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Tag Archives: Pubs
A message from Andy Penn…
Last week, I posted a promotional ad for local lad Andy Penn’s fundraiser, which took place last Friday at the Shoulder of Mutton to raise funds to support his skydive for Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2015, 27th February, Andy Penn, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Brownhills, charity, charity skydive, Events, Facebook, Lichfield, live music, New Photos, Pubs, Shoulder of Mutton, skydive, tandem, Things to do
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The estate we’re in
I had an interesting email from reader and top local history technician Andy Dennis a couple of weeks ago that expands on a recent topic beautifully: that of William Roberts and his empire.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 1943, Andy Dennis, bagby, brewer, Brewery, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, clara, Coppice, death, deceased, Farm, Gerald Reece, inheritance, JP, Lichfield, Lichfield Mercury, Local History, Local politics, Marklew, Pedro, Peter Cutler, philanthropist, Pubs, q, sale, Staffordshire, Station Hotel, The Coppice, The Old Tommy Shop, Things to do, Tommy Shop, will, William ROberts
10 Comments
Andy Penn’s charity skydive: fundraiser this Friday at the Shoulder of Mutton!
I was contacted a while ago by a very brave local lad, Andy Penn, who’s undertaking a 10,000ft tandem skydive in aid of Birmingham Children’s Hospital in March – and this Friday (27th February 2015) Andy has organised a great fundraising evening at the Shoulder of Mutton pub in Church Road, Brownhills.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2015, 27th February, Andy Penn, Birmingham Children's Hospital, Brownhills, charity, charity skydive, Events, Facebook, Lichfield, live music, New Photos, Pubs, Shoulder of Mutton, skydive, tandem, Things to do
1 Comment
Your guide to Walsall – 125 years ago
Here’s one I’ve been meaning to do for ages, but the sheer labour of it has been off-putting; but now I have access to a professional scanner, it’s a lot easier to scan publications like W Henry Robinson’s ‘Guide to Walsall – an illustrated guide’, which was published in 1889 and is a captivating gazetteer and document of a growing town and its life.
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Posted in Churches, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Book, Canal, download, Facebook, Guide to Waslall, Illustrated Handbook, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, Old maps, PDF, Pubs, Redevelopment, Staffordshire, Things to do, W Henry Robinson, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
9 Comments
The Brownhills Darktown Poker Club… in 1881
Here’s a quick one from local history rapscallion Peter ‘pedro’ Cutler while I’m prepping some other stuff for the weekend – debauchery and cards in a Brownhills Working Men’s Club in 1881!
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Progressive Working Men's Club, Brownhills West, Cheap tat, Hednesford Road, Lichfield, Local History, Mercury, New Photos, Police, Pubs, Raid, Silly, Staffordshire
3 Comments
Shire Oak just reopened with new landlord!
After some weeks being closed, the Shire Oak Pub has today reopened with a new landlord – so if you’re in the locality and fancy a Christmas drink, why not give it a pop?
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, 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, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2014, beer, Brownhills, Christmas Eve, December, local blogs, planning, pub, Publog, Pubs, real alle, refurbished, reopen, Shire Oak, Things to do, Walsall Wood
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Just look at those haircuts!
Today, I did a deal with Walsall Wood historian and author Clive Roberts – he sent me scans of the above wonderful 1970s photo of a Walsall Wood Football Club team lineup, and said I’d happily point out that Clive’s latest book ‘Snippets of History in and around Walsall Wood’ is still available with new stock now at Egans grocery shop in Brownhills High Street.
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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 1970's, A. Lake, A. McGregor, A. Pye, B. Jones, B. Knight, B. Williams, Book, Book new, Brownhills local history, C Jones, CLive L Roberts., D. France, David Evans, Division 1, Events, Facebook, Freizland, Institute, J. Gough, Local History, Midland Combination, New Photos, Pubs, R. Heathe, R. Tranter, Redevelopment, S. Philpots, Shire Oak, Snippets of Local History in and around Shire Oak', Staffordshire, T. Holding (Manager), Things to do, Walsall Wood, Walsall Wood football club, Wheel Inn, WWFC
8 Comments
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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Lose, and you’re in the drink!
