On Tuesday I did my Wii Fit workout, threw a load of washing into the machine, swept the rugs in the lounge and middle room and had just finished hanging the laundry up in the utility room when Jon came downstairs. After breakfast we set off to Caldmore for a heritage walk.
Marsh's Almshouses in Bath Road were built in 1894 and feature a Dutch-style gable.
27a Bath Road apparently has a late 19th century two-storey brick and slate backyard workshop for the production of fancy leathergoods (as I've mentioned before Walsall has been known for its leatherwork since the Industrial Revolution) but the entrance was locked, we loved the original door, though.
Only the frontage of the former Glebeland Works at 59 Bath Street survives, incorporated into a residential development. During the 19th Century the building produced harness furniture.
Holland House, known as Bath Street Works, is a mid-19th Century building, which once housed a buckle and harness making factory.
1 - 5 Little Caldmore comprises a row of five leather worker's cottages c.1800
The Art Deco facade to Broadway Kitchens.
12 - 14 Bath Street, two small almshouses which were founded in 1519 and rebuilt in 1878.
10, Vicarage Place, an early 19th century dwelling with Flemish bond red brick and a slate tiled roof. The original sash windows would have been 6 over 6 but were replaced by 2 over 2 in the later Victorian style.
Neighbouring property, 11A, Vicarage Place is the same age and also built in Flemish red bond brick.
St Mary The Mount was built in 1827 at a cost of £7,500. Before then the town's catholics assembled in the meeting rooms of the Dragon Inn in Walsall's High Street (now called The Black Country Arms).
The former home to Walsall Purse Co., is now converted into flats. Isn't the front door gorgeous?
Behind St Mary's The Mount is the parish hall which had the best jumble sales in the 1980s with the added attraction of a really cheap bar.
This gorgeous Victorian villa is now derelict. The Minton tiles are a common sight, they were produced up the road in Stoke On Trent.
82, Glebe Street. A former leather works now converted into residential use.
Another former leather works.
Mandir Baba Balak Nath. Built in 1879 and formerly a baptist church, its been a Hindu temple for decades. In the 1980s they borrowed an elephant and paraded it around Caldmore to celebrate a festival. It's built in the Italianate style with twin pedaments and stucco detailing.
The single storey building attached to the temple was the former Sunday school.
Carry further down Mount Street and you'll get to number 82, the first house I bought. This is number 52, a former bridle-cutters and gig-saddlers.
The blue door belongs to 36, Brace Street. This was where I lived when I left home, the downstairs window was my bedroom and the front door was nailed shut, access was via the condon-strewn alleyway two houses along and my weekly rent was £11. Back in the 1980s it was condemned and facing demolition until the area was awarded a regeneration grant.
The Sandwell Street Garage is a bit tatty but isn't the colour glorious?
Back at home we had a bowl of noodles and I posed for a photo before stripping down to my knickers and dying my roots.
Tuesday's Wear:Sleep:Repeat saw the return of my vintage Anokhi jacket with a 1970s Pakistani block printed kaftan bought from pals,
Old's Cool Traders and a plum fedora bought from a proper shop (!) in 2019.
The details: Massive Afghan Kuchi earrings (eBay), Lotta from Stockholm clog boots (also eBay) and a vintage belt from a charity shop.
By the time I'd chatted to a friend for an hour or so, uploaded my photos and tidied the spare bedroom it was time for tea, pizza with sweet potato chips and a shared bottle of ale. Later we watched
The Trump Show, Interior Design Masters and Forensics:The Real CSI.
On Wednesday morning I put the previous day's laundry away, put the tea towels into a bucket with some stain remover to soak before chucking them on a 60°C eco wash and hanging them up to dry and then emptied all the bins ready for collection on Thursday - yes, it's Bin Eve, possibly the most exciting event on the calendar for most of us at the moment.
After breakfast armed with heavy duty gloves, grab-sticks and refuse sacks, we combined a block walk with a litter pick. Today's rubbish included masks (both of the disposable and reusable kind), Latex gloves, nitreous oxide cannisters (laughing gas) and fast food wrappers galore. The fools who buy energy drinks are clearly being ripped off, judging by the amount of empties we picked up, drinking that sh*te obviously makes them so lacking in energy that they haven't got the strength to hold on to their empty can until they get near a bin.
