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Search Results for: pedro 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
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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
Sweet reason and the sourness of hypocrisy
An interesting contribution today from veteran blog writer and local industrial historian Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler, who has once again been delving via the newspaper archives into the grizzly reality of life as a miner, rather than indulging the more airbrushed … Continue reading
Posted in News
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Sunken hunter
Just a quick heads up to a great series on YouTube by a man very familiar to local canal fans: Andy Tidy, proprietor of the Jam Butty, a boat selling preserves that will be recognised by anyone attending a local … Continue reading
Posted in News
7 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
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…And the birds in the trees sang their requiem to the Coppice Pit
A great quick post here from the ever-resourceful Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler who’s found some absolute (black?) gold in the British Newspaper Archive. This article, published in the Birmingham Post in 1964, records the end of the last production shift at … Continue reading
Posted in News
11 Comments
The Parade route
There’s been a lot of interest and responses to my post on Saturday posing questions from Doug Birch MBE about Holland Park, the Black Path and The Parade, Brownhills. We have more or less established from the fruits of the … Continue reading
Posted in News
11 Comments
For the love of his fellow men
One quick one that’s turned up since I posted David Oakley’s musings on Temperance, probation and the fight against drunkenness in the early part of last century – Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler has found the above image and short note in … Continue reading
Posted in News
23 Comments
A shore thing
On Saturday last (9th February 2019) I featured a postcard image here of Norton Pool with a picture of a sailing boat on the water before an ornate pavilion, which I believe to be depicting Chasewater early in the 1900s. … Continue reading
Posted in News
5 Comments
So Turpin was famous locally…
I’m a bit busy with other stuff this weekend so while I catch up with that, there’s a great story here from spotted by Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler in an April 1967 copy of the Lichfield Mercury. Pit ponies and indeed, … Continue reading
Posted in News
3 Comments
Don’t tell him pike!
Over the years, writing a great deal about Chasewater, I’ve become used to hearing the recounted mythology of the lake north of Brownhills. One legend says excess bombs were dropped there during the war, another that it was covered at … Continue reading
Posted in News
15 Comments
Lunar see
Here’s a quick but beautiful one from longstanding local historian and rapscallion Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler who’s bought himself a great camera – a Nikon P900 – and has been experimenting photographing the moon. Those who follow my 365daysofbiking journal will … Continue reading
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Remembering Albert Stanley, M.P.
The subject of miner’s champion and Liberal Member of Parliament Albert Stanley has been a recurring theme on the blog over the years – he seems to have been a thoroughly good man who spoke up for the miners and … Continue reading
Ten. I never thought I’d still be here today.
Look, I’m not going to waffle on here or bore you (any more than usual) but this blog coughed and spluttered into a life of it’s own a decade ago today, on 2nd May 2009. Yes, I’ve been doing this … Continue reading
Posted in News
17 Comments
Brownhills celebrates a long time ago… Can you solve the mystery?
David Evans has been beavering away in the last week or so after generously being granted access to the collection of historic images and ephemera belonging to that wonderful Brownhills sportsman and historian Geof Harrington, and has raised a question … Continue reading
Posted in News
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Sweet like chocolate
Friend of the blog Shirley Jackson, who’s a Birmingham exile now living in Shire Oak and a great friend of the blog has raised an interesting question here relating to Cadburys and the Bournville factory in the media over the … Continue reading
Posted in News
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American smooth – BOOZERS don’t waste your stamps!
The American Studio photo phenomena touched upon a few weeks ago when we featured some mystery images from a local family seems to have captured readers imagination, and also shone a light on something that appeared to be a fashion at the turn of the last century.
Posted in News
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Missionaries, lost sheep and the hostile environment
A month or so ago I had a great enquiry from Nick Pilley about his family history in Walsall Wood, in particular concerning the life of his Grandfather, Alfred Merrick, a deputy at Walsall Wood Colliery. This fascinating enquiry spawned … Continue reading
Posted in News
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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
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It definitely wasn’t a Goodyear – help solve a mystery!
I’ve had an enquiry in for a while I’ve been meaning to post but kept forgetting (sorry, Shirley, my apologies) which will of no doubt be of interest to the Birmingham contingent amongst us – we’re looking for something missing from Fort Dunlop.
Posted in News
7 Comments
A man of outstanding ability in mining
Well, that was quick and you guys never, ever cease to amaze me – Having done the morning chores and gone for a wander out, I came back to find that following my publication of the enquiry about the Potters Clay and Coal Company and the possible involvement of Samuel Ramses Jones outstanding researcher Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler had been digging in the National Newspaper Archive.
Posted in News
12 Comments
Hours and minutes
I’ve had a really interesting donation this week from an unexpected source who has longstanding connections to the mining history of North Walsall – Sean Coughlan, the leader of Walsall Council!
Posted in News
9 Comments
Any voices from the beehive?
I’m on the cadge, please for information to help another historian who’s on the scent of something interesting, and could do with reader assistance if possible.
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Posted in News
5 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.
