Evidence challenges the widely held belief that Rev. Francis Wilson built The Towers in the 1830s. Clues include architectural features, earlier property records, and stylistic differences from Wilson’s confirmed constructions. Historical auctions and renovations highlight the estate’s complex evolution, from a prominent residence to its varied uses in the 20th century.
Category: Miscellaneous
Thomas William White
In October 1962, Thomas William White celebrated his 90th birthday, honouring his service to Handsacre Methodist Church and the community. Born in Rugeley, White worked various jobs before becoming a blacksmith. A dedicated Methodist preacher since 1894, he also served as Parish Council Chairman and Lichfield District Councillor. Married to Alice Elizabeth Hughes in 1898, he continued his community service until his death in 1965 at age 92. In 1966, a silver birch cross was dedicated to his memory at Handsacre Methodist Temple
Problems for a Rector
The English Reformation reshaped religion in England, balancing Catholicism and Protestantism. Nathaniel Mansfield, Armitage’s Rector during the Puritan era, was ejected under the 1662 Act of Uniformity for refusing to conform to the Church of England, reflecting the turbulent national struggle over faith and governance.
Thomas Bond Part 3 – brickmaker
By December 1819, Thomas Bond restarted his business post-bankruptcy, moving to Handsacre for a malting and brickyard operation. His fifth child, Edwin, was born around 1821, with two more children following. In 1830, Thomas leased land with a brickyard but no malthouse. By 1835, the Bond family operated three brickyards. Thomas relocated to Birmingham by 1841, with his sons taking various paths in brickmaking. Some sons suffered multiple bankruptcies, but his eldest son, John, succeeded, leaving £20,000 upon his death in 1880. His legacy includes stamped bricks, reflecting the mechanization of the industry.
Thomas Bond Part 2 – maltster, brickmaker, potter and bankrupt
By September 1815, Thomas Bond was imprisoned for debt in Stafford gaol, a harsh reality for many in 19th-century England. After a period of uncertainty, he resumed his malting and brickmaking business while venturing into pottery. Despite efforts to expand, mounting financial troubles led to his bankruptcy in 1819.
The founding of Armitage potbank
In November 1817, Thomas Bond purchased land in Armitage, marking the start of his pottery venture. By 1819, multiple potteries operated in the area, with Bond’s business eventually facing bankruptcy. The legacy of Armitage potbank would later evolve into the global brand of Edward Johns Co. Ltd., later Armitage Ware and Armitage Shanks.
Thomas Bond Part 1 – maltster, brickmaker, potter and gaolbird
Thomas Bond, a maltster, brickmaker, and potter, is credited with founding Armitage’s first pottery. Before this, he ran brickworks and malting operations. Despite early ventures in pottery and partnerships, financial troubles led to bankruptcy. In 1815, his failed pottery venture resulted in imprisonment for debt.
The pre-fabs
In October 1946 the Housing Committee of Armitage-with-Handsacre Parish Council convened a public meeting to ‘discuss the unsatisfactory progress of the new houses’. Held in the Parish Hall, crowded with many young married couples including young babies, the meeting was at times quite tempestuous. The Council Chairman, H. Wright, told the meeting about the unsatisfactory… Continue reading The pre-fabs
Occupations
When researching a person the occupation begins to tell something of that person’s story although it is always more interesting when an unusual occupation is encountered. As you might expect, there is not much in the way of written information about occupations in medieval times but records of court cases provide some information. After the… Continue reading Occupations
And the next prize is …
In the early 1800s, the Staffordshire Agricultural Society, with Sir George Pigot as President and the Lord Talbot as Vice-President, held an annual meeting at which various awards were handed out. The 8th August 1803 edition of Aris’s Birmingham Gazette, at the not inconsiderable price of 6d per copy, reported on the awards. There were… Continue reading And the next prize is …