- Its an early start as I make my way across to Stourbridge on a 256 Metrobus via Wombourne and Kingswinford. I do enjoy sampling the Metrobuses, and it will be a shame when they are taken out of service.
- At Stourbridge I meet with Woody, Rog and Bruce as we board the Dodger. We got a great deal on a Group Save ticket to Kidderminster, although Bruce got away without paying yet again.
- Stourbridge Junction, and we board the Worcester train in search of Andy. Bad news! He's still at Rowley Regis, and the emergency timetable has kicked in already. Luckily he's not too far behind and catches us up at Kidderminster Town Station.
- Time for some travelling in style as we hop on to the Severn Valley Railway for a classic ride to Arley. I was particularly impressed with the seats in our carriage - very comfy with recliner buttons for a bit of luxury. The journey was great, stepping back in time through Bewdley and over Victoria Bridge as Rog and Woody reminisced about exploring the riverbank.
- Arley Station: a picture postcard station, looking a delight as the sun shone brightly. Bruce gets posing with the running board and road bridge, whilst I take a selection of photos covering both platforms. The station house is particularly striking with another selection of old signs and adverts that capture the atmosphere of a bygone age. The other platform had a smaller brick shelter and lots of pretty cottage plants dotted about. Cracking stuff!
- Arley Village: we next set off to explore the village, heading down to the river past the Harbour pub - Rog seemed quite disappointed that it wasn't open, but it was only about half past ten in the morning. We cross the river on a pedestrian footbridge that offered nice views along the valley, and then investigate the main village complete with a cottage post office on the riverbank. A narrow lane takes us up to the gates of Arley Arboretum - the 297 turns around here, so we linger here for a while, exchanging rather worrying ringtones whilst waiting for the bus to arrive.
- The 297: a route linking Kidderminster and Bridgnorth, currently operated by Arriva. Bus arrives slightly late and the driver demonstrates his reversing prowess. Hopping on board, I feel we've gatecrashed a senior's daytrip as the bus is packed out - mind you, Rog and Andy never miss a chance to charm the old ladies anyway. As well as Arley, the route serves some other pretty villages, notably Alveley where I spot another traditional post office next door to the village pub, very picturesque.
- Bridgnorth: Despite the old lady sitting behind me insisting that we should try the Cliff Railway, we alight in High Town where Rog makes an excited beeline straight for the Wetherspoon's (the Jewel of the Severn). Here we savour our first pints of the day, Guinness Reds for the others whilst I try some Welsh Brains and very nice it was too. We decide to stop here for some lunch with all of us plumping for the beer and burger deal, which much to my amazement actually arrived with a decent serving of chips - I almost choked on my beer I was that shocked!!! Suitably fed, we found ourselves with a spare ten minutes before our next bus was due, just enough time for a quick drink in the Golden Lion, where Rog upsets the barmaid then downs a pint of Abbots Ale in record time.
- The 436: The bus was running rather late, leaving us wondering if we'd missed it because the bus stops in Bridgnorth had been altered. Saying that, the wait did at least give Andy chance to sort out his bladder, and the bus finally turned up just as we were about to give up on it completely. Its only a short ride to Much Wenlock, which is just as well given that Rog was starting to look distinctly uncomfortable as that quick pint of Abbots came back to haunt him.
- Much Wenlock: the late running of the 436 meant that our intended pub visit here turned into a brief toilet break before catching the 39. I nipped into the conveniences at the bus interchange, but the others got confused by a wayward sign and ended up relieving themselves in rather more open surroundings!! The 39 was soon on the scene, providing a couple of handy photos before we settled in for the ride through to Telford via Broseley, Jackfield, Ironbridge and Madeley.
