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Tag Archives: Newtown
Cockfest starts today!
Here’s a really, really great thing happening this weekend at Newtown, Brownhills from today (31st July 2015) – a two day festival with proceeds going to the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity featuring music and fun in memory of a much-loved local man who sadly passed away this year.

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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 1 august, 2 August, 2015, Brownhills, Carl Findon Kent, charity, Cockfest, Events, Facebook, Festival, July 31, Lichfield, Live, Midland Air Ambulance, music, Newtown, Staffordshire, The Chase, Things to do
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Live music at The Chase Inn, Brownhills this weekend!
The Chase Inn at Newtown, Brownhills goes from strength to strength – there’s not only great ale and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, but great live music most weekends, too – and there’s a couple of great acts on this weekend.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 2015, 25 July, 26 July, bands, Brownhills, Chase Inn, Chasewater, Events, Facebook, folk, gig, gigs, Lichfield, live music, New Photos, Newtown, Paul Parker Duo, Pubs, Real Ale, Saturday, Steel Threads, Sunday, Things to do, Twitter
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We’re going down to Cockfest…
Here’s a really, really great thing happening next weekend at Newtown, Brownhills – a two day festival with proceeds going to the Midlands Air Ambulance Charity featuring music and fun in memory of a much-loved local man who sadly passed away this year.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 1 august, 2 August, 2015, Brownhills, Carl Findon Kent, charity, Cockfest, Events, Facebook, Festival, July 31, Lichfield, Live, Midland Air Ambulance, music, Newtown, Staffordshire, The Chase, Things to do
1 Comment
Get your live music fix at the Chase Inn this Sunday!
The revival of the Chase Inn at Newtown, Brownhills continues apace – there’s not only great ale and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, but great live music most weekends, too – this Sunday afternoon (19th July 2015) you can catch blues guitarist Gwyn Astion at 4pm – a top rated musician who’s played with Van Morrison and Quo tribute legends Status Qui.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 2015, Afternoon, bands, blues, Brownhills, Chase Inn, Chasewater, Events, Facebook, gig, gigs, Gwn Ashton, Lichfield, live music, New Photos, Newtown, Pubs, Real Ale, rock, Sunday, Things to do, Twitter
2 Comments
Get your live music fix at the Chase Inn this weekend!
The revival of the Chase Inn at Newtown, Brownhills continues apace – there’s not only great ale and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, but great live music most weekends, too – this Saturday (11th July 2015) at 9:00pm you can catch Roy C (Roy Conrad from Eagles tribute band Talon) and in the afternoon slot on Sunday (12th July 2015) eccentric, entertaining Doozer MacDooze plays from 4-7pm.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 11 July, 12 July, 2015, bands, Brownhills, Chase Inn, Chasewater, Conrad, Doozer, Events, Facebook, gig, gigs, Lichfield, live music, McDooze, New Photos, Newtown, Pubs, punk, Real Ale, rock, Roy C, skiffle, Talon, Things to do, Twitter
1 Comment
Get your live music fix at the Chase Inn this weekend!
The revival of the Chase Inn at Newtown, Brownhills continues apace – there’s not only great ale and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, but great live music most weekends, too – this Saturday (4th July 2015) at 7:30pm you can catch Electric Soup with support from Black Light Secret and in the afternoon slot on Sunday (5th July 2015) highly rated band Going Diablo play from 4-7pm.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 2015, 4 July, 5 july, bands, Black Light Secret, Brownhills, Chase Inn, Chasewater, Electric Soup, Events, Facebook, gig, gigs, Going Diablo, Lichfield, live music, New Photos, Newtown, Pubs, Real Ale, rock, Things to do, Twitter
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More live music at The Chase Inn this weekend!
The revival of the Chase Inn at Newtown, Brownhills continues apace – there’s not only great ale and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, but great live music most weekends, too – this Saturday (27th June 2015) you can catch top rated folk punk rock band The Bleeding Hearts from 9pm, and in the afternoon slot on Sunday (28th June 2015) hillbilly skiffle band The Fabled Finks play from 4-7pm.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 2015, 27 June, 28 june, bands, Bleeding Hearts, Brownhills, Chase Inn, Chasewater, Events, Fabled Finks, Facebook, folk, gig, gigs, hillbilly, Lichfield, live music, New Photos, Newtown, Pubs, punk, Real Ale, rock, skiffle, Things to do, Twitter
1 Comment
Fantastic live music at The Chase Inn this weekend!

