Bomere Heath Village
Shropshire, England
TIME LINE 1900 - 1989
Date |
Event |
c.1900 |
Sir Raymond Robert TYRWHITT was Lord of the Manor of Preston Gobalds and Patron of the benefice. (Source: Printed Parish Register) |
Early 20th Century |
The Preston Gubalds Estate passed to the family of BIBBY of Sansaw. (Source: Printed Parish Register) |
By her Will Mrs LACEY set up a Charity for local residents. |
|
1901 Mar 31st Sun |
Census |
1901 June 28th |
According to the Return of Licensed Houses in the Petty Sessional Division of Albrighton 1901 the “Lion Inn” had its licence granted more than 55 years. The owner was Shrewsbury and Wem Brewery Co. and the occupier / licensee was Sarah Peers. Its accommodation was ‘Good’ with 5 rooms down and 4 upstairs with Stabling for 3 horses. |
1902 Sept. 29th |
The Presbyterian Church bought the church building at the junction of Shrewsbury Road and Baschurch Road from the Congregationalists for the sum of £150. |
1903 |
Bomere Heath Methodist Chapel erected in Baschurch Road. A red brick building. (Date stone: Bomere Heath Methodist Church erected 1903) see also Shropshire’s Nonconformists Chapels |
c.1903 |
Extension built on the south end of the Mission Church and the original part clad in brick covering the original black and white structure. Known as The Wale Room in memory of Vicar Wale of Leaton. |
1903 |
Leaton Railway Station issued 13,393 passenger tickets and forwarded 3,354 parcels. (Source: Shrewsbury to Chester by Mitchell and Smith Pub: Middleton Press 2010 ISBN 978 1 906008 70 3) |
1904 Sept 27th |
The first Marriage to take place in the Methodist Chapel, Baschurch Road was on this day between George Edward Owen BRISBOURNE aged 34 years and Hester Ann TEECE aged 30 years. [Source: Bomere Heath and District Parish News March 2006] |
1905 |
Signal Box erected at Leaton Station. It had 21 levers. (Source: Shrewsbury to Chester by Mitchell and Smith Pub: Middleton Press 2010 ISBN 978 1 906008 70 3) |
1908 Nov 26 |
An alarming mishap happened to the Great Western Railway express train, known as the 'Zulu' on its down journey on Thursday night [26th Nov 1908]. As the train was approaching Leaton station the passengers were alarmed by a shower of gravel falling upon the coaches and by the train being pulled up suddenly. It was found that one of the side rods of the engine had been broken and the other buckled. The rods was removed and, after a delay of about an hour, the train resumed its journey with the same engine.
|
1909 Jan 9 |
Newport & Market Drayton Advertiser, 9 January 1909 Old Age Pensions - Almost all the aged people over seventy years of age, who were entitled to do so, attended the [Newport, Shropshire] Post Office, and drew their Old Age Pension before noon on Friday in last week. This snippet marks an important milestone in modern social history - the payment of the first general old age pensions in the UK under the 1908 Old Age Pensions Act, passed by the government of Lloyd George. The pensions were means tested and non-contributory, and paid to people over 70 years old. The amounts paid varied between two shillings (10p) and five shillings (25p). (Editor). Whilst the above does not have any direct connection with Bomere Heath there is little doubt that the older residents of the village will have visited their local Post Office at this time to collect their pension. (Source: Shropshire Family History Society Journal Volume 32 Part 1 March 2011 page 47) |
1909 Jul 1st |
Leaton Station was opened for goods traffic and included a goods yard at this date. (Source: Copy of Notice from Chief Goods Manager, Paddington Station and 'Shrewsbury to Chester' by Mitchell and Smith Pub: Middleton Press 2010 ISBN 978 1 906008 70 3) |
1911 Apr 2nd Sun |
Census - should not have been available for public viewing until January 2012 but was released in 2009 following a ruling under freedom of information legislation. |
1913 |
Leaton Railway Station issued 12,419 passenger tickets and forwarded 8,708 parcels. (Source: Shrewsbury to Chester by Mitchell and Smith Pub: Middleton Press 2010 ISBN 978 1 906008 70 3 which includes a chart with additional statistics) |
1915 |
Bomere Heath Women’s Institute formed. |
c.1920's |
Wilding’s Series photographs taken in the village. |
1920 or 1921 |
Leaton War Memorial unveiled and dedicated, see http://www.ukniwm.org.uk/server/show/conMemorial.13877/fromUkniwmSearch/1 |
