#365daysofbiking JournalRecent tracks
Love On A Real Train
State Azure
12 hours
Dolphin Dance
State Azure
12 hours
Mothers of Rain
State Azure
13 hours
Choronzon
State Azure
13 hours
Twenty-Nine Palms
State Azure
13 hours
Street Hawk
State Azure
13 hours
Head Swim
Fionn Regan
13 hours
The Ocean Wave
Fionn Regan
13 hours
Riverside Heights
Fionn Regan
13 hours
Remote Viewing
State Azure
13 hoursRecent Comments
MrsSymmo on The highrise and fall MrsSymmo on The highrise and fall ken hubbard on Oil, fire and water Leanne victoria Howd… on Tom, hark! Leanne victoria Howd… on Tom, hark!
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Young boy taken to hospital following suspected hit and run incident in Brownhills High Street.
The air ambulance was called this afternoon to an incident in Brownhills High Street when a two ear old was hit by a van in what is suspected to be a hit and run incident. The boy sustained a head … Continue reading
Man turns himself in following police appeal earlier today
Police in Walsall have released the following statement in relation to a man they wished to identify earlier in connection with a robbery at Ward’s Store, Shire Oak. They said: Good news! A man has turned himself in to police … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Local media, News, Shared media, Social Media, Uncategorized, Walsall community
Tagged 2018, Brownhills, crime, knifepoint, kniofepoint, man, Police appeal, press release, public safety, Robbery, Shop, violent, Walsall Police, West Midlands Police
Leave a comment
Whistle and flute?
I have a really simple enquiry and request in from a reader this week relating to a local shop I’d completely forgotten about, and I think it’s worth asking you readers for help.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, 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, Uncategorized, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
17 Comments
Police helicopter searches for lost children in Clayhanger
Many people have contacted me about the Police helicopter being up over Brownhills and Clayhanger yesterday night (Wednesday, 31st August 2015) – it seems that local police were conducting a search from a pair of missing children in Clayhanger.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Birmingham, Brownhills, Children, Clayhanger, Events, Facebook, found, Helicopter, missing, NPAS, Police, public safety, Twitter, Walsall Police, West Midlands Police
Leave a comment
Who’s that girl?
In the informative and fascinating discussion over the question of George Colley and Lisa Ashby’s research into the Holden family that I feature here last week, an interesting side issue was raised: that of the identity of the well built;t lady in several 1926 General Strike era local photos.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, 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, Uncategorized, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Albert Beddow, Asby, Baggot, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cag, Daryl Preston, Downes, group photo, Hannah Beddow, Harriet Beddow, Jane Boundford, Julia Holden, Lisa, Lisa Downes, Local History, Louisa Johnson, Lynn, Martha Price, Middle Oak, Miriam Holden, New Photos, old photo, Photo restoration, Pubs, Red Lion, Royal Oak, Ruth Holden, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood, William Holden
9 Comments
Van burglary in Norton Canes: be on your guard, people
My attention has been drawn to a spate of van break-ins in the Norton Canes area of late – friend of the blog Jamie Bailey contacted me this morning and asked me to run the following appeal by his friend, Leane Woolley:
Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Uncategorized, Walsall community
Tagged break in, Brownhills, Burglary, car break in, Car burglary, Car Crime, crime, Events, Facebook, footage, intruder, Jamie Bailey, Leann Woolley, LW, Norton, Norton East Road, Police, public safety, South Staffordshire, tools, van, van break in, Vandalism
1 Comment
Police helicopter responds to burglary in Clayhanger
Many people have contacted me about the Police helicopter being up over Brownhills yesterday afternoon (Friday, 13th March 2015) – it seems that local police were responding to a burglary in Clayhanger.
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged 13 March, 2015, break in, Brownhills, Burglary, Clayhanger, crime, Events, Facebook, Helicopter, intruder, Police, public safety, Twitter, Walsall Police, West Midlands Police, Wych Elm Road
Leave a comment
Tool burglary in Clayhanger: did you see these lads?
You may recall that last week, I appealed for help from readers following the van burglary that took place at Clayhanger, during the early hours of Thursday 4th September 2014 – tools and equipment were stolen, including screw/nail guns and a radio from a van parked on the owner’s driveway on the Allerdale Estate in Clayhanger.
Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Uncategorized, Walsall community
Tagged Allerdale Estate, break in, Brownhills, Burglary, car break in, Car burglary, Car Crime, Clayhanger, crime, Events, Express & Star, Facebook, Film, footage, intruder, Police, public safety, Scott Parry, stolen bikes, tools, Twitter, Vandalism, video, Walsall Police, West Midlands Police
Leave a comment
Aldridge Fire Station open day today!
Just noticed from Aldridge Fire Station on twitter that there’s an open day up at the station on Northgate, between Walsall Wood and Aldridge today (7th September 2014) – on now until 4pm.
Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Leave a comment
Urgent: appeal for information following tool theft in Clayhanger
It seems there’s quite a spate of thefts of tools and equipment from sheds, garages and parked vehicles in our areas at the moment, and this appeal reaches me via friend of the blog Scott Parry from Brownhills.
Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Allerdale Estate, break in, Brownhills, Burglary, car break in, Car burglary, Car Crime, Clayhanger, crime, Events, Express & Star, Facebook, intruder, Police, public safety, Scott Parry, stolen bikes, tools, Twitter, Vandalism, Walsall Police, West Midlands Police
1 Comment
An old cricketer left the crease – come remember Tim Oliver tomorrow
Here’s a great thing for bank holiday weekend – Walsall folk and those with an interest in local politics will recall the tragic loss of Walsall Labour Group Leader Councillor Tim Oliver, who sadly passed away in May following a protracted illness.
Continue reading
Posted in News, Uncategorized
Leave a comment
Burntwood Mining Memorial – unveiling today!
Burntwood’s long awaited mining memorial will be unveiled with a carnival atmosphere at Sankey’s Corner at 2pm Saturday – there will be a pig roast, bouncy castle and other attractions, and a decent afternoon out is in prospect.
Continue reading
Posted in News, Uncategorized
3 Comments
Pictures from Woodstock
The news of the WalsallWoodstock festival taking place last Bank Holiday caught me by surprise – I’d seen no publicity for the event, and it was only a good mate mentioning it on Facebook that drew it to my attention – Thankfully, I publicised the event in time for some readers to attend, and reader Clive Roberts went along and had a great time
Continue reading
Posted in News, Uncategorized
4 Comments
When Chasewater became Monaco… and what of the Dolric?
I’ve had a great and fascinating email from Mark Morgon-Shaw, which I’m just going to throw out to readers – this is, I have to say, local history dynamite.
Continue reading
Posted in News, Uncategorized
20 Comments
In the shade
Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler has come upon an interesting football related query after finding something unexpected whilst looking for articles of Brownhills soccer teams as I requested in my post last Sunday.\
Continue reading
Posted in News, Uncategorized
3 Comments
Tesco sends a message to Brownhills: you’re not worth it
I will elaborate on this later, but in case you haven't noticed, the Express & Star is reporting an announcement from Tesco that the plans for a new store in Brownhills are officially dead. http://www.expressandstar.com/news/2013/05/22/jobs-blow-as-tesco-scraps-expansion-of-brownhills-store/ This is exactly what I've … Continue reading
Posted in News, Uncategorized
35 Comments
Photo puzzle – can you help?
Here’s an interesting query from Laura Masters at Walsall Housing Group which I’m hoping readers may be able to help with.
Continue reading
Posted in News, Uncategorized
5 Comments
Hardly run of the mill…
Yesterday’s great post from David Evans made me hanker for a bit more physical geography – we haven’t done much lately and I thought it would be nice to do some old maps and the landscape they contain stuff for a lazy Sunday.
Putting a lid on it
The story of the abandoned Shire Oak Reservoir is a recurrent theme from the very earliest days of the Brownhills Blog.
Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Uncategorized, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Boulter, Brewery, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chris Pattison, Derelict, leak, Local History, New Photos, Reservoir, Shire Oak, Shire Oak Close, Shire Oak Pub, south staffordshire water, SSWW, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood
10 Comments
Cracking up
The story of the abandoned Shire Oak Reservoir is a recurrent theme from the very earliest days of the Brownhills Blog. It fascinated me for years, and one of my earliest obsessions was the discovery of it’s history.
