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Witton Square

M

mossg

master brummie
Hi everyone,
When i was younger most people refered to Witton circle as WITTON SQUARE.
Does anyone remember it looking anything like a square?
Moss.
 
I am trying to recall whether there was a island in the middle or not. There was Aston pub, over the way Browns meat and pie shop, over from them co-op shop and coal merchants, then the witton arms, over from them a shoe shop by the no 5 and 7 bus stop then past the municiple bank and round to 39 bus termimus, opposite were I started the Aston. I lived there most of my early years till about 26 and cant for the life of me think if it was a circle in the middle, must have been something because the 39 stopped outside the Aston then went all the way round(was it an island) to the start outside the tram sheds
 
mossg said:
Hi everyone,
When i was younger most people refered to Witton circle as WITTON SQUARE.
Does anyone remember it looking anything like a square?
Moss.
Click to expand...

Hi Moss, In the 1940/50s There was quite a large Traffic Island, There was Thompsons the butcher, a Newsagents, electrical shop, Barbers and a few others. Opposite were a few shops and a coal yard then around the corner the Pub ???
 
Got me guessing Moss as I can't remember either.:confused2: Pete is three years my senior and came from Witton road and he can't remember it without an island. Will ask my brother when I phone him as he is ten years older than myself and had a paper round from Redgates. Jean.
 
The 1913 map doesn't seem to show anything in the middle, and i would have expected it to if it was there
mike

witton_circle_or_square_1913.jpg
 
George, thompsons was lichfield road and browns was the pork butcher. The newsagents were redgates abd buckleys and the electrical shop was jollys. The bank was the municipal and there was a pallet yard next door. There was also a jewelers by the co op. Jean.
 
Jollys had a Telstar radio in for repair from me, never had it back, still have a pic of it (smile) it did travel
 
We always called it Witton Island, I can't recall a Fire Station next to the CoOp, but the main Witton Post Office was next to the coal yard. The day my sister was born in '47 I walked down to the PO with mom to telegram my aunt to come over as 'Baby Coming'. It started to snow soon after the birth and my aunt didn't get home for a while.
 
I was born in 1946 and Di would the post office still have been there when I was growing up as I can only remember the one in Manor road?. Jean.
 
I remember the Post Office in Manor Road as well. Not sure when it moved there. My Father who was from Wyreley Road always used to takeme there when I was visiting. He loved driving around his home area.
 
What was the shoe shop called I mentioned in my earlier post, I remember it had 2 rounded widows with a door on the middle set back, You could stand out of the cold in there while waiting for the 5 or 7 bus to take you to the Laccarnoo Monday nights
 
 
Thanks Patty,
At least Keith Berry remembers it as Witton Square,so i wasn't dreaming.
Moss.
 
Thanks for the link Patty. I have perused Keith Berrys site many times but always managed to miss the old Birmingham gems. They too brought many happy memories of the area, strangely enough Witton Rd hasnt changed that much. The photo of the catholic church brought back a sad memory. My mom and I were in a shop across the road from the church just as a women was knocked over and killed. Though only 4 at the time I knew she was dead as the ambulance men covered her head with a sheet before loading her. In those days there were no paramedics, just the "scoop and shoot".
 
There was a fire station but further up Witton road by the Guild pub. Thanks Patty and Sylvia fancy me not remembering Smiths shoe shop as that is my married name. Still tring to remember the jewelers by the C OP. Jean.
 
My best friends mother had a hairdresser's on Witton Road this would have been about 1963/64. The shop was called Linda Jane's and there was a flat above the shop where I often stayed with my friend and her family. I can remember a grocery shop a few doors away. The lady there was very kind and often treated us to crisps and pop.
 
Only one i can remember was Richards on witton rd. Does anyone remember the fire engine going into the co op window, me and my dad were on the witton at the time and dad being a member of the St Johns helped with the injured, I had to just stand there and watch it was very gory
 
Patty said:
Only one i can remember was Richards on witton rd. Does anyone remember the fire engine going into the co op window, me and my dad were on the witton at the time and dad being a member of the St Johns helped with the injured, I had to just stand there and watch it was very gory
Click to expand...

Hi Patty's.

I remember that fire engine from Aston Fire Station going out call I think it was in the 1950's

Ray
 
A horse also went through the same windows [different glass] and Wendy there was another hairdressers close to Richards and Joan Wain the florest. There was also Claremonts bakers close by. Jean.
 
There was a lovely drapers I think we called them by the florist thay ena upton (remember her Jean) that i got all my babydoll PJ's from, Kayser Bonder, very expensive but they were lovely. Sylvia i bet you had some from there?//
 
Yes Pat and her daughter Rita. They both helped Joan Wain at sometime or other Pat. I do remember the little shop and something Pete bought me from there after I had the twins. Thanks for those lovely photo's Dave brings back lovely memories. The shop on the corner by the bridge right hand was a pet shop. Jean.
 
I do remember the Pet shop on the corner of Manor Road. It had lots of ads over the windows for things like Spratts Bonio. My father always like to drive around the area and he often took me to the Post Office in Manor Road. I remember the school and in later years on visits walking up to Asda with my kids.

The building beyond the railway bridge on the right hand side going towards Tame Road was used for a long time as a training premises for civillian group. Can't remember what they called themselves. There must have been three banks altogether on or close by Witton Circle in the early and mid1960's One was Lloyds across from the Aston Hotel. I'm not sure which bank was close to the bus stop on the right hand side and, of course, the G.E.C. had it's own Lloyds Bank on the site right by the main gate.

I don't remember a jewellers on the Co-op side where the No. 11 Bus stop is unless it was closer to the GEC and the railway bridge in those shops there. I changed buses daily for years at Witton Circle. I can remember there being an island, However, I got off the 5,5a just before Witton Circle and crossed to get to the Co-op on the zebra crossings. Eventually, there were traffic signals. I often used to look at the wedding photographs posted outside the newsagents.
I didn't walk around the area this time I visited but went around in my brother's car. I was amazed at the size of the TESCOS shop! I went to see Aston Villa on foot and also toured the whole of the area in the car. It is very nice across from Aston Villa on Witton Lane. I didn't walk down to Witton Circle because it was getting dark and was raining a lot. I visited The Holte and also walked up to Aston Hall which by that time was closed.
 
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