1921 |
Bomere Heath Brass Band formed. |
1921 Jun 19th Sun |
Census (Not available for public viewing until 2022) |
1922 |
Mrs F.E. Webster was the School Mistress. Post Office - sub-postmaster Henry Charles Edwards. (Kelly’s Directory) |
c.1922-3 |
Mr Egerton of The Grove, Baschurch Road had the first car in the village. |
1923 |
Frank BIBBY died and the Preston Gubbalds Estate sold. Catalogue and Plan showing property in the village included New House Farm, Merrington Road plus 9 other Plots. |
1923 |
Leaton Railway Station issued 10,623 passenger tickets, 100 season tickets and forwarded 10,263 parcels. (Source: Shrewsbury to Chester by Mitchell and Smith Pub: Middleton Press 2010 ISBN 978 1 906008 70 3 which includes a chart with additional statistics) |
The telephone had arrived at Bomere Heath sometime between 1922 and 1926. Kelly’s Directory of 1926 shows that Brig-Gen A.H.O. Lloyd of Leaton Knolls had the number Bomere Heath 2. It is not known who had No.1 but that could well have been the Post Office for the telegraph. |
|
1926 |
The barn at the south end of the Red Lion Pub was converted into part of the pub. |
1926 |
Mrs A. Lindsay was the School Mistress. Post Office - sub-postmaster Henry Charles Edwards. (Kelly’s Directory) |
1926 Nov 8th |
The School was closed for the day because they had no coal. |
1930 June 30th Monday |
Village Hall opened by Mrs Bibby. It had been constructed at a cost of £925 plus another £200 for fences, furniture, china, etc. Full report in the Shrewsbury Chronicle 4th July 1930, text on page 3, pictures on page 10. |
1930's |
Leaton Railway Station had a staff of six at this time. (Source: Shrewsbury to Chester by Mitchell and Smith Pub: Middleton Press 2010 ISBN 978 1 906008 70 3) |
1931 Apr 26th Sun |
Census - destroyed by fire in World War II. |
1933 |
Leaton Railway Station issued 5,366 passenger tickets, 18 season tickets and forwarded 1,037 parcels. (Source: Shrewsbury to Chester by Mitchell and Smith Pub: Middleton Press 2010 ISBN 978 1 906008 70 3 which includes a chart with additional statistics) |
1934 |
Bomere Heath Scout group was formed. |
1936 |
Borehole for Water put down and Electricity brought to the village so that water could be pumped to the reservoir. Water was then available at street conduits (Shrewsbury Road at least two, Preston Gubbals Road) but not necessarily to the majority of houses. (Source: The Urbanisation of Rural Settlements) |
1937 May 3rd |
The Scout Hut was in existence by this date when it was used for a Children’s Cinematograph Performance as part of the Coronation Celebrations. |
1937 Jul 24th |
A newspaper cutting of this date shows the opening the previous Tuesday (20th) by Brig-Gen A.H.O. Lloyd of a Crown Green Bowling green in Bomere Heath next to the Village Hall. It was the only one for several miles. Most of the others in the area were for Flat Green Bowls. It had fallen into disrepair by about 1947 and was replaced by the Tennis Courts in 1950. |
1937 |
Licensee of Red Lion Inn - Hy. Chas. Edwards. (Kelly’s Directory) |
1939 |
In the years leading up to World War Two the Bomere Heath Cricket Club had their cricket ground at the edge of the village on the north side of Preston Gubbals Road more or less opposite The Common. Little or no cricket was played during WWII but the building with the equipment remained in situ until after the war. Go to 1945/6 |
1940 Dec 9th |
Those people who lived in Bomere Heath during WWII and who are still living in the village say that a single seater fighter aircraft crashed on the southern outskirts of the village on this date and one person states that the following grave stone inscription which will be found at Leaton Churchyard refers to this incident but work by another researcher found that the person below actually crashed just south of the RAF Shawbury airfield and any plane which crashed at Bomere Heath must be from a different incident. “In loving memory of Flying Officer William John Boston WADIE Royal Air Force of Teddington, Middlesex killed on active service December 9th 1940 aged 23 years.” The Commonwealth War Graves Commission web site < www.cwgc.org > records the death of Flying Officer 73050 William John Boston WADIE Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve on 9 Dec 1940 age 23 buried at Leaton, north of the church. |
1941 |
Licensee of Red Lion Inn - Harry C. Edwards (Kelly’s Directory) |
