January 25th – returning late from work, I headed for a change, up through Pleck and over Church Hill. I stopped on the railway bridge on the Wednesbury Road. Although the metal footbridge was shaking well in the wind, I managed to get this pretty decent picture by standing the camera on the top of the guard rail. I love railway views at night. Luckily the wind was behind me, and I was soon home.
January 25th – I’d like to claim credit for noticing this, but I didn’t, so can’t. Great pal [Howmuch?] spotted this and told me a few weeks ago. Today, as I rolled down Hatherton Street in the Butts, near Walsall Town Centre, I recorded a fascinating little relic of the past. These buildings are due to be demolished to make way for a new factory, being moved in from elsewhere in the borough. Formerly offices and workshops, they’ve lain derelict for some years. As I took these pictures, construction workers were erecting hoardings around the site prior to its clearance commencing. Before they did, I had to photograph the above small sign, situated next to one of the boarded-up doors.
I know nothing about the Umbrella Manufacturing and Repairing Company, or what happened to them. But the thought crosses my mind: how long has it been since such a business could be economically viable in Walsall? A curious, odd little piece of history. Glad I caught it before it was lost forever.
January 24th – Sadly, there’s another derelict building in Kings Hill, Darlaston that I’ve as yet not recorded. The Scott Arms has been empty and boarded up for a long tome now, and like the other lost pubs in the locality, I doubt it will see life as an inn again. I don’t know what it was like as a pub, this isn’t my patch, but it’s clear to see that the decline of local industry and a change in social habits have sealed the fate of many a backstreet, blue collar boozer like this. A tragedy.
January 24th – I’m fascinated by some of the curious things people do to make mobile homes. From van conversions to trailers to… aberrations like this, really. I have absolutely no idea what’s going on with this. Parked near the old Charles Richards factory in Darlaston Green, I’ve never seen it move. It appears to consist of an ex-military Landrover special vehicle with a truncated caravan mounted on the back. Seemingly keeping the ensemble together in a frame of tubular, square-section steel. Quite what the deal is with the outriggers is unknown. I don’t know who owns and built this, but I salute your inventiveness…
January 23rd – Returning to Walsall Wood at sunset for a meeting, I hauled my bike up the steps at Walsall Wood Bridge and was immediately awestruck by the colour of the sky. Without my gorillapod handy, I stood the camera gingerly on the handrail. Not to bad for a junk shot. It seemed chilly tonight, and a proper winter sunset to boot. This is more like it.
January 23rd – I also noticed that the piece of street-art under the reservoir place bridge has been completed. It’s quite impressive – there’s real skill and artistic ability there, and I love the way it adds interest and colour to an otherwise dark corner. The artist is called Apps, and @dhintheman on twitter found his youtube channel. You can see his self-made film there, together with other films of his derring do. Apps, I salute you.
January 23rd – Heading to Darlaston today, I ducked onto the canal as usual. I noted that the algae bloom that I speculated would be killed off by the cold spell was still apparently in rude health… last week, this spot was iced over. Today, the gloop is as thick and green as ever. It does move around, though. On windy days it disperses to little clumps at the banks and reed-beds. When conditions are more still, it regroups. Oddly hardy stuff, it would appear. Still none the wiser as to what it actually is.
January 22nd – Tesco may not care much for Brownhills, but it has us in a stranglehold. The same company that operate our scruffy, down at heel supermarket are also one of the town’s biggest employers. Tesco own the One Stop group, operators of small community stores, which they bought up from T&S Stores a decade ago. Large numbers of folk are employed at the warehouse here, and there’s a constant flow of traffic and wagons into and out of the site. Tonight, it seemed quiet, but I could hear engines revving somewhere in the distance.
In Brownhills Tesco will get you, one way or another.
January 22nd – Still forlorn, abandoned and decaying to dust is The Rising Sun, at Brownhills West. One of Brownhills’ oldest pubs, it’s sad to see this place slide away. It doesn’t even appear to be for sale. Survivor of several arson and vandal attacks, the building clearly has some pride left. Can nobody be found to do something – anything – with it?
We’re gradually losing our history and culture, and it breaks my heart.
January 22nd – A bit of a lost weekend, cycling wise; the old health has been a bit up and down, but other commitments and general recuperation were the order of what proved to be a rather intemperate few days, weather-wise. The daylight hours today were beset with an evil wind, and so I slipped out at sunset and chose to throw the bike around the rough stuff on Brownhills Common. No deer today, sadly, but I did disturb a couple of badgers near Engine Lane. The sunset over Wyrley Common was quite remarkable tonight.
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