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Walk 4 - Blackbrook
Along village roads and tracks and across fields. Easy walking although some sections may be muddy. There are some stiles to climb. Distanc 4.5 miles.
1. From the Youth and Community Centre car park main entrance turn left and bear right along Hall Lane, passing Mill Lane and Church Lane on your right. Proceed with care along Hall Lane as there is no footpath.
2. Just before Gartmore Riding Stables turn left down the farm track.
3. Just before the track enters the field, look out for the yellow way marker sign on the left. Turn left through the gap in the hedge and turning 45° to your right, look across the field to a gap in the hedge. This is your way (northerly direction).
4. At the next hedge line, continue ahead on the same line to a footbridge across a stream in that hedge.
5. Cross the stream and continue on roughly the same direction crossing the field to houses on the far side. A thatched roof house is the point to aim for and a footpath sign near to a break in the garden wall. A single oak tree near to a hedge halfway across the field is your half-way point.
6. About 10 metres before the house, turn left and walk across the field just to the right of the electricity poles, to the hedge where the poles stop.
7. Keeping the hedge on your left follow the path, cross a small water course and along between fences to a small gate.
8. Go through the gate and bear slightly right across the drive for 6 - 7 metres. Go left through the gap in the hedge (yellow sign) and cross the field to its corner, diagonally right in front of you.
9. Turn left along the footpath on Burntwood Road to return to the Youth and Community Centre car park.
Points of Interest
A. The old school now the Youth and Community Centre was built in 1871. At this time it would have accommodated around 120 children, and from 1876 a certificated teacher was employed. The school was closed in 1982 and re-opened as a youth and community centre in 1983.
B. A large house originally built at this point called 'Fairview' was the home of T.B. Wright a Birmingham manufacturer. He founded 'Hospital Sunday' in 1859 -this event was celebrated annually in churches with a massed gathering of the nursing profession. Opposite the end of Church Lane, a gateway in the sandstone wall was an entrance to 'Barco' owned by Mr. Eglington, an industrialist and keen amateur fruit grower. The old cottage further down on the left was once part of 'Barco' estate and fruit from its orchard was stored there. The house, which later became Blackroot House was demolished to make way for 5 new houses.
C. The Old Vicarage succeeded the Old Rectory in Church Lane and was replaced by the more recent vicarage in Blackroot Close . The last full time resident vicar to live here was Rev. Vilda Steady who was one of the earliest women ordained into the Church of England.
D. Gartmore a large family home, was built in the late 1890's by W. G. Leckie a Walsall saddlery and harness manufacturer. Later it became the residence of Mr. Matthews a furniture factory owner and one time Sheriff of Lichfield. The grounds included tennis courts, formal gardens and a gardener's cottage which can be seen from the track.
E. Around these field hedges can be seen a selection of birds and butterflies. Commonly seen are Yellowhammers, Blue Tits, Robins, Chaffinches, and Song Thrushes. Buzzards are regularly here. Small Tortoiseshell butterflies can be seen feeding and mating around the Common Nettles at the base of the hedges. The hedge line on the right contains part of an old marl pit. The marl dug out of this pit was a mixture of clay and carbonate of lime and was spread on the land to act as a fertilizer.
F. Blackbrook formerly known as Hammerwich Water in the early 19th Century is part fed from springs on Overton Lane and in the past was renowned for its watercress beds. Prior to the 1980 boundary revision Blackbrook formed the north-eastern boundary between Hammerwich and Burntwood. Indian Balsam, an invasive alien that threatens the native flora, has taken hold here. At the footbridge look back to see the lovely view of the old windmill and church on the skyline.
G. The footpath behind Stockhay Lane is a very ancient routeway and is shown on the Tithe Map of 1848 as a 'foot road'. The hedge here has not been maintained for many years, Blackthorn provides sloe berries for foxes as well as for human gin makers.
H. Apple Tree Farm is one of the oldest farms in the Parish and contains part of a small timber-framed building of the 17th Century or earlier. This was incorporated into the rear wing of the house when it was rebuilt in the 18th Century. The original wattle and daub still exists.
I. The cricket field was first used by Hammerwich Cricket Club in 1948. An old double-decker bus provided one of the earlier changing/tea facilities. This was replaced by a wooden hut and then later by a modern brick built structure. Hammerwich Bowling Club acquired the Bowling Green in 2002.
J. The Old Forge - the house was built in the late 18th Century with a forge building attached to one end. It stands upon a sandstone base, which is the foundation of a property believed to be of the same age as Lichfield Cathedral.
K. The last tree on your left before the junction of Pingle Lane is a London Plane.
L. A Women's Institute was established in 1920, and in 1936 the W.I. Hall was built in Burntwood Road. In 1958 it also became the Church Hall, but after many years in this role it reverted to the sole charge of the W.I.
M. Mansion Hill is renowned for its Horse Chestnuts, which provide a brilliant display of candles in the spring and later of course, the conkers, which cannot be resisted by the village youngsters.
N. Hammerwich House was originally built in the 1570's but has been rebuilt many times since then, the last being around 1880 when it was home to Job Evans a manufacturer of galvanised iron. From 1941 it was used as an annexe by the Birmingham and Midland Hospital for Women. In 1945 it was bought by Walsall Borough Council and altered to a girls' remand home, it later became a children's home. In 1985 it became a BUPA nursing home for the elderly having by then been renamed as Hammerwich Hall. The grounds of Hammerwich Hall are an arboretum in themselves, including such species as Weymouth Pine, Weeping Ash, Silver Fir and both Deodar and Atlantic Cedars. Opposite is a Black Mulberry, another unusual specimen.
Walk 4 was researched and edited by Wayne and Val Colson
