The Stymaster kindly has taken time out to give the newly reurbished Trooper a go. His review can be found over at the indispensible Publog…
The Trooper at Wall – review on Publog
Seems generally positive. Been meaning to pop in for a while, but not had the opportunity yet. I thank the Stymaster for his dedication to what must be an arduous, onerous task. Before I go out to an unfamiliar pub, I always consult Publog. I suggest you do, too.
The Plastic Hippo does it yet again. Wonderfully eloquent, incisive and prescient post, and probably the best comment on the BP affair you’ll read. Check it out now.
It seems there’s been a whole lot of unabashed nudity going on in the cycling world lately, and from reading their blog this evening, even the folks at Chasewatercycle have become unwittingly involved.
The World Naked Bike Ride is fast becoming a global cult event, and seems to be defying both legality, good taste and sense to hilarious and charming effect. I first heard about it on KBOO Portland’s bike show, the monthly podcast of which is essential listening on the BrownhillsBob iPod. In a few short years, this eccentric and popular event has gone from strength to strength. It’s certainly seems to be causing a stir over at Chasewater…
While I’m on the subject, don’t forget that it’s National Bike Week next week and there’ll be a whole shedload of cycling related stuff going on; there will be events in most local authority areas, including one in Brownhills I mentioned last week. To mark this event, ChaseWaterCycle will be holding a family launch party at their cyclery in the craft centre, Chasewater, on Sunday, 20th June 2010 from 12 noon onwards.
Just some of the fun stuff to see and do will include beer tasting and real ale goodness by the neighbouring Beowulf Brewery, live performance by local acoustic guitarist Phil Souster, plus a fantastic bouncy castle for the kids. There will be Haro BMX demo where potential champs can try out the latest cool bikes, plus lots of fun company and chat. If you’re a certified cycle nut like me, or just curious about getting in the saddle, why not pop down and check them out?
Oh, and don’t worry. Everyone involved will be fully dressed.
I’m going to take a diversion into some very local history, but not of the kind I normally cover here. This is an attempt to preserve a piece of local culture that I feel may otherwise be lost, and is very dear to me, a small snapshot of life just before everything changed. The change was undoubtedly for the better, but some of what was lost passed into obscurity almost unnoticed. I’m hoping I can correct a tiny fragment of that.
Eating out in WS8, 1987 style. The man had taste.
When I was a teenager – way back in the 1980’s – Brownhills was much more insular than it is today. 25 years ago, the out-of-town shopping revolution had not yet started, and most shopping was done locally. Thatcher was in charge, and the area – like many post-industrial towns – was depressed after a biting recession and on the edge of becoming a dormitory community. Most shops shut at 6pm, on Sundays almost everything was shut. The bus services were poor, and journeys to Walsall or Birmingham seemed to me to be exciting and rarified. Brownhills served most of my nerdy needs – we had two record shops, a Tandy, a couple of decent newsagents and a Bike Shop – so the teenage Bob had just about everything he needed.
Gradually, my wings started to spread, and I’d take more and more weekend journeys in to Walsall. I’d visit all the shops that interested me, and in the process of my explorations (which seem so absurd to me now) I became aware, through flyposting and conversation amongst mates, that there was a burgeoning local music scene, something that was generally absent in Brownhills. I discovered the now long-gone Bridge Records, loaded with precious, cheap vinyl. This tiny shop was frequented by all kinds of people who clearly didn’t fit in with my image of what music fans were like – my eyes were opened by a range of Goths, Hippies, New Romantics, Punks and a small but fascinating band of eccentrics. I started going to gigs with friends, listening to types of music that I’d never previously been aware of, and just generally finding out that there was a whole new world beyond the town I’d grown up in. I saw bands like Split in Two, Ron’s Neighbours and Bliss the Pocket Opera. I was bemused by the Charlatans before they were huge, and ducked out of the chance to see the Stone Roses at about the same time, a decision I’ve regretted ever since. I left early to get busses back home from gigs by The Nose Flutes, Charlie and the Horlicks Overdose, Babayaga, Little Red Schoolhouse and Brancusi’s Cock. I walked back from many others. I slowly got drunk and/or stoned to bands at The Overstrand, The Punch & Judy, The Royal Exchange, Shelfield Youth Club and even the Town Hall.
I'm still not sure about that cover, or the title. Click on the image to download the full fanzine in .PDF format.
It’s hard to imagine now, but back then, the only source of news about the scene was gossip, word of mouth, fly posting, or the small ads in the local paper. Occasionally, there’d be gig lists on favoured radio shows, like The Cat’s Whisker on Beacon, or latterly, on Samantha Meah’s Sunday Night Party on Radio WM. Band posters and flyers – often handed out at gigs – were true cut and paste affairs made using stencils, cutouts, marker pens and photocopiers, as the technology to make them on computer cheaply just didn’t exist. Sometimes they were crap. Sometimes, they were highly artistic and wonderfully inventive.
The quest for further enlightenment – and the general lack of cash – eventually drew my eye to the cheap-looking homebrew magazines, or fanzines, sitting on the shelves behind the counter in Bridge Records. I can remember thinking about buying one, after all for 30p or so I couldn’t go wrong. A new world opened up to me.
I had, of course, read the NME and the inky music press, and had been annoyed by it; the faux coolness, the deliberate obscurity and constant references to London and Manchester. Yet this DIY piece of music journalism bristled with humour, crap jokes and enthusiasm. The writer seemed to want to be noticed, to write the definative local review of the Next Big Thing. This messy, hand-typed rag captivated me. That was the work of Frostie, and I’d bought a copy of ‘I Just Haven’t Named It Yet Baby!‘.
I have never knowingly met David Frost. David lived in Whitehorse Road, Brownhills. He had a distinctly Brownhillian chip on his shoulder, and he didn’t care who knew it. He wrote self-conscious, often pretentious prose, but there was a humour and an enthusiasm in there that enthralled me. He’d obviously been going to some of the same gigs as me, and he knew how crap the bus service was. He’d tried all the cafes in town. He knew, like I did, where the best record shops were in Walsall. He was as bemused by his hometown as I was, and equally irritated by the references to it as a throwaway story in the dying throws of the local soap opera Crossroads. There was a kind of pride in there, too, but it would have been uncool to let it show. I understood that. David Frost – whoever he was – was thinking my thoughts.
A more refined affair. Click on the image to download the full fanzine in .PDF format.
I showed the pamphlet to my pals, who weren’t in the slightest bit moved, but I treasured the monochrome mag. I recycled some of the crap jokes, including one that still survives on the net today, sorry Frostie, I never did credit you for that. Months later, I bought another of my new hero’s creations: Squeaky Clean. This was still written by Forstie, but he’d moved on a bit. There was a bit less Brownhills, and more counterculture. The interviews were longer, and there was, frankly, less crap. The style was still there, though, and I lapped it up. I had no idea where the cartoons he’d copied came from, but I found them hilarious. I guess I needed to get out more.
The odd thing about these two remnants of my youth is that they had a lasting, permanent effect. I would guarantee here and now that had I not read I Just Haven’t Named It Yet Baby!, and latterly Squeaky Clean, that this blog would never have existed. These humble productions were the first exposure the teenage Bob had to freeform, uncensored, uncommercial writing. It had never occurred to me that in my world, dominated by worthy-but-dull books, newspapers, tech magazines and the weekly music papers that anyone could ever just write stuff and put it out there unchecked. Here was somebody doing just that, and what’s more, it had an empathy and resonance with me. That planted a seed that took over two decades to germinate.
It is easy to forget how hard it must have been for Frostie to get his work out there. These days, you just sign up for a blog, it takes minutes; all the presentation is done for you, you just type, add some images and it’s out there, ready to be found by googlers and trawlers of the web. The writer I admired bashed out most of what he did on a typewriter. With tippex and stuff. He drew, hand wrote and collaged material into place. In I Just Haven’t Named It Yet Baby!, you can see he puts effort into varying the style and form of the page numbers, but runs out of ideas toward the end. There’s quite heavy use of Letraset. Just making the master of this slim tome must have been a labour of love; he then had to get it copied, which is credited to ‘Madeley Peoples Centre, Telford’ – some journey. Finally, David had to punt the finished fanzines around to local record shops and convince the owners to flog them. All for 30p a throw, marginally less than local fruit farms were paying at the time for picking a household bucket full of gooseberries. I know, because I did it. 35p a sodding bucket.
Charlie and the Horlicks Overdose: would you buy a used guitar from these characters?
I can’t imagine facing the creative darkness that Frostie must have been shouting into. He’d gone to all that work, all that effort. Feedback must have been damned sparse. I cant begin to contemplate how he must have felt about his writing, whether anyone appreciated what he did enough to tell him. Well, I’m telling you now, mate, I did. I do this now, knowing that I get a reasonable flow of readers. Some of those comment, send me encouragement, requests or criticism. I doubt many bothered to contact you at all. I didn’t. I should have. I wish I had. For that, I’m sorry.
I bought other fanzines over the period, but none really compared. The scene quickly died as the eighties closed – rave, acid house and the festival scene saw to that, and the rise of the superstar DJ and club culture rendered unfashionable the kind of young bands I was so fond of. Venues shut up shop or reinvented themselves, whilst I continued my transition into adulthood. I travelled further afield. The scene became a warm memory. The fanzines I harboured stayed in my treasured collection of memories, to be found and re-read occasionally. I now share them, and hopefully some of the warm recollections, with you.
If anyone knows what became of David Frost – or indeed, if you are Frostie – please contact me. I’m sure there’s stuff we could share. That scene is long dead, many of its’ exponents, stars and leading lights lost, yet I’m sure I can’t have been the only teenager to have been desperately perusing those labours of love.
There are some things to look out for in both works; in I Just Haven’t Named It Yet Baby! note the following:
And in Squeaky Clean:
Top local history type of this parish, Richard Starbuck, commented on the blog this morning, having turned up this obituary to Brownhills practitioner Donald Forster. I’ve given the comment a post of it’s own as it’s so wonderful, I feared others interested in the social history of Brownhills may miss it. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank Richard for his great find, and to ask if anyone has any memories of the GP, who sounded like a genuinely nice chap. Sadly, he seemed to pass away at quite an early age. A letter from Dr. Forster to the British Medical Journal is also archived online, but it’s a low quality image and is quite hard to read.
Hi Bob
I found this obituary for Dr Forster who worked with Dr Patterson & Dr Bradford in Brownhills. Dr Forster bought Dr Patterson’s house which was also used as a doctors surgery.
Hope it’s useful
Richard
9th September 1967.
D. M. FORSTER, M.B., CH.B.
Dr. D. M. Forster, formerly in general practice in Brownhills, Staffordshire, died at his home on 21 June. He was 54.
Donald Makepeace Forster was born in Exeter on 9 April 1913, and was educated at Dudley Grammar School and at Birmingham University Medical School, graduating M.B., Ch.B. in 1940 and qualifying with the Conjoint diploma in the same year. After holding house appointments at the Queen’s Hospital, Birmingham, he entered the Indian Medical Service with the rank of captain.
In 1942 he married Miss E. M. Murdoch, and four years later joined Drs. Bradford and Patterson in practice at Brownhills. In addition to his duties as a general practitioner he became honorary divisional surgeon to the St. John Ambulance Brigade and police surgeon to the Brownhills subdivision of the Staffordshire County Constabulary. He was a founder member of the Brownhills Rotary Club and later its president in 1961-2. He was elected chairman of the Walsall Division of the British Medical Association in 1966.
Dr. Forster was a friendly and instantly likable man, whose qualities of kindness and good humour became even more evident on closer acquaintance. He had an active and inquiring mind, which he applied not only to his daily work but to all medical affairs and to his varied hobbies. In addition to being a keen fisherman he also interested himself in photography, music, and electronics, and in 1958 won first prize in the electrical section of the doctors’ hobbies exhibition by building an electronic organ.
He will be greatly missed by his patients, of whom he took such thoughtful care, never sparing his own health in order to look after theirs. His colleagues all regarded him with affection, and admired in him the rare qualities which made him a family doctor of such high calibre.
He is survived by his widow, a son recently qualified in medicine, and a daughter, to whom we extend our sympathy.
-J. P. L.
Thanks to everyone who responded to my call for assistance in finding Robert Webster, creator and curator of the now-offline Webster’s Genealogy and Local History site. Thanks to diligent work by both @ziksby and @JoshWilliams94 (who both turned up the same address at the same time) I’ve now found the right chap and hopefully, some of the wonderful content that Robert created can live again.
Thanks for all the help. You readers never cease to amaze and delight me.
It’s good to see that National Bike Week, for far too long a barely noticed blip on the biking calendar, is now being peddled with gusto by Walsall Council, bikeshops and other authorities here and wide. Anything that encourages folk to get on a bike has to be worthwhile, and as I pointed out earlier, Chasewatercycle have announced some excellent events over on their blog. Additionally, into my inbox today dropped a welcome message from Adam Cross, Cycling and Pedestrian Officer at Walsall Council. No, I hadn’t a clue, either. It seems that if you’re rocking pedals and a chain, you can get a free breakfast and other goodies right here in Brownhills on the 22nd June 2010. I include Adam’s letter in full below, and I’ll remind you of all the events I know about closer to the day.
What’s not to love?
I thank Adam for his message, and would add that if there’s anything he, or anyone else for that matter, would like to discuss or publicise on the Brownhills Blog, please don’t hesitate to contact me.
Bob,
I am aware of your site and as you’re into cycling I wanted to make contact to inform you of the Bike Week event taking place in Brownhills on the 22nd June.