- Telford: Having missed out on the pubs at Much Wenlock, a drink at Telford became quite a priority. I wasn't quite sure where the Wetherspoon's was, but did track it down via a merry dance through the Telford Shopping Centre - unfortunately there was a quicker shortcut but we'll know better for next time. The Wetherspoon's concerned is the Thomas Botfield, and I reverted to the cider whilst Rog pondered the merits of the local estate agent, Nicholas Tart.
- Shifnal: After a quick shuffle on the 891 through Priorslee, we arrive at Shifnal for a further pint, finding a cracking little pub called the Wheatsheaf. Rog and Andy were suffering with their bladders again, so Bruce was left to order the drinks and make the acquaintance of the barmaid Claire. We found a nice table outside to provide a long overdue cheers photo, before waiting in vain for the 892 to show up. With the emergency timetable once again kicking in, we drowned our sorrows with a quick pint in the Beehive before settling back down at the Wheatsheaf, our newly-appointed Shifnal local of choice.
- Thankfully the 892 at half past five did make an appearance, providing a useful connection into Tettenhall via Cosford, Tong and Albrighton. At Tettenhall I introduced the chaps to the Rock Hotel, where we had a decent meal and I thankfully managed to avoid my cousin given that Bruce was in attendance. A late running 501 got us back into Wolverhampton, where I bid the guys farewell at the end of another successful and most enjoyable outing.
Monday, April 13
Bearing Up in Bridgnorth
Saturday April 11th - time for an Easter Saturday outing, joining Rog, Woody, Andy and Bruce for a tour of Shropshire. No sign of any chocolate or Easter bunnies, but at least the beer was flowing nicely...
Friday, April 3
A Helping of Highgate
My first trip of April saw me venture into the mysterious realms of backstreet Birmingham, with a tasty serving of canal exploration for good measure...
The outing initially saw me back on my old stomping ground at Birmingham University, getting a few photos at Edgbaston Campus before joining the Worcester & Birmingham Canal for a walk back into the City Centre. The canal has long been a favourite of mine, but it had been ages since I'd covered the sections through Edgbaston and Five Ways, so it was good to renew my acquaintance with Pritchatts Road, Somerset Road and The Vale. Unfortunately, the rather overcast morning conditions weren't proving great for taking bridge photos, but I persevered and hopefully some of the shots will be usable.
Ploughing onwards, I reckon it had been a full five years or so since I last visited Edgbaston Tunnel. Photos again proved tricky but I enjoyed attempting shots inside the tunnel, where bright orange lamps at least provided some kind of light source. The bridges at St James Road and Bath Row were less familiar to me, and I was pleased to add them to my archive - hopefully now I have a full set of shots covering the entire Birmingham section of the canal from Worcester Bar to Shannon Road.
Leaving the canal at The Mailbox, it was time for a bit of local exploration. My walk took me along Bristol Street then down Wrentham Street, where I immediately found some traditional corner pubs, the Fountain and the British Oak. Continuing into Macdonald Street, the backstreet vibe became more pronounced amongst industrial workshops and pubs like the Queens Head and the Lamp Tavern. It certainly wasn't the most glamorous location, and I always had half an eye looking over my shoulder just in case, but it was a fascinating glimpse of the urban inner-city all the same. I did feel reluctant to get the camera out at times, but braved a shot of the Town Crier pub before dashing down Rea Street towards Digbeth.
Next stop was the Anchor, a cracking pub I visited with Rog last year without getting a decent photo of the place. I was determined to put this right, and today's photos seemed to settle me down as further shots followed of the White Swan just up the road. I was roughly aiming for Camp Hill, but decided to branch off to explore more of Highgate, spotting another pub called the Fountain, this time on Alcester Street. Lunch beckoned, and I found a nice spot in Highgate Park to tuck in to my pasty. The photos continued with a quick peek at the closed Peacock pub on Deakin Street before taking a closer look at the park itself - its a good facility with an urban cricket court and a nice avenue of trees guarded by a statue of King Edward VII. With a hint of blossom, some parts of the park were actually quite photogenic, especially where the grand residences of Moseley Road formed an almost stately backdrop.
