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Tag Archives: Derelict
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
Truncated
I’m going to share here an absolutely astounding image donated by Brownhills Local History researcher in exile Gerald Reece, which is sure to create some debate – I’m going to be brief, as I feel it’s best.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Chris Pattison, Clayhanger, Company, Dave Moore, Derelict, Gerald Reece, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Morturn, New Photos, Old maps, Pedro, Pumping, Reservoir, Sandfields, Shire Oak, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire, Station, surge stack, Things to do, ventilator, Walsall, Water, Water tower, Waterwoks
6 Comments
Saving Sandfields – monthly public meeting tonight
The campaign to save Sandfields Pumping Station in Lichfield for the community continues to garner support – local historian and activist Dave Moore has been putting heart and soul into this for some months now, and he’d like as many people as possible to get involved.
Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged 2014, 27th, beam, campaign, Curborough Community Centre, Dave Moore, Derelict, Engine, English Heritage, June, Lichfield, Lichfield District Council, listed, listing, local blogs, Local History, Morturn, planning, Preservation, Public Meeting, Pump, pumping station, Redevelopment, Sandfields, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire, stationary, Things to do, Vandalism, Waterworks
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Application submitted for large Brownhills housing development
It comes I’m sure, as no surprise that Walsall Housing Group (WHG) have been planning a huge new housing development in central Brownhills for some time now – after all, last month I advertised a one-day consultation on plans to build houses on the former site of Silver Court Gardens, behind Silver Court, on land that’s now vacant.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 14/0767/FL, 14/0771/OL, 157, 40, Brownhills stuff, Canal, Clayhanger, Consultation, Court, Derelict, Development, dwellings, Environment, Events, Facebook, Fun stuff to see and do, gardens, homes, Humphries House, Lichfield, Lindon Drive, Local politics, Market Place, new houses, News, phased, planning, Planning application, planning interactive, Politics, Redevelopment, Regeneration, Shared media, Silver, Spotted whilst browsing the web, street, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Housing Group, Walsall politics, WHG
3 Comments
Friends of Sandfields – can you help?
The campaign to save Sandfields Pumping Station in Lichfield for the community continues apace – local historian and activist Dave Moore has been putting heart and soul into this for ages now, and he’d like as many people as possible to get involved.
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Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged beam, campaign, Darwin Hall Community Asociation, Dave Moore, Derelict, Engine, English Heritage, Lichfield, Lichfield District Council, listed, listing, local blogs, Local History, Morturn, planning, Preservation, Public Meeting, Pump, pumping station, Redevelopment, Sandfields, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire, stationary, Things to do, Vandalism, Waterworks
2 Comments
Redevelopment of Silver Court Gardens – have your say
There’s been loads of buzz since my article last weekend about the new development Walsall Housing Group are considering putting forward for the derelict wasteland that was once Silver Court Gardens in Brownhills – now you can attend the consultation and make your voice heard.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Brownhills, Canal, Clayhanger, Consultation, Court, Derelict, Development, Events, Facebook, gardens, Humphries House, Lichfield, Lindon Drive, Local politics, phased, planning, Politics, Redevelopment, Regeneration, Silver, street, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Housing Group, Walsall politics, WHG
3 Comments
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.
