Selected old items from 'News and Events', which contain lasting information, are available on a new page.

It has information on The opening of Jack Judge House - The Old Magistrates Court and Police cells - The Pauper Memorial - The Worcestershire Regimental Museum - St Michael and All Angels Church closure - The Mortuary Chapel demolition at Oldbury Cemetery, Rood End - Fire at the Langley Maltings

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100 YEARS SINCE ... ?

On 31st January 2012 it will be one hundred years since the first performance of Jack Judge's best known song "It's a long, long way to Tipperary". It is well established that this was written overnight to win a bet when a fellow performer at the 'Grand Theatre', Stalybridge, challenged Jack to write a new song and perform it the next evening, 31st January 1912. This was probably a modified version of "It's a long way to Connemara", a song he had written in Oldbury and which was almost certainly sung here earlier in that version.

Stalybridge will be marking the date with various events, as it usually does for anything connected with Jack Judge. In Oldbury, we shall be more muted, as usual. The only event on the day is being organised by storyteller Adrian Johnson at Oldbury Library at 4.00pm. This will include a performance of 'Tipperary' at 5.00. For more detail on the event see www.http://kindandgenerous.weebly.com/jack-judge.html

BLUE PLAQUE

Some time ago the local history societies started to raise money to erect Oldbury's first 'blue plaque' to remember Jack Judge as a celebrated son of the town. Admiral Taverns have agreed that we can locate this on the wall of the 'Junction Inn' overlooking the spot where Jack used to have his stall to sell fish before he achieved his success as a music hall artist. A most appropriate spot, and one that will be seen by people in Birmingham Street.

We had hoped that it would be in place for the centenary on 31st January, but various delays have made this impossible. However, it will be in place in the next couple of months, and we will have a 'grand opening' to remind the people of Oldbury about Jack's achievements.

Incidentally, we have been preceded by Wetherspoons in the plaque stakes, albeit with a grey one. They have a plaque by the entrance to 'The Court of Requests' giving an excellent summary of the building's history - well done to them!

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A NEW FUTURE FOR THE OLD COURT HOUSE

The first court house and jail in Oldbury was opened in 1816 as a debtors' prison - and the building still stands. It was then used as a County Court, a magistrates court and a police station. When the police took over around 1900, it was extensively altered, and a new block of police cells constructed. When the police left, it housed Oldbury Library until early 2011, when the library moved to Jack Judge House, and the building was left empty.

This caused some concern since Sandwell Council had no further use for the building, and intended to sell it. It was purchased by Wetherspoons and has undergone thorough and sympathetic refurbishment. The company has worked closely with the Council, and much of its historic fabric has been protected.

This is the best outcome we could have hoped to achieve, and the company and council are to be congratulated. We also understand that pictures of old Oldbury will feature in the decor, and the local history societies have contributed some of these. It could be a valuable resource for publicising Oldbury's history!

Wetherspoons are to be congratulated on the way they have renovated the building, yet preserved much of its history in the decor. It is an excellent example of finding a sympathetic owner and an appropriate use for a building of historic importance. They could not have chosen a better name than 'The Court of Requests', ints original purpose back in 1816 when the building was erected.

For illustrations of the court and jail cells as Wetherspoons received them, see 'old news'.

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