A Wyrley & Essington Meander...

It's been a little while since I last filed a Waterways Walk post so by way of upping my canal content I offer you a Walsall-based wander along the Wyrley & Essington. As an added bonus, I am joined by Stephen - who usually prefers his Curly Wyrleys to be of the chocolate variety - as we chew on Coalpool and polish off Pelsall...

- Hoppy -

Friday 4th October 2019 and our starting point is Walsall town centre, saying hello to 'Hoppy' the concrete hippo who stands sentry outside the Central Library. We then aim north via Stafford Street, pausing to ponder St Peter's Church (with associated community hall) after locating the AJ's Ales brewery base on Long Acre Street - the Victoria Corn Mill provides an additional item of interest, historically built by JE Dolman Ltd for the preparation of animal feeds.

 

- Forest Community Centre -

Forest Lane gives us our first glimpse of the canal as we cross a green metallic footbridge, but before we turn toward the towpath I'm keen to have a look around Harden. This is an area I don't know so well despite the fact my Nan grew up near here, although the street she used to live on no longer exists. Local amenities include the Forest Arts Centre (which acts as an important hub for the performing arts) and the Beeches Social Club while the main shops are clustered around the junction of Harden Road and Chestnut Road complete with a curving corner pharmacy.

- Harden Pharmacy -

Our canal intentions are delayed still further as we venture into Coalpool, noting the Edgar Stammers Primary School as patrolled by Cougar Security - one hopes they don't set big cats on any misbehaving pupils! Every time I come to Coalpool something else has vanished; the branch library went a few years ago but we now confirm that the Dartmouth House NHS rehabilitation complex has gone along with the adjacent resource base. At least the Ryecroft Fish Bar remains intact, beckoning to us with aromatic wafts of freshly cooked chips.

- Coalpool Bridge -

We however refrain from takeaway temptation in favour of finally joining the towpath, emerging from an alleyway just below Coalpool Bridge. The cut is seriously gunged up with a browny-green algal sludge through which you can just about spot the occasional rusty shopping trolley. In keeping with its 'Curly Wyrley' billing, the canal wiggles its way to Little Bloxwich offering glimpses of Goscote Valley en route. I'd never actually done the stretch between Hildicks Bridge and Goscote Hall before so I'm intrigued to pass the former grounds of Goscote Isolation Hospital (replaced with modern facilities for palliative care). Hollands Bridge precedes the Stan Ball Centre, neatly landscaped on the far bank as a flurry of drizzle makes its presence felt.

- Hollands Bridge -

The Beardsmore bladder is almost as notorious as Mr D9's so a relief stop becomes a matter of increasing urgency. The Beacon Way at Little Bloxwich proves Stephen's saviour, the pub being a welcoming estate example even though it has suffered a few smashed windows recently. Some ladies golf is on the big screen but audible entertainment comes from Gold Radio's non-stop number ones, hence we're treated to big hits from Buddy Holly, the Byrds and Abba. Banks's Mild and a cheese cob ensure I'm fully prepared for the next stage of our walk while Stephen duly refuels on lemonade and blackcurrant.

- Mr B in the Beacon Way -

The resumption of our ramble takes us beyond Lower Farm and out into edge-of-conurbation countryside. Freeths Bridge has cows for company when we plod past a farm, then Fishley Junction feels rather desolate with more rain blowing in on the breeze. The turnover footbridge here has painted eyes giving a sense of being watched as I scramble over to investigate the inlet remains of the Lord Hays Branch, an abandoned offshoot that would have headed off in the direction of Bloxwich Golf Club. It is possible that the branch might be brought back as part of the Hatherton Canal restoration project.

- Hints of the Lord Hays Branch -

The rugged heathland scenery of Pelsall North Common greets us as we near Pelsall Junction, a favourite spot of mine that I seem to come back to every so often. Pelsall Works Bridge is a reference to the vast ironworks that were once located in the vicinity (these operated from 1832 to 1892 before being demolished in the 1920s) - today you're more likely to see swans rather than swarf, and it's a peaceful place at which to discuss fishing rights and Wolves's prospects of downing the mighty Manchester City. We leave the canal at Yorks Bridge beside the Fingerpost pub having probably covered six miles or so since we started.

- Pelsall Works Bridge -

We've a little bit of walking left to do as we finish off in Pelsall village, blue skies threatening to break through almost as if to spite us. Moat Farm Pool looks choked with reeds next to the fingerpost junction (a landmark crossroads happily still adorned with traditional lamp and pointing digits), Norton Road thereafter conveying us into the village centre so that we can collect bakery treats and tiled street signage. I'd never previously noticed the ornamental boulder that celebrates Pelsall's millennium, the settlement having been first recorded as existing in the year 994.

- Old House at Home -

Time for another drink we think so the Old House at Home gets our custom more out of curiosity than anything else. A Marston's establishment with a modern slant, it's geared up mainly for family dining with kiddies zones and the usual corporate stylings; my pint of Courage Directors is decent enough as we battle the bus app trying to figure out if the connection to Bloxwich is due... answer: it isn't, so we're better off heading back via Walsall instead. Arriva's 3 service does the trick, linking seamlessly onto the Wolverhampton-bound 529 and that folks is just about that. The Wyrley & Essington is largely unheralded as a constituent part of the Birmingham Canal Navigations and yet its meandering route does make for some satisfying strolls - cheers!