Monday 18th July and the temperatures are already climbing as I make my way to Wolverhampton Bus Station for the first task of the morning. The number 28 service is due to be withdrawn this coming Sunday (24th July) to be partially replaced by the 69 so it's a case of ride it while you still can. The route leaves Wolverhampton along the Wednesfield Road (collecting Stephen as it goes) and then darts around New Cross Hospital, Wood End and Ashmore Park. New Invention is next for a call, followed by Coppice Lane and a diversion to avoid an inaccessible stretch of Lucknow Road, before we pull into the terminus on Willenhall's Union Street in the shadow of Morrisons supermarket.
- 28 at Union Street -
With the requisite bus pictures taken, we indulge in a limbering-up stroll around Willenhall town centre. This gives me chance to update my photo archive to reflect recent developments, such as the now-restored Bell ex-pub hosting community artwork while across the road the old Barrel & Shive has been resurrected as a foot clinic. The marketplace clock is always worth a photograph (or several) while we also note a duo of hardware stores, Wood Street Cemetery and a Morrisons-mounted motto: "We are Willenhall and we are wonderful!" - we can't argue with that.
- Willenhall Market Place Clock -
Passing the Field Street war memorial we home in on Willenhall Memorial Park, doing a circuit of internal pathways so that Stephen can relive a bit of bygone fishing nostalgia. A bandstand, a pavilion and a bowling green initially catch our eye before we find two pools - one ornamental with modern angling stations, and then the natural pond Mr B remembers which has latterly become a little overgrown despite the provision of a boardwalk.
- Park Road Bridge -
The park also provides our initial access onto the old railway that will form the centrepiece of our mission. The Wolverhampton and Walsall Railway opened in 1872 but wasn't especially successful - the passenger service largely ceased in 1931 whereas the track remained opened for goods use until the 1960s. Nowadays parts of the line can be followed as an interurban footpath; we pick up the trail at an old bridge positioned at the end of Park Road and follow in a roughly easterly direction towards Bentley.
- Stephen at Stafford Street Station -
Before long we reach the former station site at Willenhall (Stafford Street), although there isn't a huge amount to see apart from the overhead bridge which retains an intriguing separate archway alongside the main passage. Some platform brickwork can be discerned but any buildings seem to be long gone; Willenhall was historically served by two stations with the other being at Bilston Street on the south side of the town centre. Our path continues by passing beneath Cemetery Road, opening out among wider green spaces before crossing St Anne's Road and running on an embankment behind the Elm Park Tavern.
- Brown Jug, Sandbeds Road -
At Stringes Lane the trail goes cold for a while, even though we can see a telltale line of trees stretching off between industrial premises. Sadly there is no direct access on foot but our enforced detour gets extended to include a sorrowful look at the Brown Jug on Sandbeds Road, a pub that has been derelict for a few years and sadly it shows with smashed windows very much to the fore. Clarkes Lane featured during our Bentley Canal bash and is firmly in our sights today given that there was a Short Heath railway halt somewhere in the vicinity of the fire station's current location. The trail reappears at the side of said fire station and we're soon bearing down on Bentley in the heat of the midday sun.
- Short Heath Station Site (or thereabouts) -
Mad dogs and Englishmen seemingly can't resist a little look around Lodge Farm. The spot where the old railway crosses Granbourne Road is familiar from rides on the number 40 bus (and the 333 route before it) so we momentarily leave the line here to reacquaint ourselves with the estate. A small section of Stroud Avenue is sufficient for glimpses of the Homestead pub and the Brackendale shopping parade (Hardings Pharmacy, a Nisa supermarket and a Cash for Clothes outlet). Curiosity leads us along Furzebank Way where a couple of neighbouring schools are potentially of interest - I vaguely recall one of them being home to a public library once upon a time.
- Railway Route near Bentley -
Anyway, back to Granbourne Road and our final stretch of railway rambling. The trail at this point effectively bisects the two housing estates, Lodge Farm to the left and Bentley to the right with the M6 somewhere straight ahead. We plod through to Poplar Avenue where the prospect of another fishing pool tempts us away. Lunch is obtained from the local shops at the junction of Churchill Road and Queen Elizabeth Avenue, then we clamber up the steps by Emmanuel Church to visit the Bentley Cairn - this stone monument recalls the existence of Bentley Hall, one of several Midlands sheltering spots used by the future King Charles II when making his famed escape during the English Civil War.
- Mr Beardsmore at Bentley Cairn -
For the record, the Wolverhampton and Walsall Railway had a station serving Bentley, the site of which is close to the Bloxwich Lane bridge remains but lost beneath the M6. The line then continued through to North Walsall and Walsall itself so there is potential for further investigation at locations such as Reedswood Way and Bloxwich Road. We however round off with a short hop on the 40 up along Bentley Lane past Reedswood Park and the Alma - the 40 is another route set for the chop (it will be partially replaced by the new 37) so it seemed appropriate to include it. With that we reach Walsall town centre and say our farewells at Bradford Place where Stephen boards his Bilston-bound 39. We certainly made the most of the warm weather by covering a fair few miles of transport heritage - mission accomplished!
Brilliant Paul, Denise and I enjoyed reading about your day out in Willenhall
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