Continue reading
Posted in News, Uncategorized
5 Comments
Well, the lads did well, but sadly lost. Heads up, chaps, it was a fantastic adventure, and it was great to see you out there. Long may footy in Walsall Wood continue. Thank you to all – that was one … Continue reading
Posted in News, Uncategorized
2 Comments
Having a blast?
Jeepboy wrote: For the past 3 years a loud muffled bang can occasionally be heard eminating from the site of the former rangers hut at the start of the black path in Clayhanger – at first it was thought to be a bird scarer but no sight of it could not be found.
Continue reading
Posted in News, Uncategorized
1 Comment
Urgent help needed with stolen trailer!
The 49th Walsall Scout Group based in Aldridge, overnight on Tuesday/Wednesday (19/20th Feruary 2013), had their Trailer stolen from a smallholding in the Pelsall /Shelfield area.
Continue reading
Posted in News, Uncategorized
4 Comments
New homes planned for Brownhills
I notice from the planning system at Walsall Council, plus coverage in the inky press that there is at last a plan by Walsall Housing Group to build replacement homes on the site formerly occupied by the grim maisonette tenements that stood on the A5 Watling Street between Deakin Avenue and the Black Path.
Continue reading
Posted in News, Uncategorized
6 Comments
Walsall Council withdraws contract from Chase Nursing Home in Brownhills
I received the following press release from Walsall Council yesterday. The old Vicarage has, for some time, been a Nursing Home for people suffering mental health issues. I’m sure readers were as concerned as I was when news surfaced recently of the poor inspection report the facility received, and removing the residents can only be a good thing.
Posted in News, Uncategorized
Tagged bad, Brownhills, Care Quality Commission, Chase Nursing Home, Events, Express & Star, facility, Local politics, Mental health, Politics, poor, psychiatric, Report, Road, unit, Vicarage, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
6 Comments
Paint the whole world…
Readers who’ve been following my 365daysofbiking Tumblr journal will be aware that, of late, I’ve been feeling a little disheartened by the absence of summer and the impending autumn and winter. I get this seasonal sadness at this time every … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, Shared media, Uncategorized, Wildlife
Tagged Brownhills, Canal, Chasewater, Cycle rides, cycling, Events, Hammerwhich, New Photos, Panoramio, Rainbow, Staffordshire, weather, Wildlife
3 Comments
Positively palatial
Following the vexed debate here in recent weeks about appropriate parking for bicycles, I had this comment in from reader R. Nuttall that may have dipped under the radar of a few readers, and I think it bears repeating. R. … Continue reading
Posted in Features, Uncategorized
2 Comments
Due process: The inquest into the Pelsall Boiler Explosion
Since there’s been so much interest, recollection and speculation upon the question of the Pelsall boiler explosion and its cause, I thought we could feature here the newspaper report of the inquiry into the explosion. The article transcribed below is taken … Continue reading
Posted in News, Uncategorized
9 Comments
The Harrison Dynasty (Part One: The Early Years,1763 to 1841)
Yesterday, in the post about the Pelsall boiler explosion, I mentioned the work being undertaken by top history operative Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler on the nature and extent of the Harrison Empire. Here’s a first instalment of his work on the … Continue reading
Posted in News, Uncategorized
15 Comments
Lovely sentiment here on the Burley debacle. Brought to my attention by the wonderful Ben Whitehouse (@benjiw).
Posted in Uncategorized
16 Comments
The death of a big, big man
I’d like to thank top reader, contributor and friend of the blog Richard Burnell for very kindly transcribing the following article from the Lichfield Mercury of Friday, 9th of February 1906. William Roberts was the almost legendary entrepreneur, brewer and … Continue reading
Posted in Features, Uncategorized
36 Comments
The Health of Brownhills.
