#365daysofbiking JournalRecent tracks
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Queens of the Stone Age
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never too late
thenewno2
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This Year's Girl
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Got My Mojo Workin'
Muddy Waters
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Tamacun
Rodrigo y Gabriela
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Little Wing
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
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Good Love (w/ Billy Gibbons)
The Black Keys
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Don’t Ever Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down
Eric Burdon
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So Much Trouble In The World
Bob Marley
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Category Archives: News
Beyond the flames
Here’s a quick one – a lovely photo sent in by Marion Jones from her father’s collection – a photo of a grassfire on the land that would become Clayhanger Common, but it’s not the grassfire itself (and this is a fine picture of that), it’s what’s going on in the background.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged Bayley House, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Clayhanger, Clayhanger Common, Events, Grass fire, Local History, Marion Jones, New Photos, photo, planning, Redevelopment, Staffordshire, Stimoson, The Spot, under construction, Vandalism, Waine House
3 Comments
Walsall Wood FC v Causeway United FC – a respetable draw
Yesterday, to great relief, Walsall Wood FC finally got their first football match of 2014, at The Grove, against Causeway United – the Woodmen dodged the weather and held the Halesowen lads to a respectable 2-2 draw.
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Posted in Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2-2, 8th February 2014, away, Bill Shaw, Causeway United, draw, Events, FC, football, Footy, Good of the Wood, Halesowen, Lichfield, match on, match report, miracle, Old Hawne Lane, Saturday, soccer, The Growve, Things to do, Town, Walsall Wood, Walsall WOod FC
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Fielding suggestions
Here’s a nice one for the weekend, and I think the Walsall Wood contingent may have a word or two to say about it – this cricket team photo was sent to me earlier in the week by long-time friend of the blog, Julie Le-Moine.
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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 Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cricket, Events, Facebook, Julie Le-Moine, Lichfield, Local History, New Photos, photo, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, team, Things to do, Walsall Wood
30 Comments
Walsall Wood FC v Causeway United FC: Away match is on!
February 8th 2014, Walsall Wood v Causeway United away at The Grove, Old Hawne Road is ON following a pitch inspection – get down there for some great local football.
Posted in Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 8th February 2014, away, Causeway United, Events, FC, football, Footy, Good of the Wood, Halesowen, Lichfield, match on, miracle, Old Hawne Lane, Saturday, soccer, The Growve, Things to do, Town, Walsall Wood, Walsall WOod FC
1 Comment
We’ve made a name for ourselves
I have a very strained relationship with the work I do here on the Brownhills Blog – although readership is still increasing, and there is a wonderful degree of reader participation, sometimes I struggle to understand if any of this stuff is at all relevant or makes even the slightest bit of difference.
Posted in News
15 Comments
Get another glimpse into Brownhills Past
Regular readers will remember that last Autumn, there was an exhibition at Walsall Local History Centre featuring a whole tranche of of historic Brownhills photos and ephemera from the civic collection – this had proven to be so successful, that the top operatives at the town archives have decided to set many of the exhibits up on show in Brownhills Library, at the Parkview Centre, from now until the end of February 2014.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, 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, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged A taste of Historic Brownhills, Archives, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills past & Present, Canal, Carnival 1938, Clayhanger, Essex Street, Events, Exhibition, Hussey Arms, Library, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, Parkview Centre, photos, plan, Pubs, Queen, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Station, steam engine, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall local history, Walsall Wood
2 Comments
Brownhills School: no longer for the community
Further to my post yesterday, I was contacted by a reader and good friend of the blog who wishes to remain anonymous, but has some grim news to relate about the seemingly crazy removal of community access to the Brownhills School swimming pool for evening swimming lessons.
Posted in News
11 Comments
The Wizard of Aus
I don’t normally do this kind of thing on the Brownhills Blog, but it’s not every weekend that one of my most distant readers hits the big 7-0 – yes, Pommie git, cyclist, English cricket sufferer and former Walsall Wood Mon™ Trevor Brown, now exiled in Australia is having a special birthday.
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Posted in News
10 Comments
Sink or swim
Last week, I was contacted by reader Susan Croxford, who related some troubling news about the termination of evening swimming facilities at Brownhills School at Deakin Avenue.
