An Early May Medley

After my varied April assortments, I now bring you a May montage being as the new month has already yielded a couple of local investigations - nothing too exciting, just solid exploring you understand with a focus on scrumptious cobs...

- Vine Sustenance -

Speaking of which, I must draw your attention to this mighty fine example which I procured from the Vine in Wednesfield on Friday 3rd May. A slab of cheese, your standard red onion and a generous side portion of black pudding rounds all matched with a crusty roll. As is often the case at the Vine, the cask ale was excellent too - I sampled both the Green Duck 'Murder She Oat' (a great name) and Mallinson's 'Jester', as fresh as you could wish for. Visiting duties at nearby New Cross Hospital meant I wasn't inclined to get too adventurous but chips with Mr B and a Cricket Club Quiz at Tettenhall made for a memorable evening; alas Team Bears finished a narrow second after an unfortunate wipeout involving Ursula von der Leyen!

- 172218 at Stourbridge Junction -

Merrily I'll hop forward a few hours into Saturday 4th May 2024 and a Stourbridge area outing with a penchant for Pedmore. Catching the train down from Smethwick Galton Bridge, I keep my eyes peeled for any sightings of George the Cat but he doesn't appear to be on desk duty. The platform is however populated by several anxious-looking Bluenoses nervously awaiting  their connection to St Andrews for the pivotal match against Norwich; sadly despite winning, Blues will be playing League One football next season. A handful of Class 172 train pictures get my camera into gear and then it's time for me to start walking...

- Pedmore High School -

Grange Road (past the Handy DIY store) and Grange Lane combine to lead me into Pedmore, a leafy district directly south-east of Stourbridge town centre. It's been a few years since I was last in this neck of the woods so it's good to get to grips with features such as the local High School (part of the Invictus Education Trust), not forgetting Ham Dingle Primary Academy. Pedmore forms the edges of the West Midlands before you reach Hagley and Worcestershire, with tempting footpaths across towards Wychbury Hill and its famous obelisk. The mysterious case of 'Who Put Bella In The Wych Elm' remains unsolved, referencing the 1940s discovery of a woman's dead body in nearby woodland. 

- Pointing to Pedmore -

Hoping to avoid any such grisly discoveries myself, I continue through Stourbridge suburbia for housing estate glimpses involving Old Ham Lane, Beckman Road and Pedmore Lane. The Saturday morning weather is much brighter than was originally forecast so I'm in my element, noting Ham Dingle's secluded trackways stretching off towards Wollescote or eyeing up any lingering bits of springtime blossom. Swindell Road offers a streetscape of tidy bungalows before the number 7 bus trundles past en route to Lye Cross and Dudley.

- St Peter's Church -

Further along Pedmore Lane is St Peter's Parish Church, a Grade II listed place of worship which is mostly C19th having been consecrated in 1871. The current building replaced an earlier church and there are still some intact aspects of Norman architecture, most notably a decorative semi-circular tympanum set into the stonework above the south doorway. Fluttering bunting brightens up the churchyard and I'm enchanted by the neighbouring cricket field which has its own gate in the perimeter wall. Pedmore Cricket Club currently play in the top division of the Worcestershire County League; their main access is off Pedmore Hall Lane.

- Ember Expectations at the Foley Arms -

In terms of pub possibilities, Pedmore's principal option is the Foley Arms overlooking the Hagley Road roundabout. An Ember Inns establishment, it is tastefully furnished and offers a decent range of cask ales from which I select Wiper & True's naturally hazy Kaleidoscope for a tangy taste of the tropics. Salopian and Timothy Taylor wares are also available while soft lighting plus toffee-toned seating adds a mellow upmarket ambience to proceedings. I can't deny I usually prefer more traditional pub settings but this is very acceptable indeed, and I've got my eye on a Bathams classic just down the road anyway.

