#365daysofbiking JournalRecent tracks
Deia Song / LlucalcariFionn Regan14 hours ago
Swimming the Lakes / Flowers and StonesFionn Regan14 hours ago
HEADPHONESFionn Regan14 hours ago
Into the Light of the SunFionn Regan14 hours ago
FarewellFionn Regan14 hours ago
Anja IIFionn Regan14 hours ago
Anja IFionn Regan14 hours ago
Blood Is Thicker Than WineFionn Regan14 hours ago
O AvalancheFionn Regan14 hours ago
Teix MountainsFionn Regan14 hours agoRecent Comments
Dean on Those Craddocks in full… Dean on Those Craddocks in full… Sue on Those Craddocks in full… Dean on Those Craddocks in full… Dean on Those Craddocks in full…
Tag Archives: history
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.
Continue reading
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
Book search – can you help?
I’m looking for a book – everyone knows that local history books get rare once they sell out of their initial runs – very often, titles appear fleetingly, and disappear into the ether without ever really being seen again.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Above the Black Diamonds, Books, Cannock, David Evans, Hednesfield, history, Jack Harrison, Lichfield, Local History, mining, Norton, publications, Staffordshire, The King of Norton Canes, Things to do
7 Comments
Following tracks
The wonderful local rail historian and Brownhills Choral Society chronicler Ian Pell has been in touch to tell me that the book he mentioned, ‘Walsall Routes’ is now available to order from the publisher, as well as from Amazon.
Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, 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, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Black Country, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chasewater, Clayhanger, Derelict, history, Ian Pell, Lichfield, Local History, Middleton Press, Midland Main Lines, midlands, Old maps, Railway, Railways, South Staffordshire Line, Staffordshire, Station, Vic Mitchell, Walsall, Walsall Routes, Walsall Wood
2 Comments
Before Rebecca
This is the blog of Rebecca, who spends a great deal of time with her mother adding names and background to family photos – this is a uniquely intimate and beautiful blog – not huge wordy posts, just great images with short explanatory passages, or longer tales as they crop up.
Continue reading
Posted in Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Family, history, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Rebecca, Staffordshire, Their Life Before me, Twitter, Walsall
5 Comments
Box clever?
Here’s one to get the researchers and detectives amongst the readership scratching their heads – let’s see what we can turn up, as this is quite unusual and I think there’s some history to be found here
Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Allbrooks, Ann Cross, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, case, Census, crate, Family history, history, licensee, Local History, NIPTA, pub, Pubs, Richard Cross, Royal Exchange, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, victualler, Walsall Wood, West Browich, West Smethwick, William Cross, wooden box
15 Comments
Local history talk in Brownhills tonight!
Top contributor, commentor and all round good egg David Evans has been busy over the last few weeks organising a treat for local history buffs in Brownhills and the wider community. David has kindly contacted noted local historian and author … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills a walk into history, Brownhills bypass, Brownhills local history, Canal, charity, Chasewater, Clayhanger, David Evans, Engine Lane, Events, Gerald Reece, historian, history, History Talk, Local History, Macmillan Cancer Support, mining, planning, Staffordshire, Things to do
4 Comments
Curious electric
It’s a curious fact of local history that little St. Anne’s Church, in Church Street, Chasetown, was the first church in Britain lit by electric light. The history of this installation, and of electricity coming to Chasewtown and Brownhills is inextricably tied up with the history of mining in the area.
Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, Churches, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills a walk into history, Brownhills local history, Canal, Cannock Chase Colliery Company, charity, Chase Terrace, Chasetown, Chasewater, Clayhanger, Electricity, Events, Gerald Reece, historian, history, History Talk, Local History, Macmillan Cancer Support, mining, No 5 pit, planning, St. Anne's, Staffordshire, Things to do, UDC
19 Comments
Fair exchange
Following her comments here, reader and local history enthusiast Ann Cross recently accepted my invitation to write about her family history at the Royal Exchange pub in Walsall Wood. When I suggested that she might like to write up her work, I could tell that Ann had a great story to tell, and would tell it very well indeed. I wasn’t disappointed, and the first instalment was incredibly popular with readers of the blog.
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 1901, 1911, Ann Cross, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Census, David Evans, Elizabeth Weston, Family history, Freemasons Arms, history, licensee, Local History, May Emily Williams, pub, Pubs, Royal Exchange, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Thomas Weston, victualler, Walsall, Walsall Wood, William Cross
27 Comments
Top local historian to give talk in Brownhills!
Top contributor, commentor and all round good egg David Evans has been busy over the last few weeks organising a treat for local history buffs in Brownhills and the wider community.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills a walk into history, Brownhills bypass, Brownhills local history, Canal, charity, Chasewater, Clayhanger, David Evans, Engine Lane, Events, Gerald Reece, historian, history, History Talk, Local History, Macmillan Cancer Support, mining, planning, Staffordshire, Things to do
11 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.