Here’s a rather wonderful, quick photo to get the grey matter going amongst the readership – yesterday, Godfrey ‘Oakparkrunner’ Hucker sent me the above excellent photo, sourced from Linda Robottom, of a Walsall Wood tug of war team.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, 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 Wood stuff
Tagged 1970's, Boatmans Rest, Brickies, Brickmakers Arms, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Car Park, Derelict, Gantry, Girder, Godfrey Hucker, Linda Robottom, Local History, New Photos, Oakparkrunner, Peter, photo, Pubs, Red Lion, Salters Road, Shire Oak, Silly, team, Tug of war, Walsall Wood
11 Comments
Just William
The interesting history of William Roberts – the father of modern Brownhills – continues, and this time, Peter ‘pedro’ Cutler has taken issue with some other, intersecting local history, and just when exactly William Roberts came to Brownhills as a lad, and where he lived when his family moved here.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged brewer, Brewery, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Coppice, Farm, Gerald Reece, JP, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, Marklew, Pedro, Peter Cutler, philanthropist, Pubs, q, Staffordshire, Station Hotel, The Coppice, The Old Tommy Shop, Things to do, Tommy Shop, William ROberts
43 Comments
A lesson in local history
A couple of weeks ago, I featured here scans of a local history book I’d unexpectedly found in a bookshop – it was a real cracker, and at the same time, a valuable and overlooked bit of Brownhills social history.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Alison Preece, Book, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills past & Present, Brownhills School, Canal, Chasewater, Clayhanger, Elizabeth Pike, Facebook, Kate Wilkinson, Kelth Jackaman, Lichfield, Local History, Mark Staples, New Photos, Old maps, Pubs, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Things to do, Walsall Wood
3 Comments
Such was his devotion
Back to William Roberts, then – railway plate layer, ganger, publican, entrepreneur, civic stalwart, JP and philanthropist – a very rare man in his time, he appears to have been generous, considerate, imbued with a real sense of social justice, and was undoubtedly a sharp-dealing rogue too.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged brewer, Brewery, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Gerald Reece, JP, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, Pedro, Peter Cutler, philanthropist, Pubs, q, Staffordshire, Station Hotel, Things to do, William ROberts
14 Comments
Trouble brewing?
There’s something I’ve been needing to get off my chest for a good while, and it won’t go away – however, recent finds and articles on the blog have brought it to the fore in my mind, and this is as good a juncture as any to brooch the subject: William Roberts is not recognised enough in our collective history.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged brewer, Brewery, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, JP, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, Pedro, Peter Cutler, philanthropist, Pubs, Staffordshire, Station Hotel, Things to do, William ROberts
9 Comments
A son of The Wood
I’ve finally bought my own copy of Clive Roberts’ book ‘ Snippets of History In and around Walsall Wood’ which I review here today – I must say the 79 page £8 book is a cracker – and it’s available right now.
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
16 Comments
Early doors
Just a quick post here to spark a few memories for long time pub-goers in the local area – Shaun Treadwell has kindly dropped me a line with these excellent images which I just had to share.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Facebook, Georger and Dragon, Lichfield, Local History, New Photos, Pubs, Redevelopment, Rushall, Shaun Treadwell, Staffordshire, The Anchor, The Hunstman, The Sportsman, Walsall
11 Comments
Wood ‘n’ heart – a new book out now!
The young David Evans has kindly alerted me last week to a new history book on Walsall Wood, written by local author Clive Roberts who’s a lifelong Walsall Wood mon™, local historian and occasional contributor to the blog.
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, Book new, Brownhills local history, CLive L Roberts., David Evans, Events, Facebook, Freizland, Institute, Local History, New Photos, Pubs, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Snippets of Local History in and around Shire Oak', Staffordshire, Things to do, Walsall Wood, Wheel Inn
9 Comments
The Acropolis cafe shuts; Middle Oak to close and B&M to open in Focus, Aldridge
Just a heads up on some local taking points I’ve had buzzing around for a couple of days now – A few readers including David Evans and Martin Littler have pointed out the longstanding Ravens Court cafe The Acroplolis seems to have closed down.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2014, application, B&M, Big K, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cheap tat, David Evans, Derelict, Events, Focus, for, housing, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, Middle, Mike Bird, New Photos, Northgate, Oak, planning, Pubs, Ravens Court, Redevelopment, Royal, sale, Shire Oak, sold, Twitter, Vandalism, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
3 Comments
Muttfest – a great Brownhills music festival this Saturday!