Wednesday's Wear:Sleep:Repeat challenge saw the reappearance of yesterday's block printed kaftan, worn with a me-made pompom hat and a charity-shopped 1960s suede maxi coat.
The details - Lavender Doc Marten Pascal boots (half price sale, 2018), an assortment of tribal bangles (picked up on my travels), Vietmanese Hmong tribe snake earrings (ebay) and a vintage toled leather belt (from the 3 for £1 basket in the charity shop).
News flash! Not only is Jacob awake but he's eating peas, he's gradually coming out of hibernation, spring really is on her way.
After our lunchtime noodles we took advantage of the mild weather and assisted by Frank, Jon tinkered with Gilbert whilst I took photos of stock in the garden before uploading them to eBay. I always like to have a theme when I'm selecting stock - bags, belts, dresses, menswear.....just to keep things interesting. Today it was garments that used to be ours. You might spot my Indian embroidered crushed velvet dress, much as I love it it's just too big for me and I had to cull a few items to make room for my newest aquisitions.
I wrapped my ebay sales, placed an online order for Jon's razor blades and eye make-up remover with Superdrug and caught up with blog comments.
Tea was cauliflower cheese (made by me), peas and the rest of the sag aloo sausages.
Tonight we'll be cracking open the rum and watching Adam Curtis's
I Can't Get You Out Of My Head that's as soon as I've sorted out tomorrow's Wear:Sleep:Repeat outfit.
For anyone missing Catmac's comments, don't worry, she's having problems with Google and can't log in. I was so glad when she emailed me, I do worry when my online friends vanish especially in these strange times when chatting to one another on blogs has helped us to stay sane.
Stay safe & see you soon!
So much heritage, so much history. Makes you think what is in our towns and cities which is being rapidly forgotten. Those Minton tiles at the derilict villa are gorgeous - always make me think about patchwork blocks :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's funny. When I spotted those Minton tiles I thought of your incredible quilts, the colours especially!
DeleteI'm so glad a lot of those old factories and workshops have been converted into social housing, if we lived someone posh they'd probably be flattened and replaced with stainless steel and plate glass monstrosities. xxx
happy Wed. evening lovely Vix! I was smiling to myself all through this post so many co-incedences tea cauliflower cheese and sausages check talked to a friend for an hour check sweet potato check culling pieces from wardrobe check . Now to your post. Loved the tour today! So many buildings with stories to tell. I imagined the workers who would have lived in those terrace houses. Your town is amazing, especially seen through the eyes of someone like you who appreciates details( eg. the tiles in the derelict Victorian house). You then pass on all this wonderfulness to us. With your litterpicking heritage walks ebay business phew you are never bored. I think the days are speeding up I am never bored and by the time the boys come home from work I am pooped. Wouldn't have it any other way. You have inspired some of this industriousness I am sure. Anyway ginger beer calls so "see" you in a couple of days.Shazxx lovely to see jaco see he knows. By the way nice surpise to see a clump of minature daffs out in bloom todayxx
ReplyDeleteHappy Wednesday, Shaz! We're on the same wavelength today, that's for sure!
DeleteThose terraced houses are so pretty, aren't they? the workers who lived there must have been cherished employees, they seem quite spacious compared with the back-to-backs elsewhere in the town. I love those Minton tiles, don't you?
I don't know about you but I'm going to bed earlier than ever these days, I can hardly keep my eyes open after being so active.
Raising a rum to your ginger beer - have a lovely evening! xxx
Hi Vix, thank you for sharing so much architectural and social history with us all, it really is interesting to see. Looking at all your varied collections of silver jewellery I was just wondering how you store it all, clean it etc. It must take up a lot of space. Are there any pieces that you are still desperate to acquire?
ReplyDeleteHi Alysia!
DeleteI shared my dressing table and jewellery storage here: https://vintagevixon.blogspot.com/2020/04/rainy-days-mondays-lockdown-days-38-39.html
I've written about how to clean jewellery a few times over the years I've been blogging. Here's a recap:
1.Line a glass bowl with silver foil and place jewellery inside.
