BrownhillsBob's Brownhills Blog

The Rovers return…

Posted on October 22, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Why not print out a few of these flyers and pass them around?

Top contributor, commentor and all round good egg David Evans has been busy over the last few weeks organising a treat for local history buffs in Brownhills and the wider community.

David has been back in correspondence with the elder statesman of Brownhills local history Gerald Reece, who last gave a talk in Brownhills in 2012. That event was also organised by David and raised £520 for MacMillan Cancer Support, and now the two have got together and organised another presentation on local history.

All this is quite remarkable considering Gerald moved to Devon some years ago, but still loves Brownhills and it’s history enough to continue his research.

Gerald will give his talk at Brownhills Methodist Church in Silver Street, Brownhills on 28th November, 2014. Gerald, of course, wrote that definitive work on our town, ‘Brownhills: A walk into history’, a book upon which this blog has leant quite heavily over the years.

This time, the presentation will be amplified, as I gather a few had trouble hearing last time, and there will also be a visual display along with the talk. The first part of this one will be concentrating on the Manor of Ogley Hay, and the second on the planned Brownhills new town in the mid nineteenth century.

Gerald is a fascinating and engaging man, expert in his field, and from what I can ascertain, has plenty of remarkable and new material to share. Seats for the 7:30pm talk are a snip at £3 a pop, and all proceeds will be going to Macmillan Cancer Support, a charity which I feel we all can get behind in their essential work.

I’d like to publicly thank both David and Gerald for their efforts and selfless contribution to the continued preservation and investigation of our local history. This will be a cracking night and I implore anyone interested in our communal past to attend.

If you wish to enquire further about the talk, you can mail David on dastaneva02 at aol dot com, or comment here. In order to gauge numbers expected to attend, it would be nice if anyone planning to go could comment on this post, please. The evening is pay at the door, so estimating numbers in advance could be tricky.

A simple ‘yes’ here would be very helpful to David if possible. Cheers.

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, 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 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

Stolen Landrover – please keep an eye out, folks

Posted on October 20, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

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I’ve been contacted by reader Gemma Clarke on behalf of her pal Rebecca Sketchley King, who’s asked if I could possibly request readers look out for her stolen Black Landcover Defender, which was taken from Erdington Road, Aldridge tonight (Monday, 20th October 2014) between 7:40 and 7:55pm.

Rebecca posted the following message and above images on Facebook:

Land Rover Defender 90 TDI 5 Reg S2 JSK.

Taken from Erdington Road, Aldridge.. Next to St. Francis School. Taken tonight between 7.40pm and 7.55pm.

If anyone has seen or heard anything please can you get in touch! Please share!

Please, if you have any information on this theft, or see the vehicle around, please do contact West Midlands Police by dialling 101 or speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Posted in News | Tagged Lichfield | Leave a comment

Building your new transport network… in 1974

Posted on October 19, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

A 1974 guide to getting about Walsall, Cannock, Lichfield and Sutton by bus and rail. Click for a larger version

I’m hoping some of the bus and rail enthusiasts can help with this one – a few weeks ago I picked up a 40 year old bus route map for Walsall, Aldridge Lichfield, Brownhills and Cannock, and it’s an interesting little time capsule all of it’s own.

This is the leaflet that was handed out just after Midland Read services were pulled into the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive – WMPTE – which was controlled and run by West Midlands Council Council and the individual boroughs (I Think).

Wallow in this, it’s great.

Four quid for a month’s free travel on busses? It’s a lot more than that now. Note there’s a reference to Birmingham ‘All Night’ services. All night? Really?

Also note the little rail map. Some interesting things to note there. No station at Telford, but one labeled ‘New Hadley’ between Oakengates and Wellington. Smethwick West served that grim estate, but Galton Bridge Station didn’t exist, and neither did Snow Hill and the Jewellery Line. Halstead was called Great Bar. No services north of Walsall yet, and some odd conjoined names; ‘Grimes Hill & Withall; Birches & Bilbrook; Vauxhall & Duddeston.

I welcome comment on this, and I know one regular used to drive at least some of these routes.

One thing that will surprise you – this flimsy, worn sheet cost more – by several orders – that the 6 foot long mining plan featured earlier. It’s an odd world.

Comments, clarifications? Leave them here, or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.

This is worthy of study; some interesting snippets mentioned here. Click for a larger version.

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged 1974, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, bus, Clayhanger, free, Harpers, Leaflet, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, map, Midland Red, Old maps, Passenger Transport Executive, Politics, PTE, public transport, Rail, scan, Staffordshire, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, West Midlands, WMPTE | 4 Comments

Wood ‘n’ heart – a new book out now!

Posted on October 19, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

A new history book for Walsall Wood, by a local man. Some wonderfully off-beat stuff in here – and only £8. What’s not to love?

The young David Evans has kindly alerted me last week to a new history book on Walsall Wood, written by local author Clive Roberts who’s a lifelong Walsall Wood mon™, local historian and occasional contributor to the blog.

It’s a great follow up to Clive’s previous work ‘Snippets of local history in and around Shire Oak‘, which went down well with locals and soon sold out.

I asked Clive to send me a few words on his latest book, and he had this to say:

Hello Bob.

I’d just like to let you and the readers of the blog know that I have a new book on sale, its called Snippets of history in and around Walsall Wood.

Some of the subjects I have covered in the book include how Freizland Lane got its name, the lost Walsall Wood Institute, some local football teams, a few post cards of Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood folk up before the bench, the history of the Wheel Inn pub, plus lots more.

The book can be purchased from: Egans shop, High Street, Brownhills, also Walsall Wood Library and the Corner Shop, Friezland Lane, Shire Oak.

There are some books at Walsall Local History Centre as well.

In total there are 79 pages of history.

The book costs £8.

Best wishes to you Bob and the readers of the Blog.

Clive L Roberts

I haven’t got my copy yet, but when I can procure one I shall review it more extensively – but from what David was telling me, it really is rather good. I loved – as did so many of you – Clive’s detailed and thorough work on Shire Oak, and expect the same high quality research and personable style will be evident.

I will repeat this until I’m blue in the face: grab these local history books while you have the chance. There are so often printed in short runs, and soon become rare. I get continual enquiries for past books, and people end up paying fortunes for them on eBay and the like once they’ve sold out.

Thanks to David and Clive for letting me know, and look out for my review later in the week.

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, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged Book, Book new, Brownhills local history, CLive L Roberts., David Evans, Events, Facebook, Freizland, Institute, Local History, New Photos, Pubs, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Snippets of Local History in and around Shire Oak', Staffordshire, Things to do, Walsall Wood, Wheel Inn | 9 Comments

Hunting Lodge

Posted on October 19, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

1905 postcard, sent to Aldridge Lodge. But what of the place? Image kindly donated by Ruth Penrhyn-Lowe.

It’s often the case when compiling the blog that unconnected threads spring at tangents from original articles – and so it was last week when I featured Ruth Penrhyn-Lowe’s excellent scanned postcards in the awfully titled ‘Overcome with emulsion’ post.

One of the cards was addressed to a Mrs. J. Harrison at Aldridge Lodge, Walsall, and a quite involved and interesting comment thread sprang from it.

Back in it’s day, Aldridge Lodge was quite some place, as this extract from the 1884 1:10,000 Ordnance Survey mapping shows. Click for a larger version.

As sometimes happens, a passing local historian chanced upon the thread – and Lynne Ingram, Secretary of the rather excellent Lynn and Stonnall Conservation & Historical Society is somewhat coincidentally giving a talk this Wednesday about her own research into Aldridge Lodge.

How serendipitous is that? Just lately, everyone is talking about synchronicity…

Lynne wrote:

Hello Bob.

For the past 2 years I have been researching Aldridge Lodge and have just noticed a postcard on your website – whenever I find something new I get quite exited – how sad is that!

However, I just thought you might be interested to know that I will be presenting this ‘hot off the press’ research for the first time at the Lynn & Stonnall Conservation and Historical Society on Wednesday next.

The talk takes place at 7:30pm Wednesday 22nd October 2014, at the Youth and Community Centre in Stonnall to which you, or indeed anyone who may be interested would be very welcome.

Information about Aldridge Lodge over the centuries has been incredibly difficult to find but after 2 years I feel that I am getting to the bottom of it.

However, it is still relatively sketchy and I am hoping that people who attend the meeting may hold some keys to unlock some of the mystery.

Would it be possible for you to ask the lady who supplied the scanned image of the postcard of Aldridge Lodge if she would agree for me to keep a copy on record – not for use in my presentation next week.

With regards

Lynne Ingram
Secretary,
Lynn and Stonnall Conservation & Historical Society

I’d point out at this point that the Conservation & Historical Society are a wonderful group of dedicated historians who do this stuff thoroughly and well, and I have great respect for them. This talk will be well worth popping along to.

Thanks to Lynne for the heads – it just goes to show, you never know where a post will lead…

Often, really interesting comment threads evolve from only tenuously connected subjects. It’s why I love doing this and it’s all good. Postcard scan generously supplied by Ruth Penrhyn-Lowe.

Posted in Environment, Events, 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, Bosty Lane, Chasetown, Conservation & Historical Society, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Lodge, Lynn, Lynne Ingram, meeting, Old maps, Postcard, presentation, Redevelopment, Ruth Penrhyn Lowe, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Talk, Things to do, Walsall Wood, Wednesday 22 october, Youth and Community Centre | 1 Comment

Walsall Wood own Sphinx

Posted on October 19, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Some great football happening at Oak Park these days…

Walsall Wood FC were at home to Coventry Sphinx yesterday afternoon (Saturday, 18th October 2014), and were back on stonking form with 90 minutes of wonderfully entertaining football, in which they beat the Cov boys 2-1.

Bill Shaw has submitted an excellent match report, as he always does – thanks, Bill!

Respect.

Bill sent this report:

Hiya Bob,

Back to winning ways with local lad Scott Cooper (the quiet man of the squad) hitting an absolute peach of a goal to give us all 3 points.

Walsall Wood 2 V 1 Coventry Sphinx

A nightmare start for Walsall Wood, keeper Dutton saving bravely at the feet of Max Black. The ball was then despatched into the Wood half, Giovanni Dainty running from right to left across the face of the Wood box before laying the ball back to Luke Downes, 25 yards out to hit a rising drive into the top corner.

Jack Rooney put a back header inches wide of his own goal on eight minutes and then five minutes later Harry Harris lobbed the visiting keeper, the ball again the wrong side of the post. Drew Aiton then found Harris in the box on 17 minutes, his low drive bringing a full length save from Dutton.

Rooney [not Mr. Potatohead himself, surely? – Bob] turned provider on 21 minutes, powering forward from halfway and putting Rikkie Cutting in on goal, his low drive bringing a superb full length save from Mario Kisiel.

Wood equalised on 57 minutes, Ben Evans fading across the face of the Sphinx box from right to left before finding Aiton, who cut inside and hit a vicious low drive that Dutton at full stretch pushed away. The defence couldn’t get the ball clear, Black pouncing to fire into the roof of the net.

Then 11 minutes later, a goal that would have graced any football ground in the world, from a right wing corner the ball was half cleared to Scott Cooper 30 yards out, he flicked the ball up into the air, turned and then hit an absolute screamer into the top right hand corner.

Walsall Wood could have added to their total but were almost made to pay at the very end, Sphinx raced out of defence, the ball was crossed into the right of the box, substitute Adam Bilic timed his run to perfection only to fire a first time effort into orbit.

Three well deserved points, an entertaining 90 minutes and it was good to see the Clayhanger Kid, Brian Stringer and former Chairman Geoff Powell in attendance.

So it’s Hednesford on Tuesday in the Staffs Senior Cup, kickoff 7.45 pm., don’t be late.

Bill Shaw.

Thanks to Bill, for an honest, entertaining and very fan-focussed match report, as ever. Really an honour to feature them here.

Check out Walsall Wood FC’s website here.

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged 18th October, 2014, Bill Shaw, Coventry Sphinx, Events, FC, football, Footy, Good of the Wood, home, Inspection, Lichfield, match report, match review, Report, result, soccer, Things to do, Walsall Wood, Walsall WOod FC | Leave a comment

Relativity

Posted on October 18, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Note the campaigns, and the ad for Swan Carpets, still extant. Click for a larger version.

I’ve always been an avid consumer of local news and information, and one of the reasons I started the Brownhills Blog (apart from my obvious propensity to nosiness and mischief) was the fact that there was not a decent existing online or real-world source of news and information for our area.

It was not always thus, however; in the Late 80s and 90s there was an excellent local freesheet paper or magazine (the A4 format fell between the two) called the Brownhills Gazette, itself taking the name from a long-gone Victorian publication for the town.

