Station Surveillance with Towpath Turpin

Artemis II might have cast glances upon the far side of the moon but if you want edgy exploration what you really need is hardcore Black Country business with our resident royal. News that two local railway stations have reopened after a 60 year gap impelled us to take to the tracks...

These are exciting times for West Midlands transport developments. The Camp Hill Line has been reinstated for passenger services after an 80 year hiatus (we hope to report on Moseley, Kings Heath and Pineapple Road happenings in due course) while the Midland Metro tram network is being expanded in both Birmingham and Dudley. This particular trip is however dedicated to another key achievement in that two Walsall area stations are fully operational again. Darlaston and Willenhall lost their provision under the Beeching Cuts in 1965 and so finally in 2026 their rightful spots on the railway system have been resurrected.

- Darlaston Station -

Both of these new Black Country halts are currently being covered by an hourly frequency on the Shrewsbury to Birmingham via Tame Bridge Parkway service (admitting that at this stage there isn't a direct link into Walsall itself). Nick and I board the 10:55 Wolverhampton departure for an 11 minute journey into Darlaston, noting Heath Town, Deans Road and the Noose Lane level crossing along the way. Alighting on time at 11:06, we're immediately impressed by the scale of the facilities that have been built; Darlaston Station is a substantial affair above and beyond the basic halt we might have expected. Two platforms can each handle four carriage sets and a fully accessible liftshaft-cum-footbridge has been installed, plus there is ample car parking. Principal access is via Cemetery Road (off Bentley Mill Way) with a pedestrian gap onto Kendrick Road should you need it. 

- Steelworks Clues -

It is worth stating that the station is positioned at James Bridge, very close to the location of the original Victorian-era halt which functioned from 1837 to 1965. This does mean it is a fair distance from the town centre so a bus ride or a good walk might be required. Nick and I have beer matters in mind as usual, meaning our target is the Chestnut Tree on Axletree Way, part of the Junction 9 retail park complex beside the M6 motorway in Wednesbury. Much of the land hereabouts used to be part of the FH Lloyd steel foundry, the company being a major employer until succumbing to rationalisation of the industry in the 1980s. Two ornamental gates offer a nod to the past while the pub is nothing to write home about, a corporate Marstons carvery affair with a penchant for serving extra crispy roast potatoes.

- Charles Richards Imperial Works -

I have higher hopes for our second port of call although getting there involves seeing more of Darlaston's industrial underbelly. Given that HRH is used to the refined airs of Warwickshire these days, derelict factories and backstreet lock-ups can come as a culture shock with Heath Road entirely lacking in any kind of glamour. That's not to say there aren't items of interest here, most prominently the Imperial Works where Charles Richards & Sons were nut and bolt manufacturers of some renown. The firm was another casualty of the 1980s I'm afraid since when the factory has effectively lain empty, its ominous frontage still dominating this portion of Darlaston Green complete with some rather fine lettering. 

- A Crusty Cob -

 To The Crescent we next trot for the Robin Hood, easily our favourite pub of the day and my 11th stamp towards the 2026 Black Country Ales trail. An archery session is underway on an adjacent field so Nick wonders whether the participants improve their aim once they've had a pint or two - if it's anything like my darts, a calming ale could be a very good thing! Speaking of which, my Mallinsons Taiheke is a rather nice 3.8%er accompanied by a tiger bap cheese and onion cob - I like the burnt crusty cheesy pieces on top of the roll. A minibus tour sweeps in just after us and commandeers the inkpad so I have to slink back afterwards and hope the barmaid remembers my face - thankfully she does and my passport is duly decorated.

- James Bridge Aqueduct -

I've promised Nick a waterways segment so that he can reprise his role as Towpath Turpin, although if he's expecting improving vistas he'll be sorely disappointed. We cover a Walsall Canal segment from Bughole Bridge to James Bridge Aqueduct, passing under ramshackle works bridges that have been declared unsafe to deter would-be climbers. COVID microbe art is still detectable in places before I explain the significance of Forster Bridge as the gateway to the Anson Branch (which sadly looks that little bit more overgrown every time I see it). Both of us approve of the aqueduct's venerable heritage, carrying the canal over road and river, in this case the Tame. The best view is from Bentley Mill Way for a full appreciation of its twin arches and a Roman numeral date inscription for the year 1797. 

