#365daysofbiking JournalRecent tracks
In The Air
Mr Stabalina
1 day
Leaving the Main Road
Dawn, Dawn, Dawn
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Leaving the Main Road
Dawn, Dawn, Dawn
2 weeks
Love Is Blinding (Three Years Of Plenty Mix)
The High Violets
2 weeks
Love and Hate in a Different Time
gabriels
2 weeks
Sometimes
Japancakes
4 weeks
In Memory of Honey
Japancakes
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Vinyl Fever
Japancakes
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Autopilot
Seam
4 weeks
The Enabler
Japancakes
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Brad on Walsall Wood’s lost beer house… Brownhills Canal Fes… on Can you put a finger on a phot… Brownhills Canal Fes… on Pictures from the 2019 Brownhi… Moe Robinson on Clearance – everything m… David Evans on A fine rate of Exchange
Tag Archives: Railway
Something wonderful for princesses and pirates alike this Summer Bank Holiday Monday!
Chasewater Railway – the little gem of a local preserved industrial railway is this Bank Holiday Monday (26th August 2019) staging a Princesses and Pirates Day, when the railway will be operating with steam trains and there will be fun, games, competitions, … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, 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
Tagged 2019, 26 August, Aston Manor, Award, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Charities, Chasewater, day, Events, Facebook, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, loco, Newsletter, Railway, Reservoir, Staffordshire, Things to do
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Chasewater Railway – 2019 Annual Charities Day this Sunday!
Chasewater Railway – the little gem of a local preserved industrial railway is this Sunday (11th August 2019) staging it’s Annual Charities Day, when the railway will be operating with steam trains, and there will be charity stalls and activities at Brownhills West … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, 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
Tagged 11 August, 2019, Aston Manor, Award, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Charities, Chasewater, day, Events, Facebook, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, loco, Newsletter, Railway, Reservoir, Staffordshire, Things to do
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Something wonderful for witches and wizards this coming Holiday Monday!
Chasewater Railway – the little gem of a local preserved industrial railway is this coming Bank Holiday Monday (27th May 2019) staging a Witches and Wizards Day, when the railway will be operating with steam trains and there will be fun, games, … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, 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
Tagged 2019, 27 May, Award, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Charities, Chasewater, day, Events, Facebook, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, loco, Newsletter, Railway, Reservoir, Staffordshire, Things to do
1 Comment
Fancy getting involved with Chasewater Railway? It’s Volunteers Day this Saturday!
Chasewater Railway – the little gem of a local preserved industrial railway is this Saturday (30th March 2019) staging it’s Annual Volunteers Day, when the railway will be holding an event aimed at recruiting more folk interested in helping out with all … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, 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
Tagged Award, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Charities, Chasewater, day, Events, Facebook, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, loco, Newsletter, Railway, Reservoir, Staffordshire, Things to do
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Something wonderful for princesses and pirates alike this Bank Holiday Monday!
Chasewater Railway – the little gem of a local preserved industrial railway is this Bank Holiday Monday (27th August 2018) staging a Princesses and Pirates Day, when the railway will be operating with steam trains and there will be fun, games, competitions, … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, 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
Tagged 12th August, 2018, Aston Manor, Award, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Charities, Chasewater, day, Events, Facebook, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, loco, Newsletter, Railway, Reservoir, Staffordshire, Things to do
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Chasewater Railway – 2018 Annual Charities Day this Sunday!
Chasewater Railway – the little gem of a local preserved industrial railway is this Sunday (12th August 2018) staging it’s Annual Charities Day, when the railway will be operating with steam trains, and there will be charity stalls and activities at Brownhills West … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, 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
Tagged 12th August, 2018, Aston Manor, Award, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Charities, Chasewater, day, Events, Facebook, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, loco, Newsletter, Railway, Reservoir, Staffordshire, Things to do
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It’s a diesel takeover – this weekend!
Chasewater Railway – the little gem of a preserved industrial railway right on our doorstep is holding it’s annual Diesel Gala this weekend, Saturday and Sunday 24-25th March 2018.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, 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
Tagged 18 March, 19 March, 2017, Award, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chasewater, Events, Facebook, Industrial gala, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Railway, Reservoir, Staffordshire, Things to do
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Chasewater Railway – Annual Charities Day this Sunday!
Chasewater Railway – the little gem of a local preserved industrial railway is this Sunday (6th August 2017) staging it’s Annual Charities Day, when the railway will be operating with steam trains, and there will be charity stalls and activities at Brownhills West Station.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, 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
Tagged 2017, 6 August, Aston Manor, Award, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Charities, Chasewater, day, Events, Facebook, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, loco, Newsletter, Railway, Reservoir, Staffordshire, Things to do
1 Comment
Beware: Lady intimidated at Chasewater Heath
I note in the last couple of days a worrying report of a lady being followed by a male behaving oddly on Chasewater North Heath, and post the following to warn dog walkers, particularly other women, to.beware.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 2017, 25 May, appeal, Brownhills, Canal, Chasewater, Council, crime, Events, followed, footpath, incident, intimidation, Lichfield, local blogs, north heath, Police, Railway, Walsall
3 Comments
Chasewater Railway 2017 Industrial Gala this weekend!