The Gazette was prepared and printed in Brownhills by a company called Baker Bond, who had a print shop in Providence House, just opposite Silver Court on the corner of New Road. The Gazzette was written and edited by top local bloke, activist and friend of the blog Brian Stringer, who made a thoroughly excellent job of it.

The Gazette ceased publication in the 1990s, after Baker Bond were bought out (at least, that’s my belief; I may have the details wrong – hopefully Brian himself might help here). I believe there were sister titles for other local areas.

This was a campaigning publication; although formal and gentle – perhaps even genteel, and quite traditional – Brian energised readers and got things done. Silver Court was resurfaced due to a campaign in the Gazette. People liked it, and read it. The people in power listened to it, and certainly couldn’t ignore it.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again; without Brian’s work at The Brownhills Gazette, BrownhillsBob would not exist. This small-circulation, hyperlocal (how I hate that term) publication was my inspiration and guiding light. Nothing I have ever done can compare to that professional, high-quality paper; but I aspire to it.

Copies of the Gazette in the wild are hard to come by, and I’m grateful to local history stalwart David Evans, who last week, found a copy from November 1994; hard to imagine it’s actually 20 years old. I feel bloody ancient.

I have no idea where the Boy Evans found this precious thing, but I’m eternally grateful for him taking the effort, as I always am.

David has lovingly scanned and emailed me the whole thing, and I include it below. You can either download the whole thing as a PDF, or browse the page by page gallery.

Note the adverts for long-gone businesses, the inclusion of local history, letters and campaigns. If any of it looks vaguely familiar, I’m glad.

Brian Stringer and his work at The Brownhills Gazette were my template. Thanks, Brian.

If you have any other copies, or memories, please do comment or mail me – BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.

Brownhills Gazette November 1994 – PDF format

Posted in News | 7 Comments

Walsall Wood face Coventry Sphinx at Oak Park this afternoon

Posted on October 18, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Oak Park – home to the mighty Woodmen!

Saturday 18th October 2014

The Wood are at home to Coventry Sphinx!

Come watch the lads at Oak Park!

Kick off is 3:00pm

Hopefully, a match report will follow…

For the Good of the Wood!

Check out Walsall Wood FC’s website here.

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged 18th October, 2014, announcement, Coventry Sphinx, Events, FC, football, Footy, Good of the Wood, home, Inspection, Lichfield, soccer, Things to do, Walsall Wood, Walsall WOod FC, weather | 1 Comment

Ain’t nothing but a found dog – now resolved

Posted on October 18, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

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A fine looking white Stffy found in Brownhills yesterday afternoon – is he yours? Image from Kellymay Worral’s Facebook page.

Update 10:55am Saturday 18th October 2014: Great news! Charlie the Staffy has been reunited with his owner, Dawn Miller who messaged me:

‘Hi just to let u know the white staffy was mine iv been n collected Charlie from hillmans vets he is now home safe n sound thank u for the post! :)’

We seem to be doing a lot of lost and found pets here lately – which is great; it’s nice to do a service for the community. With that in mind, do you recognise the above Staffordshire Bull Terrier? It was found yesterday (Friday 17th October 2014) by Kellymay Worrall in Brownhills.

It’s not been stated where the dog was found, but that looks like it’s up by St. James Church, but I could be very wrong.

Unchipped, the dog has been taken to Hillman’s Veterinary Surgery in Brickiln Street for the time being. You can contact them here:

4 Brickiln St, Brownhills
WS8 6AU
Open today (Saturday) 9:00am – 12:00pm
Phone 01543 375154
Website http://www.hillmanvets.co.uk
Or check their Facebook page here.

Thanks to reader John Parker who tipped me off. Kellymay’s post on Facebook discussing the hound can be seen here.

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community | Tagged 2014, Brownhills, dog, Events, Facebook, found, Hillman, John Parker, Kellymay Worrall, Lichfield, Lost, New Photos, Staffordshire, Staffy, Things to do, Vet, white | 2 Comments

Chasewater: here’s why the water is low

Posted on October 17, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Over the autumn, water l;evils at Chasewater have become much lower than we’re used to.

Lately, lots of people have been contacting me asking why the water level is so low at Chasewater, and many – including the champion of the waterfowl, Swan Lady Irene Hodges – have been very concerned about the impact of low water levels on the wildlife there.

My first reaction to this is that I share the concern, but I would note that since it refilled, Chasewater has been unusually high, and we’ve got used to that situation. It should be remembered that the reservoir exists and still functions as a feeder for the West Midlands canal network, and the Canal and River Trust have every right to use it to top up the canal network as necessary.

I have been in conversation with Lichfield District and Staffordshire County Councillor Sue Woodward, who has kindly been helping to obtain a true picture of what’s going on so I can reassure readers and those worried about the park they love.

Repairing the drain was a quick job, but water levels had to be lowered to enable the work.

Following a statement from Noreen Davidson, Rural Access Manager at Staffordshire County Council, I can share the following information…

The level was initially lowered to allow a damaged drain in the dam to be repaired. This was carried out quickly and is now complete. The work took less than a week, but even so, the water had to be lowered to enable the work to take place.

The level is now lower because the Canal and Rivers Trust have recently drawn off some water in addition to that released to allow the work to take place. The water level has been higher than average this year because of the very high rainfall last winter. The 1.3 metres that had to be drawn down to carry out the works reduced the level to the average for this time of year.

However, since the Canal and Rivers Trust have also recently used the Chasewater to top up the level for the canal network (as is their right), the water level has dropped to it’s current level. The valves are now closed, and the Trust have indicated that they are not expecting to draw down any more and that Chasewater’s level should return to its normal level over the winter provided that we have sufficient rain.

Chasewater is very dear to me as it is to many, many readers, and I’ve been trying to get information for a while now, and I’d like to thank Councillor Woodward and Noreen Davidson for their help in this matter. Hopefully, this statement will put minds to rest and our favourite reservoir should fill up in the coming months (although not too quickly, eh? I don’t want to spend a third consecutive winter tipping water out of my hat.)

As Irene pointed out to me a couple of weeks ago, the young swans hatched this year are now on Chasewater with the main flock, and it’s important the ecology continues to recover so that they may have necessary food over the winter.

This year’s new arrivals are already discovering the joys of Chasewater…

Posted in News | Tagged Lichfield | 4 Comments

Hey up – kitten lost on the Hussey Estate

Posted on October 17, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

The lost kitten looks like this cute bundle of fur. Image supplied by Becci.

This is an desperate appeal for help that came in via Facebook this evening (17th October 2014) – Becci Saich messaged me to ask if I could share her appeal to try and find her lost kitten.

If the name seems familiar, Becci was the lady who recently found a dog on the Hussey Estate and worked very hard to try and reunite him with his owners. Let’s see if we can repay her community spirit by finding her wee cat.

If you live on the Hussey Estate or nearby, please check sheds and garages, please.

Becci asked:

Hi Bob

Please help find my kitten – he’s been missing since yesterday at around 5pm.

He is 12 weeks old last seen in Albion Road on the Hussey Estate – he is only small for his age and looks very similar to this kitten in the picture

Becci Saich

If you find puss, please comment here, mail me on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com, or contact Becci direct via Facebook.

Cheers all…

Please check sheds, outbuildings and garages for a wee lost kitten.

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Interesting photos, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community | Tagged 2014, Albion, appeal, Becci, Brownhills, cat, estate, Facebook, Hussey, kitten, Lichfield, Lost, New Photos, Road, Saich, Things to do | 1 Comment

A musical evening in Brownhills – this Saturday!

Posted on October 17, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

reniLocal chap and musician John Carver contacted me a week or so ago to ask me to give this fine folk gig a plug, starring a lady with a rather remarkable local tale to tell – and she’s supported by some rather excellent Welsh musicians, too.

The whole think takes place on Saturday evening at the Methodist Church in Silver Street, Brownhills, so what’s not to love? It’s only a fiver for a great night’s music and entertainment.

John Carver wrote:

Looks like a really great night out.

Dear Bob

I’m really not sure if we have met or not, but as a local Brownhills West resident for 36 years, and a life long Walsall (Staffordshire) man I have dipped in and out of your blog pages over the years, and have taken a closer interest in the issues with Chasewater Dam.

I have a piece of local event news which you may feel is appropriate to put into your diary and blog.

Local folk veteran Jean Ward is making a popular return to Brownhills Methodist Church on October 18th. Accompanied by her daughter Mandy , and long term guitarist John Carver the trio will be performing a number of old favourites and some new songs.

The evening will also feature the trio Brenig, who are visiting from Aberystwyth.

Come and join us , Doors open 6:30 entrance £5

Jean will be known to many local residents as she grew up in Walsall Wood as Jean Craddock, she married a local gas board man Larui Ward in 1957 and lived and worked in Brownhills for a number of years. She worked at Ducketts shop in Lichfield Road. She sang with Kenny Ball and other bands of that era, making records, radio and television appearances. Lauri and Jean were in the vanguard of the folk revival of the late 1960 & 70’s by running folk clubs in nearby Heath Hayes and the Hazel Slade. They brought many acts to the club before they became household names, Jasper Carrott, and Barbara Dickson to name couple.

Jean continued to sing for many years accompanied by a variety of local instrumentalists including Terry McCann, John and Mike Raven, Chris Towe, Pete Cocoran, and John Baker and John Carver.

In 1976 she released her own album Stay Not Late to the acclaim of many of the folk scenes commentators, but sadly after 1990 family problems and her husbands death she virtually gave up singing in public until a couple of years ago.

Now an octogenarian, with replacement hip and knee, she announced herself as the bionic granny to the directors auditions for the 2014’s Britains Got Talent. Singing as a trio with Mandy her daughter and John Carver she was eliminated at the second audition, but it was a good experience.

Mandy lives in Wales and is part of a group called Brenig, named after a local river. Along with Mary on violin, and Daniel they sing Daniel’s self penned songs about Wales and its history.

They are joining Jean for the event at the Methodist Church in October.

Kind regards
John Carver

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged 18th October, 2014, Brenig, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Clayhanger, Events, folk, gig, Jean Ward, John Carver, Lichfield, Mandy Ward, Methodist Chursch, Reservoir, Saturday, Shire Oak, Silver Street, Things to do, Walsall Wood | 1 Comment

Quality is important – What lies beneath once more

Posted on October 16, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Hi folks – it’s not often I do this here on the blog, but I feel that quality is important, particularly in the recording of historically important documents I present, and an article I wasn’t happy with at all was published here a few weeks ago with a very heavy heart.

The 6 foot long Walsall Wood mining plan I shared a few weeks ago just wasn’t up to scratch, and I’m sorry for that; it was legible, but the scan was was too compressed to appreciate the full detail of the document. Sadly, the bureaux who scanned the plan failed to understand my requirements after two attempts, and in the end I ran with what I had.

Since then I’ve found an imaging geek who understand my needs, and they rescanned the plan in top quality for free, as a sample to see if my requirements were met. They have been exceeded, and these scans are beautiful and brilliant.

I’m reissuing this post now with higher resolution, better quality imagery and I’m sure readers will be interested to know I have another of these long plans currently being scanned for an upcoming article.

I’d like to thank the man with the scanner; if he passes by, cheers. Geek to geek services; the way forward. Thanks for excellent service.

Now rescanned in high quality – Over six feet long, drawn on velum, the workings in the Robbins Seam at Walsall Wood Colliery as they affected the railway line between Walsall Wood and Brownhills. A remarkable document. Click for a larger version, or see the full detail scan below.

Download the 200 DPI high quality PDF version of the above here – 18.6 megabytes

Download the 400 DPI Ultra high quality PDF version of the above here – 122 megabytes

Way back at the beginning of August, I shared a partial scan of a document I’d acquired – a mining plan of how workings in the Robbins coal seam under Walsall Wood, Clayhanger and Brownhills affected the railway line above.

Well, I’ve finally got this 6 feet long plan scanned for all to ponder over.

Around fourteen inches wide, and six feet long. It’s a plan, on velum, of the progress of coal extraction in the Robins seam from under Walsall Wood and Clayhanger up until the early 1960s. The map is hand drafted. The red areas show where coal was extracted.

There’s lots to see here, included exploratory digs that entered from sees above. It’s a fascinating thing, to be sure.

I’ve created a Google Earth overlay for readers to orient the plan. Because it’s on fabric, it’s only geometrically well aligned at the Walsall Wood end, however it’s good enough at the Brownhills end to give a reasonable idea.

The plan overlaid on Google Earth – note Walsall Wood, left, and Brownhills right. At the right hand side the alignment is poor. You can’t accurately maintain geometric with a fabric plan this long! Click for a larger version.

