#365daysofbiking JournalRecent tracks
Love On A Real Train
State Azure
14 mins
Dolphin Dance
State Azure
21 mins
Mothers of Rain
State Azure
26 mins
Choronzon
State Azure
31 mins
Twenty-Nine Palms
State Azure
35 mins
Street Hawk
State Azure
39 mins
Head Swim
Fionn Regan
41 mins
The Ocean Wave
Fionn Regan
46 mins
Riverside Heights
Fionn Regan
48 mins
Remote Viewing
State Azure
1 hourRecent Comments
MrsSymmo on The highrise and fall MrsSymmo on The highrise and fall ken hubbard on Oil, fire and water Leanne victoria Howd… on Tom, hark! Leanne victoria Howd… on Tom, hark!
Tag Archives: Cheap tat
Unexpected development in bagging area – Aldi buy Ravens Court
Well, this is the news I though I’d never share: 12 years after my first article here about Ravens Court and the then promise of Tesco’s new gold dream that crumbled to dust, it turns out bargain supermarket chain Aldi … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 215 Notice, Blofeld, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Market, Canal, Cheap tat, Clayhanger, Compulsory purchase, Derelict, Events, Facebook, John Bird, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, Mike Bird, New Photos, New Tesco, planning, Politics, Ravens Court, Redevelopment, Retail, sympathy, Tesco, Tesco Development, teve Wade, Vandalism, Vivienne Aston, Walsall, Walsall Advertiser, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
8 Comments
1987: The end of a landmark
I’ve long been interested here in the lost chemical works in Brownhills that once produced tar and cleaning chemicals, and latterly scrapped old aeroplanes and military waste for the valuable metal alloys they contained. The adjacent area of canal has … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Bobdcuk, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Scrapyard, Canal, Cheap tat, Derelict, foundry, Local History, New Photos, Staffordshire, Super Alloys, Superalloys, typhoon, Vandalism, war scrap, Wildcat, york wings
9 Comments
A rocky road…
A lovely one here from 1862, spotted by the wonderful David Evans, who I’m glad to hear is now getting well back into the swing of things. It seems that in 1862 – over 150 years hence – people were … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Council
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills Council, Brownhills local history, Brownhills roads, Cheap tat, fixmystreet, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, potholes, road repairs, Silly, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Observer 1921, Walsall politics, Walsall Potholes
2 Comments
At the end of the line
An interesting and memory- jogging image came to me last week via local football dynamo Brian Beard, who spotted the original photo for sale on everyone’s favourite tat bazaar, eBay. This is a photo of the near-derelict Walsall Wood Railway … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldrdge, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cheap tat, Derelict, Fox covey, Heath's scrapyard, Leighswood, Littleredglass, Local History, New Photos, Ralph Ferrie, Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood station, war scrap
2 Comments
A Chemical Romance
I’ve been asked the question by reader Norman Taylor as to what I know about Brownhills Chemical Works – otherwise known as The Chemical or The Chemy, later the site of a notorious war scrapyard local kids were all attracted … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Bobdcuk, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Scrapyard, Canal, Cheap tat, Derelict, foundry, Local History, New Photos, Staffordshire, Super Alloys, Superalloys, typhoon, Vandalism, war scrap, Wildcat, york wings
6 Comments
Flytipping morons hit Barracks Lane
I’m sad to say that the local area is still plagued by flytipping – the above load was dumped on Friday 7th April 2017 at Barracks Lane, just over the border in Staffordshire, and reported on Facebook by the crew from the Lichfield Mercury.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff, Wildlife
Tagged 2017, Barracks Lane, Brownhills, Brownhills common, Cheap tat, Clean and Green, Coppice Lane, Councillor, Fly tipping, flytipping, Holland Park, Lay By, Lichfield Marcury, Local politics, metal theft, Operation Steel, Politics, Scrap, scrap metal, Silly, Street pride, tat men, tat trade, trading standards, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, waste transfer
Leave a comment
HSBC branch in Brownhills to close in November
I’m sad to report that the last High Street Bank bank in Brownhills, HSBC will close for good on Friday, 25th November 2016 – this comes amidst the slump in the use of High Street branches caused by online and telephone banking, and the general woes of the bank in general – HSBC has closed over 100 branches already this year.
