 When the Church of St. Anne`s was opened in Chasetown in September 1865 a celebration known as the Wakes was held.
This became an annual event held on the third Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in September.
A Flower Show was introduced on the Tuesday and Wednesday and the dates transferred to the first Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of the month in 1870.
In 1877 local chapels and other such organisations introduced sports on the Wednesday in a field near to the Colliery School in Church Street.
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The next year the sports were extended to the Tuesday as well and became the central part of the Wakes. The aim was to prevent the younger element giving way to ` extravagant and pernicious practices` when given time off to attend the Wakes.
In 1879 the Tuesday and Wednesdays were proceeded by a procession which `perambulated the country from Brownhills to Burntwood`. In 1883 a fun fair had been added to the fun of the Wakes, which by this time was now held on the first Tuesday and Wednesday of August to coincide with the school holidays.
In 1919 the Wakes were transferred to the Cannock Chase Colliery Company`s sports ground on High Street, but by 1959 the local pits had mainly all closed and interest in the Wakes had declined so much that they were halted. |
Burntwood Parish Council revived the Wakes in 1970 and the function was transferred to Lichfield District Council in the mid-nineties.
Today, Burntwood Town Council and its partners are again promoting the event as a major festival. In recent years the Wakes has returned as a family fun day with classical evening concert plus a full on outdoor concert on the Sunday which has featured varied artistes including the likes of Tony Christie and Status Quo.
The Wakes is an event for all the family, be it the fun day, Proms or Pop concert….and with your support long will it continue….. |
