The Fountain, 1920's
Yampy is grateful to Clive Holmwood and his family for this photo of Clive's Great-Great-Grandfather Jack Hassall and
friends, posing outside Gornal's Fountain pub. The date is said to be 1925, although we feel that it may
be a little earlier.
The original photo we scanned was quite weak and 'sepia-like' and, although we quickly touched it up to
make it viewable last night, we are grateful to Ian from
www.sedgleymanor.com
who immediately knocked it into far better shape for us. Click on the photo to see it full size.
Jack (John) is standing on the extreme left with his bicycle; apparently he was well known in the village for
regularly cycling up to The Fountain from The Straits, and then pedalling back down the hill rather precariously
much later after one too many.
Jack's daughter married Clive's Great-Grandad Henry Plant, who was in uniform during the First World War and also served as
a groomsman for the Earl of Dudley. Henry's son Sid also lived on The Straits in the 1930's, but 'emigrated' to
Stourbridge where he worked. Later in life he moved back to Gornal to be closer to his daughter, Clive's mum.
We will shortly be publishing further items connected with this story; researchers into those two famous local surnames
of Wakelam and Hartill will be interested in a photo of a youthful Sid along the Straits with members of both families.
We have also made a transcript of a taped interview Sid gave towards the end of his life, which makes a valuable record of
days gone by.
Once again, the photo outside The Fountain freezes a slice of time and makes one wonder what became of each of the
characters pictured. Some may still be with us in Gornal - especially as there are some very young children in the front row.
We would love to hear from anyone who has information about the people portrayed. There are no females posing - perhaps
pubs were 'not places for women' then - but can you see the young lady staring intently at the camera from inside the
building?
If any Yampy reader has any comment about the people or places shown, or has any similar images to share, we would be
delighted to hear from you at admin@yampy.co.uk
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