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2016, 25 November, bank, Barclays, branch, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cheap tat, close, Closure, Derelict, Events, Facebook, HSBC, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, planning, Politics, Pubs, retail development, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
8 Comments
A case of the trots!
A great image has come in from friend of the blog and long time contributor Andy Dennis, who’s dug out this fascinating picture of a once prominent local sport that used to take place in Brownhills.
Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, cycling, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community
Tagged 1971, 1977, Andy Dennis, April, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chasewater, Chasewater Promotions, Chasewater Stadium, Cheap tat, Derelict, Events, Howmuch, International Long Track, JB Cox, Local History, MCN, motorbike, Motorcycle, Motorcycle News, Opening, planning, programme, race, Race of the Year, Redevelopment, Reservoir, Stadium, Staffordshire, Things to do, track, Trotting
17 Comments
Remembering Chasewater Stadium
Following my recent request for memories of Chasewater Stadium, I had a great contribution from long time friend of the blog Fred Butler, who has a rather interesting contribution. I’m after any ephemera or memorabilia anyone can supply, as there’s … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, cycling, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community
Tagged 1971, 1977, April, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chasewater, Chasewater Promotions, Chasewater Stadium, Cheap tat, Derelict, Events, Fred Butler, Howmuch, International Long Track, JB Cox, Local History, MCN, motorbike, Motorcycle, Motorcycle News, Opening, planning, programme, race, Race of the Year, Redevelopment, Reservoir, Stadium, Staffordshire, Things to do, track, Trotting
2 Comments
Chasewater Stadium – what do you recall?
Thanks to a curious sale on eBay, I can now share exactly when Chasewater Trotting Track opened – it was Monday 16th August, 1971.
Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, cycling, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community
Tagged 1971, 1977, April, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chasewater, Chasewater Promotions, Chasewater Stadium, Cheap tat, Derelict, Events, Howmuch, International Long Track, JB Cox, Local History, MCN, motorbike, Motorcycle, Motorcycle News, Opening, planning, programme, race, Race of the Year, Redevelopment, Reservoir, Stadium, Staffordshire, Things to do, track, Trotting
22 Comments
Aldridge Manor Youth Club restarts in a new home this coming Tuesday!
Following the sad closure of Aldridge Manor Youth Club, local activist Paul Sharpe has been beavering away to try and continue the club in some form in a new venue – I posted his appeal for help here a couple of months ago.
Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldridge Arena, Aldridge Manor, Cheap tat, Closure, Croft, cuts, Facebook, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, May 3, Paul Sharpe, planning, Politics, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Silly, sold, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Youth Club
Leave a comment
Aldridge Manor Youth Club: Can you help it be reborn?
As a result of the imminent closure of Aldridge Manor Youth Club and sale of the Manor House by Walsall Council, local activist Paul Sharpe has got his thinking cap on, and is appealing for help from anyone who might be able to help him set up an alternative club.
Posted in Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldridge Manor, Cheap tat, Closure, cuts, Facebook, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, Paul Sharpe, planning, Politics, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Silly, sold, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Youth Club
6 Comments
A brutal death
This is an odd one I can’t fit in anywhere else, so people who aren’t in to my architecture obsession may want to tune out now – but I will alert readers to something: almost unnoticed, to people over the age of around 35, the Birmingham we knew is gradually being erased – if you want to see it one last time, go soon.
Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, planning, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 103 Colmore Row, Birmingham, Brindley Place, Brutalism, Bull, Bullring, Canal, Cheap tat, Christmas Market, cityscape, David Evans, Frankfurt, Gingerbread, Lichfield, markey, new Library, New Photos, planning, Redevelopment, Secret Garden, Things to do
23 Comments
Flytipping morons strike again
I’m sad to say hotspots in Brownhills and Aldridge – as well as across the area – are still being blighted by flytippers, often clearly working on a commercial scale – flytipping is a public menace, harms the environment, can be a danger to people and wildlife and costs a lot of money to clean up.
Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff, Wildlife
Tagged 4 September, Brownhills, Brownhills common, Cheap tat, Coppice Lane, Councillor, Fly tipping, flytipping, Holland Park, Lay By, Local politics, metal theft, Operation Steel, Politics, Scrap, scrap metal, Silly, Steve Wade, Street pride, tat men, tat trade, trading standards, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, waste transfer
6 Comments
Don’t bank on it
Many of you have asked me for updates on the situation with Ravens Court, the decaying, derelict shopping precinct that lies deserted in the centre of Brownhills – you’ll remember that way back in November 2014, Walsall Council issued an ultimatum to the owners that if they didn’t submit a planning application within six months, they’d initiate legal proceedings to force the landlords to tidy it up.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 215 Notice, Blofeld, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Market, Canal, Cheap tat, Clayhanger, Compulsory purchase, Derelict, Events, Facebook, John Bird, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, Mike Bird, New Photos, New Tesco, planning, Politics, Ravens Court, Redevelopment, Retail, Stev Wade, sympathy, Tesco, Tesco Development, teve Wade, Vandalism, Vivienne Aston, Walsall, Walsall Advertiser, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
3 Comments
Flytipping scum plaguing Brownhills
Brownhills Councillor Steve Wade has been in touch recently on a number of local issues, and I’m very glad to see him developing an online presence and keeping us informed of stuff he’s dealing with – and I’m very grateful for the positive moves he’s made to communicate with me and the blog – there’s more to come from Steve later this week.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff, Wildlife
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills common, Cheap tat, Coppice Lane, Councillor, Fly tipping, flytipping, Holland Park, Lay By, Local politics, metal theft, Operation Steel, Politics, Scrap, scrap metal, Silly, Steve Wade, Street pride, tat men, tat trade, trading standards, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, waste transfer
4 Comments
B&M coming to Aldridge – vacancies now being advertised
Ever since I posted that B&M were moving into the old Focus DIY store on Northgate, between Aldridge and Walsall Wood, I’ve been contacted by people either swearing it will be an Asda (nope) or doubting what I said – well, work has continued on the empty building and it’s now in B&M colours, and vacancies have now been posted for a ‘new Aldridge store’ on the B&M website.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2015, Aldridge, application, B&M, Brownhills, Cheap tat, Derelict, DIY, Events, Facebook, Fucus, jobs, Lichfield, New Photos, new store, Opening, planning, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, soon, Things to do, vacancies, Vandalism, Walsall Wood
3 Comments
Heart Bypass: Jonathan Meades in Birmingham
Hi folks – here’s something I found last night that I’d forgotten about, that ties in with my fascination for Birmingham and architecture – and also, my obsession with well-crafted language.
Posted in Bad Science, Environment, Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Local music, Local politics, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged 103 Colmore Row, Birmingham, Brindley Place, Brutalism, Bull, Bullring, Canal, Cheap tat, Christmas Market, cityscape, David Evans, Frankfurt, Gingerbread, heart bypass, Jonathan Meades, Lichfield, markey, Motor City, new Library, New Photos, planning, Redevelopment, Secret Garden, Things to do
2 Comments
Because it seemed right at the time…
Just lately, I’ve found myself in lots of intense discussions – several on social media – about architecture, old buildings, history and the way we view the past; these discussions often sadden me and I need to get something off my chest.
Posted in Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, planning, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 103 Colmore Row, Birmingham, Brindley Place, Brutalism, Bull, Bullring, Canal, Cheap tat, Christmas Market, cityscape, David Evans, Frankfurt, Gingerbread, Lichfield, markey, new Library, New Photos, planning, Redevelopment, Secret Garden, Things to do
26 Comments
What’s going on at the old Focus store on Northgate, then?
