Coventry was first, then it was Dudley, and now it is Solihull's turn to be subjected to a review of its local bus network. From today, an array of service changes come into force that will see the creation of intriguing new routes (some with an 'S' prefix so as to develop a local identity), whilst some familiar old routes have now been consigned to history. I have done a couple of recent outings in order to record the old network - these will be the subject of separate postings, but first I wanted the chance to reflect on my previous experiences of Solihull buses over the years.
I must admit that my visits to Solihull have always been few and far between, but their rarity provided that extra edge of excitement, with the anticipation of making new discoveries and exploring further corners of the West Midlands proving very enticing. As such, I have built up a great deal of affection for the area, and for the bus routes that provided the gateway to this new frontier.
- My first Solihull route was the 37, catching it from Acocks Green Village with Rog for a glimpse of Olton Station. The 37 will remain a centrepiece route for the Solihull area and is set to have its frequency increased.
- We followed the 37 with a ride on the 69, a route that quickly became a personal favourite. We initially covered the section out to Weoley Castle, providing the glimpses of Shirley, Maypole, Kings Heath and Selly Oak that provided the inspiration for many subsequent outings.
- The 69 is long enough even now, but back then it continued beyond Solihull and up to the Heartlands Hospital (a section that later became the 169 route). I did try out the Heartlands end of the 69 once, but wasn't that keen on it - the bits around Sheldon, Garretts Green and Yardley were interesting but I found the Bordesley Green terminus quite depressing. Both 69 and 169 are being retained, although the 69 is subject to route changes in the Yardley Wood area.
- Another long-distance favourite of mine is the 49, which has provided many happy memories of exploring the likes of Longbridge, West Heath, Kings Norton and Pool Farm. The route will continue to link Solihull and Northfield, with hopefully many more memories still to come.
- The service changes mainly affect the more local Solihull services, including the 73a and 76 serving Damsonwood. I recall the 73a during Pete's Travel days, a bright yellow bus providing a quick shuttle up to the Old Colonial. As for the 76, I remember it as the A6, taking photos by the trees at Damsonwood and at the turning circle down by Pool Farm shops. Damsonwood will now be covered by the S11 route, whilst the 76 is also trimmed back in Brum with a new 85 route set to cover between Kings Heath and Pool Farm.
- Another key Solihull local set to get a makeover is the 40A/C circular. Just the mention of the route evokes memories of visits to Dorridge, exploring the station and calling in at the Forest hotel for a quick drink. Widney Manor and Dorridge will now be served by the S2 (providing links to Olton and Balsall Common), whilst Knowle and Dorridge will feature on the new S3 route linking Acocks Green and Hockley Heath.
- Thinking of my first visit to Dorridge reminds me of what preceded it, namely a ride on the 192. Rog and I caught the route at Tile Hill for a tour of the Heart of England (Balsall Common, Meriden and Hampton-in-Arden) - now that's what I call a proper bus journey! The 192 worked in tandem with the 194 to provide links to Coventry, a baton that is now set to be taken up by extending Travel Coventry's local route 19 beyond Tile Hill and Canley. The enhanced frequency the revised route will offer is to be applauded and welcomed, but somewhat perversely I might just miss the haphazard uncertainty that was inherent in the 192/194 timetable.
- The changes in the Heart of England mean its also the end of the road for the 197, a friendly little route that will be fondly remembered for a visit with Rog to Balsall Common and Berkswell Station.
- And finally, its worth noting that there have been changes before and will be again in the future. I particularly recall one outing I did in August 2005 that was dedicated to capturing Solihull routes that were about to change back then. These included the old 41 from Birmingham to Solihull (via Sparkbrook, Hall Green, Gospel Oak and Streetsbrook Road), and the 42 to The Baldwin via a circuit of Sheldon, Yardley and Acocks Green (I especially recall the effort it took to get a photo at the Baldwin terminus). Both were cracking routes and their legacy lives on in the rather bizarre current 41 route, which will continue to provide a long loop linking Hall Green with... Hall Green!!