Walsall Council has been hosting bike week event for a number of years but always in Walsall Town Centre. Last year I organised an event in each district centre and the events worked well as a trial and it meant people around the whole of Walsall could get involved.
Full details can be found at www.bikeweek.org.uk/brownhills
I look forward to seeing you on the day.
Adam Cross Cycling & Pedestrian Officer Road Safety & Sustainable Travel Team Walsall Council Tel: 01922 652577 Fax: 01922 653780It’s been a while since I first posted that the application had been submitted for the new Tesco store in Brownhills. Since approval of the scheme can be viewed as inevitable, there would seem to be little point in further comment on the matter. However, there’s some stuff in this sellout that is really beginning to trouble me. I’m concerned about where the retail giant stops, and where our council starts.
Since the plans were first submitted unannounced back in May, there’s been a gentle drip of positive spin coming from the press unit over at the council, the most recent example of which being the article in the Walsall Express & Star on Tuesday, June 1st 2010, which I’ve scanned and included below, as no online copy exists. In it, we’re placated with the news that the council is listening to the eight traders that will be evicted from the Ravens Court, and that alternative premises will be found for them. We’re told that there’s ‘broad support’ for the project, and that a new home will be sourced for the senior citizens group, whose custom-built base will be demolished. We’re assured that the council are carefully assessing the views of the town. There’s just one snag; I can’t seem to find a single person whose opinion has been sought.
From the Walsall Express & Star, Tuesday, 1st June 2010. Click on image for a legible version.
Looking at the plans again, and taking notes of comments on the blog, I’m wondering why Tesco seem to be getting such a good deal here. I can certainly see why the council didn’t leap to announce the scheme’s submission. Far from the 12 new retail units and Lichfield-style store on stilts, fronting on to the High Street, what we’re actually to be blessed with falls far short of the retail utopia originally consulted on by Tesco. Rightly, the scheme entails the destruction of the dingy and unpleasant precinct, yet it replaces it with just three retail units bridging the gap where Ravens court was. These are to be wedged in between the existing units either side of the precinct, and are to be styled to blend in with them. The rest of the forlorn, unpleasant shopping centre will remain in the dirty, decaying condition it is in today. That’s it, that’s the extent of the regeneration the retail giant will be providing in exchange for the soul of Brownhills.
In return for this huge largesse, the retail giant will be demolishing Brownhills Senior Citizens Centre – a popular, purpose built amenity constructed when the town was remodelled for the current store, originally owned by Hillards, some 25 years ago. Back then, the developers were expected to provide such facilities, as well as the pedestrianisation of Pier Street, a new home for the market and the traffic system we use today. The demolition of the social amenity by the current plan seems little more than malicious; it is being razed to provide ‘Overflow car parking’, yet a glance at the site plan shows that after construction, the current market site will be left barren and undeveloped. This resultant empty space will render the Pier Street area an open, ashphalt and scrub prarie all the way from the front of the new store (broadly level with the entrance of the current store) to Humpries house, with only low shrubbery to break the gale that will undoubtedly blow across it..
The three new retail units to be built in place of Ravens Court. Mr. Tesco, you are really spoiling us. Not.
Silver Street will apparently be expanded to take two-way traffic along it’s full length, which seems sensible, but the scheme will result in an extra signal controlled junction where it meets the High Street by Farmfoods, and a second at the entrance to the car park. Any hope Brownhills residents had of seeing the promised transport package – part-pedestrianisations, bus interchange, bypass and so forth – have clearly been thrown out with the bathwater. Our future traffic scheme will be developed to ensure that visitors are funnelled onto the car park and into Tesco, and subsequently away again, as efficiently as possible without ever having to see the rest of the town, except in their rear-view mirrors.
It’s notable that since my original post on these plans, a slightly revised layout has just been submitted, moving the new store entrance to the canal end of the building. It’s not clear why, but this will result in an ever further walk for any pedestrian visitors from the High Street.
Excerpt from drawing F/EXT/1166/PL03 proposed site plan, amended 07-06-10, from Planning Interactive at Walsall Council's website.
In the midst of this, Walsall Council seem to be quite happy to be doing the PR for the project. Indeed, they seem to be doing a lot of public relations work for Tesco developments in Walsall and Bloxwich, too. I would have thought that the council should be reasonably impartial in planning matters such as this, but I’m unclear how that squares with the likes of Councillor Adrian Andrew asserting that there is ‘Broad support for the scheme‘, and ‘The outline proposals for the Tesco are very exciting and build upon the regeneration strategy for Brownhills‘. I’d certainly like to see some stats on that. Recently, Walsall’s press office announced that a new, deeply unpopular alteration to Walsall’s traffic flow was being brought forward to expedite the opening of the new Tesco store on the former college site. Were they really expecting us to believe that the store would remain shut and idle for 12 weeks otherwise? Cant’t a company the size of Tesco manage their own press? Since when were council tax payers expected to fund PR for multinational companies? I, like many others, am becoming increasing concerned about the relationship between a commercially aggressive retail giant and a cash-strapped council that seems ready to assent to anything they’re asked.
In the ‘Statement of Community Involvement’ supplied with the planning application, the developers note the following:
‘Tesco met with representatives from the Brownhills Development Team on 28th January 2010 to present the latest development proposals and to seek their feedback on the suggested changes. Attendees included Tesco, DPP, Saunders, Aspect and Pinnacle Transportation.’
‘A formal response received from the Development Team following the presentation via regeneration manager Paul Nicholson, noted that the revised scheme was ‘welcomed in principle, having the potential to bring major regeneration benefits to Brownhills District Centre and the wider area. As such, the Council is keen to assist in delivering a comprehensive scheme that will assist in securing the future viability and vitality of the Centre.’
The statement goes on to concede that public consultation was undertaken within the Tesco store on the earlier, grander scheme on three days in late 2008, and that the results were very positive. Which is hardly surprising, whose customer wouldn’t want a better experience? However, carrying out such a survey amongst existing patrons does rather preclude those outside the customer base, which doesn’t seem like a thoroughly balanced survey to me.
From the same document, comes the remarkable statement:
‘During the course of the consultation process we have been encouraged by the enthusiasm of Brownhills’ residents for our plans and their potential to play a real part in the regeneration of the Brownhills area.’
‘These sentiments have been echoed by the many councillors we have met with during the development of this scheme. One in particular told us at the public consultation: “Without Tesco the high street will die”. The death of the High Street is certainly not our goal. We are committed to the aim of creating a vibrant, modern shopping community which can help revitalise, not dominate, the town.’
In a nutshell, Tesco will be demolishing and removing the focal point of this town. They will be replacing it with the minimum retail units required to fill the gap they create. The development will destroy – but not apparently replace – a popular community facility for the elderly. The new store will not change significantly the run-down, unpleasant appearance of the main retail thoroughfare of Brownhills; the same dingy, down-at-heel 1960’s shops will remain. The transport, and indeed retail improvements we were promised will not take place as part of this project. Huge swathes of the town centre will remain as open, unused land, including the former market. Existing traders will be displaced. What’s most frightening is that Walsall Council seem perfectly happy about this, are are content to continue their dissemination of corporate propaganda as if there were no alternative, or indeed, opposition.
I want a better Brownhills. I want to see the hideous old developments replaced. I want a proper, community-centred focal point to our town. I want a retail and transport strategy that encourages smaller businesses to grow and thrive. Is being able to sit in an overpriced coffee bar drinking tasteless brown water really worth the destruction of the little independent trade we have left? I think not. Yeah, you’ll get a Costa, but at what price?
Would the last person to leave this town please switch off the lights and throw a dust sheet over the miner? Thanks.
Looking good... I thought the window boxes were a nice touch.
Thanks to reader and Wall resident Mike, who commented on my last article about the renovation of the once-popular boozer, I can let readers know that the pub reopens tomorrow, Monday 7th June 2010. When I swung past at lunchtime today, people were still hard at work putting finishing touches to what seems to have been a very thorough and sympathetic renovation.
I’d like to take the opportunity to wish the new proprietors well in their venture. This was once a lovely pub and I hope it can thrive again. I’ll certainly give it a try in the coming weeks, and suggest that anyone else who fancies a pleasant, country pint to give it a go to.
This is an appeal for Robert Webster to contact me at the Brownhills Blog.
Some years ago, Rob created the ‘Websters Genealogy’ site, which had an absolutely top-notch section on Brownhills local history, containing some excellent material that I’d not seen anywhere else. Unfortunately, the site has now been down for a very long time. Although it still remains in the wonderful Wayback Machine, I’d like some of the content to live again, as it were, through the auspices of this blog. The work was fantastic, and it deserves as wide an audience as I can get it. That it is nearly lost now is a tradgedy.
I know that Rob is, or was a resident of Brownhills, and I’m guessing he’d be in his late fifties by now. If you can give him a shout, or indeed, if Rob himself is reading this, please could you contact me on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.
Thanks for your help.
Clematis, Hints open gardens and flower festival. 2:49pm, Monday, 31st May 2010.
Gone to seed... field of dandelions, Sittles, near Whittington. 5:04pm, Friday, 21st May 2010.
Preparing to cruise down into Allgreave, Axe edge and the base of the Penines on the horizon. 2:47pm, Sunday, 30th May 2010.
Bee hard at work at Hints open gardens and flower festival. 2:51pm, Monday, 31st May 2010.
Climbing onto Morridge through barren heathland. 4:28pm, Sunday, 30th May 2010.
Soft country before the formidable Staffordshire Roaches. 1:39pm, Sunday, 30th May 2010.
Paint the whole world with a... crop sprinkler, near Elford, Staffordshire. 4:42pm, Thursday, 3rd June 2010.
Inspired scarecrow festival entry, Danebridge. 2:26pm, Sunday, 30th May 2010.
As detailed in his recent comment on this blog, the wonderful Mick P found the following, somewhat interesting image on Google’s Street View. It clearly shows a man, standing by an unmarked flatbed truck in a notorious flytipping hotspot in Green Lane, Walsall Wood. On the back of his vehicle, unsecured, lie what appear to be an old carpet and some waste cardboard packaging. He could be doing any one of the following:
I would implore anyone with a definitive answer to comment below, I’m sure the gentleman was merely engaging in a little community-spirited street tidying.
If you need to report flytipping or any other environmental incident contact Walsall’s Streetpride team online or on (01922) 653344. Remember, flytipping is a crime. If you catch anyone in the act, please take their vehicle registration and contact Crimestoppers or your local police. It’s a bad idea to try and face them down.
Unfortunately, Google has protected this man’s identity so well that we cannot thank him in person. Such a shame.
Last year's festival was a great success, and the weather was splendid.
If you’re looking for something different to do over the weekend, and fancy an event that’s gentle, genteel and quintessentially British, you could do much worse than visit Hints open gardens and Flower festival, at the pretty little village of Hints, on the old A5 near Tamworth. Find out about it here.
This year’s event will be on Sunday 30th and Monday 31st May 2009.
Entrance £3.50, children free, parking free,
Open from 11am – 6pm both days.
Delicious refreshments served all day in the village hall.
Gardens are open to view throughout the village
Flower Festival held in the village church; the theme this year is ‘A Day Out’
Last year they had good weather for the first time in ages, and it’s nice to see we’re due another reasonably good weekend, so why not pop along? You might even bump into Brownhills Bob…
Bizarre road markings on the island junction of the A461 Walsall Road and Poolfield Road, Lichfield. 5:42pm, Friday, 21st May 2010.
Zipping through Lichfield last week, I noticed that Lichfield District Council’s traffic engineering guys had been busy with the magic red paint, marking cycle lanes around the island at the entrance to the new housing estate on the A461 at Leamonsley. In a work of true artifice, they’ve produced what I can only describe as one of the most idiotic, deadly cycle safety measures I’ve ever experienced.
This cycle lane encourages cyclists going straight up the A461 toward Pipe Hill to stick to the lane marked, on the left. Not only that, but it encourages motorists to move to the right at the give way line, just as this van has done. Thus it would be easy – too easy – for a cyclist to find themselves wrong sided by a left-turning vehicle, driven by a driver not expecting to find a cyclist beside them. This kind of incident – referred to as a ‘Left Hook’ – is by far the largest killer of adult cyclists in the UK. To find a safety measure that encourages cyclists to get into this position is beyond belief.
I’ll take this opportunity to point out to fellow cyclists that they are not compelled to use this lane or obey the markings here. The only way to approach such an island is in the primary position, in line with other vehicles. Behave as if you are, and take the space of, a car – you are fully entitled to do this and drivers will respect you for doing so. Behave confidently, assert yourself and signal your intentions clearly.
The officers responsible for this monumental act of cycling stupidity – sadly, one of many, as Warrington Cycle Campaign’s ‘Farcility of the month’ site testifies – should be ashamed of themselves. Under what guidance has this lane been marked? Who risk asessed it, and decided it was safe? Have they ridden a bicycle or motorbike in the last 20 years?
I’d like Lichfield Council to justify this absurd scheme, just to understand what on earth they were thinking when the created it…
Further to my post last week, regarding the plans by The Ashtenne Industrial Fund Unit Trust to demolish Brownhills Business Park and construct housing, granted on appeal by the Planning Inspectorate, I’ve been looking into the history of the site in question. Initially, the land was the site of Walsall Wood Colliery, which ceased production in 1964. From then until the mid-1970’s, the former workings were used as a disposal receptacle for toxic waste by a company called Effluent Disposal Limited. A descendant company from the original operators, Veolia, still occupy the premises next door to the industrial estate in question.
