BrownhillsBob's Brownhills Blog

Only loosely related, I know, but this is a cracking image of one of the last landlords of the pub. Image from ‘Memories of old Walsall Wood’ by Bill Mayo and John Sale.

A couple of days ago I featured here the request by Graham Kennison to find out more information about the lost Travellers Rest pub in Walsall Wood, which stood just over the canal bridge in Walsall Wood, round about where the carpet warehouse is today between Screwfix and Brickyard Lane.

Graham wrote:

A good friend from Walsall Wood died this week and his family would appreciate some help from you and your readers.

My friend was brought up in the terrace of houses that included the Travellers Rest, near Walsall Wood Bridge. The pub, stables and canal made up much of his childhood world. His mother used to say that she always knew where he was, ‘ if he wasn’t on the cut he was in it!’. During school holidays he would hitch rides with passing boatmen & when he left school he worked on the coal boats. Although the trade was then in its dying years, so his career was short lived, John always had a great love of the canal.

His wish was that his ashes should be put into the canal by the gates from the towpath into the Travellers. The problem is that, although he said that the gate posts could still be seen, the family don’t know exactly where they are. I walked along the canal in September and couldn’t locate them. I live in Scotland at the moment so can’t easily pop back for another look!

Could any of your readers help to locate the gates?

As expected, the Walsall Wood contingent – led by the young David Evans – sprang into action, and I feature below David’s research which is stunning and complete. David has been very diligent, and this has involved a lot of calling and asking around. I know he’s worked very hard on this – and I’m indebted to David, Barry Yates and I think Brian Stringer may have helped make contact, too.

This is a fine example of the community spirit this blog can engender at it’s best and I thank everyone profusely.

We’re still looking, however, for good pictures of the Travellers Rest. If you have one you’d be kind enough to let us scan, please do get in touch. Comment here, or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.

Cheers!

David wrote:

The spot in question is at the back of the unit in the centre of the image. Look for the twin downspouts. 3D rendering from the astounding Apple Maps.

The Lost Gate

Brownhills bobs blog recently received a request for help from a gentleman in Scotland, who needed to locate a precise place of the canal towpath in Walsall Wood. I am delighted to be able to help and take the opportunity to offer my sincere personal thanks to Mr Barry Yates, Walsall Wood Mon™ without whose help this would not have been possible. I also wish him and his wonderful folk group, The Staffordshire Men continued musical success (Music never leaves You) – thank you, Barry.

The Travellers Rest, a long lost Walsall pub, as depicted in ‘Memories of Old Walsall Wood’ by Bill Mayo and John Sale. 

The Lady in the photo is Barry Yates’ aunt. He lived in the house just visible at the right hand edge of this photo.

You can just see the pub sign behind the telegraph pole. This would be looking toward Walsall from the canal bridge; Screwfix in now down on the left where the terraces are. Image from ‘Memories of old Walsall Wood’ by Bill Mayo and John Sale.

This image shows the Travellers Rest just past the row of cottages where John Blakemore lived. Barry told me that John lived ‘two doors from the pub’.

This image cased some debate in the comments to the original article. The lad has his back to the High Street, and that’s Walsall Wood Bridge in the background, the large Chapel now long gone. The wall on the far bank is still present, though. Image from ‘Memories of old Walsall Wood’ by Bill Mayo and John Sale.

In the above image, you can see the gate behind Trevor. There is a gentle drop in the level of the canal edge bricks, partially obscured by grass, in line with Trevor’s shoulder. This is an important feature.

Nice hat! The drop in the brickwork is well-remembered. Barry Yates on Saturday, and photographed by David Evans.

This is Barry Yates, brother of Trevor Yates, standing at the same spot on the towpath, four paces from the gentle drop in the level of the newer blue bricks.

Immediately behind Barry is this modern fence, where the gate once stood. There are two drainpipes from the roof at this spot. The building is a carpet shop, and is by the car sales , opposite the junction of Hall Lane and Walsall road, Walsall Wood.

These downspouts mark the spot. Image kindly supplied by David Evans.

Barry began to recount some of his childhood memories as we walked along the towpath… Hopefully we will share a cup of tea after the festive season and put these in to an article for the blog.

Barry, with the other members of The Staffordshire Men folk group. Image supplied by David Evans.

Immense thanks to a true Walsall Wood gentleman, and renowned folk singer Mr Barry Yates.

David Evans
5 Dec 2015

Bob’s note: Just one question, lads. Is this a relative, too? Image from ‘Memories of old Walsall Wood’ by Bill Mayo and John Sale.

The Travellers Rest, a long lost Walsall pub, as depicted in ‘Memories of Old Walsall Wood’ by Bill Mayo and John Sale. Do you have a better photo, or know were the canal gate was?

I’d like readers top help with the following fascinating enquiry please, that reaches me from Graham Kennison, who’s looking for some rather specific information about the Travellers Rest pub that used to be in Walsall Wood.