I was actually beginning to like Highgate, and I just had time for a final few discoveries before tracking down my next bit of canal. These included the Hen & Chickens pub (closed and boarded up on Moseley Street), the Moseley Arms (very much open and a route 50 landmark), and the attractive half-timbered building in Stratford Place (not sure what the building is but it looked old). Highgate Middleway brought me to Camp Hill Interchange, where I was finally able to get shots of a longstanding target of mine, the Brewer & Baker pub overlooking the island.
Continuing down to Coventry Road, I decided to put the canal on hold a little bit longer as I couldn't resist a return visit to Bordesley Station. I must admit this was made with some considerable trepidation, as I could well recall my previous visits, climbing a dingy, litter-strewn staircase that stunk like the worst urinal on earth. Thankfully the station appears to have had a bit of a clean up, as the litter was negligible and the smells tolerable, although the stairwell is still a dark, offputting approach and the platforms are as bleak and basic as ever. Given the current economic climate, its quite pleasing that the station remains open and that someone takes the trouble to make it half-way presentable.
Time now for that canal exploration I'd been promising myself, and it was well worth the wait. I joined the Grand Union at Coventry Road and made my way along to Fazeley Street. Its hardly the prettiest stretch of waterway, but for me it was engrossing new territory providing cracking little discoveries. The first was Bordesley Junction, where the Grand Union effectively forks into two arms, one to Digbeth and one to Saltley. After surveying the roving iron footbridge, I have a brief look at the Saltley option, taking shots of Bridge 96 and spotting several other bridges on the horizon (very intriguing!), before deciding to concentrate on the short section up to Digbeth Junction.
This initially yields photos of Bridge 95 at Great Barr Street, then I arrived at Warwick Bar, a simply wonderful backstreet canal location. The bar is something of an ugly cousin compared to the more vaunted Worcester Bar in Gas Street Basin, but I really liked the sense of quiet dereliction amid industrial surroundings where you are slightly off the beaten track. Just beyond the bar is Digbeth Junction, where this bit of the Grand Union terminates and the Digbeth Branch Canal heads off towards Aston. I was tempted to investigate Curzon Street Tunnel and the Ashted locks, but instead I follow the junction sign towards Typhoo Basin, with the towpath coming to a halt at Fazeley Street Bridge. From on top of the bridge I could catch a glimpse of the basin, a quiet scene now but I could imagine the days when the place would have been busy with boats serving the Typhoo Tea and HP Sauce warehouses.
From Fazeley Street it was back to New Street as the trip drew to a close, although there was time for a final backstreet flurry having a look at Birmingham Dog's Home, old tenement buildings on Bordesley Street and the closed Fox & Grapes pub on Park Street. The train ride back to Wolverhampton gave me time to reflect on a cracking adventure that had given me a real flavour of a side of Birmingham that I had always previously chosen to avoid. Today's glimpses of Highgate and the Digbeth section of Grand Union Canal have convinced me that there is much exploration potential to be found amongst the backstreets and, whilst always remaining cautious, I'd quite like to find out more.
The outing initially saw me back on my old stomping ground at Birmingham University, getting a few photos at Edgbaston Campus before joining the Worcester & Birmingham Canal for a walk back into the City Centre. The canal has long been a favourite of mine, but it had been ages since I'd covered the sections through Edgbaston and Five Ways, so it was good to renew my acquaintance with Pritchatts Road, Somerset Road and The Vale. Unfortunately, the rather overcast morning conditions weren't proving great for taking bridge photos, but I persevered and hopefully some of the shots will be usable.
Ploughing onwards, I reckon it had been a full five years or so since I last visited Edgbaston Tunnel. Photos again proved tricky but I enjoyed attempting shots inside the tunnel, where bright orange lamps at least provided some kind of light source. The bridges at St James Road and Bath Row were less familiar to me, and I was pleased to add them to my archive - hopefully now I have a full set of shots covering the entire Birmingham section of the canal from Worcester Bar to Shannon Road.
