Tag: 365daysofbiking

February 8th – Two very snatched pictures, proving that some pubs can have a life after death. Both houses were blighted by tough reputations – neither Pleck’s Brown Lion, with it’s gorgeous glazed-tile frontage, nor Darlaston’s Three Horse Shoes, at the Bullstake, were considered salubrious places. Both closed, and spent time derelict. However, after a time, both inns have been converted to dwellings, maintaining their pub character. Much better than losing them altogether.

February 8th – Cruising up over Church Hill in Walsall for a bit of variety, I reflected on how Lower Rushall Street has been changed from a busy back way to a main artery since the construction of the new Ring Road. I pity the poor souls living right on the road’s edge at the converted former Eyelands factory, and the recent one way system around Ablewell Street is hardly a joy to behold. Yet, as I traversed this modern wonder, I noticed the historical constant: St. Matthews in clear view, imperious and imposing. A beautiful thing in a sea of urban sprawl.

February 7th – On the subject of interesting architecture, in the last few days I noticed this peculiar and rather charming twin tower arrangement in the back gardens of central Darlaston, behind the handsome houses of Rectory Avenue and the Post Office. I have no idea what it is, or if it’s accessible. It’s visible across the workshop yards of Church Street, too. Does anyone know anything more about this?

February 7th – Heading into work through Pleck for a change, I spotted this building on the corner of Oxford street. I’ve never really noticed it before, but it’s really quite remarkable. I know that it was a pub for years, but I have no idea of its original purpose. It really is quite remarkable, and conclusive proof that I don’t look upwards enough…

February 6th – I’ve been meaning to take a night picture of St. Mark’s Church is Shelfield for some time. The stark, bold coloured glass is quite something at night. It’s an odd church; modern, with little adornment, it looks more like a community centre by day. it sits, almost hidden in the backstreets of Shelfield just down from the Four Crosses pub. I don’t know anything of it, its congregation or history, but it always seems busy. Every evening there seems to be something happening here. 

February 6th – it was a tough journey to work. After the chill of the previous week it felt almost humid, yet it was quite chilly with a constant, searching drizzle. The snow of Saturday was still melting, and there were huge pools of standing water on the roads. Dropping onto the canal at Bridgeman Street in Walsall looking for a break from the relentless traffic, the towpath turned out to present its own challenge. Not treacherous with the studded tyres, but hard work to plough through. Horrid.

February 5th – I popped to Chasewater, but the day was horrible. The snow was melting heavily, I was loaded with about 20 kilos of shopping and the day was grey and foul. Crossing back over the M6 Toll bridge on Pool Road, I noticed that Chasewater still looked quite snowy. I could also see that, beyond the innovation centre, the reservoir was beginning to refill at long last.

February 5th – I feel sorry for the waterfowl during this cold snap, really, which is probably a bit daft. As I took a gentle spin down the canal today, I noticed lots of forlorn looking ducks, canada geese, coots and moorhens loafing around disconsolately on the frozen canal, which itself was covered in a messy layer of slush. I watched as birds struggled to land, skidding frantically along the ice. They are, to coin a phrase, like ducks out of water. I did notice something though, today. Moorhens don’t have webbed feet. I find that a bit surprising, but as these footprints show, they haven’t got the best feet for swimming. There must be an evolutionary reason for this. Wonder what it is?

February 4th – I noticed as I passed through Chasewater that Jeffrey’s Swag, the north-eastern body of Chasewater bordering the railway causeway, had now refilled. Lowered considerably last year to construct a new spillway between it and Chasewater itself, it has now refilled to such a level that water is flowing from the Swag into Chasewater. This is really positive news and means that Chasewater is now being effectively fed by local streams that run into the Swag, so hopefully it will refill a tad quicker. It’s also good news for the frogs and toads that spawn in the creek between the two come spring.