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Search Results for: cutler
The future was bright…
A quick one here while I prepare another post – this was inspired by Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler who spotted a different article mentioning the same firm in the British Newspaper Archive – Barbright USAM who were based on Lichfield Road … Continue reading
Posted in Environment
1 Comment
Clearance – everything must go!
Well, hello everyone. Long time no post. My apologies: The ever present bad health this year has been very difficult in recent weeks, and I’ve not been able to post. My apologies. But I am backhand on the mend! Have … Continue reading
Posted in Environment
11 Comments
Can we solve the mystery of an old Ogley Hay influencer from the 60s?
A quick enquiry here from reader Ray who yesterday sent me in this headscratcher of a question which seems ideal for a Sunday. He wrote: Hi Bob I was hoping you may have information that can help me out. Whilst … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 1964, 4a, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Events, Local History, Malcolm Kelly, Mr. Riley, New Photos, Ogley Hay, Ogley Hay Junior School, School, Staffordshire
21 Comments
May be? Ogley Hay infants in the early 1960s
Reader Janet has sent me an absolutely gorgeous school photo from the early 1960s at Ogley Hay infants in Brownhills – from the activity and dress depicted, I think this may be a May Day celebration which I believe was customary at the school at the time?
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 1964, 4a, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Events, Local History, Malcolm Kelly, Mr. Riley, New Photos, Ogley Hay, Ogley Hay Junior School, School, Staffordshire
9 Comments
Resprung
You’ll all know that of late, I’ve not been too well and that work has taken up a huge amount of my time – well, my health is now thankfully improving, work is easing off and the sun came out (although the wind was still a bit keen), so yesterday I had a great 58 mile ride via old haunts into South Derbyshire.
The Metz office?
An intriguing enquiry reaches me from local historian and blog dynamo the young David Evans, who’s after a rather specific bit of history relating to a lost courtyard of dwellings in Brownhills High Street Called ‘The Metz’.
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media
Tagged 1883, 1:2500, bad housing, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Urban District Council, clearance, David Evans, Dr. Bradford, George Bradford, Hill sisters, Lichfield Mercury, Local History, Metz, Norman Waine, Ogley Hay, Ogley Square, Old maps, Ordnance Survey, Peter Cutler, Richard Burnell, Slum clearance, snaitationG, Staffordshire, Things to do, UDC, Urban District Council
4 Comments
Making a Marklew
One enduring subject of very much debate here that continues to receive a lot of attention is the thorny subject of the Marklew family, Marklew’s pond off Coppice Lane, William Roberts and the claim that the farm was one of the last Tommy Shops operating.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged brewer, Brewery, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Coppice, david Gee, Farm, Gerald Reece, JP, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, Marklew, Pedro, Peter Cutler, philanthropist, Pubs, q, Staffordshire, Station Hotel, The Coppice, The Old Tommy Shop, Things to do, Tommy Shop, William ROberts
4 Comments
Ogley Hay Class 4A, 1963
A lovely photo comes in via reader Malcolm Kelly, who’s dug out an excellent photo of Class 4A at Ogley Hay junior Schooling 1963, and is wondering if readers can help with the faces he can’t recall?
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 1964, 4a, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Events, Local History, Malcolm Kelly, Mr. Riley, New Photos, Ogley Hay, Ogley Hay Junior School, School, Staffordshire
11 Comments
Peace at last – a Christmas message from The Brownhills Blog
Hey you lot – Brownhills Blog readers, browsers, information seekers, contributors, friends: have a great Christmas, and I wish you a happy, prosperous and peaceful 2017.
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff, Wildlife
Tagged 2015, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Christmas, Cycle rides, cycling, Greetings, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, Politics, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Wildlife
18 Comments
Wolves at the door
I’m having the IT builders in this weekend, so posts are a bit scattergun as I move things, fix them up and reinstall them, so please bear with me – but helpfully, the blog regulars in the form of the young David Evans, Pedro Cutler, Andy Dennis and dear old Reg Fullelove have supplied lots of material to tide us through.
Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 1975, Art Gallery, David Evans, gallery, local blogs, Local History, Old pictures, Reg Fullelove, Staffordshire, Tarmac, Wolverhampton, year of achitecture
1 Comment
Christmas, 1957 – but who’s that girl?
