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Category Archives: Walsall Council
Get another glimpse into Brownhills Past
Regular readers will remember that last Autumn, there was an exhibition at Walsall Local History Centre featuring a whole tranche of of historic Brownhills photos and ephemera from the civic collection – this had proven to be so successful, that the top operatives at the town archives have decided to set many of the exhibits up on show in Brownhills Library, at the Parkview Centre, from now until the end of February 2014.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged A taste of Historic Brownhills, Archives, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills past & Present, Canal, Carnival 1938, Clayhanger, Essex Street, Events, Exhibition, Hussey Arms, Library, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, Parkview Centre, photos, plan, Pubs, Queen, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Station, steam engine, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall local history, Walsall Wood
2 Comments
Ghostly tales and fascinating history
This is just a quick note to flag up a great talk by an excellent speaker coming up at Walsall Local History Centre next Monday evening – ghostly legends and fascinating history of the Black Country will be recounted by talented and entertaining Wednesbury author and historian Ian Bott.
Posted in Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 10th February, 2014, Black Country, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, CCaldmore, Ghost, Ghostly Tales, Hand of glory, Ian Bott, lecture, legend, Lichfield, Local History, myth, New Photos, oral history, story, Talk, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Local History Centre, White Hart
8 Comments
Hey baby!
Here’s a good one from Walsall Council for parents of babies and toddlers in the local area – there’s a Cradle Club operating at the Parkview Centre in Brownhills – this is a great chance to have a morning out, introduce the little ones to fun stories and meet other parents – and it’s free.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged activities, babies, Brownhills, community, Cradle Club, Library, Parkview Centre, Things to do, toddler
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Ran like clockwork
Here’s an interesting one for 80s Walsall music fans, a fanzine of the period – I feature these occasionally, as I come upon them in my stash or as they’re sent in.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, Local music, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 1988, 80's, Brownhills local history, Clockwork Sausage Dog, eighties, fanzine, Local History, Mother, Noise News, Noize Neuze, Overstrand, Punch and Judy, Ron's Neighbours, Sossidge, Walsall, Walsall local music, Walsall Musicians Collective, WMC
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Old Holland
Over the past couple of posts, the subject of Holland Park in Brownhills has come up, and reader Peter asked where it got it’s name – I knew it was named after Hyla John Holland, one of the great names in the history of Brownhills, but I realised I didn’t know much about the chap, or exactly what he did beyond being a councillor.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Wildlife
Tagged 1933, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Holland, Hylan John, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, Mercury, New Photos, Obituary, Park, Parks, planning, recreation, Staffordshire, The Parade, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
23 Comments
Work starts on Holland Park improvements
I had this press release yesterday from Walsall Council, and I think it’s important to share it here – it’s nice to see Holland Park getting some love at long last – the paths and some aspects of the fabric have needed attention for a while now.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Local media, News, planning, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Wildlife
Tagged Brownhills, cycling, Darren Hodgkiss, Holland Park, infrastructure, Local politics, maintenance, Pavements, planning, refurbish, Walsall, Walsall Council, Wildlife, work
11 Comments
Please help Age UK if you can
Yesterday, I received this appeal from Mark Fellows of Age UK, who’s compiling a list of services, clubs and activities for those aged 50 plus in our area – first up, he needs contact details for Clayhanger Senior Citizens Club, but also details of any such services for senior citizens in out area.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Local Blogs, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged activities, Age UK, Aldridge, Brownhills, centres, Clayhanger, clubs, David Evans, Directory, Events, Lichfield, list, local blogs, OAP, senior citizens, services, Shire Oak, social, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood
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Court out
Here’s a little bit of a curiosity we’ve dabbled with here on the blog for the last few weeks – Silver Court in Brownhills, and the possibility it was once extended. 
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council
Tagged 1960's, 1:2500, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Google Earth, Lichfield, Local History, New Photos, New Road, new Street, Old maps, overlay, planning, Redevelopment, Severn House, Silver Court, Staffordshire, Things to do
12 Comments
Anyone for tennis?
