Pensnett, Cookley and Swindon

Time now for the final three episodes from Exploration Week, which include a Black Country local along with visits to Worcestershire and Staffordshire...

Friday 6th November: Rog and I meet in Dudley and set off to Holly Hall for a walk around Woodside taking photos of the local park, the Woodside Inn and the old Harts Hill Garage. For reasons best known to himself, Rog then led us on a tour of Brierley Hill industrial estates in the hope of finding the business premises of an old associate of his. Needless to say we couldn't find the place, but did at least get a bacon sandwich by way of compensation. Next is a look around Pensnett, a place I've long wanted to get photos of so I was in my element taking shots of the Fox & Grapes, war memorial, High Oak and the Four Furnaces. Lunchtime sees us in the Kingswinford, where we meet up with John for a quick chat, then its a trio of traditional pubs in the afternoon. The Lamp Tavern in Dudley was a classic Bathams as the rain set in, the Swan in Amblecote had a selection of Halloween themed ales from which we chose Demon Drink, and the Robin Hood on Collis Street was preparing for the big Stourbridge v Walsall FA Cup tie by offering Hackett's Ale in honour of the Stourbridge manager.

Saturday 7th November: The Worcestershire leg of the week, but first its a few piccies of Kingswinford and Stourbridge - it had been a while since I'd done a proper bus photo session at Stourbridge bus station, so it was good to be back. Into the trip proper and we catch the 228 bus down to Kinver to join the Staffordshire & Worcestershire canal. Our walk takes us all the way to Wolverley, with welcome pub breaks at Caunsall (The Anchor, a real gem) and Cookley (the Eagle and Spur). I really liked Cookley, a charming little village with plenty of photographic interest including the canal tunnel, a traditional post office and a selection of pubs - sadly the Red Lion had closed down, much to Rog's dismay as he had fond memories of the place. Lunch arrives courtesy of the Lock pub in Wolverley, where we tuck in to gammon and lasagne respectively, but the walk back to Cookley almost finishes Rog off completely. We recover in the Bulls Head, where one of the locals treats us to his array of Cookley memories and anecdotes. With Rog still worn out, I indulge in some solo exploring heading back along the canal for a final few bridge photos as the light begins to fade. We meet back up in Kinver, where The Cross pub provides the venue for our pool tournament decider - I take victory, but only after about twenty attempts at potting the black!

Sunday 8th November: A short and quiet outing to finish off an epic week. We meet in Kingwinford, where the Remembrance Sunday parade is in full swing. The 255 takes us to Swindon, where we attempt another canal walk but it is clear that Rog is still suffering from the previous day's exertions. We get as far as Hinksford Bridge before turning round and heading into the Green Man, where Rog enjoys a pint or two of Old Empire whilst I devour a homemade roast pork sunday lunch - at £4.95 I was very impressed. Dessert involves more local photos of Swindon, focusing on the Old Bush and Greyhound pubs, both of which also looked most inviting. We continue to Wombourne however, where Rog is determined to track down the Mount Pleasant despite his ankle getting increasingly painful. The pub is situated on Ounsdale Road and provides our final drink of the week whilst preparations for a bonfire party continue around us. From Wombourne we then catch our buses home as the final curtain fell on a week of fine exploring and classic pubs - as they say, all good things must come to an end...

A Bonfire Bash

Thursday 5th November, and the fourth episode of 'Exploration Week' sees Rog and myself avoiding any fireworks with a proper Black Country local...