Don’t forget that this Saturday (6th September 2014) there’s a great music and entertainment charity event at the Shoulder of Mutton pub in Church Road, Brownhills.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2014, 6 September, Brownhills, Casual Agenda, charity, Clayhanger, Events, Facebook, Festival, Lichfield, live music, Livewire, Matthews, Mutt Fest, New Photos, NMC, Pollen, Pubs, Shire Oak, Shoulder of Mutton, Stacey Cole, Susan, Suzie, Tesco, The Skunks, Things to do, Twitter, Walsall Wood, Wilkinson, Winters Fire
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Hog in the limelight
Reader and great freind of the blog Tony Jakeman has been in touch to ask if I can plug this event – West Midlands Hedgehog Rescue have an open day planned at The White Horse Pub, Cheslyn Hay this Saturday, 6th September 2014 from 12 noon until 4pm.
Posted in Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Wildlife
Tagged 2014, Cellie, Cheslyn Hay, day, Events, Facebook, fun, fundraiser, Lichfield, New Photos, open, Pubs, September 6, Staffordshire, The White Horse, Things to do, West Midlands Hedgehog Rescue
3 Comments
Come on down to Mutt Fest!
Local lady Susan Matthews has been in touch to ask if I’d let you readers know that there’s a great music and entertainment charity event coming up a week on Saturday (6th September 2014) at the Shoulder of Mutton pub in Church Road in Brownhills.
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Posted in News
Tagged 2014, 6 September, Brownhills, charity, Clayhanger, Events, Facebook, Festival, Lichfield, live music, Matthews, Mutt Fest, New Photos, NMC, Pubs, Shire Oak, Shoulder of Mutton, Stacey Cole, Susan, Suzie, Tesco, Things to do, Twitter, Walsall Wood, Wilkinson
3 Comments
Come on a historical Lichfield pub crawl – tonight!
Kate Cardigan from the wonderful Lichfield Lore has asked if I could let readers know about her historical pub crawl of Lichfield, taking place tonight at 7:00pm, 11th August 2014 – the walk meets in the Market Square outside St Mary’s, and is free to participants.
Posted in 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, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged 11 August, 2014, crawl, Discovered, event, Events, Facebook, free, Heritage Centre, Kate Gomez, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Lore, Lost, Monday, Moore, New Photos, Panoramio, pub, Pubs, Silly, Staffordshire, Talk, Things to do, tour, Twitter
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You can’t bank on it
There has been a fair amount of dismay and disbelief locally in response to the decision of Barclays Bank to close their branch in Brownhills, which will apparently cease trading on Friday, 24th October 2014.
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged bank, Barclays, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cheap tat, Closure, Derelict, Events, Facebook, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, planning, Politics, Pubs, Redevelopment, retaildecline, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
17 Comments
Family fun day at The Smithy’s Forge, next Monday
Deputy Manager of Brownhills Pub Smithys Forge, Matt Folan, has asked me to plug the Family Fun Day set to take place there next Monday (May 26th 2014) from 12-6pm – that’s the Smithys Forge Pub in Lichfield Road, Brownhills, just off the Miner Island.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, 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, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2014, 26th May, bands, bank holiday, beer, bouncy castle, Brownhills, DJ, entertainment, Events, Family, Family Fun Day, gig, Live, live music, Matt Folan, music, pub, Pubs, Real Ale, Smithys Forge, Things to do
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Walsall Woodstock two day music festival this weekend!
This bank holiday weekend – Sunday 25th May and Monday 27th May 2014 – sees the annual Walsall Woodstock music and entertainment festival at the Horse and Jockey Pub, Walsall Wood.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2014, 25, 26, bank holiday, Brains For Breakfast, Brownhills, charity, Darkness Is Blinding, Drink Sleep Repeat, entertainment, Events, Facebook, Framed, Glass Bullet, H & John, Hobgoblin, Horse and Jockey, Judas Johnson, Krazylegz, Lichfield, Lightfire, Massive Shed, May, Meningitis Now, Music Festival, No Fences, Pubs, Samurai Sunday, Seeking Daylight, The Assist, The Collective, The Guvnors, The Nics, Things to do, Uncle Jim, Walsall Wood, Woodstock
5 Comments
Living by numbers
Right, after embarrassingly missing some local events at Chasewater last Monday after promising to advertise them, I’ve decided it’s time to bite the bullet and start a community diary.
