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Search Results for: andy dennis
Brains and Brawns
I love it when I ask an innocent question here that I think is throwaway, and through some mistake I make, or some side debate, a whole new historical vista opens up – and this has been the case this week the the history of Sandhills, Shire Oak, and the Brawn and Lane family dynasties.
Fast and sluice
Last week, I featured the third batch of images from the Canal and River Trust Archive, of the Grove Colliery near Brownhills in the late 1950s – also revealing the archive and inviting readers to go see what they could find.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged 2015, Andy Dennis, archive, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Canal and River Trust, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, images, Lichfield, LichfieldLive, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, photos, Reservoir, Sluice, Staffordshire, Things to do
7 Comments
For the want of timber
Last week I featured an article by local history Rapscallion Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler about a text, available for free via Google Books called ‘Black Diamonds or the Gospel in a Colliery District’ written around 1860 by mystery author HHB.
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Posted in Cannock Chase, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1889, Andy, Black Diamonds; or The Gospel in a Colliery District, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, CCMHS, coal, Dennis, Ellen, Foster and Co, Google Books, Gravestone, Headstone, HHB, Lichfield, Lichfield Mercury, Lloyds, local blogs, Local History, mining, Pedro, Peter Cutler, pits, Rev J.B. Owen, St James, Staffordshire, Things to do, Thomas, tragedy, Walsall, Walsall Wood
4 Comments
Howdles Lane convenience store saved!
Back at the beginning of October, I had a somewhat concerning enquiry from reader Dave about the Co-operative convenience store in the small precinct just off the A5 in Brownhills by Howdles Lane – reports were that the Co-op were closing it and the future for the store was uncertain.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged 2014, A5, Andy Dennis, Brownhills, close down, closing, co-op, convenience store, Events, Howdles Lane, Lichfield, McColls, new, Redevelopment, shut, Silly, taken over, Tamworth, Watling Street
3 Comments
His time might be far better occupied
I am indebted to local history rapscallion Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler for the following piece which I’ve been sat on for ages, but I think in the current political and parochial climate is startlingly appropriate.
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2015 New Year Quiz results
Well, this year’s quiz is complete, and we have a winner – the two year reigning champion is Tony Jakeman, who this year came first with a highly creditable 20 points, but team Jakeman did face a sustained challenge from Kate and Andy Dennis amongst others.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, cycling, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Clayhanger, Cycle rides, cycling, David Evans, Events, Lichfield, Local History, New Photos, New Year, prize, quiz, results, Shire Oak, Silly, Staffordshire, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Wood, winners
7 Comments
It’s the season, innit?
Please bear with me folks: it’s that time of year and I’m rushed off my feet with a number of work and personal things so posting will be a bit erratic for a couple of days while I get Christmas sorted and stuff organised.
The lost Howdles Lane dam
In a remarkable instance of coincidence, last Friday, reader and top local history ferret Andy Dennis sent me an astounding piece on a lost reservoir near Howdles Lane, in north Brownhills, between Chasewater and the Watling Street.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio updates, Shared media, Shared memories, Wildlife
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills Brook, Brownhills local history, Canal, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Chasewater Wildlife Group, Crane Brook, cycling, Dam, Dam burst, Events, Gerald Reece, Howdles Lane, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Lost, New Photos, Ogley Locks, Old maps, Panoramio, Redevelopment, Reservoir, Staffordshire, Yates map
12 Comments
Geared up for Christmas
I’d just like to take this opportunity to wish all the readers, contributors, commenters and supporters of the Brownhills Blog and it’s associated side projects a very merry Christmas, and a healthy, happy, prosperous and peaceful 2015.
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff, Wildlife
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Christmas, Cycle rides, cycling, Greetings, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, Politics, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Wildlife
10 Comments
Happy talk
Yesterday, I received a wonderful email from David Evans, who did such a fine job of organising and hosting Gerald Reece’s talk on Brownhills last Friday evening at the Methodist Church in Silver Street, Brownhills.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills a walk into history, Brownhills bypass, Brownhills local history, Canal, charity, Chasewater, Clayhanger, David Evans, Engine Lane, Events, Gerald Reece, historian, history, History Talk, Local History, Macmillan Cancer Support, mining, planning, Staffordshire, Things to do
7 Comments
In Deed
Some time ago, when Brownhills local Councillor Barbara Cassidy very generously donated some excellent images for publication on the blog, there was an extra item David Evans was allowed to handle and photograph, which is a rather astonishing and wonderful artefact.
