Tag: Pelsall

July 1st – There’s currently controversy raging in the principality about the replacement of York’s Bridge by the Fingerpost pub for a new one. Considering the project a stalking horse for open casting on Pelsall North Common, the residents of Pelsall are becoming uncharacteristically excitable. Apparently this dull, narrow, rickety canal crossing with no footpath is variously ‘picturesque’. ‘perfectly fit for purpose’ and has ‘nothing whatsoever wrong with it’. The scrapes on the parapet walls attest otherwise…

June 29th – Popping into Pelsall for a spot of lunch whilst running a few errands (the border security at the principality is clearly suffering budget cuts of late, I entered unchallenged), I spotted this highly unusual bike parked outside the bookies in the High Street. It’s a Christiana cargo bike. These Danish utility bikes are a common feature of continental life, along with their competitor Bakfiets. Such bikes can carry a huge load and are often used to transport kids to school. It’s very unusual to see one in the UK and I’d love to know who owns this fine steed, why they chose it and what they do with it. A fine thing indeed.

May 19th – The Swag, as it’s commonly known locally, is part of the wetland band that occupies the hollow between Shire Oak Hill and Pelsall. A wet area for centuries, it stretches for miles, from the common to the north, across Clayhanger Marsh, Jockey Meadows and Stubbers Green, into the Goscote Valley. Pictured looking north from the old railway line parallel to Pelsall Road, it’s easy to see the very old spoil heaps from bell pitting in the area two centuries ago.

Nowadays, they are a peaceful, post industrial wildlife haven, as is the trackbed I stand on to capture this odd little sunset. Turning around, I see an old dog fox trotting off into the distance. This is both his territory and mine, and we are familiars. No doubt having watched my approach, he’s content that everything is in order and is away on his rounds.