Leaving the canal at The Mailbox, it was time for a bit of local exploration. My walk took me along Bristol Street then down Wrentham Street, where I immediately found some traditional corner pubs, the Fountain and the British Oak. Continuing into Macdonald Street, the backstreet vibe became more pronounced amongst industrial workshops and pubs like the Queens Head and the Lamp Tavern. It certainly wasn't the most glamorous location, and I always had half an eye looking over my shoulder just in case, but it was a fascinating glimpse of the urban inner-city all the same. I did feel reluctant to get the camera out at times, but braved a shot of the Town Crier pub before dashing down Rea Street towards Digbeth.
Next stop was the Anchor, a cracking pub I visited with Rog last year without getting a decent photo of the place. I was determined to put this right, and today's photos seemed to settle me down as further shots followed of the White Swan just up the road. I was roughly aiming for Camp Hill, but decided to branch off to explore more of Highgate, spotting another pub called the Fountain, this time on Alcester Street. Lunch beckoned, and I found a nice spot in Highgate Park to tuck in to my pasty. The photos continued with a quick peek at the closed Peacock pub on Deakin Street before taking a closer look at the park itself - its a good facility with an urban cricket court and a nice avenue of trees guarded by a statue of King Edward VII. With a hint of blossom, some parts of the park were actually quite photogenic, especially where the grand residences of Moseley Road formed an almost stately backdrop.
I was actually beginning to like Highgate, and I just had time for a final few discoveries before tracking down my next bit of canal. These included the Hen & Chickens pub (closed and boarded up on Moseley Street), the Moseley Arms (very much open and a route 50 landmark), and the attractive half-timbered building in Stratford Place (not sure what the building is but it looked old). Highgate Middleway brought me to Camp Hill Interchange, where I was finally able to get shots of a longstanding target of mine, the Brewer & Baker pub overlooking the island.
Continuing down to Coventry Road, I decided to put the canal on hold a little bit longer as I couldn't resist a return visit to Bordesley Station. I must admit this was made with some considerable trepidation, as I could well recall my previous visits, climbing a dingy, litter-strewn staircase that stunk like the worst urinal on earth. Thankfully the station appears to have had a bit of a clean up, as the litter was negligible and the smells tolerable, although the stairwell is still a dark, offputting approach and the platforms are as bleak and basic as ever. Given the current economic climate, its quite pleasing that the station remains open and that someone takes the trouble to make it half-way presentable.
Time now for that canal exploration I'd been promising myself, and it was well worth the wait. I joined the Grand Union at Coventry Road and made my way along to Fazeley Street. Its hardly the prettiest stretch of waterway, but for me it was engrossing new territory providing cracking little discoveries. The first was Bordesley Junction, where the Grand Union effectively forks into two arms, one to Digbeth and one to Saltley. After surveying the roving iron footbridge, I have a brief look at the Saltley option, taking shots of Bridge 96 and spotting several other bridges on the horizon (very intriguing!), before deciding to concentrate on the short section up to Digbeth Junction.
This initially yields photos of Bridge 95 at Great Barr Street, then I arrived at Warwick Bar, a simply wonderful backstreet canal location. The bar is something of an ugly cousin compared to the more vaunted Worcester Bar in Gas Street Basin, but I really liked the sense of quiet dereliction amid industrial surroundings where you are slightly off the beaten track. Just beyond the bar is Digbeth Junction, where this bit of the Grand Union terminates and the Digbeth Branch Canal heads off towards Aston. I was tempted to investigate Curzon Street Tunnel and the Ashted locks, but instead I follow the junction sign towards Typhoo Basin, with the towpath coming to a halt at Fazeley Street Bridge. From on top of the bridge I could catch a glimpse of the basin, a quiet scene now but I could imagine the days when the place would have been busy with boats serving the Typhoo Tea and HP Sauce warehouses.
