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Haden Hill Park, House and Hall
Oct 19th
We had a great time at Haden Hill Park recently on a lovely Summer day in October – who’d have thought I’d be putting sun tan lotion on kids in October – what a barmy old year we’ve had, weatherwise, this year.
Haden Hill Park in Cradley Heath
There’s been some great additions to the park recently the kids all love the new adventure wooded playground area thingy – and the other playground. I also noticed a new bandstand area by Haden Hall and a new sign outside Haden Hill House that says “Haden Hill House Museum” – I used to work at the house at weekends and love looking around but sadly I didn’t get chance on this visit and I’m still waiting to have a proper look aroud the Old Hall – I must put it in my diary the next time it’s open.
Serpent benches at Haden Hill Park
Some of our activities on this sunny Saturday included:
- dragon spotting (I love these benches – got to get me one for my back garden)
- finding the witches hut (well the remains of what we (as kids) used to call “the witches hut” down by the lower pond,
- squirrel spotting
- watching the ducks – I said “watching” not” feeding” as you’re not supposed to feed them these days – well not with bread anyway – apparently it’s bad for them – so it’s a bread free diet for the ducks from now on
- playing frisbee and football on “the green”
- visiting the pet cemetary – where The Hadens buried their pets – Nip and Fluf are names that ring a bell but I can’t remember if they’re the real names or ones from a kids book
- Having an ice cream ..mmmmm!
I think what I like best about the park is that – although there’s been a few changes over recent years – it’s still the same park I visited as a child with mom and dad and taking my lad adds new memories that I hope he’ll remember when he’s older and takes his kids there too.
Sandwell Council’s webpage of Haden Hill Park includes a cool link to photos added to Flcikr that have been tagged with “haden hill park” so if you’ve been out and about – snapping away add your to the group and they’ll appear on the site.
Photos of listed buildings in Rowley Regis
Jul 12th
Mark Wilson has recently taken photos of all the listed buildings in Rowley Regis and loaded them on to Flickr. Mark took them all (there’s 15 buildings classed as “listed”) in one day (19th April 2011) and I think that it’s fantastic that we’ve got a photographic record of them all at one precise period in time.
Click on a thumbnail image above to enlarge.
Here’s the link to the set on Flickr – and also you can view a more detailed set of great images of the buildings.
The Sandwell Council website has a list of the listed buildings in Rowley Regis and descriptions of each.
And here’s Mark’s Flickr map showing the locations with links to photos. So if you’re wondering what to do on a day out – how about sight seeing in Rowley Regis and finding out more about the heritage of the area.
I think that Mark has done a brilliant job, a fantastic idea, thanks for sharing.
Mark (aka Sparks68) has a wonderful selection of photos on Flickr – including sets for other listed buildings across Sandwell.
New Blackheath Library is open!
May 31st
Well – the new library in Blackheath is now open. After many years of planning, demolition and building it was officially opened last week by the Mayor of Sandwell.
You can’t miss the new building with it’s big turret on top – it’s certainly a big presence in the town.
Inside Blackheath Library - look they have books too!
I’ve not been yet, but my lad went earlier with my mom and his cousins and he was so excited he couldn’t wait to tell me all about – the best bit (according to a six year old) is that you scan your books yourself in self serve till-like thing (a bit like the self-service checkouts at supermarkets I guess). That – and he’s now got a library card – his first bit of plastic!
I remember going as a kid to the library (when it was in Carnegie Road) – making the short walk from Blackheath Infant/Junior school in Powke Lane – we had to hold hands, and sometimes I had a hold hands with a girl – eurgh!! Every week I used to get the maximum number of books I could and then take them back the next week for replacements having read none of them. I don’t remember being as excited as Harry but we never had self serve machines but there were nice ladies who smiled and stamped the books as we put them on the counter – strecthing up to reach.
The old Blackheath Library closed a few weeks before and is now up for sale by Sandwell Council. The old building was donated to the town for use as a library by Andrew Carnegie, it’s not a listed building but hopefully it will stay with us and a new use can be found by the buyer, it’s over 100 years old and I reckon it adds a bit of heritage to Blackheath – I wonder why it’s not listed?
Anyway for those who want to hear a six year old talk about a new library down the road – here you go:
The Hawthorns pub