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Elliott Brown Green open spaces
07 Jun 2021 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

Sutton Park Town Gate to Boldmere Gate

I got the train to Sutton Coldfield on the 5th June 2021, on a nice and warm sunny morning in The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield. I headed for the Town Gate for a bit of a walk in Sutton Park. Followed Google Maps to Keepers Pool and Keepers Well. Before changing direction for Powell's Pool and the Boldmere Gate. Much more to explore on a future visit, can't do it all in one go.

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Sutton Park Town Gate to Boldmere Gate





I got the train to Sutton Coldfield on the 5th June 2021, on a nice and warm sunny morning in The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield. I headed for the Town Gate for a bit of a walk in Sutton Park. Followed Google Maps to Keepers Pool and Keepers Well. Before changing direction for Powell's Pool and the Boldmere Gate. Much more to explore on a future visit, can't do it all in one go.


This was more of a proper walk into Sutton Park. As back in August 2017 I only popped into the Boldmere Gate to find the Big Sleuth bear nearby. See this post here: The outer fringes of Sutton Park.

Got the train to Sutton Coldfield Station on the morning of Saturday 5th June 2021 (Cross City Line, now operated by West Midlands Railway). I walked around Railway Road, Tudor Road and Upper Clifton Road, before I got to a roundabout at Park Road. This leads to the Town Gate.

 

Town Gate

On the island was a thatched sculpture of what I think is a Cello.

dndimg alt="Sutton Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/TG island Sutton Park (Jun 2021).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Heading up Park Road to the Sutton Park Town Gate. Either side is a pair of gatehouses (looked boarded up). There is a Toby Carvery this way. Tudor Hill to the right had a pair of old gateposts.

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The main road in from the Town Gate. Was a play area on the left, the car park up ahead.

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Heading around the back of the play area, over a footbridge that crosses over the Plants Brook.

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I could see the Visitor Centre to the far left of my then position in the park.

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Crossing over the lawn back onto the main path. I wanted to find the Keepers Pool, so checked Google Maps, and left this road for the route to where I wanted to go.

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Crossing over to the path I needed, saw this tree stump and cut tree log on the ground.

dndimg alt="Sutton Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Sutton Park (Jun 2021) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Keepers Pool and Keepers Well

The Keepers Pool looked nice and peaceful in the early summer sunshine. It dates to the 15th Century. In 1887, a lido was built here, an open-air swimming pool. It survived until 2003 when it was burnt by arsonists, another fire in 2004 meant it was lost for good. But the area has returned to woodland and wetland.

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Further up was the Keepers Well. Despite the grass being dry saw a bit of mud, so didn't want to get too close. Would assume it also dates back to the same period as Keepers Pool.

dndimg alt="Sutton Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Keepers Well Sutton Park (Jun 2021).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Deer Park Subdivision

Not far from Keepers Pool and Well was this marker for Deer Park Subdivision. The land had been a Norman deer park from the early 12th century. There used to be banks and ditches. But over time they subsided and were filled in, so is nothing much to see now. Although I did cross over some raised bits of earth near the paths and roads.

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This is the path close to the Deer Park Subdivision marker.

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The road continues on towards Streetly. But it was near here that I left the path to make my way towards the Boldmere Gate and Sutton Coldfield Town Centre. Didn't want to go too far in the park.

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Going off the path over the field, so many people walking or cycling over the land had left a trail towards the next path.

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Now back onto a path / road that leads back to the Boldmere Gate.

dndimg alt="Sutton Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Sutton Park (Jun 2021) (9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

But first a diversion into an open field I found. Was wooden markers with yellow warning signs. Apparently this is where people fly their model aeroplanes, but not on the day of my visit to the park.

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Into the heathland, and another path well troden by many other people over the years.

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Saw this weird looking tree, leaning to the left. I was getting close to Powell's Pool and the Boldmere Gate.

dndimg alt="Sutton Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Sutton Park (Jun 2021) (12).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Powell's Pool

Back to the path leading to the Boldmere Gate, then one last detour to see Powell's Pool again. Saw this boat with gulls perched on it.

