#365daysofbiking JournalRecent tracks
Time & Place
Queens of the Stone Age
4 days
never too late
thenewno2
4 days
This Year's Girl
Elvis Costello
4 days
Got My Mojo Workin'
Muddy Waters
4 days
Tamacun
Rodrigo y Gabriela
4 days
Little Wing
Stevie Ray Vaughan and Double Trouble
4 days
Good Love (w/ Billy Gibbons)
The Black Keys
4 days
Don’t Ever Let Nobody Drag Your Spirit Down
Eric Burdon
4 days
So Much Trouble In The World
Bob Marley
4 days
Carolina Low
The Decemberists
4 daysRecent Comments
Marauder on 1987: The end of a landmark Elizabeth Thomson on Made of bricks Gary Huskisson on When the lights go out Nichelle Smith on The Red, White and Blue: what… Jane Henry on The long march: 50 years of ja…
Category Archives: Shared memories
Let us entertain you…
I’ve had yet another great photo sent in by to reader David Evans. This is a somewhat unusual image From the first decades of the last century, showing a Walsall Wood theatrical group in full stage costume. It’s a rare … 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 1920's, amateur dramatics, amateur theatre, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Church, concert, David Evans, Ebenezer, Local History, music, New Photos, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood
5 Comments
Family snapshot
I am humbled, yet again, by another great contribution from the readership. The wonderful photograph below was scanned and sent to me by reader Caz, longstanding reader and contributor to the Brownhills Blog. I haven’t got anything to add, Caz … Continue reading
Out for a cushy ride – half a world away
Spotted on Carlton Reid’s YouTube channel, Quickrelease.TV, this wonderful period piece from British Transport Films. Carlton is a top advocate and activist for cycling in the UK, and I thank him for preserving this remarkable work. If only it were … Continue reading
Posted in cycling, Environment, Features, Fun stuff to see and do, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged 1950's, 1955, a cushy ride, a cushy spin, BLet's go to Birmingham, British Transport Films, Carlton Reid, Cycle rides, cycling advocacy, cycling history, Dorridge crash, Ernest Morris, old films, old video, quickrelease.tv, Youtube
1 Comment
In God we trust
David Evans – top contributor and one of the Brownhills Blog’s top correspondents in Walsall Wood – has again sent me some excellent scans from the Ebenezer Church commerative booklet. There’s been a fantastic response to these wonderful scans, and I’m … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Features, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Beniston, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Bullock, Church trustees, Commemorative booklet, Cund, D Evans, David Evans, Dunning, Ebenezer Primitive Methodist Church, Evans, fifties, Higgs, Holland, Howells, Local History, Martin, Minister, New Photos, Oakley, Rowley, Smith, Staffordshire, Taylor, team, Trustees, Walker, Walsall Wood, Whitehouse
9 Comments
On borrowed time…
Since there’s been a welcome focus on the treatment of our local architectural heritage in the days since the Jabez Cliff fire in Walsall, I thought I’d once again delve into the urban exploration community and their activities in Walsall. … Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Events, Express & Star, Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, planning, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 28dayslater, arson, BOAK, Cheap tat, civic failure, Derelict, Dweeb, Express & Star, Fire, Guardians office, Jabez Cliff, Leatherworks, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, Mellish Road church, Mike Bird, New Photos, planning, Politics, Ravenscraig, Redevelopment, rookinella, Silly, urban exploration, Urbex, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Union, Workhouse
10 Comments
Match of the day
Trevor Brown, a former Walsall Wood lad now exiled in the Antipodes, has added to what is positively a deluge of old photos and ephemera from the golden days of The Wood, which is certainly very welcome. I just love … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Features, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1956, Alan (Horace) Horrobin, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, David (Dickey) Greenwood, Eddy Howdle, football, Intermediate football team, John Orgil, John Smith, Ken Robins, Ken Wright, Local History, New Photos, Staffordshire, Trevor ( Hovis) Brown, Trevor Brown, Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood Secondary School
5 Comments
The pride of the community
After the great Walsall Wood/Ebenezer Church material supplied last week by top reader and contributor David Evans, he kindly sent me a couple of extra photos Friday last. Due to the large amount of stuff going on here on the … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, 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, Commemorative booklet, D Evans, David Evans, Ebenezer Boys Brigade, Ebenezer Primitive Methodist Church, fifties, Local History, New Photos, sixties, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood
Leave a comment
The George & Dragon, Clayhanger: What do you know?
