The Workers' Institute circa 1960
Chainmakers' & Strikers' Association
Cradley Heath Football Club
Cradley Heath Town Prize Band
Labour Party Meeting
Rowley Regis Council
Early Request from Post Office
Installation of Stamp Machines
Today, if you need to rent a room for a meeting, chances are you would either use an hotel or perhaps the excellent facilities offered by organisations such as The Black Country Living Museum.
In 1912 society was not as mobile as it is today, and it was not uncommon for those living in an area such as Cradley Heath to rarely leave the district. What was lacking during this period were venues where, for a modest sum, space could be rented for short term use, and the Cradley Heath Worker’s Institute filled this need. Many different organisations rented office space in the Institute. They included;
The Amalgamated Engineering Union, Amalgamated Society of Woodworkers, Ancient Order of Foresters, British Legion, Carnival Committee, Chainmakers' and Strikers' Association,Communist Party, Cradley and District Smallholding and Allotments Society, Cradley Heath and District Benefit Building Society, Cradley Heath Football Club, Cradley Heath Town Prize Band, the Curtain Players (Amateur Dramatics), Dudley Wood Labour Party, Kingswinford Labour Party, Labour Party League of Youth, Loyal Order of Moose, Midland Building Society, Midland Counties Trades' Federation, Midland Electric Company, Painters’ Association, Poultry Club, Rowley Regis Trades and Labour Council, South Staffordshire Waterworks Co., The Operatic Society, Watch Tower Bible Society, Weights & Measures, Women’s Club and the Women’s Trade Union League.
The Institute had two long-term tenants after World War Two. Solicitor William Attwood leased the ground floor front offices from the 1950s. Later in 1968 he leased the first floor offices from which he and his son Arthur, ran their business until 2003. Following Sandwell's compulsory purchase order on the building, Arthur relocated the family firm to Upper High Street, Cradley Heath, where he and his partner are currently based .
As early as April 1946 the Post Office had approached the Trustees of the Institute with a view to renting the building as a sorting office. However, while the billiard hall was still in use, it could not be made private or secure.
In 1957, following the closure of the billiards/snooker hall, negotiations began with the Ministry of Works and in 1958 the main hall was taken over by the Post Office as a sorting depot.
A number of alterations were made to the rear of the building. Light, partition enquiry and general offices were erected in the main hall, and on the first floor the balcony area was covered over to create additional office space. Conveyor belts were installed in the main hall as well as a comprehensive security system. Later, stamp machines were installed on the Whitehall Road side of the building.
The Post Office continued their tenancy until 1995.
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| Reference: | 705 |
| Keywords: | |
| Archive Ref: | |
| Updated: | Wed 21 May 2008 - 1 |
| Interpretation written by | Louis Howe |
| Author's organisation | Curatorial |
| Organisation's website | |
| Contributor | Institute Archives |