Images taken last weekend. Lots of you have contacted me asking about the works currently ongoing at the former Focus DIY store on the corner of Coppice Lane and Northgate, Walsall Wood. Local gossip had it for a long time … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged application, B&M, Big K, Cheap tat, Derelict, Do it all, Events, Focus, for, Lichfield, Middle, New Photos, Northgate, Oak, planning, Redevelopment, Royal, sale, Vandalism, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood, work
15 Comments
Tick tock
This is just a reminder and a request – it’s been three months to the day since the dynamic duo of UKIPs Brownhills Councillor Steve Craddock and his best mate and Walsall Conservative former Regeneration head-honcho Adrian Andrew claimed to have brought home the bacon and hammered out some progress on the redevelopment of Ravens Court.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 215 Notice, Blofeld, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Market, Canal, Cheap tat, Clayhanger, Compulsory purchase, Derelict, Events, Facebook, John Bird, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, Mike Bird, New Photos, New Tesco, planning, Politics, Ravens Court, Redevelopment, Retail, sympathy, Tesco, Tesco Development, teve Wade, Vandalism, Vivienne Aston, Walsall, Walsall Advertiser, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
6 Comments
Walsall Wood Tesco Express to close
Just in case you haven’t seen it (you must have done by now, surely), the Tesco Express at Streets Corner, Walsall Wood is to close for good on March 15th 2015, as part of a closure program that will see 43 stores close across the country.
Posted in Bad Science, Environment, Followups, It makes me mad!, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2015, Cheap tat, closing, Closure, decline, Express, Facebook, Lichfield, Meadowmarket, Quick Save, recession, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Street's Corner, Tesco, Walsall Wood
8 Comments
The Brownhills Darktown Poker Club… in 1881
Here’s a quick one from local history rapscallion Peter ‘pedro’ Cutler while I’m prepping some other stuff for the weekend – debauchery and cards in a Brownhills Working Men’s Club in 1881!
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Progressive Working Men's Club, Brownhills West, Cheap tat, Hednesford Road, Lichfield, Local History, Mercury, New Photos, Police, Pubs, Raid, Silly, Staffordshire
3 Comments
Light entertainment
Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ll probably realise by now that Brownhills is the subject of some media controversy at the moment – a story emerging here via the Express & Star and syndicated out to the wider daily papers has caused outrage and recrimination.
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Cheap tat, christmas lights, Events, Express & Star, Facebook, laughing stock, Lichfield, Local Committee, Local politics, miner island, New Photos, Politics, press, Silly, Things to do, twelth night, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
15 Comments
The state that we are in
I’m pleased to note that despite the celebratory tones of a report in the Express & Star a couple of weeks ago, Walsall Council are reinforcing the hard line taken on the owners of the derelict eyesore in the middle of Brownhills, Ravens Court, with a strongly worded press release issued a couple of days ago.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 215 Notice, Blofeld, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Market, Canal, Cheap tat, Clayhanger, Compulsory purchase, Derelict, Events, Facebook, John Bird, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, Mike Bird, New Photos, New Tesco, planning, Politics, Ravens Court, Redevelopment, Retail, sympathy, Tesco, Tesco Development, teve Wade, Vandalism, Vivienne Aston, Walsall, Walsall Advertiser, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
7 Comments
City heights
Well, it’s that time of year again, and yesterday I hopped on the Midland Red went to Birmingham to visit the Christmas Market and enjoy the sights and sounds of the city at Christmas. I love Birmingham as readers will know, … Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, planning, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 103 Colmore Row, 2014, Birmingham, Brindley Place, Brutalism, Bull, Bullring, Canal, Cheap tat, Christmas Market, cityscape, David Evans, Frankfurt, Gingerbread, Lichfield, markey, new Library, New Photos, planning, Redevelopment, Secret Garden, Things to do
4 Comments
Magic beans
Well, it seems congratulations are in order – Steve Craddock, UKIP councillor for Brownhills and the man whose holiday was more important than political control of a borough governing 269,000 people – has apparently brought us the bacon. Or it … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 215 Notice, Blofeld, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Market, Canal, Cheap tat, Clayhanger, Compulsory purchase, Derelict, Events, Facebook, John Bird, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, Mike Bird, New Photos, New Tesco, planning, Politics, Ravens Court, Redevelopment, Retail, sympathy, Tesco, Tesco Development, teve Wade, Vandalism, Vivienne Aston, Walsall, Walsall Advertiser, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
8 Comments
Very hard to build up, easy as hell to tear down
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.