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Posted in News
27 Comments
Normal service resumes…
Sorry folks, due to the longer than expected time it took to set up the new computer plus a panic at work, posts and emails haven’t been happening this week as they normally would – I can finally say the computer is running well and has all the required stuff on it now to get on with things.
Posted in News
5 Comments
Ghostly tales and fascinating history
This is just a quick note to flag up a great talk by an excellent speaker coming up at Walsall Local History Centre next Monday evening – ghostly legends and fascinating history of the Black Country will be recounted by talented and entertaining Wednesbury author and historian Ian Bott.
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, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 10th February, 2014, Black Country, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, CCaldmore, Ghost, Ghostly Tales, Hand of glory, Ian Bott, lecture, legend, Lichfield, Local History, myth, New Photos, oral history, story, Talk, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Local History Centre, White Hart
8 Comments
Down with the yoot – but watch out for the Teds
The irrepressible Mike Stackhouse contacted me a week or so with an interesting comment that may well stir memories of the postwar kids in our midst – Mike was inspired himself by the recent interest in those lost green gems, Harpers Busses.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, bus, Cafe, dancing, discos, Events, fights, Harpers, Local History, Martin, Memorial Hall, mike, Stackhouse, Teddy boys, Tony, Walsall Wood, youth clubs
11 Comments
Rhyme and reason
While service is operating on reduced power, I thought I’d share this curious mystery – over the new year period, a Brownhills history group was created on Facebook, and it’s proved to be very interesting indeed.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged A walk down High Street Browmhills, Anchor, Brewes, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Past and Present, Cooper, Events, Facebook, Jim Simpson, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Mystery, old shops, Poem, poetry, Princeps, Pubs, Redevelopment, rhyme, Selwyn Smith, Silly, Staffordshire, Station Hotel, Things to do
23 Comments
And now… the intermission
Still labouring over a warm hard drive here, so while I prepare some stuff for tomorrow, why not have a look around a YouTube channel that’s getting quite a bit of local attention?
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Posted in News
Tagged 1981, Birmingham, Bullring, cinefilm, Events, Facebook, Hagley Road, Lichfield, Local History, Paul Donovan, Redevelopment, Silly
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Sorry for the delays this weekend…
Service may be patchy for a few days – I’m transferring to a new computer. My time is taken up right now swearing at incompatible cables, formatting drives and generally going to use applications I haven’t reinstalled. Normal service should … Continue reading
Posted in News
8 Comments
Walsall Wood v Gornal home match this afternoon is off!
It will come as no surprise at all to fans of The Woodmen that the Walsall Wood FC – Gornal Athletic home mach scheduled for today (1st February 2014) at Oak Park has been postponed due to yet another waterlogged pitch.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1st February, 2014, announcement, away, Bill Shaw, Cancelled, Events, FC, football, Footy, Good of the Wood, Gornal Athletic, Inspection, Lichfield, soccer, Things to do, Walsall Wood, Walsall WOod FC, Waterlogged, weather
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Ship ahoy…
This is an unusual request, which I think we’ll have to address carefully, but it is, nevertheless, of great interest to historians and I feel some hereabouts may be able to contribute to what we collectively know.
Posted in News
14 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
The heart of the community
Bonita Clayton from Brownhills Community Association has been in touch to let me have a copy of their current newsletter, asking me if I’d share it on the blog for readers to peruse – of course, that’s no problem at all.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Activity Centre, Annex, BCA, Bonita Clayton, Brownhills, Brownhills community association, Central Boys School, Clayhanger, Communty Associantion, Events, Library, Newsletter, Shire Oak, stuff to do, Things to do, Walsall Wood
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Thinking of you…
Just a quick note to wish reader, local history whizz and irrepressible Walsall Wood wonk David Evans all the best for today – he’s having a small operation and I think, like Steve Austin, they can rebuild him. All the … Continue reading
Posted in News
9 Comments
Can you help The Clayhanger Kid?
I received a message today from friend of the blog and top local campaigner Brian Stringer, author of the best-selling (and now sold out) book The Clayhanger Kid – Brian is in a bit of a pickle – he’s still got people asking for copies of his first book, but sadly, he has none left.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clayhanger, Derelict, local blogs, Local History, south staffordshire water, The Clayhanger Kid
1 Comment
Get yourselves connected!
