Forthcoming Attractions – Autumn Road Run

Forthcoming Attractions

Autumn Road Run

Pumping clear water

BrownhillsBob's Brownhills Blog

A remarkable, and beautifully scanned image from Ruth Penrhyn-Lowe. Click for a full-size version.

This… is remarkable. I’m just going to leave it here for those among us interested in Chasewater, and the arrangements with the steam pump that used to return water from Anglesey Basin into the reservoir.

There has been a lot of debate about this subject in the past, and courtesy of reader and contributor Ruth Penrhyn-Lowe, we have the clearest scan ever of a remarkable postcard, which gives far more detail than previously seen.

She kindly sent a whole bunch of new cards, which I’ll feature later today, but this one, in light of previous debate, is very special and deserves attention.

Background can be found in this article, and this one too. Readers may also like to gen up by reading this exploration as well.

Thanks to Ruth. This…

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Chasewater Railway – Burton Brewery Day

Chasewater Railway News

Burton Brewery Day

Sunday 20th July is Burton Brewery Locomotive day. We are all really looking forward to this special event. The first of its type to held here at Chasewater Railway.

Please note a powerboat racing event is also taking place at Chasewater on this day for which a charge is made for parking on the field near to us from what we understand, this is not the railway’s car park. Please continue to the top of the road to Brownhills West station car park where FREE parking is available for Chasewater Railway customers visiting our event.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Talon – The Best Of Eagles

TALON

The Best Of Eagles

Some time ago,  Chasewater Railway had the pleasure of hosting a photo-shoot by ‘Talon’ the No. 1 tribute band to he great ‘Eagles’ , and on the weekend Nov 16/17  Nov 2013 the Railway was given a CD showing the results of the shoot, along with a very nice ‘thank you’ letter and some posters.

To see the original post about the photo-shoot go to:

http://wp.me/pwsVe-132

Thank you very much ‘Talon’ we enjoyed your company and wish you every success in the future.

To find out more about ‘TALON’  go to their website:

http://www.talonmusic.co.uk/

Canal News – Historic bridges restored along West Midlands canals

Canal News

Historic bridges restored along West Midlands canals

This week work has started work on a £500,000 project to repair and restore a number of historic cast iron bridges on the canals in the Black Country.

 

Boshboil Arm Bridge

The bridges, some of which are Grade II Listed, date back to the mid-18th Century and are among the most iconic symbols of the Birmingham Canal Navigations in the West Midlands. Built by Horseley Iron Works in Tipton, the bridges, with their characteristic ‘webs of iron’ and gothic style designs have, over the years, suffered from wear and tear and now need some major restoration.

Each of the bridges will have the old paint removed, the metalwork carefully repaired and then several coats of specialist paint applied. Once finished they should look like they would have done when they were first constructed over 210 years ago.

The first three bridges to be repaired are the Boshboil Arm Bridge which is near Dudley, the Tame Valley No.1 Bridge and the Gower Branch Turnover Bridge both near Tipton.

Testament to the engineers

Audrey O’Connor, heritage advisor for the Canal & River Trust, said: “These bridges are typical of the canals in the West Midlands and really help to bring the history of the waterways alive for people. The fact that they are still working as they were intended after all this time is a testament to the engineers who built them, but they are showing their age. The work we are doing will ensure people will be able to enjoy them for many years to come.

“We have over 100 miles of canal in the West Midlands and it is teeming with clues as to its past. If you look closely at some of the stonework and handrails you will see that they are scored and marked with rope marks caused by generations of working boat people using horses to tow barges along the canals. These unique markings will be preserved, allowing people literally to run their fingers across the imprints made by our ancestors.”

Peter Mathews CMG, chair of the West Midlands Waterways Partnership for the Canal & River Trust, said: “The history of the canal is all around us, you just need to know where to look for it.  Most of the bridges are date stamped so if you will easily be able to spot when they were built and I would really encourage everyone to get out and explore your local canal and see what secret history you can uncover.”

Lichfield News – Volunteers needed for heathland management

Lichfield News

Volunteers needed for heathland management

Published on Friday, 8th November 2013

Council calls for more volunteers to help keep rare heathland at Chasewater Country Park under control.