1941-1943 |
The National Farm Survey was taken in connection with the war effort and post-war planning. The records should be stored in The National Archives in Series Reference MAF 73 but at present no records have been found for Leaton or Preston Gubbals parishes. |
1945/6 |
About this time the Cricket Club had a ground in Dobell Lane which lasted for a few years. Go to 1950's |
1950 about |
A new estate of Council Houses is built in what was to become known as The Crescent. The accommodation included semi-detached houses and some maisonettes with two dwellings downstairs and two upstairs. |
1950's |
In the 1950's the Cricket Club moved to a ground between Leaton Industrial Estate and Leaton Church near the location of the Sewage Treatment Works. This location was used for a small number of years. Go to 1966 |
1950 May |
New Tennis Courts opened by Village Hall on a piece of ground which had been used for Crown Green Bowling until a few years previously. The Bowling Green had ceased to be used and became derelict allowing a local group of people to raise funds to create the tennis courts. |
1951 Apr 8th Sun |
Census (Not available for public viewing until 2052) |
early 1950's |
Grocers/Bakery on Shrewsbury Road closed and became a Butchers. [These premises later became a chip shop] |
The village consists of about 76 houses from Ordnance Survey 6 inch to 1 mile map. |
|
1955 Aug |
Leaton Knolls (A stately home formerly the residence of the late Brig.-Gen. A.H.O. Lloyd) was Sold by Auction in 494 separate lots prior to being demolished during August and September. |
1956 ~ 1966 |
The Garage was built in the Village, the smaller portion nearest the road being built about 1956 and the extension at the back being added about 1966. |
1950's |
Police House with an office for the constable built in The Crescent next to the new school. |
1957 |
New School built in The Crescent. |
1958 |
A Scout Hut is built on land off Whitehouse Lane, the actual structure being a former military wooden hut. |
1960 Aug 31st |
Photograph of Leaton Railway Station. (Source: Shrewsbury to Chester by Mitchell and Smith Pub: Middleton Press 2010 ISBN 978 1 906008 70 3) |
Leaton Railway Station was closed to passengers by British Rail. Photograph. (Source: The Urbanisation of Rural Settlements) and (Source: Shrewsbury to Chester by Mitchell and Smith Pub: Middleton Press 2010 ISBN 978 1 906008 70 3) |
|
1961 Apr 23rd Sun |
Census (Not available for public viewing until 2062) |
1962-3 |
Sewers Installed. (Source: The Urbanisation of Rural Settlements) |
1963 Feb 6 |
“Very strong winds causing considerable drifting and road conditions exceptionally bad. I left at 3.15pm and had a hazardous journey home through some thick drifts and driving powdered snow. This spell of snow and ice is now in its seventh week.” This was written by the Headmaster of Bomere Heath School in the School Log Book and subsequently printed in the School Magazine published in 1984 and has since been reproduced in the Parish News Feb 2010. |
1963 |
Percy Thrower’s bungalow built at Merrington |
1964-5 |
Brook Road (Phase 1) built also Cob Grove and Pump Road. |
1965 Mar 15th |
Leaton Railway Station was closed to goods traffic. (Source: Shrewsbury to Chester by Mitchell and Smith Pub: Middleton Press 2010 ISBN 978 1 906008 70 3) |
1965 |
Up to 1965-6 the Garage was merely a filling station. It changed hands and the new owner had a large workshop built by Browns of Wem onto the back of the existing building and started doing repairs and maintenance. March saw a heavy fall of snow and the village isolated. New houses were built on the main road opposite the pub. In May the original village stores and Post Office changed into Jones’ Grocers and Off Licence. The Post Office moved to a bungalow in Windsor Lane. The new grocery shop (Sefton Stores) expanded and in September opened a new shop next door, selling children clothes, wool and toys. New flats built for older citizens by the Council in The Crescent (around the loop) In July extensions (including committee room) to the Village Hall were finished and the hall was re-opened. Also in July a BBC Midlands film unit visited the village to make a short documentary which was shown in August. In October the ‘New Venture Club’ was formed with an initial membership of 43 but soon increased to 53. The over 60 club started this year. The old school building at the junction of Preston Gubbals Road and Merrington Road was being used as a Men’s Club. In September the new school was enlarged to four classes from its original three. At the end of the year the footpaths and roads are laid in Pump Road - the last new bungalows to be finished in 1965. (Source: WI Scrapbook and Conveyance for No.6 Pump Road, dated 5 November 1965 when the property cost £3,300.00) |