2.Sprinkle a couple of teaspoons of bicarbonate of soda over the jewellery.
3.Pour just boiled water over the top , covering by at least 2 inches.
4.Leave to soak for 30 minutes.
5.Remove jewellery, rinse and polish with a clean, dry cloth.
I don't actively look for jewellery, I'm more than happy with what I already own but if something takes my eye and it's affordable then I'll buy it.
Hope this helps! x
Many thanks x
DeleteSome great doors there Vix. I was chatting to my friend that I went walking with on Saturday and we both agreed that it's been amazing to be able to be tourists in our own locality and just what we've noticed by really looking as we would if we were away on holiday. Arilx
ReplyDeleteI do love an old door! Being tourists in our own neighbourhood has been fascinating, I think we've all learned to open our eyes and look properly at what's in our own backyard lately. xxx
DeleteI LOVED the tour of Walsall. Such interesting buildings. I love the churches and former churches.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to photograph the interesting buildings in my local town centre for my blog but I've just got this real paranoid thing about sharing my exact location (not to pals like You though) so I tend to avoid it! Pity as there are some brilliant buildings!
That's such a shame that you feel like you can't share interesting buildings in your location, Kezzie, but I completely understand.
DeleteEven though I've grown up with most of those buildings takinga photo and really examining the details has revealed things I've missed. xxx
I do enjoy your walks and the stories and history behind. I wonder with so many people doing their former office work form basically anywhere now, will there be an upsurge in people fed up with the high cost of big cities like London, and moving outward to rebuild communities where there might be interesting old buildings to turn not homes at fractions of the price? Even if they had to travel in one day a week for meetings, it might make a lot of sense to attract new workers. I've been thinking about this a lot, and seeing all your old buildings and ones you describe as empty makes me plan in my head. How lovely to see Jacob!
ReplyDeleteI think there has been quite a lot of people relocating from London since last year. Anyone house hunting now must have a completely new list of priorities - in the old days it was all about transport links, off road parking and closeness to entertainment venues and high rated schools, now it's having a food shop in walking distance to your front door and being near nice neighbours!
DeleteSome of these Victorian & Georgian factories and workshops would make far more attractive options than the purpose built flats. xxx
Thanks for another great tour of the town! I absolutely love the two outfits shown today, but I think I probably always say that about your outfits/ Your comment about the energy drink people made me laugh, but very sad that people liter like that. I'm glad Jacob is up and moving, he's adorable! I love me some turtles :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Martha! With such strict regulations about only being able to travel with a legal reason means that we're exploring every inch of our neighbourhood and loving it. xxx
DeleteLove history, I get so annoyed when places like back home decide to rip it down for an eyesore it really saddens me. I love old homes over new, new are so well cold no feel and poorly built. My mums is terrible, I feel like I am staying in the bloody Hilton when I am there. I can’t stand it.
ReplyDeleteWe just love to soak up the architecture and just stare at buildings for ages . You don’t need a fancy museum , history is on your doorstep and it’s free.
It’s tea in japan and coffee that you see loads of bottles of in the combinis they sell energy drinks but not a huge selection, there’s a drink called Pocari sweat that always makes me giggle. But we don’t have the litter problem.
Even the kids and teenagers are well trained! If your home looks untidy outside you get an improvement notice from the community council we have haven’t had one, but I know a few who have and it’s quite shameful apparently.
Take care and keep safe love and huggs
History makes us who we are, it's such a shame when old buildings are left to decay, isn't it? Those new builds don't have an character, do they? No room for wardrobes or a double bed.
DeleteYou're right, you don't need a museum, there's so many interesting things around us, I despair at people who maoning about having nothing to do, go for a walk and look up (unless you live in the middle of a field!)
I love that the Japanese are told to improve their outside space if it's a mess. We're amazed when we walk around the block to see that people can't be bothered to pick up after the binmen, leaving cans and bottle on their drives for weeks. What is the matter with people?
Eughh! A drink called sweat!
Stay safe! xxx
There is something rather attractive about some buildings that are in disrepair though, surely? They build up a patina of coats of paint and old posters and repairs. I used to be rather fixated on taking photos of sites where hundreds of posters had been overlaid and ripped down over the years leaving a kind of crust of mixed messages and faded information and I see the same depth of surface and texture in the changing use/boarding up/cracks and repairs on buildings.