From Fazeley Street it was back to New Street as the trip drew to a close, although there was time for a final backstreet flurry having a look at Birmingham Dog's Home, old tenement buildings on Bordesley Street and the closed Fox & Grapes pub on Park Street. The train ride back to Wolverhampton gave me time to reflect on a cracking adventure that had given me a real flavour of a side of Birmingham that I had always previously chosen to avoid. Today's glimpses of Highgate and the Digbeth section of Grand Union Canal have convinced me that there is much exploration potential to be found amongst the backstreets and, whilst always remaining cautious, I'd quite like to find out more.
Wednesday, April 1
And not forgetting...
Yesterday's outing gave me chance to say goodbye to three of the five libraries that have closed in Wolverhampton, so I thought I'd take time to offer some personal reflections on the other two...
Bradmore Library - a small community library based in the outbuildings at Bantock House. Like Mary Pointon, Daisy Bank and the Scotlands, Bradmore Library was only open for 15 hours a week and wasn't particularly heavily used (although usage was higher than at the three other locations). The library had a nice setting within Bantock Park - visitors to WME Wolverhampton will know this park is a personal favourite - and had a cosy, friendly interior, although it perhaps suffered from a lack of space. Another consideration would be the library's proximity to larger branches at Finchfield and Warstones, a short bus ride or a decent walk away. An unstaffed deposit collection could be a future option, although there have been suggestions that the popular neighbouring park cafe could be expanded and developed into an internet cafe. It remains to be seen whether this will actually happen, but it could be an excellent community facility if it does. Farewell Bradmore!
Oxley Library - of all the libraries that have closed, Oxley is the one I feel most sad about. I have a lot of affection for the branch having visited it with my grandparents as a kid, and I've also enjoyed taking photos of the library during several walks around Rakegate over the years. As such, the library was a link back to my childhood, and it seems strange to think it won't be there anymore.
Unlike the other libraries that have closed, Oxley was a larger branch that was open five days a week including two late nights (although it did close for lunch). Situated on Probert Road near the Day Centre and the alley into the St Anne's estate, I always felt the library slightly resembled a shed - a leap of the imagination I guess, but that was part of the reason I liked the place. This location may have been part of Oxley's downfall, being somewhat hidden away from the busy Stafford Road and the local shops, and the branch did seem quieter than the other larger branches despite a core of regular loyal borrowers. Considering also Oxley's close proximity to the library at Pendeford, the branch was deemed uneconomic given the wider Council need to save money, and the axe ultimately fell. Possibilities could exist for redeveloping the site to provide a new health centre facility for the local area, which would at least retain a community use for the site, although it remains to be seen whether this will transpire due to the current economic environment. An unstaffed deposit collection is again proposed, either as part of the new development or elsewhere within the local community. Farewell Oxley, I will miss you!
To echo the comments in my previous post, it is always a sad day when local facilities close their doors for good, but I can understand the reasoning and justification for the closures - the purpose of my posts is to reflect and remember rather than criticise the decisions that have been made. In the case of both Bradmore and Oxley, the library closures could be offset by the development of new facilities such as an enhanced cafe at Bantock Park and a new health facility at Oxley. The communities concerned could benefit greatly should these go ahead, so amidst the doom and gloom of my ramblings there could be some very positive outcomes, and I will be interested to see what happens over the coming months...
Bradmore Library - a small community library based in the outbuildings at Bantock House. Like Mary Pointon, Daisy Bank and the Scotlands, Bradmore Library was only open for 15 hours a week and wasn't particularly heavily used (although usage was higher than at the three other locations). The library had a nice setting within Bantock Park - visitors to WME Wolverhampton will know this park is a personal favourite - and had a cosy, friendly interior, although it perhaps suffered from a lack of space. Another consideration would be the library's proximity to larger branches at Finchfield and Warstones, a short bus ride or a decent walk away. An unstaffed deposit collection could be a future option, although there have been suggestions that the popular neighbouring park cafe could be expanded and developed into an internet cafe. It remains to be seen whether this will actually happen, but it could be an excellent community facility if it does. Farewell Bradmore!
