The Heavy Drinking Musical Hall Actor
The Wyre Line Rail Trails abruptly stop at Hagley. There are more Rail Trails on the line available, but these don't restart until after the Birmingham Stations. I was able to get a decent countryside ramble from Hagley to Stourbridge, but I can kind of see their thinking. Not much to encourage the walker between Stourbridge and first Lye, then Cradley Heath.
Unless the walker doesn't appreciate the upcycling Henry the Hoovers as plant pots.
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| Upcycle |
Or attention to detail and anatomically accurate graffiti.
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| The wind blows hard in Wollescote |
For the old-school walker - views of the day from Stevens Park would be more appreciated.
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| The Black Country |
Lye is the next station on the line, but we have only just begun walking. The Dudley Real Ale Trail suggests the Windsor Castle for the sole stop. Sadly closed down now - but still providing fond memories of my first ever brewery tour, where the lesson learned about "finings" is used to ask sensible questions on all subsequent tours. We cannot even blame demographic changes for the closure. My first visited curry house over the road is also closed.
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| Standing Proud but sadly closed |
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| Lye Central behind the memorial to Sir Cedric Hardwicke |
The Holly Bush bucks the trend. A community boozer that is open from 10am in the morning. Will anyone be in there at 11:01am on a Wednesday?
Plenty.
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| Under starters orders at 10am in Cemetery Road |
I think they were rather surprised to see a new face. No real ale on, which at times can be a relief. Most of the posse on the left hand side, but one solo drinker on his own on the right. In the 30 minutes to took me to drink a Guinness and come to terms with the latest West Ham Meltdown on Sky Sports, the solo fella managed three pints of John Smiths. Impressive dedication, by anyone's book.
Up Thorns Road for Adventure Lab Caching in another Stevens Park before arriving at the top of the hill for Quarry Bank. The aforementioned trail telling me to visit the Church Tavern, formerly known as the Nailers.
But first - the real church, an impressively huge Victorian edifice.
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| Christ Church, Quarry Bank |
In the field research told me the main item of interest here was the grave of a music hall actor, Charles Godfrey, who died in 1900.
Charles Godfrey (born Paul Lacey, 26 April 1854 – May 1900) was a highly acclaimed English music hall entertainer, remembered as one of the most phenomenally successful artistes of his day.
A heavy drinker throughout his life, Godfrey’s health suffered, and he died prematurely in May 1900, aged just 46.
Enough clues from the Black Country Society Blog to track down his final resting place.
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| Last Orders |
In honour of a fellow drinker, it was over the road to the Nailers – which well and truly hammered the final nail in my coffin when it comes to trusting cask in unknown premises.
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| The Church Tavern |
Let me explain why it won my trust - a good, recent review on www.pubsgalore.com. Untappd showing a rotating list of cask ales, many of which were my favourites. The Real Ale Guide.
Two punters - both on Carling - should have been the counter-warning. Still, I ploughed on, choosing the Burton Bridge Stairway to Heaven over a more LocALE Holden's Golden Glow.
It was dreadful - smelly, cloudy and nasty tasting.
Would you have taken it back, potentially facing a shooting stars-esque raising of handbags and a "Oooooh" from the Carling Twins.
I simply vowed to always ask for a sample first.
Like I did the last time this happened.
Walk Details
Distance - 4 Miles
Geocaches - 6
Future Inspiration;
Taking the narrative from the Black Country Society Blogs and turning them into walks
The Dudley Trail - 5 Walks of varying lengths, which appear to have a common start. A section passed in Stevens Park
Previous Stages on the Wyre Valley Line - Worcester to Droitwich, Droitwich to Hartlebury, Hartlebury to Kidderminster, Kidderminster to Hagley, Hagley to Stourbridge
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