www.ninemen.org
Community Play
by Alison Vermee
St. Michael’s Church, Madeley September 27th 2014
Edward Wallet, age 52
John Tranter, age 37
Benjamin Davies, age 35
William Jarratt, age 18
Joseph Maiden, age 18
John Farr, age 14
John Jones, age 14
Francis Cookson, age 13
William Onions, age 12
Tony Holstead
Richard Watkins
Rob Bennett
George Haddon-Gill
Frank Evans
Robert Walden
Peter Walden
Lewis Lister
Luke Haughton
John Anstice Madeley Wood Company proprietor
Keith Whitton
Nathaniel Davies age 65, sawyer, and father of Benjamin Davies
Doug Fall
George Evans age 41, a miner, of Madeley Wood Green
Denis Haughton
Maria Evans age 42, wife of George and mother of Rosey Evans
Julie Haughton
Rosey Evans age 8
Grace Haughton
Sarah Jarratt age 43, mother of William Jarratt
Iris Shingler
Elizabeth Jones age 42, mother of John Jones
Linda Cream
Margaret Morris age 19, boarder at the Davies’ house
Jade Cancelliere
Eliza Phasey age 33, Tranters’ neighbour
Rebecca Haddon-Gill
Ann Stubbs age 56, Servant at George and Dragon inn
Sue Pointon
Ann Tranter age 5, daughter of Rosannah and Edward Tranter
Lara Watkins
Rosannah Tranter age 31, wife of John Tranter, mother of six
Heather Watkins
Levi Tranter age 3, son of Rosannah and Edward Tranter
Caden Watkins
Jane Wallett age 11, daughter of Rosannah and Edward Wallett
Holly Watkins
Sarah Wallett age 50, wife of Edward Wallett
Carol de Cani
Rev. George Edward Yate Vicar St. Michael’s Church
Rev. Alan Walden
Director
Producer
Assistant Director
Set build
Sound artist
Technical support
Church Organist
Project photographer
Melissa Daly
Alison Vermee
Jade Cancelliere
Chris Phillips
Heather Wastie
George Holt, Colin Price,
Pete Shingler
Michael Davies
John Watson
The performance is set in Madeley and Ironbridge, with the church representing these
communities and locations. We visit the home of the Tranter family on Brockholes the Belmont area of Ironbridge; the Walletts’ kitchen on Thieve Street in the area of
Ironbridge known as The Green – by the Golden Ball pub; the George and Dragon
pub – now Dane House, a private residence on the corner of Belmont and Ironbridge
Road; Brick Kiln Leasow pit, the site of which was opposite the current site of
Abraham Darby Academy, and St. Michael’s Church where the funeral of the Nine
Men took place and where the men are buried in a communal grave.
The Nine Men of Madeley project is a community initiative generated by the people
of Madeley to commemorate the 150th anniversary of a disaster at the Brick Kiln
Leasow pit that claimed the lives of the Nine Men. The accident happened on
September 27th 1864. The aim of the project is to recognise, document and share the
history of working class life in Victorian Madeley.
Please visit the Nine Men of Madeley Project website at www.ninemen.org for more
information about the Nine Men and working class life in Victorian Madeley. Follow
the online town trail to discover key locations, including the location of the pit,
officially marked the site for the first time.
Please join with us in the singing of this hymn:
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in Thee;
Let the water and the blood,
From Thy wounded side which flowed,
Be of sin the double cure,
Save me from its guilt and power.
Nothing in my hand I bring,
Simply to Thy cross I cling;
Naked, come to Thee for dress;
Helpless, look to Thee for grace;
Foul, I to the fountain fly;
Wash me, Savior, or I die.
While I draw this fleeting breath,
when mine eyes shall close in death,
when I soar to worlds unknown,
see thee on thy judgment throne,
Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
Let me hide myself in thee.
The project is generously supported by Heritage Lottery Fund, Madeley Town
Council and St. Michael’s Church, Madeley.
Acknowledgements
We gratefully thank:
The cast of the play for their commitment and enthusiasm
Alan Walden, and the community of St. Michael’s Church, Madeley
Kath Petty Town Clerk, Madeley Town Council
Malcolm Morris, Andy Rose, Keith Whitton at Madeley Town Council
Blists Hill Victorian Town for the loan of props and costumes
Gazebo Theatre, Bilston for the loan of costumes
Pentabus Theatre for the loan of costumes
Maggie Hunt for the loan of costumes
Shelagh Hampton
Robert Petty
Janet Doody
www.ninemen.org