You can download this overlay to use in Google Earth by clicking the link below – it can also be used as a basemap in Garmin GPS devices. Instructions on the use of this in Google Earth can be found in this post.

Walsall Wood Colliery Plan Google Earth overly 5.8 megabytes

Please note that this is an indication only; this plan could be wrong, or metres out. Please don’t use it for anything serious. It’s for information only.

The plan shows where the main shafts were to Walsall Wood Colliery. Note how one lies beneath a building the the yard of the former Veolia/Effluent Disposal works; this was the sluice-house where industrial waste was tipped into the former workings in the 1970s and 80s. Click for a larger version.

Note the shafts are marked, and one is under the building that was constructed as the sluice house for tipping the chemical waste into the mine after it’s closure in 1964.

Think about the fact that these are the workings in just one seam – there were several others – so it goes to illustrate the huge number of voids and their span that existed below our area where the black gold was dug out. Most of this was backfilled with spoil after the mine ceased production; after that, the remainder was filled with industrial waste.

Consider also that this huge area would have been dug either by hand, or fairly minimal mechanisation; by the time Walsall Wood Colliery closed in 1964, it was not modernised and it didn’t employ the modern cutting machinery that other mines did.

This is local history gold – and bear in mind this is only one seam: there would e separate drawings for each one.

Please do comment or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community | Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, colliery, Coppice Road, Document, Draft, history, Local History, London North Western Railway, mining, Old maps, pit, plan, progress, Railway, Robins, Seam, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood, workings | 10 Comments

How do you like these apples?

Posted on October 16, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Can’t been an English apple. I adore English Cox’s. Image from Wikimedia commons.

We are celebrating the good old English Apples here at Chasewater Innovation Centre on Sunday 19th October 1pm – 4pm. Admission and parking is free, and we are having stalls, gifts, crafts and fun for all the family! There will be many different species of apples to try, and we will be pressing apples the old fashioned way for the freshest apple juice you have ever tasted!

Come and experience our Apple Day once again, with an afternoon of craft activities, stalls and all the information you need on the wonderful English Apple!

Come along for locally brewed Cider, stalls with interesting an unusual things to buy, and stay for a cup of tea and a cake!

Look forward to seeing you there – it’s at:

The Innovation Centre,
Chasewater,
Pool Lane,
Brownhills,
WS8 7NL.

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged 19th, 2014, Apple, Brownhills, Chasewater, Clayhanger, Cleebration, day, Events, fair, fun, Innovation centre, Lichfield, October, press, recipe, Reservoir, sample, Staffordshire, Sunday, Things to do, Wildlife | 1 Comment

A Christmas market for Brownhills?

Posted on October 15, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Just a normal day in Brownhills….

I’ve had the following press release in from Walsall Council, and I think this is a really, really good idea – a two-day Christmas market planned for Brownhills over the weekend of 13-14 December 2014, and the council are appealing for stallholders.

At only £10 for non-food and £20 for food stalls, this could well be a brilliant event – and last year’s Christmas Magic day was wonderful. The Walsall night markets were excellent, and I hope some of the same traders could attend.

Please folks – it’s easy to run down our town and say nothing ever happens, but this is a real chance to come together and stage something we can all enjoy. Contact details at foot of the release.

It would e great to get some of the night-market magic to Brownhills.

Walsall Council said:

Ho, ho, ho! Christmas Market in store for Brownhills event

A Christmas market selling niche goods, including crafts, jewellery, continental gifts and hot food could be in the pipeline for Brownhills this year.

Organisers for this year’s annual Christmas event on Saturday 13 and Sunday 14 December in the town want to model the market on the popular Walsall Night Market – and are calling on local and regional traders to contact them as soon as possible.

Space will be erected in Ravenscourt Precinct, High Street, Brownhills to provide enough room for 40 stalls.

Organiser Nikki Rolls from Walsall Council’s District Centre Management team, said: ‘We’re hoping to put on a really good event. The Night Market in Walsall Town Centre was extremely popular and we want to create a similar event here in Brownhills.

‘We’re seeking a high quality, niche Christmas Market consisting of traders in crafts, jewellery, bespoke and novelty gifts, continental goods and cottage industry businesses. If this is you, we’d love to hear from you.’

The event will run from 10am until 4pm on both days and will be supported by a Santa’s Grotto, children’s rides and other festive themed entertainment.

Stall holders will be charged a fee of £10 for non-food items and £20 to sell food. Fees are the same for one or both days. Stall holders who are interested in supporting the event must bring their own facilities including table and chairs, marquee and lighting is desired. You must provide a copy of your public liability insurance is required and the necessary documentation if you are a food trader.

Councillor Mohammad Nazir, portfolio holder for regeneration added: ‘This should be a great event for the people and visitors to Brownhills. I hope local people get behind this and who knows, it could be a regular event for the town.’

To take part or find out more information please contact Nikki Rolls on 07904 264920 or email her at RollsN@walsall.gov.uk.

Meanwhile, if you’re organising anything for Christmas at all, please do drop me a line. I do like to promote local stuff wherever possible. It’s an easy way for you to reach thousands of readers a week, absolutely free of charge.

Please mail your details to BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Cheers.

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries | Tagged 14th december 2014, Brownhills, Brownhills Christmas Evens, Brownhills Christmas Windows, Christmas Fair, Christmas Magic in Brownhills, Christmas tree festival, Cradle Club, Craft Club, Donkeys, Festivity, Ice Rink, Nicky Rolls, Ravens Court, Santa Special, Shop Local, Shop smart, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood | Leave a comment

Strolling players!

Posted on October 12, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

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Oops… forgot to mention this last week…

For some time now I’ve been promoting the brilliant parent and toddler walking and social group that takes place weekly at Chasewater – Chasewater Strollers, who continue to grow in number and recently made an appeal for toys and equipment to set up a playgroup.

Well, sadly last week I forgot to point out that the Strollers changed their meeting venue from the Innovation Centre at Chasewater to St. Anne’s Church in Chasetown, just in Church Street up from the Football Club. This new venue is great for the usual Chasewater walk, and has enabled them to set up a ‘Stay and play’ group for after walk socialising.

Esther Allen, the organiser, wrote to me last Thursday the following lovely email, with an additional headsup for any local musicians.

I’ll let Esther explain:

Hi Bob

Thank you so much for the toys shout out. I am pleased to report a lovely couple came down last week with lots of toys out of their loft that their grandchildren didn’t use anymore.

You will have to pop down some time for a cuppa and a stroll if you are ever free on a Monday morning!

Also I don’t know if you will see this in time or if it is of interest but I also play in an amateur orchestra and wondered if you would be inclined to post a call for players on your blog? We were featured in the Express and Star last week!

Do you know anyone local to Walsall way who plays an orchestral instrument grade 5 standard and above? Walsall Symphony Orchestra are having an open rehearsal this Monday 13th October 2014 at Forest Arts Centre 7:45-9:30pm. The orchestra is particularly looking for string and brass players.

If you know anyone who you think might enjoy it please let them know as they are a lovely little orchestra and play some sell out concerts!

Walsall Symphony Orchestra
walsallsymphonyorchestra.weebly.com

Thanks Bob for all the great work,

Esther Allen

Thanks to Esther for the lovely words, it’s nice to know that sometimes this blog can make a difference. And if you have the talent, and fancy joining an excellent local orchestra, tell them you read about it here!

Search for Chasewater Strollers on Facebook

chasewaterstrollers@outlook.com

Any questions please send them an email or Facebook message. Otherwise just turn up and you will be made very welcome!

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Wildlife | Tagged appeal, Arts Centre, Brownhills, buggy, Chasetown, Chasewater, dad, Esther Allen, Events, Facebook, forest, Lichfield, Mondays, mum, musicians, new venue, parents, playgroup, Reservoir, St. Anne's, Staffordshire, Strollers, Things to do, toddler, walking, walking group, Walsall, Walsall Symphony Orchestra, Wildlife | Leave a comment

Overcome with emulsion

Posted on October 12, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Wonder what became of the clock? Image generously supplied by Ruth Penrhyn-Lowe.

Handwriting whizz in the house at all? Image generously supplied by Ruth Penrhyn-Lowe.

As I alluded yesterday when I featured the image of the Chasewater pump house, reader and friend of the blog Ruth Penrhyn-Lowe has been slaving over a warm scanner yet again to share with us some wonderful postcards from her late father’s personal collection, and all of these have a Chasetown theme.

They are all, as ever, beautifully prepared.

Ruth has previously sent scans of some remarkable postcards of Brownhills, a stunning large set of Aldridge, and another bunch from Aldridge and Stubbers Green. All lovingly scanned and explained. Contributions like this make compiling this blog such a fun thing to do, and I can’t thank Ruth enough.

Ruth had this to say:

Hello,

It’s been a while but I have returned to the scanner and I thought you might like to see these Chasetown postcards – all from Dad’s collection.

The High Street, Chasetown photo busy with children is addressed to Mr(s?) J Harrison, Aldridge Lodge, Walsall, and I think the postmark reads Burntwood De 20, 05.

Church Street Chasetown is addressed to Miss Doris Fox, 41 (maybe 4d?) High Street Cleethorpes and the postmark is Chasetown Au6, 13. And I just love the message:

Dear Doris, We are glad you got in safe and that you like the place. You must not stop out late and catch cold, you must take plenty of emulsion, and let us know everyday how you are going on, you must get that fresh air your self not send it on a P.C. We had to pay Penny for 1st P.O. Keep plenty of clothing on.

I can’t read the signature – over anxious parent perhaps!?

The other two images are not posted but the High Street, Chasetown scene with the gentlemen in flat caps I would guess is later than the same scene with lots of children as there are telegraph poles and cars in the distance. This one has “W. Nicholls, Newsagents & Stationer, Chasetown” printed on the back.

I don’t remember Chasetown much but I hope these spark some memories or are of interest.

Best wishes
Ruth Penrhyn-Lowe

As I said before – Ruth, I can’t thank you enough. The card of the pump house alone has been possibly the best such contribution for years, and these are all lovely cards. Cheers for your efforts and time.

No doubt these will be popping up on the Burntwood FB group uncredited. Manners, people, manners…

You guys know the drill – please comment here or BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Cheers!

A lovely card. Thin Pedro might like this one. Image generously supplied by Ruth Penrhyn-Lowe.

Emulsion? Yuk! Image generously supplied by Ruth Penrhyn-Lowe.

This view hasn’t actually changed much… Image generously supplied by Ruth Penrhyn-Lowe.

A real photograph indeed! Anyone know about the company involved? Image generously supplied by Ruth Penrhyn-Lowe.

Straightened, so the water isn’t lost. Image generously supplied by Ruth Penrhyn-Lowe.

Posted in News | Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Chasetown, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Chasewater history, Church Street, Clock, Doris Fox, Harrison, High Street, Junction, local blogs, Local History, nine foot, Postcard, Reservoir, Ruth Penrhyn Lowe, Staffordshire, steam engine, Steam pump | 17 Comments

Walsall Wood conquered by Romans

Posted on October 12, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Bothe teams took a point in a somewhat dull game. `Image from Rocester FC website.

Walsall Wood FC were away at Rocester yesterday afternoon (Saturday, 11th October 2014), and were somewhat sadly, roundly trounced by the boys from JCB.

Bill Shaw, as ever, was there to witness the match. I’d just like to say that this report typifies why I love publishing Bill’s work, and why I feel so proud of Walsall Wood FC. Even in defeat, he is generous, honest and good huoured to the opposition.

Respect.

Bill sent this report:

Hiya Bob,

After the euphoria of Tuesday night at Loughborough, Walsall Wood were brought crashing back to earth at bottom club Rocester, who had a new management team making their home debut, together with 9 new players. They gave notice that they are going to be a very different proposition from now on and will soon be climbing away from the basement area.

Rocester 2 v 0 Walsall Wood

Apart from two headers from dead ball situations in the 5th and 19th minutes from Anthony Juxon, the first just wide and the second well saved at the foot of the post, Wood found it extremely difficult to break down a well organised, resolute defence. These were a defence who almost every time Wood attacked, pulled almost everyone quickly back behind the ball. It did nothing for the game as a spectacle, but as when Swanny took over at the Wood two and a half years ago, desperate situations call for desperate measures.

It was a toss up who was man of the match for the Romans, Josh Williams worked tirelessly up front and lead the line superbly, his ability in the air gave Wood defenders a torrid afternoon and I think he was beaten just once all afternoon. He was ably supported by ex Port Vale regular, veteran Wayne Corden (42 was mentioned) whose close control, awareness and crossing ability kept the Wood defence on red alert every time he was on the ball.

