Tadah… it’s the 2015 New year quiz!

This post is pinned to the top until the quiz ends – new articles will appear below.

It’s been a long time in the making, but great fun – here it is, the Brownhills Blog New Year 2015 quiz. Get stuck in and see if you can win! Last year’s was a great success, so I’ve made this one a bit tougher and hopefully better…

Answers to most of the questions can be found in the past articles of this blog, my 365daysofbiking tumblr, or by going for a walk and exploring. I have included lots of reference questions, so that those living locally and those distant both have a fair crack.

Click for more….

In order to curtail the picture googlers amongst us, the pictures here are all original except for a couple.

Many questions can be answered using Google Streetview, too. Think laterally. Wikipedia may be handy, as will the search box on the right.

If an answer seems obvious, it probably is…

This year, there is of course a case of Backyard Beer (or something nice to equal value if you’re a non-drinker) to the winner. But there is also an original copy of ‘Brownhills: A walk into history’ up for grabs (battered; but rare), as well as other local books and goodies.

To give everyone a sporting chance, comments will not open until 12 noon tomorrow, 31st December 2014. Answers will close at 9pm, Sunday 4th January 2015. If many remain unanswered, I’ll award the prize and leave the remainder open for spot prizes.

Points will be awarded to the first person to comment the correct answer to any question. All questions worth one point unless stated. After that, no points will be handed out for answering it again. I will tot up the scores as we go. Answers will only be accepted as comments to this post, and my decision will be open and final.

Remember to include the number of the question in your comment, otherwise it won’t be counted! Answers will only be accepted as comments here – any on Facebook, Twatter or via email will be ignored.

Don’t worry if your comment is held in moderation, I will take the submission time if necessary.

I don’t expect anyone to get lots right. I think the questions are diverse enough that a fairly low score might well win – so do have a go. If the result is a draw, I’ll hold a tie breaker. What form that will take will depend on the result. Please just take a punt, and have fun.

All images are local – that means Brownhills, Walsall Wood, Stonnall, etc.

Good luck!

Q1: Where is this detail above?

Q2:What was Superintendent Smith offered in 1951, and by whom?

Q3: Above, wrought ironwork I’m fairly sure survived the war effort. Where?

Q4: Finials apparently stop the devil from sitting on the roof. Which roof won’t Satan be sitting on here?

Q5: Fred J. Dixon was in deep discussion with G.H. Boulter in 1921. What about?

Q6: For a point, list me the locations of any four telephone boxes in Brownhills and Walsall wood that no longer exist.

Q7: A fine weathervane, and one I’d be proud to have. Where is it?

Q8: Double pillars. Where?

Q9: A happy lady wearing a remarkable hat. Who was she and what was the event?

Q10: According to Snape, how many houses and how many inhabitants were in ‘Bacon Street Ward’?

Q11: Where did I spot the above, brilliant nativity?Number and name of the place, please.

Q12: What bizarre mechanical failure did my bike suffer this spring, that I’d never seen before and I hope never to do so again?

Q13: The hill at the top of the Black Path as it leads to the A5 was known by my generation in the 60s & 70s by a different name. What was it?

Q14: Whose ad? What was their name and telephone number?

Q15: What text has been blanked out here?

Q16: Where did Doris go, and what must she take and wear?

Q17: Who is a ‘decent mate but an idle sod’?

Q18: The above is a monitoring borehole, where geeky technicians take water samples. Where is it? Approximate location sufficient.

Q19: Where is this concertina door?

Q20: An unusual faux-keystone. Where is it?

Q21: ‘He’s a nice lad, but he ay never right!’ – who?

Q22: What bizarre ‘celebration dinner’ took place at the Station Hotel in March, 1889?

Q23: An arched window. Where is it?

Q24: Where is this decaying parcel carriage?

Q25: Handsome twisted chimneys. What was the former use of the building they adorn, before it was a house?

Q26: Who, and what’s the date? This is the right way up and exactly as carved.

Q27: What briefly appeared at Chasewater this year?

Q28: What was the name of the Bassett Hound that was lost and found?

Q29: I reckon this is easy. What is it, and where?

Q30: Not so easy. What an where is the decaying metalwork above?

Q31: Who won the Solo Bahn record at Chasewater Stadium in 1977?

Q32: Who never saw their magpie again?

Q33: What (exact, please) distance is obscured?

Q34: When Gerald Reece came calling, who did I hope had the kettle warming up, and find myself wishing for cake?

Q35: This sign is unremarkable. It replaced an earlier one that was. Why?

Q36: Complex metalwork. Where?

Q37: A des-res smoking shelter. Where might I find it?

Q38: List me five members of the Red Lions tug of war team (1 point only!)

Q39: Where is Walter Jones’ grave?

Q40: Where is his building?
Q41: why did it have a round aperture?

Q42: Where did I spot a dummy goat?

Q43: Where is Ketch Field in Brownhills recorded?

Q44: What was lost. But what are the names obscured? (1 point only)

Q45: Where is the above indicator?
Q46: What does it indicate?

Q47: How much was spent on the treat for the choir?

Q48: A handsome gable end. Where did I see it?

Q49: What is this pipe for?

Q50: A gutter that will be familiar to many. Where is it?

Q51: Where is this roofline?

Q52: Who did a young Mick Stackhouse get into a fight with?

Q53: A well known doorway for some. Where is it?

Q54: What’s this?
Q55: Where did it come from?

Q56: It was maintained by the friends, but it doesn’t seem to have any anymore. Except me. What am I talking about?