Category: Information

Cemetery Gates Closed.

In line with the high winds Saturday the cemetery gates were closed for safety reasons.

Unfortunately there were a few branches and at least one tree that have been affected again by the high winds.  Luckily for us the Tree Surgeons were quick to act and have spent yet another few days in Brandwood End checking and making trees as safe as they can in these unusual conditions. Saturated ground  and high winds can cause havoc.

Stay safe.

Unmarked Grave

Back in November we featured John Charles Shaw, Buried in an unmarked grave in Brandwood End.. We were heartened by the interest this short article  sparked. Little did we know that it was a gift that would keep giving.  The resulting detail is the next phase but we have an idea it wont stop there……..      
                John Charles Shaw – Penistone footballing pioneer – NUMBER THREE
OK, what to say about John Charles Shaw? Let’s just start with a few of his contributions to our beautiful game:
· Founder of the worlds 2nd oldest association football club, Hallam FC
· First captain of the world’s oldest football club, Sheffield FC
· First ever player to lift a football trophy as captain of the winning team. Youdan Cup 1867
· Captain of Hallam FC for the world’s first ever club football match, Hallam FC vs Sheffield FC, 1860
· Established the world’s first ever county FA, Sheffield FA, 1867
· Played in the first ever intercity match, Sheffield vs Nottinghamshire 1865
· Played in the first ever inter association match, Bramall Lane, 1871
· Probably most importantly, President of Sheffield FA when the rules of football were finally unified in 1877.
Shaw was born in Penistone in 1830, the son of a bootmaker. Again, like our other 2 Penistone footballing pioneers (John Ness Dransfield & John Marsh), he was inspired to play football, baptised & educated by the Reverend Samuel Sunderland. Baptised at St John’s Church in Penistone & educated at Penistone Grammer School.
John worked as a clerk at Dransfield’s solicitors in Penistone before moving to Sheffield in the early 1850’s. He married Mary Ann Garnett in 1853, and the couple moved into premises at 19 Norfolk Row. (now Imperial Chambers). John operated a Legal Stationers business from the same address. It was during this period that Shaw developed relationships with like-minded footballing enthusiasts and able to take his Penistone footballing influences to Sheffield FC as their first official captain in 1859 (possibly earlier).
Shaw retained his membership of the Sheffield Club despite forming the world’s second oldest club Hallam in late 1860.
Shaw’s involvement with the development of the game in Sheffield and beyond is hugely impressive.
The Sheffield and Hallam clubs were involved in the first inter-club match in December 1860 with Creswick and Shaw the opposing captains.
John Charles Shaw was a member of the Sheffield team that played against a London representative side at Battersea Park in 1866.
The Hallam club, with John Charles Shaw as captain, were victorious in winning the world’s first adult knock-out football competition, the Youdan Trophy in 1867.
John Charles Shaw was a member of the Youdan organising committee which led to the establishing of the Sheffield Football Association in 1867. In 1868 he was Vice-President and in 1869 he became President of the Association. A position he retained for 14 years.
Shaw was voted to be 12th man in the first inter-association game held at Bramall Lane in 1871 between London and Sheffield. Charles William Alcock had selected a team to represent London but were a man short. John Charles Shaw played in goal for the visiting side.
In 1876, the Sheffield Association Challenge Cup was initiated. John Charles Shaw captained the Thursday Wanderers aged 46, in the first round of the cup, losing 5-4 to the Heeley club.
In 1877, with John Charles Shaw as President, the Sheffield Association, reached an agreement with the London Association regarding the rules of the game. This established a universal code for the playing of association football throughout England.
John Charles Shaw eventually moved to Birmingham due to work commitments, where he remained until his death in 1918.
The two decades between 1857 to 1877 are the most crucial in the making of the modern game of association football, prior to the onset of professionalism and leagues. John Charles Shaw straddled these two decades being at the forefront of this making and was a continuous presence helping to influence and shape the evolvement of the game. The world of football and Sheffield in particular, owe him a huge debt of gratitude.
John Charles Shaw’s grave at Brandwood End Cemetery, Kings Heath, Birmingham. It is the sad empty bit between the other two graves in the photo below.
Thanks to Kevin Neill for source information and photos.

Last Grave Gardeners Session of 2024

SATURDAY 14TH DECEMBER. MEET OPPPOSITE THE LODGE AT 11AM.
As you can imagine we will have to confirm this literally on Friday (So watch this feed in case we have to cancel) as things in the Cemetery are not as they usually are BUT there are many areas of the cemetery unaffected by the current fallen tree issues so we should be OK to go ahead.
We welcome anyone who fancies some outdoor exercise whilst helping to clear graves. Feel free to bring your own gloves and tools such as secateurs and loppers but please make sure you have stout footwear.
WE WILL NOT BE WORKING NEAR ANY OF THE FELLED TREES. THESE WILL BE LEFT TO THE PROFESSIONALS !
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Trees down in recent storm.

Many of you will already know that there were many trees brought down in the recent storm.  The cemetery didn’t escape unscathed and we think this is the worst time the trees have had- at least in the last 20 years.

We fear we have lost at least 10 very large trees, several large bows and many more smaller trees and shrubs. Some of the trees were deciduous and without leaves so it was fairly easy to see if there was any headstone damage. We are pleased to say that miraculously very few graves have been seriously affected but it is less easy to say what has happened under the large Conifers.

