The Gunmakers Arms - Corner Gerrard Street and Wilton Street - 1958 - 60

[kecoggins]

Anyone out there remember this lovely pub in the period 1958 to 1960 ?

There was a great fellow who used there, Jim Parkes, I'm sure he lived just across the road on the other side of Gerrard Street. I did National Service Trade Training with him at Catterick Camp in 1956/7 and then he went off to Cyprus - met him a couple of times after demob in early 1958 and loved his local pub "The Gunmakers".
Is Jim or any of his mates or relatives still about ?

Best regards, Ernie Coggins.

 

[Astoness]

hi ernie..i was in the gunmakers a couple of months back...lovely old pub and so friendly...here is a couple of pics of it. And the tokens that were used years ago.

lyn

 

[Wendy]

Lovely photo of the Gunmakers Arms Lyn. How smashing to have a token as well!

 

[Astoness]

morning wend...if only i had got the token.... i am afraid its only a picture of one...also have a pic of the aston tavern token and the crown that was on the corner of villa st/nursery road....would love to own one from the vine inn villa st...may start scouring ebay soon for one...you never know...

lyn

 

[kecoggins]

hi ernie..i was in the gunmakers a couple of months back...lovely old pub and so friendly...here is a couple of pics of it. And the tokens that were used years ago.the first one is recent and the other one taken during demolision of the other side of the road..you can just see the pub through the trees...click on the pics to enlarge them..

lyn

Dear Lyn,

Many thanks for the reply and the piccys - they are really great.

Did you notice if any of the old residents, who were displaced during the demolitions, still visit there or even, still live locally ?

Thanks for your help.

Best regards, Ernie.

 

[Astoness]

i did indeed ernie...still quite a few of the old locals go in there and the barmaid used to live in gerrard st then moved into one of the new houses that were built...had quite a good chat with her..what i liked was all the old tiles that were still there in the bar and down the passageway....

lyn

 

[kecoggins]

i did indeed ernie...still quite a few of the old locals go in there and the barmaid used to live in gerrard st then moved into one of the new houses that were built...had quite a good chat with her..what i liked was all the old tiles that were still there in the bar and down the passageway....

lyn

Hi Lyn,

Many thanks for the message - If there are "old locals" still using the Gunmakers I must make time to visit to see if my old pal Jim Parkes is still alive and kicking or even, if anyone remembers him from the 1950s/60s.
Thanks too for the remionder about the tiling in the bar and the passageway - someone was thoughful to preserve them all this time.

All best regards, Ernie.

 

[Astoness]

hi ernie..i do hope you find time to pay a visit to the gunmakers as i would imagine it has not changed much... if i get to go in there myself in the near future i will ask about your jim parkes if you would like me to...

lyn

 

[kecoggins]

Dear Lyn,
Many thanks for your note - unfortunately I may not be able to get around to visiting the Gunmakers until the middle of the year - committments, diary appointments etc., and therefore, if you do go to the gunmakers before I can get there, please can you post any information you gather regarding Jim Parkes on this Forum Thread.
All very best regards, Ernie.

 

[Astoness]

hi ernie...i shall definately be going before you then and i will gather any info i can and let you know...

lyn

 

[Astonian]

hi guys
Yes its good old tradional pub and most of it is in tact
the front windows are not the orinional ones thou
they was a patterern glass with engraving
and they have changed the whole lot of them to plain but put lead light look to them
and the only reason i think that was some-one smashed the first window with the etching on
which is left of the door and the conclusion i see is that it was to expensive to find and replace with a copy
to match the excisting three or there was more broken windows done after the first one was done
that first window was done in 1970
i used to go there and i lived around the corner in berner st next to the pub
and how do i know .? I know the person whom done it , and there was a man thrown through it
best wishes Astonian ;;;

 

[kecoggins]

Thanks very much Lyn - I look forward to hearing from you in due course.

All best regards, Ernie.

 

[kecoggins]

hi ernie...i shall definately be going before you then and i will gather any info i can and let you know...

lyn

Many thanks Lyn, I look forward to hearing from you in due course.

All very best regards, Ernie.

 

[mossg]

I came across this picture showing The bar of The Gunmakers,Gerrard Street.
It came from a book called BIRMINGHAM PUBS 1880-1939.Moss

 

[Astoness]

moss i was reading that same book last night and was going to post the same pic...saves me doing it now...

nice that the gunmakers is still going strong and still has a lot of original fixtures and fittings..

lyn

 

[DaveG]

I was born and raised on Wilton St about 100 yds down the hill from the 'Guns', a favorite watering hole for my father. Occassionally he send me or one of my brothers up the road with a Tizer bottle under our arms to the Outdoor to get a refill. I remember the manager Mr Lownes giving us a dubious look as he filled the bottle and then sticl a little paper seal across the stopper. On the way back home we would lift the seal, careful not to rip it, take a swig and reseal the stopper. We had to be very careful not to breathe in Dad's direction when we got home since we were only 12 or 13 at the time.

 

[Astoness]

hi dave...thanks for your memories..dont know if you have seen this pic of wilton st it was taken just prior to demolision...


lyn

 

[Astoness]

this pub will shortly be closing its doors....i have been informed that it is to bought by birmingham city university and used as part school and part student accomodation..one by one we are losing our pubs..:upset:

lyn

 

[Astoness]

hi folks for those interested in this pub these will most likely be the last inside shots seen of it....this is another pub i grew up seeing for most of my life...it has now been sold to developers and will close its doors in the next few weeks...very sad to see yet another one go...taken today

lyn

out side shots first..not sure what you would call the pointy thing at the top but it has over the years gradually been leaning more and more out onto the road as you can see from my side on shots..

 

[Astoness]

inside...

 

[Astoness]

few more...lighting not that good in the passage even with flash on..

 

[Astoness]

last ones...

 

[Ivor]

Sooooo sad, thanks for the heads up Astoness and the Photos.

 

[Astoness]

this has only recently happened pic taken today...gunmakers boarded up and closed...cant see it ever opening up as a pub again

lyn

 

[Astonian]

Hi Lynn
yes it as to be a said day and an end to anera, it was only a matter of time
to be honest it lated longer than i thought; as you know i only lived along the road from on berner street
corner the next pub down from it and i lived four doors from that
i like your self seen how the old gerrard street and infact the whole are area was demolished
and rebuily and knowing and seing the new estates being built even then i thought it was time
yes it was a great little pub for the community and locals , and then way back loking at the houses yes its a gonna
but amazing it becomes a chequered listing pub as time march on and you know what i mean by that
Lyn thanks for the pics and information in telling us of it closure
todays inner city pubs are closing rapidly daily by the dozens they are not comunetity gathering of familys nomore
they are breeding grounds for criminals activitys best wishes Alan,, Astonian,,,,,,

 

[Barr_Beacon]

Wasn't there a coach company based near the pub called Bowen's in the 70's? During the long hot summer of 1976 I worked in the area and seem to remember stories of the coach drivers pulling up their coaches as near as they could to the doorway in the corner of the pub so they could step off and surprise the barmaid by ordering a pint.

 

[Pedrocut]

The Gunmakers Arms in Gerrard Street is a Grade II Listed Building, see...

Listed Buildings in Aston Ward.

The site below shows the Listed Buildings in the Aston Ward, each would have much history to be uncovered. https://britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/england/aston-ward-birmingham#.Xi10RS-ny-p

birminghamhistory.co.uk