I wonder who remembers the old cylindrical grain silo south of Shenstone – now long gone?
Here’s another top find on YouTube – this one by Clive Roberts, top local history wonk and author of ‘Snippets of Local History around Shire Oak and Walsall Wood’.
This film shows Norton Motorcycles – then at Shenstone, just on Lynn Lane – in an article on top gear from the 1980s. Note the worthy, serious tone of the piece, and the great film of Lynn Lane, Wallheath Lane and Stonnall. This is when Top Gear was a real programme, and not yet reduced to puerile middle aged blokes acting like idiots.
Norton, of course, went through troubled times but still remain a great British manufacturer, although now they’re in Warwickshire. Sad that the rotary engine concept never really took off.
I’m told that if you watch closely, you may well spot Brian Crighton, who used to own the Honda shop in Silver Court, Brownhills, back in the 70s and early 80s (I’m unable to confirm this, as I haven’t a clue what he looked like. Sorry, folks).
Cheers to Clive, and don’t forget, copies of his book are still available, but selling out fast, so bag one while you can.