Ten members of the Countryside and Parks Conservation Group cut down and cleared young trees at a conservation day on Wednesday 6 November 2013.

The day is one of two heathland management events planned this month to help maintain the heathland environment on the north shore of Chasewater Country Park.

Now Lichfield District Council is calling for even more volunteers to get involved in this important work.

The second heathland management day will take place on Thursday 28 November from 10.30am to 3pm. It will involve clearing more trees and having a bonfire to burn all the scrub that has been gathered over the two conservation events.

Councillor Ian Pritchard, Lichfield District Council’s Cabinet Member for Development Services, said: “Protecting our heathland is really important, as it is such a rare habitat and one that will be lost from our landscape, along with all the wildlife it supports, unless we work to preserve it.

“For the last six years a local farmer has loan a small herd of cattle to us. We use them to graze on areas of the country park, to help us to keep the heathland clear of scrub.

“After what was our second year of grazing on the north shore, we’re returning the herd of cattle to their farm before the winter sets in. This means that any tree shoots and scrub that were missed need to be cleared, before the cattle come back to the country park early next spring.

“We hope even more people will join us for our next day in the great outdoors, and our thanks to everyone that has volunteered and worked so hard to help us to protect this special site of scientific interest.”

The group will meet at Chasewater Heath Station, which is off the A5190 roundabout on the West side of Burntwood, WS7 3PG.

Hot drinks and snacks will be provided throughout the day, but bringing a packed lunch is recommended.

Volunteers must be 18 years of age or over to take part in this conservation activity. To book your free place, please contact Lichfield District Council’s countryside team by calling Denice Deverall on 01543 308183 or email denice.deverall@lichfielddc.gov.uk

For more information about the Countryside & Parks Conservation Group, please visit www.lichfielddc.gov.uk/cpcg

 

Bulb planting day success

Published on Friday, 8th November 2013

More than 25 people lent a hand to plant around 1,500 spring flower bulbs at Chase Terrace Park on Saturday 2 November 2013.

Thanks to a donation of £200 by County Councillor Sue Woodward, through the Staffordshire Local Community Fund, Lichfield District Council’s parks team invited local people to help plant more than 1,500 bulbs at Chase Terrace Park this November.

More than 25 people of all ages volunteered on the day, planting bulbs under the trees and around the main entrance of the park.

Next spring, park users can look forward to seeing English bluebells, snowdrops and daffodils when they come into bloom.

251 – Chasewater Railway Museum Bits & Pieces – From Chasewater News Summer 2002 – Part 5

251 – ChasewaterRailwayMuseum Bits & Pieces

From Chasewater News

Summer 2002 – Part 5

A new magazine for Cannock Chase!

Lichfield News – More cattle to graze on SSSI

Lichfield News

More cattle to graze on SSSI

This August more cattle are being introduced to Chasewater Country Park to protect the heathland habitat.

To keep the precious heathland habitat under control, Lichfield District Council uses cattle to graze on areas of Chasewater Country Park. Using cattle means the council does not need to manually remove tree shoots and scrub, as the animals do the job naturally.

This summer, due to the benefits of grazing, the council has noticed a big increase in the amount of wildflowers growing on the heathland. To extend this good work, six extra animals are being introduced to the site this summer.

They will join the existing herd of three cattle in gently grazing the land. This should mean that even more wildflowers grow on the land, which is good news for biodiversity as the flowers encourage more animals to the site.

Councillor Ian Pritchard, Lichfield District Council’s Cabinet Member for Development Services, said: “Our countryside team has been working hard to bring back grazing to Chasewater Country Park, and after successfully introducing cattle to the park some years ago, we’re all delighted that wildflowers are now thriving, and welcome the new herd of cattle to the country park.”

Four of the cattle will get to work this August on Anglesely Basin, and two more will join the existing herd of three that are grazing on Chasewater’s North Shore.

“Although the cattle are friendly, we are asking all visitors to Chasewater not to approach them and to keep their dogs under control at all times,” added Cllr Pritchard.

Some similar cattle grazing on Hednesford Hills

248 – Chasewater Railway Museum Bits & Pieces From Chasewater News – Summer 2002 – Part 2 – From the Board Room

248 – Chasewater Railway Museum Bits & Pieces

From Chasewater News – Summer 2002 – 2

From the Board Room