Taken from the Lichfield Mercury, Friday 15th July 1910. Thanks to reader Peter Pedro Cutler, who found the clipping. This has taken me weeks to transcribe. Please read it through, a better description of the times we couldn’t hope to … Continue reading
Posted in Features, Uncategorized
36 Comments
One Man Went To Mow…
Right, call off the sheep… I have been contacted by Helen Borton, organiser of the Chasewater Transport Show, who readers will recall at the weekend was having some hassle getting things done in preparation for the event at the park … Continue reading
Posted in News, Uncategorized
Tagged Brownhills, Chasewater, Chasewater car show, Chasewater Transport Show 2012, CHasewater Vintage & Classic Car Show, classic bikes, Classic cars, classic lorries, Dispute, DIstrict Council, Grass, Helen Borton, Highfields, jobsworth, John Smith, Kevin Yates, Lichfield, Military vehicle show, Mow, New Photos, overspill, Parking, Reservoir, Staffordshire, Steam engines, uncooperative, Vintage Cars
2 Comments
Shenstone murder tragedy, 1929
I noticed there was some interest over this tragic occurrence shown by members of the Stonnall Local History group on Facebook in the last few weeks. Thanks to the efforts of Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler, we have located the following two … Continue reading
Hot metal
Spotted by chance, I came upon this video on YouTube today, and just had to share it with readers of the blog. It features the last large manufacturing employer in Brownhills, Castings PLC and it’s machining arm, CNC Speedwell. This … Continue reading
Posted in Uncategorized
Tagged Brownhills, casting, Castings, CNC, engineering, foundry, iron, Manufacturing, PLC, promotional, Speedwell, video
8 Comments
Driven to distraction by our roads – Paul Groves tells it like it is
Paul Groves is a top Lichfeldian, carer, writer and a fine cyclist. Please read this.
We get by with a little help
Readers who know the blog well, and maybe follow me on Twatter will know that mental health issues and those concerning carers concern me greatly. It’s with that in mind that I run the following release for an innovative and … Continue reading
Posted in News, Uncategorized
2 Comments
Harpers, hairbrushes and sucky fish
Another great piece arrives from top reader and contributor David Evans. Grab a cuppa and tune in… thanks, as ever, to David for his efforts. Without further ado… The end of the second world war brought the time of retirement … Continue reading
Posted in Features, Uncategorized
16 Comments
Over in WS5, something interesting stirs…
I notice today that we have a new blog for South Walsall on the scene, the WS5 blog. It needs to find its feet, but there’s certainly some interesting stuff promised there. Run by a keen chap called Dean Hill, … Continue reading
A great local history book now available!
I had a tipoff today from history ferret and all round top sleuth [Howmuch?], who informed me that Downes Newsagents in Brownhills currently had stock of a book entitled ‘A Picture Tour of Old Pelsall, Rushall and Shelfield’, by John … 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 A picture tour of old Pelsall Rushall and Shelfield, 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
7 Comments
The Tallygraph relaunches!
Followers of this shambling rant-fest will know just how much of a high regard I have for other local bloggers in the Walsall and South Staffordshire community. There have always been some real diamonds shining in the dust, and none … Continue reading
Posted in News, Uncategorized
3 Comments
Cop a load of this…
Way back on the 23rd June this year, some two and a half months ago, I posted an article centred around a bike cam video excerpt I captured in the centre of Walsall. This, as I’m sure readers will recall, … Continue reading
Posted in Followups, News, Uncategorized
9 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
Give me the ‘Ring
I feel attached to Brum – it’s where I spread my wings as a teenager, and I’ve spent years there, shopping, exploring and having fun. The last two decades have seen so much change there, when I was recently given … Continue reading
Posted in Features, Uncategorized
11 Comments
Looks familiar…
Wonder where they got that idea? This article is from the Walsall Express & Star, dated Thurday, 21st July 2011. It bears an uncanny commonality with this post, made on Tuesday. Funny how the work has been going on most … Continue reading
Posted in News, Uncategorized
2 Comments
Further indecent exposure incident in Rushall
Further to last week’s police request for information about indecent exposure incidents recently, a third one appears to have occurred further up the old railway at Rushall. If you know who this character may be, please do contact the police. … Continue reading
Posted in News, Uncategorized
3 Comments
Police seek men in connection with local indecent exposure incidents
I received this press release from Walsall Local Policing Unit today. With the light nights and school holidays approaching, it’s best to get the message out and to take extra care. If you know anything, or see anything suspicious, please … Continue reading
Posted in News, Uncategorized
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
The Regeneration Game (via Pigblog)
I notice tonight that The Stymaster, late of this parish, has been appraising the state of the statues and artworks assembled in Walsall Wood 18 months ago. I’ve never been supportive of them, and still think much better things could … Continue reading
Posted in News, Uncategorized
16 Comments
RSS - Posts