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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
Silver Court Gardens – a positive development
Hey folks, this is important – I was sent a link to this press release by friend of the blog Sarah Treadwell on Friday, and this it is potentially great news – I’ve known for a while that Walsall Housing Group have been looking to redevelop the land left vacant a decade ago with the demolition of Silver Court Gardens in central Brownhills.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Brownhills, Canal, Clayhanger, Consultation, Court, Derelict, Development, Events, Facebook, gardens, Humphries House, Lichfield, Lindon Drive, Local politics, phased, planning, Politics, Redevelopment, Regeneration, Silver, street, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Housing Group, Walsall politics, WHG
5 Comments
What was lost, now restored
I am indebted to a Burnell yet again, as top chap and fellow cyclist Richard contacts me and points out something he noticed that I didn’t – Bullings Heath Grove is now a real place, with street signs and everything.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged alehouse, beer house, Black Cock, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Bullings Heath, Bullings Heath Grove, Camden Street, Canal, Cawarden, close, Councillor, David Evans, Demolition, Derelict, Events, Green Lane, Hall Lane, Hillary Little, Local History, Mike Flower, New Photos, newbuild, old inn, Old maps, Pepper Alley, Pubs, Richard Burnell, Royal Oak, Smith, Staffordshire, street names, Walsall Wood
5 Comments
If the cap fits…
On Sunday I rode up Coppice Lane in Brownhills for the first time in a few weeks, and noticed that contractors for The Coal Authority – the body charged with monitoring and remediating historic mineworkings – had been hard at work capping the two shafts left over from the West Coppice Colliery, near the old level Crossing.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, 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, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills common, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Past, Brownhlls coal mines, Bug row, Capped, Cathedral Pit, Chasewater, Coal Authority, Coppice Colliery CO., Coppice Cottages, Coppice Pit, David Fellows, Derelict, Engine, Engine Lane, local blogs, Local History, Marklew, Marklew's Pond, mining in brownhills, New Photos, Norton Pool, Old maps, Ordnance Survey, Pump, Reservoir, Robert Webster, Staffordshire, Steam pump, West Colliery, William Harrison
4 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
The final lot
The demolition is by now nearly complete – after 155 years extant, and about 40 of those derelict, the former St John’s School in Walsall Wood has now largely reduced to pallets of bricks and oddments of scrap.
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Posted in Churches, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio updates, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged application, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cawarden Brick, Cawarden Brick and Tile, demolish, Demolition, Derelict, history, houses, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, Panoramio, planning, reclamation, Redevelopment, Rugeley, Shire Oak, St. Johns School, Stuart, Things to do, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
2 Comments
Breaking down the walls…
The tenacity and charm of the young David Evans continues to be rewarded, and he has again created great pictorial documentation of the demolition process being undertaken on the former St. John’s School in Walsall Wood.
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Posted in Churches, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio updates, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged application, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cawarden Brick, demolish, Demolition, Derelict, history, houses, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, Panoramio, planning, reclamation, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, St. Johns School, Stuart, Things to do, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
2 Comments
Demolition, man
Thanks to the keen eye and subsequent alert by reader, fellow local blogger and freind of the blog @thestymaster, plus the outrageous cheek, charm and loquaciousness of the young David Evans, I can present internal and external shots of the former St. John’s School in Walsall Wood, currently undergoing demolition.
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Posted in Churches, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio updates, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged application, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cawarden Brick, demolish, Demolition, Derelict, history, houses, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, Panoramio, planning, reclamation, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, St. Johns School, Things to do, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
16 Comments
Brick by brick
Today, thanks to the eagle eye of reader, fellow local blogger and freind of the blog @thestymaster, plus the dedication and guile of a couple of regular blog readers and contributors, we have managed to catch the last days of a local, doomed landmark: St. John’s School, in Walsall Wood.
Posted in Churches, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio updates, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged application, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, demolish, Demolition, Derelict, history, houses, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, Panoramio, planning, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, St. Johns School, Things to do, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
14 Comments
Pepper ground
I have been sent this remarkable and incredibly thorough piece of research into the historical and mapping record for Pepper Alley by Hilary Little, who you’ll remember as the driving force behind the project to record the history and fabric of the lost beer house, the Royal Oak, in Bullings Heath, Waslall Wood.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Alley, Black Cock Inn, bridge, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Bullings Heath, Canal, Caz, Clayhanger, David Evans, Derelict, Events, Hilary, Lane, Little, Local History, New Photos, Oak, Old maps, Pepper, planning, Pubs, Redevelopment, Royal, Staffordshire, Things to do, Val, Walsall Wood
40 Comments
A memorial to the beam engines…
Here’s something I came upon by chance I think that not just the Lichfield and South Staffordshire Water contingents will like, but all those interested in steam engines, heavy plant and Victorian engineering.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media
Tagged 1971, beam, campaign, Dave Moore, Derelict, Engine, Industrial Archeology, John J Bradbury, Journal of the History of Industry and Technology, Lichfield, Lichfield District Council, listed, listing, local blogs, Local History, Morturn, planning, Preservation, Pump, pumping station, Redevelopment, Sandfields, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire, stationary, Things to do, Waterworks
7 Comments
Can you help The Clayhanger Kid?