In my searches, I found the following map and description of how waste disposal commenced and ended at the former mine. It comes from the excellent book ‘Coal Mining in Walsall Wood, Brownhills and Aldridge’ by Brian Rollins, published by Walsall Local History Centre (ISBN 0 946652 34 1). I obtained my copy on eBay.
If Brian Rollins is reading this, I’d be interested to hear his views on the matter.
Ordnance Survey 1921 geological map showing Walsall Wood Colliery and Shire Oak, from Brian Rollins' book. Note the location of shafts is marked clearly.
Closure of Walsall Wood
Coal mining ceased on 30th October 1964 but the colliery remained open with a small team of men to salvage underground materials. No.2 Shaft was filled with mine waste from the mound which ran along side Coppice Road while No.1 Shaft was filled from the bottom of the pit at 1,635 feet below ground to a point just below the Top Robins Inset at approximately 1,144 feet down. The purpose of this was to prepare the shaft for the disposal of liquid trade effluent.
After the closure of Walsall Wood Colliery
Once the shaft was prepared for the disposal of liquid trade effluent, any effluent deposited down the shaft would enter the Top Robins inset and then access voids in the workings by migrating down from seam to seam via cross measure drifts. This process started in 1966 and the formal lease was granted by the National Coal Board to Effluent Disposal Ltd. on 19th July 1967. Use of No. 1 shaft was granted for 21 years. A second lease was granted to the same Company on 12th February 1968 for a term of 99 years from 1st January 1969 for the same purposes. However, some little time after the disposal started an implosion occurred which damaged the small cover erected over the shaft. This was caused by the 490 feet of fill above the pit bottom disappearing into the workings. It had become so heavy with liquid discharge that it lost adhesion to the shaft wall and breached pit bottom stoppings.
Sometime later when damage had occurred to the shaft lining which required repair, an explosion occurred in the shaft which badly damaged the pit top cover. The explosion was apparently caused when contractors lowered a light to inspect damage to the shaft wall.
Discharge of effluent finally ceased in the shaft on 28th March 1976 when the level of liquid rose to 991 feet below the shaft top. This was the level that had been set in the grant of planning permission and the permission from the River Authority. The brick shaft wall had become so affected by the liquid effluent being discharged that it collapsed. This collapse occurred in the Etruria Marls which then ‘spalled off from behind the brickwork and the whole fell down the shaft and created a plug, as no more effluent was able to pass into the workings.
The trade effluent was then put into old open brick quarries next to Aldridge No.1 and 2 shafts and was called the Mitco Lagoon. To remove this nuisance permission was granted to the Company to drill a borehole from the surface so that a way in to the various underground roadways in the shaft pillar and down to the Deep Seam horizon could be created. This proved successful and, some 33 million gallons were decanted from the . lagoon down the borehole in approximately 12 months.
In 1976 Effluent Disposal Ltd. lodged a planning application to sink a borehole on the Empire Site off Stubbers Green Road, Aldridge to gain access to voids in underground workings, and then to discharge liquid trade effluent down the hole. The application was refused but granted on appeal after a public inquiry. The hole together with 3 monitoring boreholes was drilled and the facility was used to discharge treated liquid trade effluent into the reservoir of old workings until 1990.
The guest speaker on this occasion was the CCMHS Chairman MR BRIAN ROLLINS, his talk entitled The Effluent Disposal Scheme at Walsall Wood Colliery after it’s closure or as Brian puts it “Coal to Crap” was a very interesting and informative talk. It was also a bit of an eye opener with quite a few facts being revealed about the lack of real control that was exerted by the local authorities on the actual type of effluent being deposited down the Walsall Wood shaft. Brian was at that period of his career Chief Area Surveyor for the NCB Western Area based at Staffordshire House Stoke on Trent and this dropped him right in the deep end, he knew the underground workings of Walsall Wood Colliery well as he had been head surveyor there before his move to Headquarters. He was made representative for British Coal who although they had shut and disposed of the Colliery many years earlier were still responsible for it. This meant that Brian was first in line for the Crap in the title. He dispelled the myth about the first explosion after the dumping of the effluent began, it was in fact an implosion down into the mine which took the conservatory type bubble building (constructed at the shaft top to stop the awful stench that was emerging out of the workings) down the mine. He also related how the only explosion in the shaft was caused by two workmen on duty at the shaft top lowering an extension light down the shaft to see if they could found out why the effluent was not seeping away into the workings. The extension lamp of at least 100 yards long was lowered down the shaft with the light switched off when the men though they were far enough down the shaft the lamp was switched on, it was concluded the bulb smashed and the resulting shorting, caused gasses in the shaft to explode blowing the pit top cover of tin and asbestos sheet over most of Brownhills and Clayhanger. It was good to be told that no heavy materials were ever dumped at Walsall Wood but it is also quite disconcerting to also be told that nobody really knows what actually was dumped.
What I find most alarming about this whole situation is that the Walsall Council Planning Committee considering the application for housing seemed unaware of the former usage of the site. Councillor Mike Flower commented to this effect on my initial post – which makes me wonder just what kind of records are held for the site, and just how the planning process works in relation to possibly contaminated land. Certainly, the Planning Inspectorate seem unaware of the history involved.
I’m concerned about not just the legality of developing housing on the former colliery, but the moral position of locating housing so near to such an objectionable, poisonous remnant. I find it rather disturbing that nobody involved – not Walsall Council, nor the developers Ashtenne, or even the Planning Inspectorate seem to have any knowledge of what exactly lies beneath this seemingly innocuous industrial yard. The council, who have always opposed this development, really should move to investigate before it’s too late.
Walsall Wood Colliery, from Walsall Council's website.
Those who know me well know that I’m not very good at heights. I do them, but under sufferance. I therefore have immense respect for those who work well above ground level, like these steeplejacks I spotted working industriously on the gorgeous Dunstall Church yesterday. There’s just something about their relaxed demeanour that inspires great admiration.
Restoration period. Check the scaffold atop the spire! Dunstall Church, near Tatenhill, Staffordshire. 3:59pm, Tuesday, 25th May 2010.
Not for a big, gold clock. Respect to these guys. 4:02pm, Tuesday, 25th May 2010.
I often notice the window cleaners in Birmingham city centre, who these days dispense with ladders and cradles and almost exclusively abseil to their workspace. It’s amazing how many folk never notice them; they never, ever seem to look upwards.
Walking on glass, Colmore Gate, Birmingham. 4:49pm, Tuesday, 3rd March 2009.
There's been a lot of work done, and the building looks fresh and clean. 4:29pm, Sunday, 23rd May 2010
Even on a Sunday, workmen were milling around. The exterior has been extensively restored. 4:27pm, Sunday, 23rd May 2010.
It’s apparently good news for local ale-lovers like the indefatigable Stymaster, for it seems I was very wrong about the future of the Trooper pub in the little village of Wall, between Lichfield and Brownhills. Passing the building on Friday 21st May 2010, I noted that a huge amount of contractors were on site carrying out all manner of jobs, from gardening to fitting equipment in the cellar. Cycling through the village again yesterday, I noted a few contractors still beavering away, and the addition of brand new pub signs. The signs say ‘The Trooper Restaurant Free House’ so the future of another, once lost pub looks set to be secured for a while. Asking a chap working in the beer garden, he wasn’t sure but seemed to think reopening would take place at the beginning of June.
The old place is certainly looking very smart, and I know that Stymaster, creator of the indispensable Publog, loves a walk out to a country pub. I think there will be at least one eager punter waiting to sample the revived establishment – the renovation certainly seems to have been done very well.
If the new owners are reading this, please drop me a line and I’ll happily publicise opening details etc. We’ve lost so many local pubs in recent years, it’s good to have a bit of positive news. I wish you well.
They’ve launched a great blog. They’re planning some great events for National Bike Week. They’re next door to a micro brewery. What more could you want from a bike shop?
Seriously, though, since I mentioned the new cycle hire service and shop up in the craft workshops at Chasewater, the proprietors, Lesley and Rich, have worked tirelessly to establish a great service for all lovers of the bicycle. The hire business goes from strength to strength, and the shop gets ever-busier, with a whole bunch of accessories, parts, spares, clothes and all manner of cycling paraphernalia. If the haven’t got exactly the widget you need, they’ll get in in for you, whilst offering expert advice and fun, friendly service.They deal in great new bikes, too, from the likes of Genesis, On One, Kona and Saracen.
For all you cycling ladies out there, do you ever get weary of the male dominated bike shop? Well, Lesley is ready to help with a female angle on all your queries, so if you’re after a break from the acne, leering and lads culture of your local shop, give Chasewatercycle a try.
National Bike Week runs from Sunday 19th-Sunday 27th June 2010. To celebrate, all week the shop will be offering
On Sunday 20th June, there’s a shop launch party planned, with beer tasting by the neighbouring Beowulf Brewery, live music and all manner of stuff to enjoy, including the company of fellow cyclists. On Saturday 26th June, the local CTC (Cyclist’s Touring Club) will be organising a family ride with a free breakfast at the innovation centre.
If you’re a regular cycling nerd like me, or just fancy trying it out, pay ChaseWaterCycle a visit. If you’re unsure about cycling, or have been off the bike for a while, I can’t think of a better place to hire a bike and try it out than the traffic-free cycle route around Chasewater.
I stress again, that I have no connection with the shop, I’m just impressed by their enthusiasm, can-do attitude and welcome their approach.
I notice that there’s some commotion on the Brownhills/Walsall Wood border at the moment. Local councillor Mike ‘Burger Boy’ Flower has rightly flagged up in his thankfully rejuvenated blog that a plan to demolish Brownhills Business Park (the former surface buildings of Walsall Wood Colliery) and build housing in it’s place has been granted outline permission by an appeal to the Planning Authority.
The planning saga – ongoing since 2008 – has been protracted. The industrial estate recently came under the ownership of The Ashtenne Industrial Fund Unit Trust, who have expressed a desire to redevelop the site as housing. Initially, outline application no. 08/0726/OL for 90 ‘residential units’ was submitted in April 2008 and refused in the following June. This was modified slightly and resubmitted as 08/1725/OL in October 2008, with the developer’s grounds for appeal listed in an accompanying document. This application was also thrown out in January 2009. A timespan of applications can be viewed on Walsall Council’s planning interactive site. Since then, the developers have taken the case to the Planning Inspectorate – the overseers of the English planning process – who have considered the application appeal and granted it, in direct conflict to the decision of Walsall’s planning committee.
1948 two-and-a-half inch map overlaid on Google Earth imagery of the site. Note that some buildings are still extant, and that the colliery was almost wholly contained with the proposed housing development.
The contention of the council – outlined in Mike Flower’s blog post – is that the development would cause the loss of jobs and industrial capacity on the site, and exacerbate traffic and school capacity issues. I can certainly understand the protests of current tenants on the site – but should the developers pay relocation costs I wouldn’t really object. The infrastructure issues to me at least, don’t stack up; we’ve had a net loss in housing capacity in Brownhills in the last ten years with the wholesale demolition of social housing, and should the developers get permission, I’m sure they could be coerced into contributing to junction improvements, as Morris Homes seem to be doing at Shire Oak. Further, Walsall Council don’t seem to be concerned about industrial land conflicts at other sites – notably Norfolk Place in Leamore, where the authority is swapping it’s existing depot for a housing development on the nod, in exchange for a bizarre new depot on the former Wagon site in Brownhills.
In principle, I wouldn’t oppose the development at all, the site is indeed run down, and there is plenty of vacant industrial capacity locally. Subject to compensation of the current occupants, there shouldn’t be a problem. There’s just one thing that’s troubling me. The site is a former pithead. A pithead with a rather unpleasant recent history.
Is someone concealing toxic assets?
On the site, Walsall Wood Colliery operated until 1964 – indeed, many of the buildings forming the ‘business park’ are former pithead buildings. Somewhere on site there is a capped mineshaft. That in itself is a serious issue – however, for the following two decades, a huge quantity of industrial effluent and toxic waste was disposed of by discharge into the former mine. The geology of the coal seam, theoretically encased in marl, meant that the operators of the disposal operation – initially Effluent Disposal – could treat the former mineshafts as a large sealed container, with the blessing of the authorities and local government. This they did, and huge quantities of toxic waste were emptied into the void beneath Walsall Wood. During this period, controls were far more relaxed than those of current times, so scant records were kept. Effluent Disposal suffered bad press during 70’s and early 80’s, with an accident at the facility not helping their image. After a succession of name changes, disposal at the site ceased, to continue at sites in Stubbers Green, near Aldridge. Veolia, the current company in the convoluted effluent lineage, still have offices next door to the industrial park.
The site had a controversial history, with questions asked in parliament in August, 1976 by local MP Geoff Edge and soon after, by MP Jeff Rooker, who made a fascinating statement a day later. An extract from that statement is very illuminating:
‘There is near Walsall the shaft of a former coal mine—Walsall Wood Colliery—which for some years has been used for the dumping of toxic waste. In a recent 12-month period 10 million gallons of waste was poured down the mine shaft. It is a warren of toxic waste, because the shaft goes 500 feet underground and then 3,000 feet along the old mine workings.
The action of dumping waste has been defended by the company disposing of the waste—Effluent Disposal Limited. It intends to continue dumping millions of gallons of waste down the mine shaft for the next 20 years—in fact, till the end of the century. It claims that the mine shaft is a safe geological bottle, because the toxic poisonous waste cannot escape.
