The 6888 US Army African American women's postal unit at King Edward's School in 1945

Did you know that in 1945 at King Edward's School in Edgbaston, Birmingham, that The U.S. Women's Army Corps 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion was based at King Edward's School to sort the backlog of post, in the last year of the Second World War? This little known story is being turned into a Netflix film. It was also featured on BBC Midlands Today.

The fascinating story about the Six Triple Eight was featured on BBC Midlands Today on Wednesday 5th July 2023. Descendants of the African American US Army members of the 6888 unit, recently journeyed to Birmingham, and visited King Edward's School. More information at the link below from BBC Midlands Today.

Six Triple Eight: The battalion of black women erased from history

 

The blue plaque was unveiled to the side of the gates on the Bristol Road entrance near Vince House in 2019, near The Andrew Brode Sports Centre. Members of the 6888 division was based at King Edward's School during 1945.

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Photos taken on the Bristol Road in Edgbaston at King Edward's School during September 2020 by Elliott Brown.

Walk up the Tame Valley Canal from Tame Bridge Parkway towards Great Barr

I got the train to Tame Bridge Parkway Station in Sandwell, and had a walk in the hot weather along part of the Tame Valley Canal. This bit goes near the M5 and M6 motorways. I got off at the Newton Road Bridge in Great Barr (then tried to make my way to Hamstead for the next train to Birmingham). Was probably too hot and humid to do the walk.

After arriving at Tame Bridge Parkway Station on Saturday 24th June 2023, left the station via the entrance / exit on the Walsall Road, then headed onto Navigation Lane, to get onto the Tame Valley Canal.

 

Stonecross Bridge

The Stonecross Bridge, also called Friar Park Bridge or the Walsall Road Bridge. I did not walk in that direction, as was heading to a couple of aqueducts nearby.

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Navigation Lane Aqueduct

This aqueduct crosses over Navigation Lane, and is Grade II listed. Was built 1841-44.

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Grand Junction Aqueduct

This aqueduct is near Tame Bridge Parkway Station (opened in 1990). Was built over the Grand Junction Railway (now part of the Birmingham New Street via Perry Barr to Walsall line). Grade II listed, it opened in 1844. There is good views of the station from up here, as well as to the Bescot Yard, Bescot Stadium and The RAC building near the M6 motorway.

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M5 Motorway Aqueduct

The next aqueduct crosses over the M5 motorway, to the north west, with it's junction with the M6. The River Tame is also near here, but didn't see it.

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River Tame Aqueduct

One more aqueduct, this one crosses over the River Tame. Only had views of the M6 heading in this direction, or the Birmingham skyline and nearby tower blocks.

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Grey Heron

On the section of the Tame Valley Canal beyond the first M5 crossing, saw several grey herons.

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Rushall Junction

At this point on the Tame Valley Canal, is Rushall Junction where it joins onto the Rushall Canal. The Rushall Junction Bridge on the left.

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Rushall Canal

The start of the Rushall Canal from the Rushall Junction Bridge on the Tame Valley Canal. Bridge in front carries the M6 motorway. Catshill Junction is about 8 miles and 9 locks away on this canal.

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Brickfields Bridge

At this point, the towpath switches sides at the Brickfields Bridge. Behind is a pair of M5 motorway bridges, which go from the south west to north east, and join onto the M6. This footbridge is Grade II listed and dates to 1844.

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M5 Link Road Bridge 1

The first M5 link bridge can be seen from the Brickfields Bridge as you cross it, or as you walk or cycle under it. This is for traffic heading to the end of the M5 and onto the M6 going east.

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M5 Link Road Bridge 2

The second M5 link bridge. Seen after walking under it. This is for traffic leaving the M6 and heading onto the M5 motorway, heading south west.

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Brickfields Turnover Bridge

One more Victorian footbridge. Grade II listed, it dates to 1844. Formerly a road bridge apparently. Not sure where it went, but was a man fishing on the other side, and someone with their dog. The Brickfields Turnover Bridge probably links to nearby Chatsworth Avenue.

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Newton Road Bridge

A very high (compared to the canal) road bridge on Newton Road in Great Barr. I took my exit here. Was very hot and sweaty by this point.

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Could of continued to Hamstead and Perry Barr, but left at Great Barr, then tried to get to Hamstead on foot. But at one point caught a no 16 bus to the Scott Arms in Great Barr, before getting another 16 (probably the same one) to Hamstead Station.

 

In future, maybe best to do these canal walks in cooler weather. It was just too hot and warm. Plus there was the usual illegal off-road motorbikes I encountered on the canal. They were also on a path in a field that lead to Sandwell Valley.

 

Photography by Elliott Brown

Gardens at Winterbourne House - stunning!

A visit to Winterbourne House gardens is highly recommended. Here we share some photography taken by follower of Birmingham Gems, Jack Babbington during a visit to Winterbourne House in June 2023.  Enjoy!