Walsall Area Partnerships have asked me to alert readers who may be involved in groups, clubs, organisations and general community work to a great networking event due to take place this Wednesday evening (29th January 2014).
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 29th January 2014, Activity Centre, Annexe, Brownhills, Central Boys School, Clayhanger, club, community centre, Events, greet, Group, Lichfield, local blogs, meet, Networking, Shire Oak, society, Things to do, voluntary, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Partnerships, Walsall Wood, work
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Retuning some aerials
Whilst mooching through the aerial photography so kindly supplied by Gareth Thomas of Lichfield District Council, today I spotted something I should have twigged before – the whole question of Silver Court and it’s extension was under our noses the whole time.
Posted in News
2 Comments
A fine rate of Exchange
Last week, I posted the first part of a remarkable article by Susan M Luzy about the history of the families connected with the Royal Echange pub in Walsall Wood – this unassuming, but well-loved pub has been the subject of much local historical study, and since the first part of this article was posted, local historians have turned up some remarkable material which Andy Dennis, David Evans and a whole host others are working on in the background.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Ann Cross, Brownhills local history, Clews, David Evans, Eliza, Grave, Hannah, Jackson, Lichfield Brewery Company, Local History, Luzy, Maria, Melsom, Millson, Millsum, Old maps, Pubs, Richard, Royal Exchange, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Stonnall, street, Sue, Susan, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Wood, William
11 Comments
The need for speed
It seems that reader Tony Winn opened an interesting can of worms when he set this fine question for the New Year Quiz.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldridge, Andy Dennis, Ashmore, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Burntwood, Chase Terrace, David Hodgkinson, Ensign, Events, Express & Star, Fred, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, otor, Racing, Richard Noble, Shire Oak, sport, Springhill, Staffordshire, Things to do, TI, Walsall Wood
5 Comments
The equestrian question?
Here’s one spotted by top local history ferret [Howmuch?] in the archives of the Walsall Observer – he doesn’t give an exact date, but says this is from 1926, and I’m wondering what readers know or can find out about our equine history?
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 1926, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Ceylon Cup, Homuch?, Horse, India, jockey, JT Harding, Lichfield, Local History, Luctchman, Mysore Cup, race, Racehorse, Racing, Red Cockade, Sawi, Staffordshire, Things to do, Trades Cup, Walsall, Walsall Observer
5 Comments
Walsall Wood v Stourport Swifts home match this afternoon is off!
Bad news for fans of Walsall Wood FC – the home mach scheduled for today at Oak Park against Stourport Swifts has been postponed due to yet another waterlogged pitch.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2014, 25th January, announcement, away, Bill Shaw, Cancelled, Events, FC, football, Footy, Good of the Wood, Inspection, Lichfield, soccer, Stourport, Swifts, Things to do, Walsall Wood, Walsall WOod FC, Waterlogged, weather
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Police appeal for witnesses to fatal road collision in Walsall Wood
This sad news released just now from Walsall Police – sadly, the gentleman involved in the accident this morning in Walsall Wood has died.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2014, 24th January, Accident, Brownhills, casualty, collision, crash, death, elderly, Events, Express & Star, Fatality, gentleman, High Street, hurt, Lichfield, New Photos, OAP, Police, Shire Oak, Statement, Twitter, Walsall Wood
3 Comments
OAP fighting for life after Walsall Wood car accident
There’s been a nasty accident in Walsall Wood this morning, when an elderly gentleman was hit by a car in the High Street – the 86 year old is currently fighting for life after the incident just before 6am.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Interesting photos, Local media, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2014, 24th January, Accident, Brownhills, collision, crash, elderly, Events, Express & Star, gentleman, High Street, hurt, Lichfield, New Photos, OAP, Police, Shire Oak, Statement, Twitter, Walsall Wood
4 Comments
Burnal Martin and the class of 1922-3
I’m very pleased to note the continued interest in Watling Street School’s history, a thread started by Adrian Reid before Christmas – a couple of days ago, I received the above scan from reader George Martin, taken around 1922 or 1923, featuring his father.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 125 year anniversary, 1903, 1922, 1923, A5, Adrian Reid, Agnes Deans, Alan Harvey, Author, Book, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Burnal Martin, Class photo, george Martin, history, Jan Farrow, Local History, Memories of Watling Sreet, Mickey Six, mike, New Photos, School, search, Stackhouse, Staffordshire, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Council, Watling Street
7 Comments
I think that nails it…
Periodically, I’ve expressed my intrigue at the history of Chesterfield Lodge, at the tiny hamlet between Wall and Shenstone – Chesterfield is a small place, but has some remarkable architecture demonstrated in its houses and farms.
