This is just a quick note to flag up a great talk by an excellent speaker coming up at Walsall Local History Centre next Monday evening. Ghostly legends and fascinating history of the Black Country will be recounted by talented and entertaining Wednesbury author and historian Ian Bott. Details below.
Although I’m notoriously sceptical of ghosts and such stuff, the tales and mythology are fascinating in themselves and deserve thorough study and preservation. They are a huge part of our culture, after all.
The talk costs just two quid, and I implore any reader who can go to do so – I’ve attended events Ian has presented before, and they’re brilliant. It would also be nice to show your support for the History Centre in these difficult times.
The staff of the history centre have made some remarkable contributions to the Brownhills Blog, and I’d like to draw readers attention to some of them, like the Yates Map of Staffordshire and The great Walsall Wood subsidence mystery or even The lost mortuary in Bullings Heath.
There is an excellent team at Walsall Local History Centre who provide a largely free service to everyone from serious family historians to muppets like me involved in the most bizarre bits of local history. This service is the jewel in Walsall’s cultural crown and we need to cherish and protect it.
The reputedly haunted Old White Hart inn at Caldmore (now apartments), picture taken c1890. From the Walsall Local Histry Centre Collection.
Ghostly legends and fascinating history to be revealed at public talk
Visitors to Walsall’s Local History Centre in Essex Street are in for a chilling but fascinating treat next month when a well-known local historian will be giving the latest in the Centre’s popular series of illustrated public talks.
And noted author Ian Bott of Wednesbury is ready to raise the hackles of his audience on the evening of Monday 10th February, when he will shine a light on some terrible (and occasionally tall) tales of the ‘Haunted Black Country’!
Ian, who also works at Walsall Leather Museum, is far-famed for his spooky – but historically well-researched – stories of grisly goings-on and things that go bump in the night around this historic region, from roadside to graveside, from council houses to castles.
Doors will open for ‘Haunted Black Country’ at 7pm for 7.30pm-9.00pm.
Admission costs just £2.00 and advance booking is essential by telephoning 01922 721305.
On-site car parking and disabled facilities are available at the Centre.
RSS - Posts
Should be a very good night i`ve been to a few of Ian Bott`s talks and always been very entertaining, and a very nice bloke too.
Tempted to look at Google Earth, after seeing the picture of the White Hart. Haven’t been to Caldmore Green since the 1950’s. White Hart was in full swing as an Ansells pub, together with the Bakers Inn for Highgate drinkers, plus the Caldmore Liberal Club, just across the road, now, all gone ! plus the Forum Picture House. I was pleased to see that part of the upper façade of the cinema was still there, but little else. ‘Strewth’ , talk about Rip Van Winkle !!
Hello David, i go up to Carma quite often, as i can buy small fish and chips for £1 good quality as well. There`s some lovely old buildings in the back streets, inculding a windmill, whats left of it.
Hi Clive, Lived in Bescot Street for four years after I got married in the 1950’s. Paid £625 for a little two-bedroomed house, selling it later, heartless capitalist, for £710. Ashamed to say that I never saw the windmill, but was aware of it. Not many inhabitants seemed to explore that part of the town. Knew that Highgate Brewery was somehere close, but never hacked my way through the undergrowth to see it, relying on its retail outlets. Caldmore Green seems lucky in possessing good fish and chip shops. When I moved down to the Pleck lowlands, I made a regular pilgrimage back up there to my old chippie, for several years.
cheers,
Hello David, i was born in the Pleck, Moat road by the Manor Hospital, and my mom and dad moved to Brownhills in 1957 luck was with me they took me with them..lol. I have always had an intrest in Walsall it has so much recorded history.
Hi Clive, Did my journey the opposite way round. Born in Walsall Wood in 1931 and moving to Walsall in the early ’50’s, but worked in the town from the age of 16, when you couldn’t move for leatherworks. Knew Moat Road well. Walter Bott’s wife kept the flower shop and I used to attend an R.A.O.B Lodge at the Belle Vue, as well as frequent journeys to Walsall Reservoir, probably all gone, now. Think I’d get completely lost if I had to find my way around Walsall, nowadays.
Cheers.
Hi I was born in mountrath st in 1953 remember all the shops pubs police box on Caldmore Green my nan lived at number 4 Caldmore road next to the White Hart pub where she worked please get in touch !
my grandparents william and helen lenton managed the white hart public house back in 1901and after leaving i beleive he still helped out with the barrels for many years