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Monthly Archives: February 2013
Medical history?
A quick enquiry reaches me from reader Elizabeth Downs. Elizabeth asks an interesting question – Doctor Clamp was a noted General Practitioner in Brownhills, and worked from the Brickiln Street Surgery up until, I believe, the early 1980s.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged Brickiln Street, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clamp, Clayhanger, daughter, Doctor, Dr, Elizabeth Downs, General Practitioner, GP, Liz Downs, Local History, New Photos, Redevelopment, Short Street, Surgery
1 Comment
Gathering steam
The campaign to save Sandfields Pumping Station in Lichfield for the community continues apace. Dave Moore has been putting heart and soul into this for some months now, and he needs a little bit of help.
Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged beam, campaign, Dave Moore, Derelict, Engine, English Heritage, Lichfield, Lichfield District Council, listed, listing, local blogs, Local History, Morturn, planning, Preservation, Pump, pumping station, Redevelopment, Sandfields, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire, stationary, Things to do, Vandalism, Waterworks
56 Comments
Special delivery
I recently asked for memories of midwifery and midwives locally, as we haven’t much historical record in that vitally important area. To my immense gratitude, David Oakley – an exiled Walsall Wood mon whose comments here have done so much to illuminate our history – has come up trumps.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Castlefort, childbirth, Colac, cycling, David Oakley, Emalac, Lee, Local History, McGuire, Memories of old Walsall Wood, Midwife, midwifery, New Photos, Nurse, Prenatalac, Staffordshire, VE Day, Walsall Wood
11 Comments
A railway expert writes…
Top rail historian Ian Pell, late of this parish, dropped me a line today to point out the origins of the photos that I borrowed from the South Staffordshire Railway Site to illustrate yesterday’s article about Charringtons Oil Terminal and Anglesey Sidings.
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Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Features, Followups, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Anglesey Sidings, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Charringtons, corrections, errata, Ian Pell, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Oil Terminal, Redevelopment, South Staffordshire Line, Staffordshire
11 Comments
Oil, fire and water
The above remarkable video was generously pointed out by reader Bob Pugh and features some remarkable footage of what was a golden period in the era of the South Staffordshire Railway – the main line that ran through Brownhills, up until the 1980s.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged A5, Anglesey Sidings, Bob Pugh, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Charringtons, Clayhanger, David Hodgkinson, Ian Pell, Ken Hubbard, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Oil Terminal, Redevelopment, South Staffordshire Line, Staffordshire, video
11 Comments
The curious incident of the crash in the night-time
Does anyone know what crashed up on the Rising Sun Island, Brownhills West, presumably on the night/morning of 23-24th February 2013?
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council
Tagged A5, Accident, Brownhills, Brownhills West, Car, crash, Events, Fberuary 24, February 23, island, New Photos, PC Richard Stanley, Police, Rising Sun, RTA, smash, Twitter, Walsall, Weblefeck, West
3 Comments
Laurels and the setting Sun
An interesting query for the researchers amongst us comes in from reader and Brownhills Resident Joe Lloyd. Joe asks a question several of us have been asking for a while – who owns the Rising Sun, the derelict pub on the A5 near the island?
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged 1901, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills West, Derelict, heath, Joe Llyod, Laurel Cottages, Local History, miner, New Photos, ownership, planning, Pubs, Rising Sun, Staffordshire
16 Comments
Diamonds and dust
With local history, it’s all a bit winding and interleaved. Sometimes, you start researching one thing, and follow a straight line; and then, all of a sudden, things you never expected crop up, and you end up researching something utterly different.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged barracks, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills UDC, BUDC, Court Marshall, David Evans, General Kilian, GI, Jack Gieck, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Lorenzor, New Photos, Panoramio, Peter Cutler, scandal, Staffordshire, Tamworth Time Hikes, US Army on trial, US Troops, Walsall Wood, WHittington, World War 2, WW2
6 Comments
Narnia, in Stubbers Green
This morning, on Twatter, good friend @ChisDavies1 from darkest Pelsall posted a picture of an unusual ice formation on bushes at Stubbers Green. It was so remarkable, that it piqued my interest; this afternoon, in a low, late winter sun, I went to check it out.
