One of the marvels of the internet age has been the ability to go down any street and road you want. Thanks to Google Street View, we can do this. First introduced in 2007, the handy tool is now available in more than 100 countries and territories across the world.
In a few simple clicks, you can go from the likes of the glitzy Las Vegas Strip to the cold streets of St Petersburg in Russia. The Street View tool is available on seven continents, allowing you to travel across four corners of the globe.
But one of the benefits of Street View is that it allows you to see what’s on your doorstep. It’s not just abroad where you can unearth interesting sights.
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Although many readers will consider themselves well-versed in the Black Country, Street View has captured some unseen gems. They make you feel like you’re really in the region.
BlackCountryLive has spent hours trawling through our streets and roads, trying to find the best, funniest and most unique images.
Canal air vent
It’s like an object straight out of a fairy tale movie. Indeed, this unique structure is from a long-gone era.
The air vent is situated in someone’s front garden on Station Road in Cradley Heath. It was built as an air vent to the Netherton Canal Tunnel that opened in 1858.
The tunnel was a Victorian engineering marvel built to free up the local canal network that was being brought to a halt by congestion. You’ll find a number of these air vents dotted about the Black Country. They’re a rare sight to behold, particularly given the vents now form part of people’s properties.
The air vent on Station Road in Cradley Heath
(Image: Google)
Flipping off Google
The Black Country is known as a gritty and hard region. People here like to speak their minds and get straight to the point.
But make no mistake, you’ll find some of the nicest people here who are the salt of the earth. That’s not to say there are those who are tough-talking.
This was evident when Google’s Street View camera car travelled down Walsall’s Bridge Street in June this year and got flipped off by a man in shorts walking by. What can we say, the region has its charm.
A man flipping his finger off to Google Street View
(Image: Google)
Every man and his dog loves Greggs
Italy is famed for its pizza and pasta, France for its croissants and baguettes, and in England, we have sausage rolls and Greggs. And nowhere is arguably more passionate about Greggs than the West Midlands.
In the Black Country, we love our golden chips but sausage rolls are up there with among our favourite dishes. It’s fair to say, every man and his dog loves Greggs.
And that was perfectly illustrated by this Street View taken of the store on Union Street in Wednesbury back in October 2022.
A man and his dog waiting in Greggs in Wednesbury
(Image: Google)
Bump in the road
Every now and then we all need a helping hand. And that was no different for this motorist who needed an extra push on West Bromwich’s High Street.
Two men were seen giving a push to the blue Ford Fiesta back in 2022. You could tell it was in the warmer month of May, given one of the men were wearing sliders.
The man also sported a shirt with what appeared to be cannabis leaves, while his jeans appeared to be falling down.
Two men pushing a car along High Street in West Bromwich
(Image: Google)
Get a loaf of this
It’s a staple of every cupboard and pantry. The humble slice of bread can go with a plethora of foods.
And this gentleman appears to have just been to the shop to get one. The man was pictured carrying the loaf of bread – Warburtons Wholemeal – while walking down Birches Barn Road in Wolverhampton on July 2024.
We hope he had many a good meal with it.
The man was pictured carrying a loaf of bread
(Image: Google)
Not one, but two
If one man swearing at the camera wasn’t enough, we’ve found another. This time, it was down Great Bridge in Tipton.
This cyclist was spotted flipping the camera off while riding a BMX along the pavement in July of this year. He was colour co-ordinated, with his green tyres matching the colour of his handle bars and the pattern of his gloves.
The cyclist spotted flipping the camera off
(Image: Google)
Speaking of bikes
Staying on the topic of bikes, we spotted this motorbiker riding around the Wren’s Nest estate in Dudley. The thumping sound of off road bikes will be a well known sound to Black Country residents, particularly at the weekend in the warmer months.
Although it’s illegal to ride off road motorbikes on public roads in the UK, it appears to be a popular past time for some in the Black Country. This rider was captured riding down Maple Green in Dudley on July 2024.
The off road biker pictured travelling along Maple Green in Dudley
(Image: Google)