Codsall & Bilbrook History Society
We are incredibly fortunate to have this local group contributing to our community. They host excellent monthly talks on various history topics at Codsall Village Hall.
SEP 16th 2025: Nigel Metcalfe “Jack and Jill Went Up the Hill” – or did they…?
Codsall Village Hall 7.45pm. Join on the night for the year £15 or Visitors £4
The real meaning of some of our favourite nursery rhymes. Plague, philandering, gluttony, executions, taxation, religious persecution, prostitution, and peep shows: these are not exactly the subjects you would expect when you sing some of your favourite nursery rhymes to your children or grandchildren. Many nursery rhymes date back hundreds of years, and this talk explores the theories and facts behind fifteen well-known rhymes. In doing so, many dark stories are revealed. The talk is fully illustrated.
OCT 21st 2025: Kate Round “Women in the Glass Industry”
Codsall Village Hall 7.45pm. Join on the night for the year £15 or Visitors £4
Stourbridge Glass Museum reflects the industrial efforts from such world-renowned makers as Richardson’s, Stuart Crystal, Royal Brierley Crystal and Webb Corbett’s. Yet how many pieces in the collection have been produced solely by women?
Within those hot working factory conditions, it was said that the only limitation to the glass-blower’s art is ‘the strength in his arm’ and the hot shops were considered at be an all-male environment, women were not allowed. Archive sources and ladies who worked in the glass industry have helped me uncover a fascinating account of this ‘glass ceiling’. From the 1860’s to the present day. This is a revealing account of changing attitudes and the struggles between Unions, Management and workers to allow women to do ‘men’s work’.
Nov 18th 2025: Quintin Watt “The Rise and Demise of The Bromsgrove Guild”
Codsall Village Hall 7.45pm. Join on the night for the year £15 or Visitors £4
An overview of the famous Worcestershire firm that created the gates at Buckingham Palace, the Liver Birds and many other well-known artistic monuments both in the UK and around the world. Working in wrought iron, bronze, wood plaster and stained glass their work can be seen in many places
Dec 16th 2025: Judy Davies “Slides of Old Codsall”
Codsall Village Hall 7.45pm. Join on the night for the year £15 or Visitors £4
Travel the lanes into the centre of Codsall hearing about some of its history as we go. From an enormous collection of archival photographs compiled over many years our chairman chooses a selection that portray the changing village.
Jan 20th 2026: David Burton-Pye “Timber Framed Tales”
Codsall Village Hall 7.45pm. Visitors welcome £4
Based on 40 years work as both conservation officer at South Staffordshire Council and latterly as a consultant on historic buildings, the talk features many timber framed buildings – the speaker’s favourite type of construction. Exploring the evolution of the craft it explains the simple techniques from which complex structures were created and includes examples of two local buildings that won successive national awards in 1997 and 1999 presented by the Worshipful Company of Carpenters and English Heritage for the best restoration of a timber framed building in England in 1997 and 1999.
Feb 17th 2026: David Wilkinson “The Medieval Towns of Staffordshire”
Codsall Village Hall 7.45pm. Visitors welcome £4
The former Archaeologist at Stafford Borough Council, David explores the history and development of medieval market towns throughout the county, the royal charters bestowed upon them and the markets and trades that developed there.
Mar 17th 2026: Andrew Lound “The Liner of the Skies – The Hindenberg”
Codsall Village Hall 7.45pm. Visitors welcome £4
She was the greatest airship in history, the pride of Germany and the personal triumph of her designer Hugo Eckener. The Airship Hindenburg was the epitome of luxury air travel in the 1930s, as big as the Titanic, she flew across the Atlantic majestically. The history of airship travel was however fraught with tragedy and technical brilliance, but it was felt that with the Hindenburg the airship had come of age. It was however an age of fear with the rise of National Socialism and the fear of war the Hindenburg became a propaganda weapon much to the anger of her designer. Her fate would capture the imagination and lead to much speculation. In a remarkable presentation Andrew captures a lost age and examines what might have caused the loss of the world’s greatest airship. Beautifully illustrated complete with audio, archive video, and music. Join us for a flight when air travel was about the flight and not the destination.
April 21st 2026: Peter Shilston “Admiral Lord Anson and Shugborough”
Invitation sent – reply still awaited
May 19th 2026: Max Keen “Gordon of Khartoum – a Victorian Epic”
Charles George Gordon – AKA Chinese Gordon, Gordon Pasha, Gordon of Khartoum. A Victorian hero prised from the true Victorian heroic mould!
Codsall Village Hall 7.45pm. Visitors welcome £4
Why was it that a Royal Engineer General, who decided to take over a town in the middle of a desert, became a national hero and brought down a government!
Uncover the truth about Gordon of Khartoum and why this crude, insubordinate and untrustworthy junior general would appeal to both the British people and Queen Victoria, in true stiff upper lip style!
Sep 15th 2026: Mike Haynes “Why are Carrots Orange – the Strange History of Food and Power”
Our food comes from all over the world but what is its real story? Why are carrots orange? Why do we call them ‘peppers’ when they are not peppery? Who invented fish and chips? This talk explores the strange history of our food and the conflicts that it has and continues to give rise to.
Oct 20th 2026 to be confirmed
Nov 17th 2026: Rob Elliott “The British Army in the 18th Century”
Total fee is £75
Rob is an 18th Century re-enactor specialising in the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion and the Seven Years War. The talk features a selection of period clothing and weaponry all on display for members to examine.
Dec 15th 2026: to be confirmed