Tag Archives: south staffordshire water

I walk the line

Posted on June 25, 2014 by

This Sunday morning (15th June 2014 at 11:00am), there’s going to be a rather excellent event put on by Lichfield Discovered, a side project of Kate Cardigan from the wonderful Lichfield Lore – a walk along the line of the great, legendary and hotly debated Hanch Tunnel.

tunnelplan4 Continue reading →

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 , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

Anyone fancy some detective work?

Posted on June 22, 2014 by

South Staffordshire Water historian Chris Pattison continues to send me fascinating bits and bobs of local water-related history he finds in the company archives, and every one of them has been an absolute gem.1865 Application for Water Supply1 Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 25 Comments

Water supply issues in Brownhills, Aldridge & Pelsall

Posted on June 9, 2014 by

Seeing lots of reports of folk with no water or severely reduced pressure in our area, as far away as Aldridge, Brownhills and Pelsall – here’s the latest updates.
tumblr_lke1tw19oD1qib2vgo1_1280 Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Can you help The Clayhanger Kid?

Posted on January 29, 2014 by

I received a message today from friend of the blog and top local campaigner Brian Stringer, author of the best-selling (and now sold out) book The Clayhanger Kid – Brian is in a bit of a pickle – he’s still got people asking for copies of his first book, but sadly, he has none left.
IMG_0001 Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Putting a lid on it

Posted on March 29, 2013 by

The story of the abandoned Shire Oak Reservoir is a recurrent theme from the very earliest days of the Brownhills Blog.
Continue reading →

Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Uncategorized, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 10 Comments

Supporting services

Posted on March 10, 2013 by

It’s been a while since I did a mapping post here on the blog, and yesterday, whilst visiting the open day at Christchurch, in Leomonsley, I saw a huge copy of the 1884 OS map of Lichfield that inspired me. If you ever get chance to see it, do so. A beautiful, A0-size hand-tinted copy, clearly for ecclesiastical use. A thing of rare and immense beauty.
Continue reading →

Posted in Churches, cycling, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 17 Comments

Watchers of the night?

Posted on December 20, 2011 by

Interesting question here from reader David Evans. I have my own views on this which I’ll go into later in the week, but it’s a very intriguing proposition, and thought I’d formally toss it out to you readers. Anyone know … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Light flight

Posted on May 8, 2011 by

As regulars will know, I have lately posted articles featuring the stunning work of Aldridge amateur photographer Barry Carpenter, whose work frequently leaves me speechless. Barry is a very talented, creative chap, and one of the tools in his photographic … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Features, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local media, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Sadler Road closure this Saturday!

Posted on April 15, 2011 by

Just a quick headsup to point out that Sadler Road in Brownhills will be closed at the junction of Lichfield Road from tonight (Friday 15th April 2011) until Sunday (17th April 2011) for sewer works. The works are being undertaken … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Local media, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Old Brownhills pubs question: Can you help?

Posted on February 13, 2011 by

I have been contacted today by a reader who’s been studying local directories for details of people and businesses of old Brownhills. They have come upon two public houses recorded which neither of us have ever heard mentioned anywhere else. … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Followups, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared memories, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

The Clayhanger Kid

Posted on January 14, 2011 by

I spotted today in The Walsall Advertiser that local history buff and top bloke Brian Stringer has got a self-published book out at the moment, detailing his childhood growing up in Clayhanger. Brian mentioned the book was upcoming in some … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 37 Comments

The importance of local knowledge

Posted on December 28, 2010 by

I notice the good folks at the Express & Star still seem to be having trouble with accuracy on their local patch. This puff piece, pointlessly punted for Walsall Council’s Arboretum revamp project would be fine if the hapless hack … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Express & Star, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local media, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Shared media, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Shire Oak Reservoir: detailed plans submitted

Posted on April 2, 2010 by

Many of the links in this post are .PDF files. If you haven’t already got it, go and get Adobe Reader before clicking on any of the links. I discovered today that detailed plans had finally been submitted for the … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Local media, planning, Reader enquiries, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Something is happening

Posted on December 23, 2009 by

I see that the site of the now demolished Shire Oak Reservoir has finally been sold to Morris Homes. Since outline planning permission for a housing development on the site was granted way back in 2006, the only thing standing … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, Just plain daft, Local media, planning, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Down from above…

Posted on September 1, 2009 by

Tonight’s Express & Star had another feature about Shire Oak Reservoir, this time featuring a rather nice aerial shot of the completed demolition. The article is available online, but doesn’t feature the full photo, which kind of destroys the point … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, Local History, Local politics, planning, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments

A very thorough investigation…

Posted on July 23, 2009 by

I noted this evening with some amusement that the good ol’ Express & Star lags behind the Brownhills Blog yet again. On Saturday, you’ll remember, I pointed out that demolition of the old Shire Oak reservoir had pretty much started. … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, planning, Walsall Council | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Look out, here comes rubble…

Posted on July 18, 2009 by

Interesting times up on Shire Oak at the moment. For the next six weeks, the Lichfield Road is going to be one-way between Shire Oak crossroads and Street’s Corner, downhill only, with a diversion round Lindon Road and temporary lights … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Express & Star, Followups, Walsall Wood stuff | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Express & Star: getting that sense of deja-vu

Posted on June 28, 2009 by

Out on a ride this afternoon, whilst indulging in tea and cake shaped nutrition near Uttoxeter, I pulled out the phone to absent-mindedly check twitter. To my surprise, I had been direct messaged; the poster wanted to know if I’d … Continue reading →

Posted in Express & Star, Followups, Just plain daft | Tagged , , , , , | 5 Comments

A ride into the Staffordshire Moorlands… and trips closer to home.

Posted on June 27, 2009 by

Saturday, 13th June 2009 was a blistering, glorious summer day. I’d decided a couple of days before that I was going to get another long ride in – the weather looked like it was going to be terrific, and not … Continue reading →

Posted in Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

About that Express & Star article…

Posted on June 14, 2009 by

I’d just like to comment on the matter – so many people read the post I made on Friday that I was quite, quite shocked. I was unaware that my little niggle could engender so much comment and interested reaction. … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Followups, Just plain daft | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

BrownhillsBob does the Express & Star’s homework – whilst they relocate Shire Oak to Brownhills Market…

Posted on June 12, 2009 by

Cheers, guys… When you contacted me and expressed interest in my blog post about Shire Oak reservoir, I was naturally flattered – everyone who creates a blog about anything on the net dreams of getting something into the conventional printed … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Followups | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

Shire Oak’s buried secret…

Posted on May 20, 2009 by

More precisely, everything I can find out about Shire Oak Reservoir. When I was a teenager, I used to pass the unassuming green embankment by the lights at Shire Oak without much thought. Everybody knew that there was a reservoir … Continue reading →

Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Panoramio updates | Tagged , , , , , , | 25 Comments