Up the wooden hill to Bedfordshire was common in Swinton as well, Villan. But considering a chunk of the area was known as 'Little Bilston' it is hardly surprising that there was some cross-cuture going on. The Staffordshire miners were brought to the Lancashire coal fields during a strike - Not enamouring themselves to the locals. My grandad used to say, as a partial insult if you looked out of the ordinary 'Thee fathurs a Staffordshur mon' (Fathur rhyming with gather rather than father!). Odd considering his Grandfather came from Sedgely! Mrs G and I found out recently that here ancestors came from Bilston as well - A couple of miles as the crow flies from Sedgely.

Cheers

DtG