Skip over main navigation
  • Sign up
  • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
Warley Woods Community Trust
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
Golf Join or donate
Menu
  • About the Trust
    • What we do
    • How we're funded
    • Our achievements
    • Who our work helps
    • Our team and patrons
      • Our Trustees
      • Our Staff Team
      • Patrons
    • Governance
    • Our leaflets online
    • Green Flag Award
    • Tales of Warley Woods (our blogs)
  • Plan your visit
    • How to get here
    • On Site Facilities and Access
    • Opening times
    • Hire our room
    • Arrange an activity
    • Frequently asked Questions
  • Explore
    • Our history
      • Warley Woods through the ages
      • An oral history of Warley Woods
      • Humphry Repton our celebrations
    • Wildlife spotting
    • Wild Warley
    • Our guides to Warley Woods
    • Getting Active
    • Frequently asked questions
  • What's on
    • Our Outdoor Room project
    • Upcoming events
    • School Holiday Activities
    • Latest news
  • Warley Woods Golf Course
    • Everything for our Golfers
    • Essential information for all Golfers January 2021
    • Our Golf Course
    • Green Fees
    • Golf Offers
    • Opening times
    • How to get here
    • Equipment Hire
    • Warley Woods Golf Club
    • Golf coaching
  • Support us
    • Donate or Join
    • Volunteer with us
    • Wild Warley Volunteering
    • Adopt a tree
    • Adopt a bench
    • Fundraise
      • Fundraising ideas
      • Set up a fundraising page
      • Our Fundraisers
    • Leave a legacy
    • Corporate Support
  • Shop
  • Admin
    • Log in
  • Basket: (0 items)
  1. Explore
  2. Our history

An oral history of Warley Woods

Ever since Warley Woods Community Trust began managing Warley Woods in 2004, people have been coming into the Trust’s office sharing their memories. It became clear that people wanted to share them and that these fascinating stories should be recorded for others to hear. This was the impetus behind planning this oral history project and we were keen to ensure we recorded as many memories as we could.

The Community Trust has been able to undertake this project thanks to the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund. Their grant provided funding for training, equipment and professional support with sound editing, video production and transcribing.

Beginning in February 2012 with the first training course for interviewers, our volunteers have been out and about around the area responding to people who offered stories for our collection. Thirty-nine people have shared the part that Warley Woods has played in their lives and their stories span from the 1920s to the present day.

A book of these stories has been published by Warley Woods Community Trust which is available at the shop at The Pavilion, Lightwoods Hill. We think it does paint a fabulous picture of experiences and detail which ordinary history books could never tell.

Part of this project involved the students of two local schools: Abbey Junior School and St Gregory’s Catholic Primary School. In spring and summer 2013 Julia Letts of the Oral History Society visited the schools over a number of weeks, training the students in how to be good interviewers. The students then interviewed seven local residents about their memories of Warley Woods on camera, filmed by a professional film company, Scraggy Dog. 

The book and DVD can be bought at The Shop at the Pavilion or in our online shop. The book includes a CD with some of the stories we recorded. 


If you love Warley Woods, its history and care for its future, please support the Community Trust with a donation.

Please select a donation amount (required)
Set up a regular payment Donate


 

      1. Kathleen Perkins Holidays

        Track_01.mp3
        Your browser does not support the audio element. Please click here to download the file


      2. Paul Ross Park Keepers and Scouts

        Track_02.mp3
        Your browser does not support the audio element. Please click here to download the file


      3. Dorothy Ludlow The Morris Dancers 

        Track_03.mp3
        Your browser does not support the audio element. Please click here to download the file


      4. Roger Phipps Cross Country Running 

        Track_04.mp3
        Your browser does not support the audio element. Please click here to download the file


      5. Nigel Lloyd Warley Woods Pacers 

        Track_05.mp3
        Your browser does not support the audio element. Please click here to download the file


      6. Sharon Williamson Fallen Tree 

        Track_06.mp3
        Your browser does not support the audio element. Please click here to download the file


      7. Kate Slade Santa

        Track_07.mp3
        Your browser does not support the audio element. Please click here to download the file


      8. Jim Haycock Courting 

        Track_08.mp3
        Your browser does not support the audio element. Please click here to download the file


      9. Beryl Paramore Courting 

        Track_09.mp3
        Your browser does not support the audio element. Please click here to download the file


      10. Roger Phipps Sledging 

        Track_10.mp3
        Your browser does not support the audio element. Please click here to download the file


      11. Bernard Cox Sledging 

        Track_11.mp3
        Your browser does not support the audio element. Please click here to download the file


