A June Jumble

Are 'birthday weeks' even a thing now? If so, mine has been a very busy one. Besides deviating to Droitwich with the Chip Foundation as previously documented, there are National Trust nuggets, library-related museum musings and a beer festival over in Shakespeare Country to tell you all about...

- Bookworm Bygrave enjoys the Rose Border -

My birthday itself occurred on Monday 1st June and was spent in the company of Bookworm Bygrave at Dudmaston Hall, a National Trust property near Bridgnorth. The estate has been home to the same family for over 900 years, albeit the lineage hasn't always been especially direct over that time. We begin in the Kitchen Garden perusing species of potato, beetroot and quince, then enjoy a lakeside walk. Perhaps the most spectacular feature at this time of year is the Rose Border, comprising 38 different rose varieties layered up to give a gorgeous riot of colour and perfume. Some of the floral names are tributes to royalty or the great and good of high society - I don't know what he's done to deserve it but Thomas a Becket has two roses in his honour while Gertrude Jekyll and Abraham Darby are namechecked horticulturally too.

- Coquettish Fan Fun -

In echoes of last year's visit to Moseley Old Hall, Emily holds the edge when it comes to quoits by proving rather adept at hurling her hoops across the lawn - an unexpected talent perhaps?Licking my wounds (again), we see what secrets the big house is in the mood to reveal, and it is very much apparent that it remains an active family home. There's an informality to some of the current photographs dotted around that contrasts with the assembled historical portraiture, and we particularly enjoy mooching around the Library with its learned tomes on themes of nature, environmental conservation and country sports. The upper floor also hosts important modern art collections featuring pieces by Barbara Hepworth, Anthony Twentyman and Henry Moore. The 'Fanology: Objects of Beauty' exhibition allows my hitherto rarely-seen flirtatious streak to come out, although I perhaps haven't mastered all of the subtle gestures quite yet!

- Mitchells & Butlers Dray Lorry -

To Tuesday 2nd June and we're still fixing our eyes firmly upon yesteryear with a return to the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley. More of the 1940s to 1960s New Town has opened since I last came and a vehicular addition is a lovely 1949 M&B blue delivery truck loaded with Cape Hill barrels; this was transferred from the National Brewery Heritage Trust for ongoing preservation last year. Elsewhere, the showpiece Semi Detached Houses are more developed now hence veg patch gardens with runner bean poles and a salvaged shed containing hobby printing equipment. You can go upstairs for Liverpool and West Brom football squad photos, plus handbags and wardrobes - I love the reproduction packaging from brands such as Heinz and Cadburys. A 1968 FA Cup Final programme is tucked behind a mantelpiece carriage clock and the costumed character owner clutches a tobacco pipe as part of getting into his role.

- Those New-Fangled Paperbacks -

Today's star attraction (as far as Emily and I are concerned) is now operational having been painstakingly moved brick by brick from Holly Hall. Woodside Library is set in 1963 when mass market paperbacks were becoming a thing. Disclaimers inside books advise that items might offend modern sensibilities but it is important not to airbrush certain topics or authors out of history completely. Nearly 7,000 donations were received when stocking up the library which a) far exceeded expectations and b) means that there's a lot of work to be done cataloguing these on old-fashioned index cards. Highlights are Leisure Corner, green period table lamps and a dedicated children's room showcasing Sooty annuals. The museum's two pubs then earn themselves a visit each - Miss Bygrave being rather taken by sawdust sprinklings at the Bottle & Glass - before we get a glimpse into 1940s grocery habits courtesy of the Halesowen & Hasbury Co-op Store; this is based on a shop which once stood on Stourbridge Road and is pitched at a time when self-service was a retail innovation. Household brands such as Rinso, Horlicks or Kellogg's feel familiar and I’ve even spotted a plate of mock chocolate eclair cakes that look rather tempting - grab a basket and pick out ingredients for Granny's sponge recipe. 

- The Woolf meets a Black Dragon -

Did someone mention a Beer Festival? Ah yes, that would be the Stratford-upon-Avon one as held at the town's racecourse which saw Emily, Jane and I attending for some Shakespearean supping on Saturday 6th June. The ales actually take a back seat for me this time around in favour of joining Miss Woolf in her cider scrutineering, resulting in highly appealing halves of 'Ark' (hailing from the Fleece in Bretforton) and 'Malvern Gold', both of which are classed as medium dry. Two local Warwickshire ciders also require my considered analysis with Hogan's supplying the tannic punch of 'French Revelation' - I like this a lot - while Siblings 'Jiminee Dry' comes from a Snitterfield-based producer I'd not encountered previously. Miss Bygrave is our nominal designated driver, availing herself of Apple Tango, whereas Jane concentrates mostly on her personal favourites such as Gwynt y Ddraig's Black Dragon and Lilley's Bee Sting.

- The Dirty Duck -

After the festival fun, a steady Evesham Road stroll brings us into Stratford town centre where the local bookshops are on high alert for potential custom. Jane's delight at discovering a Star Trek Klingon phrasebook is very much evident while the Bookworm lives up to her nickname care of a Bygrave bargain buy - even I get in on the act by picking out an Alton Douglas title, 'Memories of Coventry'. The Fourteas brasserie on Sheep Street is a delightful place at which to partake of cake and listen to evocative sound of Glenn Miller, revelling in the 1940s theme. Two prime Stratford pubs with theatrical connections bring the metaphorical curtain down on the week: the Dirty Duck can be found on Waterside and has an Actor's Bar crammed with the portraits of RSC thespians, then the Garrick is reputedly the oldest watering hole in town. A pint in each - Brightside Pale Ale and North Cotswold Stretton Striker - seals the deal. Cheers!

