evement was almost of national
dimensions; but of more importance was the decided impetus it have to the
inventive skill of lock makers, by demonstrating that Bramah had not yet
arrived at finality in lock making; a great number of further
improvements were soon forthcoming in the manufacture of these goods.

Chubb's patent was granted in 1818; this inventor declared it was
possible to have the locks on the doors of every house in London opened
by a different key, and yet have a master-key that would pass the whole
of them. Chubb's world-famous concern is now located at Wolverhampton.

Dr. Plot, writing of this county in 1686, makes no mention of the trade
being carried on in Willenhall, but gives some account of it in
Wolverhampton; gossiping pleasantly on "sutes" of six or more locks,
passable by one master-key, being sold round the country by the chapmen
of his time; of the finely wrought keys he had seen; of the curious
tell-tale locks which recorded the times they had been opened; and of one
valuable Wolverhampton specimen containing chimes which could be set to
"go" at any particular hour.

A local writer has said--on what authority is not stated--that Queen
Elizabeth granted to the township of Willenhall the privilege of making
all the locks required for State purposes; and argues from that
profitable piece of State patronage the rapid growth of Willenhall, as
evidenced by the fact that in 1660 when the Hearth Tax came to be levied
this place paid on 13 more hearths than the mother town of Wolverhampton.

Dr. Wilkes has recorded that in his time Willenhall consisted of one long
street, newly paved; and he then proceeds to say:--

"The village did not begin to flourish till the iron manufactory was
brought into these parts in the reign of Queen Elizabeth."

This may, or may not, refer to the making of locks and keys, but it
certainly refers to the great devastation of Cannock Forest in providing
charcoal for iron-smelting. The doctor continues:--

"Since that time this place is become very populous, and more locks
of all kinds are made here than in any other town of the same size in
England or Europe. The better sort of which tradesmen have erected
many good houses."

Some of these "good houses" are still standing; and as to the
"populousness" of the place, there may have been 2,000 inhabitants at
that time. A return has been given forth that in 1770 Willenhall
contained 148 loc