Berkswell and Balsall Common

2026 has proven to be a very sociable year thus far so my usual habit of staging solo adventures has taken something of a back seat. A spare Saturday at the very end of February does however see me venturing out on my own, casting a Solihull spotlight upon the neighbouring villages of Berkswell and Balsall Common...

- Berkswell Station -

Trip Log: Saturday 28th February 2026 and I've not set foot in either of my target locations for several years. Berkswell Station hasn't changed much since I last saw it although I can't help remembering the days when it had platform awnings, a station house and a level crossing - the current brick bunker seems sadly soulless by comparison with just a small hatch window for dispensing tickets to would-be passengers. The Coventry-bound platform is flanked by the many pools of Lavender Hall Fisheries which perhaps look even more watery than usual after heavy rain yesterday evening and overnight. Taking time to get my bearings again, I realise that the Railway Inn is all boarded up so I might have to rethink my pub plans for the day; it always struck me as a traditional homely boozer with lots of train memorabilia on display.

- HS2 Works at Berkswell -

I was already aware that Berkswell lay in the path of the HS2 works but to see construction up close really does confirm how mammoth a project this is. Ominous rafts of concrete masonry have been slotted into position while a long tranche gouges its way through the landscape, just about bypassing the aforementioned pools. Road closure signs abound as I take Baulk Lane, seeing how the earthen ribbon of cleared ground streaks off way into the distance. Litter pickers and horse riders offer company as I head up past Ram Hall, noting sheepy fragrances and hurdling the occasional overflowing puddle. Emerging onto Spencers Lane with sprouting crocuses on the waterlogged verges, I soon reach Berkswell village centre where Coventry Road intersects with Lavender Hall Lane. Chocolate box cottages and a telephone box repurposed as a book exchange suggest this is a place that will suit me very nicely.

- Brown Beer at the Bear -

I've earned a drink and in keeping with the adjacent architecture, the Bear Inn is a stunning olde worlde rambling proposition operating under Greene King's Chef & Brewer division. Old steps lead to a protruding porch of flagstone flooring then the main interior has cosy nooks for dining and drinking, not forgetting the Cromwell Bar up in the eaves with more beams than you can shake a stick at. The timbered frame dates from the C16th so there is much age to ponder over a solid pint of Wadworth 6X (the Greene King IPA glass in my picture is a red herring). Soulful music and the earnest arrival of lunching parties give a hum of ambiance although it's the deep brown panelling and sense of history which is ticking my boxes.

- St John the Baptist Church -

 A wider look around the village is a must hence Lavender Hall Lane allows access to Church Lane. A charity barbecue is underway on the little green outside Berkswell Stores while the church itself lurks off the fork, just past its associated primary school. Dedicated to St John the Baptist, it's a striking hodgepodge of Norman and medieval features, the tower being made of stone (with a Packwood-style sundial) but the jettied porch is of timber with yellowed render. Daffodils among the headstones add a splash of colour plus a hazard notice warns of paths getting slippery when wet or frosty - I'll take extra care just to be on the safe side. It's easy to imagine this being an idyllic corner of central England when the sun is shining, giving a taste of Warwickshire's past even though we're technically nowadays in the West Midlands. 

- Long-term blockage at Lavender Hall Lane -

The next segment of Lavender Hall Lane is completely closed off due to HS2 happenings; there's no pedestrian access whatsoever but all I can see beyond the barricade is a mound of sandy-hued earth that I wouldn't be keen to traipse over anyway. I've therefore no choice but to backtrack the exact same way I came - via Baulk Lane - and go the longer way round into Balsall Common. Brightening skies are encouraging as Hallmeadow Road effectively acts as a Balsall Common bypass, sneaking beside Lavender Hall Park where a football pitch plays host to the Hornets whoever or whatever they are. My second dose of refreshment comes at the George in the Tree, primarily a Beefeater chain effort accompanying a Premier Inn hotel on the main Kenilworth Road. I won't get overly gushing about having Carling and watching the BBC News Channel but it satisfies my curiosity which is the main thing.

