Cannock Chase Coalfield Memorial
This memorial was created in four phases, through public subscription and donations, commencing in 2006 and completed in 2017, It features the names of 4034 loved ones and the colliery they worked in, which is now commemorated forever. We give thanks to the local volunteers who assist to keep the lamp and its surrounding planting a valued focal point in Hednesford Town.
Phase 1
The 1,130 named bricks within Phase 1 of the memorial were laid to form a wall outside Hednesford Library. The wall extends to a circular section on which is mounted the Giant Davy Lamp with its perpetual flame. Planning had begun some two years earlier, members of the public applied for an paid for the named bricks - each one has the name of the person and the colliery with which he/she was most closely associated. The bricks were all donated by Builders' Merchant E.H. Smith and inscribed by Ibstock Brick Ltd.
Phase 2
Due to great public demand, a second phase of 1,491 named bricks was added towards the end of 2011 - this phase was dedicated in 2012. As the wall with the phase 1 bricks could not be extended, these bricks were laid around two of the grass areas around the Town Clock. To link these sections slabs with the names of all Collieries within the Cannock Chase Coalfield were laid, beginning at the Davy Lamp, going up to and around the clock.
Phase 3
Interest in the Cannock Chase Coalfield Memorial continued, and more and more people - from the local area and much further afield in both this country and abroad - asked if they could buy a named brick. In 2014, a further 913 named bricks were laid - this time around the edges of the grass areas in front of the town clock, adjacent to the footpath. As with previous phases the project was funded by the money raised as payment for the inscribed bricks.
Phase 4
In 2017 the fourth and final phase of 500 named bricks within the Cannock Chase Coalfield Memorial was dedicated. CHAPS committee members had continued to receive requests for named bricks from former miners and their families and CHAPS wished to give that opportunity to everyone who wanted to be included. Due to available space and planning permissions, this had to be the final phase of the project. This Dedication Service, like the three previous ones, was attended by around 2,000 people and was a special and emotional occasion. People often lay flowers on the bricks - a wonderful way of remembering all who worked in this particular coalfield.