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Category Archives: Shared memories
September 1992 – Brownhills Bobbies
Continuing the scans of the Brownhills Gazette – I present issue 36 of the long lost freesheet, from ASeptember 1992 for you to peruse and download – I’ve had an incredible response to featuring these long, lost publications here on the blog.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1992, August, Baker Bond, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Carnival, Clayhanger, Cross Burning, David Evans, freesheet, Gazette, issue 36, July, KKK, Laburnum Cottage, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Lorraine Stanistreet, newspaper, September, West
4 Comments
August 1992 – Post Office Telethon effort
Continuing the scans of the Brownhills Gazette – I present issue 35 of the long lost freesheet, from August 1992 for you to peruse and download. I’ve had an incredible response to featuring these long, lost publications here on the blog.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1992, August, Baker Bond, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Carnival, Clayhanger, David Evans, freesheet, Gazette, Headmaster, issue 35, John Cross, July, Laburnum Cottage, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Lorraine Stanistreet, newspaper
2 Comments
July 1992 – Brownhills Carnival story and pictures
Continuing the scans of the Brownhills Gazette – I present issue 34 of the long lost freesheet, from July 1992 for you to peruse and download. I’ve had an incredible response to featuring these long, lost publications here on the blog.
Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1992, Baker Bond, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Carnival, Clayhanger, David Evans, December, freesheet, Gazette, issue 34, July, Laburnum Cottage, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Lorraine Stanistreet, newspaper
8 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
Lichfield discovered – Holy Wells and Sacred Springs – on tonight!
Once again, the irrepressible Kate Cardigan from the Lichfield Lore contacts me to tell me that there’s yet another talk on tonight organised by her informal Lichfield local history group, Lichfield Discovered. Tonight at 7:30pm, (9th February 2015), they have a wonderful free … Continue reading
Posted in Churches, 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 2015, 9th February, cardigan, Discovered, event, Events, Facebook, free, Gomez, Holy, Kate Gomez, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Lore, New Photos, Panoramio, Ross Parish, Sacred, Silly, Springs, St Marys, Staffordshire, Talk, Things to do, Twitter, Wells
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June 1992 – Rumours, rumours, rumours
Continuing the scans of the Brownhills Gazette – I present issue 33 of the long lost freesheet, from June 1992 for you to peruse and download. I’ve had an incredible response to featuring these long, lost publications here on the blog.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1992, Baker Bond, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Carnival, Clayhanger, Dave Hill, David Evans, December, freesheet, Gazette, issue 33, June, Laburnum Cottage, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Lorraine Stanistreet, newspaper
1 Comment
The scars were always black
The generosity of Mavis Woodhouse in allowing David Evans, myself and you readers to share her privately produced family history book is really proving to be a rich source of discussion, debate and new local history tangents – the Foxes Row article was very popular, the Victor Haines material had us all head scratching, and the film of Newtown that was so newly relevant has had a huge number of views.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 2015, Anglesey Basin, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Bucket, Chasewater, coal, Cox, David Evans, Foxes Row, history, Howdles Lane, JB, Lichfield, Local History, Mavis Woodhouse, memories, mining, New Photos, Newtown, Norton Pool, pit, Staffordshire, Things to do, Watling Street, Wide
20 Comments
May 1992 – Proposed development of Sandhills
Continuing the scans of the Brownhills Gazette – I present issue 32 of the long lost freesheet, from May 1992 for you to peruse and download. I’ve had an incredible response to featuring these long, lost publications here on the blog.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1992, Baker Bond, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Carnival, Clayhanger, David Evans, December, Development, freesheet, Gazette, issue 32, Laburnum Cottage, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Lorraine Stanistreet, May, newspaper, Sandhills
1 Comment
April 1992 – Diamonds are Forever for Local Pair
Continuing the scans of the Brownhills Gazette – I present issue 31 of the long lost freesheet, from April 1992 for you to peruse and download. I’ve had an incredible response to featuring these long, lost publications here on the blog.
Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1992, April, Baker Bond, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clayhanger, David Evans, December, freesheet, Gazette, issue 31, Laburnum Cottage, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Lorraine Stanistreet, Marina, newspaper
3 Comments
Manchester angel
Last Saturday, I featured the curious puzzle of Victor Haines and Manchester House, an item that was raised by David Evans sending me an image of a Brownhills business featured in the family history research kindly shared by Mavis Woodhouse.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 1920's, 2015, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cleaner, David Evans, Dyer, Lichfield, Local History, Manchester House, Mavis Woodhouse, New Photos, Puller, Staffordshire, Things to do, Victor Haines
11 Comments
Early days in Foxes Row
In the sea of technical chaos I’ve been bobbing in in the last few days, I have somehow managed to find time to edit up the beginning of a new series of memories of life in Brownhills.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 2015, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, David Evans, Foxes Row, history, Howdles Lane, Lichfield, Local History, Mavis Woodhouse, memories, New Photos, Newtown, Staffordshire, The Fault, Things to do, Watling Street
24 Comments
The Mancunian candidate
A bit of a mystery arrives in the mailbox from the young David Evans – Manchester House in Brownhills, as shown in the above image dating from the 1920s, kindly donated by Mavis Woodhouse, from whom there’s a whole tranche of stuff to come.

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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 1920's, 2015, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cleaner, David Evans, Dyer, Lichfield, Local History, Manchester House, Mavis Woodhouse, New Photos, Puller, Staffordshire, Things to do, Victor Haines
28 Comments
March 1992 – Are we on our own at night and hounded by day?
Continuing the scans of the Brownhills Gazette – I present issue 30 of the long lost freesheet, from March 1992 for you to peruse and download. I’ve had an incredible response to featuring these long, lost publications here on the blog.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1992, August, Baker Bond, Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clayhanger, David Evans, December, freesheet, Gazette, issue 30, Laburnum Cottage, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, March, Marina, newspaper, November, Sandhills, Silver Street, towpath
14 Comments
Your guide to Walsall – 125 years ago
Here’s one I’ve been meaning to do for ages, but the sheer labour of it has been off-putting; but now I have access to a professional scanner, it’s a lot easier to scan publications like W Henry Robinson’s ‘Guide to Walsall – an illustrated guide’, which was published in 1889 and is a captivating gazetteer and document of a growing town and its life.

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Posted in Churches, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Book, Canal, download, Facebook, Guide to Waslall, Illustrated Handbook, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, Old maps, PDF, Pubs, Redevelopment, Staffordshire, Things to do, W Henry Robinson, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
9 Comments
February 1992 – Tenants fed up of being fobbed off
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1992, August, Baker Bond, Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clayhanger, David Evans, December, February, freesheet, Gazette, issue 29, Laburnum Cottage, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Marina, newspaper, November, Sandhills, Silver Street, towpath
2 Comments
Action stations
Thanks to Twitter cycling whizz and all round top guy @WolvesOnWheels who tipped me off last week, there’s a Facebook group that’s been featuring a lot of Brownhills, Walsall Wood and Pelsall railway photographs lately, posted by Si Swain.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills common, Brownhills local history, Brownhills railways, Brownhills West, brownhills West Station, Derelict, Disused Railways, DJ Norton, Facebook, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Midland Railway, New Photos, Old maps, Pelsall, Si Swain, Staffordshire, Station, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Wood
2 Comments
January 1992 – Parking problem reaches boiling point
Continuing the scans of the Brownhills Gazette – I present issue 28 of the long lost freesheet, from January 1992 for you to peruse and download. I’ve had an incredible response to featuring these long, lost publications here on the blog.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1992, August, Baker Bond, Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clayhanger, David Evans, December, freesheet, Gazette, issue 28, Laburnum Cottage, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Marina, newspaper, November, Sandhills, Silver Street, towpath
3 Comments
Anyone remember Charlie Harrison?
Here’s a quick but important one that Jayne Howarth, fellow blogger for Pelsall passed on to me a couple of days ago, and wondered if any readers could help.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Australia, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Charlie Harrison, Clarice Harrison, Common people, community, Facebook, Jayne Howarth, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Pam Smith, Pelsall, Staffordshire, Twitter, Walsall Wood, Woodbine Terrace
7 Comments
Important appeal: Did you know Janette Walker?
Yet another sad request of a type that happens from time to time from the Environmental Health Department at Walsall Council, who are looking to trace any relatives or friends of Janette Walker (previously Jan Griffin) from Willenhall who has sadly passed away.
Posted in Environment, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged arrangements, Blakenall Lane, died, Durham Avenue, Family, funeral, Griffin, help, Janette, Lichfield, Neil Harris, passed away, releatives, request, search, Staffordshire, Walker, Walsall, Walsall Council, Warburton, Wellington Place, West Midlands, Willenhall
2 Comments
December 1991 – A prayer for Christmas
Continuing the scans of the Brownhills Gazette – I present issue 27 of the long lost freesheet, from December 1991 for you to peruse and download. I’ve had an incredible response to featuring these long, lost publications here on the blog.
Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1991, August, Baker Bond, Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clayhanger, David Evans, December, freesheet, Gazette, issue 27, Laburnum Cottage, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Marina, newspaper, November, Sandhills, Silver Street, towpath, Vandalism, Walsall Wood
1 Comment
Lichfield discovered – alphabetical Lichfield – on tonight!
I see that there Kate Cardigan from the wonderful Lichfield Lore is kicking off 2015 in style with her informal and fun Lichfield local history group, Lichfield Discovered – tonight at 7:30pm, (12th January 2015), they have a wonderful free talk at St Mary’s in the Lichfield Market Square based on an alphabetical trip around Lichfield by John Gallagher.
Posted in Churches, 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 12 January, 2015, Alphabetical Lichfield, cardigan, Discovered, event, Events, Facebook, free, Gomez, John Gallagher, Kate Gomez, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Lore, New Photos, Panoramio, Silly, St Marys, Staffordshire, Talk, Things to do, Twitter
1 Comment
Fast and sluice
Last week, I featured the third batch of images from the Canal and River Trust Archive, of the Grove Colliery near Brownhills in the late 1950s – also revealing the archive and inviting readers to go see what they could find.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged 2015, Andy Dennis, archive, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Canal and River Trust, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, images, Lichfield, LichfieldLive, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, photos, Reservoir, Sluice, Staffordshire, Things to do
7 Comments
November 1991 – Tenant fights for loo
Continuing the scans of the Brownhills Gazette – I present issue 26 of the long lost freesheet, from November 1991 for you to peruse and download. I’ve had an incredible response to featuring these long, lost publications here on the blog.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1991, August, Baker Bond, Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clayhanger, David Evans, freesheet, Gazette, issue 26, Laburnum Cottage, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Marina, newspaper, November, Sandhills, Silver Street, towpath, Vandalism, Walsall Wood
1 Comment
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
October 1991 – MP calls for a two day exhibition of Toll Road
Continuing the scans of the Brownhills Gazette – I present issue 25 of the long lost freesheet, from October 1991 for you to peruse and download – I’ve had an incredible response to featuring these long, lost publications here on the blog.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged August, Baker Bond, Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clayhanger, David Evans, freesheet, Gazette, Laburnum Cottage, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Marina, newspaper, October, Sandhills, Silver Street, towpath, Vandalism, Walsall Wood
6 Comments
2015 New Year Quiz results
Well, this year’s quiz is complete, and we have a winner – the two year reigning champion is Tony Jakeman, who this year came first with a highly creditable 20 points, but team Jakeman did face a sustained challenge from Kate and Andy Dennis amongst others.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, cycling, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Clayhanger, Cycle rides, cycling, David Evans, Events, Lichfield, Local History, New Photos, New Year, prize, quiz, results, Shire Oak, Silly, Staffordshire, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Wood, winners
7 Comments
One of the last standing
Here’s the final blast of pictures from the mystery archive found by local historian Clive Roberts back at the beginning of November – these images are remarkable as the show the Grove Colliery on the Cannock Extension Canal at Lime Lane in 1958 and 1959, and I know of few extant images of the time – perhaps the only good representation being in the 1963 cinefilm of Brownhills, donated by Brian Stringer.

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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged 1968, 1969, 2015, archive, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Canal and River Trust, Cannock Extension Canal, freight, Grove Colliery, images, Lichfield, Local History, mining, New Photos, Norton, photos, pits, Staffordshire, Things to do, Wyrley common
13 Comments
One woman’s life
Here’s just a quick note to regular readers not on social media or who perhaps haven’t noticed that Linda Mason, ‘The Mad Old Baggage’ has a new family history blog post out about her Great Grandmother Henney, and it’s rather wonderful stuff. Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 2015, Facebook, Family, genealogy, Henney, humpshire, Lichfield, Life and Times, Linda Mason, Lloyd, local blogs, Local History, Mad Old Baggage, Mason, Robinson, Rowbotham, Staffordshire, Things to do, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Wood, Willenhall
2 Comments
September 1991 – Clayhanger residents demand an end to neglect
Continuing the scans of the Brownhills Gazette – I present issue 24 of the long lost freesheet, from September 1991 for you to peruse and download. I’ve had an incredible response to featuring these long, lost publications here on the blog.
Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged August, Baker Bond, Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clayhanger, David Evans, freesheet, Gazette, Laburnum Cottage, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Marina, newspaper, Sandhills, September, Silver Street, towpath, Vandalism, Walsall Wood
1 Comment
Tadah… it’s the 2015 New year quiz!
It’s been a long time in the making, but great fun – here it is, the Brownhills Blog New Year 2015 quiz – get stuck in and see if you can win!
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, cycling, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Clayhanger, Cycle rides, cycling, David Evans, Events, Lichfield, Local History, New Photos, New Year, prize, quiz, Shire Oak, Silly, Staffordshire, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Wood
254 Comments
July 1991 – Litter louts attacked (The missing issue is found!)
Continuing the scans of the Brownhills Gazette – I present issue 22 of the long lost freesheet, from July 1991 for you to peruse and download. I’ve had an incredible response to featuring these long, lost publications here on the blog.
Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1991, August, Baker Bond, Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clayhanger, David Evans, freesheet, Gazette, issue 22, July, Laburnum Cottage, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Marina, newspaper, Sandhills, Silver Street, towpath, Vandalism, Walsall Wood
2 Comments
Our back pages
There has been an extraordinary response to the old Brownhills Gazette issues I’ve been featuring on the blog, and testerday I featured issue 23, from August 1991 – so far I’ve run all issues in sequence, but sadly, issue 22 of July 1991 is missing from the collection, so I had to skip it.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media
Tagged 1991, archive, Baker Bond, Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clayhanger, David Evans, Fawlty, freesheet, Gazette, issue 22, July, Laburnum Cottage, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, missing, newspaper
1 Comment
A summer long since passed
Readers may well remember the photo of the Brigade football team from the 1960s – the young David Evans, himself a former member of the local Brigade has been in contact with local chap John Genders, who’s dug out some lovely … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Events, Features, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Boys Brigade, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, D Evans, David Evans, Ebenezer Boys Brigade, Ebenezer Primitive Methodist Church, football, John Genders, Local History, new organ, New Photos, reunion, sixties, Staffordshire, Station, team, team photo, Walsall Wood
3 Comments
August 1991 – Mindless mini vandals creating havoc for Walsall Wood
Continuing the scans of the Brownhills Gazette – I present issue 23 of the long lost freesheet, from August 1991 for you to peruse and download. I’ve had an incredible response to featuring these long, lost publications here on the blog.
Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1991, August, Baker Bond, Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clayhanger, David Evans, freesheet, Gazette, issue 23, Laburnum Cottage, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Marina, newspaper, Sandhills, Silver Street, towpath, Vandalism, Walsall Wood
6 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
Music and movement
I have some great images coming of of Walsall Wood from the 1950s from local man John Genders, whom the young David vans has been chatting to about the village, schools and particularly the local Boys Brigade.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1952, Audrey Smith, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, David Evans, Events, gym, interesting architecture, Josie Bull, keep fit, Lichfield, Local History, New Photos, PE, Rita Stokes, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Stella Warsden, teachers, Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood Secondary
4 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
Christmas in many guises
When I asked at the weekend for Christmas stuff for the blog, I never expected such an embarrassment of riches; not only did a certain reader (I’ll let you lot guess who) send me the above images of himself with Santa Claus – possibly at Grays in Walsall, but John and Paul Anslow have hit upon something that I think has a wider significance than they might imagine.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1930's, Abe, Anslow, Blog news, Bring the New Year in, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Christmas, Corning, Eliza, guising, Gusards, Headley, john, Lichfield, Local History, Long Company, Mummers, mumming, mumping, New Photos, Paul, Pete Coe, Staffordshire, street, Things to do, Thomasing, Walsall Wood
7 Comments
It’s not Christmas without the cards
I’ve had this one in preparation for a while, and to paraphrase, it’s an absolute boster of a post – regular readers will remember with fondness Ruth Penrhyn-Lowe, who has previously sent scans of some remarkable postcards of Brownhills, a stunning large set of Aldridge, and another bunch from Aldridge and Stubbers Green – all of which were collected by her late father.
