Category Archives: Uncategorized

I realise this probably belongs on my still ongoing #365daysofbiking Tumblr project, but these images, captured over two commutes on successive mornings, are just too nice to let go quietly. After a week of grim news, a little summer morning … Continue reading →

From the same genius that brought you Sister Dora’s first live gig in 130 years, revel in the wonder that is this promotional video for tourism in Bloxwich, the hub of the Midlands. Surprised The Tallygraph wasn’t sponsoring… anyone feel … Continue reading →

I’m indebted to top reader and comment dynamo D. Evans for solving the mystery of the soup kitchen location in the photo I posted last weekend. Had I realised what an odd little building the old Wesleyan Church was, I’d … Continue reading →

At the weekend, in my regular old pictures slot, I scanned the below image from that fine work ‘Coal Mining in Brownhills, Aldridge and Walsall Wood’ by Brian Rollins., of a 1926 miner’s strike soup kitchen in the village. It’s … Continue reading →

One of the simpler parts of the Chasewater flood defence and dam protection scheme, sorting the culvert in the railway causeway should have been easy. Originally sketched in for the early part of this year, then delayed until after the … Continue reading →

I’m currently trying to find out about he area of Brownhills Common roughly centred around Marklew’s Pond, north of Engine Lane. Today, it’s quiet and a mixture of heath, farmland and wood, but formerly it has been a hive of … Continue reading →

Further to my post of yesterday, I’m glad to see the BBC really pushing it’s Domesday Reloaded project. This is a great, in-depth article from Midlands Today, aired on 16th May 2011, featuring David A. Gregory and Staffordshire University. David … Continue reading →

Whist dipping Flickr last week for urban exploration pictures, I came across an intriguing stream entitled ‘My old scanned pics‘ – I know most of these aren’t Brownhills (although the one that is will bring back memories for many – … Continue reading →

I’m a bit puzzled at the purpose of these new signs erected on the main routes into Walsall. Similar ones in Birmingham were installed a decade ago, and hardly ever worked. This one seems cunningly placed to inform drivers there’s … Continue reading →

Of late, I’ve been very impressed with a relatively new local history blog for Lichfield, called Lichfield Lore. It’s a lovely blog, packed choc full of odd facts, great research and top-flight historical geekery about the city and it’s environs. … Continue reading →

One of the challenges the amateur historian faces is that oral history is just that; oral. It consists of many threads, many truths and a huge amount of speculation, tempered by half-memory and rumour. Anecdote is neither fact, not proof, … Continue reading →

Today, I went to the Chasewater Transport Show that I’d been plugging all week. I must say that it exceeded my expectations in every way possible. I turned up in the early afternoon, and cars were queing to get onto … Continue reading →

Last spring, as long-time readers may recall, I happened upon a great classic car show at Chasewater. At the time, I complained that there hadn’t been enough publicity, so this year, I’m publiscising it in advance. The show is next … Continue reading →

I’ve been following the work of Aldridge photographer Barry Carpenter for a while – his flickr photostream is a wonderfully diverse portfolio of images. However, Barry has a quite special photographic technique that he employs. He attaches a camera to … Continue reading →

I’ve just been very kindly sent this extraordinary and fascinating image by Brian Stringer, top chap and author of the excellent book ‘The Clayhanger Kid’. There is little I can actually say about this extraordinary, captivating image except click on … Continue reading →

Last weekend, I received the following inquiry from Neil Taylor, who is interested in the history of the Newtown area of Brownhills, specifically Howdles Lane and Anglesey Road. Neil had this to say: Hi bob, I’ve been a resident of … Continue reading →

The Stymaster has pulled off a blinder. I noted a few weeks ago that he was trawling through his father’s huge archive on film – both slide and cine – for old images of Chasewater. Good to his word, after … Continue reading →

Along with the inevitable hazards and irritations of life on a bike, one of the great compensations is the joy of a good descent. The two I feature here are quite long and, if taken at the right time of … Continue reading →

I’ve just spotted this article in the ‘New Satesman’, a lengthy and thoughtful piece about youth unemployment and the state of Brownhills. Please read it.  Note the amusing error about the market days, and our MP, Richard Shepherd, commenting on … Continue reading →

Thought I’d share another couple of ride videos I took on Sunday. The first is just comical, and is typical of life on the roads on a Sunday afternoon. Swing out wide to avoid surprisingly young girl with horse – … Continue reading →

