Books on Brownhills - Brownhills near Walsall West Midlands

Brownhills

Books on Brownhills

THE CLAYHANGER KID by Brian Stringer
Published December 2010

'THE CLAYHANGER KID relives the life of a boy bought up in the small mining village of Clayhanger, situated a mile from the town of Brownhills, which was then in Staffordshire. Born before the outbreak of the Second World War, he grew up in a strict but happy household, surrounded by friends and family, and a host of odd characters.
It is a delightful look back at the 40s and early 50s and chances are if you lived in the area, went to school in Brownhills, or worked at Walsall Wood Colliery you will know someone in this book, and may even be in it yourself. Some of the tales are hilarious, and will make you laugh out loud, while others will make you wish for the return of those years, and others definitely not.
Black Country author Carol Hathorne who has published many books, says of the Clayhanger Kid - "I found the book immensely readable, the author has a real gift with words, a warm personality and great sense of humour that shines through."
While a former village lad, writes" From page one I was taken on a delightful journey back to my childhood, by the brilliant and authentic anecdotes of the "kid", his relations, friends, and village folk.'

THE CLAYHANGER KID - Will there be a Volume 2 ???? - It may depend on YOU!
Brian Stringer has said......
"I NEVER realised, when I wrote my first book The Clayhanger Kid, the impact it would have on many readers. To me Clayhanger was always a wonderful place for children to grow up, despite the few photographs taken in my day showing a grim and flooded landscape dominated by pit mounds and a refuse tip.

To me and the rest of my peers the reality was very different, with an abundance of positive features. Our own school, church, chapel, farm, three shops, pub, thriving workingmen’s club and our own bobby, with the icing on the cake being one of the best parks in the area.

Our three streets were surrounded by a large triangle of railways plus a canal on two sides. Each street was backed by acres of fields, both farmed, open wetland or common.

It was only through talking to readers of my book, that I began to sense the depth of feeling for the old place and the reverence it still held in their hearts. Someone told me that, given the chance, they would choose to be buried there because they would be back home. No one derides it, only related fond memories, and all agreed that it was a unique and special place.

I knew then I had to do a sequel, still about Clayhanger but this time not all about me, but through the eyes of others. I could even cover teenage years and spread farther afield as long as we didn’t stray too far and kept to those times.

So now I would appreciate your help in gathering material for a new book. If you lived in Clayhanger or Brownhills, went to Ogley Hay Juniors, Brownhills Central or the Girls School, or you have any tales to tell of the ‘40s no matter how insignificant you think they may be, please contact me via bestring@hotmail.co.uk. It may be funny, sad, or even a bit of history and if you want to remain anonymous that’s ok by me."

Around Pelsall & Brownhills by David F. Vodden, (BRITAIN in Old Photographs series), Sutton Publishing, 1998 - ISBN 0-7509-1898-5

Memories of Watling Street School (125 Year Anniversary 1878-2003) compiled by Jan Farrow.

Photographs and stories of the Junior Mixed & Infants School.

Published in 2003

Memories of Brownhills Past by Clarice Mayo & Geoff Harrington.

More rare photographs of the Brownhills area with illuminating descriptions of the views shown.

Published in 2003

Memories of Old Brownhills by Clarice Mayo & Geoff Harrington.

Rare photographs of the Brownhills area with illuminating descriptions of the views shown.

Published in 2001

Street Names of Brownhills, Clayhanger, Shelfield & Walsall Wood by Betty Fox, Walsall Local History Centre, 1999 - ISBN 0 946652 51 1

Street names, how the names came about, their history and notable buildings. Maps and photographs old and new add to the usefulness of the book.

BROWNHILLS A Walk Into History With Gerald Reece by Gerald Reece, Walsall Local History Centre, 1996 - ISBN 0 946652 42 2

116 pages of solid information on Brownhills from the earliest times to the present day. Well supplied with maps, photos and drawings.

Brownhills and Walsall Wood - on old picture postcards by Jan Farrow, Reflections of a Bygone Age, Keyworth, Nottingham 1992 - ISBN - 0 946245 60 6

Brownhills Local History Trail by Joyce Hammond, Walsall Library & Museum Services - ISBN 0 946652 02 3

Describing a walk through Brownhills with a background of ancient and modern history.

V1.4 - 17 April 2012 ---- recommended resolution (1366 x 768)