The Chip Foundation Does Droitwich

Sometimes the days that stick in your mind the most are the ones that don't quite go to plan but you enjoy them immensely regardless. The Chip Foundation's dance around Droitwich is one that could well linger long in the memory because of missing buses, morning downpours and unexpected pub closures, but we'll keep on smiling whatever the Exploration Gods might throw our way...

- An Artistic Welcome -

Trip Log: Wednesday 3rd June 2026 brings a Worcestershire outing that has been arranged to celebrate my latest birthday. As guest of honour and chief organiser it's imperative I attend but the number 10 bus is conspicuous by its absence and I'm going to be late for the train. Heavy Perton rain is the last thing I need when traipsing to Tettenhall Wood but the other chaps have at least assembled as instructed, collectively catching the 10:50 down from Birmingham. By a process of on-the-hoof recalibration, I progress via Kidderminster to belatedly reach Droitwich at 11:52, greeted by my patient Chip colleagues and an interesting railway station mural which adorns the Hall Brothers accident recovery garage on Union Lane. Kissing couples, lively deer and racing cars all feature as I apologise for being delayed. Let the trip proper commence!

- What remains of the Raven -

Droitwich is a spa town in the Wychavon district of Worcestershire and is a noted site of salt production, with rock salt and brine having been extracted since Roman times. We skip over onto Ombersley Street as our gateway into the town centre, spotting the police station and a selection of 'Hair by...' stylists along the way. There's a considerable promotional presence for the Rik Mayall Comedy Festival, now in its second year and a worthy tribute to the legendary performer of alternative comedy who was born and raised locally. Victoria Square ordinarily would be an attractive spot with the town's library close at hand, but the crumbling mass of what used to be the Raven Hotel is simply inescapable. A handsome timbered building that dated from the 16th century, it had been in a deteriorating condition for some years prior to suffering a devastating fire last August. The site is currently fully fenced off on safety grounds amidst hope of a community preservation project although restoration looks to be a huge task.

- Monarch's Way for His Majesty -

The Raven's sad status means part of St Andrew's Street is closed off so we nip through the adjacent shopping precinct to reach our first pub of the day. The Talbot is owned by Craddocks of Stourbridge and boasts an impressive townhouse frontage at the Old Town Hall end of High Street; internal signwriting suggests it used to be a Hanson's affair and the layout is pleasingly traditional with a front bar, rear restaurant and a curious slightly bulging central passageway. One glance at the ale range means Nick and I immediately home in on Monarch's Way - what else but that for our resident royal? - as a tasty smooth bitter. Scatter cushions featuring pet photographs are a novelty as we chat about cricketing prospects, forthcoming holidays and what our Mastermind specialist subjects would be. I'd probably opt for pop music of the 1950s and 1960s with Ken on FA Cup finals from the same era and Nick tackling the English Civil War, which just leaves Mr B... I'm not sure an encyclopedic knowledge of Warwickshire's recent batting collapses counts somehow!

- Stephen meets Spa Man -

One of Droitwich's most charming aspects is its so-called 'Wonky High Street' where buildings lean at strange angles, the effect of subsidence caused by salt mining. We admire some of the crooked doorways before proceeding at Ken's request to nearby Lido Park, home to an open air saltwater swimming pool which first opened in 1935. The water is heated to a pleasant 23 degrees (positively Mediterranean!) and is fed by natural brine, although we aren't tempted to go for a dip ourselves. Instead we investigate the wider park, meaning Stephen can make the acquaintance of the 'Spa Man' diving sculpture. The park has a fine bandstand (which is being used for some comedy festival performances) and offers fishing provision at Herriott's Pool; Droitwich's cricket and tennis clubs are also in the vicinity, a proper sporting enclave.

- Canalside Chips -

Lunch is in order although my preferred option of the Gardeners Arms on Vines Lane doesn't appear to be open. The Queens Fish Bar can ably step into the breach for our assorted orders involving roe, pies, battered sausage and even a lesser-seen fishcake. We munch these spoils at Vines Park beside the restored Droitwich Canal, albeit our chosen bench gets subjected to galeforce gusts and I have to scamper sharply to retrieve sheets of blown-away chip paper. A statue of St Richard - a 13th century Bishop of Chichester - takes pride of place along with a mosaic documenting Roman salt extraction activities. The tesserae spell out the inscription "Sal Sapit Omnia - Salt Flavours All" with Stephen agreeing that it augments his chips nicely.

- The Railway Inn -

A gentle stroll along the water's edge allows glimpses of Bridges 17, 18 and 19, all of which are short swingbridges carrying footpaths that link to the Saltway main road (although we note that No. 18 is locked out of use and not in the best of condition). Netherwich Basin is a pretty marina mooring base with narrowboats shimmering in the sunshine; the canal effectively runs parallel to the River Salwarpe at this point whereby they both cut a swathe across Vines Park. Emerging onto Kidderminster Road, we make the Railway Inn our second drinking port of call, enticed by the locomotive illustration adorning the pub's exterior. Alas we get a sense of things going through the motions here - we're the only customers and any real ale they did have has run out, resulting in halves of Guinness, Worthingtons and full fat Coca Cola. Daytime telly can't quite compensate for the underlying lack of atmosphere, as much as our entertaining perusals of the Rik Mayall festival programme make a valiant attempt to enliven matters.

