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Tag Archives: Shenstone
What’s the storey?
Here’s a quick one that’s piqued my intent and left me pondering, so I thought I’d share it – friend of New Hall Mill Alan Dawson has asked a really excellent question about my frequent 365daysofbiking muse, Shenstone Railway Station.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1945 aerial photos, 1962, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, first scout group, Local History, New Photos, Parade, Shenstone, Shenstone Scouts, Shenstone Station, Staffordshire, stairs, Steve Hickman, storey, Sunday, upper, Walsall Wood
3 Comments
Can you help find this lost wedding ring?
A sad enquiry reaches me from reader Susan Forster, who’s husband has had a bit of bad luck over the New Year break.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2015, 2016, 31 December, appeal, Brownhills, Car Park, Facebook, husband, Lammas Land, Lichfield, Lost, New Year's Eve, Shenstone, store, Susan Forster, Tesco, Things to do, Twitter, Wedding Ring
24 Comments
It’s not Christmas without the cards
I’ve had this one in preparation for a while, and to paraphrase, it’s an absolute boster of a post – regular readers will remember with fondness Ruth Penrhyn-Lowe, who has previously sent scans of some remarkable postcards of Brownhills, a stunning large set of Aldridge, and another bunch from Aldridge and Stubbers Green – all of which were collected by her late father.
Posted in Cannock Chase, Churches, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1970's, 1980's, arboretum, best wishes, cards, Cathedral, Christmas, CLive L Roberts., Clock, Court, Grammar School, Hammerwich, Hednesford, High Street, Lichfield, Lichfield Street, local blogs, Local History, Marble Terrace, Minster Ppol, Postcard, Ruth Penrhyn Lowe, seasonal, Shenstone, Snow, Staffordshire, The Castles, The Railway, Tixall, Walsall, Walsall Wood, white
16 Comments
Swept everything before it
Last weekend, I revisited for the first time in ages the subject that was once so prominent here – Chasewater dam – but not in reference to the recent renovations, but to the creation of the reservoir and the failure of the earthwork dam in 1799.
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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 1799, Blackbrook, bridge, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Burst, Canal, Chasewater, Chasewater Dam, Dam, Drayton, Events, Hopwas, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Panoramio, Pedro, Peter Cutler, Reservoir, Shenstone, Staffordshire, Stafforshire Advertiser, Stone
7 Comments
Thanks for an ingratitude
From time to time, I like to feature articles out of old gazetteers here on the blog – they are a great love of mine, and they help shine a new light on old, familiar places, as well as giving a neat insight into the times they were written in.
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Posted in Churches, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged 1930's, Arthur Mee, Burntwood, Garrick, Gazetteer, Johnson, Kings England, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Lore, Nelson, New Photos, Panoramio, Shenstone, Silly, Staffordshire, Things to do, Wednesbury
1 Comment
Leaving hibernation
We’re a third of the way through March, and daffodils are out, the sun is high in the sky and spring is in full effect – I left in the afternoon for a quiet, fast spin – I ended up on a 45-miler around Lichfield, Croxall, Edingale, Harlaston, Whittington, Weeford and Shenstone.
[caption id="attachment_17934" align="alignleft" width="300"] How Shenstone looks best: in silhouette[/caption] Continue reading
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 Canal, Croxall, Cycle rides, cycling, daffodils, Edingale, Events, New Photos, Panoramio, ride, Shenstone, Spring, Staffordshire, sun, Sunset, Things to do, WHittington
3 Comments
I think that nails it…
Periodically, I’ve expressed my intrigue at the history of Chesterfield Lodge, at the tiny hamlet between Wall and Shenstone – Chesterfield is a small place, but has some remarkable architecture demonstrated in its houses and farms.
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Posted in Churches, cycling, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media
Tagged Chesterfield, Chesterfield Lodge, Cycle rides, cycling, Lane, Lichfield, Lichfield Lore, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, Panoramio, parish, Raikes, Roy Aston, SAHS, Shenstone, Staffordshire, Staffordshire Archaeological and Historical Society, Stonnall, Things to do, Twitter, Wall, Workhouse
14 Comments
Mapping for change
Here I can share with you four excellent quality 1:10,560 scale maps – we don’t cover that scale issue much on the blog, as oddly, they’re quite scarce online in scanned or digitised form – they are generally poor quality even from professional map service companies, with contrast and other image aberrations.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, News
Tagged 1921, 1923, 1:10560, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Castlehill, Chasewater, Clayhanger, David Evans, Gareth Thomas, Lichfield, Lichfield District Council, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, Lynn, Muckley Corner, Old maps, Ornance Survey 1903, planning, Redevelopment, Reservoir, Shenstone, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Things to do, Walsall Wood
15 Comments
A freshly fallen, silent shroud of snow
Today, I left for work as usual and after a bit of a battle, got to work, only to find it was closing up and everybody was going home. Undeterred, I cycled back into Birmingham and caught a train back to Blake Street, from where I went for a wonderful snowstorm ride around the backlanes of Footherley, Shenstone, Chesterfield and Hilton.
