This is a new one on me, and one of the better shots of Mount Zion, situated as it was, there were no really decent photos of the front of what was a very dark, austere building. Image found on eBay by [Howmuch?] – click for a larger version.
After a long period in exile away from the ‘Hills, long time blog helper and history ferret [Howmuch?] returns from foreign shores with some images he’s spotted in various auctions on services eBay and eBid.
These are some good ones for a snowy Sunday afternoon, and I’m particularly interested in the one above, which I can’t recall ever having seen before. It’s a view looking up High Street towards Shire Oak, and shows the long-gone Mount Zion chapel on the right, which would have been about where the access to Tesco from the High Street is today, in the region of Swan Flooring.
Edit later that day: As the comments below show, I have that completely wrong, sorry. This is the Wesleyan Chapel, which was indeed on the corner of Pier Street. Thanks to David Evans and Reg Fullelove for putting me straight. Apologies.
This is actually the same card as featured in the ‘Boys on the Corner’ post as linked below, but it’s darker so I didn’t recognise it. What a pillock I am.
In the distance, the Wesleyan Church, which would be on the corner of Pier Street. From the ladies dresses I’d say this was turn of the last century. Interesting how many properties on the left appear to be normal houses, not shops – or is that an illusion?
Is this related to other iconic shots of Brewes Corner? What do you think? Image found on eBay by [Howmuch?] – click for a larger version.
The above image of Brewe’s Corner – looking up High Street from what would now be the Miner Island, with Lichfield Road to the left – seems to bear some relation to the iconic shots from the same position that include the Roberts Brewery behind the Station Hotel which would be out of shot on the right – you can see those images here.
I’m puzzled by the tent arrangement in the fence on the right behind the man standing, looking at the photo. Any ideas? I’d say again, turn of the last century or thereabouts.
An unusual view of Walsall Wood High Street, but something looks wrong. Is it distorted? Image found on eBay by [Howmuch?] – click for a larger version.
Rear of the above card. Image found on eBay by [Howmuch?] – click for a larger version.
The above postcard postally used in 1909 shows an unusual view of Walsall Wood High Street – but something looks a bit wrong about the tram. Its it just bad reproduction, or has it been doctored as many period postcards were? Can the Wood contingent help here please? Also, help deciphering the writing would be lovely please.
Finally, this one, postally used I think in 1910 which has no picture, but is addressed to a place of interest: The Croft, which was a large house near the Hussey Arms on Chester Road. That ties in with this interesting post here about the history of the Swan Works clay pit at Birch Coppice which I was hoping would generate more interest but seems to have died a death.
A blank-front card sent to The Croft, Brownhills. Image found on eBay by [Howmuch?] – click for a larger version.
If you can help with any of these, or fill in the gaps or have other comments, please don’t hesitate to contribute: Coomment on this post or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Cheers.
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HI Bob
I think the top card , HIgh Street Brownhills , shows the Wesley Methodist Chapel, not Mount Zion chapel, and had a long connection with George Fullelove, choirmaster of note – well, many notes
The HIgh Street Walsall Wood show the two girls standing by the entrance to the Hawthorn, Drunken Duck pub. Not many passengers on the ( probably middle of the day ) tram!
You’re right. Oh bugger.
Cheers
Bob
The Walsall Wood shot, to me, just has a bit of distortion from a wide-angle lens.
Going on the old censuses, High Street / Chester Road was overwhelmingly residential – mostly miners.
i agre with david its the wesley chapel corner of silver street the tent by roberts would be the old orignal market the croft wasnt that the name of george jones house next to the hussey arms
it was mount Zion chapel the Wesley chapel was on the corner of pier street George fullilove was at the Wesley chapel my uncle Sid fullilove was hie brother David fullilove was involved with the memo for years o played football for the Wesley youth club in 1953 Ivor fullilove also played
Oops looking again I am not sure which chapel on the corner opposite the Wesley chapel was Kingston’s shoe shop the old palace cinema was between the two chapels
It is the Wesley Chapel in the pic, my mistake, as I said to David. Mount Zion had a really odd little belcote on top you can see in the Brewes Corner card.
Bob
See here
https://brownhillsbob.files.wordpress.com/2017/04/brownhills-mount-zion-prim-methodist-church-1960s.jpg
It was the three spherical finials that fooled me, a design feature common to both oddly. I wonder if that had ecclesiastical significance?
Cheers
Bob
Regarding the tram,are you on about, the pole seems to be the wrong way,it certainly appears like that,but this part of the line was only single track,the trams only ran to the station bridge.The twin track was the other side of the canal bridge it then continued s single track as the bridge was too narrow for a double line.
My issue with the tram pic is the tram looks almost impractically tall and thin, but as Stymaster says, might just be lens effect.
Cheers
Bob
Hi Bob
The brewes corner building always carches my eye..the smart decorative bricks just below the guttering…similar ornate decorative brickwork adorns the houses in Lichfield Road, Walsall..near Borneo Street. There may be a link with Brawns brickwork? .are they buildings from the same time?…I think the works were between Walsall Wood and Sheffield… I wonder if Brewes corner building dates from the time the raikway was cut through?
one for the experts, perhaps…..
Both the Wesleyan and Primitve chapels were modern design for their times and contrast sharply with that of the earlier Congregational chapel,Coppice Lane, and the Church or England building.
..perhaos they were making a statement, in a way !
kind regards
David
Yes, you’re right – that kind of decorative terracotta brickwork was made in Aldridge and is amazingly complex, and several buildings in Walsall have them, including townhouses in The Butts as you note, but also shops in Wednesbury Road, some buildings in Pleck and a house somewhere on the West (maybe Hednesford Road).
I can’t imagine the cost of all those tiny bricks – some making up floral panels, arch cornices and corbals.
I have seen it speculated that some were build as demonstration pieces bt have no proof.
Cheers
Bob
ups ime write and wrong first i realized my error after i pressed enter it was pier street sorry there were two kingstones shoe shops one on the corner and one by robertses builders and decorators
in between the shoe shops was holmes green grocers and the butchers reg ?? and bill caters electrical they moved across the road in the 50s mike cater was my pal for years did bill mayo attend clayhanger road gospel hall did he have brothers alister and george ??
have you any pictures of the three chapels school avenue clayhanger road gospel hall and the house of prayer in coppice road walsall wood please
Coppice Road Walsall Wood, from the wonderful David Oakley
https://brownhillsbob.com/2013/02/17/bless-this-tiny-house/
This post mentions both the School Avenue chapel and Clanger Gospel Hall
https://brownhillsbob.com/2013/02/19/those-craddocks-in-full/
Cheers
Bob
Hello Ray
The Gospel Hall in Clayhanger Road is still standing, but is now used for other activities…but, I Wonder if there may be a blog reader who has photos of the Gospel Hall when it was a chapel…
Kind regards
David
Hi Bob
the three postcards also show another intereting feature..the telegraph poles. the advent of the telephne, trams, street sewage systems..e stnehc pipe opposite Brewes corner…and yet, reading Dr Maddevers report on the health of the community, we see a disturbing facet.I think his report is to be found somewhere in the blog