IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Mary Street, WALSALL, WS2 8LA

This is the A34 running north from Walsall: the main route from Manchester to Birmingham before the M6 and occasionally nowadays when the M6 becomes blocked. Astonishingly, this pathetically narrow road is still a UK trunk route in 2008.

Built (and consecrated) in 1841 to the Early English style, this is the local parish church. Major repair works, particularly to the tower, have been undertaken in the last few years. It was built in 1830/40, consecrated in 1841, extended by the addition of the chancel in 1910 and Grade II listed https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101077168-church-of-st-peter-birchills-leamore-ward#.YG7yG-hKjcs & https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1077168 in 1986.

A small, modern church in the centre of Birchills, north of Walsall

For an alternative view, please see Image

The sad remains of a former pub on Stafford Street, Birchills.

The Crown Inn, Long Acre Street, Walsall

The remains of the former M&B pub, The Bell, at the junction of Whitehouse Street and Stafford Street (the B4210)

Victoria Corn Mills, Long Acre Street, Walsall. The projecting gable is a lucam (or lucarne) https://new.millsarchive.org/glossary/a-z-glossary/?action=show&which=3472 which would have protected the hoist used to raise sacks to the first floor. The doorway on the first floor is to load sacks directly into wagons. There is a weighbridge below it, set where the wagons would have been loaded, a good example of Victorian efficiency. Notice also the rather nice cast iron letter box set into the wall at the side of the entrance, still bearing the name of the original miller, J F Dolman. (Description cribbed from Flickr https://www.flickr.com/photos/61649287@N03/5940083620 and https://www.flickr.com/photos/61649287@N03/5940136716/ .) Part of the building is now occupied by Urban Hax http://urbanhax.com/ a makerspace. Interior view: Image

A well preserved example of a Victorian-era industrial seed and corn mill operation, in its original location and building - much of the former machinery remains intact inside the building, although the coal-fired engine and steam boiler have been removed. Grade II listed https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/101252580-victoria-mill-birchills-leamore-ward#.YOsa4-hKjIU & https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1252580 in 1987.

The stables of Victoria Corn Mills, Long Acre Street, Walsall. The paved floor and stalls are still in place. Exterior view: Image