- Mr May after a makeover? -

Onwards we trot via a Hampton Road underpass which connects directly onto Friar Street. Two prime watering holes await us within yards of each other, both of them ripe for revisiting after Nick and I first sampled them way back in May 2014. First up is the Hop Pole, a Good Beer Guide mainstay where I'm delighted to see Bathams is a permanent fixture, not just the Best Bitter but their Mild too. I'm feeling in a Mildish mood actually and the resultant pint is an object lesson in how to serve ale perfectly. Where the Railway suffered for lack of patronage, there are no such qualms here; nearly all of the tables are already taken so we squeeze into a raised section watched over by a large cuddly gorilla and another soft toy shrouded in a mass of comedic curly hair - is it a sloth, is it a meerkat, is it Ken in disguise? Who can tell!

- The Old Cock Inn -

When you haven't set foot inside an establishment for twelve years, it's tricky to gauge how much you expect to remember but the Old Cock Inn does evoke a nice sense of familiarity. My archive notes make mention of an ecclesiastical-styled main window and that is evidently still intact (and came from St Nicholas's Church apparently) while the ale range has branched out beyond the Marston's stable to include more guest brewers. Hobsons' Champion Mild is my pick, doing my bit to keep the traditional style alive, and we gather in a cockerel-themed front snug trying to outdo each other in the innuendo stakes. There are at least four different zones within the overall layout, all really nicely decorated, with a boardgame selection available for any dice-rolling enthusiasts. Having first been licensed in 1712, this is a beguiling hostelry in one of the oldest parts of Droitwich so together with the Hop Pole we are most impressed.

- A Rifleman's Finale -

Maintaining such standards will be a tough ask but I'm optimistic that the Arch Rivals micropub could get close, only to discover it isn't open yet. A vinyl records theme is detectable if peering through the windows but there are no signs of life and I'll just have to save it for a future jaunt. Deflated but not totally downhearted, we know the Riflemans Arms back by the railway station is an option having toyed with it as a meeting point earlier - it claims to start trading at 11am but it was closer to midday in this particular instance. Anyway, it's a typical sidestreet Banks's number with a plain bar side and slightly more comfortable lounge, a few sepia photos of the Royal Brine Baths and a handy train departures screen - I've been in better, I've also been in much worse. My closing tipple is a toss-up between Amber and Wainwright Gold with the former just about edging it, albeit sadly not brewed in Wolverhampton anymore. The 17:56 train is ideal in that it takes HRH direct to Warwick Parkway while the rest of us hop off at Smethwick Galton Bridge for our Wolverhampton connections. A testing day but good fun!

Lost Pubs from the WME Archives #44

There are myriad factors influencing why a pub may close its doors for good. Changing societal drinking habits, local demographic shifts, greedy developers wanting land or property for other uses, the cost of living crisis, nearby competition, retirement of long-term tenants, the list could go on and on. Some of these reasons - and probably more besides - might apply to this quintet of bygone boozers, all of which in relatively recent memory used to call Birmingham their home...

- King Edward VII -

One possible cause I didn't mention in the preamble there is road widening, for that's what ultimately precipitated the demise of the King Edward VII in Aston. Perched on the corner of Lichfield Road and Aston Hall Road, this was a highly distinctive local landmark so the fact it was sacrificed to make space for a wider carriageway and boring industrial units is a bone of contention. Mr D9 and I called by in February 2013 having heard that demolition was on the cards, and by 2015 the pub was lamentably gone forever.

- The Bromford -

By contrast, I never had the pleasure (or should I say experience) of drinking in the Bromford, a tavern that would have been a familiar sight for regular passengers on the Outer Circle bus route between Washwood Heath and Hodge Hill. A building of some architectural merit, it nevertheless was consigned to history and a fire in September 2014 wouldn't have helped. Following demolition in 2015, the site has become a base for the Heart of Birmingham Vocational College complete with a Community Hub facility.

- The Gunmakers Arms -

Not to be confused with its namesake in the Gun Quarter (which at time of writing is happily still trading), the Gunmakers Arms in Lozells is our third Brummie victim for this post. Small but inviting, it carried some Banks's branding at the time of this wintry 2013 picture, and I've fond memories of a Hub Marketing visit in October 2015 when it had a throwback vibe that likely hadn't changed much since the 1970s. It was up for sale at that juncture and the premises would subsequently lie empty and boarded up for several years - such a shame!

- The Midland Tavern -

And now for a Duddeston diversion. Erskine Street was the highly unpromising setting for the Midland Tavern, nestled close to a railway line and seemingly surrounded by small workshops and pallet storage yards. It looked in a bad way - especially the roof - in my picture although remarkably was repaired to become a Shisha Lounge for a period. HS2 developments have now claimed much of this end of the street, all part of the march of progress.

- The Stonehouse -

Let's conclude matters over in California shall we? No not that one - the WME budget doesn't stretch to daytrips in Los Angeles or San Francisco - but rather that little pocket of Brum which lingers between Weoley Castle and Woodgate Valley. The district was actually named after a pub, the California Inn which stood in the vicinity of Barnes Hill and Alwold Road, but this post is more concerned with the Stonehouse (formerly of Stonehouse Lane). An impressively large roadhouse, it was demolished circa 2014 with housing now occupying the site.

WME Flickr Focus - May 2026

Like one of those all-you-can-eat oriental buffets, or maybe a box of liquorice allsorts, May has been a month of tasting a little bit of everything. My pick and mix approach has yielded 66 new photostream arrivals so let's assess where that leaves me (apart from craving sweets and curries that is)...