- A Willenhall Station Welcome -

Skipping back past James Bridge Cemetery and its pretty cherry blossoms, we linger again at Darlaston Station awaiting the 14:46 train. Willenhall is merely three minutes away so it isn't even worth sitting down, and we can soon survey our second new transport tick of the day. I must say this facility is a delight to visit, what with lock artwork giving it an additional edge aesthetically; Ideas, Growth and Innovation wording promotes positivity with lightbulb motifs very noticeable. Passengers have a choice of steps or a zigzag ramp onto Bilston Street, and again there are substantial liftshafts. Nick meanwhile is very excited by a British Railways-era running in board which might have been salvaged from the original station many moons ago; even if it is a faithful reproduction it certainly looks the part!

- Grinning in Gilbert's -

Willenhall's pub prospects have taken quite a battering in recent years with its Wetherspoons (The Malthouse) shutting and that real ale stalwart the Falcon also falling by the wayside. I'll therefore need to be creative to find us some interesting watering holes, beginning with the wildest of wildcards known as Gilbert's. Positioned on Field Street, it presumably must have been a members club of some description but is nowadays open to all and seems a friendly place. Dartboards are very much part of the attraction - they have at least four - and ITV's Grand National coverage from Aintree has many of the regulars transfixed. We partake of Weston's Vintage Cider and sit by the trophy shelf admiring movie star illustrations and motorbike diagrams. I sense Mr D9 would absolutely love it here...

- Who Wears The Crown? -

Elsewhere in Willenhall are a trio of previous Paul haunts each earning another airing. The Three Crowns is very much in horse racing mode, packed out with punters who aren't shy of having a flutter on the geegees. So full is it inside that we take our respective glasses of New Zealand Pale and Ossett White Rat out onto the rear patio, listening in as 'I Am Maximus' wins the famous old steeplechase. I should mention that the ale here is top drawer as befits entry in the 2026 Good Beer Guide. A trio of regal headpieces is not enough for our Nick so a separate call into the Crown on Cheapside tops up the coronet contingent, albeit much of the apparent draught offer is out of stock. We settle for Guinness and Marstons Smooth for the sake of admiring an unspoiled interior (the less said about the throwback outhouse gents loos the better), and the final say goes to a very busy Royal George for Golden Glow and Backyard Blonde overlooking the 529 bus stop. HRH's carriage home then awaits (a.k.a. the 18:03 to Birmingham New Street), and those two railway arrivals can consider themselves christened!

Waterways Walks: Lowsonford and Preston Bagot

Excellent weather over the Easter holidays needs to be maximised and what finer way of passing the time is there than staging a canalside stroll through the Warwickshire countryside. Bookworm Bygrave has researched a route for us complete with the prospect of pies and ice cream...

- Our Starting Point -

Trip Log: Tuesday 7th April 2026 and the temperatures are set to top 20°C, not bad for early April. After an Olton rendezvous to meet Emily, we park up at Lowsonford beside the Fleur de Lys pub (more of which later) ready to begin our walk along the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal. The entire navigation connects the River Avon at Bancroft Basin with Kings Norton Junction where it meets the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, and I've steadily nibbled away at various segments over the years, often with a certain HRH for company. Bridge 41 at Lowsonford had featured on 2021's Beer Garden Safari - during that curious period where you could visit pubs but had to stay outside - so I'm delighted to reacquaint myself with Lock 31 and its associated barrel-roofed keepers cottage. It's a lovely spot in the sunshine, make no mistake!

- Bookworm Bygrave consults the instructions -

Emily has picked our suggested circuit from a 2008 Angela Jefferies book 'Drive and Stroll in Warwickshire' so we initially head in a south-westerly direction towards Wootton Wawen. The scenery is glorious with rolling fields, wispy blossoms and plenty of birdsong as we steadily descend the lock flight all while saying hello to dog walkers and cyclists. The canal narrows in places - possibly at the site of former bridges - with Lock No. 33 (Claverdon Top Lock) being accompanied by Bridge 44, one of those split structures where the central gap was designed to allow boats and horses to pass through without needing to unhitch the towrope. Ingenious!