- The Old Saracens Head -

Something more exciting theoretically awaits in Balsall Street, once I've navigated Dengate Drive's excessive wiggles with all manner of cul-de-sac offshoots. As with the Bear Inn earlier, the Old Saracens Head is a real looker of a building, fashioned out of sloping beams but with low ceilings that could pose a significant danger to people of my height. Managing to avoid walloping the WME bonce on anything painful, I collect a pint of Marston's Pedigree and end up sitting outside - yes, in February. The temperatures are such that I'm hardly going to freeze and with the sun out it's actually rather pleasant sitting on wicker garden chairs underneath a domed pergola. The pub sign features a portrait of a swarthy Arabian tribesman but I'm more distracted by a wiry set of ornamental lambs - what are they all about?

- Cottagey Charms in Balsall Common -

Berkswell is certainly the prettier of the two villages yet Balsall Common is not beyond having its own thatched charms, as indeed evidenced by an attractive property on Balsall Street East. Taking the Gipsy Lane turning past the Heart of England Secondary School, I reach my final watering hole in the guise of the White Horse. Part of the Wells & Co group, this is a bright and breezy standard all-rounder offering drinks promotions, a typical menu and plenty of scope for watching sport. Brewpoint Anchorman lives up to its fresh and fruity billing for a quick slurp in the side snug as champagne corks pop to welcome a wedding party in the function room; I'll quietly leave them to their celebrations and catch the 15:25 train home.

An Early May Medley

After my varied April assortments, I now bring you a May montage being as the new month has already yielded a couple of local investigations - nothing too exciting, just solid exploring you understand with a focus on scrumptious cobs...

- Vine Sustenance -

Speaking of which, I must draw your attention to this mighty fine example which I procured from the Vine in Wednesfield on Friday 3rd May. A slab of cheese, your standard red onion and a generous side portion of black pudding rounds all matched with a crusty roll. As is often the case at the Vine, the cask ale was excellent too - I sampled both the Green Duck 'Murder She Oat' (a great name) and Mallinson's 'Jester', as fresh as you could wish for. Visiting duties at nearby New Cross Hospital meant I wasn't inclined to get too adventurous but chips with Mr B and a Cricket Club Quiz at Tettenhall made for a memorable evening; alas Team Bears finished a narrow second after an unfortunate wipeout involving Ursula von der Leyen!

- 172218 at Stourbridge Junction -

Merrily I'll hop forward a few hours into Saturday 4th May 2024 and a Stourbridge area outing with a penchant for Pedmore. Catching the train down from Smethwick Galton Bridge, I keep my eyes peeled for any sightings of George the Cat but he doesn't appear to be on desk duty. The platform is however populated by several anxious-looking Bluenoses nervously awaiting  their connection to St Andrews for the pivotal match against Norwich; sadly despite winning, Blues will be playing League One football next season. A handful of Class 172 train pictures get my camera into gear and then it's time for me to start walking...

- Pedmore High School -

Grange Road (past the Handy DIY store) and Grange Lane combine to lead me into Pedmore, a leafy district directly south-east of Stourbridge town centre. It's been a few years since I was last in this neck of the woods so it's good to get to grips with features such as the local High School (part of the Invictus Education Trust), not forgetting Ham Dingle Primary Academy. Pedmore forms the edges of the West Midlands before you reach Hagley and Worcestershire, with tempting footpaths across towards Wychbury Hill and its famous obelisk. The mysterious case of 'Who Put Bella In The Wych Elm' remains unsolved, referencing the 1940s discovery of a woman's dead body in nearby woodland. 

- Pointing to Pedmore -

Hoping to avoid any such grisly discoveries myself, I continue through Stourbridge suburbia for housing estate glimpses involving Old Ham Lane, Beckman Road and Pedmore Lane. The Saturday morning weather is much brighter than was originally forecast so I'm in my element, noting Ham Dingle's secluded trackways stretching off towards Wollescote or eyeing up any lingering bits of springtime blossom. Swindell Road offers a streetscape of tidy bungalows before the number 7 bus trundles past en route to Lye Cross and Dudley.