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Posted in cycling, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, Shared media
Tagged Chesterfield, Cycle rides, cycling, Events, Footherley, Hilton, january 2013, New Photos, Panoramio, pictures, ride, Shenstone, Shire Oak, Snow, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Things to do
5 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
Bridging the Gap
Here’s a quick question, asked of me today by the redoubtable Linda Mason. On the border between the modern counties of the West Midlands and Staffordshire, right on the edge of Little Aston/Hill Hook is a junction on the Old Birmingham Road, where Blake Street and Watford Gap Road intersect it. It’s called ‘Watford Gap’.
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Posted in Churches, cycling, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Cycle rides, cycling, Four Oaks, Hill Hook, Linda Mason, Little Aston, local blogs, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, Shenstone, Staffordshire, Sutton, Things to do, Tin Tabernacle, Twitter, Warwickshire, Watford Gap, West Midlands
7 Comments
Along for the ride
Just before Christmas, I got hold of a new bike cam. It’s a GoPro HD Hero black edition, which has some pretty nifty features, including less distortion from the lens and better performance in low light. I’ve been using it ever since I got it, but the weather and dull commutes haven’t been conducive to decent ride videos.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, cycling, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local media, News, Shared media, Social Media
Tagged Afro Celt Soundsystem, Bicke Cam, Black Brook, Black Edition, Bluebells, Brownhills, butterfly, Cannock, Castle Ring, Chase, Chester Road, Cycle rides, cycling, Ford, GoPro, Hayfield Hill, HD, Hero, Hill, Hinst, Ivy Cottage, Lower Stonnall, New Photos, ride, Shenstone, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Talvyn Singh, Terrace, Things to do, video, Whirl-y-reel, Will She Always be Waiting, Wood
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Fill your boots… it’s boom time
I ‘d just like to draw attention to a couple of blog posts here for the benefit readers. I know I’ve plugged both of these authors recently, but to be quite honest, their work is blowing me away. We really are living in excellent times for local history – so many people are coming forward with their stories, unhindered by publishers and commercial pressure.
Posted in Environment, Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged Curborough, Facebook, Gareth Thomas, Isolation Hospital, keeps blogging, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Lynn, New Photos, Old maps, Shenstone, Staffordshire, Staffordshirebred, Stonnall, Susan MArie Ward, Things to do, Twitter, Wartime
5 Comments
Remnants
Yesterday, I cycled over St. John’s hill in Shenstone, and up through the churchyard and down into the village. Shenstone is a remarkable church, but never one of my favourites, as I find it’s dark, Victorian gothic to be overdramatic … Continue reading
Posted in Churches, cycling, Environment, Features, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged Cycle rides, cycling, Derelict, Hill, Local History, New Photos, Norman, remains, Saxon, Shenstone, Shenstone Church, St Johns, Staffordshire, tower
2 Comments
Where’s your woggle?
Top contributed, reader and Stonnall history buff Steve Hickman has, once again been in touch. He’s unearthed a great photo of the Shenstone Scout Troop in their Sunday finery in 1962. Steve poses the following question: Hi Bob, I came across this … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1962, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, first scout group, Local History, New Photos, Parade, Shenstone, Shenstone Scouts, Shenstone Station, Staffordshire, Steve Hickman, Sunday, Walsall Wood
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Charting an unseen place…
1902, Second Edition Ordnance Survey map, of Stonnall, 1:10000 scale. Click the image to download the high-quality PDF. It’s with great thanks that I can share the above map with the readers of The Brownhills Blog – found in a … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1902 Second Series, Brownhills local history, Brownhills stuff, Castle Hill, Environment, Followups, Local History, Local media, Lynn, Old maps, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Shenstone, Staffordshire, Steve Hickman, Stonnall, Walsall Wood
6 Comments
Forever Autumn…
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, cycling, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local media, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, Shared media
Tagged Autumn, Autumnal pictures, Brownhills, Canal, Cycle rides, Fullelove shelter, Hilton, Hints, Hints Ford, Lane's Farm, Little Hay, New Photos, Panoramio, Roddige, Roddige Airstrip, Sandhills, Shenstone, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Summerhill
5 Comments