      12. Joy Ricketts Sledging 

        Track_12.mp3
        Your browser does not support the audio element. Please click here to download the file


      13. Nigel Lloyd Sledging 

        Track_13.mp3
        Your browser does not support the audio element. Please click here to download the file


      14. Robert Jones Sledging accident 

        Track_14.mp3
        Your browser does not support the audio element. Please click here to download the file


      15. Alan Reynolds Sledging 

        Track_15.mp3
        Your browser does not support the audio element. Please click here to download the file


      16. David Gray The Icehouse 

        Track_16.mp3
        Your browser does not support the audio element. Please click here to download the file


      17. Steve Cemm The fence 

        Track_17.mp3
        Your browser does not support the audio element. Please click here to download the file


      18. Anthea Kirk Near the Abbey 

        Track_18.mp3
        Your browser does not support the audio element. Please click here to download the file


      19. Robert Jones Inside the Abbey 

        Track_19.mp3
        Your browser does not support the audio element. Please click here to download the file


      20. Derek Ward Inside the Abbey 

        Track_20.mp3
        Your browser does not support the audio element. Please click here to download the file


      21. Anthea Atherton Inside the Abbey Clubhouse 

        Track_21.mp3
        Your browser does not support the audio element. Please click here to download the file


      22. Peter Munn Inside the Abbey 

        Track_22.mp3
        Your browser does not support the audio element. Please click here to download the file


      23. Jack Yates Inside the Abbey 

        Track_23.mp3
        Your browser does not support the audio element. Please click here to download the file


      24. Keith Hutchinson The Pool  

        Track_24.mp3
        Your browser does not support the audio element. Please click here to download the file


      25. Paul Ross The Rose Garden 

        Track_25.mp3
        Your browser does not support the audio element. Please click here to download the file


We have reached the maximum number of sound clips for an individual webpage.  You can find the rest of our sound stories on this second page.  

    Published: 30th April, 2018

    Updated: 22nd May, 2020

    Author:

    Related topics:
    • History
    Share this page
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Twitter

    Latest

    • Use of Drones

    • Work on the Wilderness: Please take special care

      Work on the Wilderness: Please take special care

      Temporary Closure

    • Identify Deciduous Trees In Winter

      Identify Deciduous Trees In Winter

      Getting stuck on twigs? Learn how to identify trees during winter!

    • Ask a Question

    Related

    • 2004 to today: The Trust's Management

      What the Trust has achieved.

    • History Trail Guide

      History Trail Guide

      A guide to the hidden history of Warley Woods

    • 1900 - 2004

      The People's Park is created.

    • 1500 - 1900

      The Warley Hall Estate.

    • 1066 - 1500

      Farmland.

    Most read

    • Seven reasons why you should vote for Warley Woods now

      Seven reasons why you should vote for Warley Woods now

      Please vote!

    • Green Fees

      Green Fees

      What does it cost?

    • Dame Julie Walters asks for your help

      Dame Julie Walters asks for your help

      One of our Patrons, brought up just a stone's throw from Warley Woods asks for your help for the Community Trust

    • What you need to know when bringing children to Warley Woods this Summer

      What you need to know when bringing children to Warley Woods this Summer

      Things you need to know before you come and ideas for what to do when you arrive.

    • Opening times

      Opening times

      Open All Hours.

    • On Site Facilities and Access

      What can you expect to find at Warley Woods

    • A beginner's guide to our special trees

      A beginner's guide to our special trees

      An introduction to some of Warley Woods' most interesting residents.

    • The Course

      The Course

      Find out more about Warley Woods Golf Course

    • Warley Woods - The People's Choice Award

      Warley Woods - The People's Choice Award

      Warley Woods is one of the UK's Favourite Parks 2018

    • How to get here

      How to get here

      Our address, a map and parking info.

    Tag cloud

    Your chosen tree

    Sign up for our newsletter

    Please enter your first name
    Please enter your last name
    Please enter your email address Please enter a valid email address (e.g. [email protected])

    Find us

    Warley Woods Community Trust
    The Pavilion,
    101 Lightwoods Hill,
    Smethwick
    West Midlands
    B67 5ED

    +44 (0)121 420 1061 office
    +44 (0)121 429 2440 shop and golf
    Please note if you are calling to book golf which is essential at the moment you will need the name and address of your playing partners.  Thanks for your help.
    [email protected]

    Links

    • Sitemap
    • Accessibility
    • Terms & Conditions
    • Privacy Policy

    Follow us

      • Facebook
      • Twitter

    Charity number: 1092754