- St Peter's Church -

Further along Pedmore Lane is St Peter's Parish Church, a Grade II listed place of worship which is mostly C19th having been consecrated in 1871. The current building replaced an earlier church and there are still some intact aspects of Norman architecture, most notably a decorative semi-circular tympanum set into the stonework above the south doorway. Fluttering bunting brightens up the churchyard and I'm enchanted by the neighbouring cricket field which has its own gate in the perimeter wall. Pedmore Cricket Club currently play in the top division of the Worcestershire County League; their main access is off Pedmore Hall Lane.

- Ember Expectations at the Foley Arms -

In terms of pub possibilities, Pedmore's principal option is the Foley Arms overlooking the Hagley Road roundabout. An Ember Inns establishment, it is tastefully furnished and offers a decent range of cask ales from which I select Wiper & True's naturally hazy Kaleidoscope for a tangy taste of the tropics. Salopian and Timothy Taylor wares are also available while soft lighting plus toffee-toned seating adds a mellow upmarket ambience to proceedings. I can't deny I usually prefer more traditional pub settings but this is very acceptable indeed, and I've got my eye on a Bathams classic just down the road anyway.

- A Seven Stars Cob Specimen -

The Bird in Hand is the place in question, giving me an Oldswinford fix of my favourite Best Bitter beneath strung-out rows of Black Country chain flags. An Absolute Radio 1980s playlist has a Duran Duran fixation while the regulars include a group of cycling enthusiasts seeking refreshment after a lengthy bike ride. From here I'll wend my way back to Stourbridge Junction railway station, permitting myself just enough time for the Seven Stars (Black Country Ales) at the bottom of the station driveway. Homegrown Brummie whets my whistle as a vegan-friendly gluten free tipple but arguably gets upstaged by another example of cob excellence: ladies and gentlemen, I give you plentifully-filled egg mayonnaise and bacon deliciousness. Cheers!

Widney Manor and Monkspath

Is this the very definition of madness? It's one thing for the weather to turn on you when you're already out and about, but quite another to go ahead with an outing if the forecast in advance is dire. Such is my wish to stretch my legs and clear away some cobwebs that I'm steering a course for soggy Solihull regardless of the elements... 

- The Hawthorns -

It's Saturday 2nd March 2024 and I'm risking the wrath of the weather gods by pressing on anyway, although I'm already sensing that the rain isn't quite as heavy as predicted when I touch base at The Hawthorns. The mere mention of West Bromwich Albion usually brings me out in a rash but any Baggies-induced coughing fits are offset by the chance to have a mooch along Middlemore Road. The station was opened in 1995 as part of the Jewellery Line project which restored train services into Birmingham Snow Hill, hence the frontage design is similar in appearance to Jewellery Quarter and Smethwick Galton Bridge. Midland Metro trams also call here, and there are signs for segregating home and away supporters on matchdays. 

- Widney Manor Station -

My sojourn near a certain football stadium is mercifully brief and I'm soon en route into Solihull territory. Widney Manor doesn't get as much WME attention as some stations despite being served by the number 5 bus and half-hourly trains between Birmingham, Dorridge and/or Stratford-upon-Avon. There has been a station on this site since 1899 although the current incumbent is a fairly functional modern rebuild that nevertheless does what it says on the tin. My initial photographic survey covers running boards, hooped noticeboards and the standard booking office (which is staffed most mornings of the week). 

- Hillfield Park -

Widney Lane and Monkspath Hall Road combine to lead me towards Monkspath, a former manorial settlement which was developed for overspill housing during the 1980s. Hillfield Park is the principal area of open space, comprising sports pitches, a local nature reserve, and an Armed Forces Community Garden designed to act as a 'healing habitat'. It's rather squelchy underfoot in places so I stick with the main pavement to reach a series of business parks and car dealerships; I'd know where to go if I wanted a Porsche or a Volkswagen, put it that way!