I received a comment last week from reader Kylie who was interested in The George and Dragon in Clayhanger at the turn of the last century. She asked: Hi there, I’m interested in any history about the george and dragon pub … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged April 1905, Ben Dean JP, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clayhanger, Edward Instone, elsall & District miners union, George & Dragon, George and Dragon, Kylie, Poxon, Pubs, Staffordshire, Walsall Observer
3 Comments
The Grimsby Fish Man…
[Edited 16/11/11 – The image originally used to illustrate this piece has been removed at the request of the owner, who presumably didn’t like the positive nature of the article or free advertising – Bob] This week I’ve had a … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Features, Followups, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged A seafood Song, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Market, Divine Comedy, Grimsby Fish, Local History, mobile fishmonger, mobile traders, Robbery, Twitter
8 Comments
Hide and seek
This week, we lost another historic building to a fire in Walsall. I covered the event here. on my 365daysofbiking Tumblr and one of the side effects on YouTube. The Stymaster lamented it, as did the Hippo. Today, there’s a … Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Andy Dennis, arson, donebythehandsofabrokenartist, Express & Star, Fire, Flicker, heritage, Hev Ince, Imran Azam, Indy 500, Jabez Cliff, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, old buildings, Pigblog, planning, Politics, Redevelopment, Shannon's Mill, Silly, The Plastic Hippo, The Stymaster, Twitter, Urbex, Vandalism, VERY URGENT photography, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
18 Comments
More tales from the Wood
Following yesterday’s post featuring the excellent ephemera kindly sent in by David Evans surrounding the Ebenezer Primitive Methodist Church in Walsall Wood, David has again been busy with the scanner and sent me more great stuff for publication on the blog. … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Features, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged arboretum, bowls, Boys Brigade, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Commemorative booklet, D Evans, David Evans, Ebenezer Boys Brigade, Ebenezer Primitive Methodist Church, fifties, football, Local History, Men of the Wood, new organ, New Photos, sixties, Staffordshire, team, team photo, Walsall Wood
6 Comments
Walsall Wood: An old pictures special edition
I’m indebted to reader David Evans who, in response to the enquiry and delightful photo supplied by Caz,has dug out a veritable goldmine of pictures for posting here on the Brownhills Blog. There are some absolutely captivating shots here, and … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Events, Features, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Boys Brigade, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Commemorative booklet, D Evans, David Evans, Ebenezer Boys Brigade, Ebenezer Primitive Methodist Church, fifties, football, Local History, new organ, New Photos, sixties, Staffordshire, team, team photo, Walsall Wood
50 Comments
Reader Caz: what a star!
Caz, a regular, long time reader of the Brownhills Blog has recently mailed me a couple of brilliant items which will be of huge interest to local history enthusiasts reading the blog. I’m turning them into a post of their … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills UDC, Bullings Heath, Camden Street, Caz, Church Outing, Emily Maud Edwards, Green Lane, Local History, Morgue, Mortuary, Old maps, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood, Wesleyan Church, William George Edwards
20 Comments
Two great local history books available again
I noticed this week, purely by chance, that two great lost works of local history are at long last available again. Popping into Downes Newsagent midweek, I noticed these two fantastic books for sale. I’ve feature both publications heavily here … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Uncategorized, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Bill Mayo, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clarice Mayo, Downes Newsagents, John Sale, Local History, local history books, Memories of Brownhills Past, Memories of old Walsall Wood, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood
13 Comments
A dying trade
You may remember that way back in February, I posted an article on the mysterious mortuary situated near Bullings Heath in Walsall Wood. The morgue in question had been mentioned by reader [CAZ], and subsequently spotted on a large-scale map of … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Features, Followups, Local History, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills UDC, Bullings Heath, Camden Street, Creswell, Derry, Green Lane, Harris, Local History, Morgue, Mortuary, Mr. Bullock, Old maps, Paul Ford, Research, Smith, Staffordshire, Twist, Walsall, Walsall Local History Centre, Walsall Observer
11 Comments
A taste of something different
I’m trying to work out how best to do something I’ve wanted to do here on the Brownhills Blog for a while. Many of you will know that I’m very keen to share with readers formative things from my youth, … Continue reading
Posted in Churches, cycling, Environment, Features, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged Cycle rides, cycling, Gazetteer, guide, Henry Thorold, Library, Local History, school book, Shell Guide, Staffordshire, villages
7 Comments
Brave new world?