In fact, this is a geological time bomb which will probably affect our children and future generations. No one really knows what is happening down there. It is not possible to inspect the underground area. Even worse, six weeks ago a blockage occurred. The shaft and the workings can supposedly be used for 20 years. Because of the blockage, nothing is being dumped down there. The company is attempting to get planning permission to bore a hole to release the blockage by means of air pressure. The local residents are very opposed to this. Most of them did not appreciate what was happening. It was only the blockage that brought the operations at the mine shaft to the attention of the public.’
What is concerning me is that neither Walsall Council, nor the developers seem to have noted this history. A cursory look through the planning documents reveals nothing of note relating to the history of the industrial park. Who would knowingly buy a house built on such a site? Has the cost of cleaning the contaminated land been thought through? Would any lender grant a mortgage following a mining search? Is this proposal even legal? I’d be interested in readers views and opinion. The thought of that particular portal being opened, either deliberately or accidentally, fills me with dread.
One can only wonder why this hasn’t been mentioned before.
I’ve not really mentioned the Staffordshire Hoard here on the Brownhills Blog. It’s not that I’m not interested in it – it’s a fascinating, huge discovery – it just seems to me that so much has been broadcast, written and said about this intriguing collection of ancient loot that I couldn’t possibly have anything to add. I’ve watched with some amusement the territorial chicanery and doublespeak emanating from the local, and not-so-local towns vying to host the treasure, from Lichfield’s early stake – which was based largely on the fact that anywhere else was simply too too common to exhibit such a wonderful assembly of bling – to Stoke on Trent’s frankly opportunistic but oddly influential smash and grab raid. The fundraising commenced, while wrangling and temporary displays rumbled on through the winter. The BBC obviously had a wobble and called it the Brownhills Hoard for a time, but like the Cinderella town that we are, Brownhills went largely unheralded in the affair. The fact is, the semi-buried gold found a local treasure hunter in the ancient parent parish of Ogley Hay at Warrenhouse, mere yards over the county boundary. Brownhills remains a largely bemused observer in a media circus that seems destined to rumble on inexorably for some years to come.
Brownhills: undiscovered by what was found.
I mention the subject now only because there’s something going on at the periphery of all the discussion about the hoard that’s beginning to really, really annoy me. As I understand the matter, one of the things that’s most perplexing about the find is the location where it was discovered. We don’t have a huge historical record here. There have been no other finds even remotely like it locally, and there’s very little knowledge of this area during the period when the treasure would have been abandoned. Upon this matter, there have been thousands of good-natured pub debates, internet forum chats and lofty, learned exchanges. The fact is, that as of now, we know very little about these artefacts, and that’s part of their mystique. I’m sure that when the academics, historians and assorted beard strokers have pondered over them at length, so they will open up a new vista on our historical record, but right now, they are history’s mystery.
The lack of hard factual information was always going to encourage wild speculation, which generally has been good natured and entertaining. After all, amateur enthusiasts have as much right to speculate about our collective history as any stripy-jumpered corduroy-clad professor. It’s just that, well, there’s an edge developing to some of it that, to not put too fin a point on it, is doing my head in. I first started to notice this phenomena in the comment sections of The Lichfield Blog. Take the example below, from the item ‘Staffordshire Hoard site near Lichfield to be investigated again‘…
From the comment section of the Lichfield Blog post 'Staffordshire Hoard site near Lichfield to be investigated again'
After receiving a little light ribbing from Freddy, Jean posted again next day:
From the comment section of the Lichfield Blog post 'Website reveals Anglo-Saxon treasures found by Burntwood man'
I’m fully aware that there is going to be all manner of wild speculation, but there’s just something about that exchange that really troubles me. I can’t quite put my finger on it – although we can dismiss it as the work of an eccentric, there’s real conviction there and a self belief that I find quite alarming. Further, a remarkable letter recently appeared in the Walsall Chronicle, sister freesheet to the Express & Star.
From the Walsall Chronicle letters page, 22nd April 2010.
I’m certainly no historian, and definitely have no knowledge of the hoard, but here we go again – there’s that blindly confident statement-of-fact that no true historian would dare tenure. There’s an absolute, utter self conviction that I find by turns surprising and slightly unsettling. In all my time, the one thing I’ve really learned about people who genuinely know their subject is that they rarely state their their beliefs as absolute fact. There’s some remarkable statements in that letter, seemingly pulled out of the air at random. But why?
I spotted a further example of a more indignant form of historical revisionism on the website of the Walsall Advertiser. In response to a letter arguing the case for the hoard to stay local, reader ‘slote’ opined the following:
From the 'Walsall Advertiser' website - This is Walsall Online - 16th April 2010.
The fact is, that although there are indeed historical remnants in the area – Castlefort and the like – the rest is pure conjecture. The rumours about the Royal being buried on Grove Hill were around 50 years ago, and there’s nothing more than folklore to say that anything was ever found there. Burial mounds, barrows and tumuli dot the British landscape, and at the time of the (relatively late) construction of Brownhills, they like most antiquity, wasn’t of anything other than peripheral interest. Had bones been found, they would most likely have been discarded. The only record I’m aware of of confirmed burial mounds was actually near Catshill Junction, round about where Waine House stood, and would certainly have been obliterated in the construction of the canal or town gasworks, just as Knave’s Castle and Castlefort itself were largely erased by housing development. History of that kind just wasn’t important. The earth mounds that gave Brownhills it’s name were caused by bottlepits, not burials. Further, the hoard was a long way from Shire Oak Hill; there’s the considerable mass of Springhill between the two.
I don’t have any problem at all with healthy debate about the hoard, it’s an intriguing mystery that will delight and entertain for many years to come – but there seems to be a desire to bend or even invent history to fill in the blanks we just don’t know. I fear that the history of the area – sparse as it is – may well become corrupted in the process of trying to rationalise the find and it’s placement. What does worry me is the blind statement of conjecture as fact, by people who in some cases would make better novelists than historians.
There was gold in them thar hills...
There is another type of fantasy surrounding the treasure that I find equally disturbing. I know I’m not going to be popular for saying this, but I’m afraid that some of those who believe that Brownhills – or, by extension, Walsall – can house the hoard are as deluded as those who propagate these curious histories. There have been many opinions expressed, from very worthy and community spirited people, who seem to think that we could somehow build a museum, staff it and just wait for the tourists and cash to come rolling in. An example that particularly caught my eye was a letter sent to several outlets by local community activist Doug Birch, which generated the comment above. In it, Doug opines that we should somehow display the hoard in Brownhills, and with it would come untold riches like a workable railway and restored canal. Now I’d love to share in this vision of a Saxon powered rebirth, I really would, but we have neither the money, the skill or the facilities to entertain the crowds that would surely flock to the attraction. The only way such a project could practically be funded would be to charge a huge entry fee – which could well alienate those who have already donated handsomely to the fund to keep the hoard as public commonwealth. Should we attract hordes to the hoard, they would surely have to drive, as public transport here is largely unworkable from any major route centre. The consequent increase in traffic and resultant gridlock would doubtlessly please the town residents, whose transport package involving a proposed bypass – slated to cut through the field where the discovery was made – has been abandoned by a penniless, inept council. When the intrepid treasure hunters have had their fill, where then? We have no decent shops, few decent bars and we are ill-equipped to deal with any kind of daytripper influx. In short, they’d come, visit the museum, and drive off. Just as they do for the miner – anyone with a camera about their person soon learns not to stand around in Brownhills for too long, the urge for free treasure runs deep among the yoot.
Walsall Council has neither the expertise, nor the cash, to do the Saxon gold justice. There’s a world of difference between art – as in the rightly prized Garman Ryan collection, and the kind of priceless relics we’re dealing with here. The security alone would be a major undertaking, let alone the cost of staff and materials to interpret the exhibits. I’d also feel some disquiet about trusting our financially embarrassed burghers with such valuable artefacts, perpetually worried that they may be swapped for a patch of land in Harden, or sold subject to PFI in a doomed Fujitsu deal. This placed me in the alien position of actually agreeing with Walsall Council leader Mike Bird – a state of affairs that resulted in having to take several showers, the dirty feeling still not quite having deserted me.
The only real solution is, I’m very much afraid, Birmingham. The city’s Museum and Art Gallery has vast experience with this kind of exhibition. There would be easy access for the public, and for academics with three universities in close proximity. Moreover, there is plenty for visitors to actually do in Birmingham.
Unfortunately, like those believing in spurious histories, I fear the delusions will continue for some time to come.
Tissington Trail, Hartington Nether Quarter, Derbyshire. 3.42pm, Saturday, 15th May 2010.
Jacobs ewe and young lambs, Near Clifton, Derbyshire. 1:40pm, Saturday, 15h May 2010.
Hopwas Wood Bridge, Hopwas, Staffordshire. 4:52pm, Sunday, 2nd May 2010.
Former Mill, Bradbourne, Derbyshire. 5:35pm, Saturday, 15th May 2010.
Cherry blossom time, Whittington, Staffordshire. 1:45pm, Saturday, 8th May 2010.
What's up, cock? Snelston Common, Derbyshire. 15:59pm, Saturday, 15th May 2010.
Tissington Trail, Alsop en le Dale, Derbyshire. 2:42pm, Saturday, 15th May 2010.
Snelston Church from Ashton Close, Derbyshire. 1:16pm, Saturday, 15th May 2010.
In the interests of fairness, and due to the fact that many households in the area (like mine) have not been deemed suitable for inclusion in the leaflet drop regarding the new Tesco development in Brownhills, I’ve now obtained a copy to include here. It consists of a single glossy sheet of fairly heavy gauge, A4 sized paper. I’ve posted the scans of both sides of it below, just click the images to see a larger version. I’m not going to comment on the content yet, I just present this for information purposes only. I send my gratitude to the community-spirited reader who supplied it.
Front of sheet.
Back of sheet.
Brownhills isn't often this beautiful, but I love it anyway.
I’ve been debating whether to mention this or not, but I guess I ought to really, The Brownhills Blog was a year old last week. To be perfectly honest, I’m quite surprised it survived the first couple of months, and totally bewildered that it’s still going today. I’ve delved into the genesis of this rambling pile on several occasions here, but when I started, I really had no idea what I was doing. There was tons of stuff I wanted to write about – from rants at local government to local history, musings on the countryside around to to grumbles about the media. The problem was, I didn’t know how to write about any of it, and I know only slightly more now.
The first post was unleashed here on WordPress on the 2nd May 2009 – it was a plug for a piece I’d liked on Political Penguin’s blog. I didn’t unleash a proper post until the 4th May, when I blogged some ride photos. I gradually wrote other posts, and by the 7th May, I’d plucked up enough courage to start ranting. In the process, although I’m not sure of the chronology, I variously discovered other local blogs – The Lichfield Blog, Stymaster’s Pigblog, The Bloxidge Tallygraph – and then I found The YamYam. Without the support of fellow bloggers, my efforts would definitely have faltered at the first hurdle. Stymaster in particular has provided constant support, inspiration, contribution and debate. The Lichfield Blog introduced me to the hyperlocal scene – and, although I hate the term, I was soon to explore a world of people creating news and opinion for themselves in their own communities. I was hooked.
I owe more to Mark Blackstock and his fabulous Walsall news site The YamYam than to any other single element. Mark has relentlessly plugged the local blogs, putting our stories up alongside those of mainstream, conventional media with equal weight. A huge number of people have come to my work through The YamYam, and I use it daily to find stories, find opinion, and just find out whats going on locally. Mark compiles his site with wit, care and deft judgement. I’ll always appreciate his part in this. I would only have had a fraction of the current 48,000+ hits without his unwavering support. If yo’re from Walsall and don’t have The YamYam in your favourites list, then you’re missing out.
In the twelve months since I commenced, I’ve posted 221 articles, and received over 400 user comments. I’ve generated a small amount of controversy, had a few jousts with conventional media, irritated a few people but on the whole, I’ve tried to write about stuff that I’m interested in, and that I feel strongly about. I’ve learned huge amounts about local history – and for those who have answered queries, proposed questions or shot the breeze, I have nothing but gratitude. You guys make it worthwhile. Together, we’ve delved into, and recorded the subterranean history of a now lost, abandoned reservoir, rediscovered a quiet peace garden, located pictures of a long-gone butchers shop. We’ve shared in memories of closed garages, barbers, fish shops and demolished houses. We found the real, rather sad story behind a man barricaded into his house, looked into the polluted past of Clayhanger and tried to find the owner of a classic american car. We observed that councils never really change, that large copper carp don’t fall in straight lines and that cycling coppers ain’t what they used to be. I personally have learned that illegal scramblers and graffiti kids are thicker than you’d ever imagine.
One of the things I was worried about in the early days of the blog was running out of steam and subject matter. I’d say I’ve only written 50% of the articles I planned to when I started. I still have those to write – as well as loads more that have occurred to me since. Right now, my only problem with the blog is having the time to write and compile the kind of articles you the readers like.
Whilst partaking in this adventure, I’ve got into the world of Twitter and the local online community. There is a constant background thrum of continual conversation, humour and warmth going on there. To all I’ve laughed with, sparred with or chatted to, I thank you for your support and warm hand of friendship. I’d like to particularly thank @stevieboy378, who’s made lots of great contributions here, and @danslee who’s not half bad for a press officer.
There’s loads of stuff coming up for the Brownhills Blog. There will, I’m sure, be the now customary mix of rants, local history, planning discussions and photos I’ve taken while out and about. I’ve got some articles planned about some surprisingly obscure bits of local history. I promise that I’ll keep doing this as long as you readers remain as involved and enthusiastic as you are now. You contributions are always welcome and I’m prepared to post up anything here that may be of interest to locals – be it history, opinion, events or shared media. That’s what this blog is here for.
