WME Update Digest: June 2009

Another month is fast disappearing into the ether, and suddenly we're halfway through 2009 already. I guess its time then for another summary of WME update action...

• What's all this for starters - an update on WME Warwickshire? Surely it cannot be! Well, the seemingly impossible has indeed occurred, and some new additions have finally arrived after a staggering 12 month hiatus. The photos concerned are views of the 222 Stratford Park and Ride, the 63 bus calling at Rugby, and a new Exploring Keresley Village collection focusing on the local community centre. I'm just pleased to see this oft-forgotten gallery finally moving again - its been way, way too long...
  
• From that bombshell we move to another of the stragglers that has burst back into life. WME Coventry is celebrating the inclusion of new canal content as Bridge 8 makes its first appearance on the Coventry Canal. A photo of the old No. 4 route at Binley is also worth a mention, and there are additional views of Canley Station and my old friend the 34 bus at Tile Hill South terminus.
• Not to be outdone, WME Solihull has continued its own mini-revival. I thus offer you a Stagecoach bus on layover near Birmingham International Station, along with views of the 26 at Kingshurst terminus and the 17 at Marston Green.
• It's been a solid month at WME Birmingham too. The Maggies pub has muscled its way in on Exploring Hall Green, whilst the Great Stone has increased its existing presence on Exploring Northfield. I can also report additions to Northfield Station (car park and train views) and Exploring Yardley Wood (another look at the distinctive shops on Highfield Road).
• To WME Walsall, where canal updates have been particularly in vogue. The wonderfully named Porkett's Bridge accompanies a second shot of Forster's Bridge onto the Walsall Canal collection, whilst the Wyrley and Essington receives two pretty views taken near Anchor Bridge in Brownhills.
• Elsewhere, there have been solitary bus additions to WME Wolverhampton (the 530 at Rocket Pool) and WME Telford (99 at Telford Bus Station). Lowe's Butchers has squeaked in to Exploring Worfield on WME Shropshire; likewise, a view of a large lock at Stourport Basin has nestled in on WME Worcestershire's Staffordshire and Worcestershire canal collection. And finally, one of my favourite pubs has at long last taken its rightful place in the West Midlands Exploration pantheon of photography, so its a big thumbs up to the Beacon Hotel as it settles in nicely amongst the Exploring Sedgley offerings on WME Dudley.

Another constructive month then, its been heartening to see some of my less developed galleries making decent progress. July could be a challenging month as technical issues could prevent me from making as many updates as I would like. I'll do my best to keep things ticking over, and will be sure to keep you posted with developments right here on WME Blogspot.

A June Assortment

Despite a lack of posts here recently, I have been fairly busy with a series of mini-adventures. Let's bring you up to date with the latest exploration action...

Saturday 6th June: Monsoon conditions meant that a planned Warwickshire outing with Rog and Woody became a West Midlands local visiting Bilston and West Bromwich. The weather meant photos were mostly out of the question, but we did get to sample a selection of pubs whilst attempting to stay dry. Wetherspoon's featured prominently thanks to the Moon Under Water in Wolverhampton and the Billiard Hall in West Bromwich, whilst the Bellwether in Wednesbury provided Bruce with the chance for a family photo. Other than Wetherspoon's, the Star and Garter on West Brom High Street proved something of an experience with Woody comprehensively beating Rog at pool. My favourite pub of the day though was the Trumpet in Bilston, a great Holden's local with a nice jazz theme. One bonus outcome of the day was that the photos I did take allowed for the arrival on WME1 of the Rog Files 2009.

Monday 15th June: Going local in Wolverhampton with a visit to Low Hill Library. The library was purpose built and opened in 1930, and provides a distinctive landmark on Showell Circus close to the local shops and the Bushbury Arms pub. I really enjoyed sampling the friendly atmosphere and getting a few shots inside one of the most recognisable buildings in Wolverhampton.

Thursday 18th June: A lunchtime adventure, heading across to Bradley Lane on the Metro and then investigating the local estates of Moxley. The walk allowed for photos of the Travellers Rest and Fiery Holes pubs, and I also found a curious pyramid shaped plinth by the playing fields that marked the location of Iron Mad Wilkinson's former ironworks. Moorcroft Wood and the 680 bus terminus on Charnwood Close also made welcome appearances as Walsall finally got some long overdue attention.

Friday 19th June: More lunchtime escapades courtesy of the Midland Metro, this time staying on one stop further to alight at Wednesbury Parkway. I decide to track down the Walsall Canal, accessing the towpath via the alleyway up from Bannister Road. There's a somewhat overgrown footbridge to investigate, then I follow the cut up past the Bush and round to Blakeley Wood Road. The outing is concluded with a stroll around Ocker Hill that yielded photos of the Waggon & Horses (home of Toll End Brewery, one for a future Rog and Woody trip perhaps?) and the surprise discovery of the old Crown and Cushion pub on Gospel Oak Road - the building is now sadly a shell with half the roof missing.

So there you have it, that's what I've been up to in June so far. There have been a few site updates as well - I hope to bring you further news of those in a forthcoming digest post - and there's still time left in the month to attempt some extra outings too...

WME Update Digest: May 2009

As yet another month draws to a close, it's time again to bring you up to speed with the latest WME developments. May has been a steady month with some handy new additions scattered across most of the galleries...

