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Search Results for: cutler
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
Grist for the mill
This is important, and I’m very excited about it – Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler has found the following sale notice in the archives from Aris’s Birmingham Gazette of 26th August 1850.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged 1850, Aris, Autction, Bankrupt, Birmingham Gazette, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Catshill, Church, Clayhanger, F J COtterill, Farrington, Flour, Local History, Mill, Ogley Hay, St James, Staffordshire
26 Comments
Ugly Ay it?
Today, it’s long overdue that I expand on a thread I commenced some weeks ago; that of Charles Foster Cotterill – you may remember that I raised the question of the man’s history as the named Bankrupt in a sale notice Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler found in the Birmingham Gazette in 1850.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills activities, Brownhills local history, Canal, Cannock Chase Colliery Company, Gerald Reece, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Old maps, Panoramio, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Warren House
17 Comments
As far distant as the millennium
Found coincidentally to reader Alan Harvey’s request for more Norton Canes, this article on the village, from the Saturday, 30th January 1886 copy of The Graphic, is a remarkable travelogue written by a visitor to a small, dirt-poor community, just before everything changed.
Posted in Churches, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged 1886, Alan Harvey, change, coal, community, Conduit Colliery, hardship, In a Staffordshire village, Lichfield, Local History, mining, Norton Canes, Old maps, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Poverty, Staffordshire, The Graphic
25 Comments
Fit for a queen
Continuing the Carnival theme (can there be a better one for such a summery spell?) Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler has been weaving his rapscallion magic and dredging the newspaper archive, finding two pieces in the Lichfield Mercury of 12th July 1935 and 25th July of the same year.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, 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, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1935, Brownhills, Carnival, Dr. Bradford, Eileen Pagett, Film, Fullelove, Lichfield, Lichfield Mercury, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Queen, Roland and Bert, Silvenos, The Stanleys
1 Comment
An overwhelming sense of duty
Sister Dora is a beloved, dear heroine of Walsall; remembered long after her passing, she is a local heroine whose memory shines like a light in the grim, darkened industrial past of Walsall – her statue – finally restored to it’s rightful place on The Bridge, in the town centre – still sees regular laying of flowers and visits by those interested in the remarkable history it records.
Posted in Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 1886, Birchills, death, Dortothy Pattison, early, Explosion, industrial accidents, injury, Iron Works, Local History, London, New Photos, nursing, October, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Queen Street, Sister Dora, Staffordshire, Statue, The Bridge, The Graphic, Walsall, Walsall Council
3 Comments
Puddled
We have talked a lot recently about the Birchills Ironworks, Talbot Stead Tube Works (latterly Sterling Tubes), and have ruminated on the nature of metal bashing and other industry – in his initial perusal of The Graphic, Peter spotted the following article relating to metal production in Cleveland, and I think it’s worth a read.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1878, Abbey England, Birchills, Brass, Brownhills, casting, Castings PLC, Cleveland, David Evans, Foundy, industry, iron, Kirkpatick, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, ore, Pedro, Peter Cutler, process, Puddling, Staffordshire, steel, The Graphic, Things to do, Vulcans vassals, Walsall
1 Comment
Space, air and light
This week, we’ve got the follow up article regarding Ogley Square from the Lichfield Mercury of Friday, 8th February 1935 – this is a great summation of what’s happened, and also points out that Brownhills was one of the first towns to act on slum clearance legislation.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged bad housing, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Urban District Council, clearance, Dr. Bradford, George Bradford, Hill sisters, Lichfield Mercury, Local History, Norman Waine, Ogley Hay, Ogley Square, Peter Cutler, Richard Burnell, sanitation, Slum clearance, Staffordshire, Things to do, UDC, Urban District Council
11 Comments
Keep out of Cotterill’s road…
Welcome to the second of a three-instalment series, covering Ogley Hay, landowner Charles F Cotterill and Brownhills’ evolution into the place we know today, as written by local historian Gerald Reece in his remarkable book ‘Brownhills A Walk Into History’.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills activities, Brownhills local history, Canal, Cannock Chase Colliery Company, Flour, Gerald Reece, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Mill, Old maps, Panoramio, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, STeam, Stonnall, Warren House
15 Comments
I don’t like that beer
The Ogley Square slum was indeed cleared – and as can be seen today – the area of Catshill and Ogley Hay around it became the site of huge social housing development – however, the site of the Square itself became the location of a new pub..