The revival of the Chase Inn at Newtown, Brownhills continues apace – there’s not only great ale and a warm, welcoming atmosphere, but great live music most weekends, too – tonight (Saturday, 20th June 2015) you can catch top Led Zeppelin tribute act The Zeppelin 3 from 9pm, and tomorrow, and Straight Bends play tomorrow (Sunday 21st June 2015) from 4-7pm.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 2015, bands, Brownhills, Brownhillss, Chase Inn, Chasewater, Events, Facebook, gig, Lichfield, live music, New Photos, Newtown, Pubs, Real Ale, Straight Bends, The Zeppelin 3, Things to do, Twitter
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Brownhills real ale and cider festival 2015
The case Inn at Newtown, Brownhills seems to be enjoying a bit of a renaissance of late after a few years in the doldrums – now with lots going on, this popular community pub on the A5 Watling Street near the Chase Road junction has got a real buzz about it.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 2015, A5, ale, Brownhills, Cider, Classic Rock, Events, Facebook, Festival, Lichfield, May 29, May 30, May 31, Newtown, Pubs, Real, scrumpy, Staffordshire, Steel Threads, Things to do, Tick Tock Boom, Watling Street
11 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
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
Not only customers, but friends
A lovely bit of ephemera relating to Deakins’ Central Stores and Jonah Deakin has been sent in by the wonderfully generous Gillian Gaiser, who donated her wonderful writing about the Deakin family to the blog, published last weekend.
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 1950, 2015, 60's, anniversary, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, card, Centenerary, Central Stores, Christmas, Deakin, Fred, Gaiser, Gillian, history, Howdles Lane, Jonah, Lichfield, Local History, memories, New Photos, Newtown, Staffordshire, The Fault, Watling Street
8 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
Early days in Foxes Row
In the sea of technical chaos I’ve been bobbing in in the last few days, I have somehow managed to find time to edit up the beginning of a new series of memories of life in Brownhills.
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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 2015, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, David Evans, Foxes Row, history, Howdles Lane, Lichfield, Local History, Mavis Woodhouse, memories, New Photos, Newtown, Staffordshire, The Fault, Things to do, Watling Street
24 Comments
Found dog – now reunited with owner.
Thanks to all who shared and helped on social media and in other channels – the lost Border Collie found by Lee Chapman yesterday has been reunited with her owner.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged A5, bitch, Border Collie, Brownhills, Brownhills West, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Common, dog, Events, Facebook, female, found, island, K9 Search, Lee Chapman, Lichfield, Lost, New Photos, Newtown, Reservoir, School, Staffordshire, Things to do, tri-colour, Watling Street
1 Comment
Border Collie dog found on A5 in Brownhills
An urgent appeal reaches me via Facebook from Lee Chapman, who’s today (Saturday, 3rd January 2015) found a Collie dog near Brownhills Common on the A5.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged A5, bitch, Border Collie, Brownhills, Brownhills West, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Common, dog, Events, Facebook, female, found, island, K9 Search, Lee Chapman, Lichfield, Lost, New Photos, Newtown, Reservoir, School, Staffordshire, Things to do, tri-colour, Watling Street
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Frozen Charity Christmas Party this afternoon in memory of Jamey Coleman
I’m indebted to the Walsall Advertiser for reminding me that this afternoon you can meet Anna and Elsa from Frozen and really let it go at a Frozen Christmas Party in aid of the Headway Charity, in memory of Brownhills hit and run victim Jamey Coleman.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Interesting photos, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 2014, 7th December, Accident, Anna, Brownhills, charity, Chase Inn, Coleman, crash, death, Elsa, Events, Face Painting, Frozen, Headway, Hit & Run, Jay, Jaymey, Just Giving, Lichfield, memorial, Memory, New Photos, Newtown, party, Pubs, Things to do, Watling Street
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Browhills canal assault: police issue statement
Yesterday I posted a warning and appeal for information after a local lady walking her two dogs was assaulted on the section of canal in Brownhills between the Lichfield Road and Chase Road Bridges: this area is at the side of the Castings factory, and often called ‘The Chemical’.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Local media, News, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged 2014, 4th July, assault, attack, Brownhills, Canal, Castings, Chase Road, Chemical, dog, indecent assault, Lichfield Road, Newtown, Sexual assualt, Walker, Walsall Police, Watling Street, West Midlands Police
1 Comment
Assault on dog walker in Brownhills: take care people
News is circulating locally via a Facebook status that in recent days, a local lady walking her two dogs was assaulted on the section of canal between the Lichfield Road and Cahase Road Bridges: this area is at the side of the Castings factory, and often called ‘The Chemical’. Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Local media, News, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged 2014, 4th July, assault, attack, Brownhills, Canal, Castings, Chase Road, Chemical, dog, indecent assault, Lichfield Road, Newtown, Sexual assualt, Walker, Walsall Police, Watling Street, West Midlands Police
4 Comments
Jamey Coleman hit and run – police appeal for further information
West Midlands Police continue their enquiries into the tragic death of local lad Jamey Coleman, who died following a hit and run accident at the junction of the A5 Watling Street and The Parade in the the early hours of Sunday, March 30th, 2014.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Interesting photos, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 20, 2014, 29th March, A5, Accident, Brownhills, Chasewater, Coleman, crash, death, Events, Express & Star, Facebook, Fatality, Hit & Run, hit and run, Jamie, Jay, Jaymey, Lichfield, New Photos, Newtown, recovered, Road, Sunday, The Parade, vehicle, West Midlands Police, White Horse, woman
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Brownhills fatal hit run – Police issue statement
Following the fatal hit and run incident at the junction of the a5 Watling Street and The Parade in the the early hours of Sunday, March 30th, 2014, there has been huge interest and sympathy from the community – West midlands Police issued the following statement a few minutes ago…

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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Interesting photos, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 2014, 29th March, A5, Accident, Brownhills, Chasewater, Coleman, crash, death, Events, Express & Star, Facebook, Fatality, Hit & Run, hit and run, Jamie, Jay, Jaymey, Lichfield, New Photos, Newtown, Road, Sunday, The Parade, West Midlands Police, White Horse
1 Comment
Fatal hit and run in Brownhills – appeal for help
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Express & Star, Interesting photos, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 2014, 29th March, A5, Accident, Brownhills, Chasewater, crash, death, Events, Express & Star, Facebook, Fatality, Hit & Run, hit and run, Lichfield, New Photos, Newtown, Road, Sunday, The Parade, White Horse
10 Comments
Is this your ferret?
Hi folks – I spotted on Facebook that a clearly mislaid, meandering mustelid has been found in the Whitehorse Road area of Brownhills.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Wildlife
Tagged Brownhills, Canal, Chase Ferret Rescue, Chasewater, Chasewon, Dale Preece Kelly, Events, Facebook, Ferret, found, Lichfield, Lost, New Photos, Newtown, Norton, Reservoir, Silly, Staffordshire, Things to do, White's 1854 Pipehill, Wildlife
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Street party today for Armed Forces Day!
I hear today there’s a street party planned in Chapel Street, Brownhills, for Help the Heroes and Armed Forces Day.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged A5, Armed Forces Day, Brownhills, Chapel Street, Events, Helr for Heroes, Lichfield, Newtown, Prince of Wales, Pubs, Street Party
2 Comments
Do something rasher…
Readers of my 365daysofbiking journal will remember that last year, I was fascinated by the fine pigs being kept on the smallholding on the patch of land between the A5 and canal at Newtown, Brownhills.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local media, Local music, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Big Tasties, Brownhills, Canal, Cycle rides, cycling, Events, Facebook, free range, New Photos, Newtown, Night Market, piggery, pigs, sheep, Silly, Slow Loaf, smallholding, Tan Rosie, The Gables, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Council, Watling Street
2 Comments
Whose Fault is it, anyway?
Here’s one for the Knaves Castle/The Fault/The Fort inquisitors out there. It’s been a while since I raided the mapping archives, so I thought I’d go rooting through the cartographic record, and see if I could find ‘The Fort’. Sadly, … Continue reading
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
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Castle Street, Farm, Howdles Lane, Knave's Castle, Local History, Newtown, Old maps, planning, Redevelopment, Staffordshire, The Fault, The Fort, Watling Street
8 Comments
King of the castle
Here’s a great spot from Kate, of Lichfield Lore. Found on the always excellent Openlibrary.org, it’s a 1908 book called ‘The Victoria History of the County of Stafford’ and contains descriptions and plans of all the antiquities in Staffordshire. Including the … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Castle, Dawes Lane, earthwork, Events, Fault, Fort, Kate, Knave's Castle, Lichfield Lore, local blogs, Local History, Newtown, Old maps, Openlibrary.org, Redevelopment, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Victoria History of the County of Stafford
9 Comments
I fort so…
Had a great email yesterday from Tony Turner, an ex-Brownhillian who’s now moved up north. I think this, coupled with the great work from Andy Dennis, pretty conclusively nails the question of ‘The Fort’, and it’s location. Hi Bob, I … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Knave's Castle, Local History, Mike Stackhouse, New Photos, Newtown, Staffordshire, The Fort, Tony Turner, Watling Street
13 Comments
Car Crash on the A5, Brownhills Sunday morning – 1 hurt
I see that this morning, there’s been another accident on the A5 Watling Street at Newtown, Brownhills, by the Terrace restaurant. It seems one man had to be cut free from his car after a collision with a lamp column … Continue reading
A5 roadworks coming soon…
An interesting (or maybe not…) press release reaches my humble inbox from the Highways Agency, about pedestrian crossing improvements on the A5 by Brownhills School at Newtown. Sadly, the release gives absolutely no information regarding the work that’s actually being … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, News, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged A5, Brownhills, crap press releases, cycling, Deakin Avenue, Highways Agency, Howdles Lane, improvement, Newtown, Pedestrian Crossing, planning, Redevelopment, Silly, The Style, Walsall Council, Watling Street
3 Comments
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 A5, Accident, b5011, Brownhills, Car Crash, Chase Road, Chasewtown, crash, death, fatal accident, Fatality, Hammerwich, HGV, June 17th, Kia, Lichfield Blog, Lichfield Live, local blogs, Lorry, News, Newtown, Ogley Road, Social media, Staffordshire, Watling Street
3 Comments














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