Here is a selection of stunning photography of Winterbourne House Gardens.  

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We hope you have enjoyed our photography.

Why not go and experience this great Birmingham Gem for yourself.

Thank you Jack Babbington for sharing his photography.

Walk on the Walsall Canal from New Art Gallery Walsall to the James Bridge Aqueduct

On Saturday 15th April 2023, a walk along the Walsall Canal, starting from New Art Gallery Walsall (with a Costa Coffee visit, and look around the gallery first). Then up the Walsall Town Arm, before walking in the direction of the M6 motorway and getting off at the James Bridge Aqueduct. Ended up getting a 39 bus back into Walsall Town Centre, before the train back to Birmingham.

Getting the train from Birmingham New Street to Walsall on Saturday 15th April 2023. New Art Gallery Walsall was minutes walk away from Walsall Station, and at first went to Costa Coffee for a drink, before a look around the gallery. My first visit in around 9 years.

Then after I left the gallery, walked up the Walsall Town Arm, before going onto the Walsall Canal. Aimed to get as far as the M6 motorway at least, and the James Bridge Aqueduct. Was thinking of going a bit further, but it was far enough. Then though about a walk to Bescot Stadium Station, but saw a no 39 bus coming on James Bridge, and caught that back to the Saddlers Shopping Centre for the shortcut into Walsall Station.

 

New Art Gallery Walsall

View of the Walsall Town Basin at the end of the Walsall Town Arm from an upper level at the New Art Gallery Walsall. Premier Inn hotel with Brewers Fayre restaurant on the right. Behind is the Waterfront retail park, with The Light Cinema Walsall and The Waterfront bar (Hungry Horse). Below on the left is Piri Fino.

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Walsall Town Arm

The Walsall Town Arm is a short branch off the Walsall Canal to Walsall Town Centre, with modern developments. But just before the basin, appears to be algae at the moment, so not sure if this canal is currently navigable or not. Premier Inn and Brewers Fayre on the left, with Costa Coffee and The New Art Gallery Walsall straight ahead.

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Walsall Locks

Just after the end of the Walsall Town Arm, is the actual Walsall Canal. The Southern Locks of the Walsall Locks is Grade II listed, and is near the Wolverhampton Road Bridge. I did not go that way, but only briefly crossed the Bridgeman Street Bridge to see a mural in full from the other side of the canal.

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Bridgeman Street Bridge

You leave Walsall Town Centre under the Bridgeman Street Bridge. The towpath switches sides here. If you head north, you go to Birchills Junction, where the Walsall Canal joins the Wyrley and Essington Canal. This walk though headed in a south west direction.

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Rollingmill Street Bridge

The first bridge you pass heading south between Bridgeman Street and Rollingmill Street is the Rollingmill Street Bridge. Just beyond here is Queen Street Cemetery & Sister Dora Gardens.

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Branch to Old Gas Works

To the left is an old basin, bit of a waste dump, and overgrown now. On the right is an old canal side warehouse building.

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Pagett's Bridge

The next bridge to come across is the Pagett's Bridge. On Pleck Road above is Champy's Bradford Arms.

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Woodward's Bridge

On Woodward's Road is Woodward's Bridge. Near here is a Sikh temple called the Nanaksar Gurdwara. The Pleck Sikh Community Centre is on Wellington Street.

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Scarborough Road Bridge

The last residential bridge is on Scarborough Road, the Scarborough Road Bridge.

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Reservoir Place Bridge

Starts to get a bit industrial and derelict, when you get to the Reservoir Place Bridge, with is on Reservoir Place of course. This bridge was built in 1992.

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Spinks Bridge

The Spinks Bridge is concrete, and out of use by the looks of it. Development to the right, and getting close to the M6 motorway. South Staffordshire Tramway Generating Station used to be to the left of here.

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M6 Motorway Bridge

Getting to the west of Walsall, is the M6 Motorway Bridge, which of course carries the M6 motorway overhead.

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James Bridge Aqueduct

I was aiming to walk at least as far as the James Bridge Aqueduct, although originally thought of going a bit further. The aqueduct was opened in 1797, and is Grade II listed. Below is Bentley Mill Way.

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Beyond which I did not get to see, was another aqueduct over a railway line, plus a couple more bridges. But the walk was long enough, plus had to see the aqeuduct from road level, and the River Tame was down there. Bus stop was on James Bridge, and got the 39 back into Walsall Town Centre, then went into the Saddlers Shopping Centre, to catch a train back from Walsall to Birmingham New Street.

