The Black Country, ENGLAND

[brianac]

This week in the Black Country, Sunny one day, Cloudy the next.

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[niekui]

Yes, good weather looks too little you

[SkyHigh]

Kagmag. :D

An old Black Country expression.

Great photos, dad was born near there. Good to see them up here at WNW.

Keep them coming.

Cheers!

Mark

[brianac]

The Waterfront, an office and entertainment development on the site of the former Round Oak Steelworks.

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[LeCom]

Reminds me of upper Hudson areas like Yonkers, for some reason. Nice photos.

[brianac]

The Bull and Bladder, Brierley Hill.


http://www.expressandstar.com:80/2008/03/13/pub-where-prices-stay-in-time-warp/

[Meerkat]

Ever been to the black country museum brianac?

[brianac]

I haven't been for a few years, but just yesterday I was thinking of going soon, to take a few photographs.

[brianac]

Oh, Meercat ,I forgot to ask. Were you ever at the Black Country Museum?

[turkishann]

we have just booked to go away for New Year to Ludlow (near the Cotswolds), not far from the black country

http://www.ludlow.org.uk/photos.html

we have rented a cottage for a week, love this area of England, there is lots of history, and even a castle in Ludlow, has anybody been?

http://www.ludlowcastle.com/

[brianac]

Yes I like Ludlow too. I make a visit there every now and again. I love the butcher's shops there, great selection of foods.
I have also been there for the horse racing, and spent five days there a good few years back working as an EXTRA on the filming of "Blott on the Landscape" for TV.

[turkishann]

our cottage is attached the the old broad gate, really looking forward to it. Sorry never heard of "Blott on the Landscape" who was in it beside yourself?

Any tips or recommendations ?

[brianac]

Blott on the Landscape.

http://www.bbcshop.com/invt/bbcdvd1678

Review.

Another of my MUST HAVES! Superb adaptation of a Tom Sharpe novel with excellent characterisations from David Suchet as Blott, (man of mystery and servant at Handyman Hall), Geraldine James as Lady Maud (the biological clock is running out and she wants an heir), George Cole, (Sir Giles, her scheming politican husband), the delightful Mrs Forthby (a soft and unlikely dominatrix who panders to the politician's rather peculiar tastes) played by Julia Mckenzie, and Simon Cadell (ex BBC Coldtiz and Hi-De-Hi)as a bumbling ministry trouble shooter.
The Kleene Gorge inwhich Handyman Hall is rurally nestled, is the long held home within Lady Maud's family, and is threatened by a bypass. George Cole enmeshed in the twists and turns of politics and with an eye to lining his own pocket dares to take on his Wife, the indominitable Lady Maud who's right hand man Blott will do all he can to protect her and the family seat!
Set in and around the beautiful real life market town of Ludlow in Shropshire, we can only sit back helplessly and watch events unfold.. in typical Tom Sharpe fashion!

[brianac]

Ludlow is famous for it's good selection of restaurants.

There is Ludlow Castle, and don't forgrt to visit "The Feathers Hotel" built in 1619, a wonderful half timbered building.

If you fancy a trip, half an hour away is Ironbridge, a nice little town, and of course the worlds first iron bridge.

[turkishann]

thanks Brian, we will be traveling around in the car in the day, and I do intend to go to Ironbridge

will keep an eye out for Blott on Landscape, maybe it will be repeated on BBC, what was your part

[brianac]

Extras don't have parts, you are just one of the crowd.

I did get in shot on several scenes, The Courthouse, The Protest March, The Market Place Riot, these are what I remember.

[turkishann]

my uncle gets called up to be an extra, he says the money is quite good, he has been on Casualty and The Bill and other things (cannot remember)

[Meerkat]

Oh, Meercat ,I forgot to ask. Were you ever at the Black Country Museum?

Yes, about 10 years ago, with my mum. Very interesting.

[Meerkat]

Yes I like Ludlow too.

A beautiful Shropshire town. I've been to Ludlow scores of times as i have a friend who lives in Aston on Clun, about 4 miles away.

Turkishann - you must go to Ironbridge!! The museums are fascinating (there are about 8 along the gorge there), some of my ancestors used to work in the iron works in that area. And while you're there go to Shrewsbury - my home town.

I'm very proud of my Shropshire heritage, although my last link with shropshire has gone with the recent death of my gran. I'll still go up of course, now and again - maybe i'll swing by Dudley for a beer Brian :).

[brianac]

Not so Black this morning. Sunday 6th April 2008 The view from my kitchen window.

