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Castle Bromwich

  • Thread starter Thread starter Kandor
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The Coach & Horses looks a welcoming pub. Nice painted pub sign above the entrance. Viv.
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Thanks Gerald, bit before my time referance collecting hay from Hodge Hill Common, i have asked this before but do you remember a Wood Merchants on the land now occupied by Hodge Hill court ¿ over the road from The Hunters ¿, i must of only been 8 or 10 years old when these flats were built. Also there were Police flats just up from Chipperfield Road next door to the old Dr Chitins surgery, but can´t remember ever a police station being in the area, in those days the nearest Police Station would of been Erdington, Acocks Green
 
Good Afternoon Everyone
Hello Castalla
Your reference is to The Estate Saw Mill and I remember it well, you could ask for a piece of wood any size and they would cut it for you and charge pennies. They did build some Police Flats and the officers were stationed at Steelhouse Lane. How they got to work for six o'clock in the morning I never understood. The nearest Police Station was quite some distance away, we were all so well behaved we did not need one.
Do you remember going to the back of were they built the Hunters Moon and about a mile away was an Army Depot.
Guarded night and day by armed soldiers. We would wander over there some evenings and have a chat with the soldiers.
In 1956 the B.I. Fair was held on Castle Bromwich airfield. the railway station was decorated with a mass of bunting.
The show was amazing, huge displays of many things to promote Britain.
Did you learn to drive on the airfield, I did like so many others, nothing fancy just simple driving.
If you went to Bromford Bridge The River Rea fell over a waterfall, when it hit the bottom it was the River Tame.
Lots more to chat about when I stir the old brain up.
Best wishes
Gerald...Garden Gerald.
 
Good Afternoon Everyone.
Yes a lot of very notable VIPs did visit the fair. I did not go down that road because I did not want anyone to think I was showing off.
I was one of the selected young people to meet Khrushchev. He looked at me and grunted. It was a lesson in how not to behave.
Best wishes
Gerald...Garden Gerald.
 
Thanks for the information Gerald, sadly i was not born until 1957 and my family moved to Cstle Brom in december 57, so can only remember things from the middle 60´s so don´t remmeber Army Barracks, and remember my dad showing me the racecourse from the end of Chipperfied road, where we would go down to to pick Blackberrys, also remmeber the narrow road over the River going towards Dunlops where on the Bridge were cut outs you stood in to leave the traffic pass you by
 
Re the above posts about the nearest police station. I moved to Shard End in 1958 when I was 11 years old, and I can remember a police station on the Chester Rd just by the entrance to Kingshurst. As far as I know that would make it the nearest to Hodge Hill, much closer than Erdington or Acocks Green. I don't know if Castle Bromwich had a police station even a small one. I have attached 2 pics of the former police station Chester Rd, now private property.
police (Medium).jpg police 2 (Medium).jpg
 
terryb18 said:
Re the above posts about the nearest police station. I moved to Shard End in 1958 when I was 11 years old, and I can remember a police station on the Chester Rd just by the entrance to Kingshurst. As far as I know that would make it the nearest to Hodge Hill, much closer than Erdington or Acocks Green. I don't know if Castle Bromwich had a police station even a small one. I have attached 2 pics of the former police station Chester Rd, now private property.
View attachment 107362 View attachment 107363
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Hi Terry,
The police station you refer to would have been in Warwickshire In any case, where you were housed as a police officer had no bearing on where you worked. If a house became available and you were in need or next in line you got it irrespective of where you worked.
Old Boy
 
Old Boy said:
Hi Terry,
The police station you refer to would have been in Warwickshire In any case, where you were housed as a police officer had no bearing on where you worked. If a house became available and you were in need or next in line you got it irrespective of where you worked.
Old Boy
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Wasn't Birmingham in Warwickshire at the time, and when they built Chelmsley Wood it was classed as Warwickshire, I know because I bought a house on there and that was the address. Wasn't Castle Bromwich also in Warwickshire? before everything became the West Midlands. Castle Bromwich comes under Solihull now I believe.
 