Further to the great material sent in by Marion Jones, relating to the lost pumping station on The Spot at Clayhanger, she also sent me some interesting photos of the gardens of the Jones House in Clayhanger in the 1920s.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff, Wildlife
Tagged big house, Branch line, bridge, Clayhanger Common, Culverts, Derelict, Drain, Drainage, flooding, Ford Brook, Local History, Marion Jones, Marsh, New Photos, new pond, Pump, pump house, Railway, River Tame, Round Table, Samuel Wheale, Spot Lane, Staffordshire, stepping stones, stormwater, Subsidence, tennis court, The Spot, The Spot pumping station, Walsall Wood Colliery
5 Comments
Challenging landscapes
Today, I’ve mostly been trawling the paper mapping record for Clayhanger, in order to throw a little more light on the issues it faced in the post war years – debate about subsidence and flooding and the subsequent land restoration that occurred has been ongoing, and this is a really interesting bit of local history for me.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Council, Wildlife
Tagged Clayhanger, Clayhanger Common, Culverts, Derelict, Drain, Drainage, flooding, Ford Brook, Local History, Marsh, New Photos, Ordnance Survey, pit, Pump, pump house, Railway, Shire Oak, spoil, Spot Lane, Staffordshire, stormwater, Subsidence, The Spot, The Spot pumping station, Walsall Wood Colliery
6 Comments
Free Christmas Carol Concert at Walsall Arboretum today!
Top Walsall Council bod Kate Goodall contacted me to ask if I could plug the Christmas Carol Concert at Walsall Arboretum -it is to be held in the beautifully refurbished bandstand tomorrow, Saturday 21st December 2013, from 1:00pm to 2:00pm.
Posted in Churches, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 15th December, 2012, arboretum, Bandstand, carol, Christmas, concert, Events, New Photos, Redevelopment, Things to do, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council
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Silver caught?
A couple of weeks ago, I posted the following map here of central Brownhills from the late 1960s, in answer to an enquiry tied up with the thread about the Salvation Army Hall in Brownhills – it’s a great map, and at the time it caused quite a bit of interest.
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Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 1960's, 1:2500, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Google Earth, Humphries House, KMZ, Local History, New Photos, New Road, new Street, Old maps, overlay, planning, Redevelopment, Severn House, Silver Court, Staffordshire, Things to do
9 Comments
It was magic…
I didn’t really know what to expect from the Brownhills Christmas Magic 2013 event, it looked really good on paper but I was curious as to how it would pan out on the day – I was really, really pleasantly surprised.
[caption id="attachment_16900" align="alignright" width="224"]
‘Can you give us a hand?’ they said. J’Just a few hours on Saturday’ they said…[/caption] Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local media, Local music, News, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Wildlife
Tagged 14th december 2014, Armitage Birds of Prey, Brownhills, Brownhills Christmas Evens, Brownhills Christmas Windows, Christmas Fair, Christmas Magic in Brownhills, Christmas tree festival, Cradle Club, Craft Club, Donkeys, Festivity, Ice Rink, Nicky Rolls, photos, pictures, Ravens Court, Santa Special, Shop Local, Shop smart, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood
8 Comments
Bloxwich: men in tights!
I see that Glen, Dave and all the folk behind the wonderful Cart Before the Horse community theatre company have a great Christmas production on this weekend at the Bookmark Theatre, Bloxwich, which is situated in the new library.
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Posted in Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 2013, amateur dramatics, Bayards Colts, Bloxwich, Bookmark Theatre, Dave Calcutt, Events, free, French Magician, Friday 13th December, Glen Buglass, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Mummers, Performance, Robin Hood, Saturday 14th December, Silly, Staffordshire, Street Theatre, Sunday, Sunday 15th December, The Cart Before The Horse, Theatre, Things to do, tickets, Walsall, Walsall Council
4 Comments
Changes to local bin collections this week!
This is a headsup for everyone in the local area – this week, some refuse bin collection days change hereabouts – a full calendar leaflet can be downloaded from Walsall Council’s website, but here’s how it works for local readers.
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldridge, Bins, Brownhills, change, Christmas, Clayhanger, collection, collection day, Events, Facebook, Friday, household waste, information, Local politics, Monday, Politics, Recycling, Refuse, rubbish, Shire Oak, Silly, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
1 Comment
New local history book out soon!
