Photos by Lostlabours.co.uk : on the map, in Google Earth (KML)

I hope it's film :D

Great image

As a little boy my dad would hang out with his mates at the 9 locks - then they'd cadge a lift on working barges in return for opening the lock gates. They'd goo off to Worcestershire, 20 or more miles away for the day and return laden with fruit for their mom (working the same trick in reverse). And no-one worried that their little darlings were disappearing over the countryside.

It was dangerous and the opening allowed all sorts of unsavouryness. So knocking it was probably the only solution... and it got a new use as a picnic place. But I too mourn the loss of a landmark of my youth.

There you go, title changed :D

Dear Lostlabours,

I am writing to you on behalf of Magnum photographer Carl De Keyzer.

Carl is photographing the European coast in order to document the rising of water.

In order to help him,

I would ask you some information on that location, on the access to that place and to know if we need some autorization. Thanks by advance for you answer! You can write me to that email : magnum@magnumphotos.fr.

Best regards, A.

Sometime in the late 80's. I'll see if I have a spare copy when I'm next back in the UK, I can check the date too.

I don't like this photo. In Black and white it makes the valley look bleak and uninviting. Seen from the Rhigos Mountain road the views of this valley can be quite stunning.

The small 'tower-like' building is the remains of the Guibal Fan House, and the bigger building behind was the Winding Engine House, both serving the New Hawne colliery adjacent to the top end of 'Hayseech' (which runs just behind in the near background) in Halesowen (or Cradley, Overend or Hawne, depending on which set of old map boundaries your working by!) Not far from Corngreaves Hall (which has been restored), these supposedly Grade II listed buildings are sadly in need of a restoration project before the vandals destroy them completely. Other buildings remain in this complex, further up-slope to the right of this photo.