I received a message today from friend of the blog and top local campaigner Brian Stringer, author of the best-selling (and now sold out) book The Clayhanger Kid – Brian is in a bit of a pickle – he’s still got people asking for copies of his first book, but sadly, he has none left.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clayhanger, Derelict, local blogs, Local History, south staffordshire water, The Clayhanger Kid
1 Comment
Caught on celluloid
I have something remarkable coming up on the blog tomorrow, a film I’ve been tracking down for a while, and thanks to the immense generosity and kindness of local history stalwarts Brian ‘Clayhanger Kid’ Stringer and the Young David Evans, I can present it here on the net for the community to share and debate.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, 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 Aldridge, Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Chasewater, Cine film, Clayhanger, David Evans, Derelict, Lichfield, Local History, New Photos, old brBrownhills, Pubs, Redevelopment, Reservoir, Shire Oak, Staffordshire
13 Comments
The lost and fallen, lost then found again
This post is in answer to the query of 19th Noveber 2013, when Kathy Hodson of Wolverhampton, contacted me on twitter looking for the war memorial from Browhills West Methodist Church.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills West, Brownhills West Methodist Church, Chapel, demolished, Derelict, Kathy Hodgson, Lichfield, Local History, Lost, Old maps, planning, Redevelopment, Rehoboth, Severn Road, Staffordshire, Things to do, Twitter, war memorial
12 Comments
Anyone for tennis?
Further to the great material sent in by Marion Jones, relating to the lost pumping station on The Spot at Clayhanger, she also sent me some interesting photos of the gardens of the Jones House in Clayhanger in the 1920s.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff, Wildlife
Tagged big house, Branch line, bridge, Clayhanger Common, Culverts, Derelict, Drain, Drainage, flooding, Ford Brook, Local History, Marion Jones, Marsh, New Photos, new pond, Pump, pump house, Railway, River Tame, Round Table, Samuel Wheale, Spot Lane, Staffordshire, stepping stones, stormwater, Subsidence, tennis court, The Spot, The Spot pumping station, Walsall Wood Colliery
5 Comments
Challenging landscapes
Today, I’ve mostly been trawling the paper mapping record for Clayhanger, in order to throw a little more light on the issues it faced in the post war years – debate about subsidence and flooding and the subsequent land restoration that occurred has been ongoing, and this is a really interesting bit of local history for me.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Council, Wildlife
Tagged Clayhanger, Clayhanger Common, Culverts, Derelict, Drain, Drainage, flooding, Ford Brook, Local History, Marsh, New Photos, Ordnance Survey, pit, Pump, pump house, Railway, Shire Oak, spoil, Spot Lane, Staffordshire, stormwater, Subsidence, The Spot, The Spot pumping station, Walsall Wood Colliery
6 Comments
Gathering moss
The Clayhanger subsidence and pumping station thread seems to have provoked much interest in the past week – there has been a great deal of reader comment, and I have further bits to add to the story in coming days.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, 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
Tagged Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Urban District Council, Clayhanger, Derelict, Drains, flooding, Ford Brook Road, High Heath, Laurence Thacker, lawley Close, Local History, Mill Road, Moss Pits, Pelsall, pumping station, Replacement, School Farm, sewage, Sewer, Shelfield, Staffordshire, Steam pump, Subsidence, UDC, Walsall Observer, Walsall Wood, Williams
5 Comments
Fighting a losing battle
Every now and then, something comes through whilst compiling the blog that stuns me, and pulls me up short. It’s happened twice recently – firstly with Chris Pattison’s wonderful 1952 Walsall Observer article on Clayhanger’s flooding problem, and secondly with this rare and beautiful gem from reader Marion Jones.