Posted in Features
5 Comments
Having a blast?
Jeepboy wrote: For the past 3 years a loud muffled bang can occasionally be heard eminating from the site of the former rangers hut at the start of the black path in Clayhanger – at first it was thought to be a bird scarer but no sight of it could not be found.
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Posted in News, Uncategorized
1 Comment
Roots and wings: can you help the tree grow?
A great request reaches me from Rose Marie Burnell, mother of the gorgeous Edward and wife of Richard Burnell, also late of this parish. Rose has started a great project, which given recent discussions, should provoke conversation and questions for all local history buffs hereabouts. I’ll let Rose explain.
Posted in News
4 Comments
There’s plenty going on…
Bonita Clayton, of Brownhills Community Association, has been in touch with a couple of flyers for events and information relating to happenings at the old Central Boys School, just off the miner island in Brownhills.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Activity Centre, Annex, BCA, Bonita Clayton, Brownhills, Brownhills community association, Central Boys School, classes, Clayhanger, Communty Associantion, Craft, Crafty Ladies, Events, hobbies, Newsletter, Shire Oak, stuff to do, Things to do, Walsall Wood
5 Comments
Have you found Marley?
Come on folks, can you help, please? This charming fellow was lost yesterday near Clayhanger Bridge and reported to K9 Search UK. Please keep an eye out.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged bridge, Brownhills, Canal, Clayhanger, dog, Events, Facebook, K9 Search UK, lost dog, Marlie, terrier, Things to do, Twitter, Walsall Wood
8 Comments
Urgent help needed with stolen trailer!
The 49th Walsall Scout Group based in Aldridge, overnight on Tuesday/Wednesday (19/20th Feruary 2013), had their Trailer stolen from a smallholding in the Pelsall /Shelfield area.
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Posted in News, Uncategorized
4 Comments
Brownhills Common – don’t panic!
There seems to be some concern amongst readers of The Brownhills Blog about upcoming heathland management work on Brownhills Common, currently being discussed in some quarters.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Wildlife
Tagged Brownhills common, Chasewater SSSI, Conifer, Consultation, Countryside Services, cuts, Cycle rides, cycling, Events, forestry, Greenspace, Heathland, Kevin Clements, local blogs, Local History, Management, Natural England, Plantation, Things to do, tree removal, Twitter, Walsal Wildlife, Walsall, Walsall Council
26 Comments
Walsall Council priorities… how they work
Thanks to Walsall Co-operative Labour Councillor for Willenhall north, Gareth Illmann-Walker, I can share the following video with you published discretely by Walsall Council on 8th February 2013.
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Posted in Bad Science, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Adrian Andrew, Allowances, Civic Centre, cuts, eight, Events, Gareth Illmann-Walker, Local politics, Mike Bird, million, New Photos, Politics, Redevelopment, refurb, Savings, Silly, Smarter Workplaces Programme, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Waste, Youtube
16 Comments
Another bomb scare in Brownhills?
There’s been another bomb scare in Brownhills this morning. Thankfully, yet again it was a hoax…
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 19th February, 2013, @rich_rawlinson, @walsallcouncil, bomb, bridge, Brownhills, Chaos, Events, Express & Star, Facebook, Hoax, incident, island, miner, Morris, New Photos, Police, Roads Closed, Silly, traffic, Twitter, West Midlands, WMPolice
1 Comment
Those Craddocks in full…
The Craddocks are one of Brownhills most notable and mentioned families; they’re one of those names that just keeps cropping up whenever you delve into local history.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Burnell, Clayhanger, Craddock, David Evans, David Evens, David Okley, Family, Local History, New Photos, Panoramio, Redevelopment, Richard, Rose Mariia, Staffordshire, Things to do, Twitter, Vandalism
28 Comments
Station mastery
It’s come to my attention that several ‘new’ old photographs of Brownhills Stations have appeared online in recent months. These are remarkable, and here I’m featuring them for both the enjoyment of readers, and to publicise the sites they feature on.
