Blimey – there’s a memory. Remarkable photo from Mike Leonard and posted on Panoramio.
Yesterday, whilst mooching on Panoramio for an image of Chasewater (sometimes it’s the best way to find my own photos, oddly enough…) I came upon a gallery by a reader and contributor the the blog, Mike Leonard – it’s remarkable.
I’m not sure how I’ve missed this as it’s a couple of years old now – and Mike has generously contributed pictures from this set to the blog previously – of the Station Hotel, Railway Tavern and Wheatsheaf. But there are other, great images of lost or fading Brownhills in his gallery which is well worth checking out.
The images date, I think from the 1990s, mostly, with the derelict trotting track stadium, Chasewater play area and Silver Court Gardens being seemingly of that era. The Warreners Arms is captured in transition between being a pub, and MacDonalds. The Forward Garage is still selling cars, with a Suzuki SJ413 on the front and a curious ghost-sign. Brownhills Cricket Club is vandalised and derelict, and the former Don Marine works looks ready for demolition.
If Mike is reading this, thanks for sharing these, and I hope you don’t mind me reproaching them here – these are wonderful images and I’m sorry I hadn’t spotted them sooner. Thanks Mike.
You can check out Mike Leonard’s Panoramio gallery here.