Oxley Library - of all the libraries that have closed, Oxley is the one I feel most sad about. I have a lot of affection for the branch having visited it with my grandparents as a kid, and I've also enjoyed taking photos of the library during several walks around Rakegate over the years. As such, the library was a link back to my childhood, and it seems strange to think it won't be there anymore.
Unlike the other libraries that have closed, Oxley was a larger branch that was open five days a week including two late nights (although it did close for lunch). Situated on Probert Road near the Day Centre and the alley into the St Anne's estate, I always felt the library slightly resembled a shed - a leap of the imagination I guess, but that was part of the reason I liked the place. This location may have been part of Oxley's downfall, being somewhat hidden away from the busy Stafford Road and the local shops, and the branch did seem quieter than the other larger branches despite a core of regular loyal borrowers. Considering also Oxley's close proximity to the library at Pendeford, the branch was deemed uneconomic given the wider Council need to save money, and the axe ultimately fell. Possibilities could exist for redeveloping the site to provide a new health centre facility for the local area, which would at least retain a community use for the site, although it remains to be seen whether this will transpire due to the current economic environment. An unstaffed deposit collection is again proposed, either as part of the new development or elsewhere within the local community. Farewell Oxley, I will miss you!
To echo the comments in my previous post, it is always a sad day when local facilities close their doors for good, but I can understand the reasoning and justification for the closures - the purpose of my posts is to reflect and remember rather than criticise the decisions that have been made. In the case of both Bradmore and Oxley, the library closures could be offset by the development of new facilities such as an enhanced cafe at Bantock Park and a new health facility at Oxley. The communities concerned could benefit greatly should these go ahead, so amidst the doom and gloom of my ramblings there could be some very positive outcomes, and I will be interested to see what happens over the coming months...
The Final Curtain Falls...
Tuesday 31st March 2009 was a sad day in the history of Wolverhampton's Library Service, as four local libraries shut their doors for the last time - a fifth, Bradmore Community Library, had already closed for good last Saturday (28th March). I was very fond of all of the libraries concerned, and yesterday's outing gave me a final chance to visit three of them...
After a spot of shopping in Wolverhampton, I caught the 126 up to the Spread Eagle and made my way to Mary Pointon Library. The library was situated on Upper Ettingshall Road, part of a complex of buildings that also includes Woodcross Community Centre and the Manor Primary School. Here it served the residents of Ettingshall and Woodcross, and occupied a small room within the old school buildings. The library actually had quite a bright, airy feel to it, with large windows and a few potted plants, and it contained a couple of public computers, a reading table, the library counter and an arrangement of shelving units providing fiction, non-fiction and the children's section in the far corner. A nice facility then, popular with the neighbouring school, but the fact it was only open 15 hours a week and simply did not attract enough visitors meant it was economically unviable at a time when the Council is facing serious budgetary problems. The plan is that the library will be replaced with an unstaffed deposit collection, and that the school will use the room for educational purposes. Farewell Mary Pointon!
The goodbye tour was well underway, but I decided to do a bit of bonus Dudley exploration before visiting the next library. My walk took me down into Coseley, where I lamented the loss of The Boat pub on Havacre Lane (the site now contains mounds of earth and gravel) before tracking down a couple of backstreet pubs, the Rising Sun on Darkhouse Lane and then the Rollers Arms. A brief look at Coseley Station was followed by photos of the Painters Arms (a traditional Holden's local on Avenue Road) and the Unitarian Chapel. My next photo candidate rather unexpectedly added to the day's theme of local facilities threatened with closure, as whilst getting shots of Coseley Swimming Pool, I got chatting to some of the staff there who told me the baths is due to shut in August. Again this seems to be such a shame, so I wish everyone the best of luck in their campaign to keep the pool open.
