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Tag Archives: mining
Can you help tell the story of a local historian please?
I have an enquiry in here from old friend of the blog Peter Chadbund who’s long had an interest in the life, times and work of respected Norton Canes local historian and writer Jack Harrison. Jack wrote the sought after … Continue reading
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, history, Jack Harrison, Lichfield, Local History, mining, Norton, publications, Staffordshire, The King of Norton Canes, Things to do
16 Comments
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
Would you like a chat about local history?
Top contributor, commentor and all round good egg the young David Evans has been busy over the last few weeks organising a treat for local history buffs in Brownhills and the wider community – he’s been asked to do a couple of talks on the history of Walsall Wood.
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 2016, 7 September, Beacon Way, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, charity, Coffee Morning, David Evans, Events, historian, history, History Talk, Local History, mining, Staffordshire, The Well, Things to do, Walsall Wood
1 Comment
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
Is it our fault?
Reader John Blanchard has been in touch all the way from Aukland in New Zealand with some interesting and hopefully debate-provoking memories of subsidence effects in Walsall Wood from the 1960s onwards.
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Castlefornt, Derelict, Fort Crescent, Fred Burt, Howmuch, John Blanchard, Local History, Local politics, mine, mining, mining damage, Salters Road, Sewer, Subsidence, subsidence damage, Vandalism, Walsall Council, Walsall Housing Committee, Walsall Observer, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
6 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
The Lectric Men
Old friend of the blog Reg ‘Aer Reg’ Fullelove has been at it again – and this time, he’s written a fabulous piece on his early working days as an electricity supply engineer for the Chasetown Electricity Board, in the very earliest days of domestic supply.
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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 Aer Reg, Brownhills, Brownhills a walk into history, Brownhills local history, Canal, Cannock Chase Colliery Company, charity, Chase Terrace, Chasetown, Chasewater, Clayhanger, Electricity, Events, history, Local History, mining, No 5 pit, planning, Reg Fullelove, St. Anne's, Staffordshire, Things to do, UDC
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
Life after the war
I still have a little of the very popular Mavis Woodhouse material to come – so far we’ve had the Foxes Row and Victor Haines articles, the Fred Shingler film of Newtown, Mavis’s recollections of the mining history, the curious disappearing cottage, and memories of Sunday School in the small community on the Watling Street.
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 1953, 2015, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, card, Chasewater, Chirms, coal, coronation, David Evans, Foxes Row, history, Howdles Lane, identity, Lichfield, Local History, Mavis Woodhouse, memories, mining, New Photos, Newtown, Norton Pool, Rent Book, Staffordshire, Things to do, Watling Street
9 Comments
I’m after all the tanners!
The Mavis Woodhouse material featured here of late is a local history gift that just keeps giving, and yesterday, I had a fascinating email very kindly sent to me by Ann Grinstead, the lady who edited the initial copy of Mavis’s family history, subsequently later edited for the blog by the young David Evans.
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 2015, Anglesey Basin, Ann Grinstead, Barbara Cassidy, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Bucket, Chasewater, coal, Cox, David Evans, Foxes Row, history, Howdles Lane, JB, Lichfield, Local History, Mavis Woodhouse, memories, mining, New Photos, Newtown, Norton Pool, pit, Staffordshire, Things to do, Watling Street, Wide
3 Comments
A huge black cauldron
Mavis Woodhouse really started something when she kindly donated her family history material to the blog – the Foxes Row article was very popular, the Victor Haines material had us all head scratching, and the film of Newtown that was so newly relevant has had a huge number of views.
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 2015, Anglesey Basin, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Bucket, Chasewater, coal, Cox, David Evans, Foxes Row, history, Howdles Lane, JB, Lichfield, Local History, Mavis Woodhouse, memories, mining, New Photos, Newtown, Norton Pool, pit, Staffordshire, Things to do, Watling Street, Wide
5 Comments
The scars were always black
The generosity of Mavis Woodhouse in allowing David Evans, myself and you readers to share her privately produced family history book is really proving to be a rich source of discussion, debate and new local history tangents – the Foxes Row article was very popular, the Victor Haines material had us all head scratching, and the film of Newtown that was so newly relevant has had a huge number of views.