As anyone who reads my other channels will know its been a hard week, and frankly, I’ve been too knackered to properly manage the blog – sorry for the lack of content over the last week and thanks for bearing with me.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 1957, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Events, Kathleen Martin, Kathleen Schnabel, Local History, Mystery, nativity, New Photos, Ogley Hay, play, School, Staffordshire
1 Comment
Miss Hall’s girls
by reader Mandy Cockram, whose mother went to Ogley Hay Girls School in Brownhills in the e
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged Andy Dennis, Barbara Dennis, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chase Terrace, Country Dancing, Events, Local History, New Photos, Ogley Hay, Pedro Cutler, Peter Cutler, School, Staffordshire
6 Comments
Where there’s a will
I keep returning to the subject of the man I consider to be the father of modern Brownhills, the one and only William Roberts – railway plate layer, ganger, publican, entrepreneur, civic stalwart, JP and philanthropist.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged brewer, Brewery, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Gerald Reece, JP, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, Pedro, Peter Cutler, philanthropist, Pubs, q, Staffordshire, Station Hotel, Things to do, William ROberts
6 Comments
Rescue me
The great Bill Mayo, local historian and photo collector, has recently been digging in his files and found a few mystery images, like the one above of a local mines rescue team.
Posted in Cannock Chase, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, coal mines, colliery, Coppy Pit, David Evans, Features, Grove Colliery, Grove pit, Local History, Mine rescue, mines recue cup, Mines rescue, mining, New Photos, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Staffordshire, Twitter, Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood Colliery, Walsall Wood Pit, William Harrison
2 Comments
It’s the rail thing
A great one for the train enthusiasts comes in from new Brownhills resident Simon Swain, who’s been doing some great railway history stuff in the South Staffordshire Railway group on Facebook – it seems that the notorious May 1959 rail tour up the Walsall Wood line to the Conduit Colliery – from which a few pictures have emerged over the years – continues to fascinate and unearth new images.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1959, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, charter, Chasewater, Conduit Colliery, coombe, Derelict, Events, House, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, rail tour, Redevelopment, Reservoir, Si Swain, Simon, Staffordshire, Stephenson Locomotive Society, Walsall Wood
4 Comments
A mine of information
In my last article, I pointed out that I’d received extra information on a couple of posts over the weekend – both on the Anglesey/sea question, and also on the Mine Rescue Team image shared by John Sale and Bill Mayo.
Posted in Cannock Chase, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1935, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cannock Chase, cannock Chase jubilee souvenir, coal mines, colliery, Coppy Pit, David Evans, Features, Grove Colliery, Grove pit, jan Wilson, Local History, Mine rescue, mines recue cup, Mines rescue, mining, New Photos, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Staffordshire, Twitter, Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood Colliery, Walsall Wood Pit, William Harrison
4 Comments
We finally made it to Christmas…
I’d like to wish all blog readers, contributors and friends a merry Christmas and a very happy, peaceful and prosperous new year – may 2016 bring all you hope for.
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Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff, Wildlife
Tagged 2015, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Christmas, Cycle rides, cycling, Greetings, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, Politics, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Wildlife
15 Comments
In Coalpool did Brewer a pleasure ground erect?
Last week I revealed the mystery archive where I’d been finding all those great architecture pictures, and also pointed out that the filing system was curious, in that there seemed to be several dislocated images in the system – including the one of ‘Harden Hall’, which actually turned out to not be a Walsall image at all.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 2015, Architecture, Arden, brewer, cardigan, Chapel, Coalpool, Derelict, garden, Grounds, Harden, Historic England, Ian, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Pedro, Pell, Peter Cutler, Pleaseure, Simon Briercliffe, Staffordshire, Things to do, up the oss road, Walsall, Walsall Council
9 Comments
Welcome to the pleasure grounds
I am indebted to friends of the blog and top local historians Clive Roberts and Stuart Williams who both sent me copies of the following image of Coalpool Pleasure Grounds taken I believe around 1910.
