March Moments (2025)

Following on from February's fragments, I bring you musings from further potted perambulations at the beginning of March - one from Birmingham and one across Walsall way...

- St Paul's Church -

I'll commence with Tuesday 4th March when a bit of library buddying means I'm back in the Jewellery Quarter once again admiring St Paul's Church, admittedly looking enchanting in the sunshine and being used as a filming location with lots of production equipment dotted about. It's lovely to catch up with Emily in the School of Jewellery, talking about library life over a hot chocolate, while bonus pictures are obtained of Farmers Bridge Locks on the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal between Old Snow Hill and Ludgate Hill. Fans of street art won't struggle for inspiration along that stretch, a 'Heart of the Waterways' creation being a standout item.

- Old? Maybe. Contemptible? Definitely! -

Tuesday evening has me meeting up with Nick and frequenting a few more watering holes in the centre of Birmingham. Our first port of call is the Old Contemptibles on Livery Street, part of the Nicholson's brand with a penchant for pendulous tassels. The pub takes its title from the nickname given to the British Expeditionary Force, a noted army unit deployed in France and Belgium during the First World War. Purity UBU and Fuller's London Pride are the tipples here as we watch BBC News analysis of Donald Trump's approach to the Ukraine War.

- Sarah the Botanist Chicken -

One haunt that Nick and I had never sampled was the Botanist on Temple Street so we set about correcting that over a Happy Hour pint of Cornish Orchards cider. The chain hit financial difficulties earlier in the year but appears to have got back on its feet again now (albeit with some closures), and their Birmingham outlet is certainly memorable thanks to floral-themed decor and an ironwork chicken called Sarah. They specialise in botanical cocktails but have quite a range of wines and craft beers, not to mention a popular restaurant facility.

- The Royal in The Royal -

Two boozers of a regal persuasion are next on the agenda. The Royal on Church Street appears to have dropped its 'Old' prefix, depriving me of the chance to mock Nick's age, although our resident monarch gleefully grabs half a Guinness whilst sitting upstairs in a rather stately dining room. Ignoring any Aston Villa Champions League football excitement, attentions switch to the Queens Arms on Newhall Street for a Theakstons XB Ruby Ale in similarly agreeably refined surroundings. The evening's curtain call is then the Shakespeare (the Summer Row version), bookending our rendezvous with another Nicholson's affair and lapping up the Bard's quotations when quaffing a fine drop of Old Peculier.

- Stephen taking his daily steps -

The Walsall segment of this summary involves a Pelsall canals circuit on Friday 7th March, in which case Mr Beardsmore was my willing accomplice over three and three quarter miles. We catch the number 9 bus from Heath Town to Pelsall Wood then set forth along the Cannock Extension branch, deviating across part of Pelsall North Common where marker stumps plot out the route of the Timberland Trail. Stephen almost comes a cropper in one muddy puddle but manages to escape the perils of squelch suction with his trainers still intact.

- Canal Remains at Wyrley Common -

Exiting the towpath just north of Wyrley Grove Bridge, we take steps up to Lime Lane by a couple of isolated cottages before joining a woodland track which skirts the lower edges of Wyrley Common. Felled silver birch logs and craters of gloopy mud need to be hurdled on occasion but we proceed mostly without incident, crossing above a disused canal bridge not far from Engine Lane. A former railway line connects us to The Slough so that we can join the towpath of the Wyrley & Essington Canal, whereby bridge names such as Yorks Foundry help recall the days when the area was a hotbed of mining, collieries and industry.

- A Paul Pint in Pelsall -

Zigzagging beneath the A4124, we come full circle back to Pelsall Junction noting the bridge widening/replacement works underway on Norton Road (Yorks Bridge). The Fingerpost pub has always eluded me previously but happily the lights are on so we can partake of a pint, even though the general kitchen is closed on account of preparing for a large wake later. Timothy Taylor's Landlord drinks well as we recover from our exertions, Stephen reporting a welcome lack of aching, and prepare for evening quizzing duties in Tettenhall. Alas despite a very strong showing, Team Bears would only finish third after a knowledge shortfall about moth infested mansions trips us up in the final wipeout round. Two great outings - cheers!!