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Posted in News
12 Comments
Bless this tiny house
Many of us may not have noticed the diminutive House of Prayer in Coppice Road, Walsall Wood. In my lifetime, I don’t think it was ever a place of worship; I remember it being used as another add-on yard for the ubiquitous Ken Hodges Builder’s merchants, and when that closed, being converted into a private residence.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged AH Craddock, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chapel, Church, Clayhanger, Coppice Road, Croddock, David Evans, David Oakley, Ken Hodges, Local History, Methodism, New Photos, Redevelopment, Staffordshire, The House of Prayer, Walsall Wood
19 Comments
In theatre
Every so often, you come across something that catches you unawares; like the surge stack I posted about yesterday, sometimes a little bit of lost history comes tumbling out of nowhere and raises a whole bunch of other questions.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged 1978, am dram, amateur dramatics, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Church Hall, Clayhanger, Local History, pillar to post, Program, programme, St James players
12 Comments
Never trust the ground beneath your feet
Over the last week, an incident of major proportions has occurred in the UK, at Hatfield, near Doncaster. It has gone largely under reported in the media, which is a scandal. This is a significant and worrying event, and is of interest to anyone interested in mining, industrial waste, spoil heaps, physical geography and geology.
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Posted in Bad Science, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Aberfan, Accident, Blog, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, colliery, Dave Petley, Doncaster, Events, Geology, Geophysics, Hatfield, health and safety, Landslide, Landslip, Local History, mine, mining, mining inspectorate, New Photos, physical geography, pit, Railway, slag heap, Spoil heap, Stainforth, Things to do, Walsall Wood
2 Comments
Cast in the ground
Here’s one that will be of interest to all. Railway historian Ian Pell has again submitted a beautifully written, intricately researched piece for readers to peruse. Here, Ian presents further great, solid information on the history of the water main and surge stack that ran beside the South Staffordshire Railway through Brownhills.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 1927, Archives, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Burst, Canal, Clayhanger, Company, David, Demolition, Ian Pell, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, main, maintenance, Moore, New Photos, Preservation, Preserve, pumping station, Sandfields, South Staffordshire, South Staffordshire Regiment, Staffordshire, surge stack, Water
16 Comments
Chasewater: prepare for controversy
An application has recently been submitted to Lichfield District Council to construct a wake boarding corse at Chasewater, based between a refurbished pier and dam. This is generating some controversy.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, cycling, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Wildlife
Tagged application, Brownhills, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Chasewater Wildlife Group, controversy, Council, Councty, Course, Cycle rides, cycling, Derelict, District, LDC, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, Pier, planning, Redevelopment, Reservoir, SCC, Staffordshire, Things to do, Wake Board, Wakeboard Limited, watersports, Wildlife
15 Comments
Craft fair in Brownhills this Saturday!
Creativz are pleased to announce our next craft and gift fair at Brownhills Memorial Hall, Entrance is just £1 for adults and free for those aged 15 and under.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 16th February, Art, Brownhills, cards, Clayhanger, Craft, craft fair, creativz, cupcakes, Events, handmade crafts, knitted good, Memo, Memorial Hall, pottery to jewellery, sweets, Things to do, Walsall Wood
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Language of the underground
Our good mate Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler has struck gold again. This transcription of an article from the Lichfield Mercury, of Friday, 4th January 1904 is a real gem, both for those with a keen interest in mining at the time, and those who are scholars of the nomenclature and language of our area.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged bank, bat, brazil, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chasewater, Clayhanger, clinch, colliery, crownin, down cast, fire stink, Local History, long wall, miner, mining, Silly, slang, square work, Staffordshire, sump, swag, thurling, up cast, Walsall Wood
14 Comments
No accommodation for the poor…
As promised, for reader Alison Ball, here’s the entry for Bloxwich Church – All Saints – in the book ‘Visitations of the Archdeaconry of Stafford 1829-1841′ published by the Historical Manuscripts Commission and Her Majesty’s Stationary Office (HMSO). This copy was published in 1980, and bears the ISBN of 0 11 440066 0. The work is edited by David Robinson MA, Ph D.
