Author Archives: swanny

Zoiks, we have been here before…..  🙄 I had read in the phoenix entity “Rhodia limited” directors report document that they had intended to carry out remediation work on some of their sites in 2020, but had been foiled by … Continue reading →

On passing the infamous turquoise (and heavily rusted) gates to the hazardous waste lagoon in June, I had noticed that the site ID board information was missing. An inquiry to The Environment Agency stated that they had not given permission … Continue reading →

I must have been up and down The Birchills Locks at Walsall a thousand times over the years, but recently I noticed something of great significance for the first time on the pound near to the new housing conversion from … Continue reading →

  The world is now mapped out in small squares thanks to this app called What3words. As it states “We divided the world into 3 metre squares and gave each square a unique combination of three words. It’s the easiest way … Continue reading →

  I have looked previously about how several white phosphorus experiments went wrong within the classroom setting, principally because of how dangerous and unpredictable this chemical is in even “experienced” hands. This is another story of such an occurrence which … Continue reading →

This white phosphorus misadventure takes us to 19th Century France as reported by the 27th February 1875 Illustrated Police News. Though difficult to read the text, I have managed to decipher that a Mademoiselle by the name of Brigetté Burckel … Continue reading →

I recently did a double take when passing the infamous turquoise gates to find a couple of familiar landmarks conspicuous by their absence. Here below is the spot the difference picture. And on closer inspection…… These signs on the only … Continue reading →

  If you read accounts of “local history” of this company in the 1980’s and early 90’s you would think that Albright and Wilson the company had won the Second World War single handed. Accounts of their Home Guard, the … Continue reading →

  This is another post about the “non-bino” wino from Lower City Road- Mr Sydney Sheldon- the man whose dubious brickworks enterprise following on from the Barnett family ruined the area around Rattlechain with the sell off of large parcels … Continue reading →

  There is a some detailed information publicly available concerning The Rattlechain Brickworks in the Samuel Barnett era- principally in connection with the 1899 canal breach and subsequent blame game as to how it had happened. I put forward another … Continue reading →