Posted in Churches, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 2015, Architecture, Arden, brewer, cardigan, Chapel, Clive Roberts, Coalpool, Derelict, garden, Grounds, Harden, Historic England, Ian, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Pedro, Pell, Peter Cutler, Pleaseure, Simon Briercliffe, Staffordshire, Stuart Williams, Things to do, up the oss road, Walsall, Walsall Council
1 Comment
Open day and night
Last week I featured here an interesting postcard I’d spotted for sale on eBay, featuring a cafe on the Watling Street I’d not heard of before – The Jubilee, which turned out to be what is now an Indian restaurant, but was previously the Happy Eater, and the adjacent garage of Paul Depper MGs.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged 2015, bridgtown, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cafe, Cannock, ebay, great Wylrley, Jubilee, Jubilee Cafe, Lichfield, Local History, New Photos, Postcard, Social Club, Staffordshire, Wailing Street
7 Comments
The Old Hednesford Pit Disaster: a question of Merrit
Incisive and tenacious historian Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler has been quietly continuing his investigations into the Old Hednesford Colliery Disaster, the 1911 accident that was brought to our attention when Reg ‘Are Reg’ Fullelove donated a poem he’d come to have in his collection to the blog.
Posted in Bad Science, Cannock Chase, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1911, Bravery, Hednesfold, Henry Merrit, Hero, heroism, inquest, journalism, Lichfield, Lichfield Mercury, local blogs, Local History, Medal, New Photos, Old, Pedro, Peter Cutler, pit disaster, Poem, Report, South Staffordshire Times, Staffordshire, Thomas Stokes
7 Comments
Crushed nuts and juice, sonny?
Rightho – it’s Sunday, it’s summer (just about; the rain is getting warmer so it must be), so what could be more appropriate than an ice cream from the travelling ice cream man?
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged 1958, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, David Evans, Desmond Burton, Facebook, Ice Cream, local blogs, Local History, Main Street, Shire Oak, Sonnall, Staffordshire, Stonnall, video, Walsall Wood, Wordsley House
4 Comments
Thomas Stokes: Unsung hero of the Old Hednesford Pit Disaster
I must say there hasn’t been enough local history stuff here of late and it has also been too long since I last featured a research article by the incisive and tenacious historian Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler.
Posted in Bad Science, Cannock Chase, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1911, Bravery, Hednesfold, Hero, heroism, inquest, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Medal, New Photos, Old, Pedro, Peter Cutler, pit disaster, Poem, Report, Staffordshire, Thomas Stokes
4 Comments
That didn’t go to plan… or did it?
I realise this is a bit off piste for the Brownhills Blog, but we have interests in Lichfield, so I think it’s appropriate – a few weeks ago Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler spotted the following clipping in the newspaper archives.
Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged 1925, 2015, Bowling Green, clock tower, island, July 31, Lichfield, Lichfield Mercurey, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, planning, Redevelopment, road scheme, Staffordshire, The Friary, Things to do
2 Comments
Arachnofoolya
A bit of a departure, but this is an article of been longing to run since I received it a couple of weeks ago, but sadly ongoing current affairs prevented it – However, I’m proud today to feature Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler’s latest piece of historical investigation.
Posted in Bad Science, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media
Tagged 2015, Bannock House, Coseley Spider, eophrynus prestvicii, Geology, Lichfield, Local History, Staffordshire, Things to do, Wolverhampton, Wolverhampton City Council
6 Comments
Diamonds and dust
This is an important one, and I think there may well be more to follow, as top local history wonk Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler is not one to let sleeping dogs – or local history matters that are niggling him – lie.
Posted in Cannock Chase, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Black Diamonds; or The Gospel in a Colliery District, Black Diamonds; the Rise and Fall of an English Dynasty, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Catherine Bailey, CCMHS, coal, Foster and Co, Google Books, HHB, Lichfield, Lloyds, local blogs, Local History, mining, Pedro, Peter Cutler, pits, Rev J.B. Owen, Staffordshire, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Wood
1 Comment
Trouble brewing?