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Posted in Churches, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged 1830, Alison Ball, All Saints, Archdeacon, Bloxwich, Church, Curch Hill, George Hodson, Inspection, local blogs, Local History, Old maps, parish, Report, Slum, Stafford, Staffordshire, Stuart Williams, Things to do, Visitation, Visitations of the Archdeaconry of Stafford, Walsall
4 Comments
Beware! Local OAP nearly victim of phone scam
Following on from last weeks post about conmen praying on the elderly by claiming to have done work, then coercing their victims to withdraw money from the bank, here’s a worrying incident sent to me by reader Rebecca, whose mother was very shaken by an attempted phone scam.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Local media, News, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged 02081447791, Bloxwich, Brownhills, builders, Burglary, Clayhanger, con, cowboys, elderly woman, Kevin Pitt, ministry of justice, OAP, Pensioner, phone scam, Police appeal, press release, public safety, rogue traders, Scam, UKASH, Walsall Police, West Midlands Police
3 Comments
Councillor Harris: Linda Mason responds
Over the weekend, the indomitable Linda Mason has replied to the letter she received from Walsall Councillor and cabinet member for Leisure and Culture, Anthony Harris. The reply has been published on the Save Walsall’s Gree Spaces… blog. Please do … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Anthony Harris, Black Country Wildlife Trust, Brownhills, Clayhanger, Consultation, Countryside Services, cuts, Express & Star, Facebook, Greenspaces, Letter, Linda Mason, local blogs, Local politics, Mike Bird, Parks, Politics, Savings, Shire Oak, Silly, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Wildlife
7 Comments
Wonderful afternoon
A quick word from myself and reader David Evans, in thanks for the great talk by Bill and Geoff at the Parkview Centre yesterday. As stalwarts of the local history scene in Brownhills, it’s wonderful to see them give such an entertaining and enjoyable talk.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Bill Mayo, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clarice Mayo, David Evans, Events, lecture, Library, Local History, memories, Memories of Brownhills Past, Memories of Old Brownhills, Memories of old Walsall Wood, New Photos, Old maps, Parkview Centre, slideshow, Staffordshire, Talk, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood
3 Comments
A place of common resort, and a school for inferior education
There was a surprising and good deal of interest shown recently when I scanned sections of a recently acquired book, ‘Visitations of the Archdeaconry of Stafford 1829-1841′ published by the Historical Manuscripts Commission and Her Majesty’s Stationary Office (HMSO). This copy was published in 1980, and bears the ISBN of 0 11 440066 0. The work is edited by David Robinson MA, Ph D.
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Posted in Churches, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Walsall community
Tagged 1830, Alison Ball, Archdeacon, Church, Curch Hill, George Hodson, Inspection, local blogs, Local History, Old maps, parish, Report, Rushall, Slum, St Matthews, Stafford, Staffordshire, Things to do, Visitation, Visitations of the Archdeaconry of Stafford, Walsall
5 Comments
Laying some pipe
Local historian and top chap David Moore has been in touch again, to alert me to the fact that he’s acquired some images of the South Staffordshire Waterworks Company water main undergoing maintenance in Brownhills in 1927, which he’s uploaded to his wonderful Flickr Gallery.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media
Tagged 1927, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Clayhanger, Company, David, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, maintenance, Moore, New Photos, Preservation, Preserve, pumping station, Sandfields, South Staffordshire, South Staffordshire Regiment, Staffordshire, surge stack, Water
6 Comments
A request from the Degville Family
A touching and lovely message comes to me from Jackie and Sammie Degville, who are undertaking the race for life in aid of Cancer Research in honour of their beloved husband and father Paul Degville, who died following a protracted battle with the illness in January.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media
Tagged 1970's, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cancer Research, community, death, Donate, Fred Degville, fund raising, Ian, Ian Bourne, Jackie, Jazz, Just Giving, Local History, local music, memoriam, Memory, New Photos, passed away, passing, Paul Degville, PaulDegville, Pubs, Race for Life, Sammie, sponsor, Staffordshire, The Crown, Wheatsheaf
4 Comments
Bill Mayo history talk today!