It was this pair who combined on 23 minutes for the first goal, Corden making space on the left before crossing into the box for Williams to glance a header across Mario Kisiel & into the far corner of the net. When Nick Ward headed the second on 65 minutes it was all over as Wood never looked like breaking down a hard working blanket defence.

The Wood lads almost did break the stranglehold on 85 minutes however when Craig Deakin crossed low from the right only for Harry Harris and Joey Butlin to get in each other’s way and keeper Froggatt had a simple pick up.

It’s a bit of a rest and a chance to regroup for Walsall Wood before Coventry Sphinx are the visitors on Saturday.

Some good news to end with, hot off the press comes the news that popular central defender Shawn Boothe has had a change of heart on his retirement and will be back in contention for next Saturday. Welcome back Boothie.

Not hte result we expected, but remember this team is still very young and you can’t put an old head on young shoulders. Knowledge comes with experience not out of any training manual or session, no matter how good the coaching sysytem.

So keep the faith, these lads have got what it takes to take the Wood forward, so stay with us.

Bill Shaw.

Thanks to Bill, for an honest, entertaining and very fan-focussed match report, as ever. Really an honour to feature them here.

Check out Walsall Wood FC’s website here.

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged 11 october, 2014, away, Bill Shaw, Events, FC, football, Footy, Good of the Wood, Hilsfield, match report, match review, Report, result, Rocester, Romans, Rushall, soccer, Things to do, Walsall Wood, Walsall WOod FC | Leave a comment

Moving pictures – cinema returns to Aldridge

Posted on October 12, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Regular readers will know well that I like to support community projects here on the blog, and anything that caters for the kids is particularly close to my heart – so here’s a bold and inspiring project I think we can all really get behind.

Last weekend, Russell Smith contacted me about his project to start a community cinema at Aldridge Youth Theatre, to bring films back to the local community – including Brownhills. The project would be in support of Aldridge Youth Theatre, where the screenings would take place.

This sounds like an excellent idea, and the project is building support on Facebook, and will soon launch it’s own website. Russell is also after some help with the history of local cinemas, so if you can help, please do get in touch and I’ll hook you up.

Russell said:

A true star of the silver screen – Russell sets up the screen in preparation for the launch.

Hello Bob

I am a regular follower of your Blog – I am Aldridge Born, Bred and schooled and now in my mid 50s.

I am seeking your help. I am setting up a community cinema based at the Aldridge Youth Theatre – have spent my early years as a regular at The Avion. I want to bring afforadable community cinema to the Aldridge, Walsall Wood and Brownhills area.

I own the excellent book on the Avion – Harry Dennant and Sue Satterthwaite. I did a google search on the names of the contributors to this book including John Sale collection and your blog came up but I have been unable to find the article in your blog archives.

I am planning on opening in November and would very much like to organise a suitable display or links to the book and the cinema history of the area but not sure who or how to contact.

I will be visiting the Local History Centre next week.

The feedback from the community about setting up the cinema has been very encouraging and I have managed to get over 500 likes on the facebook page in under a week with some great comments.

Any help would be appreciated in promoting the cinema. It will be based at the Aldridge Youth Theatre (originally the idea of a Sylvia Cartwright who started the theatre group in Brownhills over 50 years ago before it had a permanent home in Aldridge).

We installed the screen and projection equipment today. The Cinema is a community cinema with any profits being re-invested to support the Youth Theatre and other arts projects in the area. The image is from the installation of the screen today. The Facebook page can be found here and the website should be launched in a week.

We are planning to be open in November this year.

Really appreciate any support – keep up the great work with the blog.

Kind Regards
Russell Smith

Posted in News | Tagged 2014, Aldridge, appeal, Book, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, cinema, community, display, Events, Facebook, Film, help, history, launch, Local History, pictures, planning, project, Russell Smith, Things to do, Walsall Wood, Youth Theatre | 5 Comments

Pumping clear water

Posted on October 11, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

A remarkable, and beautifully scanned image from Ruth Penrhyn-Lowe. Click for a full-size version.

This… is remarkable. I’m just going to leave it here for those among us interested in Chasewater, and the arrangements with the steam pump that used to return water from Anglesey Basin into the reservoir.

There has been a lot of debate about this subject in the past, and courtesy of reader and contributor Ruth Penrhyn-Lowe, we have the clearest scan ever of a remarkable postcard, which gives far more detail than previously seen.

She kindly sent a whole bunch of new cards, which I’ll feature later today, but this one, in light of previous debate, is very special and deserves attention.

Background can be found in this article, and this one too. Readers may also like to gen up by reading this exploration as well.

Thanks to Ruth. This has made my week – you really are most generous.

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Wildlife | Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Chasewater history, Chasewater Wildlife Group, Cycle rides, local blogs, Local History, nine foot, Postcard, Reservoir, Ruth Penrhyn Lowe, Staffordshire, steam engine, Steam pump, Wildlife | 6 Comments

Woodmen away to Rocester today

Posted on October 11, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Rocester is a great club in a lovely village in the heart of Staffordshire. Image from Rocester FC website.

Saturday 11th October 2014

The Wood are away to Rocester FC!

Come watch the lads at Hillsfield…

Kick off is 3:00pm

Hopefully, a match report will follow…

For the Good of the Wood!

Check out Walsall Wood FC’s website here.

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged 11 october, 2014, away, Events, FC, football, Footy, Good of the Wood, Hilsfield, result, Rocester, soccer, Things to do, Walsall Wood, Walsall WOod FC | 1 Comment

Do you know Mrs. J E Caine? Her handbag has been found in Brownhills…

Posted on October 10, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

As the title says, Mrs. J E Caine, your handbag is safe: go speak to San at San’s Cafe in Silver Court, Brownhills who has it safe. If you know the lady, please give her a shout. Have a butty while you’re in there too – Mmm, bacon.

http://twitter.com/sanb67/status/520478138548379648

Posted in Brownhills stuff, News | Leave a comment

We now know who, but where?

Posted on October 9, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

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OK, so this is the Sally Ann – so where is the building this photo was taken behind? Image from Maria Fitzgerald.

Last weekend I featured a remarkable image very generously supplied to the blog by Maria Fitzgerald, who’d submitted it with some other interesting local photos. Maria didn’t know much about this one, and thought it was taken behind the Brownhills Memorial Hall or Memo. All she knew was it featured her grandmother.

It turns out (and I should have spotted the fact, really) that this isn’t the Memo.

I had an interesting email from Dianne and Cliff Jones, who knew who the group were – confirming the speculation that there were Salvation Army uniforms in the back row:

Hello Bob

The photo of a group of people.

Top row: Evlyn and Horrace Gibbs ftom Shelfield.

Third row. Second in Mrs Doody, Mrs Emily Jones, Joy Gibbs and Harry Jones all from High Heath.

This was the salvation army over 60s in Brownhills High Street.

Hope this helps.
Dianne and Cliff Jones.

Thanks so much to Dianne and Cliff – but now I’m really interested in where this image was taken. A lawn, to the rear of a dark-brick building, which looks quite old. A fire escape implies a public, or semi-public building, and it seems those may be French windows behind the group.

In the background on the right, a peculiar roofline.

Anybody recognise this place? It’s killing me. Doesn’t look like the Vicarage. The house in the background seems oddly familiar.

Please comment here or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com – please somebody, put me out of my misery.

Posted in News | 12 Comments

Walsall Wood crush Loughborough

Posted on October 9, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

A hard fought draw against Loughborough saw some great footy. Image from Loughborough University Football’s Facebook page.

Last Tuesday evening (7th October 2014), Walsall Wood F.C. visitied Loughborough University, and they came home with a stunning 3-0 win after some wonderfully entertaining football.

Before the match report, Bill has asked me to point out the following error in his account of the Pershore Town match, published last Sunday:

Hiya Bob, can I put the record straight on the Pershore Town game, please? It was MAX BLACK who scored the second goal, not BEN EVANS as I reported.

My apologies to both players.

Bill also sent the following:

Hiya Bob,

On Tuesday night, Walsall Wood had the pleasure of playing on Loughborough University’s bowling green of a pitch, turning in a performance to match the surroundings.

Loughborough University 0 V 3 Walsall Wood

Wood dominated from the start, but after almost constant pressure they could have gone behind following the students first attack on 7 minutes, when from a quick break out of defence Tom Read was released into the left of the box, keeper Dale Faultless making a brave full length block.

Tom Evans hit a first time effort off the top of the bar 2 minutes later, before namesake Ben cut in from the left and fired a cross shot inches wide.

The Woodmen went ahead on 21 minutes, a lovely one touch move from left of centre ending with Max Black setting up Joey Butlin to score with a crisp low drive. Wood increased the lead 11 minutes into the second half, this time it was Ben Evans finding Butlin, his first time effort was charged down, but he collected the rebound to score with a low drive, doubling his goal tally for the season.

Then on 71 minutes the goal the whole of The Wood have been waiting for from Tom Evans. It had a touch of good fortune about it, keeper Jake Weekes slicing a clearance straight to him just outside the box, he raced into the area and his low drive took a slight deflection off a defender and evaded the desperate dive of the red faced keeper.

The football at times was breathtaking, as Swanny said, ‘If you can’t play football here – well you can’t play anywhere.’

A welcome return to Dale Faultless and at last a goal for Tom Evans, lets hope it’s now opened the floodgates and he can beat season 2012-13’s tally of 6 goals.

It’s Rocester away on Saturday followed by the visit of Coventry Sphinx to Oak Park on Saturday 18th.

Bill Shaw.

Thanks to Bill for the report – always appreciated – for The Good of the Wood!

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged 2014, 7th October, away, Bill Shaw, Events, FC, football, Footy, Good of the Wood, Loughborough, match review, Oak Park, Report, result, Saturday, soccer, Things to do, Tuesday, University, Walsall Wood, Walsall WOod FC | Leave a comment

Brownhills Bonfire 2014 – can you help with pallets?

Posted on October 8, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Hopefully that’s a scheduled display and not another closed pub or listed building being ‘dealt with’… picture from The Daily Best.

People keep contacting me and asking when Brownhills Bonfire is this year, so tonight I went looking for info – and I can see why folk are asking me, because there’s nothing out there.

All I can tell you at the moment is that there are three borough bonfires planned for 2014: Bloxwwich (King George V playing fields), on Saturday 24th October 2014; Brownhills (Holland Park) on Saturday 1st November 2014 and Willenhall (Memorial Park) on Saturday 8th November 2014.

I have asked the council for clarification as to the event details, and I’ll post them up as soon as I can. Usually the event is about £3 to get in and there are normally kid’s rides and food stalls.

In the meantime, they’re after pallets for the burn-up…

Mark Bonfire Night in Brownhills – pallets needed!

Hundreds of wooden pallets are being sought by Walsall’s park rangers as they set about creating bonfire night celebrations to remember across the borough.

This year’s bonfire and firework displays will take place at King George V Playing Fields, Bloxwich on Saturday 25 October, Holland Park, Brownhills, Saturday 1 November and Willenhall Memorial Park on Saturday 8 November.

John Millard, Walsall Council senior ranger, said: ‘after a busy few weeks of park fun days we need to look ahead to the three bonfires we’re staging.

‘The fires are massive so take a lot of wooden pallets to build. We get through hundreds and hundreds and appeal every year for businesses such as factories or supermarkets to donate and deliver them to us.

‘We’ve had a good response in the past and hope people will come forward again this year’s so we can create celebrations to remember.’

If anyone can donate and deliver wooden pallets they are asked to contact John Millard on 07736 388409 or Clean and Green Services on 01922 654893.

Pallets need to be delivered by the day before each event to allow time for the fires to be built.

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged 2014, Bonfire, bonfire night, Brownhills, date, Events, fireworks, Guy Fawkes, Holland Park, Local politics, Mike Bird, Pallet appeal, Silly, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics | Leave a comment

Michael Syrett: Funeral arrangements announced

Posted on October 7, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Walsall Road in Darlaston, where Michael Syrett lived. Image from Google Streetview.

Way back on the 13th August 2014, I published a very sad appeal from the Walsall Council Environmental Health Team who were attempting to locate any remaining family of retired Darlsaton teacher and musician Michael Syrett, who died a few days earlier.

I subsequently posted up their note of thanks for help, but sadly no relatives had been located; I also promised that when funeral arrangements were announced I’d publish them here.

Michael lived alone in Darlaston, where he had also been a teacher until his retirement.

Michael’s funeral arrangements were released yesterday, Tuesday 7th October 2014, in the following press release:

Funeral arrangements for former Darlaston teacher

Funeral arrangements have been finalised for a Darlaston man who passed away this summer.