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff, Wildlife
Tagged Bennets Hill, Clayhanger Common, Culverts, Derelict, Drain, Drainage, flooding, Ford Brook, Kenneth Granger Wheale, Local History, Marion Jones, Marsh, New Photos, Pump, pump house, River Tame, Robert Green, Samuel Wheale, Spot Lane, Staffordshire, stormwater, Subsidence, The Spot, The Spot pumping station
12 Comments
Purity was the gift
A couple of weeks ago, I alerted readers to a preview clip of a film that local historian Dave Moore was making in support of his Save Sandfields Pumping Station Campaign – well, yesterday Dave posted the complete film on the campaign blog.
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Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged beam, campaign, Dave Moore, Derelict, Engine, English Heritage, Lichfield, Lichfield District Council, listed, listing, local blogs, Local History, Morturn, planning, Preservation, Pump, pumping station, Redevelopment, Sandfields, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire, stationary, Things to do, Vandalism, Waterworks
6 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’.
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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
Party like its… 1998?
I like this a lot – way back in 1998, an officer for Walsall Council was given the job of taking some pictures of Brownhills town centre, the lady in question was handed a digital camera that took floppy disks, which lay filed away for 15 years until yesterday, when they came to light again.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 1998, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, decay, Derelict, digital, gallery, High Street, images, Local History, New Photos, pictures, Shops, survey, Tesco, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council
23 Comments
Hey, Sally Anne…
Another research project for those so inclined came in this week, again via Twitter – Rob Kinnon-Brettle contacted me on Wednesday evening looking for information about the Salvation Army in Brownhills.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Events, 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 Wood stuff
Tagged Army, barracks, Booth, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clayhanger, Derelict, Events, hall, High Street, Lichfield, Lichfield Mercury, Local History, Memories of Brownhills Past, New Photos, planning, Redevelopment, religion, Rob Kinnon Brettle, Sally Ann, Sally Anne, Salvation, Staffordshire, Things to do, Twitter, Walsall Wood, Warreners
12 Comments
Fading images
A Birmingham timelapse from 7inch cinema a bit of a treat for a Saturday afternoon – this incredible video was shared on Twitter this morning by wonderful Brummy twitter account @Brumpics.
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Posted in News
Tagged 7 Inch Cinema, Andy Savage, Birmingham Seen, Birminham, Brumpics, Chamberlain Square, Derby, Derek Fairbrother, Derelict, Film, Library, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Redevelopment, Twitter, Vandalism, Vimeo, Ziggurat
2 Comments
A film on the water
Dave Moore, late of this parish and tireless campaigner for all things local and historical is doing something really interesting for his Save Sandfields Pumping Statio Camapaign, and taking a really unique approach. Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged beam, campaign, Dave Moore, Derelict, Engine, English Heritage, Lichfield, Lichfield District Council, listed, listing, local blogs, Local History, Morturn, planning, Preservation, Pump, pumping station, Redevelopment, Sandfields, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire, stationary, Things to do, Vandalism, Waterworks
8 Comments
Brownhills West Methodist Church war memorial – can you help?
Here’s an odd little enquiry from Kathy Hodson of Wolverhampton, who contacted me on twitter yesterday looking for the war memorial for Browhills West Methodist Church.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills West, Brownhills West Methodist Church, Chapel, demolished, Derelict, Kathy Hodgson, Lichfield, Local History, Lost, Old maps, planning, Redevelopment, Severn Road, Staffordshire, Things to do, Twitter, war memorial
5 Comments
School’s out
I think this might be controversial – from recent activity at the site, it seems like the former St. John’s School, in Lichfield Road Walsall Wood, may be about to be demolished, and it’s site possibly redeveloped, together with the derelict bungalow next door.
Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 12 housed, 4th November 2012, application, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, demolish, Demolition, Derelict, history, houses, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, Panoramio, planning, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, St. Johns School, Things to do, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
13 Comments
The end and the beginning
Thanks to several people including reader and friend of the blog Caz and the Young David Evans who’ve both pointed out that the former Royal Oak in Bullings Heath, Walsall Wood, is currently being demolished.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged alehouse, beer house, Black Cock, Black Cock Bridge, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Bullings Heath, Camden Street, Canal, Cawarden, close, David Evans, Demolition, Derelict, Events, Goblin Pit, Green Lane, Hall Lane, Hillary Little, Local History, New Photos, newbuild, old inn, Old maps, Pepper Alley, Pubs, Ron, Royal Oak, Smith, Staffordshire, Val, Walsall Wood
7 Comments
Next steps – Saving Sandfields meeting tonight!