The Birmingham Bull Ring feature I compiled last week seems to have stirred quite a bit of interest, both here and on Facebook. I realise it’s a long way from Brownhills, but for people of a certain age, hopping on … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Environment, Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged 70's, 80's, Birmingham, Birmingham it's not shit, bretwilde, Bull Ring, Bullring, Central Court, Cheap tat, Danny Smith, Derelict, eighties, FrMark, Jon Bounds, Lady Wulfruna, local blogs, Local History, Martineau Place, memories of Birmingham, New Photos, Pallisades, Redevelopment, seventies, Silly, Snow Hill Station, Telly Savalas
14 Comments
Another former pub goes up in smoke
After reporting the thankfully apparently minor fire that occurred at the long-closed Rising Sun pub in Brownhills West on Friday, 5th August 2011, it seems that conflagration in former hostelries is contagious. The following Sunday, 7th August 2011, the old … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged A5, arson, Brownhills, Cheap tat, closed pubs, Derelict, Express & Star, Fire, Fleur de lys, Local History, New Photos, Old pubs, Pubs, Restaurant, Staffordshire, Vandalism, Water Margin, Watling Street
2 Comments
The sun sets on another pub
So, farewell then, to the Rising Sun. It appears that on Friday night idiots broke into the old, derelict pub and started a fire that caused considerable damage. Yet again it appears a piece of our collective history has fallen … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged arson, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills West, Derelict, Express & Star, Fire, Local History, New Photos, Pubs, Redevelopment, Rising Sun, Silly, smoking ban, Vandalism
25 Comments
Brownhills Memorial Hall: Frankie goes to Brownhills
I’ve been sent advance notice of a great 1980’s tribute night planned for Friday, September 16th 2011 up at The Memo. I think everybody loves the music and acts of the decade that taste forgot, and a fine time is set … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 80's night, Adam Ant, Blondie, Boy George, Brownhills, Brownhills events, Brownhills Memo, Brownhills Memorial Hall, Debbie Haary, Frankie, Laura Hucker, local blogs, Silly, Things to do, Tribute, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, what's on in Brownhills
1 Comment
A nose for history
Dave Bishop – long time reader and top bloke in these parts, has turned up a wonderful bit of local history. Attentive readers may recall that a while back, I contemplated the fact that the Shire Oak Pub and once had … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Features, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Boulter, Boulter and Sons, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Dave Bishop, George Boulter, Gold Medal, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, promotion, promotional, Pubs, Shir Oak In, Shire Oak, Shire Oak Ales, Snuff, snuff box, snuffbox, Staffordshire, Thomas Boulter
14 Comments
A gruesome history
Following an enquiry from a reader, I’m interested in a grim bit of Brownhills history. I’m aware this is bordering on the tasteless, but the interest is, I feel, valid. I won’t name the reader or the purpose, but I … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Features, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 1908, Anchor Bridge, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Clarice Mayo, Geoff Harrington, George, Hanslow, Humphries, Hyla, Local History, Maria, Memories of Brownhills Past, Murder, New Photos, Pubs, Seedhouse, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Suicice, The Anchor Inn, Thomas
6 Comments
Further afield – some great local history sites
This is a post to highlight some excellent local history sites – a couple are new, and one familiar, but they’re all doing really fabulous work and sadly represent yet another time suck preventing me from getting my arse into … Continue reading
Posted in Environment, 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, Walsall community
Tagged Abe, amateur history, cardigan, Collaborative History, community, Ernst, ganzey, Kate, landscape history, Lichfield Lore, local blogs, Local History, Lorenzor, Mark, Old maps, Past Storm, Pastorm, Silly, Staffordshire, Stuart Williams, Tamworth Tim Hikes, The Bloxidge Tallygraph, The Borough Blog, The Edditer, Twitter, Walsall, Ye Olde City
4 Comments
Acceptable in the 80’s
Long term readers will remember that last year, I published a post about local music fanzines of the late eighties produced by David Frost of Brownhills, and what a profound effect they had on the young BrownhillsBob. Whilst rooting for … Continue reading
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, Apna Sangeet, Biss the Pocket Opera, Blue Ox Babes, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, David Frost, Dogs D'Amour, eighties, Fanzines, Jo Digger, Little Red Schoolhouse, Local History, Mother, Noise News, Noize Neuze, Nose Flutes, Overstrand, Punch and Judy, Ron's Neighbours, Sandkings, Split in Two, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall local music, Walsall Musicians Collective, Wimpletodes, WMC, Woderstuff
4 Comments
This won’t hurt – Images of St. Matthews Hospital, Burntwood
Following my post earlier this week about Burntwood Asylum – latterly St .Matthews Hospital – I have been bowled over by the response of readers to what I thought might be a taboo subject. From reader responses – including some … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Anna Neagle, Anna Sadowski, Brownhills local history, Burntwood, Burntwood Lunatic Asylum, Burntwood Mental Hospital, Coulter Lane, Derelict, Ingrid Croot, Local History, Mary Hutchinson, mental hospital, planning, Redevelopment, Social Services, St Matthews Hospital, St Matthews Road, Staffordshire, This Won't Hurt, Woodhouses
8 Comments
Unspoken histories – what do you know?