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Posted in News
14 Comments
A retirement, a birthday and an anniversary
I always love being able to publish old local photos that have never been shared publicly before, and I have recently received three cracking scans donated to the Brownhills Blog by local Councillor Barbara Cassidy, as well as an additionally interesting historical item which I’ll detail in a future post.
Posted in News
33 Comments
A treat for the choir and an ignominious extraction
Continuing with the surprisingly rich seam that is the thread originating from the 1931 Watling Street School Walsall Observer article, I’ve had a couple of excellent reader contributions which I just have to share.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media
Tagged 1886, A5, accounts sheet, Andy Dennis, Barry Aylett-Warner, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Church, Deakin, Eryl Powell, Foundation Stone, Jonah, lalance Sheet, Lesley Powell, Lichfield, Local History, Methodism, Methodist, Mission, New Photos, Park View, Redevelopment, School, ST. Thomas, Staffordshire, The Parade, Things to do, Walsall Observer, Watling Street
9 Comments
Aspirational my backside
I noticed in early summer that someone had been undertaking clearance work on a site near Brownhills, just down the Chester Road to the south of Shire Oak Nature Reserve, and was curious about it – it now seems that my question has been answered.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 14/0910/FL, application, Aspirational, astlehill, block, Brownhills, Chester Road, Derelict, Lichfield, local blogs, New Photos, planning, Politics, quarry, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Silly, Stonnall, Upper Stonnall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Works
12 Comments
Fixed in time
I’ve had in a great contribution from a chap who’s been a friend of the blog for as long as I’ve been writing it – Roger ‘Ziksby’ Jones – on the subject of early bicycles, which arose from the image of F. Bradbury recently supplied by John and Paul Anslow.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, cycling, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged @ziksby, Anslow, bicycle, bikes, Bradbury, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, bycycles, cycling, early, fixed wheel, john, Lichfield, Local History, Malvern, New Photos, Paul, Roger Jones, The Malvern Cycling Club 1883-1912, Things to do, Veteran-Cycle Club, W H Melhuish, Walsall Wood
5 Comments
Brownhills United 1974-5: Athletic figures and groovy hairstyles
A couple of weeks ago an enquiry about Brownhills United football team reached me from Andy Richards in Florida, USA – he wanted to know if anyone had any memories of this long lost footy team.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged ? P Mills, A Dixon, A Pearce, A Portman, Andrew, Andy, B Cooper., B Lewis, Bob Woodward, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills United, Clayhanger, D Kilbride, D Wright, FC, Florida, football, Footy, J. Cooper, Lichfield, Local History, M Arblaster, M Beddows, M Gerry, N Bailey, P CHapman, P Wilkinson, R Hayward, R Jagelski, R Woodward, Richards, S Surch, soccer, Staffordshire, Things to do, Walsall Wood, Walsall WOod FC
18 Comments
Clocking on
I must admit, the somewhat vexed question of the Council House Clock had slipped my mind – that is, until reader, local history wonk and friend of the blog Andy Dennis wrote to me yesterday.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Andy Dennis, Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clock, Council House, David Jones, Events, Local History, Matrix, Parkview, Redevelopment, Repair, Staffordshire, three faced liar, town hall
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New Year Quiz 2014 – results
Well, I thought I’d set an absolute stinker this year, I really did. I thought nobody would get at least four of the questions, but I hadn’t reckoned on the sheer research skill and local knowledge of reader Tony Jakeman.
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Posted in News
4 Comments
The Wheatsheaf, Brownhills – what do we know?
Here’s a quick one I’ve been asked about on twitter, and it’s piqued my interest to such an extent that I thought I’d post the question here, particularly while there’s a similar discussion centring around the Royal Exchange in Walsall Wood.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged beer hosue, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, dogrio5630, Gerald Reece, Helen Dalton, John Insull, Lichfield Mercury, Local History, Ogley, Ogley Hay, planning, Pubs, Redevelopment, Square, Staffordshire, The Wheatsheaf, Things to do, Tony Williams, Twitter, William Danks
15 Comments
The need for speed
It seems that reader Tony Winn opened an interesting can of worms when he set this fine question for the New Year Quiz.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldridge, Andy Dennis, Ashmore, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Burntwood, Chase Terrace, David Hodgkinson, Ensign, Events, Express & Star, Fred, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, otor, Racing, Richard Noble, Shire Oak, sport, Springhill, Staffordshire, Things to do, TI, Walsall Wood
5 Comments
I say, Landlord!