- Hillfield Farm -

Ignoring the Stonegate and Pegasus offices, I take closer interest in the Hillfield Farm as an example of the Farmhouse Inns dining and carvery chain. The place has already been open a few hours supplying buffet breakfasts so they're just switching into afternoon carvery service when I pitch up circa midday. Whilst I can never get overly excited about these types of pub, having a swift pint here does tick another West Midlands watering hole off my wanted list. As you might expect, there are several families in attendance poring over the reasonably-priced menus but my choice of Carling isn't going to set the world on fire. 

- Monkspath Family Centre -

Retracing my footsteps back along Monkspath Hall Road, I detour off via Hay Lane so as to investigate more amenities. Monkspath Family Centre is part of the Junior and Infant School complex off Farmhouse Way while there is a doctor's surgery and a community centre close at hand too. My second pub of the day is simply called The Farm but - unlike its business estate counterpart - this one has some age to it with the main Grade II-listed farmstead building said to date from the 16th century. First floor timbers look the part in harking back to the days when Shelly was a separate historical hamlet, while a neighbouring outhouse barn seems to focus on the restaurant side of the business. I stick with the public bar, lapping up a more than decent drop of Silhill Brewery's Blonde Star - I must admit I'm warming to Monkspath!

- Shelly Farm Shops -

The Farm's tagline is 'No Bull' and they operate under the Lovely Pubs banner so I'm inclined to keep an eye out for other establishments within their portfolio; upmarket but welcoming with a neat line in cutlery-themed artworks. Practically next door is Shelly Farm shopping precinct complete with Co-op store, beauty salon and a takeaway (the Shelly Farm Fryer), although the post office seems to have closed down, possibly for refurbishment or relocation? Shelly Crescent is part of the number 5 bus route and backs onto the south-eastern reaches of Solihull Golf Club (otherwise accessed from Saintbury Drive). 

- The Fieldhouse -

My trio of agriculturally-titled taverns concludes with The Fieldhouse, an Ember Inns effort on Monkspath Hall Road. I came here with Nick some years ago and it hasn't changed much if at all; a dining emphasis is to be expected but they are proud of a cask ale repertoire which has earned Good Beer Guide recognition from Solihull's CAMRA branch. London Pride, Oakham Citra, Adnam's Ghost Ship and St Austell's Proper Job are all on show but my vote goes to the Birmingham Pale Brummie which is served perfectly fresh. Sitting outside in chilly March temperatures is a feat of endurance even with Hillfield Park vistas to admire, and I make it back to Widney Manor Station in time for the 14:36 train home. Cheers!

Waterways Walks: Wightwick to Wombourne

It's Saturday 3rd February 2024 and another round of train strikes mean I'm not inclined to be relying on public transport during my next spot of explorational exercise. The towpath of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal seems more enticing instead, giving me chance to file my first Waterways Walk posting of the year...

- Near Castlecroft Bridge -

Much of what I'll be covering this trip is very familiar territory, although sometimes it's simply nice to get out of the house and put some miles into your legs. Picking my way along nature reserve paths through Smestow Valley, I join the Staffs & Worcs at Wightwick Mill Lock a little west of Compton. The playing fields of Smestow Academy hug the far bank as I proceed in turn past Wightwick Lock and Wightwick Bridge (Windmill Lane) to enter South Staffordshire countryside beyond the Mermaid moorings base. Faint wisps of blue sky gradually get edged out by cloud but it's pleasantly mild for the time of year, making for good walking weather as Castlecroft and Mops Farm Bridges are next for my attentions. 

- Something Stumpish at Dimmingsdale -

Bidding good morning to the usual mix of dog walkers and cyclists, I arrive at Dimmingsdale where any lock happenings are studiously scrutinised by one of those stump characters you see dotted all along the towpath here. Dimmingsdale Bridge appears to be undergoing yet more repairs so I wonder if it has suffered from another traffic collision - it always seems so susceptible to having its brickwork part-demolished by careless drivers! Sankey's fishing pool and Ebstree Lock offer additional camera opportunities before I reacquaint myself with Awbridge Lock not far from Trysull - alas I won't be sampling The Bell today.

