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Tag Archives: Redevelopment
Urgent – looking for the Yeomans family or other Brownhills Market traders
Here’s one I’m hoping I can reach out to the local community and reunite lost friends – Conner Nelson writes to me from Ibstock in Leicestershire to tell me that sadly, his grandmother is very ill, but he and his dad would like to contact friends and family from the days when they had a market stall in Brownhills.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Anthony, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cathedral, Connor, Facebook, Ibstock, ill, Lichfield, Local History, Market, Nelson, Panoramio, Redevelopment, Robert, Spook Erection, stall, Things to do, urgent, Walsall Wood, Yeomans
9 Comments
Friends of Sandfields – can you help?
The campaign to save Sandfields Pumping Station in Lichfield for the community continues apace – local historian and activist Dave Moore has been putting heart and soul into this for ages now, and he’d like as many people as possible to get involved.
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Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged beam, campaign, Darwin Hall Community Asociation, Dave Moore, Derelict, Engine, English Heritage, Lichfield, Lichfield District Council, listed, listing, local blogs, Local History, Morturn, planning, Preservation, Public Meeting, Pump, pumping station, Redevelopment, Sandfields, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire, stationary, Things to do, Vandalism, Waterworks
2 Comments
Summer’s first breath
We’ve had a really fine few days, and I really feel now that summer is on her throne – the leaves are all fully out now, the whites and yellows of spring are turning to the reds and purples of summer, and nature and the landscape is resplendent in the multi-colured jacket the sun provides.
Posted in Churches, cycling, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, Shared media
Tagged A picture tour of old Pelsall Rushall and Shelfield, Aldridge Brick & Tile, Alrewas, Armitage, bike, bridge, Canal, Cycle rides, cycling, Dunstall, FJ Long, Fradley, great crested, Grebe, hall, Lichfield, Longdon, Narrowboat, New Photos, Panoramio, Red Lion, Redevelopment, refurbishment, Reopening, ride, river section, Staffordshire, Things to do, wildflowers, Wildlife, wind turbinebugle
9 Comments
Walsall’s world of work – a chance to share your memories
Again, sorry for the short notice (But I am catching up – I can actually see my keyboard now, which is progress) but this is a very, very important event happening tomorrow afternoon (Tuesday, 13th May 2014) for anyone interested in the working and social industrial history of our area.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 13th May, 2014, Black Country Echoes, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Crabtree Electrical Industries Ltd, Events, factories, Festival, history, industry, John Shannon & Sons Ltd, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Owen & Co. Ltd, Redevelopment, Rubery, Staffordshire, Tarantella, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Leather Museum, Walsall politics, work
4 Comments
Calling all bookworms… new independent bookshop in Walsall
There’s something wonderful happening in Walsall at the moment – we’re a long way from a retail revival, but we definitely seem to be seeing an increase in independent shops opening up in town at the moment.
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Posted in Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Amy Carter, Books, Bookshop, Events, Facebook, Independent, Lichfield, Local History, Lower Hall Lane, New Photos, Redevelopment, Retail, Scott Southey, Southcart, Things to do, venture, Walsall
5 Comments
Redevelopment of Silver Court Gardens – have your say
There’s been loads of buzz since my article last weekend about the new development Walsall Housing Group are considering putting forward for the derelict wasteland that was once Silver Court Gardens in Brownhills – now you can attend the consultation and make your voice heard.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Brownhills, Canal, Clayhanger, Consultation, Court, Derelict, Development, Events, Facebook, gardens, Humphries House, Lichfield, Lindon Drive, Local politics, phased, planning, Politics, Redevelopment, Regeneration, Silver, street, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Housing Group, Walsall politics, WHG
3 Comments
Getting the Bird
Two Brownhills community activists lock horns in the Walsall Advertiser letters page over the subject of Ravens Court – the exchange is interesting, and deserves to be read widely.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 215 Notice, Blofeld, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Market, Canal, Cheap tat, Clayhanger, Compulsory purchase, Derelict, Events, Facebook, John Bird, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, Mike Bird, New Photos, New Tesco, planning, Politics, Ravens Court, Redevelopment, Retail, sympathy, Tesco, Tesco Development, teve Wade, Vandalism, Vivienne Aston, Walsall, Walsall Advertiser, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
16 Comments
Silver Court Gardens – a positive development
Hey folks, this is important – I was sent a link to this press release by friend of the blog Sarah Treadwell on Friday, and this it is potentially great news – I’ve known for a while that Walsall Housing Group have been looking to redevelop the land left vacant a decade ago with the demolition of Silver Court Gardens in central Brownhills.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged Brownhills, Canal, Clayhanger, Consultation, Court, Derelict, Development, Events, Facebook, gardens, Humphries House, Lichfield, Lindon Drive, Local politics, phased, planning, Politics, Redevelopment, Regeneration, Silver, street, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall Housing Group, Walsall politics, WHG