Thanks to blog readers Naomi Jones and David Evans, I can flag up this interesting looking slideshow and talk from respected and knowledgable local historian Bill Mayo. Bill, as I’m sure you’re all well aware, compiled several local history books with his wife Clarice, as well as with other local historians John Sale and Geoff Harrington.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Bill Mayo, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clarice Mayo, David Evans, Events, lecture, Library, Local History, memories, Memories of Brownhills Past, Memories of Old Brownhills, Memories of old Walsall Wood, New Photos, Old maps, Parkview Centre, slideshow, Staffordshire, Talk, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood
2 Comments
Ghost train
This one has pulled me up short, and I haven’t got a clue what to do with it. But it’s fascinating for a number of reasons; for one, it clearly describes the railway at Brownhills in the late Victorian era. For a second, it details the water main alongside the track. For a third, it’s utterly mad and delightful at the same time.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1904, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Christmas, Derelict, Emm Kay, Fiction, Ghost, ghost story, Holiday, Lichfield, Lichfield Mercury, Local History, New Photos, Ogley Cutting, planning, Pubs, Railway, South Staffordshire railway, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood
4 Comments
Seeing the Wood for the trees
Continuing the paper maps, here’s an 1884 12,500 scale Ordnance Survey map of southern Walsall Wood.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1884, 1:2500, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Druids Heath, Local History, Old maps, Ordnance Survey, Staffordshire, Things to do, Walsall Wood
8 Comments
Scumbags preying on the local elderly again – be vigilant
I see from the excellent blog of Kevin Pitt, Walsall Community Partnerships Officer, that opportunist conmen are preying on the local senior citizens again.
Please tell your relatives and neighbours about these con men, and impress upon them how important it is not to buy from, or accept services at the door, no matter how plausible the people offering them. Genuine companies will always contact you by other means.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Local media, News, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged Bloxwich, Brownhills, builders, Burglary, Clayhanger, con, cowboys, elderly woman, Kevin Pitt, OAP, Pensioner, Police appeal, press release, public safety, rogue traders, Scam, Walsall Police, West Midlands Police
1 Comment
If that’s the way it’s going to be…
I, and many other folk hereabouts were disgusted by the letter sent by elected Walsall Councillor Anthony Harris to campaigner for Greenspace and top local stalwart Linda Mason recently. The officious and arrogant tone, coupled with clear evidence of the member not reading the material he was sent, has rightly disgusted and outraged many.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff, Wildlife
Tagged Anthony Harris, Black Country Wildlife Trust, Brownhills, Clayhanger, Consultation, Countryside Services, cuts, Express & Star, Facebook, Greenspaces, Letter, Linda Mason, local blogs, Local politics, Mike Bird, Parks, Politics, Savings, Shire Oak, Silly, The Plastic Hippo, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Wildlife
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From strength to strength
Lucy Wood has been in touch to let me know about the sterling progress the Lichfield Scrap Barn’s shop at Chasewater Innovation Centre has been making. Lucy has put heart and should into making this very special community project succeed, and it’s something that I, and the wider local online community are fully supportive of.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Brownhills, care, Carers, Chasewater, Craft Village, disability, Events, Facebook, Innovation centre, Lichfield, local blogs, Lucy Wood, New Photos, planning, Saxon Hill School, Social Care, social enterprise, special needs, Srap Barn, Staffordshire, Things to do, Twitter
1 Comment
Rather rattled
I see the alternate reality that seems to pervade the Walsall Civic Centre is still in full effect. Today, Linda Mason, lead campaigner against the horrendous cuts in Walsall Council’s Greenspaces team, received this rather tetchy billet-doux from Councillor Anthony Harris – coincidentally member for Aldridge North and Walsall Wood – who’s Cabinet Member for Leisure and Culture.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff, Wildlife
Tagged Anthony Harris, Black Country Wildlife Trust, Brownhills, Clayhanger, Consultation, Countryside Services, cuts, Express & Star, Facebook, Greenspaces, Letter, Linda Mason, local blogs, Local politics, Mike Bird, Parks, Politics, Savings, Shire Oak, Silly, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Wildlife
15 Comments
Into White
It’s taken me a couple of weeks to edit this up due to being somewhat busy with other stuff, but it’s not worked out so bad. A ride from near Maquis Drive, on Cannock Chase, up over Rifle Range Corner, past the old Butts, down into Abrahams Valley and out onto the A513 at Seven Springs.