The first thing to note is that - unusually - there was a tense fourway battle for photostream supremacy with Wolverhampton, Dudley, Staffordshire and Birmingham all slugging it out to supply the most material. In the end there wasn't an outright victor as Wolverhampton and Dudley both tied on 12 photos each with Brum slightly behind on 11 and Staffs performing honourably with 10. Reaching double figures for updates in a given month is my measure of meaningful progress so all four can consider themselves recipients of a Paul gold star.

But what of the pictures that brought this about? WME Wolverhampton mostly meddles with Spring Vale (an unexpected fixation on football pitch markings at the local park) whilst also picking up parking personalities outside St Jude's School; WME Dudley deals with Quarry Bank mince pies and Sedgley Thai doll figurines, not to mention Shell Corner Lest We Forget wreaths; WME Birmingham plucks a series of Perry the Bull mascot statues from the 2022 Commonwealth Games; and WME Staffordshire summons Shropshire Union Canal bridges, Stafford platform numerals plus a Spode China Halls lettering extract from the Potteries. 

Falling just short of making it a fiveway tussle, WME Shropshire can nevertheless reflect on some steady accumulation of its own. Shrewsbury leads the way here, supplying Belle Vue pub signage and British Transport Police parking bays, although Shifnal's assistance care of the Odfellows Wine Bar should not be overlooked. WME Telford & Wrekin was considerably quieter by comparison but can claim two extra Quackers ducks in the Ironbridge vicinity.

Handing out the dolly mixtures is the twin-pronged 'W' combination of WME Warwickshire and WME Worcestershire. Warks stocks up its Stratford-upon-Avon goody bag thanks to assistance from the Stratford Alehouse - a very fine micropub - and some station walkway mosaic action whereas Worcs stops by at Stoke Cross, a small settlement on a crossroads below Finstall. Shenstone near Kidderminster isn't that much bigger but can contribute the Granary hotel-restaurant plus a sighting of Back Lane.

Arguing over the remaining scraps, WME Sandwell snaffles a Queens Head pub sign from West Bromwich as accompanied by an overall pub picture of the New Inn at Rowley Regis. WME Coventry and WME Solihull hardly ever trouble the scorers but even they have shown some intent this month. Coventry collects an excerpt from Pool Meadow Bus Station's City of Culture mural, then Solihull scoops up a Purity Longhorn pint at the Tap & Tandoor. I wonder what kind of assorted treats will be on the menu in June?

Winterbourne House & Gardens

An Edwardian family property in Edgbaston that has become part of the University of Birmingham's wider estate, Winterbourne House and Gardens provide the perfect place to meet up with Bookworm Bygrave over the Bank Holiday weekend...

- Winterbourne House -

It's Saturday 23rd May 2026, the sun is shining, there's barely a cloud in the sky and we have history with horticulture afoot on Edgbaston Park Road. Winterbourne House was built in 1904 for John Nettlefold - part of the family who put the 'N' into GKN - who lived here along with his wife Margaret and several children. The property has many Arts and Crafts features as befits its period of construction, including notable examples of William Morris wallpaper.

- Wisteria -

After a period under the ownership of Harry Wheelock, Winterbourne was bequeathed to the University of Birmingham in 1944 and was initially used to provide accommodation for female students. It would then see use as a base for Birmingham Business School prior to gaining museum accreditation in 2017, since when it has become a heritage attraction open to all (admission charges apply). The spectacular planting alone is worth the entrance fee, with Emily especially drawn towards a glorious pergola draped in dangling wisteria.

- Lupins near the Walled Garden -

The Walled Garden can be found close to the house, providing an oasis of scent and colour where tall lupins mingle with trailing roses and lush foliage, making the most of the sunshine. We have a peek inside an outhouse containing the Winterbourne Press, seeing how historic printing press equipment has been salvaged and preserved. The Old Kitchen is also close at hand, showcasing scullery scrubbing brushes and a large set of shiny copper frying pans.

- The Vegetable Patch -

The gardens would historically have been used to grow fresh produce for the Nettlefold family to eat hence it is fitting that the current operation includes scope for vegetable propagation. We marvel at the sight of cabbages, lettuces and tomatoes although a seasonal approach is taken in order to cultivate food through into the autumn. For some years Winterbourne served as the University's Botanical Gardens and this legacy can still be seen today in the form of the Geographical Beds comprising species from Asia, South America and Australasia.

- Teddy Time -

Having had a gander around the gardens, Emily and I pause for a hot chocolate break (yes, there was cake - a cherry and white chocolate blondie in fact) then investigate more of the house. John Nettlefold's study has an extensive library - Miss Bygrave naturally approves - while the children's nursery room has a cute assembly of teddy bears. We learn more about the history of GKN as a firm, and of Mr Nettlefold's involvement in Birmingham town planning.

- Edgbaston Pool -

There's now scope to explore the extensive wider grounds, passing through the Nut Walk arch of hazelnut trees and spotting an appealing Lych Gate shelter. Although not directly part of the property's curtilage, a woodland path allows us views across Edgbaston Pool which serves as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI). Much of the surrounding land is privately owned by the Edgbaston Golf Club so we can only walk a short distance along the pool perimeter.

- Bookworm Bygrave at Rhododendron Walk -

Back within the bounds of Winterbourne, we burrow between pretty rhododendron bushes to reach the Japanese Bridge and a rock garden. Stepping stones take you across the stream and some of the leaves are absolutely humongous! A bench by the Tall Stones - a sculptural piece formed of a trio of shards - allows us to relax and enjoy the lawn tranquility. There are quite a few art pieces dotted around actually, with a carved specimen called 'A Fine Balance' proving a fan favourite which celebrates the importance of bees.

