A fantastic book with lots of unique research. Image posted on Twitter by Walsall Local History Centre.

This is a reminder that currently available hereabouts, there are some great local history books that would make excellent Christmas presents for local history buffs or folk who just want to remember, or learn about our local history.

Selling well at the moment is Clive L. Roberts’ fantastic book ‘Snippets of Local History In and around Brownhills’ which I’ve now had chance to read – it’s a fine work. Covering subjects as diverse as the Anchor Tollgate, the lost foundry that made the Chasewater steamboat and a doomed scrap-picking mission at Superalloys. There is a remarkable and very thorough section on Pike Helve, the lost row of houses at the bottom of Pier Street and the history of the rickety footbridge that crossed the canal there.

The whole book is interspersed with great pictures, historic newspaper adverts and maps. It costs just £8 and can be bought from Walsall Wood Library, Brownhills Library, the DEI Corner shop Friesland Lane, Egan’s shop in Brownhills High Street and Walsall Local History Centre.

Clive also notes that:

There are just a few left of Snippets of History in and around Walsall Wood, they can be obtained from the above places except Brownhills Library.

My first book Snippets of History in and around Shire Oak as sold out, but you can get a copy in PDF format on DVD from Walsall Wood Library and Egan’s in the High Street Brownhills.

You can also leave a note here on this post and I’ll hook you up with Clive.

Just one of the great, rare photos in Clive’s book. I think we all remember that bridge…

Chris Mayo-Poole also notes that there are some copies of her Dad Bill’s latest work left, but you need to be quick. ‘Old Brownhills – The Life and Times of Sid Pritchard’ has proven popular and there are just a handful of copies left.

The book is a charming and engaging view through the eyes of an old Brownhills shopkeeper, and has been carefully transcribed by Bill Mayo and the young David Evans.

It’s also £8, and can be obtained either from the One Stop store on Chester Road, Shire Oak or by contacting Chris directly. Copies on eBay are already going for £11, so get in quickly. If you want a copy, please comment here or mail me and I’ll put you in touch.

A fine book, with just a few copies left.

There’s also the Sue Satterthwaite book about the great war history of Aldridge Manor, which I featured a request for help with over the summer and is proving to be a real eye-opener. I’m halfway through it at the moment and it’s a crucial book for local historians.

You can find out more at the Aldridge Great War Project’s website here.

‘A Patriotic Endeavour – Aldridge Manor House as a Military Hospital’ is £9.99 and can be bought from Aldridge Library, Croft News, Lynda’s, Simply Delicious, Thomas Project, Walsall Garden Centre, Walsall Local History Centre and Waterstones. All proceeds to Aldridge Great War Project.

A wonderful community history project bearing fruit.

There’s also a book about on the subject of Pelsall’s pubs called ‘Last orders, Please’ by Annita Bates, which I know very little about other than I saw a Facebook post plugging it – but it looks like a good one.

Richard Webster from RW Print in Norton Road, Pelsall posted:

We’ve just taken delivery of a limited edition book containing the history of Pelsall’s pubs, clubs and inns. Priced at £10 each an ideal stocking filler!

Looks like a good one.

If you’re interested in the above books, please visit the outlets named, comment here or mail me and I’ll do my best to connect you with the authors. BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Cheers.