I’m liking this a lot: sent to me yesterday by Andy Dennis, this is a Google Documents/Excel spreadsheet of derived information on local pub landlords from census and other data.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Andy Dennis, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clayhanger, David Evans, Documents, Drive, google, Lichfield, Local History, Old Leopard, pub landlords, Pubs, Royal Oak, Shire Oak, Spreadsheet, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Things to do, Walsall Wood
19 Comments
An electoral deformity
It’s interesting to note that Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler is coming over all iconoclastic again – and I, for one, welcome it, as Peter has a fine record of kicking over the statues of the local mining history – particularly in regard the the Harrison colliery dynasty.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldershaw, Aldershawe, Bill May, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills UDC, Brownhills Urban District Council, Cannock Chase Mining Historical Society, CCMHS, Election, estate, hall, john, Local History, Mick Drury, Morton House, Norton, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood, William, William Harrison, William ROberts
6 Comments
Ship ahoy…
This is an unusual request, which I think we’ll have to address carefully, but it is, nevertheless, of great interest to historians and I feel some hereabouts may be able to contribute to what we collectively know.
Posted in News
14 Comments
Sharing the knowledge
Contributor and mainstay of the Brownhills Blog Andy Dennis has written to me, to point out some work he’s done on a story for another local history site – Andy has researched a mine explosion involving some of his relatives in the Moira Bath Pit in Leicestershire in 1845. It’s harrowing stuff, but fascinating.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged 1845, Andy Dennis, Bath Pit, colliery, Disaster, Fionn's Mining Site, historian, history, Leicestershire, mine, Moira, Staffordshire
12 Comments
Tell me on a Sunday
Last Saturday, I featured the above newspaper clipping, taken from the Walsall Observer reporting the laying of a foundation stone for the ‘new schools at Watling Street’ – the image, which was found by local history wonk [Howmuch?], had scant accompanying information, but since posted, he has told me that he’s fairly sure the clip dates from 1931.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged A5, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, ceremony, Events, Foundation Stone, Howmuch, laying, Lichfield, Local History, New Photos, Redevelopment, School, Staffordshire, Things to do, Walsall Observer, Watling Street
22 Comments
A Castle for a Knave
Over the years, one subject in Brownhills history that keeps recurring is Knaves Castle, the lost geographic feature that existed on the south side of Watling Street at about the spot where the west end of Deakin Avenue exists today – it’s not really known if Kanves Castle was natural, or a man made or modified earthwork, and as no trace remains.
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Posted in News
15 Comments
Down the tubes
Further to the Birchills Ironworks discussion, I had this interesting contribution from reader and top friend of the blog, Andy Dennis – I’d certainly be interested in any material relating to Sterling Tubes or any other companies operating in the area discussed here last weekend.
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Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media
Tagged Andy Dennis, Birchills, Bloxwich, Canal, Castinds, Deely, Derelict, foundry, hall, Ironworks, Leamore, Local History, Mural, overlay, planning, Redevelopment, Staffordshire, Sterling, Things to do, Tube
26 Comments
Something cheesy for Christmas
I’ll keep this brief, as I know there are folk in Short Heath suffering in quiet, restrained dignity as they haven’t had their Liberal Democrat Focus news sheets this week due to the inclement weather – please spare a thought for those less fortunate souls this Christmas.
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Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff, Wildlife
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Christmas, Cycle rides, cycling, Greetings, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, Politics, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Wildlife
6 Comments
A fine rate of Exchange
Last week, I posted the first part of a remarkable article by Susan M Luzy about the history of the families connected with the Royal Echange pub in Walsall Wood – this unassuming, but well-loved pub has been the subject of much local historical study, and since the first part of this article was posted, local historians have turned up some remarkable material which Andy Dennis, David Evans and a whole host others are working on in the background.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Ann Cross, Brownhills local history, Clews, David Evans, Eliza, Grave, Hannah, Jackson, Lichfield Brewery Company, Local History, Luzy, Maria, Melsom, Millson, Millsum, Old maps, Pubs, Richard, Royal Exchange, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Stonnall, street, Sue, Susan, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Wood, William
11 Comments
Do the walk…
Andy Dennis touches on a sporting phenomena which seems to largely have lapsed: pedestrianism, to which these days, power or nordic walking would be comparable.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged Anglesey Arms, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chase Inn, ercury, Events, Fleur de lys, Gerald Reece, john, Lichfield, Local History, Pedestrian, Pedestrianism, Pubs, Samuel Jones, Shingler, Silly, Staffordshire, Walking match, Wallace
4 Comments
2014 New year quiz!
It’s been a long time in the making, but great fun – here it is, the Brownhills Blog New Year 2014 quiz – Get stuck in and see if you can win!