Mr Michael Syrett died at his home on Saturday 9 August.

In keeping with their duties, the council will provide a basic funeral for Mr Syrett on Monday 20 October 2014 at 1:45pm at Streetly Crematorium.

Anyone wishing to send flowers can send them to the Co-operative Funeralcare, Hatherton Street, Walsall.

Mr. Syrett was born in Wales and moved to Darlaston to train as a teacher. He taught at Darlaston Comprehensive School and was retired at the time of his death.

He was never married. Both of his parents died in the 1990s and he had no siblings.

Although heart-wrenchingly sad, this does indicate the diversity of tasks that Environmental Health have to fulfil. I thank them for their dedication, professionalism and care.

Of course, if any member of the Syrett family does perchance read this, the Council would still appreciate you getting in touch. You can find details of how to do so in my original post.

If anyone would prefer not to contact the council directly for whatever reason, email me at BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot come and I’ll pass any messages on.

Posted in Environment, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged Comprehensive, Darlaston, died, Family, help, Lichfield, Michael Syrett, passed away, releatives, request, search, Staffordshire, teacher, Wales, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Road, West Midlands | 2 Comments

Anybody found a bassett-type dog in Brownhills?

Posted on October 7, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

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Circulating on Facebook: looks like a lovely girl.

A quick shout out for a lost dog in Ogley Road Brownhills yesterday (Monday, 6th October 2014), the appeal is circulating on Facebook and came to me via Jackie Moore:

Hello Bob

The missing dog’s name is Narla.

My names April, and I’m the one looking for the missing dog, well me and around 30 other family and friends.

It’s my number advertised on the poster, and I’m just adding some more information about her – she will not bite but may growl if she feels threatened. She also has a fresh scar under her belly from recently being neutered. Narla is micro chipped so we are just hoping someone hands her in as we have a very upset and have a very sad 3 year old. so any information could you either ring or text that number or email me via either yahoo or facebook.

thank you

She is a rescue dog, very shy and I believe she is microchipped. She lives in Lindon drive normally but her owners are away on holiday that’s why she was at Ogley Road, so may possibly go back there.

Reward if found!

Lost from Brownhills and 2:30pm, Monday 6th October 2014.

Kids and owner in bits – please help!

Any information call 07432531398

If you can add to this issue, please do comment or mail me: Brownhillsbob at Googlemail dot com. Cheers.

Posted in News | 6 Comments

Something brewing

Posted on October 6, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

I’ve had an inquiry from reader and friend of the blog Trevor Wallage who’s interested in what material we may have relating to the canal/rail interchange wharf that existed in Brownhills, around about where the Canoe and Outdoor Centre is today – one of the basins still exists, and is in use as a private mooring.

After a shufty through the books and scans, here’s what I have. I welcome reader contributions, of course – comment here or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.

Imagery from Bing! Maps. Click for a larger version.

Recent Bing! Maps aerial imagery shows the urbanisation now present, and the one remaining canal basin used for private mooring. The red box highlights where the interchange was.

1884 1:2,500 Ordnance Survey mapping. Click for a larger version.

The 1884 map above shows that a railhead extended from the South Staffordshire mainline just south of Brownhills Station and headed south under a second arch of Brownhills Bridge into sidings parallel with the basins. Over one, there appears to be a covered wharf or warehouse, which suggests it was for unloading stuff that needed to be kept dry, like grain.

From Jan Farrow’s ‘Around Aldridge and Brownhills in picture postcards’ – Click for a larger version.

This image is taken from about where the miner statue stands today, looking down the High Street towards Shire Oak. About where Aldi is today, there was a pub many remember called the Station Hotel. For several decades this was owned by Brownhills entrepreneur and philanthropist William Roberts, and it was actually quite a high-class hotel. Behind it, there was a surprisingly large brewery – also owned by Roberts – that brewed ale for his pubs. This would undoubtedly have been served by the railhead, and probably the canal basins, too.

A noted local postcard, spotted on Facebook, origin unknown.

The image above seems earlier – note the growth in branches on the telegraph poles. I think this shows the earlier Roberts brewery, but can’t be certain. The shop on the left, incidentally, was Brewes Bakery and this was known as ‘Brewes Corner’.

Image from the British Library/Aerofilms Archive.

I’m trying to get a larger version of the above 1926 image, but this is the clearest picture of what the wharf, railhead and brewery looked like. Note the covered wharf (extreme left), and what appear to be coal stacks on the right of it. Follow the track up, and that’s the brewery. It was a large concern.

The basins from the air in 1963, as captured in an aerial survey in 1963. Imagery supplied by Lichfield District Council and Gareth Thomas.

By 1963 when the above aerial survey was taken, the area around the basins was derelict, and only a few buildings remained. Ralph Ferrie would use the land close to the rail line and High Street for a couple of decades as a lorry repair yard, and Ravens Court would soon be built obliterating any sign of the Roberts Brewery.

Image courtesy Brownhills George.

This is the old Iron Bridge, now replaced by the modern, sweeping structure we have today. This picture would be around 1986, as it shows the current Tesco store as Hillards, the company that originally had it built. They were taken over by Tesco in 1987. The odd arrangement of walls and poor quality block paving was what passed for a ‘marina’ in the original plans.

Posted in News | 9 Comments

Walsall Wood mash Pershore Town

Posted on October 5, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Walsall Wood FC: home of great local footy.

Walsall Wood FC delighted Bill Shaw and all the home crowd yesterday afternoon (4th October 2014), as they powered to a 3-0 win against Pershore Town, in a good humoured and sporting home match.

Apparently there was a somewhat regrettable and worrying casualty, to whom we all send our thoughts…

Bill submitted the following match report:

Hiya Bob,

Wood marched confidently into Monday’s draw for the First Round proper of this season’s FA Vase, courtesy of 3 first half goals.

Walsall Wood 3 v 0 Pershore Town

It took Wood just three minutes to go ahead with unlikely provider skipper Lee Stretton showing great close control and awareness when he was found by a Ben Evans left wing corner, hheld the ball up before playing it back into the path of Max Black to fire a screamer into the roof of the net.

Wood kept the the visitors under almost constant pressure but keeper Andrew Yarnold was equal to anything they threw at him. He was unlucky with the 2nd goal on 32 minutes, a lovely one touch move through the centre ended with Black releasing Drew Aiton into the right of the box, Yarnold was out quickly to make a brave block from Aiton’s low drive, the ball going straight to Ben Evans who calmly sidestepped a desperate lunging challenge before rolling the ball sweetly inside the left hand post.

Grant Baker had worked tirelessly up front for Pershore and on 40 minutes he played a lovely reverse ball into the left of the box, Steve Roche reached the ball a split second before keeper Mario Kisiel, who being committed to the challenge brought the attacker down, collecting a yellow card in the process.

Roche took the spot kick himself, but Kisiel’s penalty luck held, the well struck shot cannonning down of the underside of the bar & out to Baker, whose first time effort was charged down by the alert Wood defence.

Just to prove it wasn’t their day Town conceded a third right on the stroke of half time. Jamel Fuller raced down the left before playing the ball inside to Aiton, combining cleverly with Joey Butlin and Max Black to play the ball to the right edge of the six yard box for Danny Forrest. A defender was first to the ball but his attempted first time clearance was charged down by Forrest, the ball flying into the net past Yarnold.

The visitors worked tirelessly in the second half denying Wood a clear shot on target, but even then Yarnold was beaten twice, on each occasion the woodwork coming to his rescue.

Town are to be commended for the sporting way they kept trying, without at any time reverting to foul play.

So it’s Wood into Monday’s draw, followed on Tuesday night by a visit to Loughborough University, and then another trip to Rocester on Saturday.

Can I wish Young David Evans a speedy recovery after his fall at yesterday’s game, I asked son Simon what had happened and he replied ‘He was walking along the front of the stand with his camera up to his eyes, his one shoelace had come undone and he tripped over it, going fulll length on the concrete & hit his head. Last week’s referee booked him for simulation’

Great one Simon but seriously David we all hope it wasn’t as bad as it looked at first & you are back to full fitness soon.

Bill Shaw.

Do get well soon David – from myself and all the readers here on the blog.

Walsall Wood are a good team and an excellent, community-spirited institution. They need our support – so get your backsides down there!

As ever, thanks to Bill for the report – always appreciated – for The Good of the Wood!

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged 2014, 3-0, 4th October, Bill Shaw, Events, FC, football, Footy, Good of the Wood, home, match review, Oak Park, Pershore, Report, result, Saturday, score, soccer, support, Things to do, Town, Victory, Walsall Wood, Walsall WOod FC | 3 Comments

A desperate attempt to stave-off bankruptcy

Posted on October 5, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

In 1856 – when brownhills was barely a collection of hamlets – a troubled Lichfield Banker attempted a doomed property deal over mining here. This is at the very root of the start of Brownhills are a town.Norton Junction and the colliery would have been in the diagonal area, central. Imagery from Bing Maps.

A few weeks ago, Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler, part time local historian and full time historical mischief-maker, ferreted out the remarkable story of the collapse of a bank in Lichfield in 1856, which detailed early mining in Brownhills, and showed some of the machinations of the railway and mining magnates in the area at the time.

These years were surely the gold rush times here, and from them, came deep mining, the Harrison era, the days of Empire, old King Coal and steam, eventually resulting in the town of Brownhills we know today.

I was hoping Peter’s article may generate some comment, and ultimately uncover more history – and so it has. I know old hands Gerald Reece and Ian Pell would centainly be intrigued, and Ian has written a wonderfully extensive email in the last week commenting on a number of pieces here.

Here’s what he has to add to the Greene story: it’s wonderful, and I invite further comment: either here, or to BrownhillsBob at googlemail dot com.

Thanks to Ian: his pieces are always, expert, lucid and very knowledgable, and I’m honoured to be able to feature the here, as I am with all the blog contributors.

Ian wrote:

Ye Olde City scandalised by the collapse of a bank – and the dire attempts of the owner to stop it.

Hi Bob

The silly summer season is nearly ended and life returns to something approaching normal. I still have not been converted to the ‘Great Western’, remaining loyal to my ‘South Staffs’ and ‘London North Western’ roots. A number of recent articles have been worthy and merit comment.

Mr. Greene, the South Staffs Railway and the tale of Railway Colliery.

The first are the fine comments regarding the Lichfield banker Richard Greene and his bankruptcy in January 1856. It never ceases to amaze me how two completely differing pieces of information can combine to give a clearer picture of events and their consequences.

As was correctly pointed out, Richard Greene was both a director of the South Staffordshire Railway and a good friend of the then owner of the Railway Company, John McClean no less. It is also quite possible he was also a director of other McClean associated companies such as the various Cannock Chase Collieries and the South Staffordshire Water Company, but as yet this is purely speculation on my part.

My part of the story unfolds in February 1855 when Mr Yardley’s report (ref: – 2304/1150835) is laid before the Board of Directors of the South Staffs Railway. Unfortunately, I believe no record of the report survives, but the recommendation of the Board is clear and minuted. The Company refuses to purchase the Railway Colliery in order to protect both the South Staffs main line and the proposed line of the Norton Branch as authorised by parliament on 2nd June 1854. The recommendation of the report is that the Railway should be raised in preference to purchasing the mines of the Railway Colliery Company and this is what happens. It is also ironic that the area also covers where Norton Junction Up Sidings will start to be developed in the late 1880’s.

In it’s heyday, Norton Junction – the sidings just by Highbridges on the Pelsall/Brownhills border – were busy with coal wagons from local pits. Image from the South Staffordshire Rail Group.

The Collieries in question were the Railway Colliery adjacent to Highbridges and Yew Tree Colliery which was situated further along Pelsall Lane towards Brownhills. Yew Tree workings extended under the South Staffs main line and affected the area described in one of my previous articles, ‘Slip sliding away‘. The Railway Colliery appears to have ceased working in 1856, shortly after a boy fell down one of the shafts and died. Yew Tree Colliery also appears to have closed in 1856.

From around 1851-2 Railway Colliery had its own siding, leading off the South Staffs line at the location which in later years was to become Norton Junction (adjacent to where Norton Junction No.1 signal box was situated). This single line lead to a loading stage at the colliery where a further small siding was laid. The loading stage also served the Wyrley and Essington Canal, at a position next to what was to become the Pelsall Lane road bridge, via a small tramway.