There’s something I’ve been needing to get off my chest for a good while, and it won’t go away – however, recent finds and articles on the blog have brought it to the fore in my mind, and this is as good a juncture as any to brooch the subject: William Roberts is not recognised enough in our collective history.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged brewer, Brewery, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, JP, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, Pedro, Peter Cutler, philanthropist, Pubs, Staffordshire, Station Hotel, Things to do, William ROberts
9 Comments
The estate we’re in
I had an interesting email from reader and top local history technician Andy Dennis a couple of weeks ago that expands on a recent topic beautifully: that of William Roberts and his empire.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 1943, Andy Dennis, bagby, brewer, Brewery, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, clara, Coppice, death, deceased, Farm, Gerald Reece, inheritance, JP, Lichfield, Lichfield Mercury, Local History, Local politics, Marklew, Pedro, Peter Cutler, philanthropist, Pubs, q, sale, Staffordshire, Station Hotel, The Coppice, The Old Tommy Shop, Things to do, Tommy Shop, will, William ROberts
10 Comments
For the want of timber
Last week I featured an article by local history Rapscallion Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler about a text, available for free via Google Books called ‘Black Diamonds or the Gospel in a Colliery District’ written around 1860 by mystery author HHB.
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Posted in Cannock Chase, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1889, Andy, Black Diamonds; or The Gospel in a Colliery District, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, CCMHS, coal, Dennis, Ellen, Foster and Co, Google Books, Gravestone, Headstone, HHB, Lichfield, Lichfield Mercury, Lloyds, local blogs, Local History, mining, Pedro, Peter Cutler, pits, Rev J.B. Owen, St James, Staffordshire, Things to do, Thomas, tragedy, Walsall, Walsall Wood
4 Comments
Just William
The interesting history of William Roberts – the father of modern Brownhills – continues, and this time, Peter ‘pedro’ Cutler has taken issue with some other, intersecting local history, and just when exactly William Roberts came to Brownhills as a lad, and where he lived when his family moved here.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged brewer, Brewery, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Coppice, Farm, Gerald Reece, JP, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, Marklew, Pedro, Peter Cutler, philanthropist, Pubs, q, Staffordshire, Station Hotel, The Coppice, The Old Tommy Shop, Things to do, Tommy Shop, William ROberts
43 Comments
Local history events this week
Kate Cardigan Gomez from the wonderful Lichfield Lore is really going some with her local history group, Lichfield Discovered – in the next week they have two events, one of which is tonight, and on an appropriate Great War theme, with author Joss Musgrave Knibb.
Posted in Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged 10th November, 15th December, 2014, Archeology, Book, Brewood, cells, Channock Chase, Discovered, event, Events, Facebook, First Lines, First World War, Gaol, Great War, Guildhall, Hoard, Joss Musgrove Knibb, Kate Gomez, Library, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Lore, Messines, Model, New Photos, November 11th, Panoramio, Peter Pedro Cutler, poety, prison, Saturday, Staffordshire, Stephen Dean, Talk, Things to do, Twitter, WW1
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Such was his devotion
Back to William Roberts, then – railway plate layer, ganger, publican, entrepreneur, civic stalwart, JP and philanthropist – a very rare man in his time, he appears to have been generous, considerate, imbued with a real sense of social justice, and was undoubtedly a sharp-dealing rogue too.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged brewer, Brewery, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Gerald Reece, JP, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, Pedro, Peter Cutler, philanthropist, Pubs, q, Staffordshire, Station Hotel, Things to do, William ROberts
14 Comments
Doctor Fell
This is just a quick one, as I thought we needed to get at least a little bit of history in at long last – and this one has piqued my curiosity, as my antenna always twitch when I hear subsidence legends.
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Posted in Bad Science, Chasewater, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged Bell pit, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Common, Cottage, David Evans, Derelict, JB Cox, legends, Lichfield, Local History, Mavis Woodhouse, mines, mining colliery, Norton Pool, Old maps, Oscar johnson, planning, Pool Road, Redevelopment, Reservoir, shallow, Staffordshire, Subsidence, Things to do, Watling Street
14 Comments
The Brownhills Darktown Poker Club… in 1881
Here’s a quick one from local history rapscallion Peter ‘pedro’ Cutler while I’m prepping some other stuff for the weekend – debauchery and cards in a Brownhills Working Men’s Club in 1881!
