Category Archives: News

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 →

Just a quick heads up to a great couple of new episodes of a great canal history series on YouTube that I have plunged before by a man very familiar to local canal fans: Andy Tidy, proprietor of the Jam Butty, … Continue reading →

The Coronavirus situation is ongoing and many of you are concerned about the vulnerable, the isolating and the less able in our communities, and are offering volunteer support to them. As the days have gone on, frameworks have begun to … Continue reading →

We find ourselves currently in uncharted waters as a country, facing our biggest challenge since the Second World War – Coronavirus. Sadly, like times of adversity throughout history, there are a minority of criminals ready to exploit the situation. Here’s … Continue reading →

As the current Coronavirus situation evolves, a number of community initiatives are springing up around our area (and indeed, the country of course) to support the elderly, vulnerable and those who may be in isolation. Isolation will make life difficult … Continue reading →

An important and sad announcement here from Sue Croxford, whose father Geoffrey Heath passed away on March 6th 2020 following a period of illness. Geoff was a well known and respected man locally who was very much involved with the … Continue reading →

Occasionally, I like to share interesting local postcard images found on sale sites like eBay, and today I feature one that’s an old friend – the view down High Street Brownhills from the old Railway Bridge/Lichfield Road junction towards Shire … Continue reading →

A very important story here, led by people I have an awful lot of time for: Lichfield District Councillors Sue Woodward and Dave Robertson, plus the wonderful Kate ‘Cardigan’ Gomez of Lichfield Lore, Lichfield Discovered and Lichfield Waterworks Trust fame. … Continue reading →

If you’ve a child or children under six years of age, there is a great Stay and Play session running at Brownhills Community Centre in the heart of Brownhills this Saturday morning 14th March 2020 from 10-12pm – note the … Continue reading →

After weeks of cancellations due to weather, Chasewater Parkrun is scheduled to go ahead this Saturday 14th March 2020 after last week’s successful return – and it looks like being a great run! For those concerned about the possible impact … Continue reading →

Following the awful incident that took place in Clayhanger on Saturday evening (7th March 2020), in which a cyclist was seriously injured in a hit and run collision in Bridge Street, Clayhanger , a man has been arrested and  a … Continue reading →

Here’s an important one – Brownhills has started its own Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings at Silver Street Methodist Church in Silver Street, Brownhills that take place this and every Tuesday (10th March 2020) from 7:30pm until 9pm. I’m told the … Continue reading →

On Saturday evening (7th March 2020), a cyclist was seriously injured in a hit and run collision in Bridge Street, Clayhanger between the mini-island and Clayhanger Bridge. The 44 year old man remains in a serious condition in hospital. Police … Continue reading →

Here’s one I’ve been meaning to catch for a while, but always seem to miss somehow – the periodic Toy and Train Collectors Fair at Oak Park Leisure Centre, Walsall Wood. This one runs today, Sunday, 8th March 2020 from … Continue reading →

An important one here:If you’d like to join up and help the Brownhills Community Drum Corps Band – that’s the folks who march at Brownhills Remembrance Parade – then here’s you chance today (Sunday 8th March 2020) and subsequent Sundays. … Continue reading →