- A Seven Stars Cob Specimen -

The Bird in Hand is the place in question, giving me an Oldswinford fix of my favourite Best Bitter beneath strung-out rows of Black Country chain flags. An Absolute Radio 1980s playlist has a Duran Duran fixation while the regulars include a group of cycling enthusiasts seeking refreshment after a lengthy bike ride. From here I'll wend my way back to Stourbridge Junction railway station, permitting myself just enough time for the Seven Stars (Black Country Ales) at the bottom of the station driveway. Homegrown Brummie whets my whistle as a vegan-friendly gluten free tipple but arguably gets upstaged by another example of cob excellence: ladies and gentlemen, I give you plentifully-filled egg mayonnaise and bacon deliciousness. Cheers!

WME Flickr Focus - April 2024

Can you believe we're a third of the way through 2024 already? April has brought its customary mixture of showers and blossoms with a fair amount of sunshine, and I'm pleased to say it's been a solid month in terms of photostream progress too. Here's what I've plucked from the potting shed over the last few weeks...

As was the case in March, our Head Gardener has been Exploration Extra although it hasn't quite managed to maintain its total stranglehold on my updates this time around. Among the prized blooms are a Kendal 2021 sequence of Ulverston mural snapshots, picking out illustrated extracts from the life of Sir John Barrow during his diplomatic career. Sizergh Castle sprouted up with prime topiary pyramids and an orchard view, not to mention some succulent lily pads, while Sedbergh had me trying to dodge stray cricket balls in the vicinity of Loftus Hill.

From the Lake District we'll progress northwards into Scotland where two albums have been lovingly tended to. Edinburgh 2017 receives an injection of Scottish banknotes plus a glimpse of Preston Tower (a historic Prestonpans landmark), whereas Southerness 2022 cultivates seafront stones with a lingering look at my favourite lighthouse muse. Back on English soil, Manchester 2021 nurtures some Navigation Road station seedlings with Metrolink branding and a platform exit sign. A Stretford Washeteria shopfront isn't the prettiest of sights but they all count. 

Still with Exploration Extra, we'll duck into our metaphorical greenhouse to grapple with budding growth from Northampton 2018. An All Saints Church clockface has taken root alongside some Wantage Road cricket stand action but I'm most taken with aspects of Monks Park Working Mens Club with its lovely corner lettering. Down in the South West, Brean 2022 has been boosted by the presence of Weston-super-Mare seal art, not forgetting an airing for the Old Colonial pub or Minehead's 'metal head' cast of characters (one coastguard creation thus far).

That's likely to be the last we'll hear of Exploration Extra for a little while as the focus switches once more to my main West Midlands galleries. These too have been getting green-fingered of late, especially WME Solihull which has propagated two Kingshurst bus pictures (the 54 at Fordbridge Road and the 71A by the shopping precinct). WME Birmingham mulches over to Albert's Schloss for hints of delectable Pilsner Urquell Czech lager, then WME Dudley sows the seeds of Amblecote pubbiness care of the Maverick and the Starving Rascal.

Elsewhere, WME Wolverhampton is not usually one to be overshadowed but contents itself with a spot of All Saints street sign pruning courtesy of Chain Gardens and Forge Road, part of the new estate off Steelhouse Lane. That just leaves us with the horticultural efforts of WME Telford which yields an Aqueduct pub interior (the Britannia) and a branch out of Bayley Lane from Arleston. The hosepipe and trowel are on standby for further gardening in May, so until then please enjoy the photos!

Another April Assortment

April 2024 seems to have developed a liking for double-header blog postings. With Perton and Pensnett already accounted for, I'll now combine two more outings into a single report so settle back and enjoy. First off is a Carling collision around Deansfield with Mr D9, followed by an Acocks Green assignment accompanying Nick and Ken...