Continue reading
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
Living on the skyline
Hey you lot – I owe you all, and the wonderful people at Distinctly Black Country an apology – for far too long I have neglected to share the excellent work been done by locals and professional historians alike into recording the remarkable histories of high-rise and system built housing across the Black Country.
Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chaz Mason, Cheap tat, Clayhanger, Clayhanger Marsh Log, Derelict, flats, high rise, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, planning, Redevelopment, Slum, Social History, social housing, Staffordshire, Things to do, tower lock, Walsall, Walsall Council, Wildlife
12 Comments
The Acropolis cafe shuts; Middle Oak to close and B&M to open in Focus, Aldridge
Just a heads up on some local taking points I’ve had buzzing around for a couple of days now – A few readers including David Evans and Martin Littler have pointed out the longstanding Ravens Court cafe The Acroplolis seems to have closed down.
Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2014, application, B&M, Big K, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cheap tat, David Evans, Derelict, Events, Focus, for, housing, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, Middle, Mike Bird, New Photos, Northgate, Oak, planning, Pubs, Ravens Court, Redevelopment, Royal, sale, Shire Oak, sold, Twitter, Vandalism, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
3 Comments
You can’t bank on it
There has been a fair amount of dismay and disbelief locally in response to the decision of Barclays Bank to close their branch in Brownhills, which will apparently cease trading on Friday, 24th October 2014.
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged bank, Barclays, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cheap tat, Closure, Derelict, Events, Facebook, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, planning, Politics, Pubs, Redevelopment, retaildecline, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
17 Comments
Youth service in Walsall – important meeting tonight!
I note that Walsall Council have a scrutiny meeting this evening on the vexed matter of the Integrated Young People’s Support Service – that’s pretty much anything the council provides for kids and young people, including youth justice, targeted support, youth centres, the Education Business Partnership and parent partnership services.
Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 13th June, Aldridge Manor, area manager, Cheap tat, Closure, cuts, Facebook, Green Belt, John Morris, Lane's Farm, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, planning, Politics, Public Meeting, Rachel Andrew, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Silly, sold, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Youth Club
1 Comment
Getting the Bird
Two Brownhills community activists lock horns in the Walsall Advertiser letters page over the subject of Ravens Court – the exchange is interesting, and deserves to be read widely.
Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 215 Notice, Blofeld, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Market, Canal, Cheap tat, Clayhanger, Compulsory purchase, Derelict, Events, Facebook, John Bird, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, Mike Bird, New Photos, New Tesco, planning, Politics, Ravens Court, Redevelopment, Retail, sympathy, Tesco, Tesco Development, teve Wade, Vandalism, Vivienne Aston, Walsall, Walsall Advertiser, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
16 Comments
Pity the poor landlord
Five years ago, when I started this blog, one of the largest looming topics was that of the then proposed new Tesco Store in Brownhills – we’d been through a consultation, and the proposal was to build a large hypermarket fronting the High Street.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 215 Notice, Blofeld, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Market, Canal, Cheap tat, Clayhanger, Derelict, Events, Facebook, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, Mike Bird, New Photos, New Tesco, planning, Politics, Ravens Court, Redevelopment, Retail, sympathy, Tesco, Tesco Development, teve Wade, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Advertiser, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
19 Comments
Fist of Glory, fists of rage
I see the genius of SalmonCorporation has been at work again – this film is an uncomfortable piece of genius that needs to be spread far and wide, like it’s precursor ‘Walsall: Everything a pound’.
Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged animation, £1, Cheap tat, Derelict, Events, Everything a pound, Fist of Glory, Local History, Local politics, planning, Politics, Pubs, Redevelopment, SalmonCorporation, short, Silly, Stuart Williams, Tesco, Tesco Development, Twitter, Vandalism, video, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Youtube
3 Comments
A Brownhills drinking den is raided – in 1921
Here’s an odd snippet I found in the newspaper archives whilst looking for something completely different, which as anyone who’s ever researched any local history will tell you, is generally the way all the best stuff is found.
Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged 1921, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Progressive Working Men's Club, Brownhills West, Cheap tat, Hednesford Road, Lichfield, Local History, Mercury, New Photos, Police, Pubs, Raid, Silly, Staffordshire
3 Comments
Severe car crash at Walsall Civic Centre
There’s been an unfortunate RTA at Walsall Council, and it deserves as wide exposure as possible.
Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Express & Star, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 50000, Broadway centre, Car, Cheap tat, credibility, cuts, Express & Star, justification, limousine, Local politics, Manor Youth Club, Mayor, Mike Bird, redundancies, Silly, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
15 Comments
Lane’s end
In the circles of my cycling mates, I’m fairly well known for my forthright and controversial vies on cycle facilities – bike lanes, shared use paths, coloured bits of tarmac etc – that generally non-cycling traffic engineers create to try to make junctions easier for us on two wheels.
Posted in Bad Science, cycling, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council
Tagged Advance Stop Line, ASL, Beyond the Kerb, Bez, Bikeability, Cheap tat, Cycle rides, Cyclecraft, cycling, cycling facilities, cyle safety, danger, Darlaston, Lichfield, Lichwheeld, Local politics, Lorries, New Photos, planning, Politics, Silly, Things to do, Tipping out the paint, Vehicular cycling
1 Comment
Not worth the paper it’s written on
The saga of Aldridge Manor and the winding down of youth services in Walsall is still rumbling on, and the issue is still being pursued by doughty campaigner Linda Mason – in a post on her blog a few days ago Lind detailed a recent letter she has received from Walsall Council which appears to be in almost total denial of the facts.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldridge Manor, by election, Cheap tat, Closure, Councillors, cuts, Facebook, Independent, Liberal Democrat, Linda Mason, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, planning, Politics, Public Meeting, Rachel Andrew, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Silly, sold, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Youth Club
Leave a comment
The cruel Manor of their deception
I’d like to flag up a very angry post Lind Mason has written about the situation with Walsall Council’s Youth Service and the vexed question of Aldridge Manor – the Councillors may have wandered away now that the election is over, the Council Officers may be trying to fob us off, but neither I nor Linda have forgotten the issue of Aldridge Manor and the winding down of youth services in Walsall.
Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldridge Manor, by election, Cheap tat, Closure, Councillors, cuts, Facebook, Independent, Liberal Democrat, Linda Mason, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, planning, Politics, Public Meeting, Rachel Andrew, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Silly, sold, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Youth Club
8 Comments
High-rise histories – can you help a local historian?
Fellow local blogger, Clayhanger man and wildlife expert Chaz Mason has recently posted the following request on his blog – I’m so intrigued by it that I reproduce the post here in full.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chaz Mason, Cheap tat, Clayhanger, Clayhanger Marsh Log, Derelict, flats, high rise, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, planning, Redevelopment, Slum, Social History, social housing, Staffordshire, Things to do, tower lock, Walsall, Walsall Council, Wildlife
5 Comments
Choose wisely
Today, there is a council by-election in the ward of Aldridge Central & South, brought about by the sad passing of longstanding councillor Tom Ansell – this election will be interesting in a number of ways – although usually a safe Tory seat, it will be intriguing to see how the other parties fair – particularly UKIP and the Labour.
Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Aldridge Central and South, Aldridge Manor, by election, Cheap tat, Closure, Councillors, cuts, Facebook, Independent, Labour, Liberal Democrat, Linda Mason, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, planning, Politics, Public Meeting, Redevelopment, Silly, sold, Tom Ansell, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Youth Club
14 Comments
In a cursory Manor
Just a quick note to flag up a wonderful post that passed by in a flurry of other stuff late last week. The Councillors may be trying to forget it, Council Officers may be trying to forget they promised another … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldridge Manor, by election, Cheap tat, Closure, Councillors, cuts, Facebook, Independent, Liberal Democrat, Linda Mason, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, planning, Politics, Public Meeting, Rachel Andrew, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Silly, sold, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Youth Club
2 Comments
That went well. Not.