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Posted in Churches, cycling, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media
Tagged Chesterfield, Chesterfield Lodge, Cycle rides, cycling, Lane, Lichfield, Lichfield Lore, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, Panoramio, parish, Raikes, Roy Aston, SAHS, Shenstone, Staffordshire, Staffordshire Archaeological and Historical Society, Stonnall, Things to do, Twitter, Wall, Workhouse
14 Comments
The Wheatsheaf, Brownhills – what do we know?
Here’s a quick one I’ve been asked about on twitter, and it’s piqued my interest to such an extent that I thought I’d post the question here, particularly while there’s a similar discussion centring around the Royal Exchange in Walsall Wood.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged beer hosue, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, dogrio5630, Gerald Reece, Helen Dalton, John Insull, Lichfield Mercury, Local History, Ogley, Ogley Hay, planning, Pubs, Redevelopment, Square, Staffordshire, The Wheatsheaf, Things to do, Tony Williams, Twitter, William Danks
15 Comments
Hey baby!
Here’s a good one from Walsall Council for parents of babies and toddlers in the local area – there’s a Cradle Club operating at the Parkview Centre in Brownhills – this is a great chance to have a morning out, introduce the little ones to fun stories and meet other parents – and it’s free.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged activities, babies, Brownhills, community, Cradle Club, Library, Parkview Centre, Things to do, toddler
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Caught in time
I’ve been overwhelmed with the response to the teaser I put out for the Brownhills Cinefilm yesterday. – the post had a huge number of views and caused quite a stir on Facebook, Interestingly enough, the most popular image was of the Holand Park Bandstand.
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Posted in News
72 Comments
A foreign Exchange
The subject of the Royal Echange pub in Walsall Wood, and the families who were connected with it, continues to be the subject of much local historical study – in fact, I don’t think any other pub or building, apart from perhaps The Shire Oak Pub that has generated so much local historical interest.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Ann Cross, Brownhills local history, Clews, David Evans, Eliza, Grave, Hannah, Jackson, Lichfield Brewery Company, Local History, Luzy, Maria, Melsom, Millson, Millsum, Old maps, Pubs, Richard, Royal Exchange, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Stonnall, street, Sue, Susan, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Wood, William
40 Comments
Caught on celluloid
I have something remarkable coming up on the blog tomorrow, a film I’ve been tracking down for a while, and thanks to the immense generosity and kindness of local history stalwarts Brian ‘Clayhanger Kid’ Stringer and the Young David Evans, I can present it here on the net for the community to share and debate.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media
Tagged Aldridge, Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Chasewater, Cine film, Clayhanger, David Evans, Derelict, Lichfield, Local History, New Photos, old brBrownhills, Pubs, Redevelopment, Reservoir, Shire Oak, Staffordshire
13 Comments
Walsall Wood v Rocester away match this afternoon is off!
Bad news for fans of The Woodmen. Bill shaw contacted me to say: It will come as no surprise that today’s game at Rocester is OFF – waterlogged pitch. Wood’s next game is on Saturday 25th at Home to Stourport … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 18th January, 2014, announcement, away, Bill Shaw, Cancelled, Events, FC, football, Footy, Good of the Wood, Inspection, Lichfield, Rocester, soccer, Things to do, Walsall Wood, Walsall WOod FC, Waterlogged, weather
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High hopes…
I have some really good stuff planned in the next few weeks here on the blog, and I offer this remarkable newspaper clipping as a foretaste of the fascinating stuff to come – this article ties in with recent themes, and will also lay the ground for some upcoming material.
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Posted in News
13 Comments
Save the Harpers Two!