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Progressive Working Men's Club, Brownhills West, Cheap tat, Hednesford Road, Lichfield, Local History, Mercury, New Photos, Police, Pubs, Raid, Silly, Staffordshire
3 Comments
Geared up for Christmas
I’d just like to take this opportunity to wish all the readers, contributors, commenters and supporters of the Brownhills Blog and it’s associated side projects a very merry Christmas, and a healthy, happy, prosperous and peaceful 2015.
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff, Wildlife
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Christmas, Cycle rides, cycling, Greetings, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, Politics, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Wildlife
10 Comments
Safe as houses?
I’m pleased to say that, somewhat like rust, Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler never sleeps, and his tireless and somewhat relentless pursuit of the evidential history behind some of the commonly accepted ‘authoritative sources’ of local mining history continues unabated.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldershaw, Aldershawe, Bill May, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills UDC, Brownhills Urban District Council, Cannock Chase Mining Historical Society, CCMHS, Election, estate, hall, john, Local History, Mick Drury, Morton House, Norton, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood, William, William Harrison, William ROberts
3 Comments
World War One Centenary events in Walsall this Monday
As you will no doubt be aware, it’s the centenary of our entry into World War One on Monday, 4th August 2014, and Walsall Council and other organisations in the borough have arranged some interesting, respectful and well considered events to mark the 100 years.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 4 August 2014, Brownhills local history, Cecil Burton, Conflict, David Evans, Events, first, folly, Great, Harry Patch, Levi Cooper, Local History, memorial, Moday, Peter Cutler, Remembrance, Royal British Legion, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood, war, world
3 Comments
Swept everything before it
Last weekend, I revisited for the first time in ages the subject that was once so prominent here – Chasewater dam – but not in reference to the recent renovations, but to the creation of the reservoir and the failure of the earthwork dam in 1799.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio updates, Shared media, Shared memories, Wildlife
Tagged 1799, Blackbrook, bridge, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Burst, Canal, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Dam, Drayton, Events, Hopwas, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Panoramio, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Reservoir, Shenstone, Staffordshire, Stafforshire Advertiser, Stone
7 Comments
An electoral deformity
It’s interesting to note that Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler is coming over all iconoclastic again – and I, for one, welcome it, as Peter has a fine record of kicking over the statues of the local mining history – particularly in regard the the Harrison colliery dynasty.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldershaw, Aldershawe, Bill May, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills UDC, Brownhills Urban District Council, Cannock Chase Mining Historical Society, CCMHS, Election, estate, hall, john, Local History, Mick Drury, Morton House, Norton, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood, William, William Harrison, William ROberts
6 Comments
Light and graceful
From time to time here, we mention the history of Aldershawe, the estate and large house overlooking Lichfield from high on the hill near Wall – this remarkable and secluded property is, of course, closely intertwined with the Harrison family who owned it for a time.
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Posted in cycling, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 1999, Aldershaw, Aldershawe, big house, Craft Village, Cycle rides, cycling, Edward Brown, estate, Harrison, Lichfield, livery, Local History, Mansions and Country Seats of Staffordshire and Warwickshire, Mercury, New Photos, Panoramio, Pedro Cutler, Pedrocut, Peter Cutler, Redevelopment, software, stables, Staffordshire, Wall
3 Comments
It’s a naked place without cricket
It’s always nice to kick off a new historical thread here on the blog, and this one will be particularly wonderful to curate, as I know there’s a lot of local interest in the old cricketing history of Walsall Wood.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Bill Mayo, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cricket, Cricket Club, David Evans, Events, Facebook, field, football, George Crutchley, Horse and Jockey, Jockey Hoe, Jockey Meadows, Joe Blakemore, Lichfield, Local History, New Photos, photo, pitch, Pubs, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, team, Things to do, Walsall Wood, Walsall WOod FC, Wesleyans
9 Comments
When an old cricketer leaves the crease
Following the remarkable and fascinating response to Julie Le-Moine’s enquiry last weekend about a mystery cricket team photo from Walsall Wood, Julie has been good enough to send me another image – this time, it’s her Grandfather Walter Hollender.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1933, 1935, 1st Walsall Wood Scouts, Booker T, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cricket, Events, Facebook, Julie Le-Moine, Lichfield, Local History, Lynn, MGs, New Photos, photo, Shire Oak, Soul Limbo, Staffordshire, team, Things to do, Walsall Wood, Walter Hollender
11 Comments
Vapour trials
The really fascinating thing about curating this blog is the way it inspires people to look into not just history, but the retelling of it; I have been banging on for years that we need to be careful not just of our own accounts and beliefs, but also of those accounts we hold as truths from authoritative sources.
