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Tag Archives: colliery
Living next door to the Grove – what do you know?
Last year I featured a very popular set of images from a place I genuinely didn’t realise still existed: The Grove Colliery, the remnants of which – the house and offices situated just off Lime Lane, between Pelsall, Brownhills, Norton and Great Wyrley – were documented by old pal of the blog Simon Swain and drone wizard Steve Martin also captured the site from the air.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged archive, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Canal and River Trust, Cannock Extension Canal, colliery, Derelict, Disaster, Events, freight, Grove, Grove Colliery, House, images, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, mining, New Photos, Norton, photos, pit, pits, Redevelopment, Si Swain, Simon, Staffordshire, Things to do, tramway, viaduct, Wyrley common
1 Comment
The Grove Colliery – remembering a lost pit
Last year I featured a very popular set of images from a place I genuinely didn’t realise still existed: The Grove Colliery, the remnants of which – the house and offices situated just off Lime Lane, between Pelsall, Brownhills, Norton and Great Wyrley – were documented by old pal off the blog Simon Swain and posted here as a gallery I include below.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged archive, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Canal and River Trust, Cannock Extension Canal, colliery, Derelict, Disaster, Events, freight, Grove, Grove Colliery, House, images, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, mining, New Photos, Norton, photos, pit, pits, Redevelopment, Si Swain, Simon, Staffordshire, Things to do, tramway, viaduct, Wyrley common
16 Comments
Was the investigation into the Grove Pit Disaster a whitewash?
The 1st October 2016 was the 86th anniversary of the worst modern-day pit disaster in our area, the Grove Pit Disaster, in which fourteen miners perished following an explosion a mile and a half below Brownhills Common, beneath the Ring Sun Inn.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Accident, amputated, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills mining disater, Chasewaterstuff, coal mines, colliers, colliery, Coppy Pit, Derbyshire, Dora, Elizabeth, Features, Gill, Grove Colliery, Grove pit, Joesbury, leg, local blogs, Local History, Lost, Mine disaster, Mine rescue, miners, Mines rescue, mining, Newhall, Solomon Fox, Staffordshire, Sutton in Ashfield, The men below, Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood Colliery, Walsall Wood Pit, Whitehouse, William Harrison, Wyrley common, Wyrley Grove
5 Comments
Something fishy afoot?
I’ve had an interesting question in from Taffy of Tamworth, who’s an angler who enjoys fishing Marklews Pond, off Engine Lane in Brownhills – but he’s recently noticed something.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Panoramio photo discussions, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Bug row, colliery, Common, Coppice, Coppice Side, Engine Lane, Internet Archive, little Wyrley, local blogs, Local History, Marklew's Pond, Old maps, Panoramio, Robert Webster, Side, Staffordshire, state, taffy, Tommy Shop, Tommy Tokens, Wayback Machine, William Marklew
19 Comments
All that remains of the last one standing
Following my feature yesterday on perhaps the last passenger train to ever traverse the line from Aldridge to the Conduit Colliery in Norton Canes, Simon Swain has sent me a great gallery of images of the Grove Colliery site as it is today.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged archive, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Canal and River Trust, Cannock Extension Canal, colliery, Derelict, Disaster, Events, freight, Grove, Grove Colliery, House, images, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, mining, New Photos, Norton, photos, pit, pits, Redevelopment, Si Swain, Simon, Staffordshire, Things to do, tramway, viaduct, Wyrley common
25 Comments
A mine of information
In my last article, I pointed out that I’d received extra information on a couple of posts over the weekend – both on the Anglesey/sea question, and also on the Mine Rescue Team image shared by John Sale and Bill Mayo.
Posted in Cannock Chase, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1935, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cannock Chase, cannock Chase jubilee souvenir, coal mines, colliery, Coppy Pit, David Evans, Features, Grove Colliery, Grove pit, jan Wilson, Local History, Mine rescue, mines recue cup, Mines rescue, mining, New Photos, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Staffordshire, Twitter, Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood Colliery, Walsall Wood Pit, William Harrison
4 Comments
Rescue me
The great Bill Mayo, local historian and photo collector, has recently been digging in his files and found a few mystery images, like the one above of a local mines rescue team.
