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Tag Archives: Old maps
Death, Destruction, Crime And Notable News
Here’s a bit of a plug for an old friend of the blog, Paul Robinson, who created a site of which I’m rather fond – way back in September 2010 following a comment from Paul upon the blog, I was introduced to the site digDeeper…
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Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, digDeeper, Knave's Castle, local blogs, Local History, Old maps, Ordnance Survey Benchmarks, Paul Robinson, Staffordshire, Tales from Four Towns, Tamworth Time Hikes, Walsalsall, Wednesbury, West Bromwich, Wolverhampton
2 Comments
A little to the east
Following on from the post ‘Old ground’, reader Mike Armstrong asked for more of the Lichfield and Whittington area – so here you go.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills local history, Canal, first edition, Hopwas, Lichfield, Local History, Mike Armstrong, Old maps, Ordnance Survey, Redevelopment, Staffordshire, Trent BValley, WHittington
12 Comments
Old Ground
Here’s some mapping I’ve been meaning to run since reader Peter mentioned it in the comments to the post ‘Keep out of Cotterill’s road’ on Friday last – I may have posted similar before, but if I have, I can’t find a copy.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1838, Aldridge, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Chasewater, Clayhanger, first edition, Gerald Reece, Inclosure, Lichfield, Local History, Old maps, Ordnance Survey, Peter, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Stonnall, The Machine House, Tonnage House, Walsall, Walsall Wood
24 Comments
The Ironmaster
Welcome to the third of what was to be a three-instalment series, covering Ogley Hay, the history of Brownhills businessman Charles F Cotterill and the towns evolution into the place we know today, as written by local historian Gerald Reece, in his remarkable book ‘Brownhills A Walk Into History’.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills activities, Brownhills local history, Canal, Cannock Chase Colliery Company, CLive L Roberts., Flour, Gerald Reece, Great CHarles Street, Iron Works, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Mill, Ogley Hay, Old maps, Panoramio, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, STeam, Steam Engine workshop, Stonnall, Warren House
7 Comments
Keep out of Cotterill’s road…
Welcome to the second of a three-instalment series, covering Ogley Hay, landowner Charles F Cotterill and Brownhills’ evolution into the place we know today, as written by local historian Gerald Reece in his remarkable book ‘Brownhills A Walk Into History’.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills activities, Brownhills local history, Canal, Cannock Chase Colliery Company, Flour, Gerald Reece, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Mill, Old maps, Panoramio, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, STeam, Stonnall, Warren House
15 Comments
Ugly Ay it?
Today, it’s long overdue that I expand on a thread I commenced some weeks ago; that of Charles Foster Cotterill – you may remember that I raised the question of the man’s history as the named Bankrupt in a sale notice Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler found in the Birmingham Gazette in 1850.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills activities, Brownhills local history, Canal, Cannock Chase Colliery Company, Gerald Reece, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Old maps, Panoramio, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Warren House
17 Comments
Brownhills West Methodist Church war memorial – can you help?
Here’s an odd little enquiry from Kathy Hodson of Wolverhampton, who contacted me on twitter yesterday looking for the war memorial for Browhills West Methodist Church.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills West, Brownhills West Methodist Church, Chapel, demolished, Derelict, Kathy Hodgson, Lichfield, Local History, Lost, Old maps, planning, Redevelopment, Severn Road, Staffordshire, Things to do, Twitter, war memorial
5 Comments
The end and the beginning
Thanks to several people including reader and friend of the blog Caz and the Young David Evans who’ve both pointed out that the former Royal Oak in Bullings Heath, Walsall Wood, is currently being demolished.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged alehouse, beer house, Black Cock, Black Cock Bridge, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Bullings Heath, Camden Street, Canal, Cawarden, close, David Evans, Demolition, Derelict, Events, Goblin Pit, Green Lane, Hall Lane, Hillary Little, Local History, New Photos, newbuild, old inn, Old maps, Pepper Alley, Pubs, Ron, Royal Oak, Smith, Staffordshire, Val, Walsall Wood
7 Comments
Peake performance
I had a posting schedule for this weekend, but like so many things I plan, it seems to have flown out the window – when the fascinating thread about Captain T.V. Peake was developing, mostly when I was getting covered in mud on Cannock Chase, it seems one reader had his head deep in research.