- Sir Jack's Statue -

There hasn't been much scope for Hub Marketing action this month with the Chairman and the Secretary both having busy diaries, so squeezing in a quick evening catch-up is about all that we can muster. Tuesday 16th April is the agreed date whereby Mr WME manages some lunchtime photography in the vicinity of Molineux Stadium, home ground of Wolverhampton Wanderers of course. Sir Jack Hayward was club owner and benefactor during the 1990s and early 2000s so a statue of him can be found close to the stand bearing his name; the design recreates Sir Jack's famous thumbs up pose which celebrated achieving promotion to the Premier League after the Play Off Final victory over Sheffield United in 2003. 

- Marston's Smooth in the Merry Boys -

To Hub Marketing matters and 529 buses from differing directions see members converging upon Deansfield shortly before 5pm. A mini Willenhall Road pubcrawl is in the offing, starting at the Merry Boys which is a fairly typical Banks's establishment on the junction with Deans Road. Secretary WME remembers having belly busting brunches here, as well as meeting up for lunches with ex-library colleagues, but today's visit concentrates on Marston's Smooth and some brightly patterned booth seating. Chairman D9 is in good form, regaling all with tales of timetable scheduling meetings and falling off stools in the Great Western.

- D9 'drives' the 529 -

Diagonally opposite the Merry Boys is where you'll find the Cleveland Arms, occupying the corner with Stowheath Lane. Well known as a sporting pub, the Cleveland regularly hosts event nights with personalities drawn from the worlds of football, darts and snooker - indeed, former Wolves midfielder Kevin McDonald is due to take to the stage here in a few days time. We partake of a swift Carling each whilst noting an impressive amount of dartboards and pool tables, then decamp back onto the 529 so that the Chairman can showcase more of his bus driving expertise. A short hop is all he needs to supply some steering action...

- It's A Lovely Day for a Bald Spot Sighting -

A two stop helping hand is all we require to get us to the Beehive, a Coventry Street contender drawn very much from the backstreet boozer category. More Carling here keeps us refreshed - once Mr D9 has figured out which door can get us inside - as we sit under the trophy shelf admiring their Beehive Wolves 1877 flag. A cheeky call into the Glassy Junction (formerly the Malt Shovel) completes proceedings amongst hi-vis workmen and woolly-coated grannies; for a Tuesday evening it's very lively, the curries being part of the attraction. There's just time for the bald spot to listen to some silly songs, including some German rapping nonsense from Die Woodies plus Renee and Renato warbling 'It's A Lovely Day', and the crawl is complete.

- Douglas Road Bird Art -

Three whole days later and Friday 19th April 2024 has Nick, Ken and I meeting up for a spot of Acocks Green reconnaissance. Our resident Bluenose Mr May used to live in the area prior to departing for Wolverhampton pastures in the 1980s, so this outing is dedicated to revisiting a few of his old stomping grounds. We therefore set forth from Acocks Green railway station shortly after half past ten, noting the closure of the Great Western pub (boarded up) and the lack of public helpdesk services at the nearby police station. Douglas Road yields a neat line in avian street art as Nick ponders whether to call in at Jess Phillips MP's constituency office, while Alexander Road offers a former Ken residence as well as a historic fire station premises.

- Summer House, Shaftmoor Lane -

The village centre in Acocks Green is clustered around the main island where Westley Road, Shirley Road and the A41 Warwick Road all intersect, although the Inn on the Green as was is now a Kabul restaurant. We peruse some of the local shops, noting the closure of Haynes Butchers (they had been trading since 1939) and weigh up our pub options which appear to amount to Wetherspoons or bust! We've earmarked Tim Martin's empire for food consumption later on so a ride on the 1 can get us to Shaftmoor Lane, technically crossing into Hall Green. The Shaftmoor pub has been renamed as the Summer House but is still a sprawling suburban edifice; it'll do us fine for respective glasses of Guinness and Worthingtons, trying not to get deafened by Dua Lipa songs being emitted at almost painful decibel levels.

