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Claverley through the years: 22 historic photos of the picturesque village between Bridgnorth and Wolverhampton

Step back in time as we explore the rich heritage of Claverley, the Shropshire village on the Staffordshire border, celebrated for its timeless lanes, historic stone cottages, and enduring community spirit.

By Tania Taylor
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From local landmarks to everyday moments that shaped village life - including a Wolves legend and the Claverley teacher who dedicated herself to cleaning TV of 'utter filth' - these images from the Shropshire Star's archive open a window into Claverley’s past and the people who helped define it.

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XXXXnostalgia pic. Claverley.'Gatacre Hall, Claverley.' An undated postcard. c.1910??Picture loaned by postcard collector Ray Farlow who is happy for his pix to be ordered.Halls.Library code: Claverley nostalgia 2002a. Gatacre Hall nostalgia 2002a. Loaded from Photographic:Load: on 10102002 Toby Neal colour print
'Gatacre Hall, Claverley.' An undated postcard. c.1910. Picture-postcard supplied by collector Ray Farlow.
nostalgia pic. Claverley. Only information with this postcard is 'Claverley' written on the back. There is another postcard of the same people on presumably the same occasion showing a team of men pulling the carriage. Date may be about 1912. Possibly the couple in the carriage were newly-weds of some prominence locally returning maybe from honeymoon. That's conjecture of course. Picture loaned by Bridgnorth postcard collector Ray Farlow, who is happy for his pix to be ordered. AFTER PUBLICATION C. EARLY JUNE 2010 WE HAD FOLLOWING FEEDBACK:PICTURE: This picture has now been identified as a honeymoon homecoming almost 100 years ago. Colonel Legh (CORRECT) is in the lighter suit, just to the right of the man in a bowler hat.PICTURE B: How the homecoming was reported by the Bridgnorth Journal.We were at a loss to explain what was going on here when we carried this photo in Pictures From The Past, but now Claverley Memories Local History Society has come up trumps.\It's the homecoming of the Honourable Stratford Tollemache and his bride, who was formerly Miss Ethel Cavendish of Chyknell in Claverley,\ said society chairman Mrs Sue Burns.\The couple had married on Valentine's Day in 1912 and were returning from their honeymoon. Their horse and carriage was drawn to the Bull Ring, which is where the picture was taken, and then the carriage was unhooked and some estate workers and some guests took over. It was organised by Colonel Legh (CORRECT LEGH). His wife was the sister of Mrs Tollemarche.\When they got to Chyknell there was a celebration with estate workers and everyone joining in.\The occasion was reported in the Bridgnorth Journal. Stratford Tollemache was the son of the first Lord Tollemache, of Helmingham Hall, Suffolk, and Peckforton Castle, and Ethel was daughter of the late Henry Cavendish of Chyknell. They wed at All Saints' Church in Claverley.Their homecoming from a honeymoon spent at Fawsley Park and Helmingham Hall was on Wednesday, March 13,
'The homecoming of the Honourable Stratford Tollemache and his bride, who was formerly Miss Ethel Cavendish of Chyknell in Claverley,' said Mrs Sue Burns of Claverley Memories Local History Society. The couple had married on Valentine's Day in 1912 at All Saints' Church in Claverley, and were returning from their honeymoon. Their horse and carriage was drawn to the Bull Ring, which is where the picture was taken, and then the carriage was unhooked and some estate workers and some guests took over. It was organised by Colonel Legh (wearing the lighter suit, to the right of the man in a bowler hat). His wife was the sister of Mrs Tollemarche.' Picture-postcard courtesy of Ray Farlow.
A 1937 picture taken at Chyknell Hall with Muriel Russell, centre front. Full caption is: '1937 Chyknell Hall staff: back row l-r: Annie Jones (maid), Jenny Payne (cook), Nora Kendrick (maid); front row l-r: Miss E Hull (Lady's maid), Muriel Russell (kitchen maid), Visiting Girl Guide. Servants. Picture shared by Sue Burns of Claverley Memories Local History Society.
A 1937 picture taken at Chyknell Hall with Muriel Russell, centre front. Full caption is: '1937 Chyknell Hall staff: back row l-r: Annie Jones (maid), Jenny Payne (cook), Nora Kendrick (maid); front row l-r: Miss E Hull (Lady's maid), Muriel Russell (kitchen maid), Visiting Girl Guide. Servants. Picture shared by Sue Burns of Claverley Memories Local History Society.