Following the success of the inaugural meeting called to find a way to save Sandfields Pumping Station in Lichfield, a second meeting is scheduled for this Friday to officially set up The Friends of Sandfields Pumping Station group.
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Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged beam, campaign, Darwin Hall Community Asociation, Dave Moore, Derelict, Engine, English Heritage, Lichfield, Lichfield District Council, listed, listing, local blogs, Local History, Morturn, planning, Preservation, Public Meeting, Pump, pumping station, Redevelopment, Sandfields, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire, stationary, Things to do, Vandalism, Waterworks
3 Comments
Increasing pressure
Following my plug (and lots of others in the online community) for the meeting about Sandfields Pumping Station and it’s preservation, I was pleased to note that over 40 people turned up to the public meeting in Lichfield last night.
Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged beam, campaign, Darwin Hall Community Asociation, Dave Moore, Derelict, Engine, English Heritage, Lichfield, Lichfield District Council, listed, listing, local blogs, Local History, Morturn, planning, Preservation, Public Meeting, Pump, pumping station, Redevelopment, Sandfields, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire, stationary, Things to do, Vandalism, Waterworks
1 Comment
Saving Sandfields – Public meeting this Friday!
The campaign to save Sandfields Pumping Station in Lichfield for the community continues apace – local historian and activist Dave Moore has been putting heart and soul into this for some months now, and he’d like as many people as possible to get involved.
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Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged beam, campaign, Darwin Hall Community Asociation, Dave Moore, Derelict, Engine, English Heritage, Lichfield, Lichfield District Council, listed, listing, local blogs, Local History, Morturn, planning, Preservation, Public Meeting, Pump, pumping station, Redevelopment, Sandfields, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire, stationary, Things to do, Vandalism, Waterworks
10 Comments
A school united in war and in peace
Earlier in the year, I started a series of posts containing log book entries for St John’s School, Walsall Wood – I now complete the series with the time period from the 1912 merger to 1945, when the records end.
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Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged boys school, Brownhills local history, David Evans, Derelict, Education, Local History, Maddaver, Maddever, New Photos, Records, School, Shire Oak, St Johns, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood
26 Comments
A ghost of a chance…
Ghosts and such things; a rumination…
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Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills Barry, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Market, Clayhanger, Cycle rides, Derelict, folklore, Ghost, haunting, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Nick Duffy, oral, Panoramio, Pubs, Redevelopment, Silly, Staffordshire, story, Tesco, Tesco Development, Things to do, Walsall Wood, West Midlands Ghost Club
4 Comments
The Cossacks of Walsall Wood
Horses are in the Black Country DNA – whether it was working with them to tow narrowboats or transport goods, marshalling them down the pit, or riding them for the sheer joy, these noble animals have a secure place in the local heart.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1934, 1935, Audrey Proffit, Beak, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Butcher, Canwell, Carnival, circus, Clayhanger, Cossack, Craddocks, Cynthia, David Evans, Derelict, Dickie, equestrian, Farm, Jack, Lichfield, Local History, Louie, New Photos, Pubs, Richard, Riders, Roadrunner, Sheila Norris, Shire Oak, show jumping, Southall, stables, Staffordshire, stunt, Walsall Wood
15 Comments
From the Station to Paradise
Mike Leonard, the reader who supplied the wonderful images of The Railway Tavern and Wheatsheaf last week has done it again – this tie with two super photos.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 1980's, AH Taxis, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, CK Electronics, Construction, Derelict, Events, island, Local History, Meehans Shoe Repairs, Mike Leonard, miner, Mitsubishi DA-L70, New Photos, planning, Plumbers Paradise, Pubs, Redevelopment, Silly, Sport and Leisure, Station Hotel, The Sportsman, Things to do
16 Comments
The dirty old town I love
I’ve never made any secret of the fact that I love the Black Country with all my heart – this dirty, post-industrial powerhouse of a place has been prominent throughout my life, although, technically, I live outside it. 