 

Photography by Elliott Brown

Dudley Port to Sandwell & Dudley canal walk along the BCN New Mainline in Sandwell

Getting the train up from Birmingham New Street on Good Friday, 7th April 2023 to Dudley Port, near Tipton in Sandwell. The canal towpath access is nearby for the BCN New Mainline, which is high up. A long straight canal developed by Thomas Telford, there is several branches off the canal, and runs alongside the railway. Getting off at Oldbury Road, found the Wednesbury Old Canal as well.

Birmingham Canal Navigations New Mainline

This was an afternoon walk from Dudley Port to Sandwell & Dudley via the BCN New Mainline, starting at Dudley Port, near the Ryland Aqueduct, down to the Albion Bridge at Oldbury Road. Could have stayed on to Bromford Road, but found the Wednesbury Old Canal from Albion Road, and walked around past some steel works.

 

Dudley Port

Getting the train on Good Friday, 7th April 2023 from Birmingham New Street to Dudley Port. The exit is via some steps and a small subway to a car park, and the Dudley Port road. Walking under the Dudley Port Station Bridge and the Ryland Aqueduct, found a towpath access path up to the Birmingham Canal Navigations New Mainline. With this view of Dudley Port Station. Trains are every half an hour in both directions, when I arrived on my train to Wolverhampton, was another train going to Walsall via Birmingham New Street. This is the ideal start for a canal walk on a sunny afternoon.

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Ryland Aqueduct

The Ryland Aqueduct crosses the Dudley Port road, and is next to the Dudley Port Station Bridge. There is a view to Dudley in the distance up this road. The no 74 bus between Dudley and Birmingham passes under it.

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Rattlechain Bridge -  Site of Dixon's Basin

This bridge is just after the Ryland Aqueduct. It is cut off, so you can't walk over it, the towpath is to the right of it. The basin was probably behind where the fence is now.

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Dudley Port Junction

A short walk down from Dudley Port Station and the Ryland Aqueduct, gets you to Dudley Port Junction. Two bridges here, the Dudley Port Junction Bridge and the Dudley Port Roving Bridge, under which is the start of the Netherton Tunnel Branch

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Netherton Tunnel Branch

The Netherton Tunnel Branch is part of the Birmingham Canal Navigations. Starting here at Dudley Port Junction with the BCN New Mainline, it goes towards Windmill End Junction, where it joins onto the BCN Old Mainline. It was built from 1855 and was opened in 1858. One of the last canals to open. The canal was repaired in 1983 and 2013.

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Rattlechain Bridge and the site of the Rattlechain Brickworks Basin

Another bridge here, and a small pool of water next to the BCN Mainline. Not much to see here now, nature has reclaimed the land here.

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Dunkirk Toll Island

This is also called  the Dunkirk Stop Island. Narrowboats can go either side of it.

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Albion Junction

At Albion Junction is the Albion Junction Bridge. It is where you can find the Gower Branch of the Birmingham Canal Navigations.

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Gower Branch

The Gower Branch Canal starts here at Albion Junction with the BCN New Mainline, and is another part of the Birmingham Canal Navigations. It was authorised in 1768, but was not completed until 1836. It goes towards Brades Hall Junction with the BCN Old Mainline. On the day of this visit, in April 2023, the towpath was closed. The canal lock beyond was probably closed for repairs.

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Union Furnace Bridge

This bridge is on Union Road, but is cut off now by the railway. Nearby is William King Ltd. They are a steel stockholder and supplier in West Bromwich.

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Albion Railway Bridge

This railway bridge is between Sandwell & Dudley and Dudley Port on the Stour Valley Line, it is at this point that the railway and the BCN New Mainline switch sides.

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Albion Bridge

It was a long walk from Dudley Port, and I decided to get off at the Albion Bridge on Oldbury Road, for a walk to the nearest station of Sandwell & Dudley. I would have headed to the right, but headed to the left via Albion Road, and found the nearby Wednesbury Old Canal (see below).

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From the Albion Bridge

I exited at Oldbury Road, on the Albion Bridge, near Oldbury. This was the view from the other side of the bridge. Pudding Green Junction is on the left, and this is the start of the Wednesbury Old Canal (see below). This is the direction towards the Bromford Bridge.

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From the Bromford Bridge

The Bromford Bridge is on Bromford Road, close to Oldbury, and Bromford Lane in West Bromwich. This is the closest part of the canal to Sandwell & Dudley Station.

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Wednesbury Old Canal

Saw a bit of the Wednesbury Old Canal from Albion Road, on the Izon Bridge. The canal was opened in 1769, but parts abandoned between 1955 and 1960. So only the section between Pudding Green Junction and Ryder's Green Junction is navigable now.

 

Pudding Green Junction Bridge

This bridge is at Pudding Green Junction, at the start of the Wednesbury Old Canal and the BCN New Mainline.

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Trident Steel Works Conveyor Bridge

This bridge can be seen from the other side of the Izon Bridge on Albion Road in West Bromwich.

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Photography by Elliott Brown