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A perfect morning with a blue sky and little clouds above the pool.

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Taking the gate exit near Miller & Carter. Saw this view of the pool from the car park area on the left.

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Couldn't resist getting a couple more shots from Stonehouse Road of the pool. Yachts as usual to the far left.

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Boldmere Gate

Leaving at the park at the Boldmere Gate, via Stonehouse Road, saw another thatched sculpture on an island resembling a harp.

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Not far from the Boldmere Gate on Monmouth Drive was a new West Midlands Cycle Hire point with bikes.

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Down on Monmouth Drive was a football field, was kids taking part in an activity here, was a van near the road, but I didn't get a shot of it, so didn't remember the name of it.

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Leaving via Monmouth Drive, Digby Road, Driffold, Bishops Road and Birmingham Road. Walking back into Sutton Coldfield Town Centre. With a stop for a coffee and a toastie at Caffe Nero at the Gracechurch Shopping Centre.

By the time I walked back to Sutton Coldfield Station, I'd managed 10,000 steps.

Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown

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80 passion points
Elliott Brown History & heritage
04 Jun 2021 - Elliott Brown
Did you know?

A visit to Winterbourne House and Garden during May 2021

It's been a long time coming, but we went to Winterbourne House and Garden on Wednesday 26th May 2021. You enter via the house. Tickets can be bought inside the house, £7.20 for adults or £6.20 for seniors. You can also choose to have time to go around the house. We went in the house at 3pm. The Tearoom is also open, but you can have your tea and coffee on the terrace.

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A visit to Winterbourne House and Garden during May 2021





It's been a long time coming, but we went to Winterbourne House and Garden on Wednesday 26th May 2021. You enter via the house. Tickets can be bought inside the house, £7.20 for adults or £6.20 for seniors. You can also choose to have time to go around the house. We went in the house at 3pm. The Tearoom is also open, but you can have your tea and coffee on the terrace.


Winterbourne House and Garden

It's been a long time coming. But after almost 13 years, we went back to Winterbourne House and Garden. In 2008 only the garden was open to visitors. Since then, the Arts and Crafts style house was fully restored and given full museum status by 2017. Some things had changed with the garden as well. Plus this time I remembered to go down to the Edgbaston Pool. The ground floor and first floor of the house are open to visitors, but only a limited number of people at each time, on timed slots. The Tearoom was open as well. Only one household bubble can go up to the counter to order their drinks, card or app payment only. Have your drinks and cakes out on the terrace outside (tables and chairs). I think the indoor tearoom was open, but wasn't sure as everyone went to have their drinks outside.

 

Recap of the History of Winterbourne

The house was built in 1904 for John and Margaret Nettlefold. They were a wealthy Edwardian couple, who lived and raised their children here. Built in the Arts and Crafts style, John Nettlefold commissioned the architect Joseph Lancaster Ball to design the house. An unusual feature of Winterbourne is the wavy roof line, making the house look older than it actually is. The Nettlefold's were insistent that all the main rooms faced south, including the nursery, to get the maximum amount of sunlight and the best views. The house was built by Isaac Langley of Tyburn, Birmingham. The plaster work was undertaken by local craftsperson G P Bankart. It had all the mod cons of the time including electric lighting and gas fires in several rooms. Many people were moving to Edgbaston in the early 1900s, so it was the perfect place to built their family home. Winterbourne was also close to the new University of Birmingham which was founded by Margaret's uncle Joseph Chamberlain in 1900.

The Nettlefold's lived here from 1904 until 1919 (when John got ill). They were followed by the Wheelock family who lived here from 1919 until 1925. A gardener called John Nicholson bought the house in 1925. When he passed away in 1944, he bequeathed the house to the University of Birmingham.  The house at 58 Edgbaston Park Road has been a Grade II listed building since 1982. The house was fully restored in 2010. It gained full museum status in 2017, with the ground and first floor open to visitors to have a look around at.

 

 

This visit of May 2021, was by chance a couple of days after the 121st anniversary of the founding of the University of Birmingham by a Royal Charter.