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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, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brian Rollins, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cannock Chase Mining Historical Society, Coal Mining, Coal Mining in Walsall Wood, Coppy Pit, Copson Peake, David Evans, Local History, Local politics, Old maps, Petrol engine mine, Redevelopment, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood Colliery Co, Walsall Wood old maps, Walsall Wood Pit
9 Comments
Continuing the Exchange
I’m pleased to note the intriguing and rich history of the Royal Exchange pub in Walsall Wood continues to develop and evolve – regular readers will recall that Ann Cross and David Evans did much work to document life at the local hostelry, Ann Cross in particular writing some wonderful accounts of her family’s involvement.
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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, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Ann Cross, Brownhills local history, David Evans, Eliza, Grave, Hannah, Jackson, Lichfield Brewery Company, Local History, Maria, Melsom, Millson, Millsum, Old maps, Pubs, Richard, Roger Turner, Royal Exchange, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Stonnall, street, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Wood, William
3 Comments
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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Brownhills Past & Present: new exhibition coming soon
Stuart Williams of the Walsall Local History Centre has been in touch regarding a soon-to-start new exhibition of Brownhills photos and ephemera at the town archives.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, 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, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Archives, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Carnival 1938, Clayhanger, Essex Street, Events, Exhibition, Hussey Arms, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, plan, Pubs, Queen, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Station, steam engine, Stuart Williams, Things to do, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall local history, Walsall Wood
4 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
The white heat of technology
This weekend, I have been mostly excavating the mapping record for Birchills Iron Works – I know it’s way off our normal beat, but once I started looking at the geography following the remarkable sale post of last Friday, I couldn’t help but be captivated.
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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, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 1886-7, 1903, 1914, 1938, Birchills, Bloxwich, Brick, Canal, Derelict, foundry, Goodall Works, Google Earth, hall, Ironworks, Leamore, Local History, Mapping, Mapps, Old maps, overlay, planning, Redevelopment, Staffordshire, Things to do, Tube, Walsall
21 Comments
The Royal Oak – a new chapter unfolding?
Thanks to reader Caz who pointed out last week that an application has been made to build a close of houses on the land currently occupied by the former Royal Oak pub in Bullings Heath, opposite the Black Cock pub in Walsall Wood.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff, Wildlife
Tagged 13/0772/FL, alehouse, application, beer house, Black Cock, Black Cock Bridge, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Bullings Heath, Camden Street, Canal, close, David Evans, Derelict, developer, Events, Green Lane, House, Local History, new build, New Photos, old inn, Old maps, planning, Planning application, Pubs, Royal Oak, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood
8 Comments
An unearned income
It is with great pleasure that I can now continue the story of the slum clearance of Ogley Square in 1935, thanks to the efforts of an anonymous reader and top friend of the blog Richard Burnell.
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media
Tagged 1883, 1:2500, bad housing, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Urban District Council, clearance, Dr. Bradford, George Bradford, Hill sisters, Lichfield Mercury, Local History, Norman Waine, Ogley Hay, Ogley Square, Old maps, Ordnance Survey, Peter Cutler, Richard Burnell, Slum clearance, snaitationG, Staffordshire, Things to do, UDC, Urban District Council
6 Comments
The word on the Streets
I pointed out ages ago that David Evans was researching the history of Streets Corner in Walsall Wood, and through months of diligent and patient research, David has written what must be the definitive account of the history of this place.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1750, 1841 census, Brownhills local history, Corner, Cottage, David Evans, Elizabeth, Hannah, Ivy House, Jabez, Jackson, john, local blogs, Local History, Maria, Mary, Nailer, New Photos, Nutting, Old maps, Redevelopment, Richard, Roe, Rowe, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, street, Sue Lote, thatched cottage, Tithe Map, Walsall Wood
18 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.
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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
Ain’t nobody here but us chickens
A great spot here yesterday from top Walsall Wood Mon, history wonk and local author Clive Roberts, who’s been as intrigued over the years as I have by the history of Crestacre, the former ‘lost’ isolation hospital in Barracks Lane, Brownhills.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1935, Army, barracks, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Crestacre, factory, Farm, Horse, Huts, Ice Cream, Isolation Hospital, Lane, Lichfield, Liz Wellington, local blogs, Local History, Maddever, Mercury, Nursery, Old maps, Pelari, Poultry, Redevelopment, sale, Selwyn Smith, Shire Oak, Springhills, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Things to do, UDC, Waine
5 Comments
On the Crestacre
Readers will no doubt recall that one of my earliest obsessions on the blog four years ago was the ‘lost’ isolation hospital, owned by Brownhills Urban District Council, and marked on early maps in Barracks Lane, just atop Springhill, on the Brownhills/Ogley Hay border.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged Army, barracks, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Crestacre, factory, Farm, Horse, Huts, Ice Cream, Isolation Hospital, Lane, Lichfield, Liz Wellington, local blogs, Local History, Maddever, Nursery, Old maps, Pelari, Redevelopment, Selwyn Smith, Shire Oak, Springhills, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Things to do, UDC
5 Comments
Going with the flow
In the modern world of asphalted roads, acres of hardstanding and housing estates by the square mile, we tend to forget that our landscape is riddled with lost brooks, springs, natural drains and man-made culverts, and all have to be managed to prevent flood and ensure adequate drainage, whilst still maintaining irrigation.