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, cycling, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2014, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Clayhanger, Cycle rides, cycling, David Evans, Events, Lichfield, Local History, New Photos, New Year, prize, quiz, Shire Oak, Silly, Staffordshire, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Wood
218 Comments
Eunice the Menace
Sometimes, an interesting thread develops from other, tangentially related matters – this one came in yesterday, and as soon as I saw it, I thought it was fantastic, although it’s sad and somewhat sensitive, too.
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Posted in News
8 Comments
Methods of dance
Here’s a great follow-on post to the Ogley School staff image featured here last weekend. Top reader and local historian Andy Dennis has sent me a couple of lovely school group photos featuring his mother, thought to be from the 1936 sports event at Chase Terrace, which was mentioned by Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler in comments to the same post.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 1936, Andy Dennis, Barbara Dennis, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chase Terrace, Country Dancing, Events, Local History, New Photos, Ogley Hay, Pedro Cutler, Peter Cutler, School, Staffordshire
3 Comments
Winding Lanes
Andy Dennis writes clearly and articulately of the planning history of the Lanes Farm/Sandhills site in light of current angst over a mooted further development – I’m still of the opinion that we’re being trolled for other reasons, but Andy raises some excellent points.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff, Wildlife
Tagged Andy Dennis, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Cycle rides, cycling, Lane's Farm, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, Panoramio, planning, Politics, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Silly, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall 2026, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Wildlife
20 Comments
School’s out
I think this might be controversial – from recent activity at the site, it seems like the former St. John’s School, in Lichfield Road Walsall Wood, may be about to be demolished, and it’s site possibly redeveloped, together with the derelict bungalow next door.
Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 12 housed, 4th November 2012, application, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, demolish, Demolition, Derelict, history, houses, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, Panoramio, planning, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, St. Johns School, Things to do, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
13 Comments
All hands to the coalface
I’m intrigued by the following report in the Lichfield Mercury, from November 15th 1940. I found it whilst searching the newspaper archives for reports of wartime evacuees in the area, and I had no idea adults were evacuated at all. It … Continue reading
Posted in News
15 Comments
The white heat of technology
This weekend, I have been mostly excavating the mapping record for Birchills Iron Works – I know it’s way off our normal beat, but once I started looking at the geography following the remarkable sale post of last Friday, I couldn’t help but be captivated.
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Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 1886-7, 1903, 1914, 1938, Birchills, Bloxwich, Brick, Canal, Derelict, foundry, Goodall Works, Google Earth, hall, Ironworks, Leamore, Local History, Mapping, Mapps, Old maps, overlay, planning, Redevelopment, Staffordshire, Things to do, Tube, Walsall
21 Comments
Staff card?
Here’s an interesting thing. Reader Clive Roberts mailed me with an image of six rather serious looking ladies on a postcard, bearing the handwritten note ‘Staff at Ogley Hay School’.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Andy Dennis, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clive Roberts, Education, Local History, Mystery, New Photos, Ogley Hay, Ogley Hay Girls School, Peace Greetings, Pencil box, Postcard, school days, school timetable, timetable
10 Comments
When Billy came knocking
I’ve had a great email from long time reader and friend of the blog Michael Sarsfield – after reading my questions about Anglesey Wharf and nearby cottages, he’s written a really nice piece about his childhood memories of the place.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged Andy Dennis, Anglesey Basin, Anglesey Wharf, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Cottage, crane, Derelict, Edna, Jack, Jasmine, Jeffries, Lane, Lichfield, Local History, Meecham, Michael Sarsfield, New Photos, Old maps, planning, Ray Shill, Reservoir, Staffordshire, Wharf, Whitehorse Road, Wyrley & Essington canal through time
7 Comments
Foreign assets
I know this isn’t immediately local to Brownhills, but it’s such a remarkable description of industry at the time that I couldn’t ignore it – marvel, if you will, at the white heat of technology…
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Posted in News
12 Comments
Standard bearer
A wonderful quick one from reader, friend of the blog, and sometime contributor Ann Cross. Ann, you’ll recall, wrote the wonderful histories of the Royal Exchange in Walsall Wood last year, which provoked so much debate and research. Ann has … Continue reading
Posted in News
9 Comments
The past, by George!
