Reader Peter contacted me a few days ago with an interesting inquiry about a strange structure behind the Brickmaker’s Arms in Salters Road, Walsall Wood. I suggested Peter write up the item himself, and he’s kindly obliged. All I can think of is this is a barrel lift, but it seems way to tall for that.
It would appear to be a 1940s or later construction from the style of girder work, but I honestly have no idea.
If anyone knows, or has any theories, please do comment or mail me on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Thanks due to peter for a great article and intriguing puzzle.Cheers!
Looks like a gantry of some sort… Picture kindly sent in by reader Peter.
Certainly a tall structure… those girders look 1940’s in origin. Picture supplied by Peter.
Bob,
At the far end of the car park of the The Brickmakers Arms in Salters Road stands a rusting an clearly unused metalwork structure that looks as though it belonged to a bygone age.
It is approx 20 foot high and clearly formed what was part of a mechanism to transport something around, the obvious one being barrels. However there is a mystery!
Until quite recently there were wooden rails in the ground leading away from the structure, however they didn’t go anywhere near the pub itself, it seems strange as there is plenty of room around the pub for trucks / wagons to deliver the goods, looking at old photos it seems there has always been plenty of room.
At the bottom of the structure in amongst the undergrowth is what appears to be some wheels and a counterbalance arrangement.
I can say with reasonable certainty that the item on top of the ‘barrel’ is a motor pulley. Picture kindly supplied by Peter.
Clearly the whole arrangement was to lift, carry and move something, what it was designed for we could probably make a good guess at but to where seems mysterious. The sandy coloured track you can see in one of the photos is newly laid but follows exactly where the old wooden rails were?
I enclose some photos (Taken using only a mobile phone though!) for reference I didn’t ask permission to take them and I was on the car park at the time, however the car park is a cut through and seems to be used by all and sundry whether they’re visiting the pub or not. I can send larger file size photos if you wish.
If you have any doubts maybe you could pop in next time you’re passing.
Keep up the good work Bob, what you stimulate is fascinating and often essential.
Peter.
I’ve seen this kind of girder in wartime buildings with large span roofs, like factories and hangars. Picture taken and poster by Peter.
this looks like a path to me – it’s constructed in a similar way to canal towpaths. How odd. Picture supplied by Peter.