A June Jumble

Are 'birthday weeks' even a thing now? If so, mine has been a very busy one. Besides deviating to Droitwich with the Chip Foundation as previously documented, there are National Trust nuggets, library-related museum musings and a beer festival over in Shakespeare Country to tell you all about...

- Bookworm Bygrave enjoys the Rose Border -

My birthday itself occurred on Monday 1st June and was spent in the company of Bookworm Bygrave at Dudmaston Hall, a National Trust property near Bridgnorth. The estate has been home to the same family for over 900 years, albeit the lineage hasn't always been especially direct over that time. We begin in the Kitchen Garden perusing species of potato, beetroot and quince, then enjoy a lakeside walk. Perhaps the most spectacular feature at this time of year is the Rose Border, comprising 38 different rose varieties layered up to give a gorgeous riot of colour and perfume. Some of the floral names are tributes to royalty or the great and good of high society - I don't know what he's done to deserve it but Thomas a Becket has two roses in his honour while Gertrude Jekyll and Abraham Darby are namechecked horticulturally too.

- Coquettish Fan Fun -

In echoes of last year's visit to Moseley Old Hall, Emily holds the edge when it comes to quoits by proving rather adept at hurling her hoops across the lawn - an unexpected talent perhaps?Licking my wounds (again), we see what secrets the big house is in the mood to reveal, and it is very much apparent that it remains an active family home. There's an informality to some of the current photographs dotted around that contrasts with the assembled historical portraiture, and we particularly enjoy mooching around the Library with its learned tomes on themes of nature, environmental conservation and country sports. The upper floor also hosts important modern art collections featuring pieces by Barbara Hepworth, Anthony Twentyman and Henry Moore. The 'Fanology: Objects of Beauty' exhibition allows my hitherto rarely-seen flirtatious streak to come out, although I perhaps haven't mastered all of the subtle gestures quite yet!

- Mitchells & Butlers Dray Lorry -

To Tuesday 2nd June and we're still fixing our eyes firmly upon yesteryear with a return to the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley. More of the 1940s to 1960s New Town has opened since I last came and a vehicular addition is a lovely 1949 M&B blue delivery truck loaded with Cape Hill barrels; this was transferred from the National Brewery Heritage Trust for ongoing preservation last year. Elsewhere, the showpiece Semi Detached Houses are more developed now hence veg patch gardens with runner bean poles and a salvaged shed containing hobby printing equipment. You can go upstairs for Liverpool and West Brom football squad photos, plus handbags and wardrobes - I love the reproduction packaging from brands such as Heinz and Cadburys. A 1968 FA Cup Final programme is tucked behind a mantelpiece carriage clock and the costumed character owner clutches a tobacco pipe as part of getting into his role.

- Those New-Fangled Paperbacks -

Today's star attraction (as far as Emily and I are concerned) is now operational having been painstakingly moved brick by brick from Holly Hall. Woodside Library is set in 1963 when mass market paperbacks were becoming a thing. Disclaimers inside books advise that items might offend modern sensibilities but it is important not to airbrush certain topics or authors out of history completely. Nearly 7,000 donations were received when stocking up the library which a) far exceeded expectations and b) means that there's a lot of work to be done cataloguing these on old-fashioned index cards. Highlights are Leisure Corner, green period table lamps and a dedicated children's room showcasing Sooty annuals. The museum's two pubs then earn themselves a visit each - Miss Bygrave being rather taken by sawdust sprinklings at the Bottle & Glass - before we get a glimpse into 1940s grocery habits courtesy of the Halesowen & Hasbury Co-op Store; this is based on a shop which once stood on Stourbridge Road and is pitched at a time when self-service was a retail innovation. Household brands such as Rinso, Horlicks or Kellogg's feel familiar and I’ve even spotted a plate of mock chocolate eclair cakes that look rather tempting - grab a basket and pick out ingredients for Granny's sponge recipe. 

- The Woolf meets a Black Dragon -

Did someone mention a Beer Festival? Ah yes, that would be the Stratford-upon-Avon one as held at the town's racecourse which saw Emily, Jane and I attending for some Shakespearean supping on Saturday 6th June. The ales actually take a back seat for me this time around in favour of joining Miss Woolf in her cider scrutineering, resulting in highly appealing halves of 'Ark' (hailing from the Fleece in Bretforton) and 'Malvern Gold', both of which are classed as medium dry. Two local Warwickshire ciders also require my considered analysis with Hogan's supplying the tannic punch of 'French Revelation' - I like this a lot - while Siblings 'Jiminee Dry' comes from a Snitterfield-based producer I'd not encountered previously. Miss Bygrave is our nominal designated driver, availing herself of Apple Tango, whereas Jane concentrates mostly on her personal favourites such as Gwynt y Ddraig's Black Dragon and Lilley's Bee Sting.

