed career took him from Lichfield Cathedral to aristocratic kitchens, royal patronage and eventually life as a wandering tramp. But how much of the tale was true? This article follows Bailey’s extraordinary claims, comparing them with surviving records to separate fact from fiction and uncover the life behind a fascinating newspaper story.
William Conway was known throughout Handsacre as a quiet, respectable village blacksmith. Yet in 1862 he stood trial for manslaughter after a single punch led to the death of another man. Set against the contrasting fortunes of his troubled brothers, this remarkable family story explores crime, justice, reputation and how history sometimes remembers the least likely person for the most dramatic event.
