General enquiry about Priorslee

[robP]

Hi,

Not so much information about family members, but about where they lived.  My Great Grandfather a Samuel Poole was a coal miner (as were most who lived around the area) who lived at 760 Booth Cottages, Priors lee, Shifnal.

Just out of interest does anyone know if they are still standing at all, as I would like to travel over there (as the Poole family has spread its wings and I live in Lincolnshire now) and perhaps get a picture or two of the dwellings they lived in.

Thanks for any info found

Rob P

[Kazlee]

Hi,

I not sure if Booth Cottages are still around, but I would be very surprised if they are, as many of the old cottages were demolished to make way for new roads and houses when Telford new town was developed. 

My great aunt lived in the family cottage in The Square at Priors Lee, and when she was approached by the council to sell in the early 70's, she refused to move, so it still stands, so you never know.

Kaz

[Kazlee]

Hi Rob,

I've just talked to a friend who lives in the area, she will try to find out for you and I'll let you know.

Kaz

[robP]

Hi, Kaz

Thanks for that, it is much appreciated.

Rob

[Kazlee]

Hi Rob,

I'm afraid the news is not good, according to a builder that has lived very near to Priorslee all his life and he's now in his 70's, he can't ever remember any Booth Cottages, so they must have been demolished a long time ago.  He did say they may have been in the area by St. Peters Church, as many were demolished there to build council houses before the war.

Kaz

[robP]

Hi Kaz

Thanks to yourself and your friends for your time and effort it is very much appreciated.  It was more curiosity than anything.

I've just looked back at my copy of the 1901 census I have for my great grandfather and what the builder said actually matches quite well with what is on the census, in that Boothes Cottages were in the ecclesiastical Parish of Priors Lee St Peters, so it does very much look as though they were demolished in the early 1900s.

Thanks again

Rob

[Kazlee]

No problem Rob, just glad I could help.

Kaz

[mrzjb]

It would appear we share a (great) great grandad - Samuel Poole -  my grandma was his grand-daughter Rhoda who stayed in the area - in fact she died whilst living on Freeston Avenue, which was just up the road from where the cottages used to be.

Booth cottages were knocked down to make way for the new town and were located next to the cricket pitch at the back of the Lion pub in Priorslee. Pretty much exactly where the M54 runs now if you look at google maps.