Tag Archives: Bill Mayo

A town united in mourning

The Grove Pit Disaster that took the lives of fourteen men on October 1st, 1930 left deep scars on the Brownhills and Norton communities – and the funeral and memorial service for the men taken was a huge public event that drew massive crowds.
image003

Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

A great new book by a local history legend now availble!

I’ve known about this for a few weeks ow, but held off spilling the good news to readers until copies were available to buy – but I can now reveal that there’s a fascinating new history book on the subject of Brownhills now available, compiled by local historian Bill Mayo.

image003
Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

It’s a naked place without cricket

It’s always nice to kick off a new historical thread here on the blog, and this one will be particularly wonderful to curate, as I know there’s a lot of local interest in the old cricketing history of Walsall Wood.

page22
Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Wonderful afternoon

A quick word from myself and reader David Evans, in thanks for the great talk by Bill and Geoff at the Parkview Centre yesterday. As stalwarts of the local history scene in Brownhills, it’s wonderful to see them give such an entertaining and enjoyable talk.

Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger 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, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Bill Mayo history talk today!

Thanks to blog readers Naomi Jones and David Evans, I can flag up this interesting looking slideshow and talk from respected and knowledgable local historian Bill Mayo. Bill, as I’m sure you’re all well aware, compiled several local history books with his wife Clarice, as well as with other local historians John Sale and Geoff Harrington.
Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Local history event next Saturday!

Thanks to blog readers Naomi Jones and David Evans, I can flag up this interesting looking slideshow and talk from respected and knowledgable local historian Bill Mayo. Bill, as I’m sure you’re all well aware, compiled several local history books with his wife Clarice, as well as with other local historians John Sale and Geoff Harrington.
Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Local history event next Saturday!

Thanks to blog readers Naomi Jones and David Evans, I can flag up this interesting looking slideshow and talk from respected and knowledgable local historian Bill Mayo. Bill, as I’m sure you’re all well aware, compiled several local history books with his wife Clarice, as well as with other local historians John Sale and Geoff Harrington.
Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Nothing primitive

In the mean time, blog stalwarts David Evans, Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler and Andy Dennis have been doing their bit to cement Anglo-Antipodean relations by helping Aussie reader Kesa resolve her family Genealogy in Brownhills.
Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

‘You could buy anything at all here…’

Here’s an interesting weekend post from reader David Evans, who asked a good friend what shops she recalled from her childhood in Walsall Wood. Can you add to these? All contributions gratefully received. Hi Bob Following David Oakley’s excellent list … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Engine Lane – more historical curiosities

David Evans is still actively researching the history of Engine Lane in Brownhills following the emergence of the auction notice found by Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler last week. David has been chasing the Parkes and Otway connection with historical societies and … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Faggits? FAGGITS?

For the second time this week, I’m handing the reigns over to reader David Evans, with another brilliant piece… I’m sure you’ll all join with me in thanking him for his dedication and effort. I’m loving this stuff. Four faggots … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Features, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

A great local history book now available!

I had a tipoff today from history ferret and all round top sleuth [Howmuch?], who informed me that Downes Newsagents in Brownhills currently had stock of a book entitled ‘A Picture Tour of Old Pelsall, Rushall and Shelfield’, by John … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Uncategorized, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Who fancies a challenge? – part 2

Today, I’ve assembled the second instalment of David Evans’ excellent local quiz. A couple of weeks ago he submitted a huge list of local history questions to test how much readers know about local history, and hopefully, it will serve … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Features, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Who fancies a challenge?

In the week, reader David Evans had a cracking idea. He’s submitted a huge list of local history questions to test how much readers know about local history, and hopefully, it’s serve to provide a point-by-point guide to our past. … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Features, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Two great local history books available again

I noticed this week, purely by chance, that two great lost works of local history are at long last available again. Popping into Downes Newsagent midweek, I noticed these two fantastic books for sale. I’ve feature both publications heavily here … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Uncategorized, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Wood and heart

Sometimes you just have to go with your heart. I’ve been so taken with the book I recently acquired, ‘Memories of Old Walsall Wood’ by Bill Mayo and John Sale, that I just had to raid it yet again for … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 37 Comments

Houses of the Holy

Since this week’s old photo feature is a day late (sorry, real life intervened after a posting marathon on Friday), I thought it appropriate to cover places of worship, a subject I’ve not touched on much before. Brownhills and Walsall … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Tales from the Wood…

I was very fortunate this year to receive the gift of some secondhand local history books I’d been after for quite some time, and I’m keen to share them with the  readership of the blog. As is usually the case … Continue reading

Posted in Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

What’s my line?

This week for the old photo feature, I thought I’d share some pictures from a recently acquired new book about the main railway that used to run through Brownhills. ‘The South Staffordshire Railway, Volume One’, written by Bob Yate, covers … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Shared media, Shared memories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment