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Tag Archives: Norton
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
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
Van burglary in Norton Canes: be on your guard, people
My attention has been drawn to a spate of van break-ins in the Norton Canes area of late – friend of the blog Jamie Bailey contacted me this morning and asked me to run the following appeal by his friend, Leane Woolley:
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Uncategorized, Walsall community
Tagged break in, Brownhills, Burglary, car break in, Car burglary, Car Crime, crime, Events, Facebook, footage, intruder, Jamie Bailey, Leann Woolley, LW, Norton, Norton East Road, Police, public safety, South Staffordshire, tools, van, van break in, Vandalism
1 Comment
Does anyone know where Spring Nob is?
I like this one – over the weekend an enquiry came in from friend of the blog Gillian Gaiser, as to the location of a place she members being called Spring Nob.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2015, allotments, Brownhills, Brownhills common, Brownhills local history, Canes, Clayhanger, Gaiser, Gillian, Knob, Lichfield, Local History, Nob, Norton, Shire Oak, Silly, Spring, Staffordshire, Things to do, Walsall Wood
19 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
Now the water has drained away
Following my post recently concerning some great maps sent to me by Bruce Littley, reader, friend of the blog and top local allotment whiz Steve Hames has been in touch with some great images of the path of the former Cannock Extension Canal which was pictured in the Aerofilms image in the post.
Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged Alotment, Bruce Littley, Burntwood, Canal, Canes, Cannock Extension Canal, Case Terrace, Chasewater, colliery, Conduit, Local History, map, movement, Norton, Old maps, pit, plan, Railway, Redevelopment, spoil, Staffordshire, Steve Hames, Things to do
4 Comments
What’s the plan?
This is an interesting one I’ve had cooking for a while – reader Bruce Littley has kindly sent me these scans of maps that he’s come across, and he’d like to know more about them – or at least the annotations sketched thereupon.
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Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 1919, 1938, ammuniton, Bruce Littley, Burntwood, Canal, Canes, Case Terrace, Chasewater, colliery, Conduit, Local History, map, movement, Norton, Old maps, pit, plan, Railway, Redevelopment, scrapslag heap, spoil, Staffordshire, Things to do
7 Comments
Safe as houses?
I’m pleased to say that, somewhat like rust, Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler never sleeps, and his tireless and somewhat relentless pursuit of the evidential history behind some of the commonly accepted ‘authoritative sources’ of local mining history continues unabated.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldershaw, Aldershawe, Bill May, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills UDC, Brownhills Urban District Council, Cannock Chase Mining Historical Society, CCMHS, Election, estate, hall, john, Local History, Mick Drury, Morton House, Norton, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood, William, William Harrison, William ROberts
3 Comments
An electoral deformity
It’s interesting to note that Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler is coming over all iconoclastic again – and I, for one, welcome it, as Peter has a fine record of kicking over the statues of the local mining history – particularly in regard the the Harrison colliery dynasty.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldershaw, Aldershawe, Bill May, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills UDC, Brownhills Urban District Council, Cannock Chase Mining Historical Society, CCMHS, Election, estate, hall, john, Local History, Mick Drury, Morton House, Norton, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood, William, William Harrison, William ROberts
6 Comments
Classical Gas
I noted the other day that the National Library of Scotland mapping archive was growing, as is the National Newspaper archive – another service that’s quietly gaining content is the Aerofilms archive of aerial photography of Britain from 1919-1953.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1938, 1946, Aerial Photos, Aerofilms, archive, Britain from the Air, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Canes, Commander Foxy, Conduit Colliery, English Heritage, Gas Works, Local History, New Photos, No 3, Norton, Pike Helve, Pubs, Staffordshire, Walsall, Walsall Wood
5 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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A conduit for change
A quick but interesting one – I’ve just dredged the above map out of my stash – this one has a gruesome correction tear, but it shows Norton pretty much as it would have been when the journalist writing for The Graphic visited in 1886.
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Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 1884, Canal, Canes, Chasewater, colliery, Conduit, Local History, map, Norton, Old maps, pit, Redevelopment, Staffordshire, Things to do
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Weaving the Canes
Alan Harvey has dug deep in his own collection and sent me this wonderful, disparate collection of images and other ephemera relating to Norton Canes, which I hope will spark discussion amongst the readership.
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Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 1958, Alan Harvey, Cannock Advertiser, Conduit Colliery, Demolition, Henry Harvey, Highfield Farm, Joseph Hubbard, Lawrence, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Norton, Norton Canes, Shop, Square, Staffordshire, Thacker, Things to do, Walsall Road
21 Comments
Les Fleurs
Some time ago, reader and Bon Viveur David Evans found this image for sale at a church fayre in Brownhills, at I believe at St James – he didn’t purchase it, but he did take a crafty snapshot.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged Allsops, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, David Evans, Derelict, Disaster, drawing, Fire, Fleur de lys, fox hunt, fox hunting, Grove pit, Local History, meet, New Photos, Norton, Pubs, Redevelopment, Silly, Staffordshire, Things to do, Vandalism, Water Margin, Watling Street
34 Comments
The Canes Gang
It seems I’ve been a bit lax here on the Brownhills Blog – reader Alan Harvey sent the above image for readers to peruse, and made the following plaintive request…
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Posted in Chasewater, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 1909, Alan Harvey, David Evans, Empire Day, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Norton, Norton Canes, Parade, Staffordshire, Things to do
24 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
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
A Grand Day Out
Last week, I was sent this fantastically evocative image by top contributor Steve Hickman. I know it’s not quite Brownhills, but I know there were, and maybe still are, several members of the Walsall Motorcycle Club in our locality, … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 50's motorbikes, Ariel, Brenda Hickman, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Dora Partridge, Hilda Martin, Jim Partridge, Local History, Ludlow Castle, Mrs Hamblet, New Photos, Norton, Royal Enfield, Sam Martin, Shire Oak, Sidecar, Stan Jenkins, Steve Hickman, Triumph, Vic Hamblet, Vic Hickman, Walsall, Walsall Motorcycle Club, Walsall Wood, WMCC
2 Comments
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