Posted in Cannock Chase, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, coal mines, colliery, Coppy Pit, David Evans, Features, Grove Colliery, Grove pit, Local History, Mine rescue, mines recue cup, Mines rescue, mining, New Photos, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Staffordshire, Twitter, Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood Colliery, Walsall Wood Pit, William Harrison
2 Comments
Mad about the Mouse
This is just a quick question for the history wonks out there who have some knowledge of Pelsall.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged 2015, colliery, hisotry, industrial, Lichfield, mine, Mouse Hill, name, origin, Pelsall, Pelsall Hall, Road
8 Comments
A local mining accident – more information available
A couple of days ago I asked for information about a local mining accident, suffered by the Grandfather of reader Gill Joesbury, but the request it was a bit of a mission impossible, as we didn’t have a name to go on – since then, Gill has now been in touch with more information.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Features, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Accident, amputated, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, coal mines, colliery, Coppy Pit, Derbyshire, Dora, Elizabeth, Features, Gill, Grove Colliery, Grove pit, Joesbury, leg, Local History, Lost, Mine rescue, Mines rescue, mining, Newhall, Solomon Fox, Staffordshire, Sutton in Ashfield, Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood Colliery, Walsall Wood Pit, Whitehouse, William Harrison
6 Comments
A local mining accident – can you help?
Here’s a quick one to get the researchers scratching their heads – and it’s a very long shot, but please do what you can, I’ve asked for more information from Gill, and I’m hoping she’ll comment here.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Features, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Accident, amputated, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, coal mines, colliery, Coppy Pit, Features, Gill, Grove Colliery, Grove pit, Joesbury, leg, Local History, Lost, Mine rescue, Mines rescue, mining, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood Colliery, Walsall Wood Pit, William Harrison
18 Comments
Stacked
A few weeks ago, I shared here a mining plan of how workings in the Robbins coal seam under Walsall Wood, Clayhanger and Brownhills affected the railway line above it, showing the coal mine excavations in great detail under the village.
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, six foot, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood, workings
5 Comments
Quality is important – What lies beneath once more
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.
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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
What lies beneath
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.
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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
12 Comments
Now the water has drained away
Following my post recently concerning some great maps sent to me by Bruce Littley, reader, friend of the blog and top local allotment whiz Steve Hames has been in touch with some great images of the path of the former Cannock Extension Canal which was pictured in the Aerofilms image in the post.
Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged Alotment, Bruce Littley, Burntwood, Canal, Canes, Cannock Extension Canal, Case Terrace, Chasewater, colliery, Conduit, Local History, map, movement, Norton, Old maps, pit, plan, Railway, Redevelopment, spoil, Staffordshire, Steve Hames, Things to do
4 Comments
What’s the plan?
This is an interesting one I’ve had cooking for a while – reader Bruce Littley has kindly sent me these scans of maps that he’s come across, and he’d like to know more about them – or at least the annotations sketched thereupon.
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Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 1919, 1938, ammuniton, Bruce Littley, Burntwood, Canal, Canes, Case Terrace, Chasewater, colliery, Conduit, Local History, map, movement, Norton, Old maps, pit, plan, Railway, Redevelopment, scrapslag heap, spoil, Staffordshire, Things to do
7 Comments
Seam stress
Now, since it’s been a few days of catching up with little bits and pieces, here’s something massive for readers to get their teeth into – this is a historical artefact which I’ve been lucky enough to find, and I’m very excited about it.
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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
14 Comments
Cattle class
There’s still a very large degree of interest in the history of Walsall Wood’s Dairy Farm and particularly it’s barn – the strength of curiosity in this well built, intriguing structure has quite baffled me to be honest; when writing about it originally I assumed not many folk had noticed the existence of it, yet many folk seem to be fascinated by the history.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged agriculture, Barn, Bob, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Bullings Heath, Canal, colliery, cows, Dairy Farm, David Evans, Doris, Farm, Hall Lane, Lichfield, Local History, Mary, New Photos, Newbould, Reece, Staffordshire, T Sheldon, Things to do, Walsall Wood
11 Comments
A fit of Peake?
