Amblecote History Society

Geoff Longmore opening the meeting proceeded to introduce Barbara Middlemass, author of “John Corbett - Pillar of Salt 1817-1901”. The Society was fortunate that Barbara was willing and able to step into the breach as the planned speaker had cancelled at very short notice.

Barbara took to the stage to a round of applause, initially referring to her 1985 book “Pillar of Salt” which she described as being drafted before the advent of computers - it is her intention to do a revised version, adding new or revised information about John Corbett’s life.

She then commenced her talk, clearly delivered without visual aids to a captive audience who were interested to learn more about this local man who made good, very good in fact! He was born to Joseph (son of a small farmer in Ludlow) and Hannah (nee Cole) in 1817 in Brierley Hill. Joseph’s father had died when he was only 19 and the modest inheritance fed his desire to “see the world” - well he got as far as Brierley Hill where he bought a canal boat and ran a successful transport business. The first child of six was John who was schooled in Brierley Hill until he was 11 but his parents were unable to fund further education and he was taken out of school and set to work in the business. By the age of 14 he was capable of taking charge of a boat and the crew and did just that until he was 23 when he got a job at Hunt and Brown of Leys Ironworks in Brockmoor where he worked as an apprentice. Upon completion of his apprenticeship he got a job at the Salt Works in Stoke Prior to further develop his skills in a different industrial landscape.

The mechanical and commercial improvements he introduced by lining the wells with cast iron saw his salt works become “the largest in Europe” with output growing from 26,000 to 200,000 tons in 25 years.

John travelled extensively and whilst in Paris in 1855 met an Irish man, John O’Meara, who married to a French woman had two daughters. Anna Eliza was the youngest daughter and he married her within a year of meeting her, despite the religious hurdles involved - Anna being staunch Catholic. They were to have six children together, 2 being boys. John spent a fortune building an impressive house for Anna who missed Parisian life and this remains today as the Chateau Impney.

John became increasingly involved in politics as a Liberal candidate and was elected at the 1874 general election as Member of Parliament (MP) for Droitwich (the Gladstone / Disraeli era), having unsuccessfully contested the seat in 1868.

John Corbett was clearly a rich, respected philanthropist who generously gave money to local causes - in Amblecote and surrounding villages of course we benefitted in 1892 from him buying “The Hill” estate which had stood empty and dilapidated for some years, along with its 30 acres of grounds for £6500 and after adding a further £5000 to restore and convert the buildings it became the Corbett hospital. He presented both to a board of trustees for the funding of the Corbett Hospital to cater for the local poor people of Stourbridge, Brierley Hill, Kingswinford, Wordsley, Brockmoor, Quarry Bank, Amblecote, Delph, Wollaston, Upperswinford, Pedmore, Hagley, , Lye and Wollescote.

In bringing her captivating talk to a conclusion Barbara informed the audience that next year is the 200th anniversary of John Corbett’s birth. Droitwich is planning a community event (“Salt King 200”) based on a picnic theme in the grounds of the Chateau Impney, very much in the way that John Corbett did when in residence. The celebration of his birth and life will take place on Sunday 25th June 2017 involving local schools and as John would have wished including music and a choir, a Victorian style fairground, “punishment” stocks and a bring your own picnic hamper. The Chateau Impney will be offering a hog roast. Helen Cook further advised that Amblecote History Society will be participating on the day through an historical display stand which the community can engage to find out more about John Corbett and his affiliation with Amblecote.

Barbara brought her talk to an end with an impassioned statement that she felt that John Corbett really did merit more formal recognition and there was no disagreement with that view from the audience who had enjoyed a really informative talk by a speaker who genuinely felt close to her subject. In answering a question from the audience Barbara commented that it is believed and certainly experienced by many that the spirit of John Corbett walks through Droitwich Library - crockery known to have moved overnight and footsteps heard in the floor above.

Geoff Longmore then gave formal thanks to Barbara for filling in the guest speaker spot at very short notice and also for delivering a most enjoyable talk about John Corbett who these days might be classed as a local celebrity. A generous round of applause for Barbara rounded off a fine evening.

Lance Cartwright, Amblecote History Society, PR & Communications Officer