Lock, stock and barrel?

Here’s one that’s got me confused, puzzled and interested – reader Sharon Kane has contacted me from France to ask about about her partner, Steve Jolly’s life here in the 1960s and 70s, and about ‘Lock Keepers Cottage’ on the Pelsall Road in Brownhills.

There’s an obvious problem here, the canal through Brownhills near to Pelsall Road has no locks, and never did – the Wyrley and Essington is a contour canal, so I’m wondering what and where this cottage was, and how it got the name?

The only locks hereabouts were the Ogley Flight on the lost Lichfield and Hatherton, which closed in the late 1950s. They still exist, and are, I believe, owned by the Lichfield & Hatherton Restoration Trust.

I’ll let Sharon explain:

Hi

My partner Steve Jolly ( sjolly998@gmail.com) has been trying to get in touch but had no reply so I said I would try.

He grew up in Brownhills but moved to the North East of England in 1975 ish and now lives in South West France.

His Aunty Pauline lived at the lock keepers cottage at Pelsall Road and there was an article about it in the Express and Star many years ago. He wondered if you could supply any information or photos about it at all, or put him in touch with anyone who could help.

He attended Brownhills Boys School and left in 1970. If you have any contacts from those days and they would be willing to be contacted he would be pleased.

Thank you.
Sharon Kane.

The only cottage I can think of as a likely candidate is the one behind where the Jolly Collier used to be, on the corner of Pelsall Road and Coppice Side.

Can anyone help? Do you remember Setev Jolly? Please do comment here, or mail me: Brownhillsbob at Googlemail dot com. Thanks!