Tag Archives: Hammerwich

It’s not Christmas without the cards

I’ve had this one in preparation for a while, and to paraphrase, it’s an absolute boster of a post – regular readers will remember with fondness Ruth Penrhyn-Lowe, who has previously sent scans of some remarkable postcards of Brownhills, a stunning large set of Aldridge, and another bunch from Aldridge and Stubbers Green – all of which were collected by her late father.

 Image generously supplied by Ruth Penrhyn-Lowe. Continue reading

Posted in Cannock Chase, Churches, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

Staffordshire Hoard talk at Chasewater Innovation Centre tonight

hoard Continue reading

Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, 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 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

The gold hoard to arrive in Brownhills at last…

My apologies to top fellow and friend of the blog David Hodgkinson, as quite frankly, I forgot this one, and it’s quite important for Staffordshire Hoard fans and local historians alike. Continue reading

Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, 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 | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Water, water everywhere and not a drop to drink…

I’m very pleased (and relieved) to welcome back Ian Pell to the Brownhills Blog, with a cracking article about the Hammerich burst I mentioned a few weeks ago.
Untitled2 Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

A sudden loss of pressure

Chris Pattison has been in touch. Chris, you’ll remember, is the wonderful historian charting the history of South Staffordshire Water, who has made such great moves in helping local historians like myself, Kate Cardigan, David Moore and Ian Pell to bring local water and railway history to life.
Railway Burst 4 Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 9 Comments

Golden hours

Busy most of the day, I managed to slip out late afternoon for a ride – it was glorious -Chasewater was busy, yet there were deer on the dam. – the countryside was alive, and bursting into leaf and bloom everywhere I looked[caption id="attachment_13982" align="aligncenter" width="225"]Wall church itself is impressive and unusual in style Wall church itself is impressive and unusual in style[/caption]
Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Churches, cycling, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, Shared media, Wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

The money trail…

Yesterday, a story popped up on the BBC news that probably passed a lot of folk by in the blur of tinsel and turkey that is Christmas. I think this is worth pulling into the light. The plan for a … Continue reading

Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Staffordshire Hoard public meeting tonight!

The Clayhanger Kid – perhaps better known to readers of The Brownhills Blog as Brian Stringer is, with other interested parties, tonight holding a public meeting about the Staffordshire Hoard at the Parkview Centre in Brownhills, at 7pm. Brian initially … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Some disassembly required

Readers with long memories will recall my ruminations on the Vulcan Bomber cockpit that notoriously found itself in a garden in Burntwood a few years ago. The story still gets a large quantity of hits, and I think it’s fair … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 6 Comments

The day after

Following on from the excellent response to my post of last week, featuring the fascinating 1963 aerial photo of Chasewater’s south shore, I’ve decided to post two more of the collection which should provide some interesting talking points for readers. … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

After the gold rush

I’ve though about this one quite carefully, and can’t see any reason not to share it with the readers to see what they think. Some weeks ago, reader Andy Dennis wrote to me, posing an interesting question about the location … Continue reading

Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Self vulcanising

Here’s an interesting blast from the past concerning some leftfield local mythology. I was contacted in the week by reader Richard Stanley, who posed this interesting question: Hey Bob, Odd memory that came to me whilst watching a program about … Continue reading

Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 Comments

Pretzel logic

I noticed with wry amusement the letter from Gerald Bickley, of Brownhills Local Committee in the Walsall Advertiser last week. It’s interesting and welcome that we finally hear something from the somewhat somnambulant group apparently deeming to speak on behalf … Continue reading

Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 16 Comments

I hoard it on the radio

Today, top local bloke Brian Stringer (that’s the Clayhanger Kid, you know) had a slot on the Phil Upton show on BBC Radio WM. Going out at the ungodly hour of 7:20am, I doubt many hereabouts were sufficiently caffeine-infused to … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

A golden idea

In the miasma and lacklustre of the new year illness, I received this excellent email from The Clayhanger Kid, Brian Stringer. Many readers will remember that before Christmas, I featured an article here from the Express & Star, detailing his … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, 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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Interesting proposal for Staffordshire Hoard fans

I notice an interesting proposal has been put forward from Brownhills Blog reader and Clayhanger Kid Brian Stringer, to erect an information point near to where the Staffordshire Hoard was found in Brownhills. This doesn’t sound like a bad idea … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

The ‘wiching hour

After a bad start to the day, the evening of Saturday, 16th July was glorious. After the heavy rain of the morning, the air was clear and warm, and there was a stiff but refreshing breeze. Escaping for a golden … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, cycling, Environment, Features, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, Shared media | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Tragic crash on the A5 last night

Last night (Friday, 17th June 2011) there was a bad accident at the junction of the B5011 Chase Road and the A5 watling Street in Newtown, Brownhills. The accident was between a heavy goods vehicle and a Kia Ri0, two … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Local Blogs, Local media, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Sign o’ the times

  Sign recently erected on the A461, Lichfield Road, Sandhills, just before the Barracks Lane junction. 4:10pm Wednesday, 26th January 2011. I see the childish posturing and infantile one-upmmanship over the Staffordshire Hoard still continues. I’ve made my feelings known … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, Panoramio photo discussions, Shared media | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 13 Comments

What’s my line?

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

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

Bless the weather

Like most outdoor people, we cyclists are pretty much obsessed with the weather. Throughout the week I keep an eye on the forecasts and plan rides around the direction the wind is blowing. Although I’m no fair weather merchant, it’s … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local media, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Burntwood now world famous | The Burntwood Blog

The Burntwood Bog excels itself once again. Need I say more?

Posted in Events, Followups, Just plain daft, Local media, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Interesting gossip afoot…

Just a quick note to say that there’s some speculation that this story – about the huge haul of Anglo Saxon loot discovered by a Burntwood matal detector enthusiast, may be perhaps linked to this story on the Lichfield blog, … Continue reading

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Local media, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments