” Recollections of the Cannock Chase Mining Community” – the book running alongside the Cannock Chase Coalfield Memorial sited in Hednesford, Staffordshire
This book was written to tell the story of how the memorial came to be built. It is also a tribute to the area’s coal mining heritage and to the people who played a role, however big or small, in helping to create that heritage.
It also records all 4,034 names which appear on the bricks making up the memorial. This enabled those not able to visit the site an opportunity to have a record of names included within the memorial.
Mike Mellor and Julie Shires compiled and edited the book on behalf of CHAPS as the group was nearing completion of Phase 2 of the memorial. They approached several people from Mining Historical groups as well as committee members involved in the process; wrote chapters themselves charting progress and included some of the messages and letters sent in by those who purchased groups. Full lists of those named on the bricks were included: 1,130 within phase one and 1,491 in phase two.
Supplements were added with names of those included in phase three: 913 and phase four:500 – a total of 4,034 names.
3000 copies of the book were sold, a number were sent overseas. Copies were gifted to all Historical Societies involved, to Parish Councils who had donated towards the memorial, and to all libraries in the area meaning that the information included within the book will always be accessible.
The book is no longer available for sale but copies can be found in: Cannock, Hednesford, Norton Canes, Rugeley libraries; with the British Library; Parish Councils of Bridgtown, Brindley Heath, Burntwood, Cannock Wood, Great Wyrley, Heath Hayes & Wimblebury, Norton Canes; with Hednesford Town Council and Cannock Chase Council; Historical Societies of Bridgtown, Cheslyn Hay, Great Wyrley, Lea Hall & Brereton Collieries, Norton Canes, with the Museum of Cannock Chase and the William Salt Library, Stafford.