It’s coming up to Christmas, and Stuart Williams and Walsall Local History Centre have a message for readers off the Brownhills Blog…
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, 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 Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldridge, Bloxwich, Books, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Darlaston, gifts, Local History, local history books, New Photos, Pelsall, Rushall, session, Signing, Streetly, Stuart Williams, Walsall, Walsall Borough Past & Present, Walsall Council, Walsall Local History Cente, Walsall Museum, Walsall Wood, Waterstones, Willenhall, WLHC
9 Comments
Fist of Glory, fists of rage
I see the genius of SalmonCorporation has been at work again – this film is an uncomfortable piece of genius that needs to be spread far and wide, like it’s precursor ‘Walsall: Everything a pound’.
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Posted in Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local 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 animation, £1, Cheap tat, Derelict, Events, Everything a pound, Fist of Glory, Local History, Local politics, planning, Politics, Pubs, Redevelopment, SalmonCorporation, short, Silly, Stuart Williams, Tesco, Tesco Development, Twitter, Vandalism, video, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Youtube
3 Comments
Party like its… 1998?
I like this a lot – way back in 1998, an officer for Walsall Council was given the job of taking some pictures of Brownhills town centre, the lady in question was handed a digital camera that took floppy disks, which lay filed away for 15 years until yesterday, when they came to light again.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, 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 1998, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, decay, Derelict, digital, gallery, High Street, images, Local History, New Photos, pictures, Shops, survey, Tesco, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council
23 Comments
Carers’ Rights event at Brownhills and Pelsall this Friday
Hey, this is really important. As many readers will know, the issues surrounding carers and their support is a subject dear to my heart, and in these particularly difficult times it’s really vital that anyone who is a carer, or who may be a carer’s friend or relative makes sure that all the help available is understood and claimed.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2013, 29th November, Aldridge, benefits, Brownhills, Carers, Clayhanger, entre, event, Events, Library, Lichfield, Parkview, reminiscence pod, respite care, rights, Shire Oak, Social Care, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Coucil, Walsall Council, week
1 Comment
Out of the cradle
Brownhills Cradle Club needs you – Sessions are held every Wednesday morning in term time from 10 30-12 00 at Brownhills Library in the Parkview Centre, where babies can enjoy stories, rhymes and play in a safe and welcoming environment.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged activities, babies, Brownhills, community, Cradle Club, Library, Parkview Centre, Things to do, toddler
4 Comments
School’s out
I think this might be controversial – from recent activity at the site, it seems like the former St. John’s School, in Lichfield Road Walsall Wood, may be about to be demolished, and it’s site possibly redeveloped, together with the derelict bungalow next door.
Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 12 housed, 4th November 2012, application, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, demolish, Demolition, Derelict, history, houses, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, Panoramio, planning, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, St. Johns School, Things to do, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
13 Comments
Revised plans submitted for Oak Park replacement
I noticed last week that revised plans had been submitted for the replacement of the decaying Oak Park Leisure Centre at Walsall Wood – I thought I’d feature them here as a fair few folk are interested in the issue, and it remains somewhat contentious.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Coppice Road, houses, housing, Leisure Centre, Leisure Services, Local politics, new, New Photos, Oak Park, planning, Plans, Rebuild, rebuilt, Redevelopment, revised, Shire Oak, submitted, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
4 Comments
With a little help from our friends
Here’s one for people interested in the issues surrounding Brownhills Common – if you can make time, do pop along to the meeting this Thursday, 14th November 2013 Brownhills Common will benefit hugely from an active friends group…
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Wildlife
Tagged 2013, Brownhills common, Chasewater SSSI, Conifer, Consultation, Countryside Services, Cycle rides, Events, forestry, Freinds, Greenspace, Heathland, Kevin Clements, local blogs, Management, Natural England, November 14, Plantation, scrutiny, Special, Things to do, tree removal, Twitter, Walsal Wildlife, Walsall, Walsall Council
7 Comments
Consultation event in Brownhills this afternoon!
Don’t forget that this Thursday, from 2-4pm, there’s a Walsall Council budget Consultation event at The Parkview Centre, Brownhills – everyone is invited to attend and offer their view on prospect cuts to the local council budget, and Council Officers will be on hand to discuss matters.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2013, 5th November, Aldridge, Brownhills, Budget, budget consultation, Clayhanger, Consultation, Events, Lichfield, Local politics, Mike Bird, planning, Politics, Shire Oak, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Advertiser, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
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Kingdom of rain
This video takes a journey homewards after work – I pick it up in Walsall Road, Darlaston, and travel through James Bridge, Alumwell and join the New Ring Road at the Rollingmill Street junction.