DeleteIs Pocari Sweat the one that's a fizzy milk drink? I had a can of Pocari Sweat in my fridge for about two years - friends used to bring me all sorts of oddities.
Absolutely, Fifitr. I'm sure you've seen (and commented on) the endless photos of derelict buildings I've shared on my blog over the years. I love the patina and look of elegant decay but find it very sad to see beautiful houses like 50, Glebe Street being abandoned and left to rot especially when there's a homeless shelter in the same street. xxx
Deleteanokhi jacket is a dream on every dress!
ReplyDeletethank you again for showing us around walsall - you know i love a good dose of bricks topped with sandstone. did i ever told you that my first education & job after school (from 16 to 20) was as a leather worker?! it was in a very huge manufacture for fashionable leather clothing - most of it was exported to western germany....... so you send me down memory lane.
gorgeous photo of frank <3
as for the litter - don´t know what people do have in their heads - all of our gorgeous nature gets littered every sunny weekend by day-trippers and tourists - who claim to come here for said nature!!
xxxxx
Thanks, Beate! I love that jacket so much, it seems to change colour when i try it with different things underneath.
DeleteI didn't know you were a leather worker! It's still a very much respected trade here although it's mostly saddles and horsebits these days.
It's bad enough dropping litter in urban areas but in beauty spots where people claim to visit because they love nature is just ridiculous. xxx
Thanks for sharing your walk and photos of these magnificent brick architecture, lots of interesting details, doors, tiles!. Sorry that some of the buildings are derelict, they're really beatiful and keep all their charm.
ReplyDeleteTotally understand that going for a block walk and litter pick is an exciting event nowadays!. It's a shame that so many people don't take care of their own rubbish!, come on!.
And you look so gorgeous in your new jacket (wow, those sleeves!) and this kaftan is one of my favourites, the purple and plum shades are so fabulous. You rock your fedoras and always fab accessories!. And your kaftan also looks stunning with the suede coat and lavender boots (such an amazing colour, love it!), looking so lovely!.
Your food photos are inspiring me to cook some cauliflower and sausages, totally comfort food for any winter day!.
besos
Thank you, Monica! My architecture pales into insignificance compared to the wonderful sights you live near.xxx
DeleteSome lovely architecture there, everywhere I go I drink in the details of buildings and read the plaques. I would love to live in a Victorian Villa with an entrance way like that one, what a pity is is now derelict :-(
ReplyDeleteI love the details, Sue, those fancy bits of ironwork and stained glass windows. I'm sad that beautiful house has been left to rot, all the more poignant when there's a homeless shelter in the same street. xxx
DeleteYou live in such an interesting area. I love the shade of blue on your old door.
ReplyDeleteGlad to see Jacob is up and about. MY son and daughter in law have a tortoise - Shelly and she terrorizes their rabbits. She can't half shift when she wants to.
Such a shame about that old Victorian Villa.
How fabulous that you've got a tortoise in the family! Maybe we could introduce them and get babies?! xxx
DeleteLike Kezzie I am always a bit wary of showing too much of my location :) but I can always blog Brighton to death when we are allowed to venture further afield! loads of history there and only a train journey away... I see another lovely dress and I love the way you mix the patterns and colours - I am going to try mixing like that a bit in the Summer. I have had some fabulous sale bargains this week - I know you don't approve of new/retail too much but these are classics so have to be an investment, right?! didn't get the mittens yet, I have ocd and go through phases of not being able to think about wearing pre-loved gloves or shoes - don't ask me why - it's just a feet and hands thing! and then I'm all right again! weird I know :)
ReplyDeleteI always enhjoy your Brighton posts, Betty! I bet you can't wait to get back on the train and venture forth. Every time I sell something on eBay I Google the town it's going to, virtual tourism!
DeleteNow you've told me about your investment pieces I totally approve and can't wait to see them. You'll just have to do an online class in selfies!
How funny about the gloves and shoe thingy. There used to be a blogger who was a bit of a witch and she used to cast spells on secondhand shoes before she wore them - I'll have to see if I can find her old posts - she was brilliant fun! xxx
What a fun walking tour you've given us, Vix! I love seeing all the architectural details (that brick-work is amazing), and those Minton tiles are fantastic. Your old home! I love that blue door.