I had this one in a couple of days ago from Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler, who continues his dogged research into local mining history, and the relationship between those above ground and those whose labours they depended upon beneath them.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 1933, Accident, Amalgamation, baths, Cannock, Captain, collieries, colliery, Harrison, Institute of Mining Engineers, Lichfield Mercury, Overwind protection, Peake, Pedro, Peter Cutler, pinhead, Rawnsley, Rugeley, T.V., The Grange, wimblebury
19 Comments
Sharing the knowledge
Contributor and mainstay of the Brownhills Blog Andy Dennis has written to me, to point out some work he’s done on a story for another local history site – Andy has researched a mine explosion involving some of his relatives in the Moira Bath Pit in Leicestershire in 1845. It’s harrowing stuff, but fascinating.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged 1845, Andy Dennis, Bath Pit, colliery, Disaster, Fionn's Mining Site, historian, history, Leicestershire, mine, Moira, Staffordshire
12 Comments
A conduit for change
A quick but interesting one – I’ve just dredged the above map out of my stash – this one has a gruesome correction tear, but it shows Norton pretty much as it would have been when the journalist writing for The Graphic visited in 1886.
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Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 1884, Canal, Canes, Chasewater, colliery, Conduit, Local History, map, Norton, Old maps, pit, Redevelopment, Staffordshire, Things to do
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Never trust the ground beneath your feet
Over the last week, an incident of major proportions has occurred in the UK, at Hatfield, near Doncaster. It has gone largely under reported in the media, which is a scandal. This is a significant and worrying event, and is of interest to anyone interested in mining, industrial waste, spoil heaps, physical geography and geology.
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Posted in Bad Science, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Aberfan, Accident, Blog, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, colliery, Dave Petley, Doncaster, Events, Geology, Geophysics, Hatfield, health and safety, Landslide, Landslip, Local History, mine, mining, mining inspectorate, New Photos, physical geography, pit, Railway, slag heap, Spoil heap, Stainforth, Things to do, Walsall Wood
2 Comments
Language of the underground
Our good mate Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler has struck gold again. This transcription of an article from the Lichfield Mercury, of Friday, 4th January 1904 is a real gem, both for those with a keen interest in mining at the time, and those who are scholars of the nomenclature and language of our area.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged bank, bat, brazil, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chasewater, Clayhanger, clinch, colliery, crownin, down cast, fire stink, Local History, long wall, miner, mining, Silly, slang, square work, Staffordshire, sump, swag, thurling, up cast, Walsall Wood
14 Comments
Walsall Wood 1911, before and beyond
This article is the fourth – and final (at least until the 1921 census comes out…) part of blog reader, commentator and top contributor David Evans’ ongoing project to chart the growth of Walsall Wood just over a century ago. The first, second, and third instalments in the series have been published in the last two months, and generated quite a bit of debate and interest.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911, Batkins, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Census, colliery, David Evans, Grocer, growth, Headleys, health, history, Local History, pit, population, Pubs, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, store, teacher, Walsall Wood
21 Comments
The western front
Some weeks ago now, I featured a British Railways Board plan I’d purchased from a map dealer, which showed the coal workings in the Yard Seam below Brownhills Common. At the same time, I bought the one featured here, too. … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged British Railways Board, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chasewater, colliery, Derelict, Farm, Hednesford Road, Highfield, Local History, M Fletcher, Mining Plan, Old maps, pit, Redevelopment, Reservoir, Shaft, Staffordshire, Things to do, Walsall Wood Extension, Watling Street, Wilkin, Yard Seam
9 Comments
Walsall Wood, 1901: Into a new century
This article is the third part of blog reader, commentator and top contributor David Evans’ ongoing project to chart the growth of Walsall Wood just over a century ago. The first and second pieces in the series have been published in the last month, and generated quite a bit of debate and interest.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, 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 1881, 1891, 1901, Batkins, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Census, colliery, David Evans, Grocer, growth, Headleys, health, history, Local History, pit, population, Pubs, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, store, teacher, Walsall Wood