Posted in Cannock Chase, 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, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1970's, 1980's, arboretum, best wishes, cards, Cathedral, Christmas, CLive L Roberts., Clock, Court, Grammar School, Hammerwich, Hednesford, High Street, Lichfield, Lichfield Street, local blogs, Local History, Marble Terrace, Minster Ppol, Postcard, Ruth Penrhyn Lowe, seasonal, Shenstone, Snow, Staffordshire, The Castles, The Railway, Tixall, Walsall, Walsall Wood, white
16 Comments
Peter Giovanni Pelari – A beautiful tribute
I can’t say anything more – this is so heart wrenching, beautiful and complete, I’ll just ask you to click on the image below to read a remarkable memorial to a man who lost his life in an awful accident.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Local Blogs, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged 2014, Accident, beautiful, Brownhills, Events, Facebook, Fatality, High Street, Kris Asket, Lichfield, local blogs, memorial, New Photos, Peter Giovanni Pelari, RIP, Tribute
1 Comment
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
June 1991 – Is the waiting nearly over?
Continuing the scans of the Brownhills Gazette – I present issue 21 of the long lost freesheet, from June 1991 for you to peruse and download. I’ve had an incredible response to featuring these long, lost publications here on the blog.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Baker Bond, Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canon Ion, Clayhanger, David Evans, freesheet, Gazette, Issue 21, June 1991, Laburnum Cottage, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Marina, newspaper, Silver Street, towpath, Walsall Wood
2 Comments
May 1991 – Walsall Wood Police Boxing Club big success – but will it continue?
Continuing the scans of the Brownhills Gazette – I present issue 20 of the long lost freesheet, from May 1991 for you to peruse and download. I’ve had an incredible response to featuring these long, lost publications here on the blog.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Baker Bond, Boxing Club, Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clayhanger, David Evans, freesheet, Gazette, Issue 20, Laburnum Cottage, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Marina, May 1991, newspaper, Silver Street, towpath, Walsall Wood
3 Comments
Just look at those haircuts!
Today, I did a deal with Walsall Wood historian and author Clive Roberts – he sent me scans of the above wonderful 1970s photo of a Walsall Wood Football Club team lineup, and said I’d happily point out that Clive’s latest book ‘Snippets of History in and around Walsall Wood’ is still available with new stock now at Egans grocery shop in Brownhills High Street.
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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, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1970's, A. Lake, A. McGregor, A. Pye, B. Jones, B. Knight, B. Williams, Book, Book new, Brownhills local history, C Jones, CLive L Roberts., D. France, David Evans, Division 1, Events, Facebook, Freizland, Institute, J. Gough, Local History, Midland Combination, New Photos, Pubs, R. Heathe, R. Tranter, Redevelopment, S. Philpots, Shire Oak, Snippets of Local History in and around Shire Oak', Staffordshire, T. Holding (Manager), Things to do, Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood football club, Wheel Inn, WWFC
8 Comments
April 1991 – Traders win battle over parking
Continuing the scans of the Brownhills Gazette – I present issue 19 of the long lost freesheet, from April 1991 for you to peruse and download. I’ve had an incredible response to featuring these long, lost publications here on the blog.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged April 1991, Baker Bond, Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clayhanger, David Evans, freesheet, Gazette, Graham Eardley, Graham Walker, Issue 19, Laburnum Cottage, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Marina, newspaper, Silver Street, towpath
1 Comment
City heights
Well, it’s that time of year again, and yesterday I hopped on the Midland Red went to Birmingham to visit the Christmas Market and enjoy the sights and sounds of the city at Christmas. I love Birmingham as readers will know, … Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, planning, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 103 Colmore Row, 2014, Birmingham, Brindley Place, Brutalism, Bull, Bullring, Canal, Cheap tat, Christmas Market, cityscape, David Evans, Frankfurt, Gingerbread, Lichfield, markey, new Library, New Photos, planning, Redevelopment, Secret Garden, Things to do
4 Comments
Special branch
The resident rail expert on the Brownhills Blog has been at it once more – Ian Pell, a man with a huge knowledge of the local railways, has written another excellent piece which I present here, covering a mystery rail depot handing cakes, closure of the Walsall Wood line and that lost canal/rail interchange wharf behind the Station Hotel.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1959, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, charter, Chasewater, Conduit Colliery, Derelict, Events, Ian Pell, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, rail tour, Redevelopment, Reservoir, Staffordshire, Stephenson Locomotive Society, Walsall Wood
9 Comments
March 1991 – Canal Towpath being destroyed
Continuing the scans of the Brownhills Gazette – I present issue 18 of the long lost freesheet, from March 1991 for you to peruse and download. I’ve had an incredible response to featuring these long, lost publications here on the blog.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aer Reg, Baker Bond, Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clayhanger, David Evans, freesheet, Gazette, issue 18, Laburnum Cottage, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, March 1991, Marina, newspaper, Silver Street, towpath, Wake Up Brownhills
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