I guess what I’m really trying to say is, well, thanks, it’s been real fun so far and I’m hoping for loads more to come. You’re wonderful.
Hi Folks
I hear that leaflets are being distributed about the new Tesco development plan for Brownhills. I haven’t seen one yet, so if anyone has one and can scan it or send me a photo, could you please contact me. Thanks for your assistance in this matter.
The email address is brownhillsbob at googlemail dot com, twitter as @brownhillsbob or Facebook as BobBrownhills.
Cheers
Bob
I notice during recent travels, that a couple of local, formerly derelict buildings seem to be under new ownership and renovation seems to be the order of the day. I don’t know anything about either site, and would welcome any information to share with readers of the Brownhills Blog.
The pub formerly known as 'The Trooper' - closed and boarded up for a long time, now renovated. 4:28pm, Saturday, 8th May 2010.
The pub in the little village of Wall, ‘The Trooper’, has been boarded up since Christmas, the second period of abandonment in it’s recent history. Once a popular locals’ boozer, it underwent a series of transitions in the last 20 years that insensitively removed the homely, intimate bar and converted the pub almost totally into a restaurant. Sadly, it has never seemed to find success since, and it looked like a forlorn, derelict future was in store. Like many pubs in the area, it’s remote location and the general decline of the licensed trade seem to have finished it off for good. This large building, within sizeable grounds, appears to have now been sold. I noted yesterday that the boards had gone, and the exterior had been well decorated. There’s very little evidence to suggest the planned use, but I suspect it won’t be a pub. It’s a handsome house with a fascinating roofline, a landmark across the plain to the south for some miles. It’s nice to see such a significant building entering a new phase, with owners who care for it. I wish them well.
Highfields Farm, Chasewater. 4:51pm, Friday, 7th May 2010.
I’ve noticed activity at the old Highfields Farm, near Chasewater, on several occasions recently. The yard has been cleared of rubbish, the buildings and driveway secured, and often vehicles and workmen seem to be milling around. I can’t find any planning applications for the site, so I have no idea what may be intended for the old farm. If you have any information, please feel free to contribute.
Since I seem to be having a tad of a catch-up today, I thought I’d share some interesting bits I’d noticed from the old maps I shared with readers last week. In idle moments I’ve been perusing them quite closely, and I’ve noticed some intriguing things.
From 1948 Sheet SK00
Here, at what is now Castlefort, on the Walsall Wood – Aldridge border, the ancient hill fort looks far more intact than today. What interests me in particular are the two areas designated ‘Castle Gate’ (where Holly Lane joins Castlehill Road) and ‘Woodcote’. Reader [Howmuch] remembers reading that the lane here was once a tollway or gated road. Wasn’t one of the late 80’s housing developments here initially called Castle Gate, or am I imagining things? Notice also that in the North East of the map, the edge of the name ‘Upper Stonnall’ is partially visible. When marketing the new houses I mentioned, the marketeers, to much local derision, claimed their development to be in ‘Upper Stonnall’, a term that had fallen out of use years previously.
From 1948 sheet SK10
The road system has changed hugely around the Roman settlement at Wall, or Letocetum, to give the hamlet it’s older name. The old A5 Watling Street, prior to the dual carriageway upgrade and realignment, was the road that came through Wall village itself past the Trooper pub. If you scan to the very western edge of 1948 sheet SK00, following the path of the old A5, note that the map records ‘Roman Coins Found’ which I’ve never seen on a map before. If you’re interested, that’s the field on the corner of Ashcroft Lane crossroads, bound by the village and the new A5.
From 1951 sheet SK00
Here, at Anglesey Bridge (sometimes now apparently incorrectly called ‘Middleton Bridge’ – advice welcomed, please) there was an old quarry just over the Lichfield Road. This later became Sandfields caravan park, whose former origins can be observed by the hollow it sits in when viewed from the canal. On the southern side of the road, where Grasmere Garden Centre stands today, a short tramway existed to carry sand and spoil to the basin at the former canal junction, presumably for barge loading. It’s shown on both 1948 and 1951 maps, and I’d be interested if anyone remembers it existing, and if so, what powered it? It’s recorded also on 1902 maps of the area, but due to the curious way these maps were assembled it’s perfectly possible that it had long since gone by the time they were published.
If you spot anything of interest, please share it here. Cheers.
A fascinating, grim article in The Guardian newspaper by Anna Minton. Recommended reading for anyone interested in the way Brownhills is being carved up for the retail behemoth.
‘This town has been sold to Tesco’ – Are towns built by the UK’s leading supermarket the future of urban development?
I’ll be returning to the subject of our retail future in a post later this week. Thanks for your contributions, and it’s interesting to note that the Monday after I posted about the new Tesco development, the Express & Star picked up on the story (Hmmmm….) and my post does rather seem to have caught Walsall Council, Tesco and the local press on the hop. It seems odd somehow, that one of my articles seems to have apparently set the tone of the debate.
The brilliant RachelCreative take on the importance of voting. It's *our* right. Do it.
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll have noticed that there’s an election afoot today. Actually, there’s two; both parliamentary and local council elections are being held to decide both national and local government. Who we elect today will have a profound effect on our lives for some time to come, so it’s worth taking time out to vote.
I was reminded to post this today after seeing the above cartoon by the wonderfully talented @RachelCreative, Lichfeldian local artist and top tweeter. Check out her blog and online Folksy shop when you’ve got five.
I’m not about to suggest who anyone should vote for. I don’t actually care what your political preference may be – all I urge you to do is to exercise your democratic right and help to shape the future of both your country and town. Some may scoff, but people died in order that we may take part in the democratic process, one that is denied so many of the world’s population. Our democracy and political scene are not perfect by any stretch of the imagination, but it’s the best we’ve tried so far and has provided years of relative stability for both us and our forbears. If we want things to change, we have to involve ourselves.
To those who suggest that voting doesn’t change anything, or that not voting is a legitimate form of protest, I say this: your vote matters. It matters that we engage with the system. It matters that we register our position. How can one possibly complain about the outcome of a process if we do not participate in it? Another canard is that all the candidates are the same. They are not, and to claim as much is just lazy thinking.
At a local level, think about the candidate you’re voting for – have they been good to you before? Have they supported causes you feel strongly about? Have they been available for your consultation and ready to help? I honestly think that such factors are more important that party loyalty. Walsall has had good councillors and bad, right across the political spectrum. What matters is that they care.
You can catch up on the local and national elections over at the indispensable YamYam, whose coverage has been, and remains stellar. Don’t forget to follow @walsallcouncil on Twatter or Facebook, where a doubtless tired and bleary Dan Slee will be endeavouring to provide you with up to the minute info.
Maps provide a strong, almost incontestable record of the physical history of a place. They show us what came, what went, what was gained, and what was lost. Here in Britain, we have one of the best provisioners of cartography in the whole world – The Ordnance Survey. For centuries now, surveyors, geographers and draftsmen have prepared some of the most accurate, comprehensive and artistic mapping ever prepared.
My love of history goes hand in hand with my love of maps. Maps are not just the promise of where one plans to go – the echo of the small lad sprawled on the sitting room floor with maps scattered all around is still with me today – but they are snapshots of the past. The first map I had was a tattered 1:5000 1947 series map of Lichfield and Derby, in that classic style set by the 1925 new popular series. Effectively drafted by hand, the coloured roads, grey urban areas, elegant script and mystical symbols provided a window for me into a place that didn’t really exist anymore. I was hooked. Although the original has long since disintegrated, I still have a copy of that map.
1948 sheet SK00 - Check out the number and position of mines around Chasewater.
Since the evolution of digital mapping and the internet, all this stuff has become loads more exciting. Google Earth provides a fantastic landscape one could never hope to explore previously. Programs like Memory Map and the like allow the browsing of all kinds of map – including OS maps – at the click of a mouse. Integration with GPS devices enable the recording of tracks, the locating of hidden features and real-time recording of landscape.
I regularly trawl auction sites and the like for interesting maps. Recently, I came upon a map I’d not previously suspected the existence of, a two and a half inch scale, 1947 map of Brownhills on eBay. Due to a bidding cockup, I lost it, but it gave me something new to search for. I then found David Archer, from whose site I found out how that particular series worked, so I emailed David to see what he’d got. To my delight, he had both the 1947 and 1951 editions of the map in question and the adjacent sheet to the east that covers most of Lichfied and Shenstone, and for a really good price, to boot.
1948 sheet SK00 in Google Earth. It records the Barracks Lane Isolation Hospital, and suggests it was actually the house to the rear of the site. By 1951, the record had been removed.
The maps arrived very quickly, and I wasted no time in sharing a section with the readers, many of whom I know to be as map-obsessed as myself. The next step was to try making Google Earth overlays from them, but efforts with a home scanner were pathetic. A desperate, last-ditch enquiry on Twatter on Saturday pointed me to a local large-format scanning bureaux, who scanned the maps to enormous .PDF files for me. Thanks go to Stevieboy378 and The Edditer for their help. I’ve since postprocessed them and the results can be downloaded below. There are two options: JPG files, which stand alone, and Google Earth overlays, which can be loaded over each other and faded over satellite imagery to see how things compare. A guide to using them can be found in my previous post dealing with image overlays.
Comparing the two map series – which seem very close chronologically – is wonderfully illuminating. The dataset for the 1948 series was already years old when they were drafted, and the revisions in the 1951 series really show how the area was developing. Look for the coal mines, railways, and housing estates. Notice how road systems – particularly in South Lichfield and Wall – have changed. Look at Clayhanger between the two sheets.
Remember that these are scanned from used paper originals that are over 50 years old. There’s some distortion of the paper, and some positional inaccuracy I can’t pull out when overlaying them. Even still, they’re remarkably accurate.
Map SK00, 1948 – Brownhills and surrounding area – JPG image
Map SK00, 1951 – Brownhills and surrounding area – JPG image
Map SK10, 1948 – Lichfield and Shenstone area – JPG image
Map SK00, 1951 – Lichfield and Shenstone area – JPG image
Map SK00, 1948 – Brownhills and surrounding area – Google Earth overlay
Map SK00, 1951 – Brownhills and surrounding area – Google Earth overlay
Map SK10, 1948 – Lichfield and Shenstone area – Google Earth overlay
(Edited 6th May 2010, 11:40pm – The above file didn’t work properly, and has now been fixed)
Map SK10, 1951 – Lichfield and Shenstone area – Google Earth overlay
Whilst mooching back from work today, I noticed a planning application tied to a lamppost in Silver Street, Brownhills. Reading it, I note it’s for a new Tesco development in Brownhills town centre. I haven’t had time to go through it in detail yet – the application (reference 10/0375/FL) was submitted on the 31st March 2010, and is listed as being valid from 21st April 2010. The site notice I observed was dated the 27th April. This must all come as a bit of a surprise to Walsall Council, who are acting like no design or application has been finalised.
The proposal – which will indeed come as a shock to some, including the self-basting member for regeneration, Councillor Adrian Andrew – involves the complete demolition of Ravens Court (bit of a waste of new cladding there), the Senior Citizens centre and existing store, which will largely be replaced by car parking. Only three new shop units will apparently be built on the High Street, with a small area marked as ‘public realm’ which is noted could possibly hold a relocated market. This space is the fenced-off wasteland that currently languishes unloved next to Kwik-Fit. All this is a bit different to the development previously consulted on back in 2008, where there was lofty talk of a store on stilts, atria and housing. Note that the shabby southern arm of Ravens Court, housing Downes Newsagents and Greggs, would remain.
I’ll go into this in more detail over the weekend, when I’ve had chance to peruse the plans thoroughly, but this is the future for Brownhills. Walsall Council are broke, have no plan, and will welcome the Tesco dollar with open arms. As can be seen from recent articles emanating from the throbbing hive-mind of WMBC’s press office, Adrian Andrew clearly doesn’t have a clue about our town, as the mess that was the demise and doomed rebirth of the market show. Recently, he laughingly claimed the town to be ‘Vibrant’, which surely indicates that he doesn’t attempt to shop here regularly. Like it or not, this is what will be built, and expect the council to just roll over an accept what their retail masters demand.
I’m intrigued as to the municipal silence about this significant plan for Brownhills. Normally, Walsall would be shouting this kind of thing from the rooftops. It’s certainly a potentially problematic issue – the two Tory and One Labour councillors in the town may well come under pressure, particularly Labour member Barbara Cassidy who is vehement in her defence of the residents of the new ‘Luxury David Wilson housing development’. She campaigned vociferously against the proposed leisure development off Silver Street – whose site still remains empty – even though it was promised to the town in return for allowing the Watermead Estate to be built. Quite what the luxury residents will make of the prospect of several years of noisy, dirty reconstruction, resulting in being overshadowed by a huge new Tesco Extra, remains to be seen. I suspect prescriptions for blood pressure medication will increase significantly in the area, mainly to the political classes.
I expect that the council are holding back until after the election. It’s now quite clear – against my previous feelings – that the market was euthanised for Tesco (the YamYam was right about that), and the retail conglomerate clearly didn’t deliver as anticipated, leaving the council in a tight corner. It certainly makes the announcement from Adrian Andrew, via a press release last June, that ‘…there is categorically no link between Brownhills market and the Tesco development.’ look mendacious and not a little economical with the actualité. It’ll be interesting to see where this goes, but don’t expect anything quickly. This will take two years or more, and we’re in for interesting times.
