THE BOYS OF SAINT PETERS SCHOOL

These are school rooms belonging to the Collegiate Church, erected in Craddocks Walk, (later St Peters Walk) which led from the Churchyard, and ran down in between - at this time in the picture - the Retail Market Hall and the open patch and ended in North Street.
The Schools attached to St Peters Church, were erected in 1847, at a cost of upwards of £1,500.

There were many National Schools of similar design which went up during the 1840s, in Wolverhampton. ( St Pauls, St Marks, St Matthews etc) where instruction was offered to children for small weekly payments, and some these schools were rigidly divided into separate buildings - for boys, girls and infants.

St Peters school remained on this spot until being taken down in 1903, when the site was acquired by the town and became an extension to the open market Place.



The School was then re-built in St Peters Square at the rear of the Deanery, just 100 yards or so from the newly erected Wholesale Market, were it would remain for a further 70 years, until this site became part of the University.

St Peters School now stands, off the Compton Road.

Sorry John I didn't have any post war photos of St Peters boys, but I have a section of the school photo dated 1936.

They say every picture tells a story.

Every time I happen to look at this nostalgic print I think about the school leavers during that summer of 1936.
What future had they got to look forward to I shouldn't think there were a great many in those days worried about getting a place at University, and jobs of any description were in short supply. But as these lads approached their 18th birthdays in just four short years there would be plenty to occupy their minds and bodies we would be at war with Germany; the country that in the summer of 36 (as they left school) had hosted the Olympic games.

I think about the lads that survived this war spending their time in the many factories on war production and on the land. Then I wonder about the many others who may have gone overseas an endured the likes of Arnhem and Normandy, and mostly I feel for the ones who never returned.

A WARTIME MEMORY OF SAINT PETERS CHURCH

Now here in the 21st Century, I still feel close to St Peters.

My forebears had already lived close by St Peters Church for over a century. When my parents married and settled in Nursery Street, in 1936; I was born there the following year.
From our house No. 11, on the south side of Nursery Street the tower of St Peters can easily be seen from my back bedroom window, and during the euphoria at the end of the second World War a large cross was placed on top of the tower made up of electric light bulbs. I have never forgotten this wonderful sight illuminated against a dark sky.

Sometime later I spoke to my Grandfather about this spectacle and he told me a similar interesting tale.

Around the mid 1800s when his own grandfather; was a small boy, living at that time; close to the top of Horseley Fields, he was awakened one night by a commotion in the house, it seemed that the whole of the tower of St Peters Church was on fire.

As it turned out, what had happened was the wooden cross on the tower that supported the weather vane had been struck by lightening and caught fire.

This fiery cross standing out against a dark sky, presented a spectacle he never forgot. Thank God; before it could spread to the beams, passing volunteers hacked through the cross and prevented the fire reaching the belfry and it was put out.

THERE WAS NO RHYME NOR REASON

A thank you in verse for lifting this curse.

There came a time my drink ran dry,
and those who once cared passed me by.

And all around me was swept away,
never to see another day.

I felt certain this would happen to me,
and the same sorry end was my guarantee.

Then a miracle arrived with my last curtain call,
to offer a new beginning for this old hall.



In my prime didn't I look proud,
my head held high up in the cloud.

Now on the hill I stand alone,
this Fallen Monarch has regained his throne.



No matter that my welcome fold,
has been replaced by this cruel road.

And my ancient way to Whitmore End,
is now just a part of this continuing bend.



For I've returned, to my former glory,
and my contents now tell a different story.

I offer Wulfrunians a greater pleasure,
to re-discover their forgotten treasures.



So it's Out of Darkness Cometh Light,
as I light up the sky again at night.

And God Bless to all who had this vision,
for it's thanks to you - 'from the Ashes I have Risen'.

IS THERE LIGHT AT THE END OF THE TUNNEL?

The North Street I knew is still around, you find it now through a hole in the ground.



Remember old Wadhams Hill was here.



Now today no Wadhams Hill, no Milner Hall, and no shops that reached up to the Chequer Ball.

But what about these shops that made way for the ring road?

(The Shops in North Street 1954)

The two large lamp posts that frame this scene are also supporting wires that power the trolley buses as they travel from Wulfruna Street, turning right from Giffard House (from where this picture was taken). Then left at the Fox Hotel, down Molineux Street, en route to Ford Houses.

At the side of the pole on the left, we see the building advertising Ekco Radios. This was an electrical goods shop, one of two belonging to Corkes' Radio Stores. Their principal shop being in Princess Street. Moving up right, past the little white bollards on the corner of Tin Shop Yard, was a double fronted shop belonging to Lathes, they were know for house clearance and second hand goods.

The two shops would be filled to capacity with every item of old family belongings, such as pictures, clothes and furntiture. Mr Lathes son George, became well established in the motorcycle trade that was dominant in the area in the 1950s, and had a large store in Salop Street.

Next door to Lathes was Mrs Preeces' upmarket second-hand clothes shop. Similar to the charity shops of today.

Next door to Preeces was a small cafe. In the early days it always looked a bit run down, but in the late 1950s it was sold and renamed The Nook. The quality of food and the service vastly improved and it became the in place for the market crowd close by.

Next door was the smaller of the two grocery stores, both situated in North Street and owned by Kidsons Food. The larger store was at the top of North Street, next to Bakers nurseries. Kidsons large warehouse and formidable house stood opposite each other on Wadhams Hill.

Next door to Kidsons is the building with four impressive shop fronts; Smiths Fruit & Veg, Higgs Printers, North Street Post Office and finally Helene, which was a ladies hairdressers.

Standing last on the photograph is the red telephone box on the pavement in front of J. A. Vints' Builders Yard.


The large Victorian building on the right of Vints' has three fine shop fronts. The first was Lathams' confectioners. Then came a double fronted antiques shop, which in the early 1960s' became a betting office when Tommy Butler, a well known turf accountant moved there from premises above Samuels' Jewellers in Queen Street.

Finally, the large building next door with the railways delivery goods vehicle parked outside was Walters' lock manufacturers. The lady on the right of the photograph is about to cross Wadhams Hill and pass the Molineux Hotel on her left.