Newspaper clippings relating to Norton-in-Hales.
1876 – ROAD ACCIDENT, NORTON IN HALES – On Tuesday afternoon two of the Misses Kirkham of The Ash, which is distant about a mile from the railway station, were quietly awaiting their father’s return by the 5:13pm North Stafford train from his business at Newcastle and were seated in their trap near the gateway leading from the village up to the station. Mr S. Furnival who was bringing his young lady to meet the same train which was just coming in called for way, but either was not heard or the horse could not be made to go immediately and the result was that both traps came into collision. Mr Kirkham’s vehicle was much broken and the horse which is a young animal ran up as far as he could get in the station yard with the shafts of the trap. All the occupants were thrown out but marvellously escaped without serious injury. Mr Furnival’s trap was also injured, the horse continuing as far as he could get up to the station with the body of the trap resting on the wheel and the springs displaced.
2nd Dec 1876 – Martha Evans and Eliza Halfpenny, both married women of Norton in Hales were charged by Mary Careless, wife of William Careless of Norton with stealing seven red cabbages.
1881 PAINFUL GUN ACCIDENT – Mr J. Bourne of the Arbour Farm, Norton in Hales, who is well-known in agricultural circles, recently met with a somewhat serious accident. He was out shooting, with some friends when he was accidently shot in one eye. Dr. L. Owen, of Birmingham, has just successfully performed the operation of removing the injured orb, and latest accounts state that Mr Bourne is progressing favourably.
1941 Gifts to Blitz-Brave Parson – The Rev. P. R. Pierce, for 25 years Vicar of St James’s Ashted, who is leaving Birmingham for a living at Norton-in-Hales (Shropshire), will be remembered by Ashted folk for his courage and devotion during the blitz on the city. When his church was struck by a bomb he was entertaining 150 shelters in the vaults underneath. For two and a half hours they were trapped under the debris, but no one was hurt. The church is now a pile of ruins. Mr Pierce was presented on Saturday with a cheque, a surplice and canonical scarf and his wife received a silver coffee service.
Norton Wake – Last March, it being a holiday time,
when I was young and just in my prime,
to Norton Wake it was my intent,
I dressed myself up, and away I went.
There was Roger the plough man,
Sally and Ally, and Nan;
We each took a lass, we tripped it along,
And, when we got there, there was a great throng.
There was some crying Banburys and some crying cakes;
My lads and my lasses, lets keep up the Wakes!
Some crying Banburys as big as the egg of a pout,
And gingerbread junks as big as my foot.
We eat and we ate, and we ate and we eat,
Till we could not eat more, they were so good and sweet;
So Bob treated Ally and Ralph treated Sally,
And I bought a fig cake for my Mally.
Then the next was a bull that they brought to the stake,
And this was all done some fun for to make.
He gave them a toss and a terrible throw,
Through the dogs in the air, and the folks tumbled o’er,
Such pulling and hauling and shouting and bawling
As I never saw in my life before.
The History Detective 