 

View of Winterbourne House from the terrace. To the left is the entrance to the house, and also the area for having your teas and coffees outside.

 

 

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The house seen from the Lower Lawn, in the middle is the Pergola.

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The house seen from the Top Lawn. The terrace in front, parasols mostly closed as it was a dry day.

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The house seen from near the exit. The former garden entrance on the left. You now enter the house via  the door to the far right.

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A tour of the house inside

Starting your tour (without a guide) at The Drawing Room. It was a place for the family to relax and for entertaining guests. The plasterwork on the walls and ceilings are typical of Arts and Crafts design.

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We next to into The Hallway. It was inspired by 17th century long galleries.

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On the left is a portrait of John Nettlefold (1866 - 1930). The family lived in the house until 1919, when John got ill. It is a photograph of a portrait of John Nettlefold by John Byam Liston Shaw in 1904.

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At the far end of the Hallway is a portrait of Margaret Nettlefold (nee Chamberlain) (1871 - 1949). Born into the Chamberlain family, she was the niece of Joseph Chamberlain (1836 - 1914) and first cousin of Neville Chamberlain (1869 - 1940). The painting was also by John Byam Liston Shaw and done in 1904 (this is a photograph reproduction of the original).

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The next room on the ground floor was The Study. This room is dedicated to John Nettlefold and his work. On his desk lies the plans for the Moorpool estate. The wallpaper is 'Brier Rabbit' by William Morris.

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Up to the first foor and we are now in the Nurses' Room. It is the room on the left of the top of the stairs. It's the kind of room where the servants would have lived in the house.

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That is followed by The Nursery. It was a large and airy room for the children and faced the garden. The children would have played and slept in the room, and even had their lessons here from the Nurse before they were old enough to attend local schools.

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The next room is Nina's Room. It has been styled for a 16 year old girl from the period. The outfit near the window is an example of Edwardian summer dress worn by young girls of Nina's social standing.

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The final bedroom you can view is Ken's Room. Named after John Kenrick Nettlefold, he was the Nettlefold's only surviving son. It represents what the room could have looked like before he left the family home.

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In The Exhibition Room near the door was this sculpture. Standing Lovers, 1974. Made of Terracotta by John Tonks (1927-2012). It was originally exhibited at Winterbourne House in 1974, as part of a restrospective of John Tonks' work.

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The Winterbourne Press

This building was originally the garage, to house the Nettlefold's first motor car which they bought in 1906. Today the building houses the Winterbourne Press, which shows the early printing techniques of those used in Arts and Crafts design, with a collection of working 19th and early 20th century printing presses.

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When you go in, only one person is allowed at one time. Beyond this gate is staff only. There was several old printing presses inside, plus examples of prints that they had produced.

dndimg alt="Winterbourne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Winterbourne Press (May 2021) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Former farm buildings at Winterbourne

There is several former farm buildings and stables at Winterbourne. From the Walled Garden you can see The Old Hayloft houses, which is now the Winterbourne Shop. It is also now the exit from the garden. Various items can be bought here, such as the Guide Book for £5 (card or app payment only at present).

dndimg alt="Winterbourne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Winterbourne HG Shop (May 2021) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Exiting the shop, you see the Coach House Gallery, which is now home to the Second-hand Bookshop.

dndimg alt="Winterbourne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/2nd Hand bshop Winterbourne HG (May 2021).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Garden tour at Winterbourne

First up is The Walled Garden. Through here is the shop, second-hand bookshop, the toilets, Winterbourne Press, and  Edwardian Kitchen. In the centre is the Dipping Pool. It was restored after a leak in 2008. To the far end is the Lean-to Glasshouse which was restored in 2005.

dndimg alt="Winterbourne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/TWG Winterbourne HG (May 2021) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The next area is the Glasshouse and Alpine Garden. Here you can visit The Gilbert Orchid House (pictured below). Also the Arid House and Alpine House. The Glasshouses were first included in this area as early as the 1930s. The Gilbert Orchid House was built in the 1960s.

dndimg alt="Winterbourne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/GOH Winterbourne HG (May 2021).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Nut Walk is near the Geographic collections. It is an original feature of the garden, and provides a focal point for this area. It is in a tunnel shape. The hazelnut trees growing here are the same ones planted by Margaret Nettlefold over 100 years ago. By the 1980s the original structure had decayed, and was replaced with a new, longer lasting iron frame, domed in shape.

dndimg alt="Winterbourne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/TNW Winterbourne HG (May 2021).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Rhododendron Walk runs straight towards the stream. There is also a gate on one side that leads to the Edgbaston Pool. It is the first part of the garden to burst into colour in the spring. There is the remains of an Oak Tree here, that has been left as a memorial to it.

