Weekend Variety No 1

Sutton Coldfield 

Blogs today, Sunday, Monday and Tuesday will have a variety of content (as their title may suggest) but will also include the results of the fbbs visit to the Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield. Its ferroequinological variety is of more sigpnificance than its tenuous royal heritage.

There were once THREE stations in the centre of the town ...

... of which only one remains open. But both rail routes still carry trains and all three are within even fbb's walking distance from (a) each other and (b) the town centre.

The etymology of the name Sutton appears to be from "South Town". See also "Norton = North Town!

The name "Sutton Coldfield" appears to come from this time, being the "south town" (i.e. south of Tamworth and/or Lichfield) on the edge of the "col field". "Col" is usually derived from "charcoal", charcoal burners presumably being active in the area.

Its royal-ness came from Henry VIII, so it has been so designated for a long, long time.

Administratively, despite its Royalty, the town is effectively part of the City of Birmingham which,  in turn, is part of the County of West Midlands. The town is always busy but, some would say, lacks any great architectural character. 

There are. however, some quaint and "listed" bits.

There has been an attempt to make the town centre a more pictuesque traffic jam!

The fbbs funeral activity was centred round St James Chutch, Hill, where "Hill" is an ancient village now lost in the sprawl of Mere Green. John lived (and his widow still lives) on Hill Village Road. This village remnant was demolished in 1956.

As well at the Premier Inn  on Whitehouse Common, the fbbs were at the Crematorium ...

... and, for the Tea and Buns, at Aston Wood Golf Club.

Rather posh and  very modern!

The highlight of the town, however, has to be th huge expanse of Sutton Park ...

... a massive public open space and leisure area to the west of the town centre.

But this a public transport blog, not a funerial reminiscence, so to the trains we must turn. In the next episode we shall take a look round the town's one remaining station as it presents itself today.

Has it changed much?

Bakerloo Line Bus Link

Most readers will be familiar with the proposals to extend the Bakerloo Underground line ...

... and possibly on further south. It has been something of an on/off project for many years, but London Underground high-ups have always been keen on the idea. It seems that the project is teetering towards a "back on" status.

Then up pops Mayor Khan with a somewhat strange prequel.

Until the Bakerloo us extended, he announces ...

...he'll run a bus from Waterloo (to connect with Bakerloo trains) all the way to Lewisham.

And it will be called BL1. fbb does wonder what the lettrrs "B" and "L" stand for!

fbb also wonders whether Mr Khan had made a podiatry damaging error of judgment.

Surely, if th BL1 is a huge success, then the bean counters at the bean counting offices will simply say, "You don't need a Bakelroo Line extension, the BL1 is doing such a good job!"

Cardiff Parkway Part Way ...

A map shows the scope of the St Mellons site which will include the Parkway station  ...

... the area being outlined in red.

On the Google Earth extract below ...

... it lies between Hendre Lake (bottom left) ...

... and Heol Las (road name upper right).

Any guesses as to when it may open. Isn't it about time the Welsh Government realised that this will be too expensive and need to be "postponed". They will take their lead from Rachel.

Guess!

Puzzle Picture (Puzzle Headline?)

Please explain!

Answer tomorrow.

 Next Variety blog : Sunday 2nd Feb