Foundation laying for a new school building at Watling Street, Brownhills – but who are the dignitaries, and when was this? Image from the Walsall Observer, supplied by top bloke [Howmuch?]
First up – an apology to regular readers. Content has been a bit thin this weekend, as I’ve been taking it a but easy, sorting my bikes out, doing family stuff and generally attending to things occurring in the background. Normal service will resume later. Apologies if you’re waiting for something in particular. To be quite honest I’ve been knackered the last few weeks and a rest is what I’ve been needing. Feel free to prod me by email or on social media if there’s something you particularly want.
Anyway, on with the show…
Over the last few weeks, a newspaper clipping (included above), found in the Walsall Observer archive by [Howmuch?] has caused a whole heap of interest. Reporting the laying of a foundation stone for the ‘…new schools at Watling Street’, readers have debated where it might actually relate to, as it clearly wasn’t what we now think of as Watling Street School.
I did some map wonkery and thought it might be the new Sunday School at the Park View Methodist Church, further up the Watling Street, on the opposite corner to the Prince of Wales pub, which is now houses.
Since then, we explored some unexpected history of St. Thomas’s Mission Church nearby, had some great reader input, and managed to connect two lost friends!
David Evans has found this 1963 wedding photo taken at the side of the Park View Methodist Church. I think we can all agree that from the windows and brickwork detail, this is the same building, the New Sunday School in the Observer clipping would be on the far side of this building. David credits Brian for this wonderful image – but I’m not sure who Brian is. Please, if you’re passing, either David or Brian, please pipe up!
The young David Evans (who’s not been in the best of health lately I hear, get well soon old chap) has been beavering away and turned up the following two photos. One nails the issue of location perfectly, and I’m sure the other will spark memories.
David said:
Hi Bob
I was delighted to read Barry Aylett-Warner’s recent contribution regarding the Park View Methodist Church that once stood beside the Watling Street in Brownhills.
I hope to compose a more thorough article in due course, but in the meantime here’s a photo of the last building to be used as the church… I think this building is the one featured in your recent blog article, ‘Tell me on a Sunday’
The Walsall Local History Centre lists the minutes and records for this church in their archives. These are dated 1866 to 2001. (The accession record is 1132), whilst the records for Mount Pleasant Primitive church, which once stood further along the Watling Street, date from 1867 to 1965. The accession reference i3 318/49-52.
I would like to thank Keith Rothery, circuit archivist for the Cannock Chase Methodist Church for his help
kind regards
David
There’s a host of other material to come from David on this matter which I look forward to preparing when I have more time, but for now, just marvel at another local history puzzle solved by group co-operation…
You lot really are remarkable. Thanks to you all.
This is what was left of the Park View Methodist Church (or Chapel?) in it’s later years, again found by David Evans. David says Park View closed around 2001, and this was taken towards the end of it’s life. The old church in the picture was demolished in 1974, and the congregation moved into the ‘new’ Sunday School, which remained. I believe this image to have been donated by Keith Rothery, circuit archivist for the Cannock Chase Methodist Church. A very interesting image, I must have passed this hundreds of times, but can’t quite recall it – now the site is housing.