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Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Just plain daft, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged activites, Brownhills, calendar, Canal, Chasewater, Clayhanger, community, Diary, Events, Facebook, Lichfield, Local, Pubs, Things to do, Twitter, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood, whats on
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Family fun day at the Shire Oak tomorrow!
Local chap and friend of the blog Andy Sawyer has asked me to plug the Family Fun Day set to take place tomorrow (May 4th 2014) at the Shire Oak pub (or Top Oak), on the Chester Road, Brownhills.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, 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, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2014, Andy Sawyer, bands, beer, bouncy castle, Brownhills, Eddie Beak, Events, Face Painting, Family Fun Day, gig, Help for heroes, live music, local blogs, May 4th, pub, Publog, Pubs, Real Ale, Shire Oak, Stymaster, The Todfather, Things to do, Third Angle Projection, Walsall Wood
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Family fun day at the Shire Oak, next Sunday
Local chap and friend of the blog Andy Sawyer has asked me to plug the Family Fun Day set to take place next Sunday (May 4th 2014) at the Shire Oak pub (or Top Oak), on the Chester Road, Brownhills.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, 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, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2014, Andy Sawyer, bands, beer, bouncy castle, Brownhills, Eddie Beak, Events, Face Painting, Family Fun Day, gig, Help for heroes, live music, local blogs, May 4th, pub, Publog, Pubs, Real Ale, Shire Oak, Stymaster, The Todfather, Things to do, Third Angle Projection, Walsall Wood
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What was lost, now restored
I am indebted to a Burnell yet again, as top chap and fellow cyclist Richard contacts me and points out something he noticed that I didn’t – Bullings Heath Grove is now a real place, with street signs and everything.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged alehouse, beer house, Black Cock, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Bullings Heath, Bullings Heath Grove, Camden Street, Canal, Cawarden, close, Councillor, David Evans, Demolition, Derelict, Events, Green Lane, Hall Lane, Hillary Little, Local History, Mike Flower, New Photos, newbuild, old inn, Old maps, Pepper Alley, Pubs, Richard Burnell, Royal Oak, Smith, Staffordshire, street names, Walsall Wood
5 Comments
It’s a naked place without cricket
It’s always nice to kick off a new historical thread here on the blog, and this one will be particularly wonderful to curate, as I know there’s a lot of local interest in the old cricketing history of Walsall Wood.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Bill Mayo, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cricket, Cricket Club, David Evans, Events, Facebook, field, football, George Crutchley, Horse and Jockey, Jockey Hoe, Jockey Meadows, Joe Blakemore, Lichfield, Local History, New Photos, photo, pitch, Pubs, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, team, Things to do, Walsall Wood, Walsall WOod FC, Wesleyans
9 Comments
Middle Oak up for sale
I wouldn’t normally bother too much with this, but there’s been a fair bit of rumour locally and it’s worth pointing out that the current landlords of the Royal Oak in Shire Oak, Brownhills (known as ‘The Middle’) will apparently be taking over a refurbished Royal Exchange in Walsall Wood, and the Royal Oak has been placed on the market by it’s current owners.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local music, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Facebook, For Sale, Housing Development, Local History, Mathhew Phillips Surveyors, Middle Oak, planning, Pubs, Redevelopment, refurbishment, Royal Exchange, Royal Oak, Shire Oak, Twitter, Walsall Wood
4 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
Django unchanged
It’s been over a year now since I noted the sad news of the passing of Paul Degville, jazz musician extraordinaire and leading light in the formerly little recorded jazz scene that existed around the Crown Pub in Brownhills in the 1970s.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged 1970's, BBC, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, community, David Danks, death, Django, Ferrograph, Fred Degville, Ian, Jazz, Ken Rattenbury, Local History, local music, New Photos, Norman Pritchard, passed away, passing, Paul Degville, PaulDegville, Peter Barker, Phil Jones, Pubs, Service, St Michael, Staffordshire, The Crown, Wheatsheaf
9 Comments
Pepper ground
I have been sent this remarkable and incredibly thorough piece of research into the historical and mapping record for Pepper Alley by Hilary Little, who you’ll remember as the driving force behind the project to record the history and fabric of the lost beer house, the Royal Oak, in Bullings Heath, Waslall Wood.