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged bad housing, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Urban District Council, Chasewaterstuff, clearance, David Hodgkingson, Licensing, Lichfield Mercury, Local History, Lost pubs, Ogley Hay, Ogley Square, Peter Cutler, pub, Railway Tavern, Richard Burnell, sanitation, Slum clearance, Staffordshire, Temperance, Things to do, UDC, Urban District Council, Wheatsheaf, Woodman
10 Comments
An unearned income
It is with great pleasure that I can now continue the story of the slum clearance of Ogley Square in 1935, thanks to the efforts of an anonymous reader and top friend of the blog Richard Burnell.
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media
Tagged 1883, 1:2500, bad housing, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Urban District Council, clearance, Dr. Bradford, George Bradford, Hill sisters, Lichfield Mercury, Local History, Norman Waine, Ogley Hay, Ogley Square, Old maps, Ordnance Survey, Peter Cutler, Richard Burnell, Slum clearance, snaitationG, Staffordshire, Things to do, UDC, Urban District Council
6 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
The Ironmaster
Welcome to the third of what was to be a three-instalment series, covering Ogley Hay, the history of Brownhills businessman Charles F Cotterill and the towns evolution into the place we know today, as written by local historian Gerald Reece, in his remarkable book ‘Brownhills A Walk Into History’.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills activities, Brownhills local history, Canal, Cannock Chase Colliery Company, CLive L Roberts., Flour, Gerald Reece, Great CHarles Street, Iron Works, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Mill, Ogley Hay, Old maps, Panoramio, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, STeam, Steam Engine workshop, Stonnall, Warren House
7 Comments
Eclectic landladies
Here’s an interesting quick one spotted in a recent addition to the archives Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler spotted this group photo in the Lichfield Mercury, of Friday, 7th November 1952.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged 1952, Ball, Brownhills, Brownhills and District Licensed Trade Association Ladies' Auxiliary, Brownhills local history, Dance, Dinner, Events, Lichfield, Local History, New Photos, Pubs, Staffordshire, Things to do
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Build it and they’ll come
David Evans, top blog contributor and local historian extraordinaire, has strong connections with the local Methodist Movement – in this capacity, David has been working very hard indeed on the following article on the construction of the New Chapel for some weeks now, and I’m proud and honoured to present it for readers.
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Posted in Churches, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1891, Brownhills local history, Chapel, Church, David Evans, Demolition, Ebenezer, Events, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, Memorial Stones, Mercury, New Photos, Opening, planning, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood
5 Comments
Bicycles. Always a problem.
A great spot here from Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler regarding a report in the Lichfield Mercury of Friday, 16th August 1935.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, cycling, Environment, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged bicycles, Bradbury, Brownhills, Brownhills Chamber of Trade, Brownhills local history, co-op, Co-operative, Conduit Colliery, Cycle rides, cycling, Emery, Humphries, jobless, Labour Exchange, land, Local History, Local politics, Norton Canes, purchase, sale, Sewage Farm, sewerage, Silly, Staffordshire, Subsidence, unemployed
2 Comments
A ghost of a chance…
Ghosts and such things; a rumination…
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Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills Barry, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Market, Clayhanger, Cycle rides, Derelict, folklore, Ghost, haunting, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Nick Duffy, oral, Panoramio, Pubs, Redevelopment, Silly, Staffordshire, story, Tesco, Tesco Development, Things to do, Walsall Wood, West Midlands Ghost Club
4 Comments
The Cannon made in Walsall Wood
On Sunday last, I ran the last episode of the St John’s School log books, which mentioned Jim Edwards, a local theologian and cleric with a remarkable story – as the comments on the article expanded, it became clear this was no ordinary parish churchman, but a fellow of considerable stature who was well travelled and also experienced in war.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cannon, David Evans, Evacuees, Jenny Langford, Jim Edwards, Lichfield, Local History, Medical Corps, New Photos, organist, Reverend, Royal Engineers, Solomon Islands, St Johns, St Micheals, Staffordshire, Suvla, Walsall, Walsall Wood
7 Comments
The far pavilion
I said I’d return to the subject of Walsall Wood F.C. in due course, and today, I have some interesting pieces of the jigsaw to throw in, courtesy of readers. I’ve got other contributions on the subject to come, too, which will be developed in a subsequent post.
