INTRODUCTION Many people in Codsall and in the surrounding area find it strange that newcomers to the village have no idea of the significance of the name of 'Bakers'. Not only was Bakers famous for its flowers and seeds, it also had a thriving landscape department. Skilled men from Bakers would happily construct anything that was required in your park or garden from tennis courts to swimming pools, terraces to bowling greens. The Nursery exhibited at all the major horticultural shows and could always be counted on to win many medals. For more than 50 years the life of many people in Codsall revolved around the bell above the warehouse, at the entrance to the Nursery in Church Road. Almost every family had someone who worked there. Sometimes the whole family was involved. So the bell, reminding people that they had ten minutes to get to work,  was a signal to the whole village.  It is difficult, therefore, to imagine how the memory of this important business has disappeared almost without trace, except for a few unexplained road names. As the Working Party of the History Society sat around a table thinking of subjects to research the name of Bakers kept coming up, but where to start and how to carry on? I volunteered to set the ball rolling. A small piece in the local newspaper asking for people who had worked there to get in touch  had an incredible response. The phone had to be taken off the hook in order for meals to be eaten. It was then that I realised just how important Bakers had been. An evening of slides and reminiscences went well, but it seemed a shame to lose it all. Consequently I set about trying to record any information that I could. This booklet contains that information and memories which I have collected over the last four years. I cannot vouch for the accuracy of all of it, as I have had to rely on other people's memories. I know there are many avenues which I have not explored, but at least it means that Bakers will not be entirely forgotten and a few famous names will once again be remembered.    My thanks must go to members of the Working Party as without their help and support the project would never have got under way. I would like to pay tribute particularly to Alan Hughes, who sadly is no longer with us. It was Alan who opened up avenues to research and established contacts to interview. Pat Edwards, of Boningale Nurseries, has given tremendous support as well as access to her unique collection of Bakers' memorabilia, for which I am very grateful. Sincere thanks are also due to John Blamire-Brown for his encouragement and David Holden, without whose marvellous collection of slides the Nursery would have to be remembered in words and not  pictures. It has only been possible to reproduce a few photographs here, but at least it gives a glimpse behind the nursery gates both at Codsall and Boningale. Judy Davies 2001 Acknowledgements Amongst the many people who have given up their time so generously I would particularly like to thank the following:- Jean Fanfield (nee Baker), Pat Edwards, Bill Thompson, Arthur Bunkell, Sadie Wallbank (nee Harris), Betty Heard and her daughter Caroline, John Walker, Graham Hughes Historian for Wolverhampton Wanderers Football Team, Peter Mills, Doris Noble (nee Wakeling), Phyliss Nihof (nee Wakeling), Bob Hosier, Pat Starkey, Marjorie Cooling, Pat Whittall, Walter Purcell and his wife, Wolverhampton Archive Library.

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