HISTORY The Firs

Location of The Firs, 1901. Imagine the Cafe Casita at the top of the map and the Labour Club at the bottom.	Rob's recent question about the building that stood on the site of The Paddock (The Quarries) also brought information from Ian of www.sedgleymanor.com and Mike Hammond about another well known house that stood nearby. Mike writes: The Firs stood in the hollow off the main road, Clarence Street. I remember the owner as being a Mr Booth, possibly Councillor Booth. I remember little about Mr Mrs Booth save to say that they were what I took to be "a significant cut above the local Gornal Folk".(That is in no way meant to be derogatory towards Gornal Folk because I am Gornal myself and proud of it!). I believe Mr Booth was a Justice of the Peace and like many people from the area frequented the Bricklayers Arms (later Pig On The Wall) when my father was licensee. Like so many customers to the pub they were considered to be good friends and I well remember my parents giving and receiving Christmas cards from Mr and Mrs Booth for many years. When the old house was demolished they purchased a property in Dudley Road somewhere opposite Arcal Road. I know this is rather sketchy detail but I hope this may stimulate further research.
Ian writes: The Firs was just a little further north than The Quarries, where Roford Court now is. The owners were Mr & Mrs Booth. William Booth was a JP and also used to attend Stafford Jail for Prisoner hearings etc. Mr & Mrs Booth were good friends of my Maternal Grandparents (the Undertaker in Badger Street) and as Mike said probably drank in the Bricklayers like my Grandad. I occassionally used to go to the Firs with my Gran. It was almost directly behind where we lived in Priors Mill. I remember there were stables at the back of the house, a huge kitchen with a cooking range and big room with a full size billiard table in it. They also had an orchard where we used to go scrumping. Many thanks to Ian and Mike. If any Yampy reader has further information or comments, please email us at admin@yampy.co.uk