October 7th – A very changeable day. If you didn’t like the weather, all that was needed was to wait five minutes. Sun, wind, rain, had it all… here in Caldmore, Walsall, I’d stopped at a sweet centre to buy indian snacks. Just as I ducked into the store, the heavens opened. When I came out, I munched a samosa and watched the rain from under the canopy… in a couple of minutes, the sun was bright and warm again. I love Caldmore.
October 6th – Walsall was eerily quiet. I’ve spotted lots of potential night shots around here – I’ll need them for when the nights close in and I’m coming home in the dark. This is the only bit of Walsall’s risibly named ‘Civic Quarter’ I like; the Crossing at St Paul’s – a former church transformed into a shopping and faith centre. I like the square in front and the view of The Imperial – itself a former cinema turned into a pub. I like this square – such a shame that the Leicester Street area looks like an uncoordinated architectural mess.
October 6th – A late return from Telford gave me another chance to shoot Walsall in the dark. The weather had been awful, and Walsall was largely cold, wet and deserted. Spotting this view from the ramp on Walsall Station, I couldn’t resist it. Station Street is still a little bit of ‘old’ Walsall; despite the pedestrianisation and new buildings, I imagine this is a lot like Walsall before the town planners wrecked it.
September 13th – The Henry Boys Almshouses are a bit of a mystery to me, to my shame. Near the Corporation Street junction, they stand both proudly and secluded on the Wednesbury Road, just south of Walsall Town Centre.They really are gorgeous – a square crescent of red-brick and terracotta terraced bungalows with lots of decorative features. I suspect they may be connected to the General Hospital, which used to be on the other side of the road. Anyone know more?
August 28th – I’ve noticed that social media has been rather quiet on the subject of the Overstrand being demolished since the deed was done. The hated former restaurant, crossing High Street, Walsall, blocked the view of the church for several decades, and we all hated it. The demolition was awaited and much talked about. However, after the work was complete yesterday, I realised something – as did most of the observers – that removal has only highlighted the poor town planning that gave birth to the aberration in the first place. The view of the church is only unblocked from a few very specific angles, and from the church itself, just reveals more concrete. The view from the bottom of the marketplace is unchanged, with the staggered nature of the street still blocking what would be a fine aspect. We’ll need to wait longer for that to change, as there’s a new Asda shed in the way of that one, amongst other things.
August 28th – Urban riding can be surprising to people who’ve never considered it before. Our towns and cities are surprisingly green, and even concrete jungles can be fascinating places. The panorama of Paddock, from Church Hill, Walsall, demonstrates this, as does the one from under Spaghetti Junction. So much to explore, even in the depths of the city. All joined together by our fantastic cycle network.
August 28th – Afternoon saw me again investigating national cycle route five, cycling into Walsall to see what the marketplace looked like without the Overstrand, then down through the Sandwell Valley and onto the canals through Brum. For a lark, thought I’d try my hand cycling up the treacherous cobbles of Church Hill to St. Matthews. Hardly Paris – Roubaix, but I was fairly pleased with myself…
26th August – Proof that the people who design cycle routes never bloody ride them. This, at the junction of The Broadway and Delves Green Road, in South Walsall, isn’t just unusable, it’s taking the sodding piss. That’s all.
August 24th – Urban sunsets can be wonderfully dramatic. I love the outlines of buildings in silhouette, and I’ve always been fascinated by the image and concept of skylines. Taken from an unassuming railway bridge on the borderline of Butts and Reedswood, I spent ages stood like a lemon in North Street snapping the sunset as it developed, much to the bemusement of passing drivers.
August 24th – Another late night at work, but I managed to escape by sundown. Cruising back through Darlaston and Pleck, the urban landscape was bathed in pleasant light. I noticed this house on the corner of an unmade drive on the Walsall Road in Pleck. It’s a peculiarly gingerbread house for this area of largely red brick terraces and townhouses. There are quite a few old, imposing homes on their road; it must have been quite important and exclusive in it’s day.
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