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[turkishann]

meerkat, I really want to go to Ironbridge, and we nearly booked a cottage in Clun, I will of course also visit Shrewbury, Shropshire is one of the places we have not been in the UK, here is the cottage we have booked

http://www.ludlowcottages.co.uk/stone.html

it is attached the old broadgate that surrounded the castle and village hundreds of years ago,

Brian the photos is lovely, wish I was there

[brianac]

The Black Country Living Museum
Historic buildings from all around the Black Country have been moved and rebuilt at the Museum to create a tribute to the traditional skills and enterprise of the people that once lived in the heart of industrial Britain.
With a changing programme of demonstrations there is something to suit all tastes, from sweet-making and glass-cutting to metal working. Visit the horses. Enjoy a pint of ale in the Bottle and Glass Inn, chat by the coal-fired ranges or just soak up the atmosphere.
· Electric tram rides · Newcomen steam engine · Underground mine tours
· Toll house and tilted cottage · Old time fairground · School · Ironworks
· Old village - shops, houses, cottages, cinema, stables, foundry.
· Canal tunnel trips.

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A typical "back parlour" of a a chainmakers house
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The outhouse that housed the chainmakers forge.
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The chainmakers forge.
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An anchor made in the Black Country.
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[brianac]

The ruin of Dudley Castle still watches over the town, as it has done for centuries.


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Dudley Castle was built by the Normans. Providing protection since around 1071 the castle saw many changes over the centuries. The infamous John Dudley rebuilt the castle in the Renaissance style only to be beheaded by Queen Mary for trying to put Lady Jane Grey on the throne of England.

The civil war came and went with Dudley Castle having supported the Royalist cause and surrendering in 1646 after the defeat of Charles I at Naseby. In 1750 a fire all but destroyed the accommodation at Dudley Castle. The fire is said to have burned for three days. The huge expense of restoration left the family with no choice but to move to nearby Himley Hall. The descendents of the family founded Dudley Zoo in 1937.

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As you walk round the grounds of the ruined castle, with its spectacular views across the Black Country, a sudden screeching of a parakeet reminds you how well the zoo has blended with the historic remains of the old castle that has now become home to dozens of animals from around the globe.

Himley Hall
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In 1740 Himley Hall was a manor with a medieval moated manor house. The owner John Ward of Sedgley demolished it and commenced the Himley Hall that we know of today. The building was not completed in one phase and gradually progressed into a grand hall over a period of some eighty years. With gardens by 'Capability Brown' the Hall has undergone many changes. The most significant and recent were in 1823 by the architect William Atkinson.

The hall was the home of the Ward family who had links with the royal family. Royalty has stayed at the hall and Edward VIII used to be a regular visitor. The Hall is now owned by the Wolverhampton and Dudley District Council which includes the parklands of some 180 acres.

[turkishann]

great photos Brian, I love visiting castles, keep the photos coming :D

[brianac]

Thanks Ann, and a Happy Birthday for tomorrow.

[Meerkat]

The Black country museum is a wonderful day out, well worth the visit for anyone in the area. I remember the underground mine tour - Some of my ancestors worked in mines in the Bilston area in the mid 19th century.

So Anne, 21 again? ;) Happy birthday.

[Gobby]

Nice to see some pictures of the Black Country region.

My names Pete and I run a new community website for the BlackCountry region aimed at bringing together people who either still live in the area, are ex pats to the Black Country or simply have an interest in the region.

The website is Called BlackCountryGob (http://www.blackcountrygob.com) and can be found at http://www.blackcountrygob.com (http://www.blackcountrygob.com)

Black Country Gob (http://www.blackcountrygob.com)has a wide range of sections including discussion forums, (http://www.blackcountrygob.com/modules.php?name=Forums) Local directory, (http://www.blackcountrygob.com/modules.php?name=Web_Links) Instant Chat room, (http://www.blackcountrygob.com/modules.php?name=Live_Chat), Genealogy section,fun and games, quizzes and our very own picture gallery (http://www.blackcountrygob.com/Photogallery)

We have members from all over the world and even though the group is still new it's growing daily and is a great place to have a chat with some very friendly true Black Country folk.

Come along and say hello at www.Blackcountrygob.com


See you there

[brianac]

A few of the species on display.

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[brianac]

Some of the 1930's buildings at Dudley Zoo.

They are somewhat worse for wear now, and few of them are used for the purpose for which they were built.

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An article about these buildings.

http://www.c20society.org.uk/docs/building/dudley.html

[NYC4Life]

Beautiful photos Brian.

[brianac]

Thanks NYC4,

I managed to get up there with the camera for a couple of hours last Friday (19th. September 2008) when the weather was decent.