Park Lane Unitarian Chapel, Netherend, Cradley (2009). The origins of this chapel can be traced back to a a Presbyterian Meeting House erected in Pensnett in 1704. The final service at Pensnett Meeting House was held on 8 May 1796 and on the following Sunday a newly erected place of worship was opened. A Methodiist group bought the old Meeting House for £160 and the proceeds were put towards the costs which arose from building the new Park Lane Chapel.
Park Lane Unitarian Chapel, Netherend, Cradley (2009). The precise date is unknown, but some time before 1833, the Park Lane chapel moved from adhering to the Presbyterian faith to Unitarianism. This had begun to establish itself in the United Kingdom by the middle of the 18th century, predominantly in the industrial cities of Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham.
Park Lane Unitarian Chapel, Netherend, Cradley (2009). Another view of the Church with part of the churchyard in the foreground.
The Unitarian Hall, Netherend, Cradley (2009).
Two Gates Ragged School Chapel, Cradley (2009). This Ragged School was built by Noah Hingley and J Homfray in 1867. It is situated on Two Gates Lane, near the top of Toy's Lane and is still in use today.
Two Gates Ragged School Chapel, Cradley (2009). The gates which bear the Ragged School name.
Two Gates Ragged School Chapel, Cradley (2009). An excellent view of this beautiful Victorian building.
Two Gates Ragged School Chapel, Cradley (2009). Another excellent view of this building.
Two Gates Ragged School Chapel, Cradley (2009). A close up view of the Ragged School bell.
Two Gates Ragged School Chapel, Cradley (2009). The view from the opposite side of the road looking towards Brierley Hill.
Derelict Buildings, Cradley (2009).
View looking towards St Peter's Church, Cradley (2009).
Stour Valley Walk Sign, Cradley (2009).
Stour Valley Walk Sign, Cradley (2009).
Steve Bloomer Memorial, Cradley (2009). Steve Bloomer was born 20 January 1874 and died in Derby aged 64 on 16 April 1938. He was buried in Derby's Nottingham Road Cemetery where his grave can still be seen. He was football's first 'superstar' because by 1905 he had broken the England scoring and appearance records making him a 'national institution'.
He appears as Stephen Bloomer on the 1901 Census with his wife Sarah and two daughters, Violet P aged 11 months and Hetty W aged 3. He is living at 81 Cummings Street, Derby and his occupation is shown as Professional Footballer.
The River Stour, Cradley (2009). The river rises in the north of Worcestershire in the Clent Hills. It flows north to Halesowen in the West Midlands before flowing westwards through Cradley Heath and Stourbridge. It then enters Stourton at Staffordshire and is joined by the Smestow Brook at Prestwood. It winds around southwards to Kinver and flows back into Worcestershire. It then joins the River Severn at Stourport after passing through Wolverley, Kidderminster and Wilden.
The Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal runs beside the Stour from Prestwood southwards.
The River Stour, Cradley (2009). The old retaining wall alongside the River Stour behind which industries lined its banks.
The River Stour, Cradley (2009). From the 17th century, iron forges set up along the river in addition to slitting mills which cut bars of iron into rods for the production of nails. Over the years it became terribly polluted with chemicals that escaped or were deliberately released into it by the industries along its banks.
Over the past twenty to thirty years, the pollution has ceased and the river has been cleaned up, although when we took these photographs, there was an element of disregard for the river and its wildlife by people who had thrown crisp bags etc into the water.
Park Lane Unitarian Chapel, Netherend, Cradley (2009). The origins of this chapel can be traced back to a a Presbyterian Meeting House erected in Pensnett in 1704. The final service at Pensnett Meeting House was held on 8 May 1796 and on the following Sunday a newly erected place of worship was opened. A Methodiist group bought the old Meeting House for £160 and the proceeds were put towards the costs which arose from building the new Park Lane Chapel.
Park Lane Unitarian Chapel, Netherend, Cradley (2009). The precise date is unknown, but some time before 1833, the Park Lane chapel moved from adhering to the Presbyterian faith to Unitarianism. This had begun to establish itself in the United Kingdom by the middle of the 18th century, predominantly in the industrial cities of Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham.
Park Lane Unitarian Chapel, Netherend, Cradley (2009). Another view of the Church with part of the churchyard in the foreground.
The Unitarian Hall, Netherend, Cradley (2009).
Two Gates Ragged School Chapel, Cradley (2009). This Ragged School was built by Noah Hingley and J Homfray in 1867. It is situated on Two Gates Lane, near the top of Toy's Lane and is still in use today.
Two Gates Ragged School Chapel, Cradley (2009). The gates which bear the Ragged School name.
Two Gates Ragged School Chapel, Cradley (2009). An excellent view of this beautiful Victorian building.
Two Gates Ragged School Chapel, Cradley (2009). Another excellent view of this building.
Two Gates Ragged School Chapel, Cradley (2009). A close up view of the Ragged School bell.
Two Gates Ragged School Chapel, Cradley (2009). The view from the opposite side of the road looking towards Brierley Hill.
Derelict Buildings, Cradley (2009).
View looking towards St Peter's Church, Cradley (2009).
Stour Valley Walk Sign, Cradley (2009).
Stour Valley Walk Sign, Cradley (2009).
Steve Bloomer Memorial, Cradley (2009). Steve Bloomer was born 20 January 1874 and died in Derby aged 64 on 16 April 1938. He was buried in Derby's Nottingham Road Cemetery where his grave can still be seen. He was football's first 'superstar' because by 1905 he had broken the England scoring and appearance records making him a 'national institution'. 
The River Stour, Cradley (2009). The river rises in the north of Worcestershire in the Clent Hills. It flows north to Halesowen in the West Midlands before flowing westwards through Cradley Heath and Stourbridge. It then enters Stourton at Staffordshire and is joined by the Smestow Brook at Prestwood. It winds around southwards to Kinver and flows back into Worcestershire. It then joins the River Severn at Stourport after passing through Wolverley, Kidderminster and Wilden. 
The River Stour, Cradley (2009). The old retaining wall alongside the River Stour behind which industries lined its banks.
The River Stour, Cradley (2009). From the 17th century, iron forges set up along the river in addition to slitting mills which cut bars of iron into rods for the production of nails. Over the years it became terribly polluted with chemicals that escaped or were deliberately released into it by the industries along its banks. 
New Apartment Block & Road Sign, Cradley (2009).