Chip Foundation Chronicles: Sandwell

The Chip Foundation narrowly avoided a chip-related catastrophe as their latest adventure took them on a tour of Oldbury, Langley and Bearwood...

- Tame Bridge Parkway -

Tuesday morning and my camera is out early, tackling Tame Bridge Parkway for a few station shots before a steady stroll towards the Delves. My initial investigations also include Bell Lane with views of Delves Green, the local nursery school and then the Tiger pub on Walstead Road.

- Court of Requests -

Fast forward a few hours and at 2pm I await the arrival of my Chip Foundation colleagues fresh off their 51 bus from Perry Barr. A brief campus tour is followed by a ride down to Oldbury, calling into the Court of Requests for an opening half. This Wetherspoon's establishment is housed in the town's former library, a building that previously was a courthouse and prison, a heritage the current interior pays tribute to with vintage bookshelves and references to the justice system.

- Langley Park Lodge -

Moving onwards, our next calling point is Langley where the Crosswells Inn is situated at one end of the local High Street. The area retains a run of terraced stores, some with pleasingly traditional shopfronts opposite the local park - sadly our intended chip shop wasn't open but the Enville Ale in the Crosswells did meet with our approval.

- Dodgy Timetable? Blame D9! -

Having been thwarted in our quest for chips, the bus network decided to throw an additional spanner into the works. We waited over half an hour for a 120 when typically two turned up together, and even though a certain Mr D9 might not be directly to blame we still decided to hold him responsible anyway. Once on board, we enjoyed the journey down to Bearwood passing the Merrivale, the Queens Head, Thimblemill Library and Smethwick Baths.

- The Midland -

Our Bearwood brief required a visit to the Midland, a newly-opened Black Country Ales pub housed in a former bank. I have to say I was very impressed with the quality of both the building and the beer - the bank frontage is very prominent on Bearwood Road whilst within are features including an etched bar-back mirror and a Chubbs safe door.
Well worth a visit!

- The Penultimate Chip -

We were still struggling for our chip quota and further frustrations befell us when two Bearwood takeaways were also closed. A bit of contingency planning was required before the Abbey Fish Bar came to the rescue and the gents could munch their spoils in the comfort of Lightwoods Park where we had the summer funfair for company - thankfully Stephen resisted the urge to go on the bouncy castle. A closing drink in the nearby Dog rounded off this Sandwell session, and it was over to our respective 126's to get us safely homewards.