Chasewater Railway – the little gem of a preserved industrial railway right on our doorstep is holding it’s annual Industrial Gala this weekend, Saturday and Sunday 18-19th March 2017.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, 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
Tagged 18 March, 19 March, 2017, Award, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chasewater, Events, Facebook, Industrial gala, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Railway, Reservoir, Staffordshire, Things to do
2 Comments
Chasewater Railway 2017 season starts today!
I’ve noticed that Chasewater Railway – the little gem of a preserved industrial railway right on our doorstep is re-starting passenger services this weekend after the winter shutdown.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, 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
Tagged Award, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chasewater, Events, Facebook, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Newsletter, Railway, Reservoir, Staffordshire, Things to do
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A remarkable local rail journey – stepping right out of time
There’s currently a buzz in the local rail community and in some groups on Facebook about a 1968 cinefilm recently converted to digital and uploaded online by rail historian and blog regular, Ian Pell – it’s a remarkable, wonderful thing, and Ian has written a fascinating account of the film and line it covers especially for the blog, which I feature below.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1966, Aldridge, Brawn, brickworks, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chasewater, Conduit, Coppice, Coppice Colliery, Film, House, Ian Pell, joberns, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, planet, Railway, Redevelopment, Simon Briercliffe, Staffordshire, Utopia, Walsall Wood
9 Comments
Three museums day this Sunday – linking Cannock Chase with Chasewater and Aldridge!
There’s a great thing happening this Sunday (7th August 2016) when a bus service operated by classic vehicles will operate between Aston Manor Road Transport Museum in Aldridge, Chasewater Railway and the Museum of Cannock Chase.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, 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
Tagged 2016, 6th August, Aston Manor, Award, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Burton Brewery, Chasewater, Events, Facebook, Lichfield, link up, local blogs, Local History, loco, Museum of Cannock Chase, Newsletter, Railway, Reservoir, Staffordshire, Things to do, treat
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Chasewater Railway – Annual Charities Day this Sunday!
Chasewater Railway – the little gem of a local preserved industrial railway is this Sunday (7th August 2016) staging it’s annual Charities Day, when the railway will be operating with steam trains, and there will be charity stalls and activities at Brownhills West Station.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, 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
Tagged 2016, 7th August, Aston Manor, Award, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Charities, Chasewater, day, Events, Facebook, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, loco, Newsletter, Railway, Reservoir, Staffordshire, Things to do
2 Comments
Have you lost Buttons the donkey?
A quick one from the Chasewater page on Facebook – this lovely Donkey cuddly toy was found at Chasewater Railway, near the cafe yesterday by Debi Taylor.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Wildlife
Tagged Brownhills, Buttons, Cafe, Chasewater, Debi taylor, Donkey, found, keys, Lichfield, Lost, New Photos, Railway, Soft toy, Things to do
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Chasewater Railway: Burton Brewery Locomotives Day this Sunday!
Chasewater Railway – the little gem of a local preserved industrial railway is this Sunday (10th July 2016) staging a Burton Brewery Locomotives Day, which can be combined via a link-up heritage bus service with the Aston Manor Transport Museum open day in Aldridge, for a total transport blowout!
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, 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
Tagged 10 July 2016, 2016, Aston Manor, Award, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Burton Brewery, Chasewater, Events, Facebook, Lichfield, link up, local blogs, Local History, loco, Newsletter, Railway, Reservoir, Staffordshire, Things to do, treat
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Chasewater Railway: a great Fathers Day treat!
Chasewater Railway – the little gem of a preserved industrial railway is this this weekend staging a coal train special event, which sounds just the thing for train-loving dads and their families who may be looking for a special treat for the old fellow.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, 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
Tagged 2016, Award, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, call train weekend, Chasewater, Events, Facebook, fathers day, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Newsletter, Railway, Reservoir, Staffordshire, Things to do, treat
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Chasewater Railway: award winning, and on your doorstep!
I’ve noticed in the last few days that Chasewater Railway – the little gem of a preserved industrial railway, running steam and vintage diesel trains around Chasewater Park- has won royal recognition for it’s work.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, 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
Tagged Award, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Chasewater, Events, Facebook, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Newsletter, Railway, Reservoir, Staffordshire, Things to do
2 Comments
De-railed
There was a great letter last week in the Walsall Advertiser from friend of the blog and Clayhanger Kid himself, Brian Stringer, who’s a noted local author and community activist – Brian is concerned, like most of the people in Brownhills – with he fate of the former South Staffordshire Railway Line through Brownhills.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, 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 appeal, Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clayhanger, Clayhanger Kid, cycleway, Events, Facebook, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Railway, South Staffs, Staffordshire
13 Comments
Troy, the Chasewater Station cat is missing – can you help?