Brownhills George continues his patient work of converting and uploading his remarkable and breathtaking images of Brownhills history on to Panoramio – The collection in this remarkable poster’s gallery is growing steadily, and is forming a wonderful resource into a period of history not much recorded anywhere.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 1970, 1980, 1990, bridge construction, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Market, canal dam, Clayhanger Bridge, Clayhanger Common, Clayhanger Tip, demolished, Geogre, Greengrocers, Holmes, local blogs, Local History, Memorial Hall, New Photos, Panoramio, Pier Street, Pike Helve, Raden, Rebuild, rebuilt, reclamation, Redevelopment, Staffordshire, Things to do
10 Comments
Mapping for change
Here I can share with you four excellent quality 1:10,560 scale maps – we don’t cover that scale issue much on the blog, as oddly, they’re quite scarce online in scanned or digitised form – they are generally poor quality even from professional map service companies, with contrast and other image aberrations.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, News
Tagged 1921, 1923, 1:10560, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Castlehill, Chasewater, Clayhanger, David Evans, Gareth Thomas, Lichfield, Lichfield District Council, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, Lynn, Muckley Corner, Old maps, Ornance Survey 1903, planning, Redevelopment, Reservoir, Shenstone, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Things to do, Walsall Wood
15 Comments
Bradford on Brownhills
Here’s something found by Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler in the newspaper archive that crosses over from the Ogley Hay school into the area covered by Doctor Bradford’s predecessor, Dr. Maddever in his report to the health of Brownhills in 1910.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1910, 1933, Andy Dennis, Bradford, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Coombe House, David Evans, Doctor, Hussey Estate, Infant School, Junior School, Lichfield Mercury, Local History, Local politics, Maddever, medical report, New Photos, Ogley Hay, Ogley Square, Poverty, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood
2 Comments
Mind the Gap
The enquiry about the local Watford Gap sparked way more interest than I expected, to be honest, so this morning, I decided to test the theory postulated by Andy Dennis that the area really was in a ‘gap’ between the hills of north Sutton.
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Posted in cycling, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Andy Dennis, Carisbroke, Chesterfield, Cross City, Cycle rides, cycling, Four Oaks, Hill Hook, Linda Mason, Little Aston, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, Railway, Shenstone, Staffordshire, Station, Sutton, Things to do, Tin Tabernacle, Twitter, Wall, Warwickshire, Watford Gap, West Midlands
11 Comments
A Jasmine childhood
Here’s a great email I’ve received from reader Louise Sedgwick about her memories of Jasmine Cottage, up on Wharf Lane, Brownhills – The warm, lovely memories Louise shares sit nicely alongside those of Michael Sarsfield from Wharf Cottages, featured a few days ago.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Wildlife
Tagged Andy Dennis, Anglesey Basin, Anglesey Wharf, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Cottage, crane, Derelict, Edna, Jack, Jasmine, Lane, Lichfield, Local History, Louise Sedgwick, Meecham, Michael Sarsfield, New Photos, Old maps, planning, Ray Shill, Reservoir, Staffordshire, Wharf, Whitehorse Road, Wyrley & Essington canal through time
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Songs to sing, and voices to sing them
That there Young David Evans has been a busy man – not just with his comments, explorations of The Wood’s watercourses, or even his pursuit of squeezing great memories from David Oakley – no, David has thrown himself into researching George Fullelove, the great musical son of Brownhills, the Choral Society he was an exponent of, and the rich and surprising choral culture locally.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Local music, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged balladeer, Brownhills, Brownhills Choral Society, Brownhills local history, choir, Choral, co-op, Co-operative, David Evans, George Fullelove, Langford, Local History, Master, New Photos, Peake, Plaque, Preece, Road, Silver Street Methodist Church, Singer, Staffordshire, Starbuck, Things to do, Waine, Walsall Wood
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A quick correction from Andy Dennis
I had a brief note from top chap and blog research stalwart Andy Dennis the other day – I kept meaning to reply, but as regular contributors know only to well, I’m not too good with mail. If it’s a … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Features, Followups, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged Andy Dennis, Brown, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cathedral Pit, colliery, Convalescent home, Edward, Edwin, Grove pit, Local History, Madeira Cove, mine, miner, New Photos, pneumoconiosis, Staffordshire, Ted, Weston Super Mare, William Harrison
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The Kaleidoscope
Oh dear – that Young David Evans has come over a bit gooey and sentimental onus – could it be springtime, and a man’s fancy turning?
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, David Evans, Local History, Memory, Pubs, recollections, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Wood
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Competition closes 12 noon today, 5th January 2012
Last chance, folks. The 2013 new year competition closes at 12 Noon today, 5th January 2012. Answers received after that time will not be counted. Running scores: Andy Dennis has 6 points. Fred Butler has 4 points. Oakparkrunner has 4 … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2013, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, cycling, Events, Local History, New Photos, New Year quiz, Pubs, Reservoir, score, Shire Oak, Silly, Staffordshire, Things to do, Walsall Wood
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