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The water is clean and flows well at this point. Image supplied by David Evans.[/caption] Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged brook, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Coppice House, culvert, David Evans, Drainage, Farm, Kings Hayes, Local History, Marsh, New Photos, Old maps, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Stonnall, Stream, Stubbers Green, Taylor, Things to do, Transport, Vigo, Walsall Wood, Watercourse, Wetland, Wildlife
14 Comments
Out on patrol
Here’s an interesting piece from the Young David Evans about the common that used to exist on Holly Bank, in Walsall Wood. Holly Bank is the land from what is now the Castlefort Estate to the Lichfield Road.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff, Wildlife
Tagged 1950's, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, children's games, Common, David Evans, Holly Bank, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, planning, Redevelopment, scrub, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood
9 Comments
Mapping for change
Here I can share with you four excellent quality 1:10,560 scale maps – we don’t cover that scale issue much on the blog, as oddly, they’re quite scarce online in scanned or digitised form – they are generally poor quality even from professional map service companies, with contrast and other image aberrations.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, News
Tagged 1921, 1923, 1:10560, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Castlehill, Chasewater, Clayhanger, David Evans, Gareth Thomas, Lichfield, Lichfield District Council, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, Lynn, Muckley Corner, Old maps, Ornance Survey 1903, planning, Redevelopment, Reservoir, Shenstone, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Things to do, Walsall Wood
15 Comments
History is a mosaic
As readers will no doubt be aware, I’m really, really fond of local history and the way it’s evolving online, although I’ve noted concerns and issues, on the whole, the internet and cooperation it enables is making a huge difference to both the quality and quantity of work becoming available.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Events, Followups, 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
Tagged Dave Moore, Derelict, dolphin, Events, Facebook, Gareth Thomas, Ian Pell, Kate, LDC, Lichfield, Lichfield District Council, Lichfield Keeps Blogging, Lichfield Lore, local blogs, Local History, Mosic, New Photos, Old maps, planning, Pubs, Redevelopment, Sandfields, Social media, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Things to do, Twitter, You're probably from Lichfield if
5 Comments
Before Mario
Here’s an odd one for a Saturday Afternoon – here’s a program from the now long-defunct Chasewater Kart Club, for an event they staged on the 21st October 1979.
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Posted in Chasewater, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged )ctober 21st 1979, 3, Aerial, Ashton in Makerfield, Bing, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chasewater, Chasewater Kart Racing Club, Events, Getmapping, Imagery, kart, Lichfield, Local History, M6 Toll, Old maps, programme, Redevelopment, Reservoir, Sisters, Staffordshire, Super Kart, Three, Walsall Council, Westune
2 Comments
Inn for a treat
‘Snippets of History in and around Shire Oak’ is a very comprehensive history of the pub at the crossroads of the Lichfield Road and Chester Road, and of the brewery that few realise towered over the pub for many years.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, 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 Book, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, CLive L Roberts., Events, Facebook, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, Pubs, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Snippets of Local History in and around Shire Oak', Staffordshire, Stonnall, Things to do, Walsall Wood
18 Comments
A Shire thing
Here’s a treat for Brownhills folk into local history – A new local history book, focussing on Shire Oak and it’s environs has been written by Walsall Wood chap Clive Roberts.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Book, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clive Roberts, Events, Facebook, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, pub, Pubs, Shire Oak, Snippets of Local History, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Stuart Williams, Things to do, Walsall Council, Walsall Local History Centre, Walsall Wood
18 Comments
Sharing the goodness