After this apparent upset to Mr Greene’s ambitions, he still attended the Meetings of the Railway, being present at the Meeting of the Finance, Land and Works Committee on 1st September, 1855 and the Board of Directors on 27th September, 1855. Clearly, he hoped that the Railway would reconsider their position, but as we now know time was running on for him, and subsequent to his bankruptcy on 8th January, 1856, he was not present at the Railway’s Board of Director’s Meeting of 4th February, 1856. Minute No. 218 of that meeting states… ‘The Chairman having communicated to the Board the resignation of Mr. Greene as a director.’ Resolved… ‘That such resignation be accepted.’

The following Minute Meeting No. 219 then referred to a letter from a Mr. Wagstaff, dated 2nd February, 1856 in which he advised on the subject of trusteeship and Pelsall Colliery sidings. The consideration of which was postponed at the meeting. Obviously, the matter was giving the Board of Directors some cause for concern as the next Meeting Minute No. 220 recommends that the Railway Company write to Messrs. Barnett and Marlow to discuss the ‘Statement of Land Deposits’ (see secretary’s letters of 23rd October and 4th November), especially as respects Palmer and Greene’s Bank, if any, and at what risk?

By 1982, as this image shows, the sidings were abandoned, and soon to be ripped up; today, there are houses on the south end, and public open space at the north end. Image from the South Staffordshire Rail Group.

Clearly, the Railway were ensuring that any implications of Mr. Greene’s failure were minimised and that they were unaffected by his actions regarding the land around the Railway Colliery.

Ironically, some years later, the Railway filled the disused Railway Colliery shaft nearest Highbridges when commencing civils works for the construction of the Up sidings at Norton Junction.

As for Mr. Greene, his desperate act of purchasing the Pelsall and Brownhills Colliery Company in the hope that the Railway would subsequently purchase, at no doubt an inflated price, clearly backfired and his fate was thus sealed. It is probable that this was not the only venture Mr. Greene embarked upon in a desperate attempt to stave off bankruptcy.

What the coming together of the two pieces of information does is clearly shows why the Railway was discussing the Railway Colliery purchase, in the context of the potential subsidence presented to the Railway, and the complex weaving of Mr. Greene’s attempts to save himself from bankruptcy.

As a final note, the location of the Railway Colliery Hotel was next to Highbridge Row (a series of workers cottages) on Pelsall Lane to the Pelsall side of the canal and railway.

Posted in News | Tagged Lichfield | 14 Comments

Does anyone know about the Co-op closure in Brownhills?

Posted on October 4, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

The parade of shops up on Watling Street supports the local community. Imagery from Bing! Maps.

Here’s an enquiry that’s come in today from reader Dave, who’s asked about the closure of the Co-op store in the small precinct just off the Watling Street opposite Brownhills School.

I’m not sure whether the store is closed, or due to close; either way, it’ll be a big loss to the local community if it were to shut, as it will be some distance to the nearest store.

Dave wrote:

Hi Bob

Just wondering if you can shed any light on the closing of the Co-op on the a5 Watling Street, Brownhills, as the staff have commented on the lack of shops that are that side of the A5 and the large community of people both old and young that like myself have come to rely on the shop and friendly staff.

Do you know or can you tell me how to find out if the shop is being taken over and will it be re-staffed or keep the old staff?

Cheers Bob
Keep up the good work!

The store is part of the Tamworth Co-op group, and the contact details are on this page. They have actually issued a press release this year, celebrating charitable donations raised at the store, so I’m hoping this is a misunderstanding as the Tamworth Co-op are normally a great operation.

I will email them on askus@tamworth.coop and ask for a clarification.

If anyone has anything to add, please do comment or mail me if you’d rather: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.

Thanks to Dave for the headsup – this is a matter of real concern, thanks for drawing our attention to it.

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community | Tagged 2014, A5, Brownhills, close down, closing, co-op, convenience store, Events, Lichfield, Redevelopment, shut, Silly, Tamworth, Watling Street | 3 Comments

A welcome miscellany – which of these do you remember?

Posted on October 4, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Facebook is really throwing up some gems at the moment – keen reader Maria Fitzgerald has sent me a bunch of varied images she’s found out of her family collection which I think will inspire debate and memories from readers – these are hot on the heels of the one she sent last week, that provoked so much discussion.

I’m particularly excited about the Crabtree image and the one of the old folks behind the Memo, and I’d love more info about these events.

Thanks to Maria for taking the time and effort to send these images in – much appreciated.

Please do comment here or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Cheers.

This is fascinating, and doesn’t look that old. Can anyone name the event or the old folks pictured? A wonderful image from Maria Fitzgerald.

Maria said:

This is the odd one – a posh day out at the memo back in ?

[Bob’s note: This isn’t the Brownhills Memo, as Russell Turner points out in the comments. Any idea where it is? It does seem familiar – Cheers]

All I know is that my nan is in the front row at the end on the left looking at the photo.

I have no info on it at all.

10696218_10202780802777427_5156183598500703877_n

May Day at Ogley Infants – thanks to Maria Fitzgerald for the image.

10264154_10202780858138811_2805610405827837166_o

We’ve mentioned the St. Johns Ambulance group before – I believe the Brownhills group met in a room behind the Holland Park Bandstand. What do you remember? Image very kindly supplied by Maria Fitzgerald.

Maria said:

Hi Bob,

I came across this – I wonder if there any info still about on the St John first aid course back in 1952, it was stuck on the back of a old card.

1048179_10202780893539696_4732832440697478450_o

Crabtree was a huge part of Brownhills life and economy for years, yet we have so little record of it. Can you help? A great image from Maria Fitzgerald.

Maria said:

This photo was taken at Crabtrees christmas party 1974 – that was the good times there.

1970870_10202780847738551_3152726418937904853_n

More of the May Day clebrations at Ogley Infants – thanks to Maria Fitzgerald for the image.

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 | Tagged 1974, @brownhillsmemo, Ambulance, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Christmas, Crabtree, Facebook, factory, First Aid, Hednesford, Infants, Lichfield, Local History, Maria Fitzgerald, May DayMemo, New Photos, OAP, Ogley Hay, senior citizens, St Johns, Staffordshire, Things to do | 9 Comments

See Walsall Wood FC battle Pershore Town at home this afternoon!

Posted on October 4, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Walsall Wood FC have a great reputation for entertaining football, and a keen, loyal and friendly bunch of supporters! Come join in the fun this Saturday and see some cracking football.

Saturday 4th October 2014

Walsall Wood FC back on the FA Vase trail – should be a cracker

Walsall Wood v. Pershore Town

£5 adults £3 concessions

3:00pm kickoff

Please come and get behind your local club

For The Good Of The Wood!

Hopefully match report to follow!

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged 2014, 4th October, Events, FC, football, Footy, Good of the Wood, home, Oak Park, Pershore Town, Saturday, soccer, Things to do, Walsall Wood, Walsall WOod FC | 1 Comment

For the big kids everywhere…

Posted on October 3, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Big lego, spotted last week in Wednesbury. What’s not to love?

This is a brilliant one from old friend of the blog and fellow online local historian David Hodgkinson, that appeals to me hugely and I think will amuse many readers to boot.

Over on my 365daysofbiking journal last week, I noted whilst cycling around Wednesbury a large concrete block being used as an anti-vehicle barrier. It looked like a Lego brick, except that is was huge.

I wrote:

September 25th – Spotted in darkest Wednesbury whilst nipping out on an errand, a giant, concrete lego brick.

How long have these been a thing? Why was I not informed?

A world where four-feet wide giant lego exists cannot be all bad. But why just use it as an anti-vehicle barrier and not build something instead?

A wasted opportunity, I feel…

It turns out that this is a Moody Block (not, it doesn’t mean it was stolen, it’s a brand name), and lots of folk are manufacturing them and variants thereof. There’s a great gallery here detailing their variety and usage. They are indeed used like huge Lego bricks!

They do half-size ones just like lego. Image from LHCRT Facebook page, pointed out by David Hodgkinson.

I know all this now because the great grandfather of online Brownhills local history, David Hodgkinson was kind enough to send me some info and post the following great video of the blocks being used by the Lichfield and Hatherton Canals Restoration Trust. It’s rather ace.

One of the many, many things I love about keeping this blog is just how helpful and knowledgable the readers are, and how much I learn from them in the process.

Do check out David’s site – without that one, BrownhillsBob would never have existed. It’s also worth checking out the canal trust – I’d really love to do a feature on their work if someone connected would like to contact me.

Posted in News | 2 Comments

Crawling under the hedge

Posted on October 2, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Oh my goodness – yet another wonderful image has been sent in to the blog by John and Paul Anslow, whose previous contributions to our record of local history have created so much interest and debate here on the blog.

John and Paul have worked on, and contributed to many absolutely remarkable articles on Walsall Wood history over the years here; from the movers and boneshakers of times passed, to the solemn gravity of child labour.

Today, there’s something I had no idea of the existence of – the annual Nurses’ Fete. I’ll let John explain – he writes about these images beautifully.

And thanks to John also for his kind words; thankfully the midnight hound is back in the kennel. Sometimes, it gets on top of me a little bit, but I do so love doing this and it’s impossible to be down for long with such beautiful and precious contributions. Thank you.

John Anslow wrote:

Yet again, another remarkable image from John and Paul Anslow, which is beautifully scanned. Please click on this, and look at the full size version; do you recognise anyone?

Hello again, Bob.

The recent discussion about the site of Spurrell’s factory in Walsall Wood prompted Paul and me to look again at an old photograph, which we think might be of interest to you and your readers.

It originally appeared in the Walsall Observer and, judging from the headwear, probably dates from the early-to-mid 1930s. It was taken at The Nurses’ Fete: a fund-raising event that we think took place annually up to the Second World War and which was held each summer on the Jockey Fields.

The original Horse and Jockey was a few yards further ‘up the Wood’ than the present pub, and had long strip of land on its north-eastern side where events such as this fete, dog races and other sports regularly took place.

The camera points east from the Jockey Fields towards Walsall Road. The house with the advertisements on the gable wall, in the top-right corner of the picture, stands on the site now occupied by Shoesave; we assume the buildings in the centre are Deepmore Farm.

If the number of infants is any guide, there must have been a Bonny Baby Competition taking place.

The distinguished guests, seated centrally, include Councillor Harry Carter (trilby and carnation), chairman of Aldridge Council in 1935, and next to him Arthur Newbould, the blind brother of Harry Newbould (who played trombone in the Colliery Band. See post of 24 May 2014). Arthur was born in Walsall Wood but owned a small shop in Shelfield and had been active in the movement to obtain pensions for the blind. One of the Walsall Wood GPs (centre-parting and white bow tie), possibly Doctor Stuart, is seated further to the right. The lady with the bouquet is probably Cllr Carter’s wife, Evelyn, and the lady next to her could just possibly be Arthur’s wife, Ada. All must have been actively involved in this charity, but we don’t know in what capacity.

Around the time of this photograph, a friend of our Dad’s, Ron Parkes, was living in the house shown in the top left of the picture. Dad (Bernard Anslow) lived with his widowed mother and brother Abe in the terrace next door.

Dad and Ron would have been in their early teens and, unable to afford the entry fee, they stole into the Nurses’ Fete by crawling under the hedge. Seeing that the bicycle races were about to begin, they managed to obtain passes to collect their bikes, returning with them a few minutes later. Ron won his event and Dad took first prize of 7/6D in slow bicycle competition. (That would have been a substantial sum in those days, and Paul and I wonder if we have misremembered the amount.)

We should be interested to know the names of other people in the photograph: those babes-in-arms would now be in their eighties!

All the best, Bob; I hope that the black dog that was stalking you when you posted on 24 September has been chained securely in his kennel. You have many devoted followers who appreciate your efforts and see this blog as an invaluable source of news and local history: a unique combination of the parish pump, the public bar, the extended family, the Working Men’s Institute and the local library.

Regards,

John Anslow

Posted in Brownhills stuff, 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 1930's, Anslow, bicycle race, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Fete, field, jockey, john, Lichfield, Local History, Meadow, New Photos, Nurses, Paul, Staffordshire, street, Things to do, Walsall Wood, Wood | 12 Comments

Anybody lost a pair of Labradors?

Posted on October 2, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Hillmans veterinary surgery: often taking in the found and abandoned. Top people caring for our best friends.

[Added 7:20am 2nd October: Thanks to reader Edwina and comments on Facebook the wandering hounds have been reunited with their owner – thanks for the help, everyone!]

A quick shout out for some found hounds in Brownhills: the following post is currently circulating (2nd October 2014) on Facebook in local circles:

Cottontails and Whiskers
12 hrs ·
Two Labradors have been found in Brownhills one black one yellow. Both in good condition someone must be missing them? More info to follow please spread the word. They are currently at Hillmans vets in Brownhills.