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Taking a detour of the garden, down a path (from the unlocked gate) to the Edgbaston Pool. It belongs to Edgbaston Golf Club. Visitors to Winterbourne can walk along the path, and sit at the benches. The gate beyond is private property of the golf club. Visitors must leave the pool by 4:45pm, when the gate at Winterbourne is padlocked for the evening. The pool was part of the Edgbaston Estate of the Gough family, later members of the Calthorpe's, whose Calthorpe Estates owns much of the land in Edgbaston.

dndimg alt="Winterbourne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Pool GC (May 2021) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Back in Winterbourne Garden, and now walking past the stream. This is the Japanese Bridge and Sandstone Rock Garden. On the day of our visit, the bridge was closed for maintenance, so couldn't do the Woodland Walk.

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The furthest part of the garden you can go to. The Stream Lawn, Streamside Borders and Magnolia Border. It's hard to believe that you are two miles away from the city centre. It was originally used in 1904 to grow vegetables. Later in the 1970s it was home to a small nursery, before it was removed to make way for the present day lawn and flowering shrub borders.

dndimg alt="Winterbourne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/TSL Winterbourne HG (May 2021).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Next up is the Lower Lawn. In this view you can see the Pergola (view towards the house). The Herb Circle is to the right. The Pergola is a true Arts and Crafts feature, added by John Nicolson. It was restored in 2005. Currently there is no access to it, while you are walking around the lawn.

dndimg alt="Winterbourne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/LLP Winterbourne HG (May 2021).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Old Meadow is a part of the Winter Garden. It is alongside Winterbourne's western boundary. Originally pastureland during the Edwardian period, it was tamed by gardening staff in 1969, when it was used to house a series of plant family beds. Later it became a commemorative garden to celebrate the centenary of the City of Birmingham in 1989. The Old Meadow contains The White Border, The Mediterranean Bed and the Winter Border.

dndimg alt="Winterbourne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/TOM Winterbourne HG (May 2021).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Top Lawn can be seen from the terrace in front of the house. The Lime Walk is to the right of here. This is the lawn where the Nettlefold's would have played boules and croquet. The Wheelocks, who followed them, used it for family games and tennis.

dndimg alt="Winterbourne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/TL Winterbourne HG (May 2021).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown

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80 passion points
Elliott Brown Art; Culture & creativity
10 May 2021 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

In Memoriam by Luke Jerram at Aston Hall & Park

After a week of rain and hail on and off. Finally some decent sunny weather on Sunday. So I travelled up by bus to Aston to see In Memoriam by Luke Jerram at Aston Hall & Park. It's a free open air tempoary art installation, in memory of those lost during the pandemic and in tribute to the NHS. On for a couple of weeks in May 2021.

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In Memoriam by Luke Jerram at Aston Hall & Park





After a week of rain and hail on and off. Finally some decent sunny weather on Sunday. So I travelled up by bus to Aston to see In Memoriam by Luke Jerram at Aston Hall & Park. It's a free open air tempoary art installation, in memory of those lost during the pandemic and in tribute to the NHS. On for a couple of weeks in May 2021.


In Memoriam is a temporary artwork by artist Luke Jerram at Aston Hall & Park, for a couple of weeks in May 2021. They are made out of bed sheets, white and blue. In memory of those lost during the Covid-19 (Coronavirus) Pandemic, and in tribute to the NHS.

There is an NHS Covid-19 QR code to scan to check in while you are there and hand sanitiser.