I just wanted to give a quick shout out for Lichfield District Council’s top Geographic Services officer, Gareth Thomas – Gareth, long time readers will recall, has shared loads of good stuff with readers of not just this blog, but others, including Lichfield Lore.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Aerial photographs, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Chasewater, Facebook, Gareth Thomas, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, planning, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Things to do, Tithe Map, Twitter
14 Comments
A Jasmine childhood
Here’s a great email I’ve received from reader Louise Sedgwick about her memories of Jasmine Cottage, up on Wharf Lane, Brownhills – The warm, lovely memories Louise shares sit nicely alongside those of Michael Sarsfield from Wharf Cottages, featured a few days ago.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Wildlife
Tagged Andy Dennis, Anglesey Basin, Anglesey Wharf, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Cottage, crane, Derelict, Edna, Jack, Jasmine, Lane, Lichfield, Local History, Louise Sedgwick, Meecham, Michael Sarsfield, New Photos, Old maps, planning, Ray Shill, Reservoir, Staffordshire, Wharf, Whitehorse Road, Wyrley & Essington canal through time
5 Comments
When Billy came knocking
I’ve had a great email from long time reader and friend of the blog Michael Sarsfield – after reading my questions about Anglesey Wharf and nearby cottages, he’s written a really nice piece about his childhood memories of the place.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged Andy Dennis, Anglesey Basin, Anglesey Wharf, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Cottage, crane, Derelict, Edna, Jack, Jasmine, Jeffries, Lane, Lichfield, Local History, Meecham, Michael Sarsfield, New Photos, Old maps, planning, Ray Shill, Reservoir, Staffordshire, Wharf, Whitehorse Road, Wyrley & Essington canal through time
7 Comments
Barf night
Chris Pattison points out a lost pumping station and public baths in south west Lichfield…
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Posted in Bad Science, Churches, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Chris Pattison, David More, Leomansley, Lichfield, Lichfield Conduit Lands Trust, local blogs, Local History, Memories of Walsall, Mortum, New Photos, Old maps, Public Baths, pumping station, Sandfields, South Stafforshire Waterworks Company, SSWW, Staffordshire, Things to do, well
19 Comments
The scent of jasmine
I’m still perusing my recent acquisition ‘The Wyrley & Essington Canal Through Time’ by Ray Shill…
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged Anglesey Basin, Anglesey Wharf, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Cottage, Derelict, Jasmine, Lane, Lichfield, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, planning, Ray Shill, Reservoir, Staffordshire, Wharf, Whitehorse Road, Wyrley & Essington canal through time
35 Comments
Supporting services
It’s been a while since I did a mapping post here on the blog, and yesterday, whilst visiting the open day at Christchurch, in Leomonsley, I saw a huge copy of the 1884 OS map of Lichfield that inspired me. If you ever get chance to see it, do so. A beautiful, A0-size hand-tinted copy, clearly for ecclesiastical use. A thing of rare and immense beauty.
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Posted in Churches, cycling, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media
Tagged 1884, 1902, 1928, 1965, Bison, Canal, Chappells, Christchurch, Cross City, Cycle rides, Dovehousfield, Events, Leamonsley, Lichfield, Lichfield Lore, local blogs, Local History, Old maps, Ordnance Survey, Sandfields, Silly, Sloppy Wood, South Staffordshire, south staffordshire water, Staffordshire, Things to do
17 Comments
Serving the City
I recently acquired a new historical picture book entitled ‘Wyrley and Essington Canal Through Time’, by Ray Shill. This is a good, if slightly thin book that features some interesting ephemera and images from the history of our local canal.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, News, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Cotterill, Derelict, Floyer, Lichfiel & Hatherton, Lichfield, Local History, Old maps, Ray Shill, Redevelopment, Staffordshire, survey, Wyrley and Essington, Wyrley and Essington Canal Through Time
9 Comments
No accommodation for the poor…
As promised, for reader Alison Ball, here’s the entry for Bloxwich Church – All Saints – in the book ‘Visitations of the Archdeaconry of Stafford 1829-1841′ published by the Historical Manuscripts Commission and Her Majesty’s Stationary Office (HMSO). This copy was published in 1980, and bears the ISBN of 0 11 440066 0. The work is edited by David Robinson MA, Ph D.