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 2015, Anglesey Basin, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Bucket, Chasewater, coal, Cox, David Evans, Foxes Row, history, Howdles Lane, JB, Lichfield, Local History, Mavis Woodhouse, memories, mining, New Photos, Newtown, Norton Pool, pit, Staffordshire, Things to do, Watling Street, Wide
20 Comments
One of the last standing
Here’s the final blast of pictures from the mystery archive found by local historian Clive Roberts back at the beginning of November – these images are remarkable as the show the Grove Colliery on the Cannock Extension Canal at Lime Lane in 1958 and 1959, and I know of few extant images of the time – perhaps the only good representation being in the 1963 cinefilm of Brownhills, donated by Brian Stringer.
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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 1968, 1969, 2015, archive, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Canal and River Trust, Cannock Extension Canal, freight, Grove Colliery, images, Lichfield, Local History, mining, New Photos, Norton, photos, pits, Staffordshire, Things to do, Wyrley common
13 Comments
For the want of timber
Last week I featured an article by local history Rapscallion Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler about a text, available for free via Google Books called ‘Black Diamonds or the Gospel in a Colliery District’ written around 1860 by mystery author HHB.
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Posted in Cannock Chase, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1889, Andy, Black Diamonds; or The Gospel in a Colliery District, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, CCMHS, coal, Dennis, Ellen, Foster and Co, Google Books, Gravestone, Headstone, HHB, Lichfield, Lichfield Mercury, Lloyds, local blogs, Local History, mining, Pedro, Peter Cutler, pits, Rev J.B. Owen, St James, Staffordshire, Things to do, Thomas, tragedy, Walsall, Walsall Wood
4 Comments
Diamonds and dust
This is an important one, and I think there may well be more to follow, as top local history wonk Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler is not one to let sleeping dogs – or local history matters that are niggling him – lie.
Posted in Cannock Chase, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Black Diamonds; or The Gospel in a Colliery District, Black Diamonds; the Rise and Fall of an English Dynasty, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Catherine Bailey, CCMHS, coal, Foster and Co, Google Books, HHB, Lichfield, Lloyds, local blogs, Local History, mining, Pedro, Peter Cutler, pits, Rev J.B. Owen, Staffordshire, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Wood
1 Comment
Happy talk
Yesterday, I received a wonderful email from David Evans, who did such a fine job of organising and hosting Gerald Reece’s talk on Brownhills last Friday evening at the Methodist Church in Silver Street, Brownhills.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Churches, Clayhanger 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, Shared memories, 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
Gerald Reece talk: on 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.
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
1 Comment
Your chance to meet a local history legend next Friday!
This is a reminder that this coming Friday, the elder statesman of Brownhills local history Gerald Reece will be giving a talk in Brownhills on the subject – this popular and knowledgable historian last gave a talk in Brownhills in 2012, an event which is very fondly remembered and raised £520 for MacMillan Cancer Support.
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 brickworks, Brownhills, Brownhills a walk into history, Brownhills bypass, Brownhills local history, Canal, Catshill, charity, Chasewater, Clayhanger, David Evans, Engine Lane, Events, FH Gordon, Gerald Reece, historian, history, History Talk, Local History, Macmillan Cancer Support, mining, planning, Staffordshire, Things to do, Wyrley and Essington
2 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
The Rovers return…
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
7 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
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
Brownhills School: driven to distraction
The ongoing issue of Brownhills School’s withdrawal of community access to it’s facilities rumbled on this week, as the Walsall Advertiser published another excellent report about how the Spotlight Youth Theatre Group were told they’d have to move from the school last December.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills School, club, community, Doug Birch, Express & Star, facilities, football, governors, Head, Headmistress, Helen Keenan, history, lessons, Letter, Lichfield, Local Committee, Local politics, mining, Report, Richard, School, Shepherd, Silly, Sir, soccer, swimming, trust, Walsall Advertiser, withdrawal
14 Comments
As far distant as the millennium
Found coincidentally to reader Alan Harvey’s request for more Norton Canes, this article on the village, from the Saturday, 30th January 1886 copy of The Graphic, is a remarkable travelogue written by a visitor to a small, dirt-poor community, just before everything changed.