Graham would also like a decent photo (and that would be a great addition to the blog, too).

I’m sure the Walsall Wood contingent will be able to help with this one, and if you can, please do comment here or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.

Graham wrote:

Good morning Bob,

Firstly, thanks for keeping up the blog – I don’t know how you find the time – but it is a great resource and greatly appreciated – by me at least!

A good friend from Walsall Wood died this week and his family would appreciate some help from you and your readers.

My friend was brought up in the terrace of houses that included the Travellers Rest, near Walsall Wood Bridge. The pub, stables and canal made up much of his childhood world. His mother used to say that she always knew where he was, “ if he wasn’t on the cut he was in it!”. During school holidays he would hitch rides with passing boatmen & when he left school he worked on the coal boats. Although the trade was then in its dying years, so his career was short lived, John always had a great love of the canal.

His wish was that his ashes should be put into the canal by the gates from the towpath into the Travellers. The problem is that, although he said that the gate posts could still be seen, the family don’t know exactly where they are. I walked along the canal in September and couldn’t locate them. I live in Scotland at the moment so can’t easily pop back for another look!

Could any of your readers help to locate the gates?

Also does anyone have a good picture of the Travellers that they would be happy to let us scan? We would also appreciate any pictures of coal carrying on the canal in the Walsall Wood area and of the canal at Walsall Wood colliery in particular.

The strange thing about the Travellers is that, although it was a long-established pub and canal stables, it doesn’t seem to appear on any maps. Perhaps some of your stable of star historians can tell us why?

Kind regards,
Graham Kennison

My thanks and best wishes to Graham for his kind words and I wish him all the best for his touching and thoughtful enquiry.

Of late, work and other pressing matters have kept me from sorting out and posting some of the more time consuming contributions to the blog – a regrettable situation, but needs must – and I don’t like to rush material as great as the following article written for the blog by David Evans with material supplied by Jill Manchester on the subject of her Grandfather, Harry Beardsmore.

This is a fantastic article regarding the probably unknown history of a great, heroic son of Walsall Wood, and it’s a lovely thing to share. Thanks to David and Jill, and my apologies for the delay.

Without further ado, over to David Evans who wrote:

Harry Beardsmore (back right) in a wonderful family photo kindly supplied by Jill Manchester.

A few years ago I was fortunate to be able to borrow and read through a book which contains the names of those local servicemen who returned from the Great War, and from this to compile a list of the names of the men who returned to Walsall Wood.

Some of these men I had known in my childhood street in the village and some have been mentioned in articles that you have kindly posted on your blog.

The article Diamonds and Dust (February 2013) described Mr Anslow…. And these elderly gentlemen were always called ‘Mr’ by us children. Woe betide any child who did not show respect. My abiding memory of him was seeing Mr and Mrs Anslow most Mondays, busily doing the wash in the shed behind their house. There were clouds of steam coming out of the shed, and the sound of heavy thuds as Mrs Anslow dollied the washing in the tub. Then watching the kind couple engaged in the laborious process of mangling the washing, with Mrs Anslow, with her hair done in a bun, feeding the wet clothes to the rollers, and Mr Anslow, in rolled -up shirtsleeves, broad bracers and belt, and with beads of sweat on his brow, turning the handle.

Mr Dick Southall featured in the article ‘The Cossacks of Walsall Wood’, (September 2013) and my abiding memory of this gentleman is of a tall, straight, man, neat and trim, in smart jacket riding breeches and spats, striding along Coronation Road.

Cannon Jim Edwards featured in the article ‘The Cannon made in Walsall Wood’ (September 2013) and I fondly remember him visiting me when I was in hospital in 1959.

One name stood out as I gazed through the thick Roll of the Great War book. Mr H Beardsmore. Quite recently in the blog article ‘Perspectives’ written by Mrs Jill Manchester, I was amazed to see his name mentioned. So, I telephoned her and, in true fashion, we had a good chat!

Jill has kindly allowed me to research her grandfather’s military service, which I am pleased to offer. But Mrs Manchester has also very kindly sent me some photos of the kind old gentleman who I used to see every day along the street in Walsall Wood.

Mr Beardsmore was a kindly gentleman who was well liked and respected by all those friends and neighbours who knew him. He was one of the generation of Walsall Wood’s grand old men who, once a year, every year without fail, put on their best Sunday suit and waistcoat, neatly ironed shirt and perfectly neat tie, and, with their medals pinned to their jackets, gathered in line at the village cenotaph. As the years passed their numbers slowly dwindled, but their resolve to stand and honour their fallen comrades never faltered. Then, like the coalminers who used to be seen walking through the village to work down the Coppy Pit, they were no more.

Now, when I walk past what remains of the Oak Park’s immaculately tended no 2 crown bowling green, I sometimes see in my mind’s eye these same old gentlemen and their friends playing a serious game of bowls, or just sitting on the bench, enjoying a pipe of twist, with Mr Beardsmore looking on.