- Something Succulent? -

We've almost finished our tour but haven't yet glanced among the glasshouses. These are themed according to their contents so we have orchids, alpines, succulents - with some very prickly looking cacti - and even a section for carnivorous plants where we manage to avoid being eaten. We must allow time for the Bookworm to do what she does best, namely peruse the shelves of the second hand bookshop. Emily is in her element!

- Bravo for Bavo -

The bookish angle doesn't end there, for there's more retail therapy on the cards when we continue into Kings Heath. The Book Tower on Poplar Road is not a shop either of us knew about - I sense it could become a regular haunt though - then the Oxfam store on Kings Heath High Street comes up trumps for promising paperback finds and even a Paulish local history purchase. The afternoon concludes with a couple of drinks in the vicinity of York Road where the Juke and Schooners effectively face each other across cosmopolitan al fresco beer tables. Bavo Lager is very refreshing in the former, listening to jukebox tunes amidst a cooling pink interior, before God's Twisted Sister Stout goes down nicely at Schooners, admiring a map pinpointing the locations of craft breweries across the West Midlands. Cheers!

Darlaston Clubbing with Mr D9

After an enforced gap in April because of family commitments, Chairman D9 declares himself in need of a Hub Marketing session. Donning our thinking caps, we settle on a Darlaston Doorstep arrangement which should account for a couple of interesting club-type venues. Here comes the tale of the trip...

- The Fiery Grill -

Trip Log: Tuesday 19th May 2026 and our starting point is a very familiar one. Admittedly the Fiery Grill (previously the Fiery Holes prior to its Desi-style makeover) usually serves us as a nightcap location, but its proximity to Bradley Lane Metro stop makes it the ideal place for the Secretary to await Mr D9's arrival. A bar side perch amidst hexagonal patterned fabrics works well enough when armed with £4 pints of Carling, and the pub seems to be doing a brisk trade in curry orders whilst still having a steady supply of early evening regulars. The Chairman's appearance brings news of driver wakes and missed buffets with the bald one lamenting not being able to attend a celebration of life at Smethwick Labour Club.

- Studious Steering on the 79 -

Venturing deeper into the housing estates of Moxley, Charnwood Close and Queen Street combine so that we can intercept the 79 on the A41. We're not on board very long, the bus serving as a helping hand to get us into Darlaston where we will alight opposite the Asda, but there is time enough to showcase a certain someone's famed steering technique. Memories of the Stowlawn Gobbler and D9's bus-hopping youth come flooding back before attentions turn once again to matters of beer. We mustn't dilly dally as there's a lot to squeeze in and the Chairman is insistent that dead mileage is not an option - to the next haunt we must go...

- Cheerful in the Con Club -

The said second port of call is the Con Club on Little Cross Street, a venue we chickened out of sampling last October so there's added determination to include it tonight. Two large rooms give a choice of plush bar or an entertainment lounge with us picking the latter, obtaining more Carling in the process. Whenever we do anything with a Tory bias there's always a worry that one or other of us will burst into flames through political disgruntlement but there's no risk of spontaneous combustion here; in fact, you wouldn't really know it was a Conservative Club at all these days and any mention of Mrs Thatcher is thankfully kept to a minimum. Groceries and toys are piled high on the stage, perhaps through some kind of food bank operation unless an extremely well-stocked raffle is imminent. 

- The Green House Effect? -

Picking our way over wobbly Con Club car park steps past colourfully-painted planters made out of old tyres, we shuffle across to Blockall where some conveniently positioned temporary traffic lights delay the number 37 bus enough for us to reach the stop. Another short ride soon has us bearing down upon Willenhall Road, eyeing up the former Garringtons offices which now function as a sauna suite. We're not keen on the idea of disrobing in a steamy room with lots of strangers although the building's frontage does distract the bald spot momentarily. We would however like to try Garro's Pool Hall next door but it isn't open yet, despite a growing throng of potential punters congregating outside wanting to put their cues to good use.

- Beard Close Indignation -

The amount of derelict factories in the vicinity is an unmistakable sign of Darlaston's industrial decline, and with the prospect that Garro's might still be gettable later, we head to the Robin Hood on The Crescent to fill the gap. This Black Country Ales establishment is very dangerous as far as the Chairman is concerned - he has been known to have extended sessions here in the company of old scheduling colleagues - so the Secretary has to be very strict about this being a one pint only visit. BFG and Mallinsons Columbus are the tipples in question and the quality of both the beer and the pub as a whole really shines through. Returning to Darlaston, we declare our silly songs - a brace of Joan Sims novelties, 'Oh Not Again Ken' and 'Hurry Up Gran' - then pose for photocalls at both the Bargain Hub and Beard Close, with the latter seemingly eliciting a certain degree of D9 mock grumpiness.

- Grappling with Garro's -

There's still no joy at Garro's, although we are told that the staff are on their way, so a further contingency call is required. We first sampled the Nags Head at Darlaston Green on a Myvod Moments trip in April 2015 and it doesn't appear to have altered much - a down-to-earth vibe punctuated by shelves full of sporting trophies, plus window art promoting their satellite sport subscriptions. One swift Carling there precedes it being third time lucky back at Garro's which has now belatedly opened. It has a basic set-up very much focused around a multitude of pool tables and the lager here is very frothy, meaning Mr D9 gets given some extra dregs free of charge. A friendly place with a huge dog bouncing around for added fun factor, we're very glad we put the effort in trying to include it. With that, time is fast running out but an obliging 79 connection means we can make it a Fiery Grill double before the curtain falls. Cheers!