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Posted in Churches, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged 1830, Alison Ball, All Saints, Archdeacon, Bloxwich, Church, Curch Hill, George Hodson, Inspection, local blogs, Local History, Old maps, parish, Report, Slum, Stafford, Staffordshire, Stuart Williams, Things to do, Visitation, Visitations of the Archdeaconry of Stafford, Walsall
4 Comments
Wonderful afternoon
A quick word from myself and reader David Evans, in thanks for the great talk by Bill and Geoff at the Parkview Centre yesterday. As stalwarts of the local history scene in Brownhills, it’s wonderful to see them give such an entertaining and enjoyable talk.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, 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 Bill Mayo, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clarice Mayo, David Evans, Events, lecture, Library, Local History, memories, Memories of Brownhills Past, Memories of Old Brownhills, Memories of old Walsall Wood, New Photos, Old maps, Parkview Centre, slideshow, Staffordshire, Talk, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood
3 Comments
A place of common resort, and a school for inferior education
There was a surprising and good deal of interest shown recently when I scanned sections of a recently acquired book, ‘Visitations of the Archdeaconry of Stafford 1829-1841′ published by the Historical Manuscripts Commission and Her Majesty’s Stationary Office (HMSO). This copy was published in 1980, and bears the ISBN of 0 11 440066 0. The work is edited by David Robinson MA, Ph D.
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Posted in Churches, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Walsall community
Tagged 1830, Alison Ball, Archdeacon, Church, Curch Hill, George Hodson, Inspection, local blogs, Local History, Old maps, parish, Report, Rushall, Slum, St Matthews, Stafford, Staffordshire, Things to do, Visitation, Visitations of the Archdeaconry of Stafford, Walsall
5 Comments
Bill Mayo history talk today!
Thanks to blog readers Naomi Jones and David Evans, I can flag up this interesting looking slideshow and talk from respected and knowledgable local historian Bill Mayo. Bill, as I’m sure you’re all well aware, compiled several local history books with his wife Clarice, as well as with other local historians John Sale and Geoff Harrington.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Bill Mayo, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clarice Mayo, David Evans, Events, lecture, Library, Local History, memories, Memories of Brownhills Past, Memories of Old Brownhills, Memories of old Walsall Wood, New Photos, Old maps, Parkview Centre, slideshow, Staffordshire, Talk, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood
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Seeing the Wood for the trees
Continuing the paper maps, here’s an 1884 12,500 scale Ordnance Survey map of southern Walsall Wood.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1884, 1:2500, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Druids Heath, Local History, Old maps, Ordnance Survey, Staffordshire, Things to do, Walsall Wood
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Local history event next Saturday!
Thanks to blog readers Naomi Jones and David Evans, I can flag up this interesting looking slideshow and talk from respected and knowledgable local historian Bill Mayo. Bill, as I’m sure you’re all well aware, compiled several local history books with his wife Clarice, as well as with other local historians John Sale and Geoff Harrington.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2 February, Bill Mayo, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clarice Mayo, David Evans, Events, lecture, Library, Local History, memories, Memories of Brownhills Past, Memories of Old Brownhills, Memories of old Walsall Wood, New Photos, Old maps, Parkview Centre, slideshow, Staffordshire, Talk, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood
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Local history event next Saturday!
Thanks to blog readers Naomi Jones and David Evans, I can flag up this interesting looking slideshow and talk from respected and knowledgable local historian Bill Mayo. Bill, as I’m sure you’re all well aware, compiled several local history books with his wife Clarice, as well as with other local historians John Sale and Geoff Harrington.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2 February, Bill Mayo, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clarice Mayo, David Evans, Events, lecture, Library, Local History, memories, Memories of Brownhills Past, Memories of Old Brownhills, Memories of old Walsall Wood, New Photos, Old maps, Parkview Centre, slideshow, Staffordshire, Talk, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood
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Squared
Just a quicky. Here’s an 1883 Ordnance Survey map of the northern half of Brownhills. I dug it out particularly for the lady – Vicki Brosch – who recently asked where Ogley Square was. It can be seen approximately a third of the way across the map from the right, just up from the bottom.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Followups, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Walsall community
Tagged 1883, 1:2500, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Local History, Ogley Hay, Ogley Square, Old maps, Ordnance Survey, Pike Helve, Pike Hill, Staffordshire, Things to do, Vicki Brosh
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Mind the Gap
The enquiry about the local Watford Gap sparked way more interest than I expected, to be honest, so this morning, I decided to test the theory postulated by Andy Dennis that the area really was in a ‘gap’ between the hills of north Sutton.
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Posted in cycling, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Andy Dennis, Carisbroke, Chesterfield, Cross City, Cycle rides, cycling, Four Oaks, Hill Hook, Linda Mason, Little Aston, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, Railway, Shenstone, Staffordshire, Station, Sutton, Things to do, Tin Tabernacle, Twitter, Wall, Warwickshire, Watford Gap, West Midlands
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Bridging the Gap
Here’s a quick question, asked of me today by the redoubtable Linda Mason. On the border between the modern counties of the West Midlands and Staffordshire, right on the edge of Little Aston/Hill Hook is a junction on the Old Birmingham Road, where Blake Street and Watford Gap Road intersect it. It’s called ‘Watford Gap’.
