For this weekend’s old photo feature, I’m dipping into that excellent work ‘Memories of Brownhills Past’ by Clarice Mayo and Geoff Harrington. Like many local history works, I think the print run was limited and it’s very hard to track down, although copies occasionally pop up on Amazon and eBay. I’d like to tip my hat to both authors on a fascinating collection of unusual pictures, and would recommend to anyone interested to try to get hold of a copy. I lean on such excellent books very heavily and my debt to the authors of them cannot be stated enough.
Brownhills Library had a couple of copies in last time I checked.
Returning for a final time to Cunnington’s, this unusual shot of the proprietors. Worth studying closely to try and recognise the brands in the background. From ‘Memories of Brownhills Past’ by Clarice Mayo and Geoff Harrington.
I remember the old Anchor Inn well, and running errands to the outdoor of an evening. I’d guess this shot would be from around 1985. From ‘Memories of Brownhills Past’ by Clarice Mayo and Geoff Harrington.
It’s hard to find any material at all about the old trotting track. I remember the stadium being visible from Shire Oak – it was some structure, but always looked derelict to me. From ‘Memories of Brownhills Past’ by Clarice Mayo and Geoff Harrington.
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Hi Bob,
Was the Trotting Track also the old Norton Canes Dog Track? I remember going there and this looks familiar.
All the best Pedro
Sorry Pedro, only just noticed your comment.
No, the Norton dog track was lost too, but that was to the west, here
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Brownhills,+Walsall,+United+Kingdom&ll=52.665361,-1.960802&spn=0.016878,0.017316&t=h&z=16
whereas the trotting track was to the southeast, here
http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Brownhills,+Walsall,+United+Kingdom&ll=52.658704,-1.939098&spn=0.00844,0.008658&t=h&z=17
Both now derelict with their buildings razed. Sad really, they had their own cultures and periods.
Best wishes
Bob
Hi Bob,
Thanks for the info. As a part of a misspent youth I remember going to the “Dogs” at Norton Canes, Wilenhall, Cradley Heath and many other tracks. Many now gone.
Best wishes Pedro
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Walsall F C were offerred the track way back in the days of Whelden but turned it down, then he tried to amalgamate it with Blues. I would have loved them to have moved there! Room in the middle for a soccer pitch and an athletics track may have also been there.
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