Category: English Heritage
Pictures of One Boy, One Town, One Big City at the Civic Hall on 18 February
What an amazing afternoon. Brierley Hall Civic Hall was alive with the sound of Brierley Hillness!
110 dancers from four local schools joined Buzz Youth Theatre in a one-off spectacular which traced the story of a Brierley Hill family from the 1930s to present day; changes in the family mirrored by the changing landscape of Brierley Hill and iconic buildings past and present.
Dudley Performing Arts worked with children from Belle Vue Primary School, Blanford Mere Primary School, Quarry Bank Primary School and Withymoor Primary School as part of the Brierley Hillness project being run until the end of April.
Audience feedback included:
“Very positive and encouraging to see the enthusiasm of Brierley Hill children and how they have embraced the heritage of Brierley Hill and made it their own”.
“Fantastic. It is ALL my daughter has talked about for weeks – she has learnt a great deal too”
For those of you who missed it, the ‘film version’ of One Boy, One Town, One Big Idea! is coming to the small screen in Artspace, Mill Street on 7th April. Spaces are limited so please reserve a seat by email: Brierley.hillness@gmail.com or by telephone: 07866 404885.
Created with Admarket’s flickrSLiDR.
Celebrate Brierley Hill in February, March and April with the Brierley Hillness Project
English Heritage has announced a exciting series of talks, films and presentations about Brierley Hill which will run during February and March:
Thursday, 24 February, 19:00
Brierley Hill’s Historic Landscape – Illustrated Talk by Pete Boland, Conservation officer Dudley MBC
Thursday, 1o March, 19:00
Remembering Road Oak Steel Works – illustrated talk and performance with Steve Field and Brendan Hawthorne
Wednesday, 16 March, 19:00
The Brierley Hill Project presents…Verbal Eyes – performance
Thursday, 24 March, 19:00
Ned Williams : Brierley Hill Past and Present – Illustrated Talk
Tuesday, 5 April, 19:00
One Boy. One Town. One Big Deal – Film Screening, Dudley Performing Arts
Thursday, 14 April
The Future of Brierley Hill Town Centre – Illustrated talk and consultation, Nicki Dale and Rachel Gandolfi of Dudley Planning Department.
To read or download the promotional leaflet, click here Continue reading Celebrate Brierley Hill in February, March and April with the Brierley Hillness Project
One Boy. One Town. One Big Idea! Friday 18th Feb 1.30pm
One Boy. One Town. One Big Idea!
Local school children and Buzz youth theatre present a dance and drama production which will lead you on a journey into the hearts and minds of the people of Brierley Hill through one family’s epic road of discovery.
Friday 18 February 2011
Civic Hall, Brierley Hill
Start: 1.30pm
Price: £2 adult £1concession under 5’s free
Area Action Plan nearing completion
Brierley Hill Area Action Plan – a key planning document which will guide future developments in the area – is reaching its final run in to adoption following an ‘Examination in Public’ held at Dudley Council House in December. Planners are now looking to formally adopt the plan this summer.
The proposed plan which will guide the creation of over 10,000 new jobs, a significant expansion of the Merry Hill Centre, the building of over 3,000 new homes in the area, and the introduction of more leisure and community facilities, was subject to questioning by Inspector Vincent Maher during a week of meetings and visits.
Community groups, council officials, traders, environmentalists, developers and landlords all attended the examination.
Overall the process was very positive – not a surprise given the amount of consultation that has taken place over the last decade.
Points of debate centred around how to improve public transport to the town, how to enhance the High Street, the impact of the introduction of car park charging at Merry Hill, how best to protect and enhance wildlife in the area and the role of manufacturing within the plan.
Mr Maher is now considering his report on whether the plan conforms to national requirements and is realistic in its delivery prospects. His report should be available at the end of this month, February.
All being well the plan should be ready for adoption this summer and the hard work of implementing it will gain a further boost.
Round Oak view reminiscence days
Share your thoughts on Brierley Hill with the ‘Brierley Hillness’ project!
Brierley Hill Treasure Trail Weekend
It blazed, it rained, it blew a gale… but still teams of treasure hunters from Brierley Hill and across Dudley Borough raced around historic Brierley Hill, along the Pony Trail route to search for clues and work out where the treasure is hidden. Winners of this event on 28 and 29 August to be announced shortly!
89% of people who gave feedback felt the Treasure Trail had increased their knowledge about the heritage in the area, 94% felt it had given them the opportunity to spend some quality time together as a family.
“We had a lot of fun! Something great to do”
“An enjoyable morning out with the family”
It’s not too late to do the Treasure Trail yourself before the ponies are moved and auctioned off in a couple of weeks!
Download a free copy of the Treasure Trail here (best printed to A3). You can also download the answers to see how you got on!
Over 100 local people also took part in an English Heritage survey about living and visiting historic Brierley Hill using a digital touch screen kiosk. There will be more opportunities to have your say over the next few months – so look out for a silver inflatable tent and lots of free balloons! Dates and locations will be posted on the blog – so watch this space!
Coming up this weekend (28th/29th August): Brierley Hill Treasure Hunt!!!
Riding on the success of the Brierley Hill Pony Trail, English Heritage has joined forces with Home Start Dudley and Dudley Performing Arts to bring you a Brierley Hill Treasure Trail event in Brierley Hill Town Centre on Saturday 28th and Sunday 29th August.
Get together with family and friends to hunt for the answers to clues around historic Brierley Hill (Civic Hall to Marsh Park) and the Pony Trail.
Who can take part?
Everyone who likes to explore!
Great fun family activity – children who can read will love getting involved in solving the clues.
Great for groups of friends of all ages!
Route is 1.5 miles walking. Fairly steep gradient in Marsh Park. No Steps.
How do I take part?
1. Just turn up and collect Treasure Maps from the inflatable tent in the Moor Centre (Brierley Hill High Street) after 9am on Sat 28 and Sun 29 August. Last start time Sat 5.30pm, Sun 4pm. It costs only 30p per person to take part (Max 7 people per team) All proceeds will go to Home Start. Registered Charity Number 1115352.
2. Follow the instructions around the treasure map and hunt for the answers to the intriguing clues along the way; you’ll find them on the Brierley Hill Ponies as well as existing historic monuments, buildings and structures.
3. Solve the mystery of where the Brierley Hill Treasure may be hidden. You can enjoy the trail at your own pace or get back as fast as you can to try to win the top prize of a £50 Merry Hill Gift Card! Fastest team over the weekend will win gift card(s) to value of £50, Runner up team gift card worth up to £20.
4. Come back to the tent and we’ll tell you how you got on. Free balloons and refreshments for participants.
Happy trailing!
Suzanne Carter – English Heritage Outreach worker arrives in Brierley Hill
Following fast on the heals of the designation of Brierley Hill High Street as a conservation area, English Heritage has asked its outreach worker, Suzanne Carter, to work with local community groups and residents in the area.
Suzanne’s role will be to engage residents in heritage projects, recording the towns history, and promoting the surprising quality of heritage in the area.