- Bratch Top Lock Cottage -

I am however intending on fully inspecting one of my favourite canal locations anywhere in the country, namely the staircase sequence that is Bratch Locks. Three conjoined chambers make for an ingenious example of James Brindley's engineering that has served as something of a tourist attraction visited by Black Country folk over the centuries. Top Lock has a charming cottage for company then Middle Lock is topped by a distinctive octagonal tollhouse complete with semi-circular arched windows. The canal first opened in 1772 while the tollhouse itself dates from about 1800, meaning you've easily got 200+ years of history at your disposal. Bratch Pumping Station is beguiling in its own right, built by the Bilston Corporation in a fairytale ornate Gothic fashion and currently owned (if not used) by Severn Trent Water. 

- Bumblehole Lock -

Beyond The Bratch the canal hugs Wombourne's western extremities via Bumblehole Lock (with steep slanted parapet and well-worn whitewashed keeper's house) and Houndel Bridge (which stands beside the Round Oak pub). Giggetty Wharf is my prompt to exit the towpath in readiness for some village investigations although the Wom Brook is in the vicinity too for fans of watercourses in general. I reckon I've walked just shy of five miles so far, taking me two and a bit hours although you'd have to factor frequent photo stops into the timings there.

- The Church of the Venerable Bede -

I know Wombourne pretty well thanks to several previous forays but there are undiscovered aspects for me to get to grips with. The Church of the Venerable Bede is a good case in point, based on Giggetty Lane in a building that dates to 1957 (hence being much younger than its sister church St Benedict Biscop). A block of shops on Common Road corner include Bromley Butchers and a Boots Pharmacy, then Sytch Lane has a lawn cemetery and Blakeley Heath Primary School, neither of which I can remember ever noticing until now. Greenhill combines with Rookery Road as I home in on Battlefield Hill which may or may not be the site where the 910 AD Battle of Tettenhall took place - its exact location is subject to much conjecture!

- The Old Bush -

I'm in the market for a pint or two to ward off the risk of feeling thirsty, albeit my initial target (the Red Lion) isn't open yet. Not to worry, the Old Bush is only around the corner so I'll be able to assess what Black Country Ales have done with the place. At first glance it doesn't look too different from its years under Banks's stewardship, but I think they've opened it out more inside and the range of real ales stocked has increased significantly. I obtain a Little Eaton Old Mill Stout then struggle to find a spare table - it appears that the whole world and his wife have made this their Saturday lunchtime Wombourne watering hole of choice. A stool by a shelf comes to my rescue so I've somewhere to park my gigantic cob (cheese and onion with a healthy slathering of mustard), listen to Lonnie Donegan's 'Cumberland Gap' and polish off a second ale in the form of Beowulf's Chasewater Pale Bitter. 

- Enville Excellence at the Red Lion -

Judging by the sheer amount of custom, the Old Bush is definitely a hit and come 2pm the Red Lion should have unbolted its doors - oh good, it has! Nestled almost unnoticed below the A449 dual carriageway, I've had a soft spot for this old inn ever since Nick and I dropped by years ago for a high class slurp of Enville Ginger. The homeliness makes it in my eyes, helped by a 60s Soul soundtrack and the prospect of Bostin' Scratchuns for a tasty treat - one of the Lion's regular canine visitors seems equally as enthused about the scratchings, cue much whimpering. Enville Ale (minus any gingery flavourings) is spot on this time around so I account for a couple of those prior to a number 16 bus ride home. Cheers!

Nudging Netherton

Hello 2024, I wonder what you'll have to offer in terms of evidently exciting exploration memories? The year ahead stretches out like a blank sheet of parchment, waiting to be filled with news of new discoveries as well as old favourites being revisited. January's first contribution now has me reaching for the quill and the inkwell to bring you details of a jaunt around Netherton and Darby End...

- Cradley Heath DIY -

It's Saturday 6th January 2024, easily the nicest day we've had weather-wise for a while after what has seemed like constant rain since Christmas. Via a Smethwick Galton Bridge switch, I get myself to Cradley Heath so as to be reacquainted with Mary MacArthur Gardens (named after a prominent suffragist and campaigner in the women chainmakers strike of 1910) and Five Ways junction. The Cradley Heath DIY shop is showcasing its wares from the corner of Graingers Lane and High Street although I'm not in need of any broom handles, buckets or Miracle Gro compost bags on this occasion. 