So there you have a few personal reflections on my experiences exploring Solihull's bus network as it was. Obviously, the changes affect more routes than are listed above - some of the services I've omitted will feature in my forthcoming posts detailing my last-minute efforts to record the old network, and as for the rest, well they managed to elude this particular explorer. It just goes to show that I can't cover everything! Whilst I will miss many of the routes I've described, I am excited about the possibilites the new network offers for future exploration, and I'm looking forward to getting my first photos of the new routes. Please feel free to offer your own thoughts and memories of bus routes in Solihull.
The exploration bandwagon is firmly off and running in 2009 now, thanks to a local special last Friday (the 9th) that focused upon the Tettenhall area of Wolverhampton. Here is the tale of the trip...
- Having paid a brief visit to Paget Road campus of Wolverhampton College, the photos begin in earnest with shots of the Halfway House pub on Tettenhall Road. The pub is currently closed but will hopefully find a new lease of life before too long.
- Next, to Riches Street for a look at the old school building and the Newhampton pub - a nice corner local on the junction with Sweetman Street and thankfully still open. The same can't be said for the Summer House on Newhampton Road, which was sadly all boarded up with uncertain prospects for the future.
- Newbridge next, with photos of the local shops and the Newbridge pub (still drawing a decent trade through its lunchtime carveries). I branch off down Newbridge Crescent and feel myself almost stepping back in time sampling the rather genteel surroundings, with a selection of impressive buildings that included the headquarters of the Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis & Squash Club.
- I then pop down to the canal for a look at Tettenhall Old Bridge before investigating the recently refurbished Tettenhall Station nearby. The station building itself certainly looked neat and tidy, the old platforms were in good order and it was pleasing to see that a couple of associated railway buildings had also been brought back into use. The complex should hopefully provide an excellent hub for people exploring the Smestow Valley in future, as well as providing a valuable educational resource.
- From the station, I dart across Henwood Road and hike it up Old Hill for a shot of the Rock Hotel. I have family connections with the pub and I'm hoping the photo will be good enough to include as part of my Nan's 2010 calendar.
- From the Rock Hotel its a stone's throw into the centre of Tettenhall. I busy myself with a variety of views of the Green, focusing on the frozen pool and some wintry-looking trees. The Green also provides the perfect setting for a spot of lunch, with my chips proving useful handwarmers if nothing else!
- Next up, I venture into the local estates of Tettenhall, strolling down Regis Road to renew my acquaintance with the Kingswood pub and the fire station. The Kingswood was another addition to my list of closed pubs, although I believe the problems here are more longstanding and the pub has been shut for some considerable time following issues with antisocial behaviour.
- Redhouse Road and Yew Tree Lane lead me to The Wergs on the very fringes of the West Midlands county. I know the area fairly well but this was my first attempt at taking photos here - hopefully my shots of the Crown pub and the nearby Wergs Garage (a former car dealership that's now - you guessed it - closed down too) will provide some excellent starting content for a new WME collection at some point.
- The Wergs is quite an exclusive, desirable area and there were certainly some impressive properties to be admired as I made my way back along Woodthorne Road en route to the top end of Tettenhall Wood. My target here was that old WME favourite the Bird in Hand pub - not sure whether its still open or not, its never seemed that busy whenever I've passed through anyway.
- The walk by this stage was becoming something of an epic, but with the sun shining brightly I press on towards Wightwick. Here I track down the Fieldhouse pub, a charming little local tucked away on Perton Road, before braving Wightwick Bank, a bit of a squeeze with no footpath in places and some scary bends. Wightwick Manor was closed for winter, so I consoled myself with a couple of shots of the Mermaid pub (apparently this was a favourite haunt for Wolves players in years gone by, according to my Dad at least).