I have no further info; should any be forthcoming, I’ll post it here. You can contact Hillmans in Brownhills here:

4 Brickiln St, Brownhills
01543 375154

Opening hours: 9:00am – 7:00pm

http://www.hillmanvets.co.uk/

Posted in News | 2 Comments

Keepsake

Posted on October 1, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

The old foundry units on Lindon Road, in the process of demolition in the early 1990s. Image courtesy of Brownhills George, posted on Panoramio.

On Lindon Road, just in the no man’s land between Brownhills and Walsall Wood, there’s a close of newbuild housing between Catshill canal junction and the road, called Chandlers Keep – I believe this to have been built around 1990-1992.

Reader Matthew Godridge contacted me at the weekend to ask if I had any photos of what existed on the site of Chandlers Keep before the housing was built. I hadn’t any of my own, but that wonderful treasury of images posted by Brownhills George contained a fair few, so I’ve made a gallery out of them for Matthew – see the foot of this post.

You can go and have a look at George’s remarkable collection here.

Chandler\s Keep and Catshill Junction: once a hive of industry. Imagery from Bing! Maps.

What existed on the site of Chandlers Keep was actually a collection of businesses in a variety of rambling units and outbuildings; Raden Engineering was there for a good few years, and accident repair business Autocraft was in the large 1930s unit. There was an earthmoving equipment hire company there in the 1980s; and also a boatbuilders called Don Marine.

The 1884 Ordnance Survey mapping records a house here called Lindale Hose, but it’s not clear if any remnant of that survived into living memory; in later editions, a smithy and foundry were marked on the same spot.

Lindale House only seems to be marked on the 1884 mapping – this selection of 1:10,000 scale draft is from the National Library of Scotland Archive. Click for a larger version.

By the canal where the narrows are was a small brick hut called a Tonnage House where boats were gauged and tolled for weight.

If anyone has anything to add to this, I’d be glad to hear it; I’m sure there’s some history I’ve missed. Comment here, or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Cheers.

Image courtesy of Brownhills George, posted on Panoramio.

Posted in News | 8 Comments

Your invitation to… An Evening with Gordon Banks QBE

Posted on September 30, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Here’s a great one for all those folks who are into football – and I know there are a good few of you who read the blog. There’s a great night organised next Wednesday evening (6th October 2014) by ‘The Trust’ – more properly known as the Walsall Football Supporters Society.

It’ll be a cracking sporting evening where can meet 1966 World Cup goalie Gordon Banks QBE and enjoy a fish and chip supper, all in aid of that great charity, the Alzheimer’s Society.

Ian Winter from the BBC will also be at the event, and both he and Gordon are very generously giving their time for free.

Tickets are only £20 including the food – where else would you get chance to hear a sporting legend talk for that?

Please do book using the details below, and if you pop along, do write in and tell us about your evening.

What’s not to love?

Walsall Football Supporters’ Trust

In conjunction with Walsall Football Supporters Club presents:

An Evening with
Gordon Banks QBE

In aid of
Alzheimer’s Society

via Bert ‘The Cat’ Williams Alzheimer’s Appeal

and WALSALL LADIES FOOTBALL CLUB

Wednesday 8th October 2014 – 7pm

The Saddlers Club

Bescot Crescent, Walsall, West Midlands, WS1 4TS

Tickets £20.00 each
including Fish, Chips & Mushy Peas

Available direct from The Saddlers Club or by contacting Steve Davies on 07799 835388 / walsall1888@aol.com

Posted in Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged 2014, 8th October, Alzheimers Society, An evening with, charity, Events, FC, Fish and Chips, football, Footy, Goalie, Good of the Wood, Gordon Banks, Lichfield, Saddlers Club, soccer, The Trust, Things to do, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Football Supporters Society, Walsall WOod FC, World Cup | Leave a comment

Oy’ll save ya, bab…

Posted on September 30, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Been a bit busy for the last couple of days, but for those who haven’t seen my post on Facebook, I’ll just leave this here for now.

Thanks to the wonderful Liz Shaw on Twatter, no idea of the original creator.. But to them, I doff my hat…

Well, it’s sound, ay it?

Posted in News | Leave a comment

Woodmen pipped by Coleshill Town

Posted on September 28, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Much rejoicing following the Wood goal… Image kindly supplied by David Evans.

The Woodmen score! Image kindly supplied by David Evans.

Wood on the attack… Image kindly supplied by David Evans.

Early attack… Image kindly supplied by David Evans.

Coleshill came back strong… Image kindly supplied by David Evans.

The drama continued… Image kindly supplied by David Evans.

Walsall Wood FC disappointed Bill Shaw and all the home crowd yesterday afternoon (27th September 2014), as they conceded defeat to Coleshill Town FC in a match where yet again, the quality of official decisions was questionable.

Good to see our friend Bill back in the saddle so to speak, and this week, he really doesn’t mince his words!

Bill submitted the following match report:

Hiya Bob,

It’s good to be back, not that the performance of the 3 officials yesterday did anything to help my blood pressure.

Walsall Wood 1 v 2 Coleshill Town

It took Wood just 3 minutes to go ahead, an electrifying run down the right by Drew Aiton followed by a low cross into the centre of the box, that was touched home by Max Black to give them the perfect start.

Both sides had chances, the best of which fell to Joey Butlin on 26 minutes when he started an intricate move on the right involving Aiton and Craig Deakin before he was released into the right of the box to fire a cross shot that beat keeper Chris Jay and the far post – just.

The first of the appalling decisions came a few minutes later, debutant Mark Branch delivered a right wing free kick into the centre of the box and a scramble developed, Butlin won the ball only for keeper Jay to grab his ankle, he wrenched himself free to be scythed down by a desperate defender (2 penalties for the price of 1 you might think), to the disbelief of everyone in the ground the Referee booked Butlin for simulation. ‘He jumped in the air too theatrically’ was his comment afterwards.

The last five minutes of the half belonged to the visitors and a minute before the break a mix up on halfway saw Shane Benjamin challenge for the ball, which broke kindly for him and he raced away to calmly score past the advancing Mario Kisiel in the Wood goal.

Within two minutes of the start of the second half craig Deakin broke up a Town attack and fed Aiton wide right, he cut inside from 30 yards to hit a stunning rising drive that beat keeper Jay all ends up but cannonned to safety off the inside of the right hand post.

Chris Lloyd then took charge of the game for Town with a scintillating 20 minute spell wide on the left, with Kisiel twice making superb saves to keep the scores level. He was powerless however on 64 minutes when a ball through the centre was superbly brought under control by Lloyd with a sublime first touch, before an exquisite lob that even Kisiel couldn’t keep out.

Wood went looking for the equaliser their first half performance deserved but had to be mindful of being caught on the break by the pace of Lloyd and Benjamin. Then, with 10 minutes to go Butlin raced onto a ball on the right of the box but was blatantly pulled back by a chasing defender, the referee could have been unsighted, but the assistant on that side had a clear view of the incident. Butlin went down, but the assistant waved play on despite being only yards away from the fracas.

There was still time for Lloyd to race through the centre and release substitute Simon Cobourne into the right of the box, his first time shot bouncing off the outside of the post.

Coleshill could have scored 6 but for the heroics of Kisiel, but Wood also had chances and perversely could have run out 3 – 2 winners if the two big decisions had gone their way.

Hard on slick Coleshill? Possibly, but in football you don’t always get what you deserve.

It’s FA Vase action next for Wood with Pershore Town the visitors to Oak Park on Saturday 4th October, a win leaving Wood just 8 games from a Wembley final on 9th May…

Now wouldn’t that be a lovely way to bow out?

Bill Shaw

Walsall Wood are a good team and an excellent, community-spirited institution. They need our support – so get your backsides down there!

As ever, thanks to Bill for the report – always appreciated – for The Good of the Wood!

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged 2-1, 2014, 27th September, beaten, Bill Shaw, Coleshill Town, Events, FC, football, Footy, Good of the Wood, home, match review, Oak Park, Report, result, Saturday, score, soccer, support, Things to do, Victory, Walsall Wood, Walsall WOod FC | 1 Comment

Men of the underground

Posted on September 28, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Over on Facebook this weekend, there’s been lots of interest in Walsall Wood Colliery, following the posting of these two cracking images of a press article recording the closure of our last truly local coal mine.

The images were very kindly shared by Duncan Willams, and he had this to say:

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Walsall Wood Colliery closes: I suspect this is from the Walsall Express and star. A wonderful image, supplied by Duncan Williams.

This is my family all from Brownhills my Grandad Williams, Dad – Ron Williams, Les Williams, Sid Williams and Jack Williams. They all worked in the local pits and I’m very proud of them all.

10662230_377140229103553_1751561397272112486_o

From the same article, again kindly shared by Duncan Williams. Click for a larger version.

In response, there’s been a fair bit of interest. Kellie Smith messaged me the following images via Facebook to share with others interested in the local mines:

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A great family photo from Kellie Smith – that’s Fourth Avenue, Brownhills.

Kellie wrote:

Hi Bob

Going though my family tree came across these pictures.

The first one is of David and Dora carpenter, my mom’s Nan and Grandad, outside 23 Fourth Avenue Brownhills. My mom still lives in this house now.

The second one is a group of Brownhills miners in 1890 – Back row left John Walker, William Walker Front row right Sampson Carpenter he would have been my Grandad’s great uncle I think.

If you recognise any of the others please let me know!

Kellie Carpenter

10484953_10202904688718396_8426729911935977363_n

Local miners, thought to be taken around 1890 – image kindly supplied by Kellie Smith. Please see the text for details of who’s who. Recognise anyone? Get in touch, please.

Thanks to Duncan and Kellie for a great slice of history. Please, if you have anything to add, feel free to do so, or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.

Posted in News | 11 Comments

What lies beneath

Posted on September 28, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Over six feet long, drawn on velum, the workings in the Robbins Seam at Walsall Wood Colliery as they affected the railway line between Walsall Wood and Brownhills. A remarkable document. Click for a larger version, or see the full detail scan below.

Well, I’ve finally got this 6 feet long plan scanned for all to ponder over.

A full resolution scan – all 45 megabytes of it – can be downloaded by clicking this link.

There’s lots to see here, included exploratory digs that entered from sees above. It’s a fascinating thing, to be sure.

Walsall Wood Colliery Plan Google Earth overly 5.8 megabytes

Please note that this is an indication only; this plan could be wrong, or metres out. Please don’t use it for anything serious. It’s for information only.

Note the shafts are marked, and one is under the building that was constructed as the sluice house for tipping the chemical waste into the mine after it’s closure in 1964.

This is local history gold – and bear in mind this is only one seam: there would e separate drawings for each one.

Please do comment or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.

It’s a special occasion – get on your Sunday best!

Posted on September 27, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

A whole bunch of kids in Sunday best, for a Sunday School anniversary in 1948. Image kindly supplied by David Evans.

A couple of great images reach me from top blog contributor the young David Evans, and reader Maria Fitzgerald – both are of kids in their Sunday best clothes in celebration.

David Evans is always on the lookout for good photos, and recently happened upon the one above, taken in 1948 and included in a booklet celebrating the Ebenezer Church School Annivesary.

We’ve done lots of stuff on the Ebenezer Methodist Church in Walsall Wood before, and I think there may be more yet to come!

David wrote:

Hello Bob

I’ve found this wonderful picture on my travels!

Walsall Wood kids on the block, 1948, Ebenezer Methodist Church Sunday School Anniversary.

The preacher is a Mr Halfpenny, and the choirmaster, standing at the side, is Mr Abe Walker, and the gentleman looking on is Mr Frank Higgs, who owned the newagents shop opposite St Johns Junior School in Lichfield Road. Not shown in the photo is Mr Jack Clayton, who was the organist.

In 1951 a new church organ replaced this one, and the 1951 celebration booklet which contained the history of the church and many photos was published.

Cheers
David

Facebook group member Maria Fitzgerald also very generously supplied the excellent photo below of the Maypole Dance that went on at Ogley Hay School, and continued as a tradition for some years.

Hi Bob

I think I might have the hang of the photos!

That’s myself closest to the teacher, taken in Ogley Hay Infants about 1967/68. Can any of your friends remember Maypole dancing?

Cheers
Maria

My thanks to David and Maria generosity. Always appreciated.

If you have anything to add, please do. Comment here, or write to me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.

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A wonderful Mayday celebration picture from Ogley Hay Infants School in the late 1960s, very kindly donated by Maria Fitzgerald. Who is the stern-looking teacher, and does anyone recognise the kids?

