The Winston Churchill, Cadbury No 7 steam locomotive outside the Black Country Living Museum in Dudley

On a walk around Dudley in January 2024, I went down Tipton Road past the Black Country Living Museum, during a weekend when they were closed for maintenance, so the car park was empty. I saw a green steam locomotive called Winston Churchill, this was the Cadbury Bros No 7 steam locomotive. It arrived in 2012, on the spot where the Titanic anchor replica used to be.

First a repost on the Titanic anchor replica seen in 2011

The replica of The Titanic Anchor. It was made in 2010 by Sheffield Forgemasters International Ltd for a Channel 4 documentary. It was on loan at the time to the museum from Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council.  The original anchor was made by N. Hingley & Sons Ltd in 1911 at their factory in Netheron, Dudley. The original anchor weighed 15.5 tons. In 2011 the Titanic anchor replica was seen outside of the Black Country Living Museum near the former Rolfe Street Baths building. But it was eventually moved to a more permenant location in Netherton where it remains today. It was replaced in 2012 by the Winston Churchill, Cadbury No 7 steam locomotive.

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Winston Churchill, Cadbury No 7 in 2024

The relocation of the Winston Churchill was made possible through the help and support of the local house builder Lovell Partnerships Ltd and The Friends of the Black Country Museum.

0-6-0ST Manning Wardle locomotive built at Boyne Engine Works, Leeds in 1923. It was ordered by the Cadbury Brothers, Bournville in February 1923, and was completed and sent to Cadbury Blackpole Factory by June 1923. It became their No 7 steam locomotive at the Waterside Site. It was moved to Bournville for a short time before it returned to Blackpole. And was named after Winston Churchill. By 1946 it had been replaced by diesel and was sold to Robert Stephenson and Hawthorn in Darlington. It arrived in Dudley at G Pitt & Co Ltd on the Pensnett Trading Estate later in 1946. It was eventually placed outside of the Black Country Living Museum in 2012 after the Titanic anchor replica was removed.

dndimg alt="Winston Churchill Cadbury No 7" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WC%20Steam%20loco%20BCLM%20Dudley%2021012024%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Winston Churchill Cadbury No 7" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WC%20Steam%20loco%20BCLM%20Dudley%2021012024%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Winston Churchill Cadbury No 7" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WC%20Steam%20loco%20BCLM%20Dudley%2021012024%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Winston Churchill Cadbury No 7" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WC%20Steam%20loco%20BCLM%20Dudley%2021012024%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Elliott Brown

Birmingham Cathedral: Divine Beauty at Night

This is the second year that Divine Beauty at Night has been held at Birmingham Cathedral. This time from the 4th to 6th January 2024. After the Edward Burne-Jones stained glass windows were cleaned and restored during 2023. I went on the evening of the 6th January 2024. Was in a queue outside initially, and got in a little late due to a technical issue, but once in, it was amazing!

St Philip's Church commissioned the famous Arts & Crafts firm of Morris & Co and the artist Edward Burne-Jones to design and construct three stained glass windows in 1884.

He chose three subjects for the windows:

The Ascension (completed 1885)

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The Nativity (1887-8)

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The Crucifixion (1887-8)

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These were in the newly enlarged chancel.

 

About a decade later a fourth window followed, the Last Judgement (1897).

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During World War 2 (1939-45) they were removed to a Welsh slate mine to keep them safe.

In 2023, the Divine Beauty Project started, and the windows were fully restored and cleaned.

The first Divine Beauty at Night took place from the 12th to 14th January 2023. The second from the 4th to 6th January 2024. Both events organised by Luxmuralis.

 

Divine Beauty at Night 2024

On Saturday 6th January 2024, was the third evening / night of Divine Beauty at Night. Held for the second year. Was a long queue, with the timed ticketed slots, but the delay was due to a technical issue, meaning the show started a bit late. So got into Birmingham Cathedral around 20 minutes later than expected, but was worth it once I got in the building.

The Divine Beauty at Night lights show of the Burne-Jones windows lasted about 25 minutes, it was quite impressive. A gallery of photos is below.

