527: I’d arranged to meet Andy at Dudley for 9:30 so the 527 is my chosen route with its potential for soaking up a bit of time thanks to a sedate run through Northway, Sedgley and Gornal Wood.
Dudley: A few quick photos include the Fellows pub, the Heart Foundation electrical shop and the Shrewsbury Arms before Andy beckons me to the hub to begin the outing proper.
D9 leads on: A leisurely walk and some classic nosing about does us nicely for the morning. We covered a fair few miles, starting with Flood Street and the Fusion nightclub where Andy regales me with more tales of drunken escapades (but no pick-up trucks thankfully). We then spot an Asian lady seemingly blessing her dustbin as we report in for an inspection of Blowers Green's old railway station.
Paradise: A curiously-named corner of Dudley which includes a little war memorial plus two old pub sites; the houses where the Struggling Man was now seem to be pretty much finished and we also spot the old Barley Mow pub on the corner with Blackacre Road at the back of the Nuttall's factory.
- Caroline Street -
- Caroline Street -Kates Hill: a backstreet shimmy in Dixons Green reveals a penchant for outdoor sofas, a theme that continues as we progress to Kates Hill. Andy seems determined to photograph one particular corner shop whilst my targets include the Ivy House, St John's Church and a nice view along Caroline Street looking towards Dudley Castle.
Warrens Hall: We are gradually weaving our way towards Netherton and our mission is to try and find one of the vents that supplies air into the underground canal tunnel. We therefore have a ferret around in Warrens Hall Nature Reserve as Mr Lunn tries desperately to locate a vent – we do spot one in the undergrowth but it’s a needle in a haystack type thing. We even cross over and explore the open spaces by the Uplands but although we find a pool there isn’t a vent to be had.
Windmill End: With Mr D9 suggesting there might be “a nice surprise around the Bumble Hole” (sounds worrying if you ask me), we head cross country for a look at Cobb's Engine House, a nice landmark to photograph provided that a bald spot doesn't get in the way!
- Do you think it's getting bigger? -
- Do you think it's getting bigger? -Baptist End: Andy is determined to redeem himself after the vent frustrations so we head up to Lister Road where he reveals the day's star discovery, a little police house with old Dudley County Borough tiles, what a find! Unfortunately he seems to have used up his phone camera memory so some urgent deleting needs to be done. A steady stroll down past the White Swan (with parcel tape windows) brings us into Netherton.
Ma Pardoe’s: a brilliant pub offering a quintessential slice of the Black Country. Today we enjoy a pint of Bumblehole in the front bar, a room that comes complete with ceiling tiles and a backwards clock. Some locals add to the general chatter of the room “’Ow bist Stan?” and that kind of thing. I was surprised that it was Andy’s first ever visit here but I think he was suitably impressed.
Netherton: One pint down and we were hoping for a speedy second but the Bulls Head on St John's Street didn't seem to be open and the Yew Tree on Hockley Lane was catering for a private party.
Dudley No. 2 Canal: a handy little nugget of canal territory starting with Saltwells Bridge and then working our way around by Beech & Sons factory to Primrose Bridge and beyond to Bishton’s Bridge. Its quite a nice section actually with bits of greenery, a hint of a recreation ground and some posh new apartments springing up at Halesowen Road.
Darby End: It really was now time for the day’s second pint as Andy's bladder had been behaving much too well so far. Cole Street brings us to the Gate Hangs Well, a decent local that I'd previously visited with Rog. We try some Mansfield Creamy Smooth and a big bag of pork crunch to get us safely back on track.
- The Gate Hangs Well -
- The Gate Hangs Well -Windmill End: Completing the circle with a Windmill End return but this time it's the pubs we're after. The Dry Dock looks like it's been closed for some time so we have to settle for the Wheatsheaf, which did us alright for a swift half of Boddington's.
238: all this walking and belated supping had meant we’d missed out on the bus rides up until now. We make our way back down by the Gate Hangs Well with the aim of catching the 238, which seemed to be running late due to a diversion. The bus was busy so we squeezed in at the front and had to make do without a D9 demonstration, not that I was overly disappointed as I might have had to sing ‘The Hub Song’ to the tune of ‘I want to ride my bicycle’. The short journey includes calls at Brickhouse Farm (where the Brickhouse pub looks like it might not last much longer) and Rowley Regis Hospital.
Old Bush Revived: The first of our Blackheath boozers and this was a little gem. Located on Powke Lane, it’s a standard Banks’s house in many ways but with its own character complete with a friendly welcome and an array of Laurel & Hardy memorabilia. We enjoy some Cocker Hoop and a tasty cob as I resist the temptation to join in with a rendition of ‘Little White Bull’ by Tommy Steele, the mind boggles.
Waterfall: I could have stayed in the Old Bush all afternoon to be fair but the lure of another Paul favourite was too much to resist. The Waterfall is a Black Country classic in it’s own right although I was concerned the pub name might provoke a ‘waterfall’ of a different kind from Andy’s miscreant bladder. No such problems thankfully as we enjoy a pint of Bathams perched outside on the rustic patio benches - beer and good conversation providing some Friday afternoon moments to relish.
- Cheers from the Waterfall -The Boat: A short stroll round by Old Hill Station brings us next to the Boat, a Banks's local by the canal on the way to Coombeswood. Just a half in here as we join the regulars watching Deal or No Deal.
Blackheath: into the evening as we conclude our day with a Blackheath swansong. It's not an area that I've sampled much pub-wise, so I enjoyed putting some markers onto the blank canvas. The Beech Tree was handy for photos of the 128 on layover and I rather liked the understated period feel of the front bar, whilst the Malt Shovel scored highly for bar snacks as Mr D9 and I stocked up on pork pie and scotch egg tasters. The Robert Peel at Rowley Village had a homely family feel where we dodged the creche to sit in the 'Gin Tip' with half a Cumberland Ale, and the curtain came down courtesy of the New Inn by Rowley Station.
- A Palmful of Pork -
Rowley Regis: Andy is summoned for his lift home and I just have time to squeak in a photo of the Clock on Nimmings Lane before my 19:05 train. All good things must come to an end as they say but it's fair to say the outing had showcased the best of the Black Country with a mixture of curiosities, off the cuff wanderings and some good pubs, just the way I like it!
Blackheath: into the evening as we conclude our day with a Blackheath swansong. It's not an area that I've sampled much pub-wise, so I enjoyed putting some markers onto the blank canvas. The Beech Tree was handy for photos of the 128 on layover and I rather liked the understated period feel of the front bar, whilst the Malt Shovel scored highly for bar snacks as Mr D9 and I stocked up on pork pie and scotch egg tasters. The Robert Peel at Rowley Village had a homely family feel where we dodged the creche to sit in the 'Gin Tip' with half a Cumberland Ale, and the curtain came down courtesy of the New Inn by Rowley Station.
- A Palmful of Pork -Rowley Regis: Andy is summoned for his lift home and I just have time to squeak in a photo of the Clock on Nimmings Lane before my 19:05 train. All good things must come to an end as they say but it's fair to say the outing had showcased the best of the Black Country with a mixture of curiosities, off the cuff wanderings and some good pubs, just the way I like it!
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