- The Dirty Duck -

After the festival fun, a steady Evesham Road stroll brings us into Stratford town centre where the local bookshops are on high alert for potential custom. Jane's delight at discovering a Star Trek Klingon phrasebook is very much evident while the Bookworm lives up to her nickname care of a Bygrave bargain buy - even I get in on the act by picking out an Alton Douglas title, 'Memories of Coventry'. The Fourteas brasserie on Sheep Street is a delightful place at which to partake of cake and listen to evocative sound of Glenn Miller, revelling in the 1940s theme. Two prime Stratford pubs with theatrical connections bring the metaphorical curtain down on the week: the Dirty Duck can be found on Waterside and has an Actor's Bar crammed with the portraits of RSC thespians, then the Garrick is reputedly the oldest watering hole in town. A pint in each - Brightside Pale Ale and North Cotswold Stretton Striker - seals the deal. Cheers!

The Chip Foundation Does Droitwich

Sometimes the days that stick in your mind the most are the ones that don't quite go to plan but you enjoy them immensely regardless. The Chip Foundation's dance around Droitwich is one that could well linger long in the memory because of missing buses, morning downpours and unexpected pub closures, but we'll keep on smiling whatever the Exploration Gods might throw our way...

- An Artistic Welcome -

Trip Log: Wednesday 3rd June 2026 brings a Worcestershire outing that has been arranged to celebrate my latest birthday. As guest of honour and chief organiser it's imperative I attend but the number 10 bus is conspicuous by its absence and I'm going to be late for the train. Heavy Perton rain is the last thing I need when traipsing to Tettenhall Wood but the other chaps have at least assembled as instructed, collectively catching the 10:50 down from Birmingham. By a process of on-the-hoof recalibration, I progress via Kidderminster to belatedly reach Droitwich at 11:52, greeted by my patient Chip colleagues and an interesting railway station mural which adorns the Hall Brothers accident recovery garage on Union Lane. Kissing couples, lively deer and racing cars all feature as I apologise for being delayed. Let the trip proper commence!

- What remains of the Raven -

Droitwich is a spa town in the Wychavon district of Worcestershire and is a noted site of salt production, with rock salt and brine having been extracted since Roman times. We skip over onto Ombersley Street as our gateway into the town centre, spotting the police station and a selection of 'Hair by...' stylists along the way. There's a considerable promotional presence for the Rik Mayall Comedy Festival, now in its second year and a worthy tribute to the legendary performer of alternative comedy who was born and raised locally. Victoria Square ordinarily would be an attractive spot with the town's library close at hand, but the crumbling mass of what used to be the Raven Hotel is simply inescapable. A handsome timbered building that dated from the 16th century, it had been in a deteriorating condition for some years prior to suffering a devastating fire last August. The site is currently fully fenced off on safety grounds amidst hope of a community preservation project although restoration looks to be a huge task.

- Monarch's Way for His Majesty -

The Raven's sad status means part of St Andrew's Street is closed off so we nip through the adjacent shopping precinct to reach our first pub of the day. The Talbot is owned by Craddocks of Stourbridge and boasts an impressive townhouse frontage at the Old Town Hall end of High Street; internal signwriting suggests it used to be a Hanson's affair and the layout is pleasingly traditional with a front bar, rear restaurant and a curious slightly bulging central passageway. One glance at the ale range means Nick and I immediately home in on Monarch's Way - what else but that for our resident royal? - as a tasty smooth bitter. Scatter cushions featuring pet photographs are a novelty as we chat about cricketing prospects, forthcoming holidays and what our Mastermind specialist subjects would be. I'd probably opt for pop music of the 1950s and 1960s with Ken on FA Cup finals from the same era and Nick tackling the English Civil War, which just leaves Mr B... I'm not sure an encyclopedic knowledge of Warwickshire's recent batting collapses counts somehow!

- Stephen meets Spa Man -

One of Droitwich's most charming aspects is its so-called 'Wonky High Street' where buildings lean at strange angles, the effect of subsidence caused by salt mining. We admire some of the crooked doorways before proceeding at Ken's request to nearby Lido Park, home to an open air saltwater swimming pool which first opened in 1935. The water is heated to a pleasant 23 degrees (positively Mediterranean!) and is fed by natural brine, although we aren't tempted to go for a dip ourselves. Instead we investigate the wider park, meaning Stephen can make the acquaintance of the 'Spa Man' diving sculpture. The park has a fine bandstand (which is being used for some comedy festival performances) and offers fishing provision at Herriott's Pool; Droitwich's cricket and tennis clubs are also in the vicinity, a proper sporting enclave.