Last week, blog regular and top local history buff Steve Hickman sent me a .PDF scan of a remarkable map. The sheet shows Walsall Wood, I’m fairly certain at 1:2500 scale and is dated 1902, although the footnotes say it … Continue reading →

Brian Stringer has kindly contacted me to say that he’s taken a flyer and had a reprint made of his sell-out book, ‘The Clayhanger Kid‘. I know that there was some disappointment when the original batch sold out very quickly, … Continue reading →

For those who may not have heard, The YamYam, Walsall’s very own game changing, mould-breaking news site, may soon be no more. Mark Blackstock, the overworked, underpaid man at the helm, is, to put it bluntly, shagged out. After two … Continue reading →

Light and modern architecture, spotted whilst cycling down the A51 in Rugeley this evening. None of these images have been reprocessed or coloured – only straightening and cropping in one case. All a result of standing the camera on fenceposts, … Continue reading →

I see at the weekend, this blog hit count passed the 100,000 mark, less than two years after my first proper posting on the 4th May 2009. Considering the fact that this is a purely amateur enterprise, generally concerned with … Continue reading →

I’d like to take this opportunity to share this Walsall Council press release with the Brownhills Blog readers. As you’ll all be well aware, Oak Park, like other leisure centres in Walsall, is under threat of closure. Now it seems … Continue reading →

Awful week of commuting this week, but there are some compensations. Both of these pictures were taken from a moving train travelling through the beautiful little town of Shifnal, near Telford. I just had to share them. Merry Christmas, folks.

I missed a photo out of the ‘Gettin’ the buzz‘ post which highlighted a practice I wasn’t previously aware of.   I noticed at the time of compiling the article that the two busses in the garden had similar letterboxes … Continue reading →

The weather is poor, the roads are icy. Please think hard before using back lanes and untreated roads and bear in mind that the council have gritted (and Walsall have been doing a great job of it, they really have), … Continue reading →

I like to cycle when it snows. There’s something magical about it – and since I’m rocking snow tyres, black ice, frozen ruts and compacted snow are no problem to ride on. This afternoon, I took a ride across Cannock … Continue reading →

The Plastic Hippo, all I can say is bang on the money again. A wonderful post. Please read this and reflect on what we’re losing, and why it might be so. Growing up in the late 50`s and early 60`s … Continue reading →

I hope all the people who love the landscape archeology stuff are keeping an eye on Tamworth Time Hikes. I know I keep banging on about it, but this eccentric, entertaining and constantly engaging blog is a constant source of … Continue reading →

Today, I headed up onto Cannock Chase. I love the forest in winter, and on icy days like today, it’s almost deserted. A few walkers and a handful of nervous mountain bikers were all I saw. This area is beautiful … Continue reading →

I wondered if Pamela Whittaker’s picture of the big old slide in Holland Park would spark up memories, and indeed it did. Today I received this wonderful pair of photos taken there, sent by reader David Cresswell. I love the … Continue reading →

Whilst bimbling around the internet today, I checked out the excellent South Staffordshire Railway site, curated by Dave Cresswell who’s been a regular reader and contributor here for some time. The lovingly crafted site is dedicated to the reopening of … Continue reading →

I noticed this press release earlier in the week from the grey Lubyanka – like most blokes I enjoy a good burn-up and Walsall usually put on an excellent show. I suggest readers attend this one, as due to future … Continue reading →

If you’re not aware of the story, it has recently been reported that despite making huge cuts to services provision, budgets and soon jobs too, Mike Bird and his pals at Walsall Council see nothing wrong with voting to increase … Continue reading →

To my shame, some weeks ago reader Steve Hickman asked about the road changes around Stonall in the early part of last century, and ever since, I’ve had a post almost ready to go. My work, however, was eclipsed by … Continue reading →

Well, it’s happened. I always dread this time of year, from the moment the longest day passes, I feel the inexorable grip of the nights closing in. I don’t mind the winter – the new season brings new scenery, different … Continue reading →

Yet again, I find myself pointing out an excellent post by the Plastic Hippo. Read it, digest it. What’s going on here is exactly the same campaign of misinformation and attrition that went on in the Thatcher years. Chillingly prescient. … Continue reading →

A guy fishing (I refrain from the term ‘fisherman’) near the former mill on the Anglesey Branch Canal in Brownhills was recently seen to chuck this bag of rubbish – beer cans, food wrappers – over the hedge into the … Continue reading →