Posted in Churches, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged 1886, Alan Harvey, change, coal, community, Conduit Colliery, hardship, In a Staffordshire village, Lichfield, Local History, mining, Norton Canes, Old maps, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Poverty, Staffordshire, The Graphic
25 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
My Fair Lady
This is a wonderful article from local history rapscallion Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler which I think readers will really, really enjoy. Peter has developed a reputation hereabouts for being something of the iconoclast; formerly he has not pulled punches in his … Continue reading
Posted in Cannock Chase, Chasewater, Churches, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills local history, Chasewater, coal, Coppice, Hanbury, Heath Hayes, Hussey, local blogs, Local History, mining, Panoramio, pit, Politics, Staffordshire, Things to do
41 Comments
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
Well, that was unfortunate…
Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler continues his patient, thorough research into the Harrison empire. This was, of course, the local industrialist family that owned mines in South Staffordshire, and particularly the Grove Pit and others locally.
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Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Aldershawe, Alrewas, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Captain W. B. Harrison, Events, Lichfield, Lichfield Mercury, Lieutenant-Colonel W. E. Harrison, Local History, Military, mining, New Photos, OBE, Orgreave, Peter Pedro Cutler, Staffordshire, Tonsillitis, Wales, Wychnor
26 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.
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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
Rock and coal
Here’s one that is certain to create debate, comment and further articles. Alerted to it in the last week by both Gareth Thomas (Geographical whizz from Lichfield District Council) and Paul Daniel (data whizz behind the mechanism that keeps local news site The YamYam running so brilliantly), it’s a book scanned and published by that wonderful resource Google Books.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged BGS, Book, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chasewater, Clayhanger, coal, Common, download, Engine Lane, Geological Survey of Great Britain, J Beete Jukes, local blogs, Local History, mines, mining, Museum of Practical Geology, Old maps, Shire Oak, South Staffordshire Coal Field, Staffordshire, Things to do, Twitter, Victorian, Walsall Wood
2 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
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
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
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
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
An unimaginable hell
Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler has been continuing his diligent work of researching the history of the Harrison Company and Family, looking into the darkest corners of the mining industry in Brownhills and its surrounds over a century ago. Peter is particularly … 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, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1871, Accident, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Croxall, Disaster, Edward Reeves, Fatality, Highbridge Colliery, Joseph Williams, Local History, Mick Drury, Mine rescue, mining, Pedro, Pelsall, Peter Cutler, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood, William Harrison, William Harrison Company Limited
12 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
Up for sale – The Swan Inn, Brownhills, in 1835
Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler has played another blinder and found this auction advert in the Staffordshire Advertiser of Saturday, 31st October 1835. It advertises the Swan Inn and it’s not inconsiderable estate for sale. This was quite some holding, and would have … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged 1835, Auction, Bell pit, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Engine Piece, Forster, Gerald Reece, Inn, Local History, mining, Naden, Norton, Ogley Hay, Pelsall Road, Peter Cutler, Pump, Staffordshire, Swingbridge Farm, The Swan, Thomas Bowen, Tithe, Watermead
3 Comments
Tenths
One of the wonderful things Gerald Reece sent me following our recent email exchange is a scan of a compilation of tithe maps of western Brownhills. I wasn’t actually aware this existed, and it helps clear up a few things, … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media
Tagged 1840, Auction, Bell pit, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Clayhanger, Derelict, Engine Piece, Gerald Reece, Local History, map, mining, Norton, Ogley Hay, Old maps, Panoramio, Peter Cutler, Pump, Staffordshire, Swingbridge Farm, Tithe, Watermead
25 Comments
Anglesey Basin and the southern Chasetown area, 1962
Following on from the 1884 Brownhills South and Walsall Wood map and the 1884 Brownhills Common and Central map, I continue the series of paper scanned maps with this gem from 1968 – a 1:2,500 plot of Anglesey Basin and the … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1962, 1:2500, Anglesey Basin, Anglesey Wharf, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Chasetown, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Local History, mining, Old maps, OS Map, Reservoir, scanned maps, Staffordshire, Triangle
2 Comments
Aldridge north west, 1884 and 1914
Following on from the 1884 Brownhills South and Walsall Wood map and others posted recently, I’ve dived into the digital archive after a request by reader Mike Hawes and pulled out the 1:2,500 scale gems from 1884 and 1914. They show … Continue reading
Posted in 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 1884, 1914, 1:2500, Aldridge, Brownhills, Canal, David Evans, Dumblederry, Leighs Wood, Local History, map, Mike Hawes, mining, Old maps, Ordnance Survey, OS Map, scanned maps, Staffordshire
4 Comments
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