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Barr Beacon

  • Thread starter Thread starter Frantic
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Frantic

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Is Barr Beacon still a 'Country' area or is it all built-up? We used to cycle there as kids, but the last bit was murder. On yer bike Dollyferret, mind yer don't have a heart attack.......better take a bottle of oxygen with yer.....just in case.
 
It is of course semi rural, as well you know 'young' Frantic, and we already know you used to cycle up there by the initials carved into the trees.
such as...Frantic loves Ralph, Frantic loves big Dave, Frantic loves Jeremy etc..
 
imagine yer on my crossbar,first place we see on the way to barr beacon,perry barr dog track,aldridge rd,going past THE DRUM ,top of the hill woodyard on the left and the asda,bottom of the hill the old horns
 
last pic was other side of the pub looking towards beacon,the pub had to go in several times to ask directions:D the asda opposite the pub (if you havent been back its on the left as you come down aldridge rd towards the OLD HORNS
 
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oh dear yet ANOTHER PUB several more direction enquiries view up collingwood drive from outside the pub
 
the stables on the left just past the school,views right and up the hill
 
now lots of pics of views and trees,dont bother fast forwarding as its still more trees and views ,the last three are from the top looking left ,straight on ,then right
 
caravan park below,pigs in the distance the pork farm shop
 
far end and driving back down the hill,back to the pub frank,didnt need the oxygen ,just slipped that frothy head of the GUINESS,you can walk back:D :D :D
 
Very nice to see those pics of Barr Beacon, which I'm sure most of us have good memories of. I was particularly pleased to see that the domed stand or pavilion or whatever you call it is still up there. The few times I've been round there in the last ten years or more I've not been able to see it - is it that there are more trees to hide it, or has it been rebuilt? It used to dominate the horizon when seen from Streetly or Walsall.
I often used to cycle up there when I had an hour or so to spare. I used to love studying the panorama of the Black Country from the top. It took me about 20 minutes to get there from home, off the Hawthorn Road.
Peter
 
Fantastic Pete, I'm suprised that it has not been built up around there. I noticed that there was even some of that green stuff lying around on the ground.......most unusual.
 
Well THANKS a LOT Pete!
the 10,000 miles driving I just spent doing exactly the same thing for my buddy (choke) Frantic is well down the pan now! lol
swine! :)
 
wondered why I was feeling flushed........thought it was a mid-life thing.
 
I CAN'T believe you said that! sniff, choke, blubbers..
I love you Frank...(wink)
 
Gosh' I'd forgotten what it was like. I was tole it was next point due east as high was theUrals!
 
Thanks for the great photos Dollyferret. From my bedroom window I could see the Pergola? on the top of Barr Beacon. There were only a couple of trees back then. I found a report from last year on the Internet that indicates the "pergola" is to be brought into good condition and some other cleanup will also take place. That's good news. Hope it happens. The list of places around Brum for me to visit next time I visit is growing thanks to the great input on this site.
 
Lived on Cottage Farm Estate in Yew Tree Rd and used to walk up there in all seasons.
There was no graffeti on it then and I'm certain there was a brass plaque indicating directions and distances of various places. Perhaps I'm mistaken though. Left Streetly for Devon and have only been back a few times. Went to Streetly Comp'hensive.
 
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Barr Beacon.

:) It is still open land. We take the dog ther three times a week and call in the Cat and Fiddle pub on the wy home. Get there early and you can have two meals for £7.00. The thing that spoils it is the dog fouling. Poo everywhere. We take our doggy bag with us. I used to keep my horses at the stables by the beacon many years ago. Carl Chinn was up there last week and did talk in on radio WM. with Edd Doolan. TTFN. Jean. :)
 
Barr Beacon used to be virtually on my doorstep when I was young, used to walk up there frequently, In those days the hill was dotted with small wooden huts amongst the gorse bushes, very popular with courting couples, the huts that is. There used to be more trees on the top than now, the Dome had railings around all of its tiers and the plinth in the centre used to carry a large brass plaque, etched with a map of the surrounding area, around the outside of which was etched the profile of the skyline with descriptions of the sights visible. On the zig zag road leading back down to the road there you found a small cafe and public toilets. Its sad to see how vandalism and neglect can ruin areas of natural beauty like this.
 
A memory from 1940 by my Home Guard brother confirms what you are saying about the courting, Goffy:

Besides the nightly look-out, guard and patrol duties at Little Aston, for a few weeks another demand was made upon our limited manpower resources in the shape of a call to provide a nightIy guard at Barr Beacon. This was an important military objective, being the highest point in the district, and for that reason the site of a large underground reservoir which supplied mains water to the area. No enemy invaders or saboteurs were ever seen there, but we were regaled by hearing amusing tales, recounted by the resident caretaker, an employee of the Water Company. He seemed to have an inexhaustible supply of anecdotes concerning the activities of courting couples who often visited the site to enjoy the panoramic countryside views!​

Chris
 
Yes, Those huts were in great demand before the motor car became more available, I believe it was difficult sometimes to find an empty one, could'nt share could they !
 
jem said:
Lived on Cottage Farm Estate in Yew Tree Rd and used to walk up there in all seasons.
There was no graffeti on it then and I'm certain there was a brass plaque indicating directions and distances of various places. Perhaps I'm mistaken though. Left Streetly for Devon and have only been back a few times. Went to Streetly Comp'hensive.
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Hi Jem nice to hear from you again thought we had lost you.:)

How's Devon these days?
 
I used to live not far from Barr Beacon and used to walk up there many many times. We used to walk up Chapel lane and past St Margarets church and I think we used to go through a manmade pathway.
September was great as we used to pick blackberries. The building at the top used to have a map of the surrounding area and what you could on a clear day. You could see Dudley Castle and Wales ( from what I can remember) and Hamms hall power station(??)The map was nicked on many occasions and always replaced. There used to be a school nearby of the same name. It was affectionalty know as Lovers Lane at night as thats were local lovers frequented.
We went on a geography field trip once and studied the way the wind blew the trees in a set pattern - think they were westerly winds ( I stand corrected if wrong - we are talking 1970s)
The photos are great - is that Queslett rd in Great Barr??
aaghh happy memories and thank you for that
Whilst I'm here - St Margarets Hospital Great Barr ( also near the church) is now derelict and there are some very great but sad photos on the derelict places website if anyone is interested ( will let you have exact website address if you need it) - has great photos of othe derelict brummie landmarks as well
:P
 
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