c.1965 Xmas |
The lower part of Brook Road was flooded. |
1966 Aug 30th |
Photograph of Leaton Railway Station. (Source: Shrewsbury to Chester by Mitchell and Smith Pub: Middleton Press 2010 ISBN 978 1 906008 70 3) |
1966 |
Number of houses 237. Population 783 persons. (Source: The Urbanisation of Rural Settlements) |
1966 |
The village Cricket Club was formed but they had to play home matches on the school field at Baschurch for the first couple of years sharing the ground with Baschurch Cricket Club and each playing home matches alternate weekends. |
1967 Oct |
The Ladies Fellowship was formed in the village. |
Bet.1966 & 1976 |
The Bakery closed. Wet Fish shop closed. [Is this correct?] Grocery shop closed. Surgery closed. Mobile laundry stopped. Mobile vegetable delivery stopped. Mobile groceries stopped. Fish & Chip shop opened (on pub car park) Hairdressers opened. (Source: The Urbanisation of Rural Settlements) |
1967-8 |
Magnolia Close built |
1968 |
The village Cricket Club started to play competitive matches and acquired its own pitch on a slightly sloping field in the south west corner of the village on a field off Whitehouse Lane in Bomere Heath which was rented from the Earl of Bradford. This field was used for about thirty years and during the time that this site was in use three different pavilions/changing rooms were constructed on the site, two in wood and one in brick. |
1968-70 |
Brook Road (Phase 2) built. |
1969 |
OS Aerial photograph taken of village. |
1969 |
Playschool started in the village. |
1969 Sep 23 |
The 'Command Supply Depot', Leaton (later to be known as Leaton Industrial Estate) was put up for sale by public auction by The Secretary of State for Defence. |
1965-72 |
During the 1930's the National Grid was constructed to distribute electricity throughout the country. Initially it only reached as far as Shrewsbury but sometime between 1965 and 1972 the line was extended from Shrewsbury to Oswestry passing close to Bomere Heath between the village and the railway line. |
Midland Red bus services withdrawn. (Source: The Urbanisation of Rural Settlements) |
|
1970's early |
A children’s Play Area was set up at the Shrewsbury Road end of the Cricket Field by an energetic Committee which raised funds to maintain and improve the facility. Over the years the facility deteriorated and was eventually removed in 1995. |
1970's |
Bar and Committee Room extensions built on Village Hall. |
1970-1 |
The Cricket Club acquired a wooden pavilion which was built on the western edge of the field with its back to the railway. The building came from Stoke-on-Trent where it was due to be demolished when it had been spotted by one of the club members who was able to beg it for the club. Several members took an assortment of vehicles to collect it. It was used for about ten years until replaced by a brick building. |
1971 Apr 25th Sun |
Census (Not available for public viewing until 2072) |
1971-2 |
A group of small bungalows known as Chapel Close was constructed to be used by elderly residents. |
1973 May 11 |
Sale of 'The Grove, Bomere Heath' the estate of the late Mrs B.E. Cowper Johnson. (Source: Sale Catalogue dated 11 May 1973 at Shropshire Archives Ref: SC/11/8) |
1973 |
Preston Gubbals Church declared redundant when the main part of the building had fallen into disrepair and the church was little used because most people lived over a mile away. The nave, chancel, porch and massive tower were demolished in 1973 and the [remaining] low walls mark out the outline. (Source: Redundant Churches Fund Leaflet) |
1973 |
The village consists of about 302 houses. |
1973 |
The village was awarded a Certificate of Merit by the Shropshire Journal in the Shropshire Best Kept Village Competition |
1975 |
St Martin’s Church, Preston Gubbals was vested in The Churches Conservation Trust following the demolition of the tower and the 1866 addition leaving only the part which was originally the chancel of the mediaeval church . |