26 Comments
Walsall Wood, 1891. Fit to burst…
This article is part of an effort by top reader, commentator and contributor David Evans to chart the growth of Walsall Wood, towards the turn of the last century. The first article in this series was published a couple of … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1881, 1926, Aerofilms, Batkins, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Census, colliery, David Evans, Growcer, growth, health, history, Local History, Nootmaker, pit, population, Pubs, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, store, teacher, Walsall Wood
18 Comments
Walsall Wood, 1881. A melting pot…
This is an effort to chart the growth of Walsall Wood, towards the turn of the last century. At this time, the village was growing; the expansion (I hesitate to use the word ‘wealth’) that this created shaped the community … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1881, Batkins, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Census, colliery, David Evans, Growcer, growth, health, history, Local History, Nootmaker, pit, population, Pubs, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, store, teacher, Walsall Wood
29 Comments
The Harrison dynasty: Beginnings in Coal, 1849
Regular reader, commentarian and contributor extraordinaire Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler sent me this article some weeks ago now, and I’ve been waiting to finish the Pelsall Boiler Explosion series, so it has a clear deck. This is a continuation in Peter’s … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, colliery, Cutler, Harrison, Local History, mining, New Photos, Nigel Chapman, nutty, Pedro, Peter, Staffordshire, The South Staffordshire Coalfied, Walsall Wood
8 Comments
Castle class
I’ve had a lovely email from Tony Turner. Tony, you’ll remember, was born in a cottage at what was known as The Fort in Newtown, Brownhills. Recent historical debates here have focussed on where The Fort was, and whether it’s … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community
Tagged 70's, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cannock, Castle Street, club, colliery, Doody, Ford, Joe Turner, Local History, Mines Rescu, Mr, Mrs, New Photos, Pubs, rescue, Staffordshire, The Fault, The Fort, Tony Turner, Transit
1 Comment
A quick correction from Andy Dennis
I had a brief note from top chap and blog research stalwart Andy Dennis the other day – I kept meaning to reply, but as regular contributors know only to well, I’m not too good with mail. If it’s a … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Features, Followups, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged Andy Dennis, Brown, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cathedral Pit, colliery, Convalescent home, Edward, Edwin, Grove pit, Local History, Madeira Cove, mine, miner, New Photos, pneumoconiosis, Staffordshire, Ted, Weston Super Mare, William Harrison
3 Comments
In pursuit of the truth
Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler, one of several readers and contributors without whom this blog would be nothing at all, has something to say, and I think we need to listen. Carefully. There’s something disturbing him, and me, in the way some … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cheap tat, colliery, conditions, Cutler, Edward Brown, Grove, Harrison, local blogs, Local History, mines, mining, Pedro, Peter, pit disaster, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood
27 Comments
A token of my respect
Today, I’m going to do something I should have done a while ago. Students of Brownhills Local History will be aware of an elusive, long lost site by local chap Robert Webster. This great resource ceased to exist a few … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Panoramio photo discussions, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Bug row, colliery, Common, Coppice, Coppice Side, Engine Lane, Internet Archive, local blogs, Local History, Marklew's Pond, Old maps, Panoramio, Robert Webster, Side, Staffordshire, Tommy Shop, Tommy Tokens, Wayback Machine, William Marklew
9 Comments
The social contract
There has been some discussion here recently between regulars David Evans and Peter Cutler about miners working at Walsall Wood Colliery on day to day contracts. As a consequence, Peter found the following article in the Lichfield Mercury of Friday, … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Events, Features, Followups, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, Local politics, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1914, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, coal mine, colliery, David Evans, Dispute, Events, Lease, Lessor, Lichfield Mercury, Local History, Local politics, Lord Bradford, mining, Peake, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Public Meeting, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood Colliery, Wolverson
4 Comments
How do you solve a problem like Eliza?
