A brilliant 1955 photo from Patricia Cotton, showing Dora Rathbone, nee Hemming, her son Bob and Patricia Cotton’s brother, Tony, paddling in the canal near the Jolly Collier. On the horizon is an rather interesting structure… Image very kindly supplied by Patricia Cotton.
I’ve received via Facebook from very generous reader Patricia Cotton who’s send a very interesting picture, not just because it’s a wonderful period photo, but because lurking on the skyline is an indication of something being present several people dispute.
Patricia says of the image – which couldn’t be more 1950s if it tried:
Hi Bob,
Looking through old photos and found this one of my mom’s friend with her son Bob and my brother Tony.
It was taken at the side of Jolly Collier bridge in 1955 and you can see the water tower in the distance off Pelsall Road.
The lady in the picture’s maiden name was Dora Heming, married name Rathbone, she was my mom’s bridesmaid and lived opposite us in Clifton Avenue…
We used to take picnics there in the summer, happy memories.
Thanks,
Patricia
Thanks to Patricia – what a wonderful photo!
Remember the surge stack, subject of intense debate, and rediscovered thanks to David Moore and Chris Pattison? We established that the 100 foot high chimney-like structure, once present next to the railway embankment by the canal just near to the Pelsall Road in Brownhills, had been truncated at some point.
Exactly when this odd landmark was demolished has been the subject of much debate.
A shortened surge stack, viewed possibly from the Pelsall Road or embankment nearby. Note the pipe linking it to the main. Image very kindly supplied by Gerald Reece.
Gerald Reece posted the above photo of the foreshortened stack still clearly proud of the railway embankment in the post-WW2 period, which I think is in the 1960s, but without a definite date – the the image shows the gardens of what seem to be new houses, and fairly modern fencing.
Patricia’s image, clearly shows the cropped stack in 1955. Here it is, just right of centre on the horizon:
Gerald’s image seems to be later due to the growth of the bush to the right of the stack, and change in telegraph poles. Portion of an image supplied by Patricia Cotton.
Just so we know what we’re all taking about, I feature an image of the complete stack from the Clayhanger side of the railway. It was quite something in its day.
Thanks to Patricia for another wonderful contribution, and if you have anything to add, please do: either comment here or mail me – BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.
Little by little, the history emerges….
This 100ft stack was a pressure relief ventilator for the South Staffordshire Water main between Lichfield and the Black Country, and sat at the highest point of the pipe. When it was demolished is hotly disputed. Image posted by Dave Moore on Flickr.