ReplyDeleteHappy to see Jacob up, and good to know that Frank is a proper supervisor. Your purple outfit is lovely (great colour on you!), and I'm drooling over those lavender Docs (my white floral ones are nearly worn out!).
Here's to the weekend! Enjoy your rum!
Thanks for joining us on our walk, Sheila! My old house used to have the most disgusting brown painted door, like something from an institution! It was craling with cockroaches and the sash windows had to be secured with bricks to keep them open but it seemed so glamorous to have my own place!
DeleteThose lavender Docs were a real bargain and that super soft leather meant they didn't ahve to be worn in, a winner! xxx
I love the tour around Walsall. The industrial and commercial use buildings are just as interesting as houses and I love the beautiful detailing of ironwork, plaster carvings and gorgeous stained glass. My neighbour has almost identical tiles in his hallway; original to the house. Out of the 4 houses he is the only one to have them still. Next door had all the original fireplaces and a 1930s Art Deco bathroom but the latest occupants ripped it all out when they moved in some years ago!
ReplyDeleteThe jacket looked fab over your kaftan as if they were made for each other. Lovely accessories and your hat making skills are very impressive.
I'm so glad Jacob is out of hibernation; we know Spring is coming for sure!
Well done on the litter picking and aren't some people just too f*****g lazy for words?
xxx
Thanks, Vronni! Those little architectural details always thrill me. How lucky is your neighbour to still have the original tiles? The house we sold to move into Stonecroft was one of only a handful to still have the Minton Tiles and original windows, it sold within an hour of putting it up for sale as a lady had been lusting after it for years! What a crime to get rid of that bathroom.
DeleteI've just bought more wool, I might have to make another hat, I'm obsessed!
I'm hoping that the litter louts who see Jon & I litter picking might be shamed into cleaning up after themselves - I'm a born optimist! xxx
Thank you for another fascinating tour of Caldwell. It's good to see that so many architectural gems have survived in spite of some of the buildings' neglect and dereliction. I haven't been back to the street where my first digs were, who knows which long-buried memories it will evoke if I ever do. It was such a bittersweet time.
ReplyDeleteYour Anokhi jacket looks a treat worn over that gorgeous kaftan, and I'm swooning over your 1960s suede coat every time I see it.
And look, there's Jacob. A sure sign that Spring is on its way.
Well done on the litter picking! I can't believe that people can be such lazy so-and-so's. You should see the square at the end of our street after the local's school lunch break! xxx
I must admit it was the first time I'd looked at my first rented place in years. Back in the old days it had an urban zoo opposite and I was always woken up at some ungodly hour by a cockeral!
DeleteMy suede coat is one of those sleeper garments, not particularly exciting but it seems to add a certain je ne sais quois to an outfit!
Kids are the worst! The avenue has been so much cleaner since the school on the corner was closed and I'm not forever picking up empty crisp packets, sweet wrappers and fizzy pop bottles, no wonder the country's got an obesity crisis! xxx
You have so many pieces of lovely jewellery, I love silver jewellery too. Always bought pieces when we went to Mexico. So much history over there. I wish Canada was a little older so we had more historical things
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Tammy! I do love my silver jewellery, always a good thing to buy as a souvenir as it doesn't take up too much space in the travel bag! xxx
DeleteHi Vix,
ReplyDeleteJust want to reassure you that I'm still here and following your blogs faithfully even though my comments are sporadic xx
Caldwell looks an interesting place, it's so sad that all the manufacturing has gone, the town seems to have lost it's spirit in a way. Glad to hear that regeneration grants will help preserve some of these historical old buildings as they are an important part of the towns history and the amazing craftsmanship of bygone eras needs to be preserved.
Love your gorgeous Boho outfits, it's really rare to find any Anokhi etc here in Australia but I never give up looking! I hope life returns to normality soon for you all in the Uk now that the vaccinations are rolling out, we have only just received our first supply. Take care xxx
Hooray! It's lovely to hear from you Vicky and know all's well!