A pictures of the Home Guard School, Claverley, taken in the 1940s. Handwritten on the back of the original print is 'The men were planning out the defence of the village.'
A pictures of the Home Guard School, Claverley, taken in the 1940s. Handwritten on the back of the original print is 'The men were planning out the defence of the village.'
July 27, 1940: Two members of the Home Guard at St Mary's Church, Claverley, keeping watch over the countryside from the top of the church tower.
July 27, 1940: Two members of the Home Guard at St Mary's Church, Claverley, keeping watch over the countryside from the top of the church tower.
'Prisoners of War, Claverley Cricket Club' - rolling the grass and painting white lines at the club's new ground on July 12, 1947.
'Prisoners of War, Claverley Cricket Club' - rolling the grass and painting white lines at the club's new ground on July 12, 1947.
A snow scene from the March 1947 blizzards. Unnamed boy clearing a road on the way from Wolverhampton to Claverley.
A snow scene from the March 1947 blizzards. Unnamed boy clearing a road on the way from Wolverhampton to Claverley.
Gerry Harris, a Wolverhampton Wanderers legend, on the right, seen in action at Wolves' Molineux ground. His career was in the 1950s and into the 1960s. He was born in Claverley and lived in the Shropshire village for most of his life. Picture supplied by John Burns of Claverley Memories Local History Society.
Gerry Harris, a Wolverhampton Wanderers legend, on the right, seen in action at Wolves' Molineux ground. His career was in the 1950s and into the 1960s. He was born in Claverley and lived in the Shropshire village for most of his life. Picture supplied by John Burns of Claverley Memories Local History Society.
Claverley choir, or at least assumed to be Claverley choir as this print was in a packet marked 'Claverley general, Jan '90.' The date of the picture is obviously long before 1990 though.
Claverley choir, or at least assumed to be Claverley choir as this print was in a packet marked 'Claverley general, Jan '90.' The date of the picture is obviously long before 1990 though.
'Mrs M.H. Rollason pictured in the grounds of her historic home.' This is a picture from the Express and Star picture archive with the Express & Star stamp. Date stamp on the print is May 1, 1962. It also has the written date April 30, 1962, which may well be when the photo was taken. The story pasted on the back of the print reads: 'If your 'garden' at home happens to be a window box, or if you have a garden and you want a rest from gardening, there's nothing nicer than a visit to someone else's gardens. This Sunday it could be a visit to lovely, historic Ludstone Hall at Claverley. Because that is the day that Mr and Mrs M.H. Rollason are allowing the grounds of the hall to be open to the public. All in aid of a cause in which Mrs Rollason is particularly interested... (n.b. cut off here, so we don't learn what the cause is).\ The photographer looks like Nickhelas or something else beginning with Nick. Library code: Claverley nostalgia 2012.
April 30, 1962. The story started: 'If your 'garden' at home happens to be a window box, or if you have a garden and you want a rest from gardening, there's nothing nicer than a visit to someone else's gardens. This Sunday it could be a visit to lovely, historic Ludstone Hall at Claverley. Because that is the day that Mr and Mrs M.H. Rollason are allowing the grounds of the hall to be open to the public. All in aid of a cause in which Mrs Rollason is particularly interested.'
Written on the back of this print: 'Mrs Mary Whitehouse and petition, Claverley leader of clean up TV campaign.' Although this picture isn't dated, the clean up TV petition was started in 1963, so it would have been taken around that time at her home in Claverley.
Written on the back of this print: 'Mrs Mary Whitehouse and petition, Claverley leader of clean up TV campaign.' Although this picture isn't dated, the clean up TV petition was started in 1963, so it would have been taken around that time at her home in Claverley.
'Mrs Mary Whitehouse, of Claverley, handing to James Dance, Tory MP for Bromsgrove, at the House of Commons, bundles containing 366,355 signatures supporting a petition to the House against the BBC's 'disbelief, doubt and dirt'. Mary Whitehouse was a well known campaigner to clean up television. June 5, 1965.
'Mrs Mary Whitehouse, of Claverley, handing to James Dance, Tory MP for Bromsgrove, at the House of Commons, bundles containing 366,355 signatures supporting a petition to the House against the BBC's 'disbelief, doubt and dirt'. Mary Whitehouse was a well known campaigner to clean up television. June 5, 1965.