- Terry's Timber -

Foxoak Street offers variety instead of my more customary stroll along Cradley Heath High Street, giving glimpses of the far side of the Tesco supermarket but also reminding me that Jasper's (also known as the Swan) has been turned into a private residence in ominous tones of battleship grey - I have fond memories of that pub as a Holden's outlet so it's sad to see it gone. The Hollybush on Newtown Lane appears to have survived, possibly as a Thursday night comedy venue rather than a standard boozer, while Terry's Timber has a neat line in homespun signage for anyone in need of kindling or picket fence pieces.

- Primrose Hill Community Church -

Mousesweet Brook marks the division between Sandwell and Dudley Boroughs as I cross from Cradley Heath into neighbouring Netherton, pressing on along Cradley Road to confirm another pub closure (RIP the Elephant & Castle). An Asda supermarket oversees the Saltwells Road traffic lights - diagonally opposite what used to be the Golden Cross - then I can check in again with Astle's Bridge which affectionately pays tribute to the legendary West Bromwich Albion striker. The structure's historic name was always Primrose Bridge but it gained its more colloquial title thanks to various 'Astle is King' graffiti daubings that appeared over the years. A Chapel Street detour then allows a sighting of Primrose Hill Community Church, intriguing!

- Darby End Bible Institute -

Emerging onto Halesowen Road, I fancy a dabble with Darby End because it's been a few years since I last passed through. Cole Street therefore offers a few interesting titbits such as the Gate Hangs Well (I've been in there with both D9 and Roger), a Methodist Church with 1960s hexagonal stained glass breezeblocks, and the M S H Premier corner shop. Darby End Wesley Bible Institute meanwhile traces its origins back to 1915 and looks every inch the kind of non-conformist chapel that would once have been commonplace across the Black Country.

- An Encounter with a Black Widow -

Windmill End might otherwise have tempted me with its ribbons of entangled canals but I'm very much counting down to my first pub pint of 2024 and want to get inside Ma Pardoes before it is swamped by eager diners. St Peter's Church and Greaves Road duly escort me towards Halesowen Road once more where the Pure Home Brewd Ales lettering is an iconic clue that I've arrived again at somewhere very special indeed. The public bar with its famous swan ceiling enamels is out of commission today so I find a perch in the restaurant section in order to partake of Entire, a lovely sweetish drop brewed on the premises. As anticipated, the lunchtime takers are arriving in their droves, discussing miscreant parrots and dodgy hips, but I linger around long enough to try the 6.7% Black Widow - not a lady to be trifled with!!

- Saltwells Road -

Ma Pardoes remains an unmissable classic that transports you back in time and to my mind is as good as ever; I'm far too young to have ever met the formidable Doris in person but if I ever get my hands on a time machine I'd whizz straight to 1974 I reckon. Anyway, this 2024 story continues with a dosage of Dudley Wood once I've figured out how to get from Yew Tree Hills down to Saltwells Road (answer: via Bratch Close and a footpath over Saltwells Bridge). Gone are the days when the area used to reverberate to the sound of speedway races, the final meeting having been held here in 1995.

- The Woodman -

Names of riders such as Erik Gundersen, Jan O. Pedersen, Greg Hancock and Billy Hamill are still fondly remembered in these parts and its fitting that the Woodman pays homage to Dudley Wood's sporting links among its artistic montages. A standard Marston's (Banks's) experience awaits with most of the youthful clientele watching the Sunderland v Newcastle match; I pick a table overlooking a well-maintained bowling green as strong winter sunshine streams in through the windows, the only downside being that I have to make do with Carling in the absence of real ale. My return route to Cradley Heath Station involves Brook Lane, Chapmans Corner and Reddal Hill Road (for an Amber splash and dash in the Waggon & Horses) and it's job done - legs stretched, pictures taken, a 2024 trip in the bank. Cheers!