We’ve talked about Harpers busses here on the blog a lot over the years – many of us have fond memories of catching these distinctive green double deckers and coaches to popular local destinations, like Birmingham, Lichfield and Cannock.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldridge, Aston Manor, BIP, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, bus, Bus Museum, Events, Facebook, Harpers, Ireland, Local History, Preservation, Shenstone Drive, Streetly, Tony Martin, Transport Museum, two, Walsall Wood, Works
8 Comments
A Regent Coronation
Mike Stackhouse went to Watling Street School, and later, Brownhills Central Boy’s School – here he warmly and generous recalls the memories of those days, and I’m sure Mike’s recollections will chime with many who experienced a post-war childhood.
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Posted in News
28 Comments
More than just a grocer…
With the wonderfully kind help of the readership, we’ve identified the mystery Headley shop featured in the recent photos supplied by Richard Starbuck, as being on Walsall Wood High Street, where the Midland Bank later had a small branch.
Posted in News
12 Comments
Bittersweet
Back over Christmas (which seems like an age away now), I featured a fair few articles on the subject of Clayhanger, all initiated by Chris Pattison’s finding of the 1952 article detailing flooding and other environmental problems in the area.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged Bentley, big house, Bill Shaw, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chasewater, Clayhanger, football, Lichfield, Local History, Marion Jones, meemories, Perfichrome, Round Table, VUK 800
17 Comments
Ran like clockwork
Here’s an interesting one for 80s Walsall music fans, a fanzine of the period – I feature these occasionally, as I come upon them in my stash or as they’re sent in.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, Local music, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 1988, 80's, Brownhills local history, Clockwork Sausage Dog, eighties, fanzine, Local History, Mother, Noise News, Noize Neuze, Overstrand, Punch and Judy, Ron's Neighbours, Sossidge, Walsall, Walsall local music, Walsall Musicians Collective, WMC
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A gentleman in his Sunday best
It’s always good to hear from Richard Starbuck, who’s an old friend of the Brownhills Blog – Richard, you may recall if you’ve been here since the beginning, reminded me of Starbucks Butchers with an excellent picture of the family shop, that stood roundabout where The Coffee House is today.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, family photo, grocery, Headley, Joseph Edgar, Local History, New Photos, Richard, Shop, Staffordshire, Starbuck, store, Walsall Wood
33 Comments
Great news! Dennis Johnson found safe and well.
Dennis has been found safe and well in Chasetown this evening – considering the cold night out there, this is a huge relief.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldridge, appeal, Brownhills, Chester Road, Clayhanger, dementia, Dennis Johnson, Facebook, found, Lichfield, Londis, Lost, misper, missing, missing person, New Photos, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Wood, West Midlands Police, WMP
1 Comment
Urgent! Please help find Dennis Johnson…
If you’re wondering why the Police Helicopter was up over Brownhills in the last hour or so, West Midlands Police are urgently seeking local man Dennis Johnson, who suffers from dementia.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldridge, appeal, Brownhills, Chester Road, Clayhanger, dementia, Dennis Johnson, Facebook, found, Lichfield, Londis, Lost, misper, missing, missing person, New Photos, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Wood, West Midlands Police, WMP
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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
Walsall Wood v Coventry Sphinx home match this afternoon is off!
A message just in from Bill Shaw to tell readers that this afternoon’s home match at Oak Park against Coventry Sphinx is cancelled due to a waterlogged pitch.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 11th January, 2014, announcement, away, Bill Shaw, Cancelled, Coventry Sphinx, Events, FC, football, Footy, Good of the Wood, Inspection, Lichfield, soccer, Things to do, Walsall Wood, Walsall WOod FC, Waterlogged, weather
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Let the children pay
Reader Peter sends me this image of a notice that’s recently appeared in (I think) the public open space in Vigo Road, Walsall Wood – I have anecdotally heard of similar posters going up across the borough – oddly enough, LibDem leader Ian Shires doesn’t seem to be crowing about this.
Posted in News
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Work starts on Holland Park improvements
I had this press release yesterday from Walsall Council, and I think it’s important to share it here – it’s nice to see Holland Park getting some love at long last – the paths and some aspects of the fabric have needed attention for a while now.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Local media, News, planning, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Wildlife
Tagged Brownhills, cycling, Darren Hodgkiss, Holland Park, infrastructure, Local politics, maintenance, Pavements, planning, refurbish, Walsall, Walsall Council, Wildlife, work
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