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Bradbury, Brian Rollins, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cannock Chase Mining Historical Society, Coal Mining, Coal Mining in Walsall Wood, Coppy Pit, Explosion, Fire, James Rigby, Local History, New Photos, Nigel A Chapman, Pedro, Peter Cutler, petrol, Petrol engine mine, petroleum, Priestman Engine, Protector Lamp, Staffordshire, The South Staffordshire Coalfield, Thomas Clarke, vapour, Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood Colliery Co, Walsall Wood olliery, Walsall Wood Pit
16 Comments
The darkness of those days
Mindful of the day and occasion, regular contributor and blog stalwart Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler wrote to me with an interesting couple of things to check out relating to the Second World War and Birmingham – I wasn’t aware of either, and they’ve been eye-openers, to be quite honest. 
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged air raid., All the days of my life, Aston, Birmingham, Blitz, Brian David Williams, Brownhills local history, Events, Kynoch, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Second World War, Things to do, war, Witton
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A fit of Peake?
I had this one in a couple of days ago from Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler, who continues his dogged research into local mining history, and the relationship between those above ground and those whose labours they depended upon beneath them.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 1933, Accident, Amalgamation, baths, Cannock, Captain, collieries, colliery, Harrison, Institute of Mining Engineers, Lichfield Mercury, Overwind protection, Peake, Pedro, Peter Cutler, pinhead, Rawnsley, Rugeley, T.V., The Grange, wimblebury
19 Comments
Something cheesy for Christmas
I’ll keep this brief, as I know there are folk in Short Heath suffering in quiet, restrained dignity as they haven’t had their Liberal Democrat Focus news sheets this week due to the inclement weather – please spare a thought for those less fortunate souls this Christmas.
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Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff, Wildlife
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Christmas, Cycle rides, cycling, Greetings, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, Politics, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Wildlife
6 Comments
Old Holland
Over the past couple of posts, the subject of Holland Park in Brownhills has come up, and reader Peter asked where it got it’s name – I knew it was named after Hyla John Holland, one of the great names in the history of Brownhills, but I realised I didn’t know much about the chap, or exactly what he did beyond being a councillor.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Wildlife
Tagged 1933, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Holland, Hylan John, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, Mercury, New Photos, Obituary, Park, Parks, planning, recreation, Staffordshire, The Parade, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
23 Comments
From Brownhills to Tottenham
Back in May, 2013, Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler turned up the intriguing story of Cecil Poynton, a footballer of some note from Brownhills, and at the time, we could find little about the chap, and it seemed that in the annals of local sporting history, Cecil was somewhat overshadowed by the seemingly more well-know Dickie Dorsett, whose career has been covered here previously.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cecil Poynton, Clayhanger, Dickie Dorsett, famous, football, Hotspur, Lichfield, Local History, New Photos, Pedro, Peter Cutler, soccer, Spurs, Staffordshire, Terry Harrison, Tottenham
9 Comments
On the nightwatch
Now here’s a wonderful thing from local history Rapscallion Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler, who in his usual inimitable style, has been rootling trough the newspaper archives for references to the air raids alluded to in the St John’s School log book I featured at the weekend.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged air raid., Brownhills, Brownhills local history, David Evans, Dornier, Earl of Dudley, Fire Watch, Incendiary Bombs, Lichfield Mercury, Local History, New Photos, Pedro, Peter Cutler, St. Johns School, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood, World War 2
12 Comments
Nailed it
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1880, a, AJP Photography, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Local History, Maker, Nail, Nailer, New Photos, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Shop, Staffordshire, The Graphic, Tony Parsons, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Women
10 Comments
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