The Licky Hills.

**iceman** · 3rd December 2008, 05:50

Good morning to all.

I live (and am reminded that i should take/find the time to update my profile information) at the foot of the Licky Hills in the leafy suburbs of birmingham (literally minutes from the now obsolete rover works at longbridge.) I have ventured out a few times (i am somewhat of a hermit i'm afraid) into the hills and love the area with a vengence (hense relocating here two years ago.) I've found a couple of monuments and churchs so wonderful as to take ones breath away but wonder, if anyone knows the area at all and can/will point me in the right direction as to other things/places i should be searching within this so beautiful and picturesque system of hills, nooks and crannies.

I hope everyone is well and happy and look forward to hearing your suggestions.

Best regards...

..iceman.

Edited to add..i am unsure (being the newbie that i am) as to just where exactly this sort of thread should be posted. Apologies if it is in the wrong place. Please relocate accordingly mods and i will take note. Thank-You.

**yamahapaul** · 3rd December 2008, 08:56

How close are you to Longbridge? is there much left now??

**Hobbler** · 3rd December 2008, 11:01

Have a look at Tardebigge - exquisite church ,canal workshops and cottages , canal tunnel , biggest lock flight in the country and plenty more to see .

**iceman** · 3rd December 2008, 18:44

Originally Posted by yamahapaul

How close are you to Longbridge? is there much left now??

Hello paul.

I have to drive past longbridge ex-works to get here (home) and would say it is about a 5-10 minute drive away depending on time effected traffic (5 mins evenings/sundays and 10 mins any other time.)

There is one area opposite cofton park adjacent to coften hacket that is still trading under the new management but all else (literally miles of it) has been bulldozed to the ground. The mountains of bricks and debris has been removed and it's all levelled now, awaiting it's next transformation (i may be wrong but think that it's going to be a business park.)

The iconic long bridge of longbridge that spanned the A38 was the first thing to go and it's never been the same since, a real shame but i suppose time and tide waits for no man.

**iceman** · 3rd December 2008, 18:54

Originally Posted by Hobbler

Have a look at Tardebigge - exquisite church ,canal workshops and cottages , canal tunnel , biggest lock flight in the country and plenty more to see .

Greetings Hobbler. Thank-You for the recommendations. I will most certainly be checking those.

I lived on a moored long boat for a couple of years at hanbury wharf and enjoyed every moment of it (well....that's a lie actually, i didn't enjoy emptying the toilet and hated feeling like a musium piece when tourists stopped by and just gawped through the windows, i always thought that i wonder how they would feel if i came and did the same at their house

) Everything else was just lovely

**Hobbler** · 3rd December 2008, 19:50

Originally Posted by iceman

Greetings Hobbler. Thank-You for the recommendations. I will most certainly be checking those.

I lived on a moored long boat for a couple of years at hanbury wharf and enjoyed every moment of it (well....that's a lie actually, i didn't enjoy emptying the toilet and hated feeling like a musium piece when tourists stopped by and just gawped through the windows, i always thought that i wonder how they would feel if i came and did the same at their house

) Everything else was just lovely

Good Evening Iceman ,

Yes those nosey parkers can be a nuisance and on several occasions I have gone out and asked if they would give me their address so I could go round and peer in their windows .However a set of net curtains was the real answer.

They reckon whenever two or more people who have lived on narrowboats get together the subject of elsans and emptying is always one of the first topics of conversation.

Guess we have justed proved the theory !!!!

**iceman** · 4th December 2008, 05:39

Good morning Sir

Glol..if nothing else, at least we are predictable

..oh and thank you for not picking me up on that contentious talking point of long boat vrs narrow boat

**Hobbler** · 4th December 2008, 13:36

Originally Posted by iceman

Good morning Sir

Glol..if nothing else, at least we are predictable

..oh and thank you for not picking me up on that contentious talking point of long boat vrs narrow boat

I have no problem with the use of the word longboat as that is the traditional name for a narrowboat on the River Severn and connecting canals where I have spent much of my time and as you were on the Worcester & Birmingham canal it was therefore totally appropriate.

I do however not like the use of the word barge in reference to a boat designed for use on narrow canals as that describes a completely different type of craft.

**iceman** · 5th December 2008, 04:53

Originally Posted by Hobbler

I have no problem with the use of the word longboat as that is the traditional name for a narrowboat on the River Severn and connecting canals where I have spent much of my time and as you were on the Worcester & Birmingham canal it was therefore totally appropriate.

I do however not like the use of the word barge in reference to a boat designed for use on narrow canals as that describes a completely different type of craft.

Good morning to your good self Hobbler...

Main Entry:
1barge
Pronunciation:
\ˈbärj\
Function:
noun
Etymology:
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin barca
Date:
14th century
: any of various boats: as a: a roomy usually flat-bottomed boat used chiefly for the transport of goods on inland waterways and usually propelled by towing b: a large motorboat supplied to the flag officer of a flagship c: a roomy pleasure boat ; especially : a boat of state elegantly furnished and decorated

Nope!..nothing there covering us (or you really, as i am/was only a short term waterman) unless you class us beings as 'goods' of course. I used to love thinking of the way it was done by horse and looking for the telltale signs along the tow paths. The tunnels are lovely too, the worn trails where boatmen had laid on their backs and propelled themselves along to meet up with the work horses again. The lock systems hobbled and grooved with eons of heavy booted, heavy worked hard men (gosh..they must had had such a hard life alla waterways.) Having the heart of an antique restorer, i find the past and it's far reaching fingers all so interesting.