1976 |
Number of houses 447. Population 1,207 persons. (Source: The Urbanisation of Rural Settlements) |
1977 |
The village was awarded a Certificate of Merit by Shropshire Weekly Newspapers in the Shropshire Best Kept Village Competition |
1977 |
The Old School at the junction of Merrington Road and Preston Gubbals Road was demolished. Three bungalows were built on the site. |
1978 |
Grove Estate built. |
1978 |
The village was awarded a Certificate of Merit by Shropshire Weekly Newspapers in the Shropshire Best Kept Village Competition as winner of Section B |
1978 Dec 12th Tuesday 1.15pm |
The new Bomere Heath telephone exchange was brought into service and at the same time the dialling code changed from 09396 to 0939 and individual telephone numbers changed from three figures to six figures by adding 290 in front of all existing numbers so that Bomere Heath telephone numbers from this date would be 0939 290???. [Source: Letter from Post Office Telecommunications - Shrewsbury Telephone Area.] |
1970's late |
A picture of Bomere Heath's Ark Royal in the Shrewsbury Raft Race (late 70's) is available on the Pinterest web site but you will have to browse through the images to find it. |
1978-79 |
Deep snow fell on the village during this winter. |
Bomere Heath Garage ceased to supply petrol and the fuel pumps were removed later in the year. The workshops continue to operate. |
|
1980's Mid |
Bomere Heath Quilters Group formed |
1980 Jul |
Village Hall Jubilee celebrations 1930-1980 |
1981 Feb/Mar |
Substantial snow fall in village. |
1981 Apr 5th Sun |
Census (Not available for public viewing until 2082) |
1981 Summer |
A picture of Bomere Heath's entry in the Shrewsbury Raft Race 1981 is available on the Pinterest web site but you will have to browse through the images to find it. |
1980's |
The Magnolia’s, Merrington, home of Mr & Mrs Percy Thrower, is open to the public on several Sundays during the summer. All proceeds in aid of Leaton Church. On one particular Sunday queues of traffic stretched right through Bomere Heath towards Harlescott. The open days were so popular. |
1982 |
Deep Snow and Icicles. |
1982 |
Blacksmith’s Shop, Baschurch Road closed and sold up. |
1982 |
The old Cricket pavilion on the west side of the cricket field was demolished shortly after April 1982. |
1982 May 16 |
Gardeners' Sunday ~ In aid of the Gardeners' Royal Benevolent Society and the Royal Gardeners' Orphan Fund ~ The Magnolias ~ Garden Open ~ Sunday May 16 ~ Admission 40p Children 20p ~ 12 noon - 7pm |
1984 |
An equipment shed was erected at the top of the Cricket field near Whitehouse Lane to replace an earlier one in the old pavilion which had been situated on the side of the field nearest to the railway line. |
1984 Apr 1 |
The Cricket pitch was damaged by someone driving a car on it. |
1984 Spring |
New brick changing rooms built on the Cricket field. |
1985 Autumn |
A 30 m.p.h. speed limit is introduced throughout the village with signs being erected on all roads leading into the village. |
1986 Spring |
New wooden Cricket Pavilion erected close to the existing brick built changing room on the cricket field. |
1987 May |
Open Day at The Magnolias, Merrington the home of Percy and Connie Thrower. [Source: Parish Magazine May 1987] |
1987 Sep 13th |
Open Day at The Magnolias, Merrington the home of Percy and Connie Thrower. [Source: Parish Magazine Sep 1987] |
1987 Nov 12th |
The Signal Box at Leaton Station closed. (Source: Shrewsbury to Chester by Mitchell and Smith Pub: Middleton Press 2010 ISBN 978 1 906008 70 3 and Disused Stations) |
1987 Autumn |
The original Level Crossing gates (controlled from the adjacent signal box) were removed and replaced by automatic twin half barriers. |
Late 1980's |
The Police House in The Crescent was sold and became a private house. |
1988 June 5th |
Leaton Signal Box removed and crossing fitted with automatic barriers. The signal box was taken to Glyndyfrdwy on the Llangollen Railway to be re-erected there. |
1988 Nov |
The wooden Cricket Pavilion which had only been erected in 1986 and recently completed was destroyed by fire having suffered an arson attack by a local youth. |
1989 July 2nd |
Open Day at Leaton Knolls Forest - wide variety of entertainment. [Source: Parish Magazine Jun 1989] |
1989 Dec
|
The Village Players Group presented ‘Toad of Toad Hall’ in the Village Hall. |