Tag: Black COuntry

April 12th – Victoria Park in Darlaston was looking moody and dramatic as I passed back through, and I still adore the mystic bridge. 

This park isn’t doing so well for the flowers this year, sadly; the old cutting is usually a riot but there was hardly anything, mainly I think to over-enthusiastic grass cutting. 

Sad really. Darlaston does have some excellent parks and open spaces.

February 26th – I needed to pop into Walsall Wood so crested Shire Oak Hill on the A461 Lichfield Road. That view at dusk is very special to me and always takes my breath away.

On the distant Black Country skyline, the huge seventeen storey tower block in Dudley, Butterfield Court. Several people have asked what this building is over the years, and recently I checked it on a map. There’s no doubt. over to the left, the twin blocks of Claverly and Clent Court. 

Inbetween, the A461 Lichfield Road a snake of light and motion into the dusk. 

Have to say, the new layout for the Lichfield Road and Shire Oak Junction has really reduced the peak time queues up Sandhills.

February 21st – Looking down Victoria Road from Darlaston Town Centre you’d never really think you were in the industrial Black Country. Although one can hear distant industry and traffic, this sleepy, architecturally fascinating byway remains a little place of calm and historic beauty. Just on the right, past the pub, the Town Hall, opposite the four square Post Office and Rectory Avenue. Beyond those, Victoria Park.

Even on busy days, this is a sedate place to wander into the town.

Just another reason to love Darlaston…

January 29th – I got to work, then it rained. It had not been a great morning – then I realised I needed to pop down to the retail park at Junction 9. I took a short cut through a glistening, dripping Kings Hill Park.

Jack in the Green has tapped his cane upon the ground, and you can almost hear the shoots and buds straining to get up and into bloom.

Watching over it all, the resplendent, shining converted chapel, looking splendid in it’s temporary shiny jacket.

Despite the rain, I was filled with joy and optimism for a new season just starting.

November 20th – I’ve seen herons do many odd things in my time cycling the canals. They are distinctly eccentric birds, who clearly operate to their own rules and desires.

But I’ve never had one so determinedly turn it’s back on me before. It is absolutely, unquestionably giving me the shoulder.

I presume it’s annoyed because I disturbed a fishing session.

Well, pardon me, fishbreath…

November 20th – The last shreds of daylight, heading between Tipton and Moxley on the canal in an overcast, damp Black Country late autumn Monday. You’d think this would be depressing, but it wasn’t; despite the awful light, the drizzle and relentless oncoming darkness, fallen leaves dappled the canal. Peace reigned. There was colour fighting through the gloom. And what else?

Peace and quiet.

This’ll do. It’s not exactly winning, but it’s definitely breaking even.

November 13th – I wanted to take some pictures of Darlaston War Memorial with it’s proud array of wreaths and keepsakes, but perhaps fittingly, there were a class of primary school children there with their teacher, explaining the thing, was was heart-warming and most welcome.

Instead, I took a shot of the metal poppy ornamentation on the railings of Kings Hill Park, yet another beautiful feature of a remarkable place.

We shall never forget.