Edgar Pritchard: Island life
There is a continually unfolding thread here about one of the great sons of Brownhills, who was up until the last few months, relatively unknown in his hometown. Today, I can share another couple of Edgar Pritchard’s films – the first one, in colour and sound which was made in 1953, profiles the artist Brenda Irene Chamberlain (1912-71) who was at the time resident in Bardsey, an island off the coast of Wales that Edgar adored.
A game of Catshill and Mouse Hill
We’ve not been doing enough local history here lately, and I’m rectifying that forthwith a remarkable article from David Evans, whose research into what could well have been the first place of worship in Brownhills is stunning.
Posted in News
12 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
Raising damp
The question of Prisoner of War camps periodically arises here, and the subject, hugely illuminated by Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler, still seems shrouded in mystery and folklore.
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The men would rather starve, than work and starve…
I am very lucky indeed to have some wonderful contributors to the Brownhills Blog, who work tirelessly in the background ferreting around in local history, responding to new submissions and generally researching and writing new material based on things we’re sent.
Posted in News
14 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
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
There’s the rub
One recurring theme here on the blog is the story of one of Brownhills’ most notable sons – Dickie Dorsett, ace footballer known as the Brownhills Bomber, who was a major-league football star in times past and by all accounts a thoroughly decent bloke.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Events, Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aston Villa, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Dickie Dorsett, football, Local History, New Photos, Richard Lee, soccer, sport, Staffordshire, Sue Lote, The Brownhills Bomber, Walsall Wood, Wolves
9 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
That POW question arises again…
I’ve had an enquiry in the last week or so from reader Graham Smith, who’s trying to track down lists of Italian Prisoners of War, often said to be billeted in a camp in north Walsall, thought by many to be near the aerodrome.
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
The dead pool?
The young David Evans has of late been having one of his periodic rumination on the physical geography of Walsall Wood, that have previously proved so popular here on the blog – previously he’s looked for long-forgotten watercourses, the legendary Walsall Wood fault and recalled the commons and heaths before the housing was built here.
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More than just a game….
When I can, I like to document the history of local sports and hobbies here on the blog – although many of you will know I’m not really a sporting person, I appreciate the huge community significance of sports and pastimes within the area.
Running down the wing with an umbrella…
Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler’s interests are diverse – he’s written much over the years about local mining history, the industrial dynasties, power-brokers and workplace safety – but today, he turns his gaze slightly further afield and towards fairly uncharted territory for him – football.
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
Pelsall Hall Colliery disaster – where’s the mystery?
I’m pleased to feature here today a fascinating research article into the infamous Pelsall Hall Colliery disaster, wonderfully written by Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler – this will be the first of two articles relating to mining accidents today – and this is a great precursor to the following one, which will ask for help with the Grove Pit Disaster.
Useful Hints
There is still a steady trickle of information coming in on the late, great Edgar Pritchard and his amateur cinefilms, of which I think the most notable is ‘The Poacher’s Apprentice’, the wonderful short, silent movie about a young lad befriending a greengrass, filmed in and around the village of Hints, near Tamworth, in 1952.
Better men than us?
A few weeks ago I featured here Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler’s remarkable and thorough research into the evidence surround Pelsall Ironworks, the Bloomer empire, and their possible involvement in the contemptible ‘Truck’ system of paying employees in tokens, generally only exchangeable in company owned stores for goods that were generally overpriced.
When historic material isn’t all it seems…
Last week, we delved into Walsall Council and the Walsall Local History Centre’s online photo archive with a couple of images David Evans found browsing – both images were very interesting, but the football team above, said to be of Brookland Juniors, Walsall Wood in 1930 turns out not to be as it would appear.
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Brereton rabbit
An interesting one reaches me from Peter ‘pedro’ Cutler regarding the shocking state of mining housing and the tyranny of the tied house in the mid-1930s, with regard to local miners.
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The Black Country as it should be defined?
There are some topics I treat very carefully here on the blog; some that cause so much anguish, heated debate and recrimination that I feel scared to approach them even tangentially, and so it is with reckless abandon that today, I run an article about the definition of the geographic area we refer to as ‘The Black Country’.
The Poacher
I love keeping this blog – sometimes, it’s hard work, and sometimes it gets on top of me, but then something will turn up that makes it all worthwhile, and that’s why it’s so very enjoyable.
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Taking the Hints
Last week, I featured a film here that I was absolutely stunned by, and although well received, it’s been a real slow-burning success, being viewed much more later in the week as people discovered it.
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Walsall Wood FC on the telly!
Here’s one for the Walsall Wood FC fans out there – I’ve got the full video of the edition of Big Centre TV’s ‘Extra Time’ featuring Andy Roper and Graham Collins of the club – you can watch it in the player below.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2015, Andy RoperRopes, Big Centre TV, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, David Evans, Events, Extra, FC, football, Footy, Good of the Wood, graham Collins, Lichfield, Local History, New Photos, Shire Oak, Silly, soccer, Things to do, time, TV, Walsall Wood, Walsall WOod FC
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