Author Archives: BrownhillsBob

One of the sadder social side effects of the pandemic locally has been the necessary, and totally appropriate cessation of community sport, in particular Walsall Wood Football Club. As things inch back to normality, sporting activities are resuming and The … Continue reading →

I’m indebted today to local lady Gail Hughes who posted this wonderful pair of Ogley Juniors photos  – the upper one appears to be from the annual May Day event in 1965 (which has featured here many times before from … Continue reading →

If you, the kids or grandkids are at a loose end today, since the weather seems decent and that lockdown is eased, it would be an excellent chance to grab the young ones and nip up to Stubbers Green where … Continue reading →

Andy Tidy, otherwise known as the Canal Hunter and creator of the great canal history series on YouTube that I have plugged before here about lost local canals – including our own lost stretch of canal from Ogley Junction to … Continue reading →

Here’s a quick plug for Lichfield, Walsall and South Staffordshire Humanists – a philosophical debating group – who have their quarterly meeting this Wednesday 15th July 2020 at your home! They are trying this time, since Coronavirus restrictions mean they … Continue reading →

While I’m busy today, here’s an interesting family history enquiry from Jo Clifford, who’s tracing her family which seems focussed on the Pelsall area – and I know we have lots of the Pelsall Contingent in. Jo wrote: Dear Bob, … Continue reading →

As you know I’m very into local industrial history here on the blog, and there’s an area of it that has not received much coverage since the sad death of grandfather of all Walsall local history, Jack Haddock. I am … Continue reading →

  Today, Thursday 25th June 2020), is a very important date for one of the foremost members of this little online community: Happy (belated) birthday to the Grandfather of the Brownhills Blog, Reg ‘Aer Reg’ Fullelove, now resident in Norton but … Continue reading →

I’ve had some terrific photo submissions for the blog in recent weeks and also some great articles in the bag – including a mammoth one that’s very special indeed from old pal Ian Bourne. Sorry updates and new material is … Continue reading →

Just had this interesting enquiry from Ray Hart, who’s looking for a former workmate who lived at least for a time in the high rise blocks in Brownhills, and worked at Hardy Spicer (Now GKN Driveline) in Erdington, near Castle … Continue reading →

An important one here from Staffordshire Police who are warning that a large, abnormal load is coming through Staffordshire and through Brownhills this week. The load is a 40-metre oxygen tank being transported from Cheshire to Warwickshire. The tank will … Continue reading →

Here’s a quick one for a Sunday afternoon – reader Elaine Griffiths has sent me the below image of a token that’s been dug up in a Norton Canes garden. The question is simple: What is it, and what does … Continue reading →

Old friend of the blog Ian Broad has been in touch again to continue his series of hundred years apart photos – this is the eighth set – he’s creating as part of his lockdown exercise bike rides. This set … Continue reading →

Here’s a fascinating one that’s literally just come in: Aldridge history buff and genealogist Colin White posted this picture this afternoon, found in his family effects, and asked where it stood. Colin believes this image was where his wife’s family … Continue reading →

Old friend of the blog Ian Broad has been in touch again to continue his series of hundred years apart photos – this is the seventh set – he’s creating as part of his lockdown exercise bike rides. This set … Continue reading →

Hey folks – a couple of weeks ago I featured an article prompted by an email from Declan Hammonds of Sewell Hammods Group who have purchased a site near Chasewater that was for many years occupied by a sewage works. … Continue reading →

Old friend of the blog Ian Broad has been in touch again to continue his series of hundred years apart photos – this is the sixth set – he’s creating as part of his lockdown exercise bike rides. This set … Continue reading →

Images kindly supplied by Elizabeth Staples. Click for larger versions. In the last couple of weeks old friend of the blog Elizabeth Staples – mother of the remarkably talented Mark Staples who, with others, created the 1880s Brownhills local history … Continue reading →

An important note here to point out that Walsall Council’s tips – known as Household Waste Recycling Centres (HWRCs) reopen today, Saturday 16th May 2020 following their closure during the coronavirus pandemic in line with government guidelines that declared tip … Continue reading →

An interesting enquiry came in recently from Declan Hammonds, who is interested in the history of a bit of edgeland in Brownhills, between the former Anglesey Wharf and the M6 Toll/Chasetown Bypass interchange that used to contain a sewage works. … Continue reading →

Old friend of the blog Ian Broad has been in touch again to continue his series of hundred years apart photos – this is the fifth set – he’s creating as part of his lockdown exercise bike rides. The first … Continue reading →

Janet Grinnell has been in touch from Knaves Court in Brownhills – that wonderful extra care facility near Anchor Bridge for older folk – to let me know that following the great success of their previous book, ‘Chatting with Brownhills’, … Continue reading →

Old friend of the blog Ian Broad has been in touch again to continue his series of hundred years apart photos – this is the fourth set – he’s creating as part of his lockdown exercise bike rides. The first … Continue reading →

Top bloke Ian Broad has been in touch again this week, this time with a postcard mystery, as he knows we love those here on the blog! Ian has currently been working on a series of ‘100 years apart’ old … Continue reading →

Susan Arrowsmith has been in touch and asked me to share with you all the sad news that her parents Eileen Gough (nee Bradshaw) and Bill Gough recently passed away within days of each other. Formerly Brownhills residents before moving … Continue reading →

I have been asked to post a public notice here by Roger Corbett, Chuchwarden of St. James Church in Ogley Hay, Brownhills and by default responsible for Barnetts Lane Cemetery in the town, operated by the Diocese of Lichfield. This … Continue reading →

Old friend of the blog Ian Broad has been in touch again to continue his series of hundred years apart photos – this is the third set – he’s creating as part of his lockdown exercise bike rides. The first … Continue reading →

Here’s a quick plug for Lichfield, Walsall and South Staffordshire Humanists – a philosophical debating group – who have their quarterly meeting this Wednesday 15th April 2020 at your home! They are trying this time, since Coronavirus restrictions mean they … Continue reading →

A bit of an interesting mystery today on the blog – Walsall Wood Church of St. John is one we’ve covered a few times over the years, and at heart it’s quite an old building. Heavily extended both by the … Continue reading →

Old friend of the blog Ian Broad has been in touch again to continue his series of hundred years apart photos he’s creating as part of his lockdown exercise bike rides. The first three images featured last Sunday can be … Continue reading →

Just a quick heads up as the great Canal Hunter Andy Tidy posted two new episodes of a great canal history series on YouTube that I have plugged before about lost local canals – episodes 3 and 4 of Ogley Locks, … Continue reading →

A nice diversion here from the relentless tide of bad news – old friend of the blog Ian Broad has been in touch to say that he’s using his current downtime to undertake a rather interesting photo history project – … Continue reading →

And now, as a famous comedy crew used to say, for something completely different. I was interested yesterday in comments about me not running an April fool piece here on the blog; whilst I think perhaps, on reflection I might … Continue reading →

Normally on this day every year I run a hoax or joke article for you folk to enjoy. With the situation as it is this year, right now my heart just isn’t in it and I don’t think it would … Continue reading →

An important one brought to my attention by David Evans here: A charitable institution down the road that’s very close to my heart needs community support more than ever right now – despite the ongoing pandemic, hospice and palliative care … Continue reading →

As the Coronavirus situation has developed over the last couple of weeks, services have been formed to support the vulnerable, elderly and isolating during this uncertain and strange time. Our local hub for advice, help, support and all manner of … Continue reading →