- Yarningale Aqueduct -

The southern half of the Stratford Canal is notable for a sequence of three aqueducts within a four mile stretch of each other. I've covered the Edstone and Wootton Wawen specimens on previous explorations so my set can be completed courtesy of Yarningale. Originally built out of wood in the 1810s, it now comprises a 42 foot-long cast iron trough which carries the canal above the Kingswood Brook - it is easily the shortest of the three but that doesn't make it any less enchanting for photographic purposes...

- Bucket Lock Cottage -

... and my camera soon finds itself being totally charmed by the adjacent Bucket Lock which follows immediately on from the aqueduct. As if the name alone isn't cute enough, the cottage is very beguiling as a classic of the rounded-roof variety almost unique to this waterway; an immaculate garden is buzzing with insects and the property has been extended over time to function as a modern family home. By this stage Miss Bygrave is realising that my customary fixation on street signs also applies to lock balance beams whereby every number needs to be fully accounted for; we've just done No. 34 for those keeping count.

- Preston Bagot Lock -

Beyond Bucket Lock we proceed via Claverdon Bottom Lock (35) to encounter the three-lock portion around Preston Bagot. We're roughly a couple of miles east of Henley in Arden at this point and the photos keep on coming: another barrel-domed cottage (this time with a grand extension) and appropriate beam angles for Locks 36, 37 and 38 are duly recorded. Our guidebook actually requires us to leave the towpath at No. 36 but we add a little extra on, venturing as far as Bridge 48 for a bonus sighting of Preston Bagot Manor, a timbered farmhouse property that dates to circa 1550 with reddish-brown brickwork to admire.

- Preston Bagot Church -

Retracing our steps to Lock 36, we swap shimmering waters for paddock and pasture as the right of way traverses footbridges, fields and several stiles. All Saints Church is truly delightful, tracing its roots across a thousand years of worship and still proudly displaying a plaque from 1963 when it won a Best Kept competition. We pause to see motherly ewes tenderly guiding their newborn lambs - is there any better springtime scene? - then deftly negotiate a ford, managing not to get our feet too wet where the stream threatens to get quite deep. Add in pretty bluebells and a treacherous copse with thorny branches seeming intent on attaching themselves to my person, and it's been a cracking five miles full of interest.

- Pie Perfection -

Our reward for coming full circle back to Lowsonford is a leisurely lunch at the aforementioned Fleur de Lys. Readers of a certain age may recall when the pub's pies were a common sight at fish and chip shops across the country, becoming a national brand prior to being taken over by Pukka. Things might not be produced on quite that scale here now but pies remain a key part of the menu so we partake of pastry-encased goodness in the form of chicken, leek and bacon for the Bookworm and superb steak and kidney for me; chunky chips, jugs of gravy and a medley of vegetables make this a very satisfying meal indeed. For an establishment tucked away on a quiet Warwickshire country lane, they don't half pull in the punters. Most folk have chosen to sit outside, savouring the narrowboat views on offer from the extensive beer garden although we enjoy the rustic comfort indoors. Wadworth 6X is a decent pint too, good stuff!

- Perkins Prescription at the Henley Mile Tap -

The walk may be over but the day is not, hence we relocate to nearby Henley in Arden and relax awhile in the lovely Jubilee Gardens behind the Church of St John the Baptist. As if a Lowsonford pie was not enough of a culinary pleasure, we obtain dessert from the Henley Ice Cream Company, a family business that has been operational since 1934. Flavours such as Toffee Crunch and Salted Caramel might not have been part of their range 92 years ago but certainly hit the spot with us today! The constant queues outside the shop tell their own story as to how popular their wares can be on sunny days. Two pub interludes finish things off nicely, so it's a shout-out to the Henley Mile Tap serving their own ales based on historical happenings - Perkins Prescription is named after a local pharmacist who travelled the length and breadth of the pre-Beeching railway network - and the Black Swan. The latter is part of the Heartwood Inns Group and sees Emily's Bygrave brain cells being tested through the 1% Club board game. Mental gymnastics successfully performed, it's been a special day. Cheers!

Springtime Essentials

March has been an exceedingly busy month and it hasn't finished yet. I need to bring you bang up to date not just with any old outings but with two of the trips that are nailed-on certainties at this time of year. My annual Stafford Spectacular has been successfully staged, followed closely by that Chip Foundation imperative of a jaunt to mark the anniversary of Nick's retirement. Hold onto your hats!