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, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Alley, Black Cock Inn, bridge, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Bullings Heath, Canal, Caz, Clayhanger, David Evans, Derelict, Events, Hilary, Lane, Little, Local History, New Photos, Oak, Old maps, Pepper, planning, Pubs, Redevelopment, Royal, Staffordshire, Things to do, Val, Walsall Wood
40 Comments
Urban spring
As is usual, today I visited Erdington Bike Jumble, the yearly tat-bazaar for cyclists that always takes place the first Saturday in March.
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Posted in Churches, cycling, Environment, Events, Features, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, Shared media
Tagged Architecture, Birmingham, Canal, contamination, Curdworth, Cycle rides, cycling, Erdington, Events, New Photos, Panoramio, Pubs, Snow Hill, Spaghetti Junction, Spring, Staffordshire, sun, Things to do, Washwood Heath
3 Comments
That rings a bell…
That there young David Evans has been very busy – not content to loaf around convalescing like any normal person after his recent operation, he’s been preparing some new local history projects, and updating others.
[caption id="attachment_17624" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Image generously supplied by David Evans.[/caption] Continue reading
Posted in Churches, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldridge, Brownhills local history, David Evans, Hand, Hand of glory, Lichfield, Local History, New Photos, Pubs, Ringers, Shire Oak, Silly, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Things to do, tintabulist, Walsall Wood
2 Comments
Express & Star covers Terrace Restaurant closure
I note today that the good old Express & Star have covered the closure of The Terrace restaurant in Brownhills that shocked so many last week – in an article unusually more detailed online than in the print edition, the paper reveals folks out of pocket with vouchers and others with prior bookings that are now obviously cancelled. A sad state of affairs indeed.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged @tapdiva, A5, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, ceased trading, Closed, Closure, email, Events, Express & Star, Facebook, Hoofbeats, Lichfield, liquidator, Local History, locla paper, no longer trading, Petrol & Pantry, press, Pubs, Report, Restaurant, shut, shut down, Terrace, Twitter, Watling Street
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The Terrace Restaurant closes down
Sad news – it appears that popular and longstanding Brownhills restaurant The Terrace has closed – I’m sure this will come as a shock to customers past and present.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Events, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged @tapdiva, A5, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, ceased trading, Closed, Closure, email, Events, Facebook, Hoofbeats, Lichfield, liquidator, Local History, no longer trading, Petrol & Pantry, Pubs, Restaurant, shut, shut down, Terrace, Twitter, Watling Street
43 Comments
Get another glimpse into Brownhills Past
Regular readers will remember that last Autumn, there was an exhibition at Walsall Local History Centre featuring a whole tranche of of historic Brownhills photos and ephemera from the civic collection – this had proven to be so successful, that the top operatives at the town archives have decided to set many of the exhibits up on show in Brownhills Library, at the Parkview Centre, from now until the end of February 2014.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Churches, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, 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 Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged A taste of Historic Brownhills, Archives, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills past & Present, Canal, Carnival 1938, Clayhanger, Essex Street, Events, Exhibition, Hussey Arms, Library, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, Parkview Centre, photos, plan, Pubs, Queen, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Station, steam engine, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall local history, Walsall Wood
2 Comments
Rhyme and reason
While service is operating on reduced power, I thought I’d share this curious mystery – over the new year period, a Brownhills history group was created on Facebook, and it’s proved to be very interesting indeed.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged A walk down High Street Browmhills, Anchor, Brewes, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Past and Present, Cooper, Events, Facebook, Jim Simpson, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Mystery, old shops, Poem, poetry, Princeps, Pubs, Redevelopment, rhyme, Selwyn Smith, Silly, Staffordshire, Station Hotel, Things to do
23 Comments
A fine rate of Exchange
Last week, I posted the first part of a remarkable article by Susan M Luzy about the history of the families connected with the Royal Echange pub in Walsall Wood – this unassuming, but well-loved pub has been the subject of much local historical study, and since the first part of this article was posted, local historians have turned up some remarkable material which Andy Dennis, David Evans and a whole host others are working on in the background.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Ann Cross, Brownhills local history, Clews, David Evans, Eliza, Grave, Hannah, Jackson, Lichfield Brewery Company, Local History, Luzy, Maria, Melsom, Millson, Millsum, Old maps, Pubs, Richard, Royal Exchange, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Stonnall, street, Sue, Susan, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Wood, William
11 Comments
The Wheatsheaf, Brownhills – what do we know?
