The only place I’ve ever heard referred to as ‘The Knob’ is the remains of Brownhills Colliery off Engine Lane where the old spoil heaps are. Imagery from Google Earth.
I like this one – over the weekend an enquiry came in from friend of the blog Gillian Gaiser, as to the location of a place she members being called Spring Nob.
Gillian has, of course, contributed much to the blog, and I’d like to see the local knowledge ferrets sort this out. Always assuming this isn’t a joke 😉
Gillian wrote:
Hi there Bob!
Gill Gaiser again from Canada!
Interested in what you have to say about memory Bob and it led me to wondering whether anyone might remember/know where the Spring Nob is/was?
I believe it to have been in the Norton Canes area somewhere.
Apparently at one time there were allotments there where local people could put in a garden. Any clues as to where it is located would be gratefully received!
Cheers
Gillian
Come on then, what have you got? Comment on this post or mail me: Brownhillsbob at Googlemail dot com.
Thanks to Gillian for a superb conversation point!
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Hi Bob, as kids we always called the top of the hill as you come out of Norton Canes on Brownhills Rd towards the Pear Tree Princess Knob, I don’t know if this as any bearing
Bob – off topic but have you seen this:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-33239128
Made by a Brownhills girl.
Hi Bob,
Very interested in ‘Spring Nob’, although obviously not the one referred to in the blog , which seemed to have a Norton or Brownhills West orientation , we had a similar description to a area between Walsall Wood and Aldridge, which lay adjacent to the natural spring in Walsall Wood Road, opposite Coppice Lane, which led to the brickyards. There was no Northgate, then, as older maps will show, and between the spring and the beginning of the houses in Walsall Wood Road, Aldridge , was a a rather steep gradient to the road, which was well-known locally as Spring Nob.
Im with you on that
Maybe not the same thing, but Dad told me that what we know as The Parade today – only made up in the 1930s – was known as “HIgh Nob”.
Hi Bob, Yes I have just rememberd Sping Knob was where David says it was, in 1947 my brother Colin said the snow at that point was nearly up to the top of the lampost as he walked to work at Aldridge only to be sent home,
Cheers Trev
hi bob re princess knob for me it was just before you got to the pear tree on the left hand side leaving norton there were about five houses there as you aproached it on the wright hand side where the garden centre was stood a very old style caravan now i may be wrong but i recall the name BENNY PRINCE refered to in my childhood i cant recall why i spent time banerkin in the pool opposite the caravan in those days to visit my aunts house in albuts road was an adventure my uncle was HORACE LOTE a winder at jeromes colliery a very important job a winder was the man who opperated the winding gear to raise and lower the pit cage up and down the shaft the winding house a very respected place by every one
Hi Bob
bannerkin ? What is that, please. How did you bannerk, and with what?
kind regards
David
Bannerkin I think is fishing for Stickebacks (called jackbannerks) with a net. but that’s only my thoughts.
David, you posh Woodians pronounced it Bannock perhaps?
Reg, from my reading the “Winder” was the one who carried the can if anything went wrong. It’s surprising the number of pits that used single chains long after regulations for doubles were brought in.
God Bless!
Hi Bob and young David.
Jack Bannocks were tiny fish that were caught using either a bent pin with a smidgeon of bread on the end, or a net. Ranking close to Bull Heads in contempt by real fisherman, say, twelve years or older, they had a unexplained fascination for the younger element, say six years or above, who would bear their catch in triumph, in a jamjar , back home. Despite liberal dollops of bread morsels, often flecked with jam, (lower fruit standard, naturally ) the fish would be observed . belly up, after about two days, they were tipped away with only the tiniest feeling of remorse, and the jar reserved for the next venture .
HI Bob
Dare I ask ..where did you find Bulls Heads? There was a Bulls Head Yard in Walsall Wood long ago,and rejoiced in the popular name Bulls Yed Yard..
David
When I was a yoot they were fairly common in the cut, but hated for some reason, poor things.
Not seen one for years – I believe (could be wrong) they’re rare now – but then, don’t see sticklebacks in the cut these days either (I assume the improvement in water and numbers of larger fish means they’ve mostly been lunch)
Cheers
Bob
ime pleased to read the tales of the cut bank we caught tiddlers as well then when we beacame junior anglers we would watch our cocckers float hopping we could catch a perch with a grub pedro a winder was a VIP he opperated the steam drven winding gear at the end of which was fixed the cage whtch carrried men and coal up and dowm the shaft during working hours noe one only the winder was allowed in building he had to concentrate he had mens lives in his hands a single twelve inches matterd it was a priverlege off shift on sundays to take his lunch and peek through the door and se the wonderful majestey of the steam driven winding gear on the suject of tiddlers dont forget tad poles and frog sporn your first lesson on birds and bees god blessi
Bullheads and Daddy Ruffe, I think they are still about.
Think they would be an annoyance to our “Rob” when he’s after the big Roach!
Hi Bob
I wonder if there are any other Nobs in the district, in Lichfield perhaps?
kind regards
David
In our family when we see well dressed women we call them “Lichfield Ladies”
At the north east corner of Aldridge cricket ground is Gossy Nob. It is shown on some old maps as a tumulus, but it was really the foundation for a post mill.
Hi Bob
belatedly…Brian Rollins book on the coalmining in Walsall Wood has a plan which shows that the Spring Nob at Walsall Wood Road, is just about where the Vigo fault is!
kind regards
David