- Highfield Manor -

Firstly we have Stafford on Saturday 28th March where I'm intending on gaining another two stamps towards the Black Country Ales trail. Before any pub-going comes the small matter of some local exploring, beginning as ever with Victoria Park and the statutory sculptural sighting of W G Grace - you'd think after all these years he'd have actually bowled his shot by now! A little mooch along Rowley Avenue brings back fond memories of the Blessed William Howard School, host venue for the Heart of Staffordshire Beer Festival on several occasions, where Nick and I might frequent buddy benches whilst eating oatcakes. The area around Rowley Park Hospital is private property and I don't want to incur the wrath of any security patrols, hence I head the longer way round by passing the gateposts for Highfield Manor.

- Things Turning Desperate? -

The Highfields estate was last mentioned in WME despatches back in 2020 when I braved the Oxleathers for a pint and also noted other local amenities, especially around Western Downs. The area is now ripe for a revisit and this time my focus will be on more of West Way, spotting a family butchers shop, a pharmacy and a Spar store. One open patch of land offers a mural based on comic characters from Desperate Dan to Popeye and Garfield by way of Dennis the Menace and Gnasher. Averill Road presents downbeat flats leading towards the Rowley Park Stadium and then Highfield Grove feels more approachable, revealing 1930s bungalows and the local primary school. Many of the roads are named after famous poets (think Swinburne Close and Coleridge Drive) which reminds me of The Scotlands in Wolverhampton.

- Hawkshead Dry Stone Stout -

Arcing back to Stafford town centre, I make sure to visit that pair of pubs I'd been promising myself. The Bird in Hand has always seemed very busy on my previous encounters there so an early doors sampling makes sense. Oakham's 'The Hare and the Hedgehog' Light Bitter is pleasingly refreshing as I sit in the front bar, chatting to a group of chaps who've headed down from Sandbach for the day - perhaps Black Country Ales need an outlet in Crewe? Their other Stafford contender then beckons in the form of the Shrewsbury Arms on Eastgate Street which can furnish me with Hawkshead's Dry Stone stout, conjuring up visions of Lake District walls. A cheeky Hobson's Pale in the Pickled Pig is an excellent bonus; the Bank House prior to this had been a Thai restaurant and a coffee shop so to see it turned into a rustic ale bar last year is a most agreeable development indeed - I'm impressed!

- A Blustery Beacon Walk -

If Stafford is one March mainstay, the other essential excursion when spring has sprung is the Chip Foundation's Eastertime gathering to mark another year of happy retirement for Nick. In 2026 the allotted date falls on Monday 30th March with Episode 94 of our ongoing chronicles commencing with a Sedgley summoning. Twelve years of leisure is something that needs to be marked so the gang are instructed to gather at the Beacon Hotel circa midday, although those of us who are of an energetic persuasion have the option of a bracing walk beforehand. It's very breezy to say the least but our selected climb soon has us in position to enjoy the wide panorama atop Sedgley Beacon's covered reservoir, whereby you can easily see Birmingham’s skyline in one direction and the Shropshire Hills in the other.

- Deep in Discussion -

That gusty chunk of sightseeing ensures we reach beer heaven at the allotted hour, just after 12 o'clock. Nick’s love of the Beacon Hotel stretches back to his ‘Woodcross Years’ when he was based nearby for work so we've made it our mission to return here at least once a year ever since. Ken has arrived in advance and commandeered the front left snug on our behalf; this is an evocative room of William Morris-styled wallpaper and a black varnished piano, just perfect for respective pints of Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild and the Purple Peril Beardsmore equivalent. Monday lunchtime is one of the quietest sessions here so we can happily chat about Cornish holidays and the US-Iran Conflict uninterrupted. When the world seems to be going mad, it’s reassuring to have a timeless escape, great company and excellent beer to help reset one’s equilibrium. Things don’t necessarily stand still here though: last time we came we had the pleasure of sitting in the plain parlour after that was opened up for public access, and the conservatory has since been given a reboot to provide additional seating. Clearly the place is so popular they need ever more capacity to meet demand!