Twenty Years On...

May 17th 2006 marked my very first post on the West Midlands Exploration blog, and here I am twenty years later still waffling away with my observations on life and the universe (but mainly pubs, beer and cricket). This notable anniversary seems like as good a point as any at which to pause and reflect on why I've stuck with it so long, although the fact I enjoy putting together my bits and pieces of writing remains as central to things now as it was at the start...

That first ever entry was a simple one:

Welcome to the West Midlands Exploration blogspot. This is where I shall post any ideas, news, comments and other trivial nonsense that I can think of with regard to the West Midlands Exploration galleries at http://wme.fotopic.net - or at least thats the plan.

Hopefully this will turn into a useful running commentary on gallery updates and recent outings, as well as providing me with another place to reflect upon the many outings I have already done. So, part diary, part personal planner, part memory bank, part discussion board. Enjoy the blog!

Paul

The focus then - as indeed it still is now but to a lesser extent - was on building my archive of local photographs and having a place to discuss my plans. Those original Fotopic galleries have long gone but I've been settled on Flickr since 2011 and continue to issue photostream updates there on a regular basis, hence my monthly 'Flickr Focus' summaries of new arrivals. I'll never be the best photographer in the world and some of my interests are niche to put it mildly (a certain street sign obsession being a case in point), but having my camera with me simply gives me a great excuse to be out and about getting to know places. It's a wonderful hobby, and it's true to say that the 8,000+ images I currently have published on Flickr are just the tip of the iceberg in terms of the amount of pictures I've actually taken down the years!

Back in the beginning, one fundamental thing was clear - that the blog was essentially for me as an outlet for my thoughts, a personal indulgence if you will. I didn't really care then whether anybody else reads it - and still don't - although of course it is nice to receive the occasional comment when one of my posts strikes a chord with someone else. Through endurance or longevity (perhaps sheer persistence), I've amassed a record of a region undergoing change from the point of view of one observer. More importantly though, the blog charts my various friendships and has come to capture so many lovely memories made with people who mean a lot to me. The cast of characters will change over time but special thanks go to Mr D9, Nick, Stephen, Mr B Senior, Rog, Woody, Jane, Emily and my family for all your support.

Back in May 2006, Tony Blair was the Prime Minister, Queen Elizabeth II was on the throne and 'Crazy' by Gnarls Barkley was top of the charts. Now we have Keir Starmer, King Charles III (otherwise known as Nick), and whichever pop darling is the current flavour of the month. Aside from photography, I still retain my initial fascination in public transport - as my recent outings sampling new West Midlands railway stations prove - and canals, while pubs and cask ales are another recurring thread. I've lost count of the amount of personal favourite hostelries I've declared now but it's a list that seemingly keeps growing despite a litany of sad closures. The West Midlands as a region remains close to my heart with a special affection reserved for the Black Country, although technically I now live in South Staffordshire. 

So what of the future? I plan to keep on exploring, taking my pictures and compiling my trip reports much as I do now. Whether I'll always write at least five new posts per month remains to be seen, likewise whether I'll run out of material for the Lost Pubs series - I haven't yet! There are still so many places I'd like to see, people to meet and Warwickshire matches to attend, plus lovely ales to drink. Maybe I'll still be hacking away at my keyboard in another twenty years, reflecting on lord knows what! As long as I stay healthy and keep having fun, anything seems possible so thanks for reading and onwards we go to the next adventure...

The Snoopy Trail at Trentham Gardens

The Trentham Estate is one of the most popular visitor attractions in the Stoke-on-Trent city area, providing people from the Potteries and further afield with hundreds of acres of beautiful parkland, not to mention a Shopping Village, Monkey Forest and ancient woodland. The crowning glory has to be Trentham Gardens, an Italianate landscaped complex designed by the legendary Capability Brown, and it is these which have been playing host to a dozen Snoopy sculptures over the last month or so...

- Classic Snoopy -

It's Sunday 3rd May as Bookworm Bygrave and I descend upon Trentham from our Leek base for the Bank Holiday weekend. The gardens are nationally renowned and occupy the grounds of what used to be Trentham Hall; much of the big house was demolished in the 1910s due to unsustainable maintenance costs but some buildings remain in situ as romanic ruins, namely the Grand Entrance and Orangery. Cumulatively, the vast site covers hundreds upon hundreds of acres and has a large ornamental lake as accompanied by the River Trent. We navigate the shoppers car park, pay our admission fees (£15 for adults during the summer season), pick up our Trentham Trail Explorer Pack and immediately meet our first target, 'Classic Snoopy' seeing everyone's beloved beagle relaxing atop his kennel.

- Golden Hound -

It’s fair to say we’re both extremely excited about this. Regular readers will know I love any Wild in Art public art events anyway but Emily is a confirmed admirer of all things Peanuts as my Instagram algorithm can well testify! Taking place from 27th March to 4th May (hence this being the penultimate day), the trail is formed of 12 doghouse-shaped sculptures each with a reclining Snoopy on the roof. Our second specimen is 'Golden Hound' with its gilded shimmer and illustrations that resemble a catalogue of pressed flowers. It is delightfully positioned close to a special border planted in partnership with David Austin Roses, showcasing the beauty of English roses as part of a 2024 collaboration.

