A classic Brownhills view that won’t have changed much since this section of canal was built in the 1840s.
Well, spring has finally come and as befits a decent bank holiday weekend, I’m out and about on my bike, hence the lower than usual posting schedule.
Yesterday I went for a bimble out to one of my favourite bits of Staffordshire – first to Lichfield on an errand, then a gorgeous evening ride to Sittles, Whitemore Haye, Catton, Rosliston, Coton, Lullington, Clifton Campville, Haunton, Syerscote, Wigginton, Hopwas, Hints, Weeford, Shenstone and home.
It really is gorgeous out there folks – do get out and enjoy it while you can. I took this gallery for the armchair cyclists to peruse.
Just a tip to fellow explorers – Syerscote Lane between Haunton and Wigginton is again gated. It’s fine to ride, and the gate is clear to open, but watch out for it if you’re not expecting it.It was always gated as a kid and I’m glad to see it so again.
For more of this sort of thing, my 365daysofbiking journal is still running…
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Re view unchanged : fields would have been green, not yellow, in the 1840s. Oil seed rape is a recent “invention”!
Well, the landscape wouldn’t be that different and flowering crops like flax and mustard were not unusual then ( mustard is the same family as oilseed)
Cheers
Bob
Great pictures bob we live in a fantastic part of the world we were born lucky enjoy life thanks again for the pics
In all my years, I’d never met the word “bimble” till yesterday when I read the sentence ” ,, the Chaplain skulked in the Quad, bimbling around on the College lawn.” Now here it is again! Bimble. Lovely word. Nothing if not educational, this blog.
Great pics, but there would have been sails on the windmill.
To be fair what I actually wrote was ‘Won’t have changed much’ – yes, the windmill would have been functional (and a great thing to see I think), and no railway/motorwar; but the roll of the landscape and the charm it has would still be there!
Cheers
Bob
Thanks,Bob,
Your pictures took me back more than forty years ago, to my time with South Staffordshire Waterworks. Although primarily a West Midland undertaking, supplying the Black Country, etc., the years had enlarged its activity, and it had, to my later delight, embraced those lovely East Midland villages, around which you recently cycled.
How I loved my journey to those more distance parts, shown in your pictures. Perhaps a little wisfully, because I shall never go there again. The Company had tiny reservoirs, pumping stations and treatment works in this area. Chilcote, near to Clifton Campville had a treatment works which supplied lime to the water, to make the water ‘hard’ as we were a hard water Company. While travelling along No Man’s Heath, every field seem to have a whiteness, as if the lime had escaped in a high wind and self-distributed itself over surrounded fields, or the spent lime had been re-cycled and sold to farmers. My other memory is of Rollaston Tower, a little bit farther than your recent spin, Bob, a Company property which housed ‘The Rollaston Ladies Swimming Club’ We were forbidden on ‘pain of death’ to venture near the place, when sessions were taking place, which, of course, we strictly observed.