Aston Hall opened at 11am, and I popped into the courtyard to have a coffee. After that a look around Lady Holte's Garden again. Nice decent spring like weather. Note that the actual hall itself is not open to the public at this time. A one way system into the courtyard (NHS Covid-19 QR codes to scan as you go in, and in the cafe).

 

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Lady Holte's Garden

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Bus: 65 or 67 to Lichfield Road (catch it from The Priory Queensway). Or 7 to Witton Road (catch it from Livery Street near Birmingham Snow Hill at Colmore Row).

Train to Aston or Witton station's (from Birmingham New Street).

Car parking is also available in Aston Park.

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown

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70 passion points
Elliott Brown Rivers, lakes & canals
04 May 2021 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

Selly Oak Junction - a decades development of the Winding Hole site of the Lapal Canal

A new public space has recently opened near the Worcester & Birmingham Canal in Selly Oak, at the Bristol Road. The site of the Winding Hole of the Lapal Canal restoration project (Dudley No. 2 Canal). When the new Selly Oak Shopping Park opened in late 2018, work started near the railway to build a new footbridge and area the public could enter. Historically the site of lime kilns.

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Selly Oak Junction - a decades development of the Winding Hole site of the Lapal Canal





A new public space has recently opened near the Worcester & Birmingham Canal in Selly Oak, at the Bristol Road. The site of the Winding Hole of the Lapal Canal restoration project (Dudley No. 2 Canal). When the new Selly Oak Shopping Park opened in late 2018, work started near the railway to build a new footbridge and area the public could enter. Historically the site of lime kilns.


December 2009

A couple of days before Christmas Eve 2009, I headed to Selly Oak with my then bridge camera. Caught the Worcester & Birmingham Canal from the Bristol Road for the first time. Snow and ice on the water. To the left is the Battery Park site (later to be developed into Selly Oak Shopping Park). On the right was the former site of the Winding Hole of the Lapal Canal. This was Selly Oak Junction. Dudley No. 2 Canal used to join here, and would head to the left of this point.

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The Birmingham Super Hospital (later to be named Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham) and the Selly Oak Bypass were under construction at the time. The hospital would open in 2010, and the bypass in 2011 (under the name of Aston Webb Boulevard). On the other side of the Bristol Road is Selly Oak Station.

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June 2011

Next to the Selly Oak Railway Bridge of 1931 on the Bristol Road, there also used to be this brick viaduct next to the existing Cross City Line. It was probably built in the 1870s, which resulted in two of the lime kilns that used to be on this site being levelled.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Viaduct Bristol Rd (Jun 2011) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

For many years, the area to the left was overgrown with trees or shrubs. Clearance of the land began in 2012, and the unused viaduct was demolished by 2015.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Viaduct Bristol Rd (Jun 2011) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

February 2013

A walk along the Worcester & Birmingham Canal in Selly Oak towards the Ariel Aqueduct and University of Birmingham.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Feb 2013) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

At the Bristol Road / Winding Hole site of the Lapal Canal, you could at the time see some land clearance, and the old graffitied buildings remaining. The brick viaduct was still there. This view to the Selly Oak Railway Bridge of 1931.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Feb 2013) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The original winding hole of the Lapal Canal, used to be around here. Two more years and the abandoned brick viaduct would be demolished.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Feb 2013) (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Up ahead, a sign on the wall for www.lapal.org. The current website is www.lapalcanal.co.uk

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Feb 2013) (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Not sure of the age of these derelict buildings, but they were all covered in graffiti and had broken windows.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Feb 2013) (5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Some of them had metal walls and roofs.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Feb 2013) (6).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

These two would be demolished in the following years to come.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Feb 2013) (7).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Cross City Line was behind, as well as the Selly Oak Electricity Substation building (near the Bournbrook Skate Park).