5 Comments
Park up, take a pew…
Over the last few weeks, a newspaper clipping found in the Walsall Observer archive by [Howmuch?] has caused a whole heap of interest, reporting the laying of a foundation stone for the ‘new schools at Watling Street’, readers have debated where it might actually relate to.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged A5, Barry Aylett-Warner, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Castle Street, ceremony, Chapel, Church, David Evans, Events, Foundation Stone, Howmuch, Keith Rothery, laying, Lichfield, Local History, Methodist, New Photos, Park View, Prince of Wales, Redevelopment, School, Staffordshire, Things to do, Walsall Observer, Watling Street
15 Comments
Pity the poor landlord
Five years ago, when I started this blog, one of the largest looming topics was that of the then proposed new Tesco Store in Brownhills – we’d been through a consultation, and the proposal was to build a large hypermarket fronting the High Street.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 215 Notice, Blofeld, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Brownhills Market, Canal, Cheap tat, Clayhanger, Derelict, Events, Facebook, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, Mike Bird, New Photos, New Tesco, planning, Politics, Ravens Court, Redevelopment, Retail, sympathy, Tesco, Tesco Development, teve Wade, Vandalism, Walsall, Walsall Advertiser, Walsall Council, Walsall politics
19 Comments
A treat for the choir and an ignominious extraction
Continuing with the surprisingly rich seam that is the thread originating from the 1931 Watling Street School Walsall Observer article, I’ve had a couple of excellent reader contributions which I just have to share.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media
Tagged 1886, A5, accounts sheet, Andy Dennis, Barry Aylett-Warner, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Church, Deakin, Eryl Powell, Foundation Stone, Jonah, lalance Sheet, Lesley Powell, Lichfield, Local History, Methodism, Methodist, Mission, New Photos, Park View, Redevelopment, School, ST. Thomas, Staffordshire, The Parade, Things to do, Walsall Observer, Watling Street
9 Comments
Cheques and balances
It’s often the case that when discussing one topic here on the Brownhills Blog, it leads to an interesting discussion going off at a tangent, and so it has with the subject of the Watling Street School Walsall Observer article from 1931.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media
Tagged 1886, A5, accounts sheet, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Church, Eryl Powell, Foundation Stone, lalance Sheet, Lesley Powell, Lichfield, Local History, Mission, New Photos, Redevelopment, School, ST. Thomas, Staffordshire, The Parade, Things to do, Walsall Observer, Watling Street
4 Comments
Tell me on a Sunday
Last Saturday, I featured the above newspaper clipping, taken from the Walsall Observer reporting the laying of a foundation stone for the ‘new schools at Watling Street’ – the image, which was found by local history wonk [Howmuch?], had scant accompanying information, but since posted, he has told me that he’s fairly sure the clip dates from 1931.
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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
Tagged A5, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, ceremony, Events, Foundation Stone, Howmuch, laying, Lichfield, Local History, New Photos, Redevelopment, School, Staffordshire, Things to do, Walsall Observer, Watling Street
22 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
Set in stone… but by who, and when?
Here’s a quick puzzle for the researchers out there, and think it’ll also be interesting to Mike Stackhouse, who I know has a particular interest in Watling Street School – a fumble in the newspaper archive has left me coming up empty – so I’m wondering if anyone knows anything about the clipping below?
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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
Tagged A5, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, ceremony, Events, Foundation Stone, Howmuch, laying, Lichfield, Local History, New Photos, Redevelopment, School, Staffordshire, Things to do, Walsall Observer, Watling Street
10 Comments
When the dam burst
Chasewater has been, as any long-term reader here knows, a continual and recurring obsession of mine – I love the place; I grew up with it, visiting regularly I came to love its air of faded, end-of-the-pier decay and beautiful, often unexpected wildlife.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Chasewater, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio updates, Shared media, Shared memories, Wildlife
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Chasewater Wildlife Group, cycling, Events, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, Panoramio, Redevelopment, Reservoir, Staffordshire
10 Comments
The final lot
The demolition is by now nearly complete – after 155 years extant, and about 40 of those derelict, the former St John’s School in Walsall Wood has now largely reduced to pallets of bricks and oddments of scrap.
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Posted in Churches, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio updates, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged application, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cawarden Brick, Cawarden Brick and Tile, demolish, Demolition, Derelict, history, houses, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, Panoramio, planning, reclamation, Redevelopment, Rugeley, Shire Oak, St. Johns School, Stuart, Things to do, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
2 Comments
Breaking down the walls…
The tenacity and charm of the young David Evans continues to be rewarded, and he has again created great pictorial documentation of the demolition process being undertaken on the former St. John’s School in Walsall Wood.