From the baths I wend my way round by the cricket ground and up past Christ Church before continuing past the White House pub and Netto into Daisy Bank. Just across the border into Wolverhampton is Daisy Bank Library, housed along with the community centre in the very imposing Board Schools building on Ash Street, from where it served the residents of Daisy Bank and Bradley. The building looks old and rather foreboding from the outside, and heading inside is almost like stepping back in time to the days of dark brown shelving and musty smells. In truth, the library did feel somewhat tired and dated, but I felt that was part its charm. Like Mary Pointon, the library was open 15 hours a week and a lack of patronage again made the facility uneconomical. Add in problems with vandalism and the fact that the library wasn't considered safe enough for staff to lone-work there, and the case for closure was pretty compelling. An unstaffed deposit collection is also planned for this site. Farewell Daisy Bank!
Time is ticking along, and I need to get moving if I'm to make my final library of the day. I check the bus times and find I have a spare ten minutes, just enough time to hunt down the Brittania pub on Hall Green Street - it looked like the building was being converted for purely residential use. Its then back to the stop by Netto to wait for the 544, but Travel A2Z's 680 route is first on the scene and provides a nice little ride through Bradley, up Dudley Street by Morrison's and then into Bilston via a curious town centre loop to drop people off outside Lidl. I endure a nervous wait for the 525, thankfully the bus was only a couple of minutes late and I keep a close eye on the clock as we head through Willenhall and Wednesfield.
My last port of call is Scotlands & Underhill Library, due to close at 1pm - the 525 drops me off on Primrose Lane at 12:45, but with a dash through the estate I make it with a few minutes to spare. The library is situated within the Neil Dougherty resource centre on the corner of Masefield Road and Westcroft Avenue, where it occupies a small front room. Again the library was only open for 15 hours, but at least the facility looked like it had been invested in, with lower height shelving and a bright interior. I really sensed the pain of closure here, seeing the stock being boxed up as the last few minutes ticked by. I wasn't quite the last person through the door, as a nice old lady brought in some flowers for the staff to say thankyou for all their hard work, a touching gesture that highlighted the impact the closures could have for local residents. Sadly, as with the other libraries, there just wasn't enough usage to justify maintaining the facility, and a deposit collection is again proposed in its place. 1 o'clock had now arrived and it was time to bid farewell, and as I left I couldn't help feeling very heavy-hearted having witnessed the very last moments at this particular branch. Farewell Scotlands and Underhill!
It was a sad day, but I'm very glad I took the time to go and visit the libraries one last time. It is always a shame when local facilities like these have to close, but I understand the fact that such action was necessary given the high running costs and lack of usage, especially when combined with the urgent need for the council to make savings to avert serious financial problems. Hopefully the provision of deposit collections, and the fact that residents will still have other library facilities relatively close at hand, will help to offset the closures and ensure people still have access to books, computers and information. For me, it was a day when I saw a little bit of local history being made, and in years to come, at least I can say I was there.
After a spot of shopping in Wolverhampton, I caught the 126 up to the Spread Eagle and made my way to Mary Pointon Library. The library was situated on Upper Ettingshall Road, part of a complex of buildings that also includes Woodcross Community Centre and the Manor Primary School. Here it served the residents of Ettingshall and Woodcross, and occupied a small room within the old school buildings. The library actually had quite a bright, airy feel to it, with large windows and a few potted plants, and it contained a couple of public computers, a reading table, the library counter and an arrangement of shelving units providing fiction, non-fiction and the children's section in the far corner. A nice facility then, popular with the neighbouring school, but the fact it was only open 15 hours a week and simply did not attract enough visitors meant it was economically unviable at a time when the Council is facing serious budgetary problems. The plan is that the library will be replaced with an unstaffed deposit collection, and that the school will use the room for educational purposes. Farewell Mary Pointon!