DeleteSadlt the regeneration grants dried up in the 1980s and a lot of Walsall's heritage and old buildings are hanging on by a thread but I live in hope that one day more government money will be forthcoming.
I've seen a few Australian sellers on Etsy with Anokhi but they are really expensive - fingers crossed you get your hands on some eventaully, it is out there.
It looks like 21/4 will be the earliest we can expect our vaccine, which is pretty impressive really. I hope you don't have too long a wait. Much love. xxx
😍🤞✌
DeleteDear Vix,
ReplyDeletefor months and months I read your distancing diaries and today I want to say THANK YOU for entertaining me in this strange times. Furthermore you have changed my view of things (in terms of clothing, eating, housekeeping, gardening and much more). In this last months I bought my first Anokhi garment (by Ebay of course), inherit my first indoor plant for decades (of course from a offshot I bring from a visit by my godschild in Berlin). For decades because all the years our cat had the habit to nibble at our indoor (and outdoor on the balcony) plants and flowers with the result, that he spew... not so nice! But, sadly, our cat died at the end of 2020 (at the age of 20 1/2) and besides of all our mourning, we now discover the beauty of flowers and plants in our life!
Vix and Jon, thank you for bloging and sharing your life style.
Hugs from Cologne, Germany, Susa
Hello Susa! I'm thrilled to hear from you and read that my posts are halping you make a few changes to your life. I'm so very sorry about the loss of your cat - what an amazing age, you must be very good cat parents - but I'm happy that you're filling the void with houseplants which never fail but to make me happy even though watering them takes ages!
DeleteAnokhi make the best clothes, once you buy one piece you'll always look for more.
Sending love to Cologne from Vix & Jon in Walsall! xxx
Walsall is a city with a historic past isn't it, it has lots of fascinating buildings.
ReplyDeleteYour Anokhi jacket repair has been a real success, you made such a good job of the cuffs.
Nice to see Jacob, a portent of spring? xxx
Walsall gets such a bad press but it does have a lot going for it really, if you look past the litter, deprivation and decay!
DeleteI'm hoping Jacob knows something we don't and we'll be basking in sunshine very soon! xxx
Hello I’m behind with things as I lost a day with the after effects of the jab.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed the heritage walk. Wonder if Philip is from a buckle and harness dynasty. The Walsall purse company flats look mighty posh. Are they ?
We had a flat in St. Anne once that had the Minton tiles. I’d love a house now with those as a feature. The arched entrance is lovely.
Good on you both for litter picking. It must be an eye opener. We have a lovely chap who is employed by the council to litter pick. He covers a big area and does a great job. It’s always lovely to see him. He takes his job very seriously.
You’ve really cracked the wear:sleep:repeat pic now.
You’re making a fantastic record of life in lockdown Vix
Lots of love from is two xxx
I hope you're okay now!!
DeleteIt was great when I lived in Caldmore I couldn't dig more than a couple of inches without unearthing a buckle. Those flats are housing association ones and really cheap, the door is very grand, isn't it?
The community around the litter pick group is just fantastic, it's wonderful how many people take their kids out each day to clean the streets and post the bags of rubbish on Facebook. xxx
The litter pick group is such a nice idea. Ironic that a lot of litter is from energy drinks-as you say they are being ripped off not having the energy to toss it in the bin. Seeing it, I don't feel sorry for them. I never drank an energy drink in my life. When I was a kid, I remember that my friend's mother who was a vet said these drinks were bad and as I always loved vets, I listened to her advice.
ReplyDeleteI love the printed purple maxi worn with a suede coat and a beanie- such a pretty outfit.
Haaaaa I'm glad it's not just me who wanders round in nothing when dyeing hair. I always thought I was probably a bit odd for doing it, but it's better than ruining nice clothes, right?
ReplyDeleteGood to see Jacob out and about, and to know spring is on its way.
Hi Vix! Long time follower, first time commenter, I absolutely love your blog. I'm also a vintage fan in Walsall!
ReplyDeleteOnce this pandemic has calmed down a bit, would love to meet up at the next vintage fair to pop up!
Hi Sophie! Lovely to hear from a fellow Walsall girl! x
DeleteA fascinating walk.
ReplyDeleteYour new jacket looks lovely with that kaftan.
xx