#365daysofbiking JournalRecent tracks
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Lynn Kellogg, James Rado & Gerome Ragni
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That Voice Again
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Living By Numbers
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Tag Archives: Stonnall
Looking for the Herriott family please – can you help?
Hi folks – I need a favour please, so if you can help it would be really appreciated. A blog reader is trying to get in touch with the Herriott family who lived in Simmonds Way, Shire Oak around 1998, … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Local Blogs, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Events, Facebook, Lichfield, local blogs, Shire Oak, Simmonds Way, Stonnall
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The way of the Sons of Waetla
As I’m still catching up, I thought today might be a good time to feature the writings of an old pal of the blog, Gerald Reece, and his musings on the A5 Watling Street, Newtown, Knaves Castle and the pubs … Continue reading
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
5 Comments
A sale that shaped Stonnall
A delayed one here today courtesy of old friend of the blog and Stonnall historian Desmond Burton, who’s sent me scans of the sale particulars for Wordsley House Farm in 1918, and it’s attached estate including Fighting Cocks Farm. The … Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged 1918, 1958, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Desmond Burton, Facebook, Farm, House, Ice Cream, local blogs, Local History, Main Street, sale, Shire Oak, Sonnall, Staffordshire, Stonnall, video, Walsall Wood, WH Cooke, Wordsley, Wordsley House
2 Comments
Off the wall
Following the revisiting of the Stonnall tunnel legend a few weeks ago, sparked by a great enquiry from our Canada correspondent Brian Edwards, I had some great reader submissions, and a bit of local history news archive gold from Kate Cardigan over at Lichfield Lore, one item of which I’ll hold back for another article.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, News
Tagged Brian Edwards, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Castlehill, Dick Turpin, folklore, history, legend, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Things to do, Tunnel
6 Comments
Tunnelling through the folklore
I’ve had a really interesting email in from the Brownhills Blog Canada Correspondent Brian Edwards who relates a very interesting tale concerning Stonnall, and the discovery of a tunnel there in the late 1960s.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Chasewater, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, News
Tagged Brian Edwards, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Castlehill, Dick Turpin, folklore, history, legend, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Things to do, Tunnel
16 Comments
Subaru car stolen from Aldridge – keep an eye out folks
Diane Mansell, of Aldridge Village Partnership has asked that readers could please be on the lookout for this somewhat distinctive Subaru car (registration K23DHN) which was stolen from Aldridge last night (21st January 2017).
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Local Blogs, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldridge, Brownhills, Car burglary, Car Crime, Car Theft, Clayhanger, crime, Diane Mansell, Events, Facebook, local blogs, Police, public safety, Stonnall, Village Parnership, Walsall Police, West Midlands Police
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Shire Oak Quarry expansion consultation event – this Friday
You may recall a couple of years ago that the operator of the former Shire Oak Quarry site, JPE, was mooting the proposal to extend the site they’re currently landfilling at Shire Oak, to extract virgin material pusihing back restoration of the site for some years.
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, Environment, It makes me mad!, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff, Wildlife
Tagged 2014, 2016, 30 September, Brownhills, Consultation, County Council, expansion, extraction, Hays, Hints, Hopwas, Lichfield, Local politics, mineral, Minerals Local Plan, planning, Politics, quarry, Redevelopment, Sandhills, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Things to do, Village Hall, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood, Wildlife
1 Comment
Telling the whole story of Richard Meanley Anson
Desmond Burton has again been in touch, still pursuing his extraordinary research on the subject of his Great uncle Richard Meanley Anson who died in a military hospital on The Somme 100 years ago, almost to the very day.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Features, Followups, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Aerial Torpedo, Arthur Burton, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, David Evans, Diary, Flying Pig, Garnet Burton, Garnet Close, Graeme Clarke, Julian Ward-Davies, Local History, Military Medal, Morse, New Photos, Somme, Stonnall, Walsall Wood, Wartime, Wordsley House
4 Comments
Attempted burglary in Shire Oak – be on your guard folks
There’s been an attempted house burglary at Shire Oak in the last ten days – Debbie Etches from the Shire Oak group on Facebook has posted the following message from West Midlands Police Partnerships Officer Kevin Pitt on Monday, 1st August 2016:
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Local Blogs, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged break in, Brownhills, Burglary, Car Crime, crime, Debbie Etches, Events, Facebook, intruder, Kevin Pitt, local blogs, Police, public safety, Shire Oak, Shire Ridge, Stonnall, Walsall Police, West Midlands Police
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And whose army?