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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, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1935, 1936, Booth, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, David Evans, David Oakley, Events, Express & Star, FC, Football club, Lichfield Mercury, local blogs, Local History, McClean, Mycock, Pavilion, Peake, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Seedhouse, Staffordshire, Stand, Things to do, Walsall Wood
8 Comments
The lights that shone bright in the Blackout
On the continuing theme of wartime Brownhills, air raids and the social upheaval that went with all that, I dug into the newspaper archives for examples of people fined for breaking the lights-out rules.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1940, air raid., bicycle light, bike, Blackout, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cycle rides, cycling, David Oakley, Lichfield, Lichfield Mercury, Local History, offences, petty sessions, Staffordshire, summons, Walsall Wood, war
14 Comments
That sinking feeling
I’m sure most of us have heard the tale from tour guides, teachers or those ‘in the know’ that the famous – some would say infamous – statue of Captain Smith in Beacon Park, Lichfield was originally made for Smith’s hometown, Hanley, in the Potteries, but was refused in shame and Lichfield took it instead.
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Posted in Bad Science, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Beacon park, Captain Smith, Cutler, David Evans, Events, Hanley, legend, Licfield District Council, Lichfield, lLore, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, myth, New Photos, Pedro, Peter, Plaque, Potteries, refusal, Refuse, Silly, Staffordshire, Statue, Stephanie Barzewski, Things to do, Titanic, Twitter
5 Comments
Two halves to Aldridge, please…
Following on from the interest in Tony Martin’s picture of the early seventies Harpers bus at Aldridge, Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler found the following timetable from 1965 in the newspaper archive.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community
Tagged 156, 56, Aldridge, Arriva, BIP, Birmingham, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, bus, Cannock, event, Facebook, Harper Bros, Harpers, Lichfield Mercury, Local History, Midland Red, planning, Streetly, timetable, Tony Martin, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood, Works
8 Comments
Well, that was unfortunate…
Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler continues his patient, thorough research into the Harrison empire. This was, of course, the local industrialist family that owned mines in South Staffordshire, and particularly the Grove Pit and others locally.
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Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Aldershawe, Alrewas, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Captain W. B. Harrison, Events, Lichfield, Lichfield Mercury, Lieutenant-Colonel W. E. Harrison, Local History, Military, mining, New Photos, OBE, Orgreave, Peter Pedro Cutler, Staffordshire, Tonsillitis, Wales, Wychnor
26 Comments
Going with the flow
In the modern world of asphalted roads, acres of hardstanding and housing estates by the square mile, we tend to forget that our landscape is riddled with lost brooks, springs, natural drains and man-made culverts, and all have to be managed to prevent flood and ensure adequate drainage, whilst still maintaining irrigation.
[caption id="attachment_14409" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
The water is clean and flows well at this point. Image supplied by David Evans.[/caption] Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged brook, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Coppice House, culvert, David Evans, Drainage, Farm, Kings Hayes, Local History, Marsh, New Photos, Old maps, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Stonnall, Stream, Stubbers Green, Taylor, Things to do, Transport, Vigo, Walsall Wood, Watercourse, Wetland, Wildlife
14 Comments
Private investigations
David Evans has had access in recent weeks to lots of material from the Norton Canes Historical Society – one of the things he found was a wonderful 1975 report into the Grove Pit Disaster.