- The Candy Prince -

As if the Peanuts proliferation isn't fun enough, Trentham have their own Spring Bulb Festival on the go which means an additional array of characters are dotted about. Seemingly taking inspiration from the successful Traitors television series, the idea is that 'Tulip Claudia' sets you off on a task to discover an imposter flower which doesn't grow from a bulb at all. It's an imaginative way of getting youngsters to think about and enjoy horticulture, hence we soon spot the Candy Prince (wielding his spiral lollipop), Jetfire (with a daffodil lapel) and Flora (nominated as the head gardener) amongst other painted wooden placards. Dandelion presents a certain roguish look, his seeds ready to blow away on the breeze.

- Tales for Tails -

Back with the beagles and each Snoopy staging post has its own stamp which you can use to perforate your guide booklet; admittedly some of these work better than others but it's nice to punch your passport as you progress. 'Tales for Tails' is an early contender to be our favourite of all the sculptures because of its play on words. The kennel lid resembles two literary book covers - one for A Tail of Two Lovers by William Shakespaw, the other for Romeo & Drooliet - while the base boasts bookshelves stocked with Lord of the Fleas and Around the Garden in 80 Seconds. Putting a canine spin on fiction-themed puns makes this a winner in Bygrave eyes and it's very hard for me to disagree...

- Fungi's House -

Emily however is a nature lover too and therefore declares herself impressed by 'Fungi's House' with its striking red-and-white-spotted toadstool cap roof plus blue tit depictions. Avian representation is extended further by 'Snoopy's Songbird Chorus' for fans of robins, pigeons and turtle doves, all framed within a snowtopped setting to emphasise how resilient birds are during the winter months. I hadn't realised that the Peanuts cartoon strips first debuted back in 1950 when Charles M. Schulz introduced the likes of Charlie Brown to newspaper audiences; 75+ years later his creations continue to be enjoyed with worldwide affection.

- I Need More Space -

Gravitating gently towards the tearooms and an adventure play area, we next note 'Plant Dreams, Harvest Joy' in a secluded sensory space. This sculpture's design is reminiscent of greenhouse windows with crisscross panes and hints of fruit, strawberries and tomatoes to be precise. Nearby, 'I Need More Space' takes a reflective cosmic approach with ringed planets and starry constellations, then 'Garden of Delights' beckons across towards the Food Festival marquees. Cathy Simpson has decorated this one with peaches, a crowing cockerel and buzzing wasps for another fruity, nature-tinged example.

- Woodstock Waits -

And the treats keep on coming! We take a break from the sculptural stuff by bravely entering Trentham's resident 'Hide and Speak' maze, fashioned from tall hedges with several deceptive dead ends. Seven Peanuts personalities are lurking inside although finding them all proves quite the challenge because it's easy to become disorientated among the walls of leafage. Lucy and Peppermint Pattie encouragingly have us on the right track to start with before Charlie Brown declares his noted presence, each character shown in an orange spacesuit. The maze's central mound has Woodstock at one end of the coiled path and Snoopy at the other, astronaut helmets affixed in both cases. After this point it feels like we're going round in circles seeing the same ones repeatedly but Franklin and Sally are located eventually. 

- Dreaming of the Mountains -

With some relief, we make it out of the maze without getting totally lost and reward ourselves with double scoop ice cream, combining flavours of honeycomb, chocolate brownie and vanilla clotted cream. There are four sculptures left to find and the next two are close to the lake's north-eastern shores: 'Dreaming of the Mountains' conjures up a sense of all things Alpine thanks to a crisp wintry sky, pine trees and ice-capped peaks, whereas 'Home Sweet Home' evokes thoughts of Hansel and Gretel, gingerbread residences and candy canes aplenty.

- Grrrrrrnarly Beach Hut -

We're almost done and the final two finds require us to head back towards the main entrance and then follow the River Trent along the lake's southern edge. 'Grrrrrnarly Beach Hut' speaks of the seaside with kite-flying and deckchair stripes, then last of the twelve comes 'Riverbank' with its nod to swans, herons and other watery wildlife - very effective, as indeed are some adjacent treetrunk carvings featuring otters, beavers and fish shoals. We've loved doing the trail and indulging our liking for a little black and white dog, an excellent way of spending a steady Sunday in Staffordshire. Cheers!

Station Surveillance with the Chip Foundation

Episode 95 of the Chip Foundation Chronicles is a momentous day without question. Not only are we marking Ken's recent 76th birthday, we're also celebrating the much-trumpeted reopening of the Camp Hill Line set of railway stations over in Birmingham...

- Camp Hill Line, here we come! -

Trip Log: Monday 27th April 2026 and the remit is simple. Start at Birmingham New Street and cover each station in turn, picking out a pub (ideally one of the closest) at every stop along the way. Ken, Stephen and I convene at Wolverhampton over thoughts of Trent Bridge cricketing prospects - the consensus being that the match between Nottinghamshire and Warwickshire is highly likely to be a draw - before joining Nick on Platform 11a in Brum. Our steed arrives on time for its 10:57 departure, one of the orange and purple liveried Class 196 DMU units, and we board with something approaching genuine excitement. Passenger services ended on the original version of the Camp Hill Line due to wartime economic measures in 1941 so when the timetable was reinstated on Tuesday 7th April it ended a gap of nigh on 85 years.

- Moseley Village -

Upon leaving Birmingham, the train offers views of Millennum Point and then sweeps in an arc over Garrison Street to enter a cutting immediately beside the St Andrews football ground (a place Ken knows very well). The rooftops of Balsall Heath provide a new perspective on this part of town, and after a journey that took us all of nine minutes we pull into Moseley Village just as a systems guy checks the fire alarm for appropriate evacuation messages. Thankfully we're not expected to make an urgent exit and can merrily peruse the two platforms as they stretch towards Woodbridge Road. The original tunnel is pleasing on the eye and there's an extensive forecourt area with huge pots and a paved seating space, although vehicular provision amounts to a drop-off zone with little scope for car parking.