Oh boy, is this a cracker – this wonderful enquiry came in yesterday from Derek Broadhurst, who’s found a very curious postcard which may shed light on the derivation of the name ‘Barracks Lane’, which is the road that funs from the A461 Lichfield Road at Sandhills, right over to the A5 Watling Street, east of Newtown.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged Army, barracks, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Crestacre, factory, Farm, Horse, Huts, Ice Cream, Isolation Hospital, Lane, Lichfield, Liz Wellington, local blogs, Local History, Maddever, Nursery, Old maps, Pelari, Redevelopment, Selwyn Smith, Shire Oak, Springhills, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Things to do, UDC
13 Comments
Car stolen from Clayhanger – keep an eye out folks
Please be on the lookout for this somewhat distinctive BMW 520d Estate car (registration C20COP) which was stolen from Wych Elm Road, Clayhanger last night (7-8th March 2016) following a house break-in.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Local Blogs, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2016, 7 March, break in, Brownhills, Burglary, c20cop, Car burglary, Car Crime, Car Theft, Clayhanger, crime, Events, Facebook, intruder, local blogs, Mark Cooper, Police, public safety, Stonnall, Walsall Police, West Midlands Police, Which Elm Road
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If only there was an online archive…
Nearly two years ago, in March 2014, I featured a rather remarkable image here supplied by Chris Leggett of the Express & Star, which he had released as an example of the remarkable stuff to be found hidden in the newspapers archive, which the paper is still in the process of bidding for funding to put online.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Express & Star, 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, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 1973, Aldridge, archive, Bid, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, caught, Chris Leggett, crash, Cycle rides, cycling, Events, Express & Star, Facebook, Helicopter, Kenneth Cornwell, Lichfield, lines, Local History, Malcom Wright, New Photos, overhead, parachute, Peter Nesbit, photo, Reservoir, Show, Silly, skydiver, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Stowe Pool, Stuntman, survey, tangle, Things to do, Twitter, winch
5 Comments
Richard Meanley Anson – the story of a hero unfolds
Earlier this year, Desmond Burton contacted me to require if I’d post his research on the subject of a chap called Richard Anson, a Rushall lad who sadly gave his life in battle on the Somme in September 1916 – I was happy to do so, for it’s a fine, exemplary and fascinating piece of research.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Features, Followups, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Aerial Torpedo, Arthur Burton, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, David Evans, Diary, Flying Pig, Garnet Burton, Garnet Close, Graeme Clarke, Julian Ward-Davies, Local History, Military Medal, Morse, New Photos, Somme, Stonnall, Walsall Wood, Wartime, Wordsley House
2 Comments
Richard Meanley Anson – a Victim Of World War One – can you help?
Long term readers will no doubt remember the fascinating and remarkable story of Arthur Burton, a local Great War hero, whose story was told by David Evans and Desmond Burton in the early days of this blog.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Features, Followups, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Aerial Torpedo, Arthur Burton, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, David Evans, Diary, Flying Pig, Garnet Burton, Garnet Close, Julian Ward-Davies, Local History, Military Medal, Morse, New Photos, Somme, Sorry, Stonnall, Walsall Wood, Wartime, Wordsley House, wrong reply. Directed at @wmcycling. Apologies. Doing something else.
4 Comments
Crushed nuts and juice, sonny?
Rightho – it’s Sunday, it’s summer (just about; the rain is getting warmer so it must be), so what could be more appropriate than an ice cream from the travelling ice cream man?
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web
Tagged 1958, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, David Evans, Desmond Burton, Facebook, Ice Cream, local blogs, Local History, Main Street, Shire Oak, Sonnall, Staffordshire, Stonnall, video, Walsall Wood, Wordsley House
4 Comments
Personal delivery
I’m always keen to promote the work of other local historians here on the Brownhills Blog; we can never have too many voices in this thing and Clive Roberts, Walsall Wood historian and author is one of the nicest and most diligent of them all – his work on Walsall Wood and Shire Oak has been thorough, but understated, and from his emails to me, Clive is always working on something new of interest.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Book, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, CLive L Roberts., Collins, Delivery, Events, Facebook, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, Parcels, Pubs, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Snippets of Local History in and around Shire Oak', Staffordshire, Stonnall, Things to do, United Carriers, Walsall Wood
23 Comments
Get a woggle on!