I’m respectfully making an enquiry as to a bit of history that isn’t talked about much and may be quite sensitive for some. This is a subject that has long interested me in one form or another, and I think … Continue reading
Posted in Churches, Environment, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged asylum, Brownhills local history, Burntwood, Burntwood Lunatic Asylum, Burntwood Mental Hospital, Cane Hill, Coulter Lane, Derelict, Local History, mechanised, mental hospital, Old maps, planning, Rauceby, Redevelopment, Social Services, St Matthews Hospital, St Matthews Road, Staffordshire, This Won't Hurt, urbex uk, Woodhouses
26 Comments
The cream of society
I’ve mentioned ice cream vans and milk floats on the blog before. I’m quite interested in that lost delivery and van sales thing – chip vans, mobile shops, bakers vans – but there seems to be precious little local material … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, co-op, flickr, hha124l, Ice cream van, ice lolly, Lady Wulfrun, local blogs, Local History, Lyons Maid, Midland Road Dairy, Milk float, Moog image Dump, Mr Whippy, New Photos, Soft whip, The Bridge, Tony's ices, Unigate, Walls, Walsall, Walsall1955
4 Comments
The rise and fall
In the last couple of weeks, I’ve compiled two posts that questioned the oft-repeated local legend that the cottages by the Black Cock Bridge in Hall Lane, Walsall Wood, were originally built at the level of the canal and sank … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Black Cock, Black Cock Bridge, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Bullings Heath, Camden Street, Canal, coal mine, Hall Lane, Local History, mine damage, Mining Subsidence, New Photos, Old maps, pit, Silly, Staffordshire, Subsidence, Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood Colliery, Walsall Wood Pit, Wyrley and Essington
19 Comments
A Filthy business
Paul Ford, researcher at Walsall Local History Centre and top blog contributor has once again excelled himself and ferreted out a top piece of local history from Walsall’s extensive archives. Paul has kindly offered to make this a reasonably frequent … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Features, Followups, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Albert Henry Snape, Albert Paley, Arthur John Snape, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills UDC, Brownhills Urban District Council, Bullings Heath, Clayhanger sewage works, effluent, Emma Snape, Grange Farm, Local History, Paul Ford, pollution, Public analysts laboratory, Samuel Brawn, sewage, Staffordshire, UDC, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Local History Centre, Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood Sewage Works, William Thomas Edwards
4 Comments
Carte Blanche
Following recent posts in which I made available the William Yates 1798 map of Staffordshire and a 1959 Ordnance Survey map of East Staffordshire, I’ve now got further mapping goodness here for readers to download. This map is an odd … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Environment, Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community
Tagged 179 The Strand, 1798 Staffoedshire Map, 1801 Staffordshire Map, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, C Smith, Canal, Cannock, download, early maps, Improved Map, Local History, map, Old maps, Stafford, Staffordshire, Walsall, William Yates, Yates map
2 Comments
Toxic assets: Brownhills Businesss Park housing plan withdrawn
I noted with some amusement on Friday that the planned scheme to build nearly a hundred dwellings on the business park on the corner of Lindon Road and Coppice Road in Walsall Wood had been abandoned. This project has been … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Ashtenne Industrial Fund, Brownhills, Brownhills business park, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Road Housing Development, Effluent Disposal Limited, Express & Star, Industrial Effluent, Local History, Local politics, planning, Planning appeal, Planning Inspectorate, Redevelopment, Silly, Toxic waste, Veolia, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood Colliery
4 Comments
Is John Daft in the house?