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Posted in Churches, cycling, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Cycle rides, cycling, Four Oaks, Hill Hook, Linda Mason, Little Aston, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, Shenstone, Staffordshire, Sutton, Things to do, Tin Tabernacle, Twitter, Warwickshire, Watford Gap, West Midlands
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Surging forward
I should have known, really. No sooner had I delved into the fascinating world of the Brownhills surge stack, then Ian Pell, railway historian extraordinaire, had written to me with a whole bunch of new information, clarifications and even a few questions.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Captain, Clayhanger, Company, Dave Moore, Derelict, Harrison, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Lore, Morturn, New Photos, NIMBY, Old maps, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Pumping, Redevelopment, Reservoir, Shire Oak, Snadfields, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire, Station, steam engine, surge stack, Things to do, ventilator, Walsall, Water, Water tower, Waterwoks
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Hiding in plain sight?
It seems like we’re in a period for odd historical tangents and discoveries. It all started with Peter ‘Pedro’ Cutler’s classic bit of gentrified nimbyism from ‘Captain’ Harrison at Aldershaw(e). From there, we alighted at Sandfields Pumping Station at Lichfield, and found a wonderful, but neglected steam engine. We’ve found since, via Peter’s further diligent research, and that of Dave Moore, a chap clearly expert on the matter, that there was a long forgotten water tower in Brownhills.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Aldershaw, Aldershawe, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Captain, Clayhanger, Company, Dave Moore, Derelict, Harrison, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Lore, Morturn, New Photos, NIMBY, Old maps, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Pumping, Redevelopment, Reservoir, Shire Oak, Snadfields, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire, Station, steam engine, surge stack, Things to do, ventilator, Walsall, Water, Water tower, Waterwoks
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Archdeacon blues
Further to last Sunday’s article here regarding the book I recently acquired, ‘Visitations of the Archdeaconry of Stafford 1829-1841’ I thought I’d take the opportunity to fulfil a couple of requests.
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Posted in Churches, Environment, Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media
Tagged Aldridge, Archdeacon, Church, David Evans, George Hodson, Inspection, local blogs, Local History, Old maps, Rushall, Stafford, Staffordshire, Susan MArie Ward, Things to do, Visitation, Visitations of the Archdeaconry of Stafford
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Get some Iron
Here’s a quick one. Reader and local history researcher Clive Roberts dropped me this email a week or so ago in relation to questions about Irondish/Iron Dish, between Walsall Wood and Shelfield. Readers will remember that this courtyard of houses – that possibly contained an alehouse – stood about where the car sales lot is today, just on the Shelfield side of Jockey Meadows.
Posted in Environment, Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1763, Clive Roberts, Countess Dowage, Iron dish, Irondish, local blogs, Local History, Mountrath, New Photos, Old maps, Pubs, Shelfield, Staffordshire, Things to do, Walsall Local History Centre, Walsall Wood
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After the gold rush
I thought that today, I’d dig some interesting mapping out of the archive. In the light of Gerald Reece’s talk on Brownhills and it’s colliery history, I thought this 1884 1:2,500 scale plan of Wyrley Common was due an outing. It shows – in some clarity – the extent of mining in the Engine Lane area at the height of the Victorian period.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Local History, News, Shared media, Walsall community
Tagged 1884, 1:2500, Brownhills, Brownhills Colliey, Brownhills local history, Canal, Cathedral Pit, Engine Lane, Gerald Reece, Grove Colliery, Local History, Old maps, Ordnance Survey, Palmers Hay, Staffordshire, Wyrley common
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Conundra arising
Right, you lot. I’ve had some interesting enquiries in recent weeks and rather than spin them all out, I thought I’d post three together and see what folk know about them. I know you mostly like a challenge, and flushed with the success that was the puzzle of The Grange from last week, everyone should be on a roll…
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Events, 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, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Anne Bradbury, Bonita Clayton, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills UDC, Bryan Blumer, Caleb Smith, Chase Inn, Chasewater, concrete, Emma Smith, Facebook, Iron dish, Irondish, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, play equipment, Pubs, Reservoir, Sculptor, sculpture, Shelfield, Staffordshire, Things to do, Urban District Council, Walsall Wood, Watling Street
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