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Feb 2013) (8).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

May 2015

The brick viaduct of the 1870s was demolished by 2015, and the hole site was cleared.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Winding Hole SO (May 2015) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

You can now see the Cross City Line viaduct from the Bristol Road in Selly Oak for the first time in years.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Winding Hole SO (May 2015) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

All the overgrowth was cut down, the derelict buildings demolished, as well as the removal of the unused viaduct.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Winding Hole SO (May 2015) (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

June to October 2018

Construction of the new Selly Oak Shopping Park began in the autumn of 2017, and would be completed a year later in the autumn of 2018. This would include a new Sainsbury's store, as well as a Unite Students accommodation block. In June 2018, I saw this temporary builders footbridge crossing the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, from the Winding Hole site to the Shopping Park site.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Jun 2018).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Another look, but this time from the no 61 bus (top deck) on the Bristol Road, during October 2018. In a matter of weeks, the new Selly Oak Shopping Park and Sainsbury's would open to the public for the first time. A more permanent footbridge would be built at this site in 2020. And there would also be a new canal entrance built from the Bristol Road in 2019 as well.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Oct 2018).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

August to October 2019

A new entrance and footbridge being built near the Bristol Road, Sainsbury's and Unite Students accommodation. Seen here during August 2019. Before then, you had to walk the long way around to the Selly Oak Shopping Park to Aston Webb Boulevard.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Aug 2019) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The new bridge would also be above the future tunnel of the Lapal Canal that would go under the new Sainsbury's in Selly Oak.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Aug 2019) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

A visit to the Selly Oak Shopping Park during October 2019. The temporary footbridge from 2018 is gone.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Oct 2019) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The new footbridge over the entrance to the Lapal Canal was now open, and fully landscaped around the Unite Students accommodation. Winding Hole site on the far right all behind hoardings.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Oct 2019) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

One day in the future, those who built and restore the Lapal Canal will have to dig up the surface below this new footbridge.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Oct 2019) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This is now a quick and easy route from the Bristol Road and Selly Oak Station to get to the Selly Oak Shopping Park. And more safer than the old canal entrance from Selly Oak (down The Dingle near a 2nd hand car showroom).

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Oct 2019) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

January to October 2020

First year of the pandemic. In January 2020 I went to Selly Oak to go into the new Sainsbury's. While there got these views. This area near the new footbridge at Bristol Road, next to the old bridge over the Worcester & Birmingham Canal.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Jan 2020) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A West Midlands Railway Class 323 train on the Cross City Line, as work was under way at the Winding Hole site of the Lapal Canal.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Jan 2020) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Blue hoardings on the left, as during 2020, the new permanent footbridge would be built at the site. Seems like plenty of activity at the time on the other side of the canal.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Jan 2020) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Views from the no 63 bus on the Bristol Road in Selly Oak, taken during February 2020. The footbridge over the start of the Lapal Canal near Sainsbury's at the Worcester & Birmingham Canal.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Feb 2020) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This would be the last time I would pass the Worcester & Birmingham Canal in Selly Oak before the first lockdown started about a month later. You can see the route of the Lapal Canal, that it will go in the future (after restoration). Part of the existing towpath would have to go, and people would have to cross over the footbridge.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Feb 2020) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

After the first lockdown, restrictions were being eased by summer 2020. During August 2020, I walked a section of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, and saw the new footbridge under construction from the Selly Oak Shopping Park, to the Winding Hole site to the right.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Aug 2020) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Both sides had ramps and steps that the builders were installing here. The original pipe bridge and railway bridge were still behind.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Aug 2020) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The new ramps and steps on the Winding Hole side of the canal.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Aug 2020) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Saw a West Midlands Railway Class 170 train passing in orange and white. These trains are now in purple, before they are transferred onto East Midlands Railway.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Aug 2020) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The ramps and steps on the side of the canal near the Selly Oak Shopping Park.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Aug 2020) (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

General canal view of the new footbridge as of August 2020.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Aug 2020) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

One more view of the new footbridge during October 2020, days before the 2nd lockdown began. This was from a Stirchley to Selly Oak canal walk that I did at the time. Wouldn't be back here again under after the 3rd lockdown restrictions were being eased during Spring 2021.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Oct 2020).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

April 2021

The third lockdown from January 2021, meant I couldn't travel back to Selly Oak on public transport until April 2021. Got the train down to Bournville and walked up via Linden Road and Oak Tree Lane on the 24th April 2021. Walked down the Bristol Road, and got this view of the area as it is now. What a transformation!