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Posted in Churches, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio updates, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged application, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cawarden Brick, demolish, Demolition, Derelict, history, houses, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, Panoramio, planning, reclamation, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, St. Johns School, Stuart, Things to do, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
2 Comments
Demolition, man
Thanks to the keen eye and subsequent alert by reader, fellow local blogger and freind of the blog @thestymaster, plus the outrageous cheek, charm and loquaciousness of the young David Evans, I can present internal and external shots of the former St. John’s School in Walsall Wood, currently undergoing demolition.
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Posted in Churches, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio updates, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged application, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Cawarden Brick, demolish, Demolition, Derelict, history, houses, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, Panoramio, planning, reclamation, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, St. Johns School, Things to do, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
16 Comments
Brick by brick
Today, thanks to the eagle eye of reader, fellow local blogger and freind of the blog @thestymaster, plus the dedication and guile of a couple of regular blog readers and contributors, we have managed to catch the last days of a local, doomed landmark: St. John’s School, in Walsall Wood.
Posted in Churches, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio updates, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged application, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, demolish, Demolition, Derelict, history, houses, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, Panoramio, planning, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, St. Johns School, Things to do, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
14 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
A memorial to the beam engines…
Here’s something I came upon by chance I think that not just the Lichfield and South Staffordshire Water contingents will like, but all those interested in steam engines, heavy plant and Victorian engineering.
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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, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media
Tagged 1971, beam, campaign, Dave Moore, Derelict, Engine, Industrial Archeology, John J Bradbury, Journal of the History of Industry and Technology, Lichfield, Lichfield District Council, listed, listing, local blogs, Local History, Morturn, planning, Preservation, Pump, pumping station, Redevelopment, Sandfields, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire, stationary, Things to do, Waterworks
7 Comments
Beyond the flames
Here’s a quick one – a lovely photo sent in by Marion Jones from her father’s collection – a photo of a grassfire on the land that would become Clayhanger Common, but it’s not the grassfire itself (and this is a fine picture of that), it’s what’s going on in the background.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged Bayley House, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Clayhanger, Clayhanger Common, Events, Grass fire, Local History, Marion Jones, New Photos, photo, planning, Redevelopment, Staffordshire, Stimoson, The Spot, under construction, Vandalism, Waine House
5 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
And now… the intermission
Still labouring over a warm hard drive here, so while I prepare some stuff for tomorrow, why not have a look around a YouTube channel that’s getting quite a bit of local attention?
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Posted in News
Tagged 1981, Birmingham, Bullring, cinefilm, Events, Facebook, Hagley Road, Lichfield, Local History, Paul Donovan, Redevelopment, Silly
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Light and graceful
From time to time here, we mention the history of Aldershawe, the estate and large house overlooking Lichfield from high on the hill near Wall – this remarkable and secluded property is, of course, closely intertwined with the Harrison family who owned it for a time.
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Posted in cycling, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 1999, Aldershaw, Aldershawe, big house, Craft Village, Cycle rides, cycling, Edward Brown, estate, Harrison, Lichfield, livery, Local History, Mansions and Country Seats of Staffordshire and Warwickshire, Mercury, New Photos, Panoramio, Pedro Cutler, Pedrocut, Peter Cutler, Redevelopment, software, stables, Staffordshire, Wall
3 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
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
Court out
Here’s a little bit of a curiosity we’ve dabbled with here on the blog for the last few weeks – Silver Court in Brownhills, and the possibility it was once extended. 
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council
Tagged 1960's, 1:2500, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Google Earth, Lichfield, Local History, New Photos, New Road, new Street, Old maps, overlay, planning, Redevelopment, Severn House, Silver Court, Staffordshire, Things to do
12 Comments
The lost and fallen, lost then found again
This post is in answer to the query of 19th Noveber 2013, when Kathy Hodson of Wolverhampton, contacted me on twitter looking for the war memorial from 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, Rehoboth, Severn Road, Staffordshire, Things to do, Twitter, war memorial
12 Comments
Free Christmas Carol Concert at Walsall Arboretum today!
Top Walsall Council bod Kate Goodall contacted me to ask if I could plug the Christmas Carol Concert at Walsall Arboretum -it is to be held in the beautifully refurbished bandstand tomorrow, Saturday 21st December 2013, from 1:00pm to 2:00pm.
Posted in Churches, 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 Council
Tagged 15th December, 2012, arboretum, Bandstand, carol, Christmas, concert, Events, New Photos, Redevelopment, Things to do, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council
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Silver caught?