 
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Accident, BFHG, Brownhills, Brownhills cemetery, Brownhills local history, Brownhills mining disater, colliers, David Evans, Grove Colliery, Grove pit, Grove pit disaster, John Bernard Whittaker, local blogs, Local History, Lynn Hopley, Memories of old Brownhills by Clarice Mayo and Geoff Harrington, Mine disaster, miners, Mining accidents, mining memorials, NCHS, New Photos, Norton Canes Historical Society, SJ Whitehouse, Staffordshire, The men below, Walsall Wood, Wyrley common, Wyrley Grove
6 Comments
Diamonds and dust
With local history, it’s all a bit winding and interleaved. Sometimes, you start researching one thing, and follow a straight line; and then, all of a sudden, things you never expected crop up, and you end up researching something utterly different.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged barracks, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills UDC, BUDC, Court Marshall, David Evans, General Kilian, GI, Jack Gieck, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Lorenzor, New Photos, Panoramio, Peter Cutler, scandal, Staffordshire, Tamworth Time Hikes, US Army on trial, US Troops, Walsall Wood, WHittington, World War 2, WW2
6 Comments
A spectator writes…
What I really enjoy about doing this blog is those times when we get a historical snippet, then explore it through various avenues, take it and run with it. Often, this not only reveals the story to be different to that originally stated, but also a fascinating journey through what would otherwise be lost local history.
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Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1936, Booth, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, David Evans, David Oakley, Events, Express & Star, FC, Football club, Lichfield Mercury, local blogs, Local History, McClean, Mycock, Peake, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Seedhouse, Staffordshire, Stand, Things to do, Walsall Wood
6 Comments
Happy New Year!
Happy new year to all readers of the Brownhills Blog. Cheers for sticking with it, contributing and doing everything you do.
The 2013 New Year quiz is still open and still has questions going for the asking. There’s been a great response so far, and there’s local beer up for grabs! Take a look at last night’s scoresheet and see what you can get. Don’t forget, there’s still the ‘1000th House’ plaque to find, too.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Butcher, cart, Common Side, drunk, Events, Frank Lloyd, Horse, Lichfield, Local History, Shire Oak, Silly, Staffordshire, Things to do, Walsall Wood
6 Comments
Meanwhile, in court a century ago…
Reader Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler has again been ferreting in the newspaper archives, and this time has taken a look at crimes coming before Brownhills Petty Sessions – a magistrates court for the town, that sat regularly and dealt with low-level crime.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Petty Sessions, crime, Events, Local History, New Photos, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Silly, Staffordshire, Vandalism, William ROberts
2 Comments
My Fair Lady
This is a wonderful article from local history rapscallion Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler which I think readers will really, really enjoy. Peter has developed a reputation hereabouts for being something of the iconoclast; formerly he has not pulled punches in his … Continue reading
Posted in Cannock Chase, Chasewater, Churches, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills local history, Chasewater, coal, Coppice, Hanbury, Heath Hayes, Hussey, local blogs, Local History, mining, Panoramio, pit, Politics, Staffordshire, Things to do
41 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
The biggest liar in town
We all know the three-faced liar in Brownhills. The Council House Clock – stopped, restored, restarted, stopped, restored, restarted. I lie in bed on warm summer nights and hear it chime the hour over a sleeping, somnambulant town, usually incorrectly. It’s a thing of pride, embarrassment and hilarity in the community.
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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 Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Civic Centre, Clock, Council House, Events, Lichfield, Local History, Mercury, New Photos, Parkview, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Redevelopment, Staffordshire, three faced liar, town hall
9 Comments
Natural Lore
Following yesterday’s puzzler about the odd postcards of the long-gone Lichfield Canal, the wonderfully observant Kate from Lichfield Lore delved into the darkest recesses of her oversized cardigan, and pulled out the fantastic book, ‘Lichfield, Then & Now’ by Annette Rubery
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Eva K Richardson, Fosseway, Lichfield, Lichfield & Hatherton, Lichfield Canal, Lichfield City, Lichfield Lore, LMS, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Panoramio, Postcard, season ticket, Silly, Staffordshire, Things to do, train ticket, Twitter, Wall Lane, Wyrley & Essington
6 Comments
Not in MY backyard (1896 style)…
Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler has been in touch with a lovely quick snippet he spotted in the excellent History of the South Staffordshire Waterworks Company, which is available online for free. It really is an excellent read and deserves wider exposure.
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Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Aldershaw, Aldershawe, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Captain, Company, Dave Moore, Derelict, Harrison, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Lore, New Photos, NIMBY, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Pumping, Redevelopment, Reservoir, smoke, Snadfields, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire, Station, steam engine, Things to do, Water, Waterwoks
25 Comments
Living on video
Here’s a quick fun series of videos that amused me greatly, found by top reader and local history ferret [Howmuch?] showing Birmingham just as everything was changing in the postwar era. I think everyone who knew the 1960s redevelopment of Birmingham – now long consigned to history – will raise a wry smile at these clips.