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Posted in cycling, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local media, News, Shared media, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged #365daysofbiking, Alumwell, bad weather, bike cam, commute, Cycle rides, cycling, Darlaston, GoPro, HDHero 3+, Junction, Lane discipline, night riding, ommuting, Rain, Ride cam, Ring Road, Things to do, urba, urban birdlife, Walsall
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Severe car crash at Walsall Civic Centre
There’s been an unfortunate RTA at Walsall Council, and it deserves as wide exposure as possible.
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Posted in Bad Science, Express & Star, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 50000, Broadway centre, Car, Cheap tat, credibility, cuts, Express & Star, justification, limousine, Local politics, Manor Youth Club, Mayor, Mike Bird, redundancies, Silly, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
15 Comments
Shire Oak Park: Come meet the Rangers this Saturday
Helen Sanger, the Walsall Council Countryside Ranger responsible for Shire Oak Park Nature Reserve, has asked me to point out to readers and fans of the reserve that this coming Saturday, 9th November 2013 there will be a chance to meet with Tim Cleary, Countryside Operations Ranger.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff, Wildlife
Tagged 2013, Brownhills, Countryside Services, Events, Facebook, Helen Sanger, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Local Nature Reserve, Local politics, Management, Nature Reserve, New Photos, November 9, Park, Scrub clearance, Shire Oak, Things to do, Tim Cleary, Twitter, Users group, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Heaths
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Details of local Remembrance events
Following the request last Sunday evening by Neil Harris for details of Bloxwich Remembrance Sunday Service, readers rallied round to help with details – for which I thank you all – subsequently I, others on local social media networks and top folks at Walsall Council got our heads together and assembled the following list of events.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, 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 Aldridge, bad customer service, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Clayhanger, Details, Events, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Parade, Remembrance, Service, Staffordshire, Things to do, time, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood
4 Comments
Consultation event in Walsalll Wood this evening
Don’t forget that this evening, from 4-6pm, there’s a Walsall Council budget Consultation event at Oak Park, Walsall Wood from 4-6pm.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2013, 5th November, Aldridge, Brownhills, Budget, budget consultation, Clayhanger, Consultation, Events, Lichfield, Local politics, Mike Bird, Oak Park, planning, Politics, Shire Oak, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Advertiser, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
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Remembrance services – can you help with details please?
This is just a quick request for help – top bloke Neil Harris from Pelsall has asked on Twitter for details of this years Bloxwich Remembrance Parade and associated events, and the net is turning up a blank – it then occurred to me that I couldn’t find details of similar for Brownhills or Walsall Wood.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, 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 Aldridge, bad customer service, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Clayhanger, Details, Events, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Parade, Remembrance, Service, Staffordshire, Things to do, time, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood
13 Comments
The end and the beginning
Thanks to several people including reader and friend of the blog Caz and the Young David Evans who’ve both pointed out that the former Royal Oak in Bullings Heath, Walsall Wood, is currently being demolished.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged alehouse, beer house, Black Cock, Black Cock Bridge, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Bullings Heath, Camden Street, Canal, Cawarden, close, David Evans, Demolition, Derelict, Events, Goblin Pit, Green Lane, Hall Lane, Hillary Little, Local History, New Photos, newbuild, old inn, Old maps, Pepper Alley, Pubs, Ron, Royal Oak, Smith, Staffordshire, Val, Walsall Wood
7 Comments
Fair brings history alive at The Crossing today!
A special event bringing local and family history alive across the borough is all set to take place in Walsall town centre this Saturday 2nd November – and admission will be free of charge!
Posted in Churches, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Bloxwich Telegraph, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Clayhanger, Events, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Stuart Williams, Things to do, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Local History Centre, Walsall Local History Fair, Walsall Museum, Walsall Wood
1 Comment
Pallets still needed for Brownhills bonfire!