An important and somewhat sad appeal reaches me from Chasewater Railway, the hidden gem at our favourite local country park – it seems that Troy, the Brownhills West Station cat has gone AWOL and volunteers are desperate to see if he’s OK.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Interesting photos, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged appeal, Brownhills, cat, Chasewater, Lichfield, Lost, New Photos, Railway, Station, Things to do, Troy
3 Comments
Ticket to ride
A lovely enquiry for the Bank Holiday weekend came in a couple of days ago courtesy of reader Lawrence Hodgkinson, who has submitted a beautiful scan of a rather unusual ticket stub from a railway special excursion in 1952.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared memories
Tagged 1952, 2015, August, BootomClub, Brownhillls, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clayhanger, club, Colony Bay, excursion, House, Laurence Hodgkinson, Laurence Hodkinson, Lichfield, Local History, Mens, Middle, Middleton, New Photos, Rail, Railway, Sanseis, Shire Oak, Special, Staffordshire, Stub, Things to do, ticker, ticket, Top, Walsall Wood, WMC, working, Working mens club
6 Comments
Stacked
A few weeks ago, I shared here a mining plan of how workings in the Robbins coal seam under Walsall Wood, Clayhanger and Brownhills affected the railway line above it, showing the coal mine excavations in great detail under the village.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, colliery, Coppice Road, Document, Draft, history, Local History, London North Western Railway, mining, Old maps, pit, plan, progress, Railway, Robins, Seam, six foot, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood, workings
5 Comments
Quality is important – What lies beneath once more
Hi folks – it’s not often I do this here on the blog, but I feel that quality is important, particularly in the recording of historically important documents I present, and an article I wasn’t happy with at all was published here a few weeks ago with a very heavy heart.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, colliery, Coppice Road, Document, Draft, history, Local History, London North Western Railway, mining, Old maps, pit, plan, progress, Railway, Robins, Seam, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood, workings
10 Comments
What lies beneath
Way back at the beginning of August, I shared a partial scan of a document I’d acquired – a mining plan of how workings in the Robbins coal seam under Walsall Wood, Clayhanger and Brownhills affected the railway line above.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, colliery, Coppice Road, Document, Draft, history, Local History, London North Western Railway, mining, Old maps, pit, plan, progress, Railway, Robins, Seam, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood, workings
12 Comments
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
Seam stress
Now, since it’s been a few days of catching up with little bits and pieces, here’s something massive for readers to get their teeth into – this is a historical artefact which I’ve been lucky enough to find, and I’m very excited about it.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, colliery, Coppice Road, Document, Draft, history, Local History, London North Western Railway, mining, Old maps, pit, plan, progress, Railway, Robins, Seam, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood, workings
14 Comments
When Mom wasn’t pleased to see me
Here’s another great instalment from the series I started a couple of months ago, chronicling the memories of Walsall Wood lady Audrey Proffitt, carefully and faithfully transcribed by reader and Walsall Wood correspondent David Evans.
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 Audrey, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Road, childhood, David Evans, Dickie, doll, Lakin, Lichfield Road, Local History, milk, milkman, minnow, New Photos, Proffitt, rag, Railway, Salters Road, Sheila, Shire Oak, Shire Oak Hill, Spring, Staffordshire, Station, Street's Corner, tea bottle, Vigo, Walsall Wood
5 Comments
The disappearing fish
Here’s another great instalment from the series I started a couple of months ago, chronicling the memories of Walsall Wood lady Audrey Proffitt, carefully and faithfully transcribed by reader and Walsall Wood correspondent David Evans. Continue reading
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 Audrey, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Road, childhood, David Evans, Dickie, doll, Lakin, Lichfield Road, Local History, milk, milkman, minnow, New Photos, Proffitt, rag, Railway, Salters Road, Sheila, Shire Oak, Shire Oak Hill, Spring, Staffordshire, Station, Street's Corner, tea bottle, Vigo, Walsall Wood
8 Comments
Anyone for tennis?
