Close, but no cigar? The Castles seems to have been the colloquial form of Castlefort, or Castle Gate. A wonderful image from ‘Memories of Old Walsall Wood’ by Bill Mayo and John Sale.
An interesting enquire from reader Mike Stackhouse, who’s researching his family history. Mike mailed me to ask the following:
Hi Bob,
I wonder if you could help me. I have been doing a bit of family tree tracing and with the release of the 1911 cencus have a little problem…
It lists my Gran as living at The Fort, Brownhills, nearr Walsall, and i cannot trace where it is. I know that she later lived in Bug row (Silver St-Pier St) Pear tree lane and Red Lion Lane all of which are fine, as I was bought up in Pear tree Lane and The Avenues.
My brother says it may mean Castlefort, Walsall Wood… who knows? I hope that you or one of your assosciates can help,
Regards
Mike Stackhouse
This is a very interesting question that’s worthy of discussion. I’ve never heard the term before, but I do wonder if any readers have?
The area of Walsall Wood near the old hill fort I’ve always known as Castlefort, and the the area at the brow of the hill as Castle Gate. It seems this was colloquially known as ‘The Castles’ by many older folk, but not “The Fort’, as far as I know.
Striking miners at Bug Row, Coppice Common, Brownhills, early 1900s. The terraces in the background are probably Bug Row itself. Image embedded from Stuart Williams photo stream on Flickr. Click the image to see it there.
Bug Row was just off what today is known as Coppice Side – a row of terraces not far from Marklews Pond and Engine Lane, now lost under factories. Other than that, I have no idea.
Answers, comments and all the usual stuff to BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com, or comment here, please.