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dndimg alt="Divine Beauty at Night" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Divine%20Beauty%20at%20Night%20BC%2006012023%20(25).JPG" style="width: 100%;" /> Photography by Elliott Brown

A visit to the National Trust property of Attingham Park in Shropshire

Went to Attingham Park in Shropshire in late October 2023, on the way for a weeks holiday in Llangollen, Wales. The Deer Park was closed after Storm Babet. So was only able to go around the house, stables and to the walled garden. But was a lot of puddles and mud around. This post just a general look around the house with the rooms open to the public.

Between 1784 and 1947, Attingham Park was home to the 1st to 8th Lord Berwick's and their families. The 1st Lord Berwick was Noel Hill MP for Shrewsbury. Between 1948 and 1976 it was The Adult Education College. After that it became a National Trust property. The mansion is a Grade I listed building.

The Deer Park was closed due to Storm Babet, and was still a lot of mud and puddles around the part of the estate that was open. This post mostly looking at the mansion at Attingham Park and the historic rooms inside. It is also called Attingham Hall.

 

First view of the mansion at Attingham Park from the car.

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The West Wing

dndimg alt="Attingham Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Mansion%20Attingham%20Park%2021102023%20(4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Exterior of Attingham Park, the mansion before going in.

dndimg alt="Attingham Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Attingham%20Park%2021102023.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The Inner Courtyard on exiting the hall. It leads to the Service Courtyard.

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Service Courtyard - leads to the Clock Gatehouse on exiting.

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Attingham Park - rooms inside

Entrance Hall

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Picture Gallery

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Nash Staircase

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The Dining Room

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Inner Library

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West Ante Room

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Octagon Room

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Servants World

Servants Hall

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Butlers Pantry

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Servants Waiting Room

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Kitchen

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Servants Dining Room

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Still Room Kitchen

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Lord Berwick's luggage (to the house exit)

dndimg alt="Attingham Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Servants%20Att%20Pk%2021102023%20(9).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos by Elliott Brown

Solihull Food Festival heritage buses out from The Transport Museum Wythall

Over the weekend of 29th September to 1st October 2023, The Transport Museum Wythall had a couple of their heritage buses out in Solihull Town Centre for the Solihull Food Festival. I had a look on the 30th September 2023. West Bromwich Corporation 248 was at Station Approach, while WM Travel 6835 was going around the Town Centre with two stops on the way.

West Bromwich Corporation 248

248 NEA

I got to Station Approach near Solihull Station (closed due to ASLEF industrial action on Saturday 30th September 2023), to find West Bromwich Corporation 248 broken down, there was an engineer with the heritage bus at Station Approach bus stop A. I was thinking of riding it, until I realised it wouldn't go into service, so ended up walking into Solihull Town Centre instead.

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I'd previous seen West Bromwich Corporation 248 at The Transport Museum Wythall back on the August Bank Holiday Monday of 2022, and had a look inside of it (both decks).

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WM Travel 6835

WDA 835T

Metrobus

I first saw WM bus 6835 on the walk up Station Road towards Touchwood in Solihull Town Centre, as a fire engine went past.

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The 6835 bus was waiting outside of Touchwood, normally where the no 6 buses end their service from Birmingham, close to the entrance of Touchwood.

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I then went up to Starbucks in Touchwood, and from the first floor, saw 6835 come back around 20 minutes after I'd last seen it. Then a 6 arrived behind it.

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Later after a walk around New Road and Warwick Road, I got this view of it one more time from Poplar Road, before walking to the Solihull Town Centre bus stop near John Lewis to catch the 6 home. This was around half an hour after I got it from Starbucks above.

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After leaving Starbucks, I walked through Touchwood, and was able to see 6835 arriving at New Road close to The Masons Arms public house. Was a lot of traffic around here.

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I walked up New Road, then onto Warwick Road, when eventually 6835 passed me, before it would turn onto Poplar Road to the next stop.

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I previously saw 6835 back at the Birmingham Bus Bash at Cannon Hill Park, during September 2017. It was the second bus from the left. The one that said route 52, Beeches Estate via Walsall Road.

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And last saw 6835 at The Transport Museum Wythall during the August Bank Holiday Monday 2022 visit. It was the third bus on the left.

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Photos by Elliott Brown