A couple of weeks ago, I posted the following map here of central Brownhills from the late 1960s, in answer to an enquiry tied up with the thread about the Salvation Army Hall in Brownhills – it’s a great map, and at the time it caused quite a bit of interest.
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Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council
Tagged 1960's, 1:2500, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Google Earth, Humphries House, KMZ, Local History, New Photos, New Road, new Street, Old maps, overlay, planning, Redevelopment, Severn House, Silver Court, Staffordshire, Things to do
9 Comments
Dancing was allowed
Well, here it is – not merry Christmas (although that’s bearing down upon us) but the fourth and final instalment of the history of Ogley Hay, as researched and 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
15 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
Purity was the gift
A couple of weeks ago, I alerted readers to a preview clip of a film that local historian Dave Moore was making in support of his Save Sandfields Pumping Station Campaign – well, yesterday Dave posted the complete film on the campaign blog.
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Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged beam, campaign, Dave Moore, Derelict, Engine, English Heritage, Lichfield, Lichfield District Council, listed, listing, local blogs, Local History, Morturn, planning, Preservation, Pump, pumping station, Redevelopment, Sandfields, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire, stationary, Things to do, Vandalism, Waterworks
6 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
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
Sweet James
That there Clive Roberts – documenter of the history of the Shire Oak Inn and collector of local postcards – has been at it again He’s picked up another postcard of Brownhills at a fair, and mailed me scans of the front and back to post here on the blog.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Churches, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged AW Bourne, Bill, Bramford, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, camp, Cannock Chase, Church, Derek Porter, Leicester, Local History, New Photos, Ogley Hay, parish, Postcard, Redevelopment, Road, School, St James, Staffordshire, Things to do
10 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
Hey, Sally Anne…
Another research project for those so inclined came in this week, again via Twitter – Rob Kinnon-Brettle contacted me on Wednesday evening looking for information about the Salvation Army in Brownhills.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, Environment, Events, 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 Wood stuff
Tagged Army, barracks, Booth, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clayhanger, Derelict, Events, hall, High Street, Lichfield, Lichfield Mercury, Local History, Memories of Brownhills Past, New Photos, planning, Redevelopment, religion, Rob Kinnon Brettle, Sally Ann, Sally Anne, Salvation, Staffordshire, Things to do, Twitter, Walsall Wood, Warreners
12 Comments
Fading images
A Birmingham timelapse from 7inch cinema a bit of a treat for a Saturday afternoon – this incredible video was shared on Twitter this morning by wonderful Brummy twitter account @Brumpics.
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Posted in News
Tagged 7 Inch Cinema, Andy Savage, Birmingham Seen, Birminham, Brumpics, Chamberlain Square, Derby, Derek Fairbrother, Derelict, Film, Library, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Redevelopment, Twitter, Vandalism, Vimeo, Ziggurat
2 Comments
A film on the water
Dave Moore, late of this parish and tireless campaigner for all things local and historical is doing something really interesting for his Save Sandfields Pumping Statio Camapaign, and taking a really unique approach. Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged beam, campaign, Dave Moore, Derelict, Engine, English Heritage, Lichfield, Lichfield District Council, listed, listing, local blogs, Local History, Morturn, planning, Preservation, Pump, pumping station, Redevelopment, Sandfields, South Staffordshire, Staffordshire, stationary, Things to do, Vandalism, Waterworks
8 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
School’s out
I think this might be controversial – from recent activity at the site, it seems like the former St. John’s School, in Lichfield Road Walsall Wood, may be about to be demolished, and it’s site possibly redeveloped, together with the derelict bungalow next door.
Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 12 housed, 4th November 2012, application, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, demolish, Demolition, Derelict, history, houses, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, Panoramio, planning, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, St. Johns School, Things to do, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
13 Comments
Revised plans submitted for Oak Park replacement
I noticed last week that revised plans had been submitted for the replacement of the decaying Oak Park Leisure Centre at Walsall Wood – I thought I’d feature them here as a fair few folk are interested in the issue, and it remains somewhat contentious.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Coppice Road, houses, housing, Leisure Centre, Leisure Services, Local politics, new, New Photos, Oak Park, planning, Plans, Rebuild, rebuilt, Redevelopment, revised, Shire Oak, submitted, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood
4 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
Clocking on
I must admit, the somewhat vexed question of the Council House Clock had slipped my mind – that is, until reader, local history wonk and friend of the blog Andy Dennis wrote to me yesterday.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Local politics, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Andy Dennis, Brian Stringer, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clock, Council House, David Jones, Events, Local History, Matrix, Parkview, Redevelopment, Repair, Staffordshire, three faced liar, town hall
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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
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