It’s all been a bit Walsall Wood lately. Here’s a bit of Brownhills ephemera.
Fresh from the bits and bobs box under [Howmuch?]’s sideboard: possibly the only photo I’ve ever seen of The Sportsman/Huntsman, the prefabricated, hideously ugly pub/club that stood on the land now occupied by the rather more aesthetically pleasing Smithy’s Forge. I had no idea it started life as a Working Men’s Club. I assume that’s the railway station building in the background with the tall chiney.
Anybody reading this know the full story? It’s come as a bit of a surprise to me. I thought the building was later than that, and I don’t quite recall a ‘concert hall’ being part of it, although it was a long, long time ago.
I’m also after a better picture, if anyone has one.
The article is from the Walsall Observer, July 5th, 1958.
July 5th, 1958 Walsall Observer image of the unfinished building that would become a local legend. I well remember the inset balcony at the top.
The article accompanying the above image read as follows:
Click for a larger, slightly more legible version.
Building To Start Again Shortly
After a lapse of about three months, work on the partly constructed new premises for Brownhills Workingmen’s Club in Lichfield Road, is to be recommence in the near future.
‘There is no truth in the story that the scheme will be abandoned,’ he added.
[Bob’s note: looks like bad edits were a problem, even then. Who said that?]
When completed the new club will incorporate a spacious concert hall, a feature that will be welcomed by the large membership, as lack of this accommodation in the old building has curtailed social events.
When work on the new site stopped because of unforeseen difficulties, there were rumours that the scheme had been abandoned because of financial problems. It was even said, one member told the ‘Observer’ that the partially completed building were to be converted into a maternity home.