Welcome to your future - soon Tesco will own all our arses. From planning documents submitted to Walsall Council.
The following links connect to documentation supplied with the Tesco application, available to the public from Walsall Council’s ‘Planning Interactive’ site. They’re all .PDF files, so you’ll need Adobe Reader.
Application Forms Design And Access Statement Existing And Proposed Site Sections Location Plan Planning And Retail Statement Proposed Elevations Proposed Roof Plan Proposed Site Plan Proposed Store Plan Statement of Community Involvement Transport AssessmentGraham Evans of Chasewater Wildlife Group has pointed out to me that Lichfield District Council last year published a voluntary code of conduct for dog walkers at the park. In the light of recent events, he thought (as do I) that it’s a good idea to link to it here. It was initially issued in response to the apparent killing of a swan by out of control dogs last year, and although I think it’s probably pitched a bit too high for those generally causing the problems (You need to be able to read, for starters…) it’s always worth pointing up.
Dog Walking in CHasewater Country Park – a guide by LDC
Coupled with this, there has recently been issued a map of alternate walking and cycling routes through the park during the dam works. Click here to download a handy, print and keep .PDF version of the plan.
Alternate access routes during the Chasewater dam works.
Lichfield District Council issued the following notes with the map:
Blue lines: Footpath (no cyclists please – as these routes run through protected heathland – thanks for your understanding)
Red lines: Cycle and footpath
Green lines: If you are cycling on the red route, can you please dismount on the green bits – this will help us to protect fragile heathland habitat on the Anglesey Basin SSSI.
Also published on the fascinating Chasewater Dam Blog, the official blog of the improvement project, the indefatigable Lizzie Thatcher has posted plans of the work to be undertaken, which, to map nerds like me, are fascinating.
Proposed safety works (.PDF file)
Site plan (.PDF file)
It’s worth keeping an eye on the Dam Blog, as there’s plenty of discussion going on and Lizzie is doing a cracking job of keeping everyone informed, often in the face of no little unpleasantness.
Loathe as I am to pump out recycled press releases, especially when they’ve already been featured on The YamYam, but tonight I’ve been reminded of this event by the press office at Walsall Council. Since it concerns Brownhills local history, and is being staged by the top class historical operatives from the Local History Centre in Walsall, what’s not to love?
If you don’t already know about the Local History Centre, it’s in Essex Street in Walsall, and is a prime example of the high quality of Walsall’s Library and Museum Services. I’ve spent quite some time in there over the years and the staff are helpful, knowledgeable and patient. Full research facilities are available, including internet services, and best of all, it’s free. To anyone remotely interested in the history of this place we call home I suggest you get yourselves over there; you’ll not regret it.
Walsall Council PR 4915 27/04/2010 [For Immediate Release]
‘Make history’ at Brownhills Library event
Brownhills residents are being invited to ‘make history’ by bringing their old photographs to a special drop-in scanning session at Brownhills Library on Wednesday 5 May 2010.
The event follows a successful internet taster session laid on by staff from Walsall Local History Centre in April, where an enthusiastic group of local folk were shown how to discover their photographic heritage online via the Centre’s photographic website ‘Walsall – A Click in Time’.
The ‘Make Brownhills History’ scanning session takes place on Wednesday 5 May from 10am to 12pm.
It is hoped that residents will be encouraged by this latest session to dig out their treasured photographic heirlooms showing street scenes of the town and other local centres as well as aspects of life and work in the area.
During the session at Brownhills Library, pictures will be digitally preserved and added to the Borough Archives at the Centre in Essex Street, Walsall.
Booking is not required for the ‘Make Brownhills History’ session – just drop in with your old photos!
Ruth Vyse, Local History Centre manager said: “The event in April was a resounding success and we hope that this next session at Brownhills Library will likewise draw an enthusiastic crowd.”
To find out more simply call Brownhills Library on 01922 650730.
An example of a fine old Brownhills photo - which I feel sure will be of particular interest to at least one reader. Taken from Jan Farrow's excellent book 'Brownhills and Walsall Wood ion old picture postcards'
This weekend, I’ve received some great old maps from a map dealer I’ve discovered online. I haven’t got time to do the full thing here yet, but I thought I’d preview an excerpt here from a 1951 1:25000 scale map of Brownhills. If you’re into maps, this is pure art. Click on the map for a larger version – I’m going to have some fun with these.
I’ve been contacted by reader Gloria Wigley who left a couple of comments over the weekend about the incident with the horses stuck in the mud at Chasewater. Gloria commented on that post and subsequently on the first post I made about the matter. Gloria is mother and grandmother to the horse riders involved, and felt that I was being somewhat unfair in my coverage. When I wrote the articles in question, I was careful to avoid referencing the cause or responsibility in the matter as I wasn’t there and was taking reports from Chasewater Wildlife Group, who didn’t see how the horses came to be stuck, either. Since I didn’t know the genesis of these unpleasant events, I was careful to avoid apportioning blame.
Gloria has pointed out that the horses were apparently scared by a dog whilst over by the rugby club, and apparently bolted, shedding their riders, only to become entrapped in the mud in an effort to escape. Gloria states in her comments and correspondence that the police are actively investigating, and that the dog owner in question was unconcerned and didn’t stop to help. Gloria had this to say:
Hi Bob
Many thanks for your reply on my comments on the subject of the horses.I did as you said and read the note you put on again and I can see that you did not exactly say it was the fault of the horseowner although she felt it was aimed at her. The horses as I said were actually by the Rugby Club until a man loosed his vicious dog of the lead and it attacked my grandaughters pony which made all 3 horses bolt and head for the mud.
I did contact the Express and Star and they put a warning in the paper about the mud.I also contacted Chasewater Country Park manager to ask for more visual danger signs and for some form of fencing around these areas of mud.They informed me that they would be getting health and safety to look at it.So far nothing seems to have been done.
I also feel dogs should be kept on leads because of this mud.My husband has lived by Chasewater all his life and he is 66 and knows how deep this mud can be.I sent another comment on your blog this morning because I did not think you had received the first one.This was mainly to thank all those who helped my daughter and the children.The man with the dog however did not even stop to see if anyone was injured.
I hope you can get it across just how dangerous this black mud is.
Regards Gloria Wigley
I will state here and now that the mud is deadly, and will continue to be so for a long time to come. Anyone venturing onto it, or causing others to do so, is worthy only of contempt. There are clear warnings posted all round the park. I reproduced the pictures – as did Chasewater Wildlife Group – in an effort to try to prevent such situations from recurring, and I will make no apologies for using strong language in my condemnation for those that recklessly dice with safety, be it theirs or that of other park users.
Out of control dogs is an ongoing problem at Chasewater, and such animals have been responsible for the killing of birds and other nuisance for quite a while now. I suspect these regrettable incidents will continue as long as it remains fashionable to posses an animal with greater mental capacity than yourself. I urge any dog owners to take care.
If you witnessed the events discussed here, please do contact the police, or alternatively, comment or contact me and I’ll pass the information on. I’m sure all information will be gratefully received. Brownhillsbob at googlemail dot com.
I thank Gloria for her comment and contribution, and hope all involved are recovering well.
This mud is deep and deadly. Take care.
Today, 23rd April 2010, is, as I’m sure you’re aware, Saint George’s day. Now I’ve always felt that it has never really been in the nature of the English or by extension, the British, to wave flags and do the public patriotism thing. It’s just not our way – traditionally, we Brits have generally been an understated bunch. In recent years, it seems there’s a movement toward a more public celebration of nationality and Englishness, which I welcome. It’s good to see Saint George reclaimed from the extremists and those that strive to divide, and placed securely back in the hands of the ordinary people.
What readers may not realise is that the day following, Saturday 24th April 2010, is the 78th anniversary of the Mass Trespass on Kinder Scout, in Derbyshire’s Peak District. This momentous event – little mentioned outside the circles of ramblers and lovers of the great British outdoors – was a catalyst and key trigger to giving the ordinary British citizen access to the common wealth of countryside we all share. For that which we now have a legal right to explore and enjoy, back in 1932, those pioneers were assaulted and later jailed for nothing more than wanting to share the best that their country had to offer, with those who saw the landscape as their own private playground. To those trespassers – and the subsequent millions of walkers, artists, cyclists, twitchers, fell runners, photographers, geocachers, botanists and all-round enthusiasts for our unique land who have marvelled at the wonders of the country around them – you are the spirit of England and the United Kingdom.
Is there anywhere finer? Staffordshire's Roaches, from Morridge, Saturday, 15th September 2007.
My feelings about England and all that Saint George stuff have been wonderfully summed up by a song I first heard on the ‘A Quiet Eye’ album by June Tabor. Written by Maggie Holland, June does an excellent job of covering this song, full of incisive, but affectionate sentiment about our shared heritage. It’s not the first time I’ve dipped into the work of June Tabor for a blog post, nor indeed this album. If you like it, please do hunt it down.
Remember that many of the rights we take for granted today were obtained through the selfless sacrifice of others. Beware of anybody who clings to the national flag and preaches division. We’ve always seen the best of times when we stand together. I think Maggie Holland summed it up in the line, ‘England is not flag or Empire, it is not money it is not blood. It’s limestone gorge and granite fell, It’s Wealden clay and Severn mud.’
Best wishes to all, and happy Saint George’s day.
(Sadly, June Tabor’s version is no longer available on youtube, but this version – by Simon Jackson – joyous)
A Place Called EnglandSunday last, I chanced upon the Chasewater Vintage & Classic Transport Show. I say ‘chanced upon’, as I had no idea it was taking place, and like many other visitors to the country park that day, the event’s occurrence was a wonderful, serendipitous discovery. For just one day, the south shore of the rapidly disappearing reservoir was host to a free display of the most fascinating classic vehicles one could imagine – from the usual vintage cars, to more recent forgotten runabouts, steam engines, lorries, military trucks, motorbikes and even a few tractors and stationary engines. All in aid of the Midlands Air Ambulance charity. What’s not to love?
It was nice to see Chasewater packed with visitors, enjoying a well managed, engaging family event. I found the show in exactly the same manner the year before, and I must confess that the only thing lacking about this great local rally was the publicity. Few people I spoke to had any previous notion of its existence – while there had been some plugging in the Staffordshire press, there was nothing I could find in the papers and freesheets delivered around Brownhills. i didn’t spot a single local poster in the run-up, either. This was such a fantastic show that more people should be aware of it; I do hope the organisers let their southern neighbours in on the secret next year. I’d happily post details here if desired.
Congratulations to all concerned on a great afternoon – but please do advertise your event a bit more next year. I’d hate to miss it.
Those of you who are interested in my cycling activities will be aware that I’ve taken to twattering my long weekend rides. I first tried tweeting a journey at Christmas, when I undertook a century up to Parsley Hay via Ashbourne; then I tweeted and blogged my next 100 mile plus dayride in the post ‘Darkness has reached its end’. Due to a request from a certain polymeric hippo of this parish, who followed my latest ride via the medium of Twatter and Twitpic, you can peruse the route I took on Saturday 17th April over at Bikely.com by clicking on the outline map below. As ever, I’ve trimmed the route short and chopped out a couple of bits for anonymity.
Click on the image to see the full map at Bikely, the excellent route mapping service.
Rising slowly. Wootton. 1:07pm, Saturday 17th April 2010.
One of my favourite places in Staffordshire is the Weaver Hills – a small but rugged range to the west of Ashbourne, that stand on the border between the softly undulating countryside of the midcounty and the harsher, more rugged Moorlands landscape. I especially like this area in springtime – when the daffodils and cowslips come, when there are neon-green shoots in the hedgerows and young lambs in the fields. On this, my first visit of the year, I headed to my usual start point of Sudbury, straight up the A515. The sun was warm and the wind low as I left the main drag, through Sudbury village and up though Somersal Herbert to Marston Montgomery. Welcome to West Derbyshire, where villages sound like old Motown singers. Dropping down from the Roston Common ridge, I headed across the Dove at Norbury and Ellastone, re-entering Staffordshire. From here, the climb over the Weavers takes in the charming village of Wootton and then the climb intensifies to the summit.
Tea and cake. That's two of the main food groups covered.
After the customary flask of Earl Grey on the ridge, taken whilst surveying the view, I dropped over the north side of the Weavers through industrial Cauldon Low. The cement works and quarry here are an apposite reminder that even in the Peak District, commerce must exist hand-in-hand with nature. I went on to join the venerable, and now ageing, Manifold Valley Trail at Waterhouses. I followed the track to its’ conclusion at Hulme end, stopping to take tea and cake at Wetton Mill. From Hulme End, I nipped up through Hartington and onto the Tissington, then High Peak trails. Returning homeward from Middleton Top, I chose a route east of Carsington Water, taking in Kirk Ireton, Mercaston, Sutton-on-the-Hill, Tutbury, Barton And Lichfield.
The weather was fantastic, and the cycling good. The trail kiosk at Hartington (the former signalbox) is now selling the most fantastic local ice cream. The total ride distance before editing was 116 miles, and amounted to near enough 1800 meters of climb. The trails were very busy indeed, and it was a real joy to see plenty of families out enjoying cycling in a variety of forms – from groups, to toddlers in trailers – even a few tandems. All in all, not a bad dayride.
Wetton Mill - Always busy. 2:52pm, Saturday, 17th April 2010.