• Today's meeting point is Kingswinford, with the 256S dropping me off early enough to do a bit of solo photography before finding the Rog. Amongst my discoveries are St Mary's Church, King George Park and the Union pub as I mooch around a corner of Kingswinford that I'd previously somehow managed to ignore.
• 9:30 sees the arrival of Mr Chance, complete with the usual long leather coat and flowing blond locks. We catch the 205 from Manor Park up to the Pensnett Trading Estate, where Rog then introduces me to his place of work. It was fun to meet Erica and have a chat, an enjoyable start to the day.
• To avoid the risk of Rog being requisitioned, we take our leave and catch a handily-placed 297 into Merry Hill. The journey is notable for a look at Pensnett High Street, where the High Oak pub is now masquerading as the Roost restaurant, whilst the traffic around Russells Hall Hospital is bordering on horrendous.
• From Merry Hill its the 283 to Netherton, where we renew our acquaintance with the Old Swan pub, otherwise known as Ma Pardoe's. The pub is a must for anyone who wishes to sample Black County culture at its best; entering the bar is like stepping back in time, and there is plenty to admire including a tiled swan centrepiece on the ceiling. Rog and I decamp to the Smoke Room where we sup our pints of Bumble Hole and give Bruce an airing. All in all, a delightful experience.
• With Ma Pardoe's under our belts, we decide to add in another classic pub with a visit to the Vine (or Bull and Bladder) at the Delph. After a return ride on the 283, we eagerly make our way to the home of Bathams Brewery and are not disappointed. The beer (Bathams Bitter, naturally) was good, but the food was simply outstanding - faggots, chips and mushy peas for a scarcely credible price of £2.50. There isn't a menu as such, you just pick what you want from the table in the prep room, and the resulting hearty portions mean that practically every other pub's meals look like a rip-off by comparison.
• A visit to the Delph isn't complete without sampling at least a couple of pubs along the famed Delph Run. Our second choice today was the Brickmakers Arms, situated on Mount Pleasant towards Quarry Bank, where we savoured a pint of Banks's each before sprinting aboard the 99 to Cradley Heath.
• We alight by the new Tesco store, which quickly becomes a photo target along with some general views of the other shops on Cradley Heath High Street. Next, we battle our way through Tesco's car park to find the Swan Inn (Jasper's) on Providence Street so I can add to my archive of Holden's pub pictures. A combination of the 404A, train and Parry's People Mover then returns us to Stourbridge, where we bring the curtain down on another trip with a final drink in the Longlands on Western Road.

Another day down then, but with some fine exploring and epic pubs to look back on with a lot of affection. More of the same tomorrow will do just nicely...

Wednesday around Walsall

And so the exploration bandwagon has rolled onto Wednesday, an occasion that Rog and I decided to mark with some wandering across Walsall...

• A bright and early start sees me safely onto the 333, riding up through Portobello, Willenhall, Lodge Farm and Bentley.
• I alight at Pleck for a few bonus photos, mainly focusing on the local library and the landmark Brown Lion pub. Rog then joins me fresh from a ride on the 313 and we head down to Walsall Town Centre.
• Further local exploring follows in the shape of The Butts, situated right on the edge of the town centre. Targets here include the Fitters Arms on Hatherton Street and the Butts Tavern, whilst an imposing schoolhouse on the corner of William Street also catches my eye.
• By this stage its turning into a fine and sunny morning, so we make the most of the weather with a stroll around Walsall Arboretum. Sadly the Illuminations are no more, but Hatherton Lake still looks most elegant and the trees are as stately as ever.
• Weaving our way through a nearby estate, we pass the Dilke pub and arrive at Longwood Junction. This is the meeting place of the Rushall and Daw End Canals - we join the latter and savour the more rural setting as Riddian Bridge provides a fine discovery.
• Our next port of call is the Manor Arms pub, although we have to negotiate a further stroll by Winterley Bridge whilst waiting for the pub to open. First pint of the day is a taste of Old Thumper, and very nice it was too. The pub is quite charming even though we got asked if Bonus had any ID!
• From Rushall, the 346 whisks us off to Pelsall just as the rain sets in. We brave the flurries of drizzle and catch the 348 to Pelsall Wood terminus, where I was saddened to find that the Free Trade pub remains closed.
• Another 346 ride conveys us to Bloxwich, where the rain gets heavier as we plod down the High Street. It is here that Rog gets worryingly mistaken for a blonde-headed Jesus, so its with much relief that we find the Lamp Tavern pub. This Holden's house is classed as being in Bloxwich although we were practically in Leamore by the time we got there! We enjoy a relaxed drink whiling away an hour or so with some more seasoned regulars.
• Back into Bloxwich Town, and that dreaded bladder curse strikes again. The Spotted Cow comes to our rescue, with Rog also taking control of the pub jukebox. His playlist included the usual favourites (Metallica, Bowie, Bon Jovi and Queen) along with more eclectic choices, Max Bygraves and Judas Priest, and the plain frightening - sorry mate, there was no excuse for inflicting Mr Blobby on everyone even if it was a Christmas Number One in 1993 or whatever.
• Beating a hasty retreat, we hop on the 560 to Wolverhampton and finish off a fine day in the Great Western. Here I introduce Rog to the horseshoe gammon accompanied by homemade chips, a dish that is rapidly becoming my favourite pub meal. A pint of Dragon's Blood (a Holden's special ale brewed with a Halloween theme) completes proceedings, but only until we start all over again tomorrow morning...