Swing boats at Claverley Show on July 31, 1965.
Swing boats at Claverley Show on July 31, 1965.
February 16, 1965 - the caption reads: 'The old Butter Cross at Claverley is under renovation by a Bridgnorth firm of stonemasons. Only one new piece of stone is being used, the rest is reclaimed from the surrounds. This type of stone originally quarried at Alveley is no longer available. An agricultural conveyor was being used yesterday to take the pieces of masonry to the top.'
February 16, 1965 - the caption reads: 'The old Butter Cross at Claverley is under renovation by a Bridgnorth firm of stonemasons. Only one new piece of stone is being used, the rest is reclaimed from the surrounds. This type of stone originally quarried at Alveley is no longer available. An agricultural conveyor was being used yesterday to take the pieces of masonry to the top.'
Claverley vicarage photographed on July 13, 1967.
Claverley vicarage photographed on July 13, 1967.
nostalgia pic. Claverley. This is a print in the Express and Star picture archive (and copied on March 10, 2017). It has the date stamp of June 26, 1967, and the caption pasted on the back reads: 'Rain did not dampen the spirits of the young men who took part in a piano smashing competition at Claverley on Saturday. Admirers of these faithful old uprights had to grin and bear it as one team after another made short work of the craftsman-built instruments. Here the team from the National Foundry College show how it is done. The event was part of a fete towards raising \u00a31,000 for the rebuilding of the village hall... the present village hall was built of timber in the 1920s and a permanent replacement would cost nearly \u00a310,000.' Claverley fete. The print has the Express and Star copyright stamp. The photographer looks like 'R. Jones.' Claverley village hall. Library code: Claverley nostalgia 2017.
June 26, 1967, the caption reads: 'Rain did not dampen the spirits of the young men who took part in a piano smashing competition at Claverley on Saturday. Admirers of these faithful old uprights had to grin and bear it as one team after another made short work of the craftsman-built instruments. Here the team from the National Foundry College show how it is done. The event was part of a fete towards raising funds for the rebuilding of the village hall... the present village hall was built of timber in the 1920s and a permanent replacement would be needed.'
'Cottage at Claverley' is written on the back of this print. The picture was taken on April 29, 1967.
'Cottage at Claverley' is written on the back of this print. The picture was taken on April 29, 1967.
Brian Bradley, of Claverley, a top clay pigeon shooting marksman in the 1970s and 1980s. The picture from 1973 shows Brian wearing his shooting jacket with some of the badges he had won to that date. Picture supplied by John Burns of Claverley's local history group
Brian Bradley, of Claverley, a top clay pigeon shooting marksman in the 1970s and 1980s. The picture from 1973 shows Brian wearing his shooting jacket with some of the badges he had won to that date. Picture supplied by John Burns of Claverley Memories Local History Society.
Schoolchildren in Claverley took part in a May pole dance as part of the jubilee celebrations on June 6, 1977.
Schoolchildren in Claverley took part in a May pole dance as part of the jubilee celebrations on June 6, 1977.
The congregation and villagers at Claverley Church in 1989 in a hymn singing marathon fundraiser. The caption reads: 'The congregation of Claverley Church made a noteworthy contribution to an appeal to raise money for new choir robes. Pictured are some of the villagers in the sponsored musical marathon who sang a total of 636 hymns for the fund.'
The congregation and villagers at Claverley Church in 1989 in a hymn singing marathon fundraiser. The caption reads: 'The congregation of Claverley Church made a noteworthy contribution to an appeal to raise money for new choir robes. Pictured are some of the villagers in the sponsored musical marathon who sang a total of 636 hymns for the fund.'
An undated picture, c.1990. We can see Claverley church in the distance. Picture Martin Thorneycroft Photographers, Bridgnorth.
An undated picture, c.1990. We can see Claverley church in the distance. Picture Martin Thorneycroft Photographers, Bridgnorth.
'The filming of Inspector Allan, a detective series for television, was staged at Claverley, where part of the middle of the village became one of the sets.' October 19, 1992.
'The filming of Inspector Allan, a detective series for television, was staged at Claverley, where part of the middle of the village became one of the sets.' October 19, 1992.

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