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged 1948, 1967, 1968, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, celebration, David Evans, Ebenezer, Ebenzer, Events, Facebook, Infants, Lichfield, Local History, Maria Fitzgerald, May day, Maypole, New Photos, Ogley Hay, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Sunday School, teachers, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood | 6 Comments

See Walsall Wood FC battle Coleshill Town at home this afternoon!

Posted on September 27, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Walsall Wood FC have a great reputation for entertaining football, and a keen, loyal and friendly bunch of supporters! Come join in the fun this Saturday and see some cracking football.

Saturday 27th Septemebr 2014

A very important game in the MFA league – should be a cracker

Walsall Wood v. Coleshill Town

Don’t break your Wood vows, be there, be faithful to your local heroes

3:00pm kickoff

Please come and get behind your local club

For The Good Of The Wood!

Hopefully match report to follow!

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged 2014, 27th September, Coleshill Town, Events, FC, football, Footy, Good of the Wood, home, Oak Park, Saturday, soccer, Things to do, Walsall Wood, Walsall WOod FC | Leave a comment

Michael Syrett: thanks for your help

Posted on September 27, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Walsall Road in Darlaston, where Michael Syrett lived. Image from Google Streetview.

Way back on the 13th August 2014, I published a very sad appeal from the Walsall Council Environmental Health Team who were attempting to locate any remaining family of Michael Syrett, who died a few days earlier.

Michael lived alone in Darlaston, where he had also been a teacher until his retirement.

Sadly, although lots of people knew this apparently talented musician (and a fair few contacted me following my post on the matter), no family were located. Yesterday Friday, 26th August 2014), Walsall Council issued the following statement, thanking the public for their help in the matter:

Thank you for help to find the family of deceased former teacher

Local residents have been thanked for their help with the search for family members of a recently deceased man.

Environmental health officers have been unable to locate any relatives of Mr Michael Syrett of 154 Walsall Road, Darlaston who passed away in his home on Saturday 9 August.

He was born in Wales and moved to Darlaston to train as a teacher. He taught at Darlaston Comprehensive School and was retired at the time of his death.

Mr Syrett was never married. Both of his parents died in the 1990s and he had no siblings.

David Elrington, Area Manager Environmental Health, said: ‘We would like to thank everyone who came forward to share information about Mr Syrett’s family.

‘We have been unable to locate any relatives so the council will be making the funeral arrangements.

‘We will share the details of the funeral as soon as we have them.’

Although heart-wrenchingly sad, this does indicate the diversity of tasks that Environmental Health have to fulfil. I thank them for their dedication, professionalism and care.

Of course, if any member of the Syrett family does perchance read this, the Council would still appreciate you getting in touch. You can find details of how to do so in my original post.

If anyone would prefer not to contact the council directly for whatever reason, email me at BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot come and I’ll pass any messages on.

As soon as a funeral date is announced, I’ll post it up.

Posted in Environment, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged Comprehensive, Darlaston, died, Family, help, Lichfield, Michael Syrett, Neil Harris, passed away, releatives, request, search, Staffordshire, teacher, Wales, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Road, West Midlands | 1 Comment

The lost hall of Fisherwick

Posted on September 26, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Magic and loss: Fisherwick Hall Orangery, a warning echoing down the generations, Image from Kate Gomez.

Kate Cardigan Gomez, irrepressible wonder behind Lichfield Lore has organised a walk and tour around the remains of the incredible Fisherwick Park estate with her other project, Lichfield Discovered – it takes place tomorrow, Saturday 27th September 2014.

The story of Fisherwick hall and park is remarkable – a reputedly handsome house built in the lowland of the north Tame Valley between Whittington and Elford by the Marquis of Donegal, the grounds were laid out beautifully by Capability Brown. Sadly, it was all lost to pay gambling debts when the whole estate was sold to the Howards of Elford a few short decades later, who ploughed up the grounds and felled the hall and most of its remnants.

However, some parts of the estate and grounds remain – an Orangery, gateposts at Hademore, landscape features… it’s a remarkable tale.

Kate has written lots about it..

She had this to say about the walk:

A reminder that this Saturday, 27th September 2014 at 2pm we have a walk at Woodhouse Farm just outside Whittington (WS13 8QG) for anyone interested in discovering the remains of the lost estate of Fisherwick Hall, one of Staffordshire’s most lavish but short lived country houses.

We recently took a walk around the site with an expert who was delighted at just how much of Capability Brown’s landscape, created for the Marquess of Donegall, has survived!

It’s also a fantastic wildlife haven so the autumn is a perfect time to visit and you can also buy meat and other produce while we’re there.

These events are increasing in popularity, and I can see why; this is a collection of dedicated but offbeat local history enthusiasts who really know how to make their subject engaging and entertaining. And it’s absolutely free to attend. What’s not to love?

Please do attend, it’ll be great fun!

These gateposts stand in Hademore, and were moved from nearby when the railway was widened. Note the commonality in design with the Orangery.

Posted in Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web | Tagged Capability Brown, community, Discovered, Donegal, event, Events, Facebook, Farm, Fisherwick, ha-ha, Hademore, hall, history, Kate Gomez, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Lore, Maquis, New Photos, orangery, Panoramio, Park, Staffordshire, stroll, Things to do, tour, Twitter, walk, Woodhouse | 2 Comments

Due south

Posted on September 25, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

Following the recent interest in the Red, White and Blue pub in Springhill, near Sandhills, the wonderful Gareth Thomas from Lichfield District Council has been true to his word and gifted some fascinating aerial imagery of the area, and south to Mill Green and Aldridge.

Unlike the previous aerials, taken in 1963, these images were taken 8 years later in 1971 – at 2:56pm, Wednesday, 8th September to be precise.

As usual, please take a good look, and comment on anything you find. Gareth has supplied an embarrassment of riches, of which this is but a small selection. Please join with me in thanking him – it’s thanks to donations like this that we’re slowly but surely building up a record of our community history.

Central and east Aldridge, Castlefort, Lazy Hill and Mill Green taken on 8th September 1971. Image kindly supplied by Gareth Thomas of Lichfield District Council, and reproduced with their permission. Click for a larger version.

Shire Oak, Castlefort, Lazy Hill and Stonnall taken on 8th September 1971. Image kindly supplied by Gareth Thomas of Lichfield District Council, and reproduced with their permission. Click for a larger version.

Shire Oak, Castle Hill, Springhill, Stonnall and Lynn taken on 8th September 1971. Image kindly supplied by Gareth Thomas of Lichfield District Council, and reproduced with their permission. Click for a larger version.

Shire Oak, Springhill, Summerhill, Muckley Corner, Lynn and Warrenhouse taken on 8th September 1971. Image kindly supplied by Gareth Thomas of Lichfield District Council, and reproduced with their permission. Click for a larger version.

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media | Tagged 1971, Aerial Photos, Aldridge, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Castlefort, Castlehill, Gareth Thomas, Lazy Hill, Lichfield District Council, Local History, Meridian Aeromaps, Mill Green, New Photos, Springhill, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Summerhill, Things to do, Warrenhouse | 5 Comments

Very hard to build up, easy as hell to tear down

Posted on September 24, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

This is just a note to flag up a remarkable piece of writing by ex-Walsall resident, blogger and new dad Rich Johnstone, a chap who I’ve always found to be an excellent writer, thoroughly decent human and good online pal.

Rich Johnstone, marooned on a sofa in Northampton, the TV remote just out of reach, his progeny lulled to sleep by his tales of Walsall…

This weekend was very hard for me, for a number of reasons. I found the blog, and the social media around it difficult. One of the things you become accustomed to when you write about and for your local community is just how relentlessly negative some people can be.

Sometimes, in the wee small hours when a post won’t come together, or inspiration sneaks out the window, it’s tempting to rip it all down and take a torch to it all – never more so than when something you see, and break news of as a positive is torn to shreds by others.

I won’t go into detail, because it’s just not worth the energy, but those who know my passion for this well will know what drove me downwards so much.

There are people in our communities, working hard to bring and share stuff (I don’t mean me here, I’m just a mirror for them) – sport folks, the socially minded, the artists, the wildlife people, those who arrange events, stage campaigns, fight their corners, try for something better for their bit of the world.

And yet there are others who can never create, never find a good word, or celebrate anything except failure.

Walsall, Brownhills or anywhere are far from perfect. I’d be the first to admit it. But there are real jewels glinting in the everyday dust.

This was also reflected in the local online community in the last week or so by a buzz over a thoroughly unpleasant bit of writing about Walsall. Written a long time ago and recycled by another site, it was, and remains nasty, prejudiced and ignorant. The essay wrote Walsall off and was celebrated by those who would find dog shit in the Garden of Eden. The whole snide reaction proved my point.

Then Rich Johnstone got hold of it.

Rich is one of the very finest people. A man who’s had tough times, and come through them to find peace, dignity and pride. A pride reflected in his wonderful counter-essay on just why Walsall is special.

It’s worth a read. Please do. It’s as easy as anything to slag stuff off – people, places, events and groups. It’s so much harder to create. Creating stuff is tough, and leaves you vulnerable.

Which is why so many never take the risk.

Thank heavens some people still do, like Rich, despite the negativity. Rant over.

Rich Johnstone is a great writer, for whom I have immense regard. Click on the screenshot to visit his blog.

Posted in Bad Science, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community | Tagged Cheap tat, creativity, Facebook, local blogs, Local politics, negativity, Politics, postivity, Rich Johnstone, Silly, Social media, TheFabMrJ, Walsall politics | Leave a comment

Spurrells: was this a local company?

Posted on September 23, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

We believe Spurrells may have been in the industrial area around the south end of Hall Lane, where it meet the Lichfield Road, Walsall Wood. Any ideas? Imagery from Google maps.

A quick one for the Walsall Wood contingent: I won’t say exactly why, because it’s a little bit unusual – but was there once a factory or business in the Hall Lane area of Walsall Wood or nearby called Spurrells (or something like that?)

What did the company do, or make? Was there an Italian chap who maybe owned the company, or was in charge or some other prominent position?

If you remember this company or the chap in question, please comment here or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.

Thanks, everyone. More will be revealed if any info is forthcoming…

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged 2014, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, business, Facebook, factory, Hall Lane, Italian, Lichfield, Local History, owner, Spurrells, Staffordshire, Things to do, Twitter, Walsall Wood | 24 Comments

Walsall Wood take Dunkirk again

Posted on September 23, 2014 by BrownhillsBob

The Woodmen were back to form at Nottingham’s Dunkirk FC last Saturday. Image from Accidental Groundhopper.

Walsall Wood FC returned to form in blistering style on Saturday afternoon (20th September 2014) as they beat Dunkirk FC 4-1 away – the 4 up against Dunkirk thing seems a bit of a running theme, as last time Wood were away to the Nottingham boys, they crushed them 4-0.

Walsall Wood are a good team and an excellent, community-spirited institution. They need our support.

It seems roving sports correspondent Bill Shaw has not been in the best of health, so best wishes to him from myself and all the Wood fans who read his work here on the blog and elsewhere.

Here’s to a speedy recovery, old chap! Rooting for you.

Hiya Bob,

Apologies for the delay but I was stuck in hospital from Thursday until 8.00pm last night so all I can tell you is that we won at Dunkirk on Saturday!

Dunkirk 1 v 4 Walsall Wood

After a delayed start due to the match officials being stuck in the horrendous A453 traffic, the game finally kicked off at 3.30.

The delay didn’t worry Wood who were 2 – 0 up at the end of the first half with goals from Joey Butlin and Craig Deakin giving them the lead.

The home side put up more of a show in the second half, when early on Zico Grinion reduced the arrears. However, 2 goals in the last 12 minutes from Leon Taylor made sure of the points for the Wood.

Wood host Coleshill Town on Saturday 27th, with Town sitting one place above Wood with two games in hand it should be an entertaining encounter.

The Staffs Vase game against Hednesford Town at the Wood has been pencilled in for Tuesday 21st October, so the away game at Westfields on that night has been postponed to a later date.

Sorry for the poor quality of this report, hopefully everything will be back to normal for next Saturday.

Rambling Sid Rumpo, or if you prefer ‘Report as told to Bill Shaw’

As ever, thanks to Bill for the report – always appreciated, and as I say, do get well soon – for The Good of the Wood!

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged 20 September, 2014, 4-1, away, beaten, Bill Shaw, Dunkirk, Events, FC, football, Footy, Good of the Wood, home, match review, Nottingham, Oak Park, Report, result, Saturday, soccer, support, Things to do, Victory, Walsall Wood, Walsall WOod FC | 2 Comments

	Dean on Those Craddocks in full…
	Dean on Those Craddocks in full…
	Sue on Those Craddocks in full…
	Dean on Those Craddocks in full…
	Dean on Those Craddocks in full…

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