Sadly, my trusty Panasonic compact camera has passed to camera heaven, so I was stuck with a less than inspiring older camera; consequently, other than the images I twattered from the phone, I didn’t take many pictures at all. By chance, at Wychnor, I decided to try and capture the remarkably red sunset over the River Trent. Mist was rising in clouds from the marshes and was catching the light beautifully. Setting the camera on timer on the bridge parapet rendered a surprisingly decent image. Some of the better pictures from the twitter stream are included in this article..
Sunset over the Trent, possibly enhanced by volcanic dust. 8:39pm, Saturday 17th April 2010.
Somewhere, in the distance. A view from the top of the Weaver Hills from last year. 6:10pm, Saturday, 2nd May 2009.
Further to my previous post about people stupidly walking onto the exposed mud at Chasewater, some pictures have been published on the Chasewater Wildlife Group’s daily diary of the incident with the horses. Since the group’s site was unfortunately down for a few days last week, Graham Evans has kindly given me permission to publish the pictures here. For those who think it’s all good fun and that we’re all being killjoys, take a look at these images. The person responsible for the plight of that horse really should be ashamed of themselves.
Graham had this to say:
‘Just how they got so deep in the silt I’m not sure… by the time I’d driven round to the Chasewater Heaths Station and walked to the end of Fly Bay the larger horse had scrambled out of the silt leaving just the smaller pony, as shown by the photos. By this time the Police hellicopter was overhead and a group of people had gathered on the shore where there was also the other child and pony. As I walked back to the car I met a chap who asked me if I’d seen 2 horses because there were 2 fire engines by the station and they didn’t know where to go to help!
The following day I photographed two adult dog walkers crossing the same area (photo attached) and the man had mud up to his waist!’
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. The mud may look harmless, but it has the potential to be deadly. Will it actually take a serious injury or worse for some people to get this into their heads? This very evening I’ve received a comment from Pablo Oplywiss, which recounts the following:
‘Went over today to walk dinner off with the family & feed the ducks – it was very busy as the Transport Show (which we weren’t aware of…) was packing up. Walked up from the main entrance to the station, & back along the original waters edge to the duck feeding bridge, to bump into an elderly couple, husband in wheelchair.
There was a shape right in the middle of the clearing, up to his waist in the silt. Just as we started spouting how much of an idiot he was, 2 St. John’s guys ran out & started same, only louder. Said idiot waded out. On telling the couple about the horses, bombs, grenades, etc, they responded: ‘Oh it’s OK – he’s our son. He’s a teacher, so he knows what he’s doing’.
Our children’s futures are safe in his hands.’
Bloody muppets.
Horse nearly submerged in sludge - Image supplied by Chasewater Wildlife Group
Horse struggles to escape mud - Image supplied by Chasewater Wildlife Group
Bedraggled, the poor beast manages to escape - Image supplied by Chasewater Wildlife Group
Not sure what these pair are up to, but there's clearly been a close encounter of the silty kind - Image supplied by Chasewater Wildlife Group
Road-rail excavator trundles down a long-abandoned line. 2:15pm, Thursday, 8th April 2010.
Last week, whilst pottering over to Chasewater, I noticed the unusual sight of heavy plant operating on the old South Staffordshire railway line. Activity was clearly taking place between the former Charringtons oil depot at Newtown, just off the A5, and over the bridge toward Hammerwich. This came as some surprise, as the track that remains between the demolished oil depot and the Cross City line at Lichfield has decayed to a somewhat parlous, overgrown condition. Although speculation continues over the prospect of the freight route reopening at some point – I’ve commented about that previously, and written an article for the Lichfield Blog about it – the remaining turnout to Newtown remains mothballed.
After some research, I’ve discovered that the old Brownhills yard, once used to store and distribute heavy fuel oil arriving by train from Cheshire, has been taken over by rail equipment hire specialists Quattro Plant. Combining the functions of depots at Rugeley and Rugby, the new site is apparently ideally sited to supply maintenance and construction equipment for rail projects throughout the midlands.
It seems I haven’t been the first to notice this intriguing development, as a search revealed the existence of a Facebook group dedicated to the restoration of the line between Walsall and Lichfield. In a post on their wall, member Rob Taylor posted the following on March 15th:
Quattro Plant Ltd RAIL DIVISION (Email)
“We are consolidating our Willenhall and Rugeley depots, and moving to the Brownhills site (the old Charrigtons oil depot).
This is planned to be complete by the end of April, with new track and points being completed.”
However, on the group’s ‘Info’ page, they state on March 25th:
***25th March 2010***
Quattro Rail Division seem to be using the line at the Anglesey Sidings, which is a start! but according to Network Rail, they shouldnt be;-
EMAIL (22/03/10)
“Regarding the line usage between Lichfield – Brownhills. I have contacted our freight Manager and out Operational Property Services Manager regarding this enquiry and both reported that they have not had any dealings with Quattro” Network Rail.
Has any reader got the full story on this? The line is technically still an operational route, even though it has been largely disused since 2003 – which is why the new overbridge was recently completed over the new Southern Bypass in Lichfield. It would seem to make sense to use the link to deliver on-track plant to the mainline efficiently and unhindered by road traffic, although the current condition of the permanent way with no signals, copious shrub growth and rotten sleepers will take an awful lot of reconstruction before it’s usable.
I do hope this small section of the former line will enter use once more. I always found it sad that after the closure of Charringtons, the oil depot was used by a road haulage company, who closed access to the line, preferring to undertake all transport by road. Such a situation said much about the lack of cohesive transport policy, not just in the midlands, but in the UK as a whole.
Dumper truck at work on track behind the houses at Newtown. 2:20pm, Thursday, 8th April 2010.
The gates to the rear of the new Quattro Depot are open, with further plant operating beyond the yard. 2:23pm, Thursday, 8th April 2010
I see the daily diary over at the wonderful Chasewater Wildlife Group site records for Tuesday (6th April 2010) that…
“…A man was seen to be tempting fate by walking in the north shore silt and had a panic when he sank to his knees.”
Further, the next day (7th April 2010), the log states that…
“Amazingly, the deep layers of silt are still attracting the attentions of the foolhardy with tonight’s episode involving 2 young horse riders and their adult leader. I first noticed the incident when 2 of the horses were up to their necks in the Fly Bay silt. The emergency services had already been notified but obviously imprecise directions resulted in three police cars and 2 fire appliances arriving at the rather distant Chasewater Heaths Station rather than the Sailing Club, whilst the Police Helicopter hovered overhead. By this time the horses had been coaxed out of their dangerous predicament and hopefully lessons have been learnt. The valve has now been re-opened and there will be ever increasing dangers in the deep layers of silt as the water levels fall.”
I sometimes wonder how, with such clearly limited common sense, it is that these people are able to get dressed in the morning. It really does beggar belief.
I myself have seen people who really should know better rooting around the mud, particularly around the pier and north shore. I can understand the fascination, but please have some thought for your safety and that of the people of the emergency services who may have to come and bail you out.
For the latest info about Chasewater and the Dam work, check out the official Chasewater Dam Blog, maintained wonderfully by Lichfield Council staffer Lizzie Thatcher (often in the face of some regrettable unpleasantness), and always keep an eye on The Chasewater Wildlife Group’s site, it really is a treasury.
The mud, whilst fascinating, can easily be deadly. Keep well away.
Social housing demolished, to be replaced by... what, exactly? Photo by Howmuch, with thanks.
Long time readers of the Brownhills Blog may well remember my article about the new social housing development, slated to replace the now demolished maisonettes on the corner of Ogley Road and High Street, Brownhills. Planned to provide high-quality housing in place of the unloved former tenements, planning permission was last year granted for the 73 new dwellings, with construction expected to start this year. The Design and Access statement submitted to Walsall Planning stated at the time:
“‘The proposals are being developed by local housing association Walsall Housing Group working in partnership with Walsall Council.”
“The new development proposals are for the provision of 73 new build affordable dwellings. They will comprise 57 No. 2B3P (2 bedroom, 3 person) flats, 4 No. 2B3P (2 bedroom, 3 person) wheelchair flats, 6No. 3B5P (3 bed, 5 person) houses, 2 No. 4B6P (4 bedroom, 6 person) houses, 2 No. 4B7P (4 bedroom, 7 person) houses and 2 No. 5B7P (5 bedroom, 7 person) houses.”
“All of the dwellings are to be affordable rented accommodation for general needs provision.”
“The mix of dwellings has been discussed and agreed with Walsall Council in advance of the application being lodged and the scheme is to be submitted to the Homes and Communities Agency with regard to achieving capital funding in the 2008/2011 bidding round.”
Passing the now cleared and fenced site today, I noticed a further planning application site notice had gone up on a lamp post in the access way in front of the plot. It detailed planning application ref. 10/0265/FL which relishes in such an unwieldy title that I’ll not repeat here. In essence, Walsall Housing Group want condition 20 of the original planning approval removed – this condition expressly stipulated that:
“The development shall be occupied, managed and retained as 100% social rent tenure unless otherwise agreed in writing.”
According to the Design and Access Statement supplied with the new application, WHG now wants to change the nature of a significant quantity of the new dwellings, 12 will now be for shared ownership and 12 will be for outright sale, leaving the remaining 49 for social rent as originally planned. They state that the reason for this change is that the Homes and Communities Agency now require, as a condition of funding, that any development must be of mixed tenure.
I don’t know enough about this kind of thing to be able to judge if the change is justified, but I do know that it will now reduce the rental capacity of what was expected to be a wholly social development by nearly a third. Considering the community has been led to believe that they’re going to get 73 newbuild WHG homes for rent, this seems a bit of a blow.
Many of the residents of Humphries House will be concerned about the change in nature of this development, as many seem to be under the impression that they will be offered accommodation in the new development in order to facilitate the crumbling tower block’s eventual demolition. I know this rumour didn’t start with WHG, and indeed, I consider that scenario to be very unlikely, but it leads one to wonder yet again, if WHG were more upfront about their intentions for Brownhills, would there be so much rumour and sigh?
Perhaps the collective hive-mind of the housing association is currently focussed on the prospective construction of their new 6.5 million pound headquarters at the overhyped Gigaport development in Walsall. After all, if they don’t move there, the council will have few takers for their developmental white elephant…
Long time gone: These buildings have been derelict for nearly as long as I can remember.
I received a fantastic email at the weekend from Fawlty, following his comment on my Panoramio picture of the sadly derelict St. John’s School and adjacent bungalow in Walsall Wood. Now living in Spain, Fawlty has some fascinating memories of Walsall Wood from his time living and working in the area. I’ve been preparing a post about these derelict buildings for well, ages, but Fawlty’s email was so wonderful, I sought his permission to share it with you immediately.
Hi Bob
I lived in the bungalow next to St John’s School between 1965 and 1967. I was born in Manchester but we moved to Shelfield in 1963 when my dad got the job of Building Works Manager at Brownhills Urban District Council.
We originally lived in one of the new council houses in Summer Lane, Shelfield, and I went to Mob Lane Secondary School. As I said, after two years we moved to the bungalow at Lichfield Road, Walsall Wood, but I remained at Mob lane School. The bungalow was owned by Brownhills UDC and was available for housing council officers. I remember my Dad converting the loft into a bedroom for me and my brother, as there were only two bedrooms originally and there were four of us kids. The bungalow had a massive back garden, which backed onto the playing fields next to Oak Park. I think it was built around 1930.
When we lived there the school house was occupied by Mr. and Mrs. Martin (he was the caretaker). I was quite friendly with their son John. The bungalow was a great home for us but not really big enough and we moved up the road to another house in Lichfield Road, Shire Oak in 1967, also owned by Brownhills UDC as an officer’s house. I can remember there was an old Jehovas Witness house in Holly Lane, with large plaques built into the frontage with religious quotations.
I lived there until I got married in 1976. My parents lived there until my Dad died in 1995.
I can remember the old workings of Walsall Wood Colliery and the station buildings. I also used to go train spotting a lot, traveling from Pelsall station to Lichfield, Burton and Derby.
I remember the shops at Streets Corner, Chaplins newsagent, Les Jacksons grocers and Bates’s on the corner. Les and Meg Jackson used to live in Streets Corner Bungalow. When Bates’s closed they knocked the shop down and built a bungalow in its place, which the Bates’s used to live in.
My Dad was in the Rotary Club at Brownhiils and my mum was in Inner Wheel. They used to go to garden parties at a big house in Clayhanger, but I can’t remember whose house it was. Other members of the Rotary Club were Sid Law, Les Jackson, Carl Millard (who used to own Collins’s, later United Carriers).
I also remember Tomlinson’s Off Licence on the left hand side of Lichfield Road, going towards Lichfield, just past Streets Corner. Cyril was the owner (also in Rotary). I can’t remember his wife’s name, but they had a daughter called Pat. He used to have an old Daimler parked up the entry to the off license.
I joined the old West Midlands Police and worked at Walsall. I knew a lot of the old publicans around then, including Alf and Pauline Stephenson from the Warreners Arms, Graham (can’t remember his last name) from the Middle Oak, Keith and Pauline from the Swan, Pelsall Road, Ken from the Chase, Derek Morris from the White Horse, Elijah Gibson from the Top Oak, Claire from the Anchor, Alan James from the Spring Cottage at Shelfield, to name a few!
I retired from the Police and have lived in Spain for the last ten years, but I have got a lot of happy memories of Shelfield, Walsall Wood and Brownhills.
Anyway Bob, I hope these few memories are of use to you in your research.
Kind regards
Fawlty
I thank Fawlty for his wonderful, memory–jogging contribution, and if readers have anything to add, please do feel free to comment.
Many of the links in this post are .PDF files. If you haven’t already got it, go and get Adobe Reader before clicking on any of the links.
