Local History

The Brownhills Miner - a thirty foot, silver statue - is known as the gateway to the Black Country, but until yesterday could only be seen during the day.

Brownhills Miner illuminated at night

That was until Walsall Council bosses found the cash needed to set up permanent flood lights, ensuring that the symbol of the Black Country's mining heritage will now be bathed in a silvery blue glow.

The switch on

The occasion was marked by an official ceremony, with the statue's designer John McKenna travelling down from Scotland to flick the all important switch. 

Hundreds of people gathered at the site, on the junction of Chester Road and the High Street, to mark the switch on and, despite a short technical glitch which saw the Miner plunged back in to darkness, most people were pleased with the result.

Artist John Mckenna pushes the plunger

A symbol of Brownhills

Councillor Alan Paul said: "People keep comparing the statue to the Angel of the North, which is just a rusty hulk really, but this epitomises Brownhills.  The kids love it, the public like it, and I even saw a coach load of Japanese tourists last year parked on the High Street photographing it!"