The blog totaliser tells me that I'm rapidly closing in on my 900th blogpost, so I'll have to come up with something suitably monumental for such a lofty landmark. Post 895 meanwhile is much more mundane, merely bringing you up to speed with March's happenings on the West Midlands Exploration photostream...
I don't often start my monthly summaries with WME Sandwell so why not make an exception for a change? Progress here has been steady rather than stellar but it is worth noting the respective arrivals of Gorse Farm Off Licence, the Heath Lane Cemetery Pauper's Memorial plaque (in my West Bromwich album) and a trio of M&B lanterns adorning the various doorways of Smethwick's Waggon & Horses. So there you go Sandwell, fame at last!
Sandwell often seems to go hand-in-hand with Dudley (especially where a certain railway station name is concerned) so I'll go there next to see what's been occurring. WME Dudley matches its erstwhile neighbour thanks to additions from Hawbush (boarded up bungalows on Lower Valley Road), Hasbury (Holt's insignia at the Rose & Crown) and what I might loosely bracket together as the Gornals. Yes that does mean another reappearance for the Jolly Crispin but I've countered that with Red Cow teddy bears and a rustic pub sign outside the Fountain Inn, making for a solid month's work.
WME Birmingham can't be accused of slacking either after accumulating a Harborne and Hamstead assortment. The Bell Inn next to Harborne Parish Church is a longstanding photo favourite of mine (not to mention a mighty fine pub) while Hamstead Hall Road gets less coverage but is still a valued contributor. Stan's Transport Cafe in Handsworth conjures up happy memories of Hub Marketing breakfasts whereas Hartopp Gate at Sutton Park sternly informs us it will be closing at 5pm sharp. Jewellery Quarter businesses past and present join two Big Hoot owls in rounding off my Brum-based update.
I've deliberately delayed the customary mention of WME Wolverhampton to give some other galleries their due but our trusty Wolves content can be ignored no longer. Street signs come as standard these days so you won't be at all surprised when I declare representatives for the likes of Hornbeam Walk (Merridale), Milton Road (Heath Town) and Walnut Drive (Finchfield). In other news, Highlands Road displays some yellow foliage and Hills Bridge on the former Bentley Canal makes an extra showing covered in russet-red leaves.
To WME Telford we now hurtle, grappling with the Granville County Park near Donnington. Dragonfly benches accompany general treescapes in hinting how nature has reclaimed an area once dominated by heavy industry. Elsewhere, WME Warwickshire collects nun-inspired street art courtesy of the Griff & Coton Sports and Social Club then hops over to Henley-in-Arden for a railway running board and a bite of the Bluebell pub. WME Staffordshire tackles a Furnace Grange footpath before holding Hanley (the Burton Stores boozer) and Hednesford (Bridge Inn pumpclips) to account, leaving just WME Walsall trailing behind with a Greenrock Tavern pub sign and the King Arthur at Gillity Village. Over to you April 2022...
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