Because you’re free to read this blog
#365DaysOfBiking- May 22nd - And then, returning home, I noticed this.... May 23, 2013
- May 22nd - I was heading home today from work, and for some... May 23, 2013
- May 21st - An odd day, I was at home until lunchtime, then had... May 22, 2013
- May 20th - On my way home tonight, I hopped onto the canal... May 20, 2013
- May 20th - A small result. The bike racks at Birmingham New... May 20, 2013
- May 19th - Up on the north heath at Chasewater, something rather... May 19, 2013
- May 19th - A busy day at Chasewater. Linda Mason had posted some... May 19, 2013
- May 18th - A late evening run to the supermarket, and one of the... May 19, 2013
- May 18th - I’m hoping a linesman or electrical engineer... May 19, 2013
- May 17th - Interesting to note that the Wakeboarding company who... May 18, 2013
- May 17th - Spring wends onward, despite somewhat indifferent... May 18, 2013
- May 16th - Spring is here, too, at the verges, hedgerows and... May 17, 2013
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Blogs I Follow
- Morturn - Sandfields Pumping Station
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- 150 great things about the Underground
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Tag Archives: Gerald Reece
Let it pour
Here’s an interesting (and slightly daft) query for a pre-Christmas weekend. David Evans, reader, contributor and top Walsall Wood bloke, was very kindly given this commemorative jug by local history wonder Gerald Reece, when Gerald undertook his recent excellent talk in Brownhills.
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Posted in Churches, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Church, David Evans, Events, Gerald Reece, gift, Jug, Local History, memento, New Photos, pottery, St Johns, Walsall Wood
3 Comments
After the gold rush
I thought that today, I’d dig some interesting mapping out of the archive. In the light of Gerald Reece’s talk on Brownhills and it’s colliery history, I thought this 1884 1:2,500 scale plan of Wyrley Common was due an outing. It shows – in some clarity – the extent of mining in the Engine Lane area at the height of the Victorian period.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Local History, News, Shared media, Walsall community
Tagged 1884, 1:2500, Brownhills, Brownhills Colliey, Brownhills local history, Canal, Cathedral Pit, Engine Lane, Gerald Reece, Grove Colliery, Local History, Old maps, Ordnance Survey, Palmers Hay, Staffordshire, Wyrley common
8 Comments
Local history talk in Brownhills tonight!
Top contributor, commentor and all round good egg David Evans has been busy over the last few weeks organising a treat for local history buffs in Brownhills and the wider community. David has kindly contacted noted local historian and author … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills a walk into history, Brownhills bypass, Brownhills local history, Canal, charity, Chasewater, Clayhanger, David Evans, Engine Lane, Events, Gerald Reece, historian, history, History Talk, Local History, Macmillan Cancer Support, mining, planning, Staffordshire, Things to do
4 Comments
Curious electric
It’s a curious fact of local history that little St. Anne’s Church, in Church Street, Chasetown, was the first church in Britain lit by electric light. The history of this installation, and of electricity coming to Chasewtown and Brownhills is inextricably tied up with the history of mining in the area.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, Churches, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills a walk into history, Brownhills local history, Canal, Cannock Chase Colliery Company, charity, Chase Terrace, Chasetown, Chasewater, Clayhanger, Electricity, Events, Gerald Reece, historian, history, History Talk, Local History, Macmillan Cancer Support, mining, No 5 pit, planning, St. Anne's, Staffordshire, Things to do, UDC
11 Comments
Top local historian to give talk in Brownhills!
Top contributor, commentor and all round good egg David Evans has been busy over the last few weeks organising a treat for local history buffs in Brownhills and the wider community.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills a walk into history, Brownhills bypass, Brownhills local history, Canal, charity, Chasewater, Clayhanger, David Evans, Engine Lane, Events, Gerald Reece, historian, history, History Talk, Local History, Macmillan Cancer Support, mining, planning, Staffordshire, Things to do
11 Comments
Top local historian to give talk in Brownhills!

Top contributor, commentor and all round good egg David Evans has been busy over the last few weeks organising a treat for local history buffs in Brownhills and the wider community. Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills a walk into history, Brownhills bypass, Brownhills local history, Canal, charity, Chasewater, Clayhanger, David Evans, Engine Lane, Events, Gerald Reece, historian, history, History Talk, Local History, Macmillan Cancer Support, mining, planning, Staffordshire, Things to do
6 Comments
Face to face
Following on from my post last week where I featured local historian Gerald Reece’s research and loving reproductions of the mapping for the the proposed Norton Branch of the South Staffordshire Railway, I have an interesting document to share with … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 1884, Bettys Lane, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Cannock Chase Mining Historical Society, Conduit Colliery, Conduit colliery basin, Document, Draft, Gerald Reece, history, local blogs, Local History, London North Western Railway, mining, New Photos, Norton Branch, Norton Canes, Old maps, plan, Pubs, Railway, Red Lion, Redevelopment, South Staffordshire Raiway, Staffordshire
9 Comments
Up for sale – The Swan Inn, Brownhills, in 1835
Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler has played another blinder and found this auction advert in the Staffordshire Advertiser of Saturday, 31st October 1835. It advertises the Swan Inn and it’s not inconsiderable estate for sale. This was quite some holding, and would have … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged 1835, Auction, Bell pit, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Engine Piece, Forster, Gerald Reece, Inn, Local History, mining, Naden, Norton, Ogley Hay, Pelsall Road, Peter Cutler, Pump, Staffordshire, Swingbridge Farm, The Swan, Thomas Bowen, Tithe, Watermead
2 Comments
Tenths
One of the wonderful things Gerald Reece sent me following our recent email exchange is a scan of a compilation of tithe maps of western Brownhills. I wasn’t actually aware this existed, and it helps clear up a few things, … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media
Tagged 1840, Auction, Bell pit, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Clayhanger, Derelict, Engine Piece, Gerald Reece, Local History, map, mining, Norton, Ogley Hay, Old maps, Panoramio, Peter Cutler, Pump, Staffordshire, Swingbridge Farm, Tithe, Watermead
25 Comments
A day at the races
I note today there’s been growing interest in the question of Brownhills Racecourse, such as it was. For younger readers, this wasn’t the old stadium by Chasewater which an unsuccessful trotting track, or it’s precursor, the trotting track on the … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, charity, Clayhanger, David Evans, Dorsett, Events, football, Gerald Reece, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, Pedro Cutler, Peter Cutler, Rabbit coursing, Race Course, Ravens Court, Redevelopment, Staffordshire, Tesco Development, wakes, Water meadow, Watermead, William ROberts
11 Comments