I would like to offer my sincere thanks to Mrs Jill Manchester for her kindness in offering the photos I am pleased to send.

Battle of Amiens. German prisoners arriving at a temporary POW camp near Amiens, 9 August 1918.  Courtesy Imperial War Museum

Mr Harry Beardsmore

Harry’s military medical records show that he was seriously wounded August 16^th 1918 ‘In reserve trench.’ He had enlisted on 6 June 1916 to the 3^Rd Battalion North Staffs Regiment. He was posted to BEF on 1st of August 1918 and he arrived in France on the 6^th of August, 1918. He was transferred to the Middlesex Regiment on the 7^th of August 1918 and then to the 7^th London Regiment on the 12^th of August 1918 and was given the Regiment no 62972. He received serious shell wounds to both legs and had one leg amputated at the Military field hospital

It is highly likely that he was part of the troop reinforcements waiting in reserve trenches in the British section of the Battle of Amiens which began 8 August 1918…

Map of the ground gained at Amiens. Image from The Long Trail.

Map of ground gained by the British and French forces in the Battle of Amiens. The inset map compares the gain to that of the Germans on the Aisne in May-June 1918. But Amiens was not about ground gained, other than its effect on pushing German artillery further from the key railway junction at Amiens. It was about destruction and demoralisation of the German army, and in this succeeded brilliantly. Courtesy the Long Long Trail.

(The map gives location of British forces in the battle of Amiens)

Mr Harry Beardsmore, standing in Brookland Road, Walsall Wood. Image kindly supplied by Jill Manchester.

I remember Mr Beardsmore well from my childhood. He was a kind gentleman who was well liked and respected by his neighbours and all those who knew him. He was one of the generation of ‘grand old men’ of Walsall Wood who, once a year without fail would put on their best Sunday suit and waistcoat, a neatly ironed white shirt and perfectly neat tie and  with their medals pinned to their lapels, would take a while to silently stand in line by the village cenotaph. As the years passed their numbers slowly dwindled, but their resolve to stand and honour their fallen comrades never faltered. Woe betide any child who failed to show these men respect. Like the coalminers walking along the road to work down the pit, these gentlemen were always greeted with ‘Good morning Mr….’

Mr Harry Beardsmore in 1947. Image courtesy of Jill Manchester.

But, time passed, and these old gentlemen from the Great War were no more. But when I go to Oak Park and see where the second crown bowling green, putting green , tennis courts and pavilion once stood, I often bring to my mind’s eye these same old gentlemen playing bowls, with Mr Beardsmore, groundsman, watching the game.

Ordnance Survey 1:10,000 map of Clayhanger, Walsall Wood, High Heath and Pelsall. Published 1947, it was revised in 1938. Click for a large version.

Above is a map section from the Ordnance Survey 1:10,000 1947 publication epoch. It was revised officially in 1938, and shows some map lag. But that aside, this week I noticed something very, very interesting and a little bit peculiar.

I’m not going to tell you, let’s see if readers can guess. It’s a great excuse to study a lovely bit of mapping in any case – just revel in that drafting. The rail lines, watercourses and boundaries.

See what I see? Comment or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.

If nobody gets it, I’ll expand in due course. This has the potential to be quite a large story.

Image very kindly donated by Reg “Are Reg’ Fullelove from his collection.

Oh yes – catching up with last weeks email (yes, times are that stretched, sorry) I noted these images had dropped into my inbox from David Evans – they’d been generously donated by Reg ‘Aer Reg’ Fullelove, and he doesn’t know much about them.

David said:

Hi Bob

Aer Reg has kindly offered these amazing images to the blog.

They were taken, he believes, before the time of the First World War, in or around Hednesford and offer a glimpse of life in times gone by.

But, I wonder if readers can help to solve the mystery of where and when they were taken, and what the event actually was?

Kind regards
David Evans

Now, far be it from me to differ with Reg, but these look closer to 1930s to me, but I could very well be wrong. Does anyone out there (possibly in the Cannock/Hednesford/Norton contingent who I know read the blog) recognise them?

It’s clearly some kind of camping event. This picture is curious, with some of the group stood in a stream. Anyone recognise the bridge?

Image very kindly donated by Reg “Are Reg’ Fullelove from his collection.

‘Hednesford CCC’ is mentioned on the one poster, (M?)arionettes on another. Note the stockings hanging on the line, too.

Thanks to Reg for a wonderful donation yet again, and a quick message to him: Sorry old chap, I’ve lots of your material to come. Time has been tight. I’ll try and get more up in coming weeks, promise – nothing is wasted, and I so love sharing the things you so kindly donate. Please forgive my tardiness.

In the meantime, if you can help, please do comment here or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail do com. Cheers.

Image very kindly donated by Reg “Are Reg’ Fullelove from his collection.

Image very kindly donated by Reg “Are Reg’ Fullelove from his collection.

Image very kindly donated by Reg “Are Reg’ Fullelove from his collection.