A Night On The Town

 

It's Jon's birthday on Friday but as we'll be away last night was his unofficial birthday bash and, in true Black Country style, it involved a trip into town and then on for a curry. 

I took my camera out so you could join us.

Our Parish church was rebuilt in 1775 but some of the original Norman architecture still remains. 

Both sets of parents married here.

The steeply cobbled Church Hill was once the site of the town stocks and home to many slums. It dates back to 1220 and it's an absolutely terrifying experience to walk down in platforms.

The Guildhall (the grander building of the two) is now an Italian restaurant but was the seat of the local council since the 15th century, it was rebuilt in 1865 but the whole area was derelict for many years. Boy George used to squat here back in the early 1980s.

Here's our regular pub, The Black Country Arms. It's been used as an inn since 1707 and was originally called The Dragon. 

Nobody knows why the council decided to commission a life size baby concrete hippo here in the late 1970's. It became the place we always met our dates when we were kids. It's in rather dubious taste considering our town is one of the fattest towns in the UK.

Our rather grand town hall in the Edwardian Baroque style was built in 1905. The swimming baths are just behind here.

This is our town centre's newest pub. Built in 1820 it was our first free public library and became a court house in 1870. It's very imposing and has been used as a set on many a TV courtroom drama.

 

Inside we have a wall of famous local faces including Rob Halford from Judas Priest and Noddy Holder from Slade.

How cool is this light fitting?

Cheers!

Pear cider for me.

Liz and Adrian

It was so warm last night we sat in the beer garden. Being Walsall the tables are bolted to the ground to stop the locals from nicking them or using them as weapons.

Liz and Al joined us after work. The newsagent's opposite is the only remaining business left in the row of shops behind us. We have one of the most derelict high streets in the UK.

Time for a curry. We went to a different restaurant last night and the head waiter turned out to be a happy ex-client of Adrian's, complimentary side dishes and a 10% discount off the bill were the order of the day.

My vegetable Jaipuri was as good as ones I've had in India.

How fluffy is that garlic mushroom naan?

The almost-birthday boy went to bed happy.

I'm woefully behind on blog commenting and still haven't packed for the weekend. I'll try and catch up you all before we go.