- St John's, Sparkhill -

Needing to give our eardrums chance to recover, we continue along Shaftmoor Lane to the College Arms which remains a fine Stratford Road landmark even with some of its lettering falling off. Union Jack flags in the left hand bar offset some occasional drilling noises and we  rather like the traditional green leather upholstery provided Nick doesn't get swallowed by a devious dip. The Shire Country Park includes 'Blackberry Way', an almost unheralded River Cole footpath which may or may not have anything to do with The Move's number one hit of late 1968. Either way, we emerge via Percy Road into Sparkhill so as to track down another of Ken's previous addresses (32 Blackford Road). The Sparkhill area has become much more multicultural since the 1970s but St John's Parish Church has been a constant presence. 

- A 'Wow' Moment at No 1 DoveHouse Parade -

Sparkhill and neighbouring Sparkbrook are very much Muslim communities these days but do have longstanding associations with Birmingham's Irish population. McDwyers on the Warwick Road is something of a survivor given how many pubs have perished, and proves well worth a look with its redbrick terracotta clock turret not to mention some very creamy Guinness. We round things off with two altogether more modern establishments in Olton, namely Number 1 DoveHouse Parade (our setting for a very hoppy 'Wow' from the Silhill Brewery) and Platform Three (barely a minute's dash from Olton railway station). Cheers all and Happy Birthday Ken!

Lost Pubs from the WME Archives #34

Partly inspired by Pub Curmudgeon's Closed Pubs blog - which I always like to keep an eye on, especially for any West Midlands postings - I started my own series of archive extractions five years ago this month. Yes April 2019 is when the first 'Lost Pubs from the WME Archives' appeared, and I've sadly had enough material to keep the theme ticking over ever since. Here are another five casualties for us to ponder...

- The Linthouse -

Being a Wolverhampton lad, it pains me somewhat to note that every single one of this quintet is a pub from within the city's boundaries - in fact the first three all hail from the Wednesfield area, starting with the Linthouse on Linthouse Lane near Ashmore Park. Positioned next to a Jet garage with an alleyway through onto Shardlow Road, this place had a strong footballing allegiance to Wolverhampton Wanderers. I only remember going here once, for a family meal that involved steak and kidney suet puddings in the front bar. Houses now occupy the site. 

- Noah's Ark -

If you were to continue back along Linthouse Lane towards the Wood End roundabout, you'd soon reach our next bygone boozer. The Noah's Ark had a very typical 1960s Ansells design although the building we see above replaced an earlier inn circa 1964. Perched on Wood End Road close to Long Knowle Library, it would have been in direct competition with the grander Pheasant just down the road. Nowadays it has been converted into a One Stop convenience store with adjoining hairdressing salon.

- The Cross Guns -

The third of our Wednesfield trio is the Cross Guns on Lichfield Road, nestled between two blocks of shops that included stores such as Portland Eye Care, the Penguin Cafe and the much-missed Max Millward's Records. A fairly plain redbrick offering, I recall having Sunday roasts here on occasion with my Nan and Grandad, although curries are more likely to be on the menu in its current guise as the Masala Lounge Indian restaurant. 

- Staffordshire Volunteer -

I lived in Bushbury for the best part of thirty years and in that time the local pub scene was absolutely decimated, not that I can hold myself in anyway responsible you understand! One victim of this declining demand was the Staffordshire Volunteer on the Northwood Park estate, a box boozer which stood on Collingwood Road opposite the Broadway shopping parade. Known affectionately as the Vol, it too became a One Stop store after ceasing to trade.

- Fox Hotel -

Let's finish in Wolverhampton City Centre with reference to the Fox Hotel, a watering hole which would have been a noted landmark for anyone driving around the Ring Road (albeit any architectural appeal was distinctly dubious). It overlooked the Penn Road roundabout from the end of School Street at a time when the Indoor Markets would still have been operational, but is now just a car park space with little trace it was ever there.