- For a final flourish I take a little detour into the Castlecroft estate before catching the 543 back into Wolverhampton, reflecting on a few memories of pubs such as the Firs and the Chestnut Tree and visits to Bantock Park.
I'd been promising myself a proper go at Tettenhall and I think this outing certainly delivered. It was also interesting to see how places are changing in difficult economic circumstances, as epitomised with the local pub becoming an endangered species. I have felt a growing sense lately that local history is taking place right before my eyes at an ever increasing pace, and I hope that 2009 will yield more trips like this one where I can at least attempt to record some of the changes as they happen.
Winter can be a very frustrating time for the explorer, where a succession of grey skies and dreary weather can rather ruin any chance of getting photos. Then again, winter can also offer its own special kind of magic with the prospect of snow and frost adding a whole new dimension to the landscape. This magic was very much evident last Saturday as Dad and I enjoyed a walk around Shifnal and Kemberton.
I must admit I was slightly concerned as we drove across to Shifnal - there were dense patches of fog either side of the A464 and the in-car temperature gauge at one point read -7. It was still bitterly cold as we parked up by the village hall, but once we were underway the temperature didn't seem to matter. The walk was full of interest, beginning with a look at Shifnal itself. I didn't get any photos, instead preferring to make mental notes of future targets. I spotted a good selection of pubs, some attractive half-timbered buildings and the entrance to the railway station - plenty to keep me occupied on a return visit.
Leaving the town cente, we branched off down Park Lane before heading across fields to Lodge Hill. The scenery was delightful, with frost-capped hedgerows, a frozen duckpond and the sun shielded by a screen of fog for a very atmospheric eerie quality. We head down through a farm and then on through woodland before emerging into Evelith, a little hamlet with an impressive old mill house where the weather undoubtedly contributed to the pervading sense of remoteness and isolation.
From Evelith we tackled the frozen mud of King Charles Wood then negotiated the site of Kemberton Mill, complete with footbridges, plunge pools and half-derelict outbuildings. Next was Kemberton village itself, which proved to be the star of the show. The camera was soon in action taking pictures of the local church and the Masons Arms pub, although my eye was also taken by some striking houses that perhaps belonged to old manors and farmsteads. The village hall, school house and little red post box all contributed to the traditional atmosphere and charm, although we did discover some newer buildings too as we searched for Field Lane to lead us back towards Shifnal.
The return leg took us past a sewage works and around the rather exclusive Manor Barns, where we joined the driveway up to the main road. Church Street led us back into Shifnal town centre, providing me with a closer look at St Andrew's Church and the chance for a couple of photos as the church clock ticked around to quarter past eleven. Soon we were back at the car, reflecting on what had been an excellent walk, six and a quarter miles full of interest that had made the most of a beautiful morning. On another day in different conditions the walk would have been enjoyable, but I actually felt we were very lucky, timing it just about right to see winter at its magical very, very best. I couldn't have asked for a better start to my 2009 explorations.
I had hoped to start my 2009 postings on a positive note, but due to issues outside of my control, the West Midlands Exploration galleries are currently unavailable. The site is hosted by fotopic.net and it appears the entire fotopic system has gone offline. Whether this is a temporary glitch or something more permanent remains to be seen, but I must admit it doesn't look great at the moment. Hopefully the site will reappear shortly, and I will try and keep you informed as best I can. Its all very frustrating, especially as I had a few updates in mind to kickstart the New Year. I apologise to any of you who may be missing the galleries, and will investigate possible alternatives to fotopic just in case, so feel free to offer your suggestions.
UPDATE: Fotopic appears to have resurrected itself, so the WME galleries are now available again. The outage was apparently caused by a technical fault, although I am still awaiting further news about the ongoing security of the fotopic system. I shall probably leave off with any updates for at least another week just to make sure everything has settled down again beforehand. I would also like to thank those who left comments warning me that WME wasn't available and then informing me that fotopic was back.
