We're Going to the Zoo!

Saturday 24th August 2019 and with Nick's next birthday less than 24 hours away, the Chip Foundation arrange an animal-related adventure by which to celebrate our resident royal's imminent transition from 60-something to 60-something-plus-one...

- Our destination awaits -

Age is but a number of course so there's plenty of childlike excitement as we gather in readiness for our visit to Dudley Zoological Gardens. The zoo first opened in 1937 and the iconic turnstile entrance on Castle Hill gives us our first example of Tecton architecture, fashioned in the Modernist style out of reinforced concrete. We hand over our admission fees (complete with gift aid donation) and plot our way amongst the enclosures for initial sightings of Chilean flamingoes, Colombian spider monkeys and gelada baboons.

- A Sprightly Sea Lion -

It's all set to be a scorching day so some of the animals are unsurprisingly taking it easy, including the Sumatran tiger who stays resolutely in the shade. The snow leopard is more lively, leaping from platform to platform in an impressive display of agility, although we momentarily lose track of Mr Beardsmore Senior when he gets waylaid by the Eurasian lynxes - the suggestion he'd been adopted by the howler monkeys was just a vicious rumour. Among the zoo's most adorable inhabitants are the sea lions, splashing about playfully in Tecton-designed pools symmetrically shaped to sit within the castle moat. 

- A Tall Tale at the Giraffe House -

Being a taller person myself I have a natural affinity with the giraffes of this world so a look at their abode is essential. This turns out to be a rather fragrant experience (to put it mildly) although there is a certain cuteness watching the giraffes nibbling on the hay or taking a gangling parade around their yard. Other star attractions include the Humboldt penguins, some inquisitive otters, and a family of meerkats who thankfully didn't try to sell us any car insurance! A giant anteater meanwhile paces about sniffing for termites in a manner that mimics Stephen's expectant checking of Ashes cricket scores. 

- Dudley Castle Ruins -

The zoo and gardens are arranged upon the hillside grounds of Dudley Castle, originally a Norman motte and bailey fortress that was later remodelled in stone and became home to the Lords of Dudley. The ruins you can see today comprise the keep, a gatehouse and the dramatic Sharrington Range, a group of high status domestic buildings with kitchen, chamber, chapel and Great Hall. The castle was a Royalist stronghold besieged by Parliamentary forces during the English Civil War and also has links to the ill-fated short reign of Lady Jane Grey. 

- Adopting a Sunny Disposition -

Castle contemplations completed we switch focus back to the wildlife by seeking out the Asiatic lions, which are all seemingly shy or sleepy so we can only spot the slightest hint of a furry tail. The chimpanzees are more animated, sucking on large blocks of ice in order to keep cool, while the bactrian camels just have the hump (times two) with a zoo baby proudly part of their herd. Elsewhere, the 'Bear Ravine' Tecton enclosure currently hosts rheas and pygmy goats although there are plans to bring back brown bears by popular demand; in the meantime we make do with a Big Sleuth sculpture instead.

- The Waterfront -

After a sun-kissed couple of hours at the zoo, we bid farewell to its cast of creatures and press ahead with our afternoon activities. These begin with a ride on the number 6 bus down to the Waterfront, a flagship business and leisure development that stands on the banks of the Dudley No 1 Canal. Along with near neighbour the Merry Hill Centre, the complex is built on the site of the vast Round Oak Steelworks whereby the canal used to be surrounded by the sights and sounds of heavy industry. The steelworks closed in late 1982 with demolition taking place a couple of years thereafter.

- Grinning in the Garrison -

Besides the modern office spaces, the Waterfront is the setting for a selection of bars and restaurants. We check out two of them, starting with the Garrison as a saloon establishment with a Peaky Blinders theme - luckily I had my flat cap on hand for precisely this occasion. Titanic Plum Porter goes down well as Tommy Shelby looks on approvingly, then we decamp to the Waterfront Wetherspoons for additional sustenance. Here Mr B Senior shocks us by sticking to the Stella Artois rather than having his beloved John Smiths, while Ken and Nick undertake their own brand of detailed Brexit analysis.

- Delph Locks -

The canal is now calling to us and the weather is perfect for a stroll along the Embankment and down the Delph Locks. A floating market strives to tempt us with canine teatowels as we see the Merry Hill Centre sprawled out below, and we try to imagine the scale of the former steelworks in its heyday. The locks are presumably a much more sedate proposition these days and there are eight in total (originally nine) making up the flight. Our descent takes us towards Black Delph Junction - the Dudley No 1's meeting point with the Stourbridge Canal - noting overflow weirs as we go. 

- A Black Country Classic -

It would have been severely remiss of us to have visited The Delph and not called into the Bull & Bladder, especially as Ken and John may not have been there before. The distinctive frontage features the Bathams bull emblem and a Shakespearean quotation "Blessing of your heart - you brew good ale" (from the Two Gentlemen of Verona); the Best Bitter more than lives up to that stellar billing! We duly partake, sitting in the timeless back room by the dartboard and pondering pictures of a 1913 works tea party. The number 8 bus (Wrens Nest to Wollaston Farm via Dudley) then connects us to Stourbridge for a closing tipple in the Red House Boutique, raising a glass to the birthday boy. Many happy returns Nick, cheers!