Reder Peter has been in touch with an important appeal – the Scout group at St. Tomas’s Church in Lazy Hill, between Aldridge and Walsall Wood, needs volunteer leaders.
Posted in Churches, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2015, Aldridge, Church, Events, Kingshayes Road, Lazy Hill, leaders, Peter, Scouts, Shire Oak, ST. Thomas, Stonnall, Things to do, volunters, Walsall Wood
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Missing from home: Charlie the cat
Here’s an urgent appeal for a lost cat that’s come in from reader Chris Wharton, who lives at the bottom of Sandhills on the Lichfield Road near Shore Oak – his beloved ginger and white puss Charlie went out this morning and hasn’t come home.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Interesting photos, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2015, appeal, barracks, Brownhills, cat, Charlie, Ginger, Lane, Lichfield, Lichfield Road, Lost, New Photos, Road, Sanhills, Shire Oak, Stonnall, Things to do, white
9 Comments
A son of The Wood
I’ve finally bought my own copy of Clive Roberts’ book ‘ Snippets of History In and around Walsall Wood’ which I review here today – I must say the 79 page £8 book is a cracker – and it’s available right now.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Book, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, CLive L Roberts., Events, Facebook, Local History, New Photos, Old maps, Pubs, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Snippets of Local History in and around Shire Oak', Staffordshire, Stonnall, Things to do, Walsall Wood
16 Comments
Hunting Lodge
It’s often the case when compiling the blog that unconnected threads spring at tangents from original articles – and so it was last week when I featured Ruth Penrhyn-Lowe’s excellent scanned postcards in the awfully titled ‘Overcome with emulsion’ post.
Posted in Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldridge, Bosty Lane, Chasetown, Conservation & Historical Society, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Lodge, Lynn, Lynne Ingram, meeting, Old maps, Postcard, presentation, Redevelopment, Ruth Penrhyn Lowe, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Talk, Things to do, Walsall Wood, Wednesday 22 october, Youth and Community Centre
1 Comment
Due south
Following the recent interest in the Red, White and Blue pub in Springhill, near Sandhills, the wonderful Gareth Thomas from Lichfield District Council has been true to his word and gifted some fascinating aerial imagery of the area, and south to Mill Green and Aldridge.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, 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 1971, Aerial Photos, Aldridge, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Castlefort, Castlehill, Gareth Thomas, Lazy Hill, Lichfield District Council, Local History, Meridian Aeromaps, Mill Green, New Photos, Springhill, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Summerhill, Things to do, Warrenhouse
5 Comments
Serious accident between car and horse drawn cart near Stonnall
Following an incident this evening (Friday, 19th September 2014) a large amount of rumour has been circulating on local social media about the nature of a road traffic accident involving a horse-drawn vehicle on the Chester Road, at Lazy Hill, between Aldridge and Shire Oak.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2014, Aldridge, Brownhills, Car, cart, Chester Road, Children, crash, Events, Facebook, gig, Horse, hurt, injured, Junction, Lazy Hill, Lichfield, Mere Green, OAP, Pensioner, pony, RTA, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Stonnall, trap, Twitter, Walsall Wood
7 Comments
Car stolen from Shire Ridge – keep an eye out folks
Please be on the lookout for this somewhat distinctive Ford Focus RS car which was stolen from Shire Ridge in Walsall Wood in the early hours of this morning.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Local Blogs, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Audi, break in, Brownhills, Burglary, Car burglary, Car Crime, Car Theft, crime, Debbie Etches, Events, Facebook, intruder, local blogs, PC Simon Bytheway, Police, public safety, Rob May, Shire Oak, Stonnall, Sunday 4th August 2013, Twitter, Walsall Police, West Midlands Police
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Aspirational my backside
I noticed in early summer that someone had been undertaking clearance work on a site near Brownhills, just down the Chester Road to the south of Shire Oak Nature Reserve, and was curious about it – it now seems that my question has been answered.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, It makes me mad!, Just plain daft, Local Blogs, Local media, Local politics, News, planning, Shared media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 14/0910/FL, application, Aspirational, astlehill, block, Brownhills, Chester Road, Derelict, Lichfield, local blogs, New Photos, planning, Politics, quarry, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Silly, Stonnall, Upper Stonnall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Works
12 Comments
Urgent! Distraction burglary in Shire Oak yesterday…
Yet again, the brilliant Shire Oak group on Facebook draws my attention to crime in the area; this time a distraction burglary in Shire Oak yesterday afternoon (Friday, 25th April 2014).