- St Mary's Church -

The station is ideally located close to the heart of Moseley hence a very short walk is all that's required to take us along St Mary's Row past the parish church. Pretty tulips add colour to the triangular patch on the junction with Alcester Road, and our attempts to explore Moseley Park are foiled because we don't have a subscribers fob to hand; admittedly the park is open to all on Wednesdays so I've made a mental note of that for future reference. Pub number one has a special resonance for Ken because he used to play chess here regularly in the 1980s - yes, it's the Fighting Cocks bang on midday opening time. Dating from the Edwardian era (1903 or thereabouts), this is a spectacular example of the Arts and Crafts style whereby I particularly like the weather barometers and a double faced clock. We funnel inside for more architectural marvelling, obtaining halves of Moseley Pale by Birmingham Brewing to slake our collective thirst. The prices are on the steep side and things are quiet - it is a Monday after all - but as a homage to Mr May's pastimes this is a very good fit.

- Kings Heath Station -

Ordinarily we might have hopped on a passing number 50 bus down to Kings Heath but the train needs to take the strain today. The 13:08 working does the trick for the briefest of rides; literally no sooner have we sat down and passed through Moseley Tunnel than we're up again preparing to alight. The new Kings Heath Station has been built on the site of the old one, i.e. at the northern end of the High Street, with orientation arrows pointing out potential for direct access into neighbouring Highbury Park. There are two full length platforms able to handle the four carriage set-up currently used on the line, and although footfall has been slack today it's good to know that capacity is in place should the half-hourly service really take off. The A435 can get really busy around here so there are warnings that the main road should not be used as a dropping off point; any intending passengers should note there isn't a car park.

- Stephen at The Station -

If the Fighting Cocks was an easy decision for choice of watering hole in Moseley, the same can be said of the Station in Kings Heath - the clue is in the name really. We'd done this one before (back in 2012 and also on one of our Cricketing Conclusion September sessions) but a revisit is more than worthwhile, calling in for Timothy Taylor's Landlord in a setting that makes much of its longstanding commitment to the local music scene. Monochrome photographs of musicians adorn the walls and our eyes can also try to cope with vivid green leaf patterned wallpaper, not to mention a cow's head on a shield. Mr B is keeping us up to date with the latest developments at Trent Bridge where Warwickshire have yet to take a wicket.

- Pineapple Road -

The third Camp Hill Line station is now in our sights, this being the exotic-sounding Pineapple Road although it's debatable how tropical the border between Kings Heath and Stirchley might be. Another blink-and-you-miss-it two minute voyage brings us to a stop that might hopefully grow to look nicer over time. At the moment, one side of the tracks presents bare earth where fledgling trees are being planted while the Brum-bound platform has bands of brown blocks which certainly aren't the most visually appealing construction material in the world. Whereas Moseley and Kings Heath are both directly competing with very frequent bus routes, this one arguably has more of a residential catchment to tap into. The two stairwell-cum-lift shafts give feature entrances onto Cartland Road then there is a hairpin driveway off Pineapple Rd itself.

- His Majesty at The Hazelwell -

My pub picks have been praised thus far but things could come unstuck at this juncture. The closest boozer give or take is the Hazelwell, a Sizzling roadhouse just off the Outer Circle bus route which does have a hint of Brewers Tudor about its frontage but is otherwise an ordinary pub. We give it a whirl regardless, catching some of the epic Higgins vs O'Sullivan clash of the snooker titans from the Crucible. They might not serve real ale here but what they do have are cheap Monday deals - cue John Smiths and Thatchers Cider at reduced rates, and suddenly my accomplices are rather taking to the place. So much so in fact that we decide to stay for a late lunch, meaning Ken and Nick feel all fishy whereas Stephen and I go for the gammon, resulting in the actual witnessing of pineapple being consumed on Pineapple Road. These things must happen for a reason and we finish feeding in time to scamper for the 15:42 train.

- End of the Line: Kings Norton -

Historically speaking, Pineapple Road station used to be known as Hazelwell and a rusting relic of an old footbridge (now overgrown with weeds) is a clinging remnant of former times. Remarkably, the ride to Kings Norton - where the line terminates - is one of the longest of the day, using up precisely three minutes or 180 seconds of our valuable time. I've been travelling the West Midlands railway network for the best part of thirty years and for much of that period it's been the same old stops with the same old sights so to actually have something new to explore has turned me into the proverbial kid in a sweetshop - it's been wonderful. I wish the Camp Hill Line every success: welcome back to the fold!

- A Cotteridge Conclusion -

A pub per station is still the instruction so Kings Norton's contribution will be the Navigation, a once-tired looking number which has gained a new lease of life courtesy of Wetherspoons. A sprawling interior has well over 200 tables so they can squeeze in a lot of people, just as well given how busy it is; we end up perched close to the food servery meaning Stephen has to stoically witness chips being paraded across the room at regular intervals. A sunkissed stroll along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal allows a welcome sighting of Kings Norton Junction before we land up in the Grant Arms on Pershore Road, a classic Cotteridge roadhouse which is part of the Craft Union chain. Keenly priced John Smiths and cricketing chat helps us blend in with the swarms of regulars, such a contrast from the quietness of the Fighting Cocks. The number 45 bus spirits us back into Birmingham and our Camp Hill celebration is complete!