Here’s a quick one I’ve been asked about on twitter, and it’s piqued my interest to such an extent that I thought I’d post the question here, particularly while there’s a similar discussion centring around the Royal Exchange in Walsall Wood.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, 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
Tagged beer hosue, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, dogrio5630, Gerald Reece, Helen Dalton, John Insull, Lichfield Mercury, Local History, Ogley, Ogley Hay, planning, Pubs, Redevelopment, Square, Staffordshire, The Wheatsheaf, Things to do, Tony Williams, Twitter, William Danks
15 Comments
A foreign Exchange
The subject of the Royal Echange pub in Walsall Wood, and the families who were connected with it, continues to be the subject of much local historical study – in fact, I don’t think any other pub or building, apart from perhaps The Shire Oak Pub that has generated so much local historical interest.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Ann Cross, Brownhills local history, Clews, David Evans, Eliza, Grave, Hannah, Jackson, Lichfield Brewery Company, Local History, Luzy, Maria, Melsom, Millson, Millsum, Old maps, Pubs, Richard, Royal Exchange, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Stonnall, street, Sue, Susan, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Wood, William
40 Comments
Caught on celluloid
I have something remarkable coming up on the blog tomorrow, a film I’ve been tracking down for a while, and thanks to the immense generosity and kindness of local history stalwarts Brian ‘Clayhanger Kid’ Stringer and the Young David Evans, I can present it here on the net for the community to share and debate.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Churches, 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
Tagged Aldridge, Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Chasewater, Cine film, Clayhanger, David Evans, Derelict, Lichfield, Local History, New Photos, old brBrownhills, Pubs, Redevelopment, Reservoir, Shire Oak, Staffordshire
13 Comments
Fist of Glory, fists of rage
I see the genius of SalmonCorporation has been at work again – this film is an uncomfortable piece of genius that needs to be spread far and wide, like it’s precursor ‘Walsall: Everything a pound’.
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Posted in Environment, Events, 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, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged animation, £1, Cheap tat, Derelict, Events, Everything a pound, Fist of Glory, Local History, Local politics, planning, Politics, Pubs, Redevelopment, SalmonCorporation, short, Silly, Stuart Williams, Tesco, Tesco Development, Twitter, Vandalism, video, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Youtube
3 Comments
A Brownhills drinking den is raided – in 1921
Here’s an odd snippet I found in the newspaper archives whilst looking for something completely different, which as anyone who’s ever researched any local history will tell you, is generally the way all the best stuff is found.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged 1921, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Progressive Working Men's Club, Brownhills West, Cheap tat, Hednesford Road, Lichfield, Local History, Mercury, New Photos, Police, Pubs, Raid, Silly, Staffordshire
3 Comments
Springing a surprise
Lord knows where he found it, but isn’t this picture from the Young David Evans a remarkable thing?
Posted in Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldridge, co-op, cycling, David Evans, Ind Coope, Local History, Lost pubs, New Photos, Panoramio, picture, Pubs, Redevelopment, Shelfield, Spring Cottage, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood
6 Comments
Do the walk…
Andy Dennis touches on a sporting phenomena which seems to largely have lapsed: pedestrianism, to which these days, power or nordic walking would be comparable.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged Anglesey Arms, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chase Inn, ercury, Events, Fleur de lys, Gerald Reece, john, Lichfield, Local History, Pedestrian, Pedestrianism, Pubs, Samuel Jones, Shingler, Silly, Staffordshire, Walking match, Wallace
4 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
I say, Landlord!
I’m liking this a lot: sent to me yesterday by Andy Dennis, this is a Google Documents/Excel spreadsheet of derived information on local pub landlords from census and other data.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Andy Dennis, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clayhanger, David Evans, Documents, Drive, google, Lichfield, Local History, Old Leopard, pub landlords, Pubs, Royal Oak, Shire Oak, Spreadsheet, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Things to do, Walsall Wood
19 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
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