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Posted in Cannock Chase, cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Shared media, Wildlife
Tagged #365daysofbiking, Abraham's Valley, bike, Black, Cam, Camel, Cannock Chase, Cannock Chase (images of England), Corner, cycle, Cycle rides, cycling, Events, GoPro, ice, Lunar Sea, March, New Photos, ride, Rifle Range, Silly, Staffordshire, Things to do, Wildlife, Winter
8 Comments
Marching on
I’ve had a blistering article mailed in from reader and friend of the Brownhills Blog, Stuart Cowley. Stuart, you’ll recall, has written and supplied some great material on the subject of Chasewater, and his pictures and recollections of the cafe there have been very popular.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged bilston, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cannock, Carnival, Chase Royals, Chasewater, cinefilm, Competition, Events, Facebook, Heath Hayes, Jazz bands, local blogs, Local History, marching bands, New Photos, Parade, Polesworth, Rawnsley, Rushall, Staffordshire, Stuart Cowley, Tameworth, Things to do, Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood Red Caps, Ynysowen youth band
87 Comments
Levelling out
Those who follow my 365daysofbiking journal will be aware that I’ve been a little bit obsessed with the rising water level at Chasewater over the summer and winter months. Since the lake was drained to enable improvement works to improve the dam and overflow resilience, it was considered that, unless we experienced very wet weather, the lake would take a good couple of years to refill.
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Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Wildlife
Tagged #365daysofbiking, Brownhills, Canal, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Chasewater Wildlife Group, Cycle rides, cycling, Dam works, Drain, ecology, Events, full, LDC, Lichfield, Lichfield District Council, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, Pier, refill, Reservoir, SCC, Silly, Staffordshire, Staffordshire County Council, Things to do, Water Level, weir, Wildlife
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Police incident this afternoon
It seems there was a hoax bomb alert in Brownhills this afternoon. Contrary to rumour, nobody is hurt and the incident wasn’t caused by a suicide.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged bomb, bridge, Brownhills, Events, Facebook, Faraser, Hanging, Hateley, Hoax, incident, island, J_J_Heartbeat, miner, Morris, New Photos, Police, Politics, Silly, suicide, Twitter, West Midlands
7 Comments
Over the water
Here’s a great post from top reader a contributor David Evans, who’s something of an expert on the history of Methodism in the area. Over the course of last Christmas, the question of the religion and it’s chapels in Norton came to the fore.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Bethel, Brownhills, Chapel, circuit, Conduit Colliery, Conduit Pit, David Evans, Local History, Methodism, Methodism in Norton Canes, Methodist, Minister, ministry, New Photos, Norton Canes, planning, Prims, Redevelopment, Staffordshire, Tin Tabernacle, Trinity, Walsall Wood, Wesleyan, Wilfred J Hill
15 Comments
In the beginning
I’ve got some great stuff coming up. But here’s a taste of something really exciting from reader and New Year competition winner Fred Butler. I give you… the start of Crabtree, Brownhills, in 1954.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Features, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 1954, aerial photo, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Crabtree, Fred Butler, Lichfield Road, Local History, MIDAR, Midland Auto Rewinds, New Photos, Redevelopment, Staffordshire, Superalloys
6 Comments
Cycle farcilities
anuary 31st – Someone asserted yesterday that I should be glad of increased cycling facilities in the UK. I am, and I’m not. Here’s why.
On the Coventry Road, Birmingham, near the St. Andrews ground, there are lights to control a ‘y’ junction. Prior to the junction, there is a green tarmac filter lane leading to an advance stop line (ASL).
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Posted in Bad Science, cycling, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media
Tagged Advance Stop Line, ASL, Cheap tat, Cycle rides, cycling, cycling facilities, cyle safety, dnager, Left hook, Lichfield, Local politics, Lorries, New Photos, planning, Politics, Silly, Things to do
10 Comments
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