Taken on Sunday, 9th June, 1963, and reproduced by kind permission of Lichfield District Council, 2012. Click for a larger version. A full quality PDF can be downloaded below.
This is a teaser. I have been supplied with eight images from this set, and frankly, they’ve blown me away. The image shown here will interest so many people – from Chasewater Wildlife Group, to Brownhills history enthusiasts, mining wonks and canal buffs.
The images are from Lichfield District Council’s archives, and have been very kindly scanned and supplied by top council officer Gareth Thomas. I can’t thank him for his wonderful act enough. All eight images in the set are fascinating, and there will be more to come at the weekend.
This image was taken on June 9th, 1963. It was a Sunday, and Chasewater – then I think still called Norton Pool – was packed. A big funfair is on the go, boats are on the water and there are cars and people everywhere. I note the water level to be quite low. It’s quite late in the afternoon looking at the shadows, which are being cast to the east.
Does anyone have any ideas as to what the event may have been?
Turn your gaze from Chasewater to Brownhills. Railways in full, pre-Beeching glory. Factories, mines and spoil heaps. Lost buildings. Brownhills before it entered the modern age.
Enjoy, and thanks again to Gareth. You can download a PDF version of the image (1.4 megabytes) by clicking the below link. It’s slightly better quality than the PNG linked by clicking on the small version above.
Chasewater and Brownhills, Sunday 9th June 1963
Comments are invited. More to come at the weekend. Isn’t this just wonderful?