I know I plugged it a couple of days ago, but Walsall Park Rangers are still in need of pallets to build the bonfire for the Holland Park Fireworks event, scheduled to take place this Saturday evening
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged appeal, Bonfire, bonfire night, Brownhills, Events, fireworks, Guy Fawkes, Holland Park, Local politics, pallet, Pallet appeal, park rangers, Silly, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
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Everyone enjoys a burnup…
Brownhills Bonfire & Firework Display
At Holland Park
Saturday 2rd November 2013
Enjoy our bonfire and fireworks display, food and children’s rides available
Car Park Entry off The Parade. Pedestrian Entrance is through Chester Road North & The Parade.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Bonfire, bonfire night, Brownhills, Events, fireworks, Guy Fawkes, Holland Park, Local politics, Pallet appeal, Silly, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
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Police car crash in Brownhills this morning
There was a car accident this morning on the Pelsall Road, Brownhills, just on the east side of Highbridge near the Council Depot – formerly the Edward Rose Plant.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Interesting photos, Local media, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Accident, Aldridge, Brownhills, Car, Clayhanger, Council Depot, crash, Edward Rose, Events, Express & Star, High Bridge, Highbridges, hurt, injured, Pelsall Road, Police, Road Closure, RTA, Twitter, Walsall Advertiser
1 Comment
Lane’s end
In the circles of my cycling mates, I’m fairly well known for my forthright and controversial vies on cycle facilities – bike lanes, shared use paths, coloured bits of tarmac etc – that generally non-cycling traffic engineers create to try to make junctions easier for us on two wheels.
Posted in Bad Science, cycling, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council
Tagged Advance Stop Line, ASL, Beyond the Kerb, Bez, Bikeability, Cheap tat, Cycle rides, Cyclecraft, cycling, cycling facilities, cyle safety, danger, Darlaston, Lichfield, Lichwheeld, Local politics, Lorries, New Photos, planning, Politics, Silly, Things to do, Tipping out the paint, Vehicular cycling
1 Comment
Not worth the paper it’s written on
The saga of Aldridge Manor and the winding down of youth services in Walsall is still rumbling on, and the issue is still being pursued by doughty campaigner Linda Mason – in a post on her blog a few days ago Lind detailed a recent letter she has received from Walsall Council which appears to be in almost total denial of the facts.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldridge Manor, by election, Cheap tat, Closure, Councillors, cuts, Facebook, Independent, Liberal Democrat, Linda Mason, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, planning, Politics, Public Meeting, Rachel Andrew, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Silly, sold, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Youth Club
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Bettered its manners
Last weekend I introduced readers to one of my longstanding passions – the 1930s gazetteer series that is Arther Mee’s ‘Kings England’ – back then, I broached the subject with Arthurs florid, but charming take on Wall, the little local village with the big Roman history.
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Posted in Churches, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 1930's, Arthur Mee, Dora, Dorothy Pattison, Gazetteer, George Henry Carless, Kings England, Lichfield, Local History, New Photos, Panoramio, S N Webster, Sister, Staffordshire, Walsall, Walsall Council
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Free electric blanket checks at Brownhills Library now!
You can get your electric blankets checked over before the autumn switch on at Brownhills Library at The Parkview Centre, Brownhills, Today, Saturday 28th September from 9:00am to 1:00pm.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Events, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, check, Clayhanger, Electric blanket, Events, Fire, Library, Lichfield, Parkview Centre, public safety, safety, Savvyshopper6, shock, Things to do, trading standards, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood
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Wood you please help?
Taking my life in my hands, I thought I’d run this press release from Walsall Council this week, and I think it’s quite important – most of us enjoy a good burn up on bonfire night, so in the community spirit, can you help with some fuel? If you can, Walsall Park Rangers would be really pleased to hear from you.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged bonfire night, Brownhills, event, Events, Holland Park, Pallet appeal, planning, Things to do, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council
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Blooming lovely
I note from the Facebook Page of Brownhills Town Centre Partnership that Brownhills this year won a Silver Award in the Britain in Bloom competition.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Aldridge, Britain in Bloom, Brownhills, Brownhills Town Centre Partnership, Darlaston, Events, Facebook, Lichfield, local blogs, Local politics, Things to do, Vickie Heydon-Matterface, Vivienne Aston, Walsall, Walsall Council
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The cruel Manor of their deception
I’d like to flag up a very angry post Lind Mason has written about the situation with Walsall Council’s Youth Service and the vexed question of Aldridge Manor – the Councillors may have wandered away now that the election is over, the Council Officers may be trying to fob us off, but neither I nor Linda have forgotten the issue of Aldridge Manor and the winding down of youth services in Walsall.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldridge Manor, by election, Cheap tat, Closure, Councillors, cuts, Facebook, Independent, Liberal Democrat, Linda Mason, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, planning, Politics, Public Meeting, Rachel Andrew, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Silly, sold, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Youth Club
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The dirty old town I love
I’ve never made any secret of the fact that I love the Black Country with all my heart – this dirty, post-industrial powerhouse of a place has been prominent throughout my life, although, technically, I live outside it. 