Further to the great material sent in by Marion Jones, relating to the lost pumping station on The Spot at Clayhanger, she also sent me some interesting photos of the gardens of the Jones House in Clayhanger in the 1920s.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff, Wildlife
Tagged big house, Branch line, bridge, Clayhanger Common, Culverts, Derelict, Drain, Drainage, flooding, Ford Brook, Local History, Marion Jones, Marsh, New Photos, new pond, Pump, pump house, Railway, River Tame, Round Table, Samuel Wheale, Spot Lane, Staffordshire, stepping stones, stormwater, Subsidence, tennis court, The Spot, The Spot pumping station, Walsall Wood Colliery
5 Comments
Challenging landscapes
Today, I’ve mostly been trawling the paper mapping record for Clayhanger, in order to throw a little more light on the issues it faced in the post war years – debate about subsidence and flooding and the subsequent land restoration that occurred has been ongoing, and this is a really interesting bit of local history for me.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Council, Wildlife
Tagged Clayhanger, Clayhanger Common, Culverts, Derelict, Drain, Drainage, flooding, Ford Brook, Local History, Marsh, New Photos, Ordnance Survey, pit, Pump, pump house, Railway, Shire Oak, spoil, Spot Lane, Staffordshire, stormwater, Subsidence, The Spot, The Spot pumping station, Walsall Wood Colliery
6 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
Never trust the ground beneath your feet
Over the last week, an incident of major proportions has occurred in the UK, at Hatfield, near Doncaster. It has gone largely under reported in the media, which is a scandal. This is a significant and worrying event, and is of interest to anyone interested in mining, industrial waste, spoil heaps, physical geography and geology.
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Posted in Bad Science, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, News, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Aberfan, Accident, Blog, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, colliery, Dave Petley, Doncaster, Events, Geology, Geophysics, Hatfield, health and safety, Landslide, Landslip, Local History, mine, mining, mining inspectorate, New Photos, physical geography, pit, Railway, slag heap, Spoil heap, Stainforth, Things to do, Walsall Wood
2 Comments
Ghost train
This one has pulled me up short, and I haven’t got a clue what to do with it. But it’s fascinating for a number of reasons; for one, it clearly describes the railway at Brownhills in the late Victorian era. For a second, it details the water main alongside the track. For a third, it’s utterly mad and delightful at the same time.
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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, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1904, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Christmas, Derelict, Emm Kay, Fiction, Ghost, ghost story, Holiday, Lichfield, Lichfield Mercury, Local History, New Photos, Ogley Cutting, planning, Pubs, Railway, South Staffordshire railway, Staffordshire, Walsall Wood
4 Comments
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
11 Comments
Face to face
Following on from my post last week where I featured local historian Gerald Reece’s research and loving reproductions of the mapping for the the proposed Norton Branch of the South Staffordshire Railway, I have an interesting document to share with … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 1884, Bettys Lane, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Cannock Chase Mining Historical Society, Conduit Colliery, Conduit colliery basin, Document, Draft, Gerald Reece, history, local blogs, Local History, London North Western Railway, mining, New Photos, Norton Branch, Norton Canes, Old maps, plan, Pubs, Railway, Red Lion, Redevelopment, South Staffordshire Raiway, Staffordshire
10 Comments
Miles of steel over wood
Here’s a fantastic bit of research history from local historian and author Gerald Reece. Following our recent communications about the question of pumps and mining in general in the area of Brownhills Common and Engine Lane, Gerald sent me the … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media
Tagged A Walk Into History, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Cathedral, Company, David Evans, Derelict, Draft, Engine Lane, Greald Reece, Lessees, local blogs, Local History, Norton Branch, Occupiers, Old maps, Owners, Plans, Railway, Redevelopment, South Staffordshire railway, Staffordshire, The Slough
15 Comments
Ramblin’ man
Here’s a quick one from reader David Evans, that wasn’t so quick to assemble. It’s kind of in the ‘I don’t know what to do with it’ pile, but it’s a wonderful bit of local transport history, and part of … Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Events, Features, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged 1935, David Evans, Kinder Scout, LMS, Local History, Mass tresspass, Railway, Railway leaflets, Staffordshire, Walking Tours
1 Comment
Chasewater: closer now than yesterday
It’s nice to see that now there’s some decent management of the Chasewater dam works that the project seems to be heading towards completion. I recorded a few weeks ago that the works had clearly been reassessed, and now it … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, cycling, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community
Tagged Brownhills, Canal, causeway, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Chasewater Wildlife Group, Cheap tat, coffer dam, culvert, Cycle rides, Filter, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, Panoramio, piling, planning, Politics, Railway, Reservoir, Silly, Staffordshire, Staffordshire County Council, Vandalism, Wildlife
4 Comments
Chasewater – progress at last
Last Friday evening, I swung out to Chasewater to check out how the dam works were progressing. Things seem to be underway again after a pause for reassessment, and many elements of Lichfield District Council’s plans seem to have been … Continue reading
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, cycling, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, planning, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Wildlife
Tagged Brownhills, Canal, causeway, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Chasewater Wildlife Group, Cheap tat, coffer dam, culvert, Cycle rides, Filter, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, Neil Turner, New Photos, Panoramio, piling, planning, Politics, Railway, Reservoir, Silly, Staffordshire, Staffordshire County Council, Vandalism, Wildlife
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