Category Archives: Local History

Architecture, Canals, Local History

The End of Black Cock?

Well, if that doesn’t get the search engines going, nothing will.

I’ve made end of cock jokes here before, of course.

Black Cock Bridge is being rebuilt repaired. Definitely repaired, not rebuilt.

It’s being repaired, because, well, it dates from 1920ish in it’s current form and is, well, fucked. Or well fucked, take your pick.

It’s a bit of a landmark, and quite a thing to drive over, or to cycle over. It’s steepness is due to it being jacked up over the years to accommodate the canal banks getting raised (by around 4ft 8in, 1.4m or so, it is rumoured) due to subsidence. If you want to read the full details on that, Brownhillsbob covered it over a decade ago in impressive detail here.

I’d been meaning to go and take a look at the bridge: there’s been a lot of noise as the corroded steel has been cut out.

Here’s a view of the west side of the bridge. You can see the wooden beam that the steel deck used to rest on (and see how rotten the wood is). The steel was in an even worse state, from photos others have taken. You can also make out the layers of brickwork as the walls were built up when the deck was jacked up.

Black Cock Bridge under epair
A view of the west side, where the steel deck used to sit on the wooden beam.

and here’s a view of the west side, without the bridge deck there, you can see where the jacks fitted to raise the deck.

Black Cock Bridge under repair
A view of the east side, showing the jacking recesses. The boards are a temporary deck for users to work from and to stop stuff falling in the water.

The there’s this odd bit of tarmac cut out, just down the slope; I wonder what work was carried out under here?

Black Cock Bridge under repair

The fact the bridge is being repaired, not rebuilt, is interesting. Many local bridges have been replaced, most notably the next one up at Clayhanger, in 1994, which was previously very similar.

The problem here is that there isn’t enough room to do that kind of job here: the approaches are too steep and everything is too close, so a new bridge will not meet modern standards and still fit.

It’s been pointed out that you could probably do it by taking the canal over the road on an aqueduct, but the chances of that being done for a minor road are pretty minimal because of cost.

Hence, it’s a repair, and one that will actually leave the bridge narrower by 8in/400mm, and looking rather like the nearby Hollander’s Bridge, which is closed to traffic. Now, it is true that Queen St carries less traffic than Green lane, but one can’t help wonder if Black Cock Bridge will end up closed, as has been mooted before now.

Mere speculation, but it would not surprise me.

Architecture, Life, Local History, Pubs

Golden Opportunity

I wasn’t at work last week, but the weather put paid to most of the outdoor tasks, as while it wasn’t universally wet, things were too changeable to commit to much. When a friend mentioned that she wanted to sell some gold, but wanted company (was I a bodyguard? maybe), it seemed like a pleasant diversion: The Jewellery Quarter has nice architecture, and decent pubs (more of the pubs later). I wanted to suggest CatsforGold
, but didn’t feel I’d get taken seriously.

We’d arranged to meet by the Chamberlain Clock, but I had something magnificent, but sad to look in on first, on my walk past Snow Hill:

The Gothic
What was The Gothic pub in Great Hampton Row, Birmingham

The Gothic was built around 1869-1870. It closed in 1991, and seems to have been rotting since: two of the nice gables have gone (see the c1950 photo here and another here), nasty modern shopfittings have been added, and the roof looks very dodgy in places. Thus is despite it being Grade II listed since 1982, though I suppose we should be grateful the arson contractors haven’t moved south from Walsall.

Anyway, onwards. We met up, and commenced the tour of the gold dealers: let this be a warning: prices varied by at least 10%, and this was not insignificant given the value in this case. After a tour of 5 or 6, we settled on one place, sold the gold, and got the bulk of the cash paid in to Barclays, handily back by the clock, and just in view of the lovely Warstone Lane Cemetery lodge:

Warstone Lane Cemetery Lodge, taken by Wikipedia user Oosoom. Click to visit the image's page.
Warstone Lane Cemetery Lodge, taken by Wikipedia user Oosoom. Click to visit the image’s page.

Now the nice bit: as a reward for standing about looking large, lunch, with some of the proceeds. A walk round the corner back onto Great Hampton St, passing the Rose Villa Tavern and the Jewellers Arms and on to The Lord Clifden
 which turned out nicer than expected.

Life, Local History

Pelsall, Common

2 Comments

I’ve bought a slide scanner, and I thought some readers might like to see this photo of Pelsall Common in the early 70s, taken by my late father. It’s me, my mom, and (I think) a next-door neighnour who was friends with my sister stood around my Dad’s Wolseley 16/60 on Pelsall Common- the railway bridge at Fordbrook Lane/Vicarage Road is in the background.