Here’s a bit of original research sent in for readers to peruse from the wonderful Andy Dennis. This is a further, almost forensic investigation of the Harrison family, local mine-owners and industrialists. This is an exemplary bit of research, and … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged Aldershaw, Aldershawe, Andy Dennis, Bealy, big house, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Butts Limeworks, colliery, Edward Harrison, Eliza Harrison, estate, George Carter, George Strongitharm, Grove pit, Harrison, John Harrison, Local History, Local politics, Middlewich, mine, Reasearch, Samuel Wagstaff, Staffordshire, Td Brown, Wall, William Harrison
57 Comments
On yer bike…
Here’s an interesting one from loyal reader and contributor Andy Dennis. This has genuinely touched me, and it dovetails nicely with yesterday’s post featuring Ulead123’s tribute to local miners film. This is a neat progression, and it’s just the kind … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Allendale, Andy Dennis, Brown, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cathedral Pit, colliery, Convalescent home, Edward, Grove pit, Local History, Madeira Cove, mine, miner, New Photos, pneumoconiosis, Staffordshire, Ted, Weston Super Mare, William Harrison
11 Comments
A rich seam
This video paying tribute to the former miners of Brownhills and Walsall Wood has been around for a few years now, but I thought I’d give it a plug on the blog. It’s and interesting compilation by Ulead123, posted on YouTube … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Features, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Local music, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Clayhanger, colliery, Local History, Local politics, mining, Staffordshire, Tribute, Tribute to all the Brownhills Miners Staffordshire England, Ulead123, video, Walsall Wood, Youtube
6 Comments
The night the roof fell in
Brian Stringer – The Clayhanger Kid himself – has very kindly contacted me with his memories of the October 1956 accident at Walsall Wood Colliery. Brian sent me the following: Hi Bob. The article you featured re the medals presented … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Features, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged Bravery, British Empire Medal, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, colliery, George Albert Schofield, George Bywater, Local History, mininers, Order tf the British Empire, pit disaster, roof fall, Staffordshire, Walsall Observer, Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood Colliery, William Henry Joiner
9 Comments
Heroes of the underground
I thank [Howmuch?] for the following contribution, which he found amongst his paperwork while having his annual clear out. He really is every it the star… CENTRAL CHANCERY OF THE ORDERS OF KNIGHTHOOD. St. James’s Paloce, S.W.1. 12th February, 1957. … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Features, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1957, Bravery, British Empire Medal, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, colliery, George Albert Schofield, George Bywater, Howmuch, Local History, London Gazette, mininers, New Photos, Order tf the British Empire, pit disaster, roof fall, Staffordshire, Walsall Observer, Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood Colliery, William Henry Joiner
4 Comments
Taking up the slack
Last March I posted an article featuring an image of the demonstration event for the ill-fated Merrie England project which reader Steve Hames had scanned from the book ‘Images of England – Cannock Chase’ by Sherry Belcher and Mary Mills. … Continue reading
Posted in Cannock Chase, Environment, Features, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged 1981, annock Wood Pit, Cannock, Cannock Wood Colliery, Cannock Wood Pit, coal mine, coal sorting by hand., colliery, Coppice Coliier, Derelict, Hednesford, Last pit pony, Littleton colliery, Local History, Mine train, miners, mines, pit, pitmen, West cannock No. 5 pit, West Cannock world record, wimblebury, WImblebury Colliery
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Holding on for a hero
Top bloke and contributor Stevie378 recently commented that a relative was in a local mine rescue team. With that in mind, and especially for his mum, whom I know to be a keen reader of this blog, I’ve dredged the … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Features, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, coal mines, colliery, Coppy Pit, Features, Grove Colliery, Grove pit, Local History, Mine rescue, mines recue cup, Mines rescue, mining, New Photos, Staffordshire, Twitter, Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood Colliery, Walsall Wood Pit, William Harrison
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