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Local Blogs, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2014, 25ht April, bogus officials, break in, Brownhills, Burglary, crime, distraction, distraction theft, Events, Facebook, intruder, Lichfield, Lichfield Road, local blogs, Police, public safety, Rob May, Scam, Shire Oak, Stonnall, Twitter, Walsall Council, Walsall Police, West Midlands Police
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A very Good Friday
Yesterday, Good Friday 18th April 2014, was a good day for a ride – with the day off and the sun shining (although not as warm as one would have thought), I headed out to Staffordshire to cath the sun and beauty of spring.
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Posted in Churches, cycling, Environment, Events, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, Shared media, Wildlife
Tagged anemone, bicye, bike, Blossom, Bluebell, Cam, Canal, Canwell, Church, Convent, Cycle rides, cycling, Devils Dressing Room, Edingale, Events, ewe, good weather, GoPro, Harlaston, Haunton, Hays, HD Hero 3+, Hints, Hopwas, Lichfield, Netherseal, New Photos, No Man's Heath, Oilseed Rape, Panoramio, ride, sheep, Speedwell, Spring, Staffordshire, Stonnall, sun, Syercote, Things to do, wildflowers, Wildlife, Wood
5 Comments
The parachutist, the helicopter and the Brownhills daredevil
Last year, I asked readers to show support for the Express & Star in their bid to gain funding to digitise and open to the public their photo archive – a huge treasury of newspaper images that current exist in print form only. Continue reading
Posted in Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, Express & Star, 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, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged 1973, Aldridge, archive, Bid, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, caught, Chris Leggett, crash, Cycle rides, cycling, Events, Express & Star, Facebook, Helicopter, Kenneth Cornwell, Lichfield, lines, Local History, Malcom Wright, New Photos, overhead, parachute, photo, Reservoir, Show, Silly, skydiver, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Stowe Pool, Stuntman, survey, tangle, Things to do, Twitter, winch
12 Comments
Burglary in Shire Oak – be on your guard
The ever useful Shire Oak group on Facebook has warned again of an unpleasant and worrying house burglary in Shire Oak – I can’t help thinking these incidents seem to be on the rise of late.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Local Blogs, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged bogus officials, break in, Brownhills, Burglary, Car Crime, crime, distraction, Events, Facebook, intruder, Lichfield, local blogs, Police, public safety, Scam, Shire Oak, Simmonds Way, Stonnall, tax rebate scam, Twitter, Walsall Council, Walsall Police, West Midlands Police
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That rings a bell…
That there young David Evans has been very busy – not content to loaf around convalescing like any normal person after his recent operation, he’s been preparing some new local history projects, and updating others.
[caption id="attachment_17624" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
Image generously supplied by David Evans.[/caption] Continue reading
Posted in Churches, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldridge, Brownhills local history, David Evans, Hand, Hand of glory, Lichfield, Local History, New Photos, Pubs, Ringers, Shire Oak, Silly, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Things to do, tintabulist, Walsall Wood
2 Comments
A fine rate of Exchange
Last week, I posted the first part of a remarkable article by Susan M Luzy about the history of the families connected with the Royal Echange pub in Walsall Wood – this unassuming, but well-loved pub has been the subject of much local historical study, and since the first part of this article was posted, local historians have turned up some remarkable material which Andy Dennis, David Evans and a whole host others are working on in the background.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Ann Cross, Brownhills local history, Clews, David Evans, Eliza, Grave, Hannah, Jackson, Lichfield Brewery Company, Local History, Luzy, Maria, Melsom, Millson, Millsum, Old maps, Pubs, Richard, Royal Exchange, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Stonnall, street, Sue, Susan, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Wood, William
11 Comments
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
A foreign Exchange
The subject of the Royal Echange pub in Walsall Wood, and the families who were connected with it, continues to be the subject of much local historical study – in fact, I don’t think any other pub or building, apart from perhaps The Shire Oak Pub that has generated so much local historical interest.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Ann Cross, Brownhills local history, Clews, David Evans, Eliza, Grave, Hannah, Jackson, Lichfield Brewery Company, Local History, Luzy, Maria, Melsom, Millson, Millsum, Old maps, Pubs, Richard, Royal Exchange, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Stonnall, street, Sue, Susan, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Wood, William
40 Comments
Sweet little mystery
In light of the time of year and the fact that many contributors and readers of this blog are big fans of Susan Marie Ward and her Staffordshirebred blog, I’d like to draw her latest post into the light.
