The Travellers Rest, a long lost Walsall pub, as depicted in ‘Memories of Old Walsall Wood’ by Bill Mayo and John Sale. Do you have a better photo, or know were the canal gate was?
I’d like readers top help with the following fascinating enquiry please, that reaches me from Graham Kennison, who’s looking for some rather specific information about the Travellers Rest pub that used to be in Walsall Wood.
Graham would also like a decent photo (and that would be a great addition to the blog, too).
I’m sure the Walsall Wood contingent will be able to help with this one, and if you can, please do comment here or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.
Graham wrote:
Good morning Bob,
Firstly, thanks for keeping up the blog – I don’t know how you find the time – but it is a great resource and greatly appreciated – by me at least!
A good friend from Walsall Wood died this week and his family would appreciate some help from you and your readers.
My friend was brought up in the terrace of houses that included the Travellers Rest, near Walsall Wood Bridge. The pub, stables and canal made up much of his childhood world. His mother used to say that she always knew where he was, “ if he wasn’t on the cut he was in it!”. During school holidays he would hitch rides with passing boatmen & when he left school he worked on the coal boats. Although the trade was then in its dying years, so his career was short lived, John always had a great love of the canal.
His wish was that his ashes should be put into the canal by the gates from the towpath into the Travellers. The problem is that, although he said that the gate posts could still be seen, the family don’t know exactly where they are. I walked along the canal in September and couldn’t locate them. I live in Scotland at the moment so can’t easily pop back for another look!
Could any of your readers help to locate the gates?
Also does anyone have a good picture of the Travellers that they would be happy to let us scan? We would also appreciate any pictures of coal carrying on the canal in the Walsall Wood area and of the canal at Walsall Wood colliery in particular.
The strange thing about the Travellers is that, although it was a long-established pub and canal stables, it doesn’t seem to appear on any maps. Perhaps some of your stable of star historians can tell us why?
Kind regards,
Graham Kennison
My thanks and best wishes to Graham for his kind words and I wish him all the best for his touching and thoughtful enquiry.