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Posted in Bad Science, Churches, 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, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged birthday, Bullstake, Darlaston, Derelict, FH Lloyd, GKN, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, Panoramio, planning, Politics, Redevelopment, Rubery Owen, Silly, Staffordshire, Tony Martin, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Wilkings and Mitchell
43 Comments
Les Fleurs
Some time ago, reader and Bon Viveur David Evans found this image for sale at a church fayre in Brownhills, at I believe at St James – he didn’t purchase it, but he did take a crafty snapshot.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged Allsops, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, David Evans, Derelict, Disaster, drawing, Fire, Fleur de lys, fox hunt, fox hunting, Grove pit, Local History, meet, New Photos, Norton, Pubs, Redevelopment, Silly, Staffordshire, Things to do, Vandalism, Water Margin, Watling Street
35 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
The ever-changing skyline
I’ve had some fantastic contact recently with reader Wyrleyrob, who’s helped on a number of historical issues- he’s interested in the Birchills foundry/power station history, and has spoken to his friend, great local historian Jack Haddock – together, they’ve come up with some fine images which I can share.
Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community
Tagged Basin, Birchills, Birchills Foundry, Boats, Canal, Church Hill, Demolition, Derelict, Glue Works, Jack Haddock, Local History, New Photos, power station, Redevelopment, Reedswood, Reedswood power station, Stack, tower, Walsall, Wyrleyrob
9 Comments
Power to the people
I’ve had a couple of great responses to my request for material on Walsall’s lost power station that existed at Reedswood, until it’s demolition in the late 1980s.
Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community
Tagged 1963, Anthony, Birchills, booklet, Canal, Derelict, Leaflet, Local History, Martin, New Photos, open day, planning, power station, Redevelopment, Reedswood, Tony, Walsall
12 Comments
On the Sunnyside of the street
That there Young David Evans has been busy again investigating the physical geography of the land between Walsall Wood and Aldridge, at Kings Hayes and The Vigo – David has previously done some excellent work on the landscape and history of Walsall Wood, and this article continues that trend.
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Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1750, Aldridge, Brownhills local history, Cottage, Cresswell, David Evans, Derelict, Jo Yates, Kingshayes, Local History, New Photos, Simon, Staffordshire, Sunnyside, Taylor, The Vigo, Tithe Map, Vigo, Walsall Wood
10 Comments
Down the tubes
Further to the Birchills Ironworks discussion, I had this interesting contribution from reader and top friend of the blog, Andy Dennis – I’d certainly be interested in any material relating to Sterling Tubes or any other companies operating in the area discussed here last weekend.
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Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media
Tagged Andy Dennis, Birchills, Bloxwich, Canal, Castinds, Deely, Derelict, foundry, hall, Ironworks, Leamore, Local History, Mural, overlay, planning, Redevelopment, Staffordshire, Sterling, Things to do, Tube
28 Comments
The white heat of technology
This weekend, I have been mostly excavating the mapping record for Birchills Iron Works – I know it’s way off our normal beat, but once I started looking at the geography following the remarkable sale post of last Friday, I couldn’t help but be captivated.
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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, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 1886-7, 1903, 1914, 1938, Birchills, Bloxwich, Brick, Canal, Derelict, foundry, Goodall Works, Google Earth, hall, Ironworks, Leamore, Local History, Mapping, Mapps, Old maps, overlay, planning, Redevelopment, Staffordshire, Things to do, Tube, Walsall
21 Comments
Pippin is back home!
Great news from Stevie Ansell: Pippin the grey mare is back home, safe and well.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills common, clearance, Cycle rides, Derelict, Engine Lane, field, found, grey, happy ending, Lost, mare, New Photos, pippin, planning, pony, recovered, Redevelopment, Riding school, Stevie Ansell, Wildlife
5 Comments
Urgent appeal: lost horse – can you help?
Stevie Ansell, who operates the local riding school with fields on the Pelsall Road and at Engine Lane, Brownhills, has lost a horse, a small grey mare called Pippin, who’s believed to be in the Coalpool area.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills common, clearance, Cycle rides, Derelict, Engine Lane, field, grey, Lost, mare, New Photos, planning, pony, Redevelopment, Riding school, Stevie Ansell, Wildlife
1 Comment
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