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Posted in Churches, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community
Tagged Facebook, local blogs, Local History, nativity, New Photos, Palestine, Staffordshire, Staffordshirebred, Stonnall, Susan MArie Ward, Things to do, Walsall Wood
1 Comment
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
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
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
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
I say, Landlord!
I’m liking this a lot: sent to me yesterday by Andy Dennis, this is a Google Documents/Excel spreadsheet of derived information on local pub landlords from census and other data.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Andy Dennis, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Clayhanger, David Evans, Documents, Drive, google, Lichfield, Local History, Old Leopard, pub landlords, Pubs, Royal Oak, Shire Oak, Spreadsheet, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Things to do, Walsall Wood
19 Comments
Continuing the Exchange
I’m pleased to note the intriguing and rich history of the Royal Exchange pub in Walsall Wood continues to develop and evolve – regular readers will recall that Ann Cross and David Evans did much work to document life at the local hostelry, Ann Cross in particular writing some wonderful accounts of her family’s involvement.
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Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Ann Cross, Brownhills local history, David Evans, Eliza, Grave, Hannah, Jackson, Lichfield Brewery Company, Local History, Maria, Melsom, Millson, Millsum, Old maps, Pubs, Richard, Roger Turner, Royal Exchange, Shire Oak, Staffordshire, Stonnall, street, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall Wood, William
3 Comments
Another family fun day – this Saturday!
Here’s one for the diary, sent in by reader and friend of the Brownhills Blog, Peter Killops – Peter would like to alert readers to a Family Fun Day at St Thomas Church, Aldridge, this Saturday, 24th August 2013, from 12 noon until 4:30pm.
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Posted in Churches, Environment, Events, Fun stuff to see and do, Local media, Local music, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Aldridge, Barbecue, Church, Events, Family Fun Day, Fete, Kingshayes Road, Lazy Hill, Peter Killops, Shire Oak, ST. Thomas, Stonnall, table top sale, Things to do, Walsall Wood
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House burgled, car stolen in Shire Oak
There’s been another house burglary at Shire Oak in the last few days – Debbie Etches from the Shire Oak group on Facebook posted the following yesterday (Monday, 5th August 2013):
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Events, It makes me mad!, Local Blogs, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Audi, break in, Brownhills, Burglary, Car burglary, Car Crime, Car Theft, crime, Debbie Etches, Events, Facebook, intruder, local blogs, PC Simon Bytheway, Police, public safety, Rob May, Shire Oak, Stonnall, Sunday 4th August 2013, Twitter, Walsall Police, West Midlands Police
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Ain’t nobody here but us chickens
A great spot here yesterday from top Walsall Wood Mon, history wonk and local author Clive Roberts, who’s been as intrigued over the years as I have by the history of Crestacre, the former ‘lost’ isolation hospital in Barracks Lane, Brownhills.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 1935, Army, barracks, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Crestacre, factory, Farm, Horse, Huts, Ice Cream, Isolation Hospital, Lane, Lichfield, Liz Wellington, local blogs, Local History, Maddever, Mercury, Nursery, Old maps, Pelari, Poultry, Redevelopment, sale, Selwyn Smith, Shire Oak, Springhills, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Things to do, UDC, Waine
5 Comments
Missing Walsall Wood kids found safe and well
Residents of the Northern Wastes who were at home this afternoon will have no doubt noticed the West Midlands Police helicopter hovering over the southern end of our patch.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Events, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged 2013, 29 June, Brownhills, Children, Events, Facebook, found, Girls, Helicopter, Lost, missing, Police, search, Shire Oak, Stonnall, Twitter, Walsall Wood, West Midlands Police, WMP
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On the Crestacre
Readers will no doubt recall that one of my earliest obsessions on the blog four years ago was the ‘lost’ isolation hospital, owned by Brownhills Urban District Council, and marked on early maps in Barracks Lane, just atop Springhill, on the Brownhills/Ogley Hay border.