Until the trees have been removed, and that will take some time, you will not be able to get any reassurance as to the condition of memorial beneath them. As you can appreciate there are many trees down in many locations and the cemetery was shut on Sunday and early this morning to allow the inspection of the damage. We believe opening hours are now as normal but this may change as and when Tree Surgeons are operating in various areas.

It is noticeable that the main cause of the felled trees seems to be very turbulent wind in confined areas of the cemetery during the storm and the waterlogged soil after a huge amount of rain. The trees themselves generally appeared healthy. So sad as most of them were mature and part of the Grade 2 avenue plan.

Land Mine in Hollywood in 1940

We posted the query below on our facebook site and we have had such an interesting selection of replies that we have decided to reproduce them here to thank everyone and also so the enquirer can see them, as not everyone uses Facebook. Followers never disappoint us and we knew that the supporters of the Friends would help if they could. We have such local knowledge amongst residents, and whilst this query doesnt directly relate to Brandwood End Cemetery it is very interesting!

In November 1940 my mother lived in Hollywood, Birmingham. A land mine that was meant for Birmingham fell short and on their house (which was called Acorn cottage) . All of upstairs ended up downstairs. No one was killed, except my grandfather’s potato bury which he had just made ready for the winter went up in ready made chips. Do you know if there is anything in print in the newspapers of the time about this. It was opposite a barrage balloon site that was run by Wythall RAF and was on the Alcester road out towards Redditch.  Their family name was Clarke.

These are the replies :

My father told me the story of being in a pub in Hollywood when a bomb went off nearby. He was amused by an old guy sitting near a window when the blast blew the glass out. Undeterred, he finished his pint with the curtains flapping around his ears… I wonder if it was the same incident?

Try the Birmingham family history group, there’s a chance someone may know something. My Mum was friends with a George and Edith Clarke who lived out at Hollywood.

There is a history group of Wythall, Hollywood and surroundings on-line you could try them!

Civil Defence archives at Central library?

 I think this house belonged to my partners family . His father was playing in the garden close by at the time and has often recounted the story . If you send me a PM , we will see if we can help.

 Hollywood is in the country of Worcestershire, there may be records at The Hive, in Worcestershire.

Friends of Key Hill Cemetery & Warstone Lane Cemetery Est 2004. Birmingham

It would be helpful to have the Mothers full name and those who she was living with from 1939 to 1945 plus the full address.

Due to the Secret D Notice little was reported in newspapers for the Birmingham area.

Hollywood is in the country of Worcestershire, there may be records at The Hive, in Worcestershire.

BARRA’s records tend to cover Birmingham then in the county of Warwickshire.

As mentioned above we may be able to assist if names are given, but understand that the person who is enquiring, may not wish to divulge this  information publicly.( Member of BARRA since its formation)

https://www.thehiveworcester.org/

Football Connection to Brandwood End

I am sure we must have some followers who are also interested in Football? This gentleman is buried in Brandwood End in an unmarked grave. Like many, he has a back story and a serious football connection!
 
John Charles Shaw – born 1830 Penistone a market town in the metropolitan borough of Barnsley West Riding of Yorkshire – died on the 23rd November 1918 aged eighty eight. His wife Louise had purchased the burial plot at Brandwood End Cemetery, Kings Heath Birmingham. Full obituaries appeared in the Birmingham and Sheffield press,
Educated at Penistone Gramma School – based on evidence took football played at Penistone to Sheffield in 1853 – First Captain of Sheffield Football Club – the world’s oldest football club founded1857 and Founder of Hallam Football Club 1860. Member of first representative side – London v Sheffield 1866. Captain of winning Hallam Club for Youdan Trophy 1867 – the world’s first organised knockout challenge cup. President of Sheffield Football Association – first provincial association in the country 1869 – oversaw the amalgamation with the Football Association in 1877.
Source kind permission of Hallam Football Club
Penistone History Archive
1866 was the year that saw the first representative soccer match between London and Sheffield and John Charles Shaw was selected to play in this first encounter. 1867 saw the Youdan Cup competition take place, with twelve Sheffield clubs taking part in this, the world’s first knock-out tournament, which was eventually won by Hallam. The Sheffield Football Association was formed shortly after the Youdan Cup.
What is highly significant is that John Charles Shaw is a major contributor in almost all of the initial stages of football development in Sheffield. He is connected not only with the establishment of the Sheffield Football Club, Hallam Club, and Youdan Cup, but also the founding of the Sheffield Football Association with its Players Insurance Fund, and the historic links with London and Birmingham.
http://www.playingpasts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/JCS-part-3-image-4.jpg.png
http://www.playingpasts.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/JCS-part-3-image-5.jpg.png-300×169.jpg
The Youdan Trophy. The world’s first knock-out challenge cup competition. Won by the Hallam Club and held aloft in triumph by the captain, John Charles Shaw.
The following year saw the Cromwell Cup, the world’s second oldest competition. Won by the Wednesday Club and held aloft in triumph, by the victorious captain John Marsh, both captains, former pupils of Penistone Grammar School. Source: by permission of Hallam Football Club.
John Charles Shaw’s grave at Brandwood End Cemetery –
Section B2 C/E Grave 1326 – the empty space in the middle plot.

Remembrance 2024

Todays Remembrance service was well attended with well over 150 people attending. The leaves quietly falling off the trees during the two minute silence in some way added to the atmosphere and the Buglers performance was top rate as usual.

Wreaths were laid by a number of organisations including the Police, Fire Service, Ambulance Service and local Councillors.

If you follow this link you can find an album of photos taken by committee members.