- Canalside Chips -

Lunch is in order although my preferred option of the Gardeners Arms on Vines Lane doesn't appear to be open. The Queens Fish Bar can ably step into the breach for our assorted orders involving roe, pies, battered sausage and even a lesser-seen fishcake. We munch these spoils at Vines Park beside the restored Droitwich Canal, albeit our chosen bench gets subjected to galeforce gusts and I have to scamper sharply to retrieve sheets of blown-away chip paper. A statue of St Richard - a 13th century Bishop of Chichester - takes pride of place along with a mosaic documenting Roman salt extraction activities. The tesserae spell out the inscription "Sal Sapit Omnia - Salt Flavours All" with Stephen agreeing that it augments his chips nicely.

- The Railway Inn -

A gentle stroll along the water's edge allows glimpses of Bridges 17, 18 and 19, all of which are short swingbridges carrying footpaths that link to the Saltway main road (although we note that No. 18 is locked out of use and not in the best of condition). Netherwich Basin is a pretty marina mooring base with narrowboats shimmering in the sunshine; the canal effectively runs parallel to the River Salwarpe at this point whereby they both cut a swathe across Vines Park. Emerging onto Kidderminster Road, we make the Railway Inn our second drinking port of call, enticed by the locomotive illustration adorning the pub's exterior. Alas we get a sense of things going through the motions here - we're the only customers and any real ale they did have has run out, resulting in halves of Guinness, Worthingtons and full fat Coca Cola. Daytime telly can't quite compensate for the underlying lack of atmosphere, as much as our entertaining perusals of the Rik Mayall festival programme make a valiant attempt to enliven matters.

- Mr May after a makeover? -

Onwards we trot via a Hampton Road underpass which connects directly onto Friar Street. Two prime watering holes await us within yards of each other, both of them ripe for revisiting after Nick and I first sampled them way back in May 2014. First up is the Hop Pole, a Good Beer Guide mainstay where I'm delighted to see Bathams is a permanent fixture, not just the Best Bitter but their Mild too. I'm feeling in a Mildish mood actually and the resultant pint is an object lesson in how to serve ale perfectly. Where the Railway suffered for lack of patronage, there are no such qualms here; nearly all of the tables are already taken so we squeeze into a raised section watched over by a large cuddly gorilla and another soft toy shrouded in a mass of comedic curly hair - is it a sloth, is it a meerkat, is it Ken in disguise? Who can tell!

- The Old Cock Inn -

When you haven't set foot inside an establishment for twelve years, it's tricky to gauge how much you expect to remember but the Old Cock Inn does evoke a nice sense of familiarity. My archive notes make mention of an ecclesiastical-styled main window and that is evidently still intact (and came from St Nicholas's Church apparently) while the ale range has branched out beyond the Marston's stable to include more guest brewers. Hobsons' Champion Mild is my pick, doing my bit to keep the traditional style alive, and we gather in a cockerel-themed front snug trying to outdo each other in the innuendo stakes. There are at least four different zones within the overall layout, all really nicely decorated, with a boardgame selection available for any dice-rolling enthusiasts. Having first been licensed in 1712, this is a beguiling hostelry in one of the oldest parts of Droitwich so together with the Hop Pole we are most impressed.

- A Rifleman's Finale -

Maintaining such standards will be a tough ask but I'm optimistic that the Arch Rivals micropub could get close, only to discover it isn't open yet. A vinyl records theme is detectable if peering through the windows but there are no signs of life and I'll just have to save it for a future jaunt. Deflated but not totally downhearted, we know the Riflemans Arms back by the railway station is an option having toyed with it as a meeting point earlier - it claims to start trading at 11am but it was closer to midday in this particular instance. Anyway, it's a typical sidestreet Banks's number with a plain bar side and slightly more comfortable lounge, a few sepia photos of the Royal Brine Baths and a handy train departures screen - I've been in better, I've also been in much worse. My closing tipple is a toss-up between Amber and Wainwright Gold with the former just about edging it, albeit sadly not brewed in Wolverhampton anymore. The 17:56 train is ideal in that it takes HRH direct to Warwick Parkway while the rest of us hop off at Smethwick Galton Bridge for our Wolverhampton connections. A testing day but good fun!

Lost Pubs from the WME Archives #44

There are myriad factors influencing why a pub may close its doors for good. Changing societal drinking habits, local demographic shifts, greedy developers wanting land or property for other uses, the cost of living crisis, nearby competition, retirement of long-term tenants, the list could go on and on. Some of these reasons - and probably more besides - might apply to this quintet of bygone boozers, all of which in relatively recent memory used to call Birmingham their home...

- King Edward VII -

One possible cause I didn't mention in the preamble there is road widening, for that's what ultimately precipitated the demise of the King Edward VII in Aston. Perched on the corner of Lichfield Road and Aston Hall Road, this was a highly distinctive local landmark so the fact it was sacrificed to make space for a wider carriageway and boring industrial units is a bone of contention. Mr D9 and I called by in February 2013 having heard that demolition was on the cards, and by 2015 the pub was lamentably gone forever.