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Supporting services
It’s been a while since I did a mapping post here on the blog, and yesterday, whilst visiting the open day at Christchurch, in Leomonsley, I saw a huge copy of the 1884 OS map of Lichfield that inspired me. If you ever get chance to see it, do so. A beautiful, A0-size hand-tinted copy, clearly for ecclesiastical use. A thing of rare and immense beauty.
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Posted in Churches, cycling, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media
Tagged 1884, 1902, 1928, 1965, Bison, Canal, Chappells, Christchurch, Cross City, Cycle rides, Dovehousfield, Events, Leamonsley, Lichfield, Lichfield Lore, local blogs, Local History, Old maps, Ordnance Survey, Sandfields, Silly, Sloppy Wood, South Staffordshire, south staffordshire water, Staffordshire, Things to do
17 Comments
Language of the underground
Our good mate Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler has struck gold again. This transcription of an article from the Lichfield Mercury, of Friday, 4th January 1904 is a real gem, both for those with a keen interest in mining at the time, and those who are scholars of the nomenclature and language of our area.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged bank, bat, brazil, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chasewater, Clayhanger, clinch, colliery, crownin, down cast, fire stink, Local History, long wall, miner, mining, Silly, slang, square work, Staffordshire, sump, swag, thurling, up cast, Walsall Wood
14 Comments
Serving all his days
FIFTY years of unremitting service in the employ of the South Staffordshire Waterworks Company is the proud record of Mr. Joseph Plant, of Christ Church Gardens, Lichfield, who has recently retired as foreman engine driver at the Sandfields Pumping Station.
Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged 1936, 50 years service, beam, campaign, Dave Moore, Derelict, Engine, English Heritage, J Plant, Joseph Plant, Lichfield, Lichfield District Council, Lichfield Mercury, listed, listing, local blogs, Local History, Long Service, Morturn, planning, Preservation, Pump, pumping station, Redevelopment, Sandfields, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire, stationary, Things to do, Vandalism, Waterworks
12 Comments
Hiding in plain sight?
It seems like we’re in a period for odd historical tangents and discoveries. It all started with Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler’s classic bit of gentrified nimbyism from ‘Captain’ Harrison at Aldershaw(e). From there, we alighted at Sandfields Pumping Station at Lichfield, and found a wonderful, but neglected steam engine. We’ve found since, via Peter’s further diligent research, and that of Dave Moore, a chap clearly expert on the matter, that there was a long forgotten water tower in Brownhills.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, 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
Tagged Aldershaw, Aldershawe, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Captain, Clayhanger, Company, Dave Moore, Derelict, Harrison, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Lore, Morturn, New Photos, NIMBY, Old maps, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Pumping, Redevelopment, Reservoir, Shire Oak, Snadfields, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire, Station, steam engine, surge stack, Things to do, ventilator, Walsall, Water, Water tower, Waterwoks
24 Comments
Surging forward
I should have known, really. No sooner had I delved into the fascinating world of the Brownhills surge stack, then Ian Pell, railway historian extraordinaire, had written to me with a whole bunch of new information, clarifications and even a few questions.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Captain, Clayhanger, Company, Dave Moore, Derelict, Harrison, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Lore, Morturn, New Photos, NIMBY, Old maps, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Pumping, Redevelopment, Reservoir, Shire Oak, Snadfields, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire, Station, steam engine, surge stack, Things to do, ventilator, Walsall, Water, Water tower, Waterwoks
11 Comments
The Harrison dynasty: Beginnings in Coal, 1849
Regular reader, commentarian and contributor extraordinaire Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler sent me this article some weeks ago now, and I’ve been waiting to finish the Pelsall Boiler Explosion series, so it has a clear deck. This is a continuation in Peter’s … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, colliery, Cutler, Harrison, Local History, mining, New Photos, Nigel Chapman, nutty, Pedro, Peter, Staffordshire, The South Staffordshire Coalfied, Walsall Wood
8 Comments
12 good men – The verdict
So, the final instalment. Regular readers will recall that we’ve been discussing the fatal explosion at Pelsall Coal and Iron Company, that took place in December, 1887. The inquest into the deaths, having been adjourned, was resumed, and this is … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Environment, Events, Followups, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 1887, adjourn, Andy Dennis, Birmingham Daily Post, Boiler, Canal, coal, Company, Events, Explosion, inquest, iron, Local History, New Photos, Pelsall, Peter Pedro Cutler, Richard Burnell, Staffordshire, verdict
13 Comments
Before we man the lifeboats…
Before the water level rises to such an extent that the residents of Brownhills and Walsall Wood are all encamped on Shire Oak Hill waiting for the waters to recede, I’d like to wish all readers, contributors and friends of this odd little blog a very merry Christmas and a very happy, peaceful and prosperous new year.