Posted in Brownhills stuff, Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local Blogs, Local History, Local media, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories
Tagged Army, barracks, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Crestacre, factory, Farm, Horse, Huts, Ice Cream, Isolation Hospital, Lane, Lichfield, Liz Wellington, local blogs, Local History, Maddever, Nursery, Old maps, Pelari, Redevelopment, Selwyn Smith, Shire Oak, Springhills, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Things to do, UDC
5 Comments
Going with the flow
In the modern world of asphalted roads, acres of hardstanding and housing estates by the square mile, we tend to forget that our landscape is riddled with lost brooks, springs, natural drains and man-made culverts, and all have to be managed to prevent flood and ensure adequate drainage, whilst still maintaining irrigation.
[caption id="attachment_14409" align="aligncenter" width="300"]
The water is clean and flows well at this point. Image supplied by David Evans.[/caption] Continue reading
Posted in Environment, Followups, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Local History, News, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged brook, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Coppice House, culvert, David Evans, Drainage, Farm, Kings Hayes, Local History, Marsh, New Photos, Old maps, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Stonnall, Stream, Stubbers Green, Taylor, Things to do, Transport, Vigo, Walsall Wood, Watercourse, Wetland, Wildlife
14 Comments
Winding Lanes
Andy Dennis writes clearly and articulately of the planning history of the Lanes Farm/Sandhills site in light of current angst over a mooted further development – I’m still of the opinion that we’re being trolled for other reasons, but Andy raises some excellent points.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Churches, cycling, 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, Panoramio photo discussions, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff, Wildlife
Tagged Andy Dennis, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Cycle rides, cycling, Lane's Farm, Lichfield, Local History, Local politics, New Photos, Panoramio, planning, Politics, Redevelopment, Shire Oak, Silly, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Things to do, Walsall, Walsall 2026, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Wildlife
20 Comments
A long storey
This is something I’d like to expand on for a bit of summer picture fun, if any readers are up for it – since I featured Steve Wilcox’s remarkable Walsall panorama last week, and Rose Burnell’s great Chasewater image, I’m looking for odd views, panoramas or shots from on high of Brownhills or the wider area.
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Posted in Brownhills stuff, Cannock Chase, Clayhanger stuff, Environment, Fun stuff to see and do, Interesting photos, Just plain daft, Local History, Local media, News, Panoramio photo discussions, Panoramio updates, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Shared memories, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Wood stuff
Tagged Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Clayhanger, Domesday project, Events, Humphries House Landscape, JH Poole, Local History, New Photos, Panorama, Panoramio, Phil Griffin, photos, Pubs, Shire Oak, Silly, Stonnall, Things to do, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Wood
2 Comments
Farming controversy
I notice that over the past few weeks some outrage seems to be abroad over supposed plans to build a housing estate or industrial park, near Shire Oak on Lanes Farm, between the farmhouse at Sandhills and the Chester Road; broadly the site of the old Brawn’s Wood.
Posted in Bad Science, Brownhills stuff, cycling, Environment, Events, 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, planning, Reader enquiries, Shared media, Social Media, Spotted whilst browsing the web, Walsall community, Walsall Council, Walsall Wood stuff, Wildlife
Tagged Anthony Harris, application, Brownhills, Brownhills local history, Canal, Catshill, Conservative, Consultation, Cycle rides, cycling, Derelict, estate, Events, Facebook, Home Farm, housing, In Touch, industrial, Lane's Farm, Lichfield, local blogs, Local History, Local politics, Mike Flower, New Photos, Panoramio, Pete Sears, planning, Planning 2026, Politics, Redevelopment, SAD, Shire Oak, Silly, St Modwen, Staffordshire, Stonnall, Things to do, Tory, Twitter, Walsall, Walsall Council, Walsall politics, Walsall Wood, Wildlife
19 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
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