The goodbye tour was well underway, but I decided to do a bit of bonus Dudley exploration before visiting the next library. My walk took me down into Coseley, where I lamented the loss of The Boat pub on Havacre Lane (the site now contains mounds of earth and gravel) before tracking down a couple of backstreet pubs, the Rising Sun on Darkhouse Lane and then the Rollers Arms. A brief look at Coseley Station was followed by photos of the Painters Arms (a traditional Holden's local on Avenue Road) and the Unitarian Chapel. My next photo candidate rather unexpectedly added to the day's theme of local facilities threatened with closure, as whilst getting shots of Coseley Swimming Pool, I got chatting to some of the staff there who told me the baths is due to shut in August. Again this seems to be such a shame, so I wish everyone the best of luck in their campaign to keep the pool open.
From the baths I wend my way round by the cricket ground and up past Christ Church before continuing past the White House pub and Netto into Daisy Bank. Just across the border into Wolverhampton is Daisy Bank Library, housed along with the community centre in the very imposing Board Schools building on Ash Street, from where it served the residents of Daisy Bank and Bradley. The building looks old and rather foreboding from the outside, and heading inside is almost like stepping back in time to the days of dark brown shelving and musty smells. In truth, the library did feel somewhat tired and dated, but I felt that was part its charm. Like Mary Pointon, the library was open 15 hours a week and a lack of patronage again made the facility uneconomical. Add in problems with vandalism and the fact that the library wasn't considered safe enough for staff to lone-work there, and the case for closure was pretty compelling. An unstaffed deposit collection is also planned for this site. Farewell Daisy Bank!
Time is ticking along, and I need to get moving if I'm to make my final library of the day. I check the bus times and find I have a spare ten minutes, just enough time to hunt down the Brittania pub on Hall Green Street - it looked like the building was being converted for purely residential use. Its then back to the stop by Netto to wait for the 544, but Travel A2Z's 680 route is first on the scene and provides a nice little ride through Bradley, up Dudley Street by Morrison's and then into Bilston via a curious town centre loop to drop people off outside Lidl. I endure a nervous wait for the 525, thankfully the bus was only a couple of minutes late and I keep a close eye on the clock as we head through Willenhall and Wednesfield.
My last port of call is Scotlands & Underhill Library, due to close at 1pm - the 525 drops me off on Primrose Lane at 12:45, but with a dash through the estate I make it with a few minutes to spare. The library is situated within the Neil Dougherty resource centre on the corner of Masefield Road and Westcroft Avenue, where it occupies a small front room. Again the library was only open for 15 hours, but at least the facility looked like it had been invested in, with lower height shelving and a bright interior. I really sensed the pain of closure here, seeing the stock being boxed up as the last few minutes ticked by. I wasn't quite the last person through the door, as a nice old lady brought in some flowers for the staff to say thankyou for all their hard work, a touching gesture that highlighted the impact the closures could have for local residents. Sadly, as with the other libraries, there just wasn't enough usage to justify maintaining the facility, and a deposit collection is again proposed in its place. 1 o'clock had now arrived and it was time to bid farewell, and as I left I couldn't help feeling very heavy-hearted having witnessed the very last moments at this particular branch. Farewell Scotlands and Underhill!
It was a sad day, but I'm very glad I took the time to go and visit the libraries one last time. It is always a shame when local facilities like these have to close, but I understand the fact that such action was necessary given the high running costs and lack of usage, especially when combined with the urgent need for the council to make savings to avert serious financial problems. Hopefully the provision of deposit collections, and the fact that residents will still have other library facilities relatively close at hand, will help to offset the closures and ensure people still have access to books, computers and information. For me, it was a day when I saw a little bit of local history being made, and in years to come, at least I can say I was there.
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