I worked for a time near here in the early 90s; Sterling was a huge plant, but it always seemed oddly devoid of activity. Image supplied by Andy Dennis.
Further to the Birchills Ironworks discussion, I had this interesting contribution from reader and top friend of the blog, Andy Dennis. I’d certainly be interested in any material relating to Sterling Tubes or any other companies operating in the area discussed here last weekend.
Comment here, or alternatively, mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Cheers.
Andy wrote:
Hello Bob
I found a picture of the old Sterling Tubes factory, which is how most people over school age will remember the site where Birchills Hall Iron Works had been. This was 2002, so it was still operational, but its days were numbered. The building dominated that stretch of Green Lane, though it is less imposing from further back. For many years the frontage bore a rather drab and unloved appearance, though in the picture the benefit of recladding in the mid-1990s is still just about discernable. It appears Sterling Tubes now operates in Ahmedabad, India. The TK Maxx warehouse was expected to be the largest single private sector employer in the borough of Walsall with something like 800 permanent and 300 or 400 seasonal jobs. I can’t find any statistics on the web.
While looking for this I found another picture, which shows a mural on the canal side wall of Deeleys Castings, which stood on Leamore Lane, just off the north west corner of your map in “Forged into the mapping”. Also some way off patch in the Foreign of Walsall, but at least it is unusual. I recall revisiting some years later, but the mural was obscured by foliage. The buildings were demolished some years ago.
Best wishes
Andy
Wonder who painted this, and if it was an ‘official’ project? Image supplied by Andy Dennis.