The saga of Aldridge Manor, Youth Services in Aldridge and the wider Walsall Borough rumbles on, there was a public meeting last Thursday, and it didn’t go at all well for Walsall Council who had hastily called it only a short time before as a damage limitation exercise…
Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 13th June, Aldridge Manor, area manager, by election, Cheap tat, Closure, Conservative, Councillors, cuts, Independent, Labour, Liberal Democrat, Linda Mason, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, Pete Smith, planning, Politics, Public Meeting, Rachel Andrew, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Silly, sold, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Walsall Works, Youth Club
Leave a comment
Brownhills – leading the way in innovative greetings
Spooted in the Brownhills search on Twitter, posted by @georgeyB95, comedy signage at Downes Newsagent, Brownhills.
Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Brownhills, Cheap tat, Downes, Events, farmers day, fart, fathers day, Georgeyb95, High Street, New Photos, Newsagent, notices, sign, Signs, Silly, Spelling, Twitter
5 Comments
In a Manor to which they are unaccustomed
There has been some interesting fallout following the furore kicked up over the imminent closure of Aldridge Manor Youth Club and dismantling of wider youth service throughout Walsall, and their replacement by some frankly bizarre, not yet thought through system.
Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 13th June, Aldridge Manor, area manager, by election, Cheap tat, Closure, Conservative, Councillors, cuts, Facebook, Green Belt, Independent, John Morris, Laboru, Lane's Farm, Liberal Democrat, Linda Mason, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, Pete Smith, planning, Politics, Public Meeting, Rachel Andrew, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Silly, sold, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Walsall Works, Youth Club
40 Comments
Walsall Labour Group issue statement on Youth Services
I was heartened to note that earlier today, Walsall Labour Group had issued an unusually strong statement on the future of Walsall Council’s Youth Services and Aldridge Manor youth club, discussed here so much lately.
Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 13th June, Aldridge Manor, by election, Cheap tat, Closure, Conservative, Councillors, cuts, Labour, Liberal Democrat, Linda Mason, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, Official, Politics, Pop-up, Public Meeting, Rachel Andrew, Redevelopment, Silly, sold, Statement, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Walsall Works, Youth Club
3 Comments
Not distracted at all
There has been a lot of coverage of the imminent closure of Aldridge Manor Youth Club and the wider youth service throughout Walsall, and its replacement by some not yet thought through system involving derelict properties and converted vans.
Posted in Bad Science, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 13th June, Aldridge Manor, area manager, by election, Cheap tat, Closure, Conservative, Councillors, cuts, Facebook, Green Belt, Independent, John Morris, Laboru, Lane's Farm, Liberal Democrat, Linda Mason, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, Pete Smith, planning, Politics, Public Meeting, Rachel Andrew, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Silly, sold, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Walsall Works, Youth Club
21 Comments
Aldridge Manor Youth Club: Public meeting arranged
I note that Walsall Council have organised a very short notice public meeting about the closure and sale of Aldridge Manor Youth Club.
Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 13th June, Aldridge Manor, area manager, Cheap tat, Closure, cuts, Facebook, Green Belt, John Morris, Lane's Farm, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, planning, Politics, Public Meeting, Rachel Andrew, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Silly, sold, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Youth Club
3 Comments
Driven to distraction
While the local Councillors have held a public meeting and been quite vocal about the phantom prospect of development in the local greenbelt, they haven’t been talking at all about the fact that Walsall Council is selling off Aldridge Manor Youth Club building and intends to replace the facility with a vague, unfeasible and daft ‘Pop-up’ travelling youth service.
Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldridge Manor, area manager, Cheap tat, Closure, cuts, Facebook, Green Belt, John Morris, Lane's Farm, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, planning, Politics, Rachel Andrew, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Silly, sold, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Youth Club
11 Comments
RSS - Posts