I discovered today that detailed plans had finally been submitted for the site of the now demolished Shire Oak reservoir. It’s been some time since the first site notice went up advertising the development by Morris Homes, during which time some consultation with residents has clearly been ongoing. The application is for ‘…35 residential units and associated infrastructure including appearance, landscaping, layout and scale‘, and is filed under application number 10/0274/RM – full details can be accessed at Walsall Council’s ‘planning interactive’ site. Supporting documentation is amazingly detailed, and covers the full extent of plot layout, junction design and dwelling types proposed. To see the submitted plans, click on the application number in the previous link, and click ‘View supporting documents…’.
Browsing the documentation, I note that there is actually a Shire Oak Resident’s Group, whose existence I hadn’t previously been aware of, set up in response to concerns about the redevelopment of the former reservoir. The resident’s group – S.O.R.G. for short – have both Google and Facebook groups. If any members happen to be reading this, if there’s anything you’d like to contribute, please feel free. The Brownhills Blog is always open to all of it’s readers.
In discussions I’ve both participated in and overheard concerning the development, many seem to be concerned about traffic issues. The development will include a modified junction, fully detailed in this drawing, but a relevant portion is included below.
The entrance to the development will feature a dedicated turnout lane, refuges and visibility splay. Taken from Morris Homes drawing No. MOR/PL-160, rev F
Since outline permission has already been granted for the junction design, the question of the housing development itself is fairly straightforward, and seems likely to go ahead. Studying the plans, they look like pleasant houses, and I note that efforts seem to have been made to retain the larger trees at the fringes of the site. Where hedgerows are to me removed, plans note that ‘compensatory planting’ will be undertaken in the nature reserve to the rear.
Elevation drawings of the close are also supplied, and show a modern, sympathetically designed development with an interesting and varied roofline, with plenty of tree planting. One thing is for certain, plots 1,2 & 3 will have a fantastic view from their bedroom windows.
Street elevation of plots 3-7, this will be the left hand side of the new access road, as viewed from the Lichfield Road.
Street elevation of plots 32-30, this will be the right hand side of the new access road, as viewed from the Lichfield Road.
The following selected links take you directly to the named documents at Walsall Council’s planning interactive site. Also available there are descriptive plans of each proposed house design.
Air Quality Statement Amended Planning Layout Application Forms Boundary treatment drawing Design And Access Statement Environmental Noise Assessment External works layout Landscape Structure Plan Location Plan Planning Layout – Proposed Ghost Marked Junction Site Appraisal Site cross sections Street Scenes Tree Survey Report
Old directories are fascinating
Reader and top history ferret [Howmuch] sent a link at the weekend, which I’ve just been having a good look at. If you’re interested in resources like Kelly’s directory and other associated gazetteers – an example of which I posted previously – then this site is for you. Bear in mind that most of the source .pdf files are in the public domain, yet are sold on disk by eBay traders, often for a tenner or more apiece. You’ll need Adobe reader to get the best from the site and a reasonable t’internet connection, but that’s all. Get rooting and see what you can find.
I’ve had a couple of queries – in person and by mail – as to what’s happening with the roads around the Shire Oak area in the coming week or so. The signage around the area pointing up the works in question – by Gas Alliance who are laying new mains – has been a bit on the confusing side, so I contacted Walsall Council via Twatter to see what they knew. There are actually two sets of works, which is what seems to be confusing matters. Dan Slee, Walsall’s Press Officer, has kindly sent me details this afternoon, which are as follows:
‘As far as the works planned for Brownhills coming up there are gas main repairs planned by the Gas Alliance.
At A461 Lichfield Road, Shire Oak there will be a temporary one way traffic light system from 50 metres north of the junction with A452 Chester Road to its junction of A452 Chester Road. This is likely to last for five days and is due to start Friday April 2.’
I understand this to mean that there will be work on the A461 Lichfield Road, running downhill toward Sandhills for 50 meters. Signage at the junction seems to be indicating that no turn will be possible towards Lichfield, and that alternative routes will involve Chester Road, Ogley Road and Barracks Lane. At least it’s been scheduled for Easter Week, when the rush hour disruption should be minimised.
And also, potentially more troublesome:
‘There will then be work starting in Lindon Road which will see the road closed at the junction with Chester Road from April 6 to 18.’
That one will be particularly disruptive, and I would expect heavy volumes of traffic to concentrate on Friezland Lane – which, considering it’s current poor state, it is hardly appropriate for.
I hope that clears things up a bit. Dan has kindly agreed to put the Brownhills Blog on the circulation list for notification of such works, so hopefully it’ll be a bit easier to keep readers informed in future.
The current state of Friezland Lane, don't attempt it without an offroad vehicle and emergency supplies.
For some reason – and I’m not sure why – my Facebook account has been disabled. I’m not a huge user of the service, as I spend more time grumbling at it than I do using it for anything useful, but some readers do contact me that way. If you need to contact me, you can get me at my new account, just search on ‘Bob Brownhills‘. All other contact options remain the same – I’m at @BrownhillsBob on Twatter and you can always mail me at BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com, or leave a comment on any post. Cheers.
As I noted last week, after quite some time parted, Bob the fish is now back in his rightful place, as the focal point of the recently erected fisherman sculpture by the canal bridge in Walsall Wood. Originally suspended by a line anchored at the fisherman’s reel, the new repair sees the fallen fish suspended on a short length of steel rope, crimped into loops at either end, attached to the sculpture by shackle bolts.
Looks like a bit of a bodge. Rodney repaired, 11:58AM, Sunday, 21st March 2010
This method of attachment clearly defeats the previous technique employed to catch the coppery carp, but it seems a little bodged to me. Whilst the shackle at the fishes’ nose is wired closed, to prevent it loosening by precession, the upper fastener is awkwardly fitted through the eyelet at the tip of the rod. The upper wire loop is threaded over the body of the shackle, and causes it to hang at an unnatural angle. The upper threaded closure pin isn’t wired closed like it’s lower counterpart. Furthermore, the entire weight of the pendant is now concentrated on the tip of Rodney’s pole, causing the whole assembly to jerk and spin in even the lightest of breezes. Studying the oscillation at some length, it would seem that in a high wind, the structural integrity of the artwork will be severely tested. One wonders about the effects of metal fatigue and wear on the fasteners, welds and eyelets.
It was good to note that at some point in the last week, the council have removed the graffiti from the main column, although the metallic angler is now surrounded by an abandoned fishing chair and a quantity of discarded beer cans. I suspect that the weather may beat the vandals to the challenge of liberating Bob the fish a second time, so I’d respectfully advise any frequent boaters, dog walkers or anglers finding themselves in the immediate vicinity to take the precaution of investing in a hard hat.
Earlier this month (twitches in seat awkwardly), I received a mail from Philip Tibbetts MA, who has been working on an ongoing project to design flags and tartans for the towns and villages of the Black Country. It’s an interesting mission, and I’m sure Philip would be glad to recieve any contributions the readership may have. I think the designs are really interesting – and no, I don’t think one can ever view Clayhanger as a suburb of Bownhills. Being an isolated island for years, without even a bus service, Clayhanger was always felt to be a village in its’ own right. I’ll post his mail in full, if I may. If you have anything to add, please leave a comment.
Dear Brownhills Bob,
My name is Philip Tibbetts and over the past year I’ve been trying to promote the idea of increased local knowledge and civic pride by designing symbols for the Black Country and its towns and villages. I have mainly been doing flags but when inspiration strikes I occasionally make a tartan proposal for a particular place too.
Philip's interesting design for a Brownhills flag.
The reason for me emailing is that I recently got in touch with Stuart Williams of the Bloxidge Tallygraph who has been advising me on my designs in the Walsall borough and he suggested that I get in contact with you regarding my Brownhills designs. I have attached my flag and tartan proposals to this email. The rationale for the flag is below (the tartan is an abstraction from the flag in terms of design so the rationale for it is essentially the same.
The name Brownhills provides two strong ‘hooks’ that could be used in a visual design, these are obviously the colour brown and hills. However before rushing headlong into using these motifs I had to be very careful, especially with the colour brown. I don’t have anything against the colour but picking the right shade was paramount. Brown is not the most used colour in heraldry and related arts and in general society can be seen rather negatively. However the solution occurred to me when I looked at the website of Brownhills Community Technical College, which had a red/maroon tint to its background colour. So I chose a burnt umber/cordovan shade which allows me to not only use a suitable colour brown but also helps give a dutiful nod to the college that helped inspire its use.
For the hills motif I took the Aldridge-Brownhills coat of arms that has three bumps to represent the hills as well as wavy blue water, making this flag part of a related ‘family’ of flags that draw inspiration from some part of those arms. I made three squat cordovan circles for the centre of the flag and on either side I added white and light blue waves. These waves are a design reflection of that water theme and help to add contrast with their light colouring. The paleness of the blue was chosen to add to that contrast and also as it went well with the shade of brown (in a way similar as to how claret and sky go together – however in this design it is not a homage to Aston Villa, I have no problem with Villa but the choices here are purely for reasons internal to the design).
The Brownhills tartan proposal.
The three charges in the middle of the design come from two distinct sources. The shell is from the aforementioned coat of arms, itself making reference to the St James’ church in the town. (This means the flag has a sort of sibling relationship to other flags I’ve designed in the area that all use relevant symbols that appeared in the Aldridge-Brownhills civic coat of arms, namely: Aldridge, Brownhills, Great Barr, Walsall Wood). The lamp and the pickaxe are taken from the Brownhills Miner statue that has become such an important symbol for both the town and the Black Country as a whole (although I am aware that the pickaxe is nothing like any pickaxe I’ve ever seen). In my design they are placed with the lamp on the right as though you were looking directly at the front of the statue to show friendliness and hospitality.
I would love to hear your thoughts on the designs, would you like to see my Black Country Arms, Flag & Tartan? Plus if you are interested in any of my other designs then below is copied the list of flags in Walsall borough that I have attempted, though I have more from across the Black Country so if there is anywhere that would particular interest you then please ask. My aim has been to design a flag proposal for every Black Country town and village (though I have tried not to do suburbs) so if there is anything I have missed then please tell me (for instance I agonised for a long time as to whether Clayhanger was a suburb of Brownhills or a village in its own right).
Aldridge – Also tartan in development. Bentley Blakenall Heath – Designed by Stuart Williams Bloxwich Brownhills – Also tartan proposal done. Darlaston Leamore – Designed with Stuart Williams New Invention Pelsall – An existing flag that I didn’t design but I am speaking to Cllr Perry about getting it flown again. Tartan proposal done. Rushall – Also tartan proposal done. Shelfield Streetly Walsall – Also tartan proposal done. Walsall Wood Willenhall
My hope with these designs is that they can inspire flag design competitions with the winner for each town (and the Black Country as a whole) being registered in the official UK Flag Registry. This project has been something that I have greatly enjoyed – marrying my interest in local history with both my graphic design skills and my desire to find out more about the wider Black Country. However I do think there are great benefits to be had from this in terms of gaining symbols that can advertise our towns externally as well as provide a strong emotional link with their inhabitants internally (the reason that many football clubs in the past few years have been ditching ‘corporate’ logos for more ‘rustic’ and heraldic ones.
Anyway I greatly look forward to hearing your thoughts on my ideas and designs
Many thanks
Philip
Now the clocks have moved forward, the winter is over. Spring is here, and the light evenings and long day rides of summer begin. I like cycling in the winter, but the cold and dark become wearing; the chance to go out without 6 layers of clothes and lit up like a Christmas tree is most liberating. How fine it is to see spring flowers, leaves beginning to bud on the trees, lambs in the fields and nature coming to life.
With that in mind, yesterday I undertook my first 100+ mile ride of the year; I try to do as many of these as I can, and usually head up to the Peak District, as it’s a cracking destination for a day ride. As is customary, the first such trip of the season is slow and reasonably easy. Yesterday I travelled up the A515 through Yoxall to Sudbury, where I cut across country through Church Broughton, Shirley and Kniveton, over Hognaston Winn, past Carsington Reservoir, onto the High Peak Trail at Middleton top and up to the Tissington Trail at Parsley Hay. From there, I headed back south along the trail through Tissington, Ashbourne, Longford, Tutbury, Barton Under Needwood and Lichfield. 109 miles, painfully slow on the High Peak trail due to an appalling headwind, but a fantastic day of sunny villages, tea-stops and the sight of nature beginning to grow.
I record all my routes using a GPS attached to the bike, and you can follow my route at Bikely by clicking on the map below. I’ve cut it short at Muckley corner for obvious reasons.
Click on the image to see the full map at Bikely, the excellent route mapping service.
I didn’t actually take any photographs yesterday – sometimes, you just don’t – but I did pass some interesting things on the way which I’ve recorded previously. I Twattered some phone pictures which are of awful quality – they can be found in my Twitpic stream. Some photos from previous rides are on Panoramio.
This is an aircraft navigational transmitter at Hognaston Winn. It's called a VOR, and details can be found on the Panoramio page by clicking the image.
Hole in the Wall, near Bradley. The road runs right through the archway.
The dramatic Harboro Rocks, on the High Peak trail near Brassington.
The former Hartington signal box (now a trail kiosk) on the Tissington Trail,
#365daysofbiking Journal
 | chrisjimallen on Down the tubes |
 | bravelyd03ee3c14f on Celebrating a Jubilee? |
| bravelyd03ee3c14f on Celebrating a Jubilee? |
 | Nathan on Raising damp |
 | Steve Myatt on Off their trolleys |
RSS - Posts