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Posted in Bad Science, Churches, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged birthday, Bullstake, Darlaston, Derelict, FH Lloyd, GKN, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, Panoramio, planning, Politics, Redevelopment, Rubery Owen, Silly, Staffordshire, Tony Martin, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Wilkings and Mitchell
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Some Mummers do have ’em
There is a long tradition in British history of Mummer’s Plays – folkloric parables, stories and satires – performed for the benefit of the working classes by mostly itinerant actors and Walsall has seen a revival of this very old tradition in recent years with the plays written by former Walsall Wood teacher and local arts supremo Dave Calcutt.
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Posted in Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 1st September, 2013, 31st August, amateur dramatics, Bayards Colts, Bloxwich, Bloxwich Telegraph, Bookmark Theatre, Dave Calcutt, Events, free, Glen Buglass, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Mummers, Night Market, Performance, Robin Hood and the Giant, Saturday, Silly, Staffordshire, Street Theatre, Stuart Williams, Sunday, The Cart Before The Horse, Theatre, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Council
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Stroll down memory lane – around Old Aldridge
I’d like to draw readers attention to the following great local history event taking place in Aldridge on the 12th September 2013 at 7:00pm – the walk will cost just a quid, and will be led by Betty Fox.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 12th September 2013, Aldridge, Betty Fox, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Local History, New Photos, Paul Ford, Staffordshire, walk, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Local History Centre
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Following the engine
Yesterday, I featured a fascinating analysis of a great picture of steam locomotive at Brownhills Station in the early part of last century, sent in by reader Ian Pell = the picture originated in a press release for the upcoming Walsall Local History Centre exhibition entitled Brownhills Past & Present.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Archives, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Dasher, Dodger, Dudley, Events, Exhibition, Francis Webb, Ian Pell, LNWR, local blogs, Local History, Locomotive, New Photos, Samson Class, Staffordshire, Station, steam engine, Stuart Williams, Things to do, Thomas Hinckley, train, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall local history
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Now departed
Yesterday, I posted about a new exhibition coming to the Walsall Local History Centre on the subject of Brownhills Past & Present – Stuart Williams had supplied some really great images with the exhibition press release, one of them being of a steam locomotive at Brownhills Station from ‘the early 1900s’.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Archives, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Dasher, Dodger, Dudley, Events, Exhibition, Francis Webb, Ian Pell, LNWR, local blogs, Local History, Locomotive, New Photos, Samson Class, Staffordshire, Station, steam engine, Stuart Williams, Things to do, Thomas Hinckley, train, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall local history
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Brownhills Past & Present: new exhibition coming soon
Stuart Williams of the Walsall Local History Centre has been in touch regarding a soon-to-start new exhibition of Brownhills photos and ephemera at the town archives.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, 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 Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Archives, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Carnival 1938, Clayhanger, Essex Street, Events, Exhibition, Hussey Arms, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, plan, Pubs, Queen, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Station, steam engine, Stuart Williams, Things to do, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall local history, Walsall Wood
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High-rise histories – can you help a local historian?
Fellow local blogger, Clayhanger man and wildlife expert Chaz Mason has recently posted the following request on his blog – I’m so intrigued by it that I reproduce the post here in full.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chaz Mason, Cheap tat, Clayhanger, Clayhanger Marsh Log, Derelict, flats, high rise, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, planning, Redevelopment, Slum, Social History, social housing, Staffordshire, Things to do, tower lock, Walsall, Walsall Council, Wildlife
5 Comments
An overwhelming sense of duty
Sister Dora is a beloved, dear heroine of Walsall; remembered long after her passing, she is a local heroine whose memory shines like a light in the grim, darkened industrial past of Walsall – her statue – finally restored to it’s rightful place on The Bridge, in the town centre – still sees regular laying of flowers and visits by those interested in the remarkable history it records.
Posted in Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 1886, Birchills, death, Dortothy Pattison, early, Explosion, industrial accidents, injury, Iron Works, Local History, London, New Photos, nursing, October, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Queen Street, Sister Dora, Staffordshire, Statue, The Bridge, The Graphic, Walsall, Walsall Council
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