- Swanning about with a Town Crier -

Sedgley has a number of enticing pub possibilities and it would be rude not to include more of its Good Beer Guide contingent. The Bulls Head therefore supplies Holdens hospitality with a bovine streak, Stephen previewing the forthcoming cricket season as wafts of Thai ingredients permeate through from the associated restaurant. The Swan is a new one on Nick, although I had been a couple of times previously. The grey fire door off Ettymore Road is their preferred means of access at the moment, somewhat offputting until you step inside and realise it's a genuinely comfortable old boozer. Plum Chesterfield seating and Hobsons Town Crier make for a highly satisfactory call, speculating about whether HRH will be as active in his 80s.

- Chip Contentment -

Operated by Carolean (an independent bus company I can't recall ever riding on), the 224 bus conveys us to Bilston via Ettingshall Park Farm and Lanesfield. Upon alighting, we collectively swoop upon Chaplins for that avowed local delicacy, battered chips. These have a particuarly pronounced orange hue but hit the spot nicely - chief taster Stephen certainly approves - and with that staple requirement sorted we relocate to the Trumpet in order to catch up with Musti, Lynne and Diane. Holden’s Mild to the strains of Nat King Cole and Gregory Porter is hard to beat, sitting among the displays of saxophones, record covers and the legendary drum kit. If we weren't intent on finishing at the Great Western I could have stayed all evening, but Sun Street awaits (via a 530 Banga bus journey through Rough Hills), and the Chip Foundation's spiritual home can rightfully close proceedings. Holden's '5' Black Country Stout is a fitting finale and - with a bit of luck - we'll be back to do it all over again in 2027. Cheers!

WME Flickr Focus - March 2026

Sprouting daffodils, bounding lambs, increased birdsong, butterflies on the breeze - spring is truly upon us and so are your March additions to the WME Flickr photostream. We have street signs (quelle surprise), comic book brains, tinsel-clad mannequins and much more besides - here's what has been occurring...

Refusing to break the habit of a 2026 lifetime, WME Dudley retains its top billing for the third month in a row. This time around its lofty status has been forged on pictures from lovely Lye (Polypipe advertising, the Lye Cross Clock, railway station signage) and Lapal (where I must declare a fondness for the old Co-op frontage on Manor Lane). Kingswinford hasn't been slacking either, bringing forth Beefeater branding and Swan pub pluckings, then Stourbridge has the curious sight of a stretching decorator in street art form adorning the brickwork at Katie Fitzgeralds.

Although not able to match Dudley for a near-deluge of arrivals, WME Staffordshire has been steadily accumulating a healthy batch of its own. Leek has announced itself with a promising selection of Moorlands morsels, the first time that this corner of the county has gained itself a photostream foothold. Fish and Chips, Mandy's Greengrocers, the Cattle Market boozer and the predictable assortment of street names give me something to build on. Other than that, Lower Penn provides Peaky Blinder portraits, Kidsgrove Station a helping of handprints. 

What about WME Birmingham you may well ask? Jewellery Quarter correspondence brings news of Bernard Lowe typefaces and Hockley Street homages, not to mention a remnant of the Swatkins Group's collection and delivery service for their prized trophies. William West & Sons join Shipton & Co Ltd in representing the district's jewel-making roots, then elsewhere in the Second City we find a smiling sun mosaic brightening up Lea Hall's railway environs.

It's not very often that WME Wolverhampton gets overshadowed with repeated regularity but it has taken this demotion from chief contributor with considerable grace (all while probably plotting a return to the top spot). It rumbles along regardless courtesy of Horseley Fields engineering enterprises, Heath Town Working Men's Club and Loxdale's Lester Street. WME Telford meanwhile is of an Ironbridge persuasion for riverside views and a glimpse of the Chez Maw restaurant whereas neighbouring WME Shropshire homes in on Heathgates lettering out among the Shrewsbury suburbs.

The Malvern area can be delightful at this time of year although whether glances at Graham Road quite deliver natural glory is up for discussion; WME Worcestershire weaves in Malvern Link murals and the Retired Soldier pub by way of added persuasion. All of which leaves us with WME Warwickshire for an eclectic mixture containing the previously mentioned brain character (a table reservation card at Leamington's Drawing Board) alongside the Apehangers mannequin in Santa hat and green frock. Until April, enjoy the pictures!