IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Newlands Green, SMETHWICK, B66 4LL

This large public house had closed, and was due to re-open as a Punjabi bar and grill, to be known as Jee Jee's. Image

This used to be a local pub, but had closed when photographed in August 2010. It had been acquired to re-open as a Punjabi bar and grill, to be known as Jee Jee's. A banner announcing this can be seen at the back of the building. Image

Twenty eight affordable social homes are being built here for Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council. Completion is due in the Spring of 2011, and the contractor is Lovell. Image

For more details, please see:- Image

Believe it or not but they used to hold a Gymkhana on this field until sometime in the 1960's. Here we are in what was one of the most industrialised towns in the UK & you could, on one weekend a year, go and watch 'Show Jumping'. Horses and all that sort of thing. Beat Hickstead anyday cuz it was closer to home.

This is a large nursing home, which specialises in accommodating people with Alzheimer's disease. It can accommodate up to 74 residents, and has staff available who speak Punjabi, as well as English. The building dates from 1909 and was originally known as Pedigree Works. It was used for various manufacturing purposes for many years. For further information about this please see:- Image

Now a large nursing home these premises were built in 1909 by William Mitchell (Pens) Limited and known as Pedigree Works. Following various amalgamations the company became British Pens Ltd, which was incorporated in 1945, and was a major manufacturer of steel pen nibs. It was still here in 1972, possibly later, but concentrating on specialist pens. It also manufactured presswork parts for machinery in steel and non-ferrous metals in these premises. The company still exists legally but is not trading. The non-pen manufacturing activities seem to have continued elsewhere in Smethwick and might well still do so, but under a different company. Image

This is Smethwick's main public park, developed on former farmland, and extending to about 34 acres. It opened in 1889, and was named Victoria Park to commemorate Queen Victoria's Golden Jubilee, which had been celebrated in 1887. In recent years a lot of money has been spent in regenerating it, and today it is a very pleasant place to visit. Image

Located near the entrance from the High Street. Image

Erected shortly after WWI and consisting of a bronze statue on a granite obelisk, the Smethwick War Memorial was Grade II listed https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101077115-war-memorial-victoria-park-soho-and-victoria-ward#.XRMWRehKhPY & https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1077115 in 1987.