- The Bromford -

By contrast, I never had the pleasure (or should I say experience) of drinking in the Bromford, a tavern that would have been a familiar sight for regular passengers on the Outer Circle bus route between Washwood Heath and Hodge Hill. A building of some architectural merit, it nevertheless was consigned to history and a fire in September 2014 wouldn't have helped. Following demolition in 2015, the site has become a base for the Heart of Birmingham Vocational College complete with a Community Hub facility.

- The Gunmakers Arms -

Not to be confused with its namesake in the Gun Quarter (which at time of writing is happily still trading), the Gunmakers Arms in Lozells is our third Brummie victim for this post. Small but inviting, it carried some Banks's branding at the time of this wintry 2013 picture, and I've fond memories of a Hub Marketing visit in October 2015 when it had a throwback vibe that likely hadn't changed much since the 1970s. It was up for sale at that juncture and the premises would subsequently lie empty and boarded up for several years - such a shame!

- The Midland Tavern -

And now for a Duddeston diversion. Erskine Street was the highly unpromising setting for the Midland Tavern, nestled close to a railway line and seemingly surrounded by small workshops and pallet storage yards. It looked in a bad way - especially the roof - in my picture although remarkably was repaired to become a Shisha Lounge for a period. HS2 developments have now claimed much of this end of the street, all part of the march of progress.

- The Stonehouse -

Let's conclude matters over in California shall we? No not that one - the WME budget doesn't stretch to daytrips in Los Angeles or San Francisco - but rather that little pocket of Brum which lingers between Weoley Castle and Woodgate Valley. The district was actually named after a pub, the California Inn which stood in the vicinity of Barnes Hill and Alwold Road, but this post is more concerned with the Stonehouse (formerly of Stonehouse Lane). An impressively large roadhouse, it was demolished circa 2014 with housing now occupying the site.

WME Flickr Focus - May 2026

Like one of those all-you-can-eat oriental buffets, or maybe a box of liquorice allsorts, May has been a month of tasting a little bit of everything. My pick and mix approach has yielded 66 new photostream arrivals so let's assess where that leaves me (apart from craving sweets and curries that is)...

The first thing to note is that - unusually - there was a tense fourway battle for photostream supremacy with Wolverhampton, Dudley, Staffordshire and Birmingham all slugging it out to supply the most material. In the end there wasn't an outright victor as Wolverhampton and Dudley both tied on 12 photos each with Brum slightly behind on 11 and Staffs performing honourably with 10. Reaching double figures for updates in a given month is my measure of meaningful progress so all four can consider themselves recipients of a Paul gold star.

But what of the pictures that brought this about? WME Wolverhampton mostly meddles with Spring Vale (an unexpected fixation on football pitch markings at the local park) whilst also picking up parking personalities outside St Jude's School; WME Dudley deals with Quarry Bank mince pies and Sedgley Thai doll figurines, not to mention Shell Corner Lest We Forget wreaths; WME Birmingham plucks a series of Perry the Bull mascot statues from the 2022 Commonwealth Games; and WME Staffordshire summons Shropshire Union Canal bridges, Stafford platform numerals plus a Spode China Halls lettering extract from the Potteries. 

Falling just short of making it a fiveway tussle, WME Shropshire can nevertheless reflect on some steady accumulation of its own. Shrewsbury leads the way here, supplying Belle Vue pub signage and British Transport Police parking bays, although Shifnal's assistance care of the Odfellows Wine Bar should not be overlooked. WME Telford & Wrekin was considerably quieter by comparison but can claim two extra Quackers ducks in the Ironbridge vicinity.

Handing out the dolly mixtures is the twin-pronged 'W' combination of WME Warwickshire and WME Worcestershire. Warks stocks up its Stratford-upon-Avon goody bag thanks to assistance from the Stratford Alehouse - a very fine micropub - and some station walkway mosaic action whereas Worcs stops by at Stoke Cross, a small settlement on a crossroads below Finstall. Shenstone near Kidderminster isn't that much bigger but can contribute the Granary hotel-restaurant plus a sighting of Back Lane.

Arguing over the remaining scraps, WME Sandwell snaffles a Queens Head pub sign from West Bromwich as accompanied by an overall pub picture of the New Inn at Rowley Regis. WME Coventry and WME Solihull hardly ever trouble the scorers but even they have shown some intent this month. Coventry collects an excerpt from Pool Meadow Bus Station's City of Culture mural, then Solihull scoops up a Purity Longhorn pint at the Tap & Tandoor. I wonder what kind of assorted treats will be on the menu in June?