- Pembroke Avenue, Ettingshall Village -
Priestfield's Midland Metro stop is chosen for our half past ten meeting point, although it seems the Chairman is suffering some timekeeping issues and a cob payout is a distinct possibility. The Secretary puts the extra wait to good use with some local photos of Ettingshall Village, recalling lunchtime visits here on the old 572 Pete's Travel bus route. Features include New Street shopping parade and WOSAL (the World of Spirit and Life chapel) although the William Butler pub on John Street was demolished a few years ago.
- D9 meets a D9 -
Our Chairman makes a belated appearance just after 11 o'clock with his bald spot at risk of an immediate photograph. Luckily he averts the danger just in time by attempting to load novelty songs on his miscreant mobile, the phone sadly resisting all efforts to inflict musical misery on Mr WME. Among the shops on New Street is Gaga Baldy's chip shop (presumably not named after D9) and Angie's Cafe - the latter is the ideal setting for some breakfast as the Chairman meets his namesake bus courtesy of the cover from an old Stourbridge Beer Festival programme.
- I bet he drinks Carling Black Label! -
With a Full English each properly accounted for, we set out on an extended walk to the site of the steelworks. We've only just left the cafe when D9 spies a vintage Carling Black Label sign above Ettingshall Off Licence - this seems like a perfect excuse for a bald spot picture! Sidwick Crescent next and D9 is still unable to load his intended song, although he does manage to summon up a few bars of 'Orville's Song' by way of tribute to the entertainer Keith Harris who sadly died recently.
- Ward Street Railway Remnants -
Ward Street brings with it some railway heritage in the vicinity of the former Priestfield railway station which was historically served by two lines - the GWR between Birmingham Snow Hill and Wolverhampton Low Level, and the Oxford, Worcester & Wolverhampton route with links to Dudley and Stourbridge Junction. Ward Street itself crossed the second of these, whereby the old bridge has been given a stylised makeover with the former trackbed still discernible below.
- The Priestfield Polka -
The next station after Priestfield on the OWW was Bilston West so we pick up the trail along a footpath that plots the course of the line, skirting the edges of Bilston C of E Primary School before eventually emerging at Millfields Road. It's now the Secretary's turn to unleash his song choices with the Liechtensteiner Polka prompting D9 into an improvised dance routine jigging along the cutting.
- One man went to mow... -
In an ideal world, the path would be a well-maintained walkway perhaps with information boards to explain the transport heritage it represents. In reality it resembles an overgrown dumping ground, particularly beneath the bridges where the line passed under Coronation Road/Chestom Road and Mill Street. Our Chairman gallantly does his best to try and improve the situation by recovering discarded lawnmowers and shopping trolleys but sadly he is fighting a losing battle.
- Springvale Sports & Social Club -
Millfields Road is where we find one major feature of the old steelworks complex that still survives intact. The Stewarts & Lloyds Welfare Club was saved when the works closed down, becoming the Springvale Sports & Social Club which nowadays is part of the Midcounties Co-operative. The club remains at the heart of the community with rooms for hire and sporting facilities including a bowling green and skittle alley.
- The Elisabeth Arms -
Some parts of the wider steelworks site have been reclaimed for modern housing, including the Weston Drive estate and Sedgemoor Park. A stroll via the Birmingham Main Line Canal connects the two, although with residential cul-de-sacs and hints of green open wasteland it seems a world away from the days when the area was busy with industrial activity. Turtons Croft footbridge brings us to Overfield Drive where 'Big Lizzy' is remembered in the name of the Elisabeth Arms, a corporate Sizzling pub seemingly popular with diners. Here the Secretary eyes up some discount Banks's Mild as a toast is raised to the steelworks and all who once worked there.
- WME wins in the Three Cups -
Next on our agenda is Lanesfield, a place surely populated by some of those workers back in the day. The metal shutters adorning the Rookery Tavern on Wood Street don't bode at all well while the Forge Hammer on Spring Road is now a cafe, leaving us with the Three Cups as our remaining option for some darts action. Perhaps inspired by the World Championship snooker showing on the tv screen, the Secretary became a man possessed and stormed into a 5-0 lead with something approaching genuine scoring prowess, leaving the Chairman puzzledly scratching his bald spot desperately trying to avoid a whitewash.
- Beacon Hill Cemetery Closet -
D9 did at least win one leg and with his blushes spared we proceed up Mount Road into Ettingshall Park, a pleasantly leafy semi-detached estate with local shops on Dovedale Road. The Three Crowns does us nicely for a drop of Tribute as Mr WME extends his darts lead to 8-3, and the Secretary's successes continue with a super sleeve item next to the gates of Beacon Hill Cemetery. Despite driving the 581 around here several times, D9 had never noticed the cemetery's closet before and is doubly irked when his phone battery dies at the crucial photographic moment.
- Hurst Hill Shops -
In Woodcross we make the acquaintance of Dorothy Goodbody at the Horse & Jockey, her Pedal Pusher being a new Wye Valley brew celebrating a cycling event held in Herefordshire. Hurst Hill then follows in quick succession, dipping into Dudley territory where the Foodliner is now a Local Express store, the Old Gate pub was demolished for housing a good while back and the Gate Hangs Well is now established as a mini Tesco. Paul Street offers a peek at the local primary school before we admire the bowling green of the Coseley Tavern at the top of Upper Ettingshall Road.
- Setton Drive Scenery -
Across now to Woodsetton where a Cottage Spring cob ensures all penalties are paid in readiness for our closing Sedgley session. On a bright May evening it's actually quite scenic looking out across fields with ponies as we approach the Beacon Hotel, even if there is some sadness on route now that the Prince of Wales on Tipton Road has been flattened with new houses under construction. The Beacon soon lifts our spirits though, a classic pub with classic beer - the Dark Ruby was on top form as always.
- The Chairman raids the fridge -
There's plenty to nibble on pubs-wise in Sedgley, so the discerning drinker can choose from the Bulls Head, the Crown, the White Horse and several others. Our pick includes the White Lion (sampling Enville's recreation of Simpkiss Bitter; I never drank the original but I like the current incarnation very much) and Mount Pleasant (a.k.a. The Stump). Just when we think there couldn't possibly be room for any more fun, Mr D9 spots an abandoned fridge-freezer and promptly 'liberates' some Mr Freeze ice pops!
- Driving Duties for D9 -
Those frozen frolics meant the Secretary was at risk of being late for an evening appointment at a cricket club quiz in Tettenhall. We needed a demon driver for just such an occasion, and luckily we had one in our midst with the Chairman soon strapped in ready for some serious steering wheel action.
- Ready for the quiz! -
All of which meant that Mr WME did get to the quiz (almost) on schedule, helping Team Bears to a respectable 4th place with 82 points. It could have been even better if not for some deceptive cheeses that wiped us out when placed second going into the final round, but as ever it was the taking part that counts!
Cheers to Big Lizzy, the Bears and the Hub Marketing Board!
Cheers to Big Lizzy, the Bears and the Hub Marketing Board!
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