I received a wonderful note from yesterday from Paul Ford, top local historian and researcher at Walsall Local History Centre. Paul has found a bit of ephemera from the turn of the last century which he thinks may be of … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1905, Billy Daft, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Charlotte, Emily, Garrett, John Daft, Local History, New Photos, Paul Ford, Staffordshire, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Local History Centre, William Daft
11 Comments
Taking up the slack
Last March I posted an article featuring an image of the demonstration event for the ill-fated Merrie England project which reader Steve Hames had scanned from the book ‘Images of England – Cannock Chase’ by Sherry Belcher and Mary Mills. … Continue reading
Posted in Cannock Chase, Environment, Features, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged 1981, annock Wood Pit, Cannock, Cannock Wood Colliery, Cannock Wood Pit, coal mine, coal sorting by hand., colliery, Coppice Coliier, Derelict, Hednesford, Last pit pony, Littleton colliery, Local History, Mine train, miners, mines, pit, pitmen, West cannock No. 5 pit, West Cannock world record, wimblebury, WImblebury Colliery
5 Comments
Unfolding the map
As promised earlier in the week, I’ve had some interesting maps, including a reproduction A1 size copy of the 1798 William Yates map of Staffordshire, scanned professionally. I came home today clutching a USB flash drive with nearly four gigabytes … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Environment, Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community
Tagged 1798 Staffoedshire Map, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Cannock, Cats Hall, Catshill, download, early maps, Improved Map, Local History, map, Old maps, Stafford, Staffordshire, Walsall, William Yates, Yates map
36 Comments
Local hero part three: The Lost Lanes of Stonnall
Top amateur historian Julian Ward-Davies has dropped me a line to point out that his latest work, entitled ‘The Lost Lanes of Stonnall’ is now online. Julian, as regular readers will recall, is the hugely talented, dedicated author, geek and … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, cycling, 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, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Castle Hill, Cycle rides, Julian Ward-Davies, local blogs, Local History, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Stonnall, The Lost Lanes of Stonnall, The Stonnall Mysteries, Wall, Walsall Wood
3 Comments
What was lost
Following some interesting comment last week about Walsall’s old railway station, I thought I’d feature it this week. For those too young to recall, it was a handsome building with a huge, airy, circular booking hall and grandiose glass and … Continue reading
Brownhills Memorial Hall: Soul and Motown night this Saturday!
This Saturday – June 25th, 2011 – there will be a wonderful evening of soul and Motown up at The Memo. I think everybody loves the soul classics, and it’s sure to be a top night out with a buzzing … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills events, Brownhills Memo, Brownhills Memorial Hall, Irish Bingo, Laura Hucker, local blogs, March 19th, Quiz night, supper, Things to do
Leave a comment
The sobering influence of the church, 1936 style
Top friend of the Brownhills Blog, and curator and amateur local historian behind the excellent Lichfield Lore, Lichfeldian has turned up a real gem. The fellow blogger recently spotted the stub of a historical article in the Lichfield Mercury which … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Features, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged A Lichfeldian, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Christian Evangelical Guild, drunk, drunk and disorderly, Lichfield Archives, Lichfield Lore, Lichfield Mercury, local blogs, Local History, Pubs, Railway Tavern, Silly, Staffordshire, The Boot, Twitter, Walsall Wood
5 Comments
The orignal Middle Oak…
I’ve received a wonderful email from Micheal Edwards, late of Clayhanger, who wrote so wonderfully a while back about his childhood experiences there. I so pleased to hear from Micheal again, his contributions are always a joy. An addition to … Continue reading
Go west…
Since it’s Pelsall Canal Festival weekend, I thought I’d focus on the village over the swag this week. Although traditionally separate communities, I’m aware that in these enlightened times, some mingling has taken place and many folks in Brownhills have … Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Features, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged Canal, Car Crash, Commonside, Jayne Howarth, local blogs, Local History, Millennium, Nest Common, New Photos, North Common, Old Corner House, Pelsall, Pelsall Canal Festival, Pelsall Off-licence, Pubs, Royal Oak, Staffordshire, Stuart Williams, The Edditer, The Fingerpost, traffic accident
5 Comments
The Swan pub to live again
I missed this originally, but after a bin-dive into the recycling bin, I can now bring you news that the The Swan, on Pelsall Road, Brownhills, has been saved from ruin and will reopen at some point in July. This … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Craig Huges, Derelict, Express & Star, Geoff Taylor, Jane Taylor, Local History, Pelsall Road, planning, Pub reopening, Pubs, Redevelopment, Reopening, Swan Inn, Swan Reopening, The Swan
10 Comments
Pop goes the blog…
Top blog commentator and freind Andy Dennis recently commented on the debate about local delivery services of years gone by: Yes, I remember the “pop man” coming. Corona. They gave free bottle openers and I still use mine 40-odd years … Continue reading
Posted in Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Just plain daft, Local History, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Andy Dennis, Benny Hill, Bottle opener, Corona, Cresta, home deliveries, Humphrey, Humprey Patrol, nostalgia, old adverts, Old Averts, Pop, Unigate
3 Comments
It’s not my bag
I was having a discussion the other day online with people who remembered the experiment with delivering milk in plastic bags that took place in the 1970’s, the use of which seems to be in revival, particularly at Costa Coffee … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Costa Coffe, Humphrey, Humphrey Patrol, local blogs, Local History, milk bag, Milk float, milk in bags, milkman, milkmem, New Photos, Pelari Ice Cream, Silly, Staffordshire, Unigate, Walsall, Woolner Brothers
54 Comments
RSS - Posts