Continue reading
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
An interesting Exchange
Following her comments here, reader and local history enthusiast Ann Cross recently somewhat gamely took on a private challenge I made to her, where I suggested that she might like to write up her work on her family and their history at Walsall Wood’s Royal Exchange pub.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, 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, Ann Cross, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Census, David Evans, Family history, history, licensee, Local History, pub, Pubs, Royal Exchange, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, victualler, Walsall Wood, William Cross
21 Comments
Top local historian to give talk in Brownhills!
Top contributor, commentor and all round good egg David Evans has been busy over the last few weeks organising a treat for local history buffs in Brownhills and the wider community. Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills a walk into history, Brownhills bypass, Brownhills local history, Canal, charity, Chasewater, Clayhanger, David Evans, Engine Lane, Events, Gerald Reece, historian, history, History Talk, Local History, Macmillan Cancer Support, mining, planning, Staffordshire, Things to do
7 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
Face to face
Following on from my post last week where I featured local historian Gerald Reece’s research and loving reproductions of the mapping for the the proposed Norton Branch of the South Staffordshire Railway, I have an interesting document to share with … Continue reading
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 1884, Bettys Lane, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Cannock Chase Mining Historical Society, Conduit Colliery, Conduit colliery basin, Document, Draft, Gerald Reece, history, local blogs, Local History, London North Western Railway, mining, New Photos, Norton Branch, Norton Canes, Old maps, plan, Pubs, Railway, Red Lion, Redevelopment, South Staffordshire Raiway, Staffordshire
10 Comments
Scouting for assistance
I have been contacted by the Group Leader of 1st Walsall Wood Scout Group, friend of the blog Lee Bragginton, who needs some help raising money for a minibus for the group. This is a fine aim for a great … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1st, 38th Walsall, appeal, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cubs, Events, history, Lee Bragginton, Local History, minibus, New Photos, planning, Scouts, Shire Oak, sponsorship, Walsall Wood, Youth
3 Comments
A public service announcement
‘It’s got to fly at 400 miles per hour, turn on a sixpence, climb 10,000 feet in a few minutes, dive at 500 without the wings coming off and carry eight machine guns.’ For the past week or so, I’ve … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Advisory Circle, Belbury, Broadcaster, David Niven, Electronica, Ghostbox, Hauntology, history, Library Music, Lit it up, London can take it, Moon Wiring Club, music, Poly, Public Service Broadcasting, Sci-fi, Silly, Spitfire, World War II, WW2
5 Comments
Lichfield Archeological Investigations
I note today that both Annette Rubery and Kate over at Lichfield Lore have been energised by the archeology currently ongoing prior to the new development starting near The Friary in Lichfield. Both have written interesting articles, and Annette has … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Annette rubery, Archeology, boris bratby, Dig, Friary, history, Kate Gomez, Lichfield, Lichfield Lore, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, planning, Redevelopment, Staffordshire, Twitter
5 Comments
David Vodden – a sad loss
It was with great sadness yesterday that I learned of the death of local historian and author, David Vodden. David had written quite a few local history books about our area, all packed with great, unusual photos and useful, fascinating … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Followups, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Around Pelsall & Brownhills, Author, Black Country, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, David Vodden, history, local blogs, local books, local historians, Local History, passed away, Pelsall, Staffordshire, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Local Hisotry Centre
9 Comments
Echoes… lets think for a minute
I want to be serious for a moment. Please, if you’re interested or involved in local history at all, please read this article and offer your point of view. There’s something troubling me that we need to be aware of … 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, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged bias, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, David Evans, Derelict, fable, Facebook, folklore, history, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, oral history, Research, Silly, Twitter, Walsall Wood
38 Comments
Going by the book
Top reader, writer and blog contributor David Evans has recently put a huge amount of work into scanning some of the materials from the personal collection of local lady Jenny Langford. This is a very diverse collection of ephemera and … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged A short History. Jenny Langford, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, David Evans, history, Local History, St James, St John, Staffordshire, The parish church of Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood
3 Comments
The graduate – Part one (via The Plastic Hippo)
The Plastic Hippo has turned out one of his best posts yet, and that’s saying something. This is pointed, prescient and precise. I have yet to meet anyone at all in the field of education who thinks that Gove is … Continue reading
Posted in Events, Followups, 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, Walsall Council
Tagged Conservative, Education, history, local blogs, Local politics, Michael Gove, Politics, rights, Silly, The Plastic Hippo, Twitter, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
Leave a comment
Historic Books online (via Tamworth Time Hikes)
Great to see that Mark at Tamworth Time Hikes has returned to regular blogging after a brief hiatus. For those who don’t know the site – and there can’t be many locals now who don’t – this is a fascinating … Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media
Tagged free boks, historical books online, history, landscape archeology, landscape history, local blogs, Local History, Old maps, Staffordshire, Tamworth Time Hikes
2 Comments
RSS - Posts