Me and family on Pelsall Common, circa 1973. Click to embiggen.
Me and family on Pelsall Common, circa 1973. Click to embiggen.

It makes an interesting contrast with this Google Streetview image form around the same place in 2012:

A similar view in 2012
A similar view in 2012

I can’t work out if the fancy wall and gates are there, but obscured- will have to look.

Local History, Public Transport

Mutiny on the Buses

As the lad himself has detailed, we went to Wythall Transport Museum. It’s a bigger concern than Aston Manor, and well worth a look: Andrew enjoyed himself taking the piss out of my new-found bus obsession, but then getting diverted by the really odd types with notebooks. I got to listen to some Gardner diesels close up, and we got a nice ride out to Henley-in-Arden.

Pictures in the Gallery.

The bad news is that Aston Manor again seem to be about to become homeless: sadly, this is only announced on their Feckbook pages, not on the proper website. Anyone know of a potential new home, again?

Architecture, Local History, Politics

Prace Bets Now!

4 Comments

A short reference to silly post-pub gameshow Banzai.

I’m now wondering after yesterday’s events (blogged in detail by Brownhills Bob) which historic building in Walsall will be next.

We’ve had the Jabez Cliff building, the church at Melish Rd, another old leatherworks near the art gallery, several pubs, and of course Shannon’s Mill. Prior to that, Great Barr Hall.

So then. What’s next for the unleaded and Swan Vestas treatment, so handy for ridding yourself of an expensive to refurb building?

Will it be The Bell in Willenhall?

The Walsall Workhouse Guardians Building?

Or a mystery item from our diminishing list of historic buildings? (In all honesty, I’m running out of ideas as targets are acquired) Still given the state of our town, something is bound to become vacant and unloved, then burnt and demolished soon.

As The Plastic Hippo pointed out, there’s a remarkable amount of fires involving buildings from either the Statuary List (PDF, 262k) or the local list (PDF 180k). At least the Avion escaped.

Local History, Public Transport

On The Buses, again

5 Comments

This time, I wasn’t driving.

We went to Aston Manor Transport Museum‘s open day in it’s new Aldridge home. The new building is bigger and better for purpose, if not as impressive as the old tram shed in Witton. We had a great time: a look about, a ride in some lovely old vehicles, and a chance (thanks to the lovely people) to see if I can fit properly behind the wheel of a D9 after the PD2 disappointment (I didn’t, properly).

I think I’m becoming a bus pervert: the sound of a Gardner 6LX or Leyland 0600 and a Self-Changing Gears Pneumocyclic gearbox is becoming strangely attractive. Both the Gardner and the Leyland engine are slow-revving, noisy beasts with enough torque to pull anything.

Pics- click to embiggen.

Daimler CVG5
Daimler CVG5 in West Bromwich Livery
Daimler COG5
Daimler COG5 in Coventry Livery.
Guy Arab LUF
Beautiful, Gardner-engined (with crash box) Guy Arab LUF. We had a ride to Walsall & back in this.
Guy Arab IV
Guy Arab IV

One great thing this year: plenty of bus journeys (all included for the admission price- we went to Hardwick and back, Walsall and back, and Chasewater and back on a mix of old machinery), and the fact they met up with steam trains at Chasewater for the train perverts. Great value and fun.

Architecture, General, Local History, Pubs

Work on the Avion- continued

Work is progressing on the Avion. The section that appeared to be getting demolished actually seems to be mostly retained, there’s a new roof in progress (rather than what looked like asbestos sheets), and some impressive windows at the rear, presumably where the original screen was, so a similar treatment to The Imperial, where it works quite well. It surely can’t be long until the building will be watertight again.

Rear of the Avion
Rear of the Avion cinema, 26-June-2012. New roof under construction, and new glass. Click for bigger version.
Local History, Politics, Rants

A can of Hammerite, please…

3 Comments

Well, it seems other people that like the public artwork around Walsall Wood (or at least some of it) agree with at least one part of my post on the matter of it’s asthetic value: It could do with a coat of paint:

Letter in the Walsall Advertiser, August 2011. Click for a larger version.

For what it’s worth, I reckon that the rusting is deliberate. Not so sure about the asssorted bolts, poor fabrication and anti-climb paint. I’ll still tip my hat in the direction of Brian.