• WME Coventry: It's been a long time coming, but Coventry can now proclaim its first update of the year. The new Exploring Canley collection includes photos of the library and the little park at Prior Deram Walk.
• WME Solihull: also making its 2009 bow, Solihull just about comes back to life thanks to an extra shot of Marston Green Post Office. The gallery still needs some urgent surgery though to get properly up to speed again, so it remains on the critical list for now.
• WME Shropshire: excellent news here as Exploring Worfield arrives to provide some further local content. The collection comprises some nice summery field views and a glimpse of the local golf course.
• Exploration Extra: building on April's return to form, Extra comes through with a seaside takeaway hut at Hemsby, two pictures of the Frinton-on-Sea village sign and a look at the footbridge at Wymondham Station.
• WME Birmingham: having sat on Brumtest for a mini-eternity, Exploring Cannon Hill Park finally makes it out of the starting blocks. The fledgling photos here feature the park plants, including some exotic spiky things.
• WME Dudley: Exploring Sedgley now contains a series of shots taken during a walk up the Beacon. Oh yes, and the Jolly Crispin has resurfaced on Exploring Upper Gornal too.
• WME Wolverhampton: nothing too exciting really, unless you'd like a look at Wobaston bus terminus or down The Holloway at Tettenhall Wood.
• WME Sandwell: equally uninspiring but ticking over nonetheless, I offer you Leabrook Methodist Church (Exploring Wednesbury) and a glimpse of the Wolverhampton platform at Smethwick Rolfe Street.
  

So there we have the headlines for May, and unless we have any last minute fireworks tomorrow, that'll be your lot for another month and the whole show will then roll on into June. In the words of Jerry Keller, 'Here Comes Summer'...

Museums Medley

A Bank Holiday outing with Rog and Woody sampling the delights of the Two Museums event organised jointly by Aston Manor and BaMMoT.

• An early start sees me walk into Wolverhampton for photos of the Molineux and St Peter's Church. The Metro was affected by line problems, so I catch the train into Birmingham and arrive somewhat earlier than I anticipated.
• I take the chance to get some rare photos in Birmingham City Centre, beginning with shots of Victoria Square and Central Library. Preparations were underway for a holiday event in the square, with the army, fire service and Aston FM setting up their display stands (or in the radio station's case, a display bus)! Having dodged army recruitment, I track down a couple of pubs that had intrigued me - the Wellington on Bennetts Hill, and the Old Contemptibles on Livery Street.
  
• At half ten, its up to Colmore Row to see if the 9 had arrived. Messrs Chance and Wood are soon on the scene, seemingly a little put out by my early arrival. We wait on Hill Street for a museums shuttle bus, and come 11am its off to Aston Manor with a ride on a classic D9.
  
  
• Aston Manor proved well worth a visit. There were a number of buses parked out on the yard, including a Guy Arab demonstrator, a Midland Red Leyland National and a Central Buses offering branded for the S1 Sutton Link. After getting in the way of each other's photos, its time to head indoors to carry out a different type of photo hunt, browsing the sales stands for any hint of Stourbridge examples.
• Time for lunch, so we head back to Birmingham and track down the Briar Rose Wetherspoon's on Bennetts Hill. Here Rog and I sample some Stour Stout (which Rog refers to as "poor man's Guinness") and discuss future trip opportunities. The pub wasn't as busy as some of the other city centre Wetherspoon's we've visited and this fact made it all the more enjoyable.
• On with the museums medley with a ride from Hill Street down to BaMMoT, a nice little journey via the cricket ground, Moseley and Kings Heath. At BaMMoT we hop onto the car park shuttle, hoping that there might be some extra buses on display at the other end - there weren't. Back to the museum then, where we investigate a motley collection of buses, sales stands and the occasional milk float and I inadvertently get a close-up of Mr Wood's bald spot (I'm saving that photo for when I really need to use it...)!
• Having survived a congested museum shop and toured the modelling display, its onwards again with the help of a preserved Chase Leyland National that conveys us to Alcester Lanes End. Here we change onto the 50 for glimpses of Balsall Heath and Highgate, before alighting at Digbeth for our next pub experience.
  
  
• The Anchor has garnered a fine reputation for its real ales, with Rog and I certainly enjoying our visit last year despite the pub being packed out with Birmingham City fans having a pre-match drink. The pub was quieter this time around, giving us chance to have a look inside, admiring old bus photos and a somewhat antique map of old National Express routes. With Mr Wood on the cokes, Rog and I try some Cheddar Valley cider - the pint slipped down a treat despite being alarmingly orange in colour. Thankfully it didn't have the taste of cheese that Rog was expecting!
• After a short hop on the 97, its into the Bull Ring for a bite to eat at Burger King. The less said about Rog's £3.19 plain burger the better! His mood improved when we visited our next pub - the Anchor was good but the Wellington in my opinion was even better. Here you choose your tipple off a tv screen then order by pump number; the selection was excellent although we decided to stay local with a pint of Pig on the Wall Mild. The pub had a nice ambience and we're already looking forward to a return visit, although whether Rog will work his way through the entire screen is another matter entirely.
• The homeward stretch sees the 138 take us to Halesowen, where the bus station still fails to impress us much. The 9 completes the leg back to Stourbridge, and we finish with some nice evening drinks at the Old Crispin and the Glass before a final goodbye pint out on the patio at the Rock Station with a slumbering Blade for company.

An excellent day all told then, the museums provided a welcome blast from the past and there was time for a bit of exploring and some classic pub experiences too. A fine way to spend a Bank Holiday!