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Apr 2021) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

It was completed in either late 2020 or early 2021. The grass on the right is where the winding hole of the Lapal Canal will be (once restored). But they will have to dig that all out.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Apr 2021) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Metal fence along the Bristol Road, as I headed down to the entrance.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Apr 2021) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

There is bollards close to where the old viaduct used to end, until it was demolished more than 6 years ago.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Apr 2021) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This is the first time I think the area has been opened up to the public. From 1842 until 2000 it was the site to Goodman's, a successful builders merchant.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Apr 2021) (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The area was also known as Whitehouse's Wharf. Selly Oak Junction opened here in 1798. The canal basin on this site was filled in during the 1940s. Sign in the middle all about the history and of the lime kilns that used to be here.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Apr 2021) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Heading to the footbridge, the ramps on the right, steps on the left.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Apr 2021) (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Before going onto the ramps, saw this Cross Country Voyager train heading south over the Cross City Line viaduct bridges.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Apr 2021) (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

I went up half of the ramps, before going up the rest of the way up the steps.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Apr 2021) (9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The view from the top of the ramps. Hard to believe what a mess this site was a decade ago.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Apr 2021) (10).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Crossing the footbridge to the Selly Oak Shopping Park. Sainsbury's on the left.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Apr 2021) (11).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

View from the footbridge, look how nice, clean and tidy the area is now. More work of course in the future for the Lapal Canal restoration. Will take a long time to reach Dudley again.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Apr 2021) (12).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

After a drink at Costa Coffee (sat on a bench outside of Sainsbury's). I headed back to the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, to get a train back to Birmingham New Street from Selly Oak.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Apr 2021) (13).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

View of the winding hole site. Looks nice with the grass, but that will have to go when they dig down to restore it in the future.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Apr 2021) (14).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

One last look, before crossing Bristol Road, to get my train back to the City Centre. People with bikes can cycle all the way from here if they want to.

dndimg alt="Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WB Canal Bristol Rd (Apr 2021) (15).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown

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04 May 2021 - Elliott Brown
News & Updates

West Midlands Cycle Hire on High Street, Solihull

Remember Boris Bikes in London (aka Santander Bikes)? Well our Metro Mayor Andy Street has brought them to the West Midlands. West Midlands Cycle Hire has bikes at various points around the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull. I saw some on the Solihull High Street not far from the Masons Arms Public House. Not spotted any in Birmingham yet.

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West Midlands Cycle Hire on High Street, Solihull





Remember Boris Bikes in London (aka Santander Bikes)? Well our Metro Mayor Andy Street has brought them to the West Midlands. West Midlands Cycle Hire has bikes at various points around the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull. I saw some on the Solihull High Street not far from the Masons Arms Public House. Not spotted any in Birmingham yet.


West Midlands Cycle Hire is already available in Coventry, Stourbridge, Solihull, Sutton Coldfield and Wolverhampton. The scheme will be coming to Birmingham, Sandwell and Walsall soon. To use it, you need to download the Beryl cycle hire app from the App Store or Google Play. Use the app to unlock the bike. Ride it, later dock it, and lock it.

Use this link for the station map.

 

In Solihull Town Centre, there is 5 docking points.

  1. Station Approach (near Solihull Station)
  2. Station Road
  3. Lode Lane (near Solihull Hospital)
  4. High Street (near the Masons Arms)
  5. Malvern & Brueton Park (not far from Park Road)

 

The only location I was aware of, was at the end of High Street in Solihull. Close to New Road and St Alphege's Church. Solihull Welcomes You! Safer, Stronger Solihull.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Cycle Hire" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WM Cycle Hire Solihull High St (Apr 2021) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This docking point on the High Street is close to The Masons Arms.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Cycle Hire" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WM Cycle Hire Solihull High St (Apr 2021) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

As well as Hunters. Drury Lane to the left, leads to Mell Square.

dndimg alt="West Midlands Cycle Hire" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WM Cycle Hire Solihull High St (Apr 2021) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown

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