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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
22 Comments
Underground investigations – The Grove Pit Disaster remembered
The 1st October 2012 – a couple of hours away from when I post this – will mark 82 years since the Grove Pit Disaster that killed fourteen local men in the mine that stood just off Lime Lane, on … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills mining disater, Chasewaterstuff, colliers, Grove Colliery, Grove pit, local blogs, Local History, Mine disaster, miners, Staffordshire, The men below, Wyrley common, Wyrley Grove
7 Comments
In pursuit of the truth
Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler, one of several readers and contributors without whom this blog would be nothing at all, has something to say, and I think we need to listen. Carefully. There’s something disturbing him, and me, in the way some … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cheap tat, colliery, conditions, Cutler, Edward Brown, Grove, Harrison, local blogs, Local History, mines, mining, Pedro, Peter, pit disaster, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood
27 Comments
Fair exchange
Following her comments here, reader and local history enthusiast Ann Cross recently accepted my invitation to write about her family history at the Royal Exchange pub in Walsall Wood. When I suggested that she might like to write up her work, I could tell that Ann had a great story to tell, and would tell it very well indeed. I wasn’t disappointed, and the first instalment was incredibly popular with readers of the blog.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1901, 1911, Ann Cross, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Census, David Evans, Elizabeth Weston, Family history, Freemasons Arms, history, licensee, Local History, May Emily Williams, pub, Pubs, Royal Exchange, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Thomas Weston, victualler, Walsall, Walsall Wood, William Cross
27 Comments
Ghost train
This one has pulled me up short, and I haven’t got a clue what to do with it. But it’s fascinating for a number of reasons; for one, it clearly describes the railway at Brownhills in the late Victorian era. For a second, it details the water main alongside the track. For a third, it’s utterly mad and delightful at the same time.
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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, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1904, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Christmas, Derelict, Emm Kay, Fiction, Ghost, ghost story, Holiday, Lichfield, Lichfield Mercury, Local History, New Photos, Ogley Cutting, planning, Pubs, Railway, South Staffordshire railway, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood
4 Comments
Up for sale – The Swan Inn, Brownhills, in 1835
Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler has played another blinder and found this auction advert in the Staffordshire Advertiser of Saturday, 31st October 1835. It advertises the Swan Inn and it’s not inconsiderable estate for sale. This was quite some holding, and would have … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged 1835, Auction, Bell pit, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Engine Piece, Forster, Gerald Reece, Inn, Local History, mining, Naden, Norton, Ogley Hay, Pelsall Road, Peter Cutler, Pump, Staffordshire, Swingbridge Farm, The Swan, Thomas Bowen, Tithe, Watermead
3 Comments
Union and Chapel
I am fascinated and encouraged by the diligent work being undertaken by top reader, commentor and Panoramian Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler into the the mining history of our area. Not just the mines, the engineering and their history, but also the … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Features, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, Local politics, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 8 hour system, Aldershaw, Aldershawe, Cannock Chase miners, Chapel, estate, Harrison, March, mine, orking conditions, Pedro Cutler, Pedrocut, Peter Cutler, Rev G Poole, Strike, Tamworth Herald, Unions, William Harrison
26 Comments
The truth will out
I see that Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler continues his diligent and painstaking examination of the Harrison Company, family and concerns. The Harrisons, readers will recall, were wealthy mine owners hereabouts, and Peter has spent a great deal of time in recent … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Environment, Events, Features, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local music, Local politics, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 1861, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cannock Chase Mining Historical Society, CCMHS, James Cooper, Local History, Mick Drury, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Staffordshire, William Harrison
17 Comments
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