Good Evening Everyone
Hello Castalla
I had forgotten about the Step Aside Bridge. Another really good example is in Water Orton.
Castle Bromwich was Warwickshire part of the Meriden Rural District set up. It got split up and some was moved to Birmingham. The Post Office gave Castle Bromwich, Water Orton and Coleshill Birmingham Post Codes. The next move saw Water Orton, Coleshill, Minworth and Curdworth go to North Warwickshire and administered from Atherstone. It got so confused nobody really knew who was responsible for what. Chelmsley Wood was Warwickshire but is now with Castle Bromwich part of Solihull.
The Police Station at Kingshurst was Warwickshire. Castle Bromwich years ago did have a one man police station.
The policemen who lived in the flats in Castle Bromwich chose to live there. Many had quite a bit of service in. They were not forced to live there. Just wondered how they got to work when they were on earlies.
Best wishes
Gerald Garden Gerald.
 
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Afternoon Everyone
The speculators are out and about in Castle Bromwich and Water Orton looking at gardens where they might get planning permission without your knowledge to build houses. Gardens are now classed as brown field land and can be built on. A firm have looked in Water Orton at knocking down a house and building a number of houses in other peoples garden. This has gone on since the 1970s when they tried for permission to demolish my house.
Keep your eyes open.
Best wishes,
Gerald.
 
I lived opposite the Police station on Washwood Heath road which was next to Ernie Lucas builders merchants now Shinka Builders.
I also lived in Overgreen Drive and the Police station in Kingshurst was just past Overgreen drive on Chester Road, a large detached building next to the houses that have railings in front of them , I believe it became became a hostel for youngsters.
 
I lived opposite the Police station on Washwood Heath road which was next to Ernie Lucas builders merchants now Shinka Builders.
I also lived in Overgreen Drive and the Police station in Kingshurst was just past Overgreen drive on Chester Road, a large detached building next to the houses that have railings in front of them , I believe it became became a hostel for youngsters.

Don't forget that in those days there was Birmingham City police force and Warwickshire police force.
Kingshurst at that time was not in Birmingham, we even had to go to Warwick to tax the car.
Our member Old Boy and my Dad(RIP) were both in Birmingham force.
 
Hello Everyone
Alberta, coming up Washwood Heath Road from Saltley on the left was a smallish bomb site that had a horse drawn bakers van parked on it. Is it still there or did it fall to bits. I often thought I would have liked to own that piece of history. Where the iron railings close to your house. Living in Castle Bromwich I was often up and down past your house.
Moving onto Kingshurst I remember the Police Station. One morning in the sixties i was driving towards Bacon End behind a large lorry that suddenly jack knifed right across the road. To avoid hitting it I pulled to the left but instantly realised the road was a sheet of ice. I hit the bank went up in the air, cleared the hedge and the car came down on its roof and took off again and then came down on its wheels. I got out of the car and thought well I'm still alive. People had gathered round and someone walked with me into the Police Station. The officer asked if I was alright and I said yes. He said I will get an ambulance because you are bleeding nicely from the back of your head. I went to East Birmingham Hospital where they cleaned me up and sent me home. That night on the front page of the Birmingham Mail was a report that I was in a critical state with severe head injuries. The first I knew was when my Mom arrived at the house on her way to hospital. Never believe all you read in the papers.
Take care and best wishes...Gerald
Garden Gerald
 
Hi Gerald
I can recall seeing Mr Khrushchev when he came over in the early fifties
He travelled up from Salford bridge in a huge parade and a army of body guards
In a motor cascade traveling to the council house I presume for lunch
I do not know whom was in office or mayor that year
We was just coming out of our house to go back to school after lunch
When we was going back to school after lunch
And people was shouting his name out a d kids was booing him we was all little kids at that time
A lot of the an sells workers was standing and clapping him but there wasdisgrunted adults as well
Standing there best wishes Alan,,,, Astonian,,''
 
It's also where I lived/Grew up/Terrorised.
I remember the Castle, I remember getting money of Dad to buy some Prawn Cocktail crisps, i remember seeing things like airfix kits and it had a musty kind of smell.
 
mikejee said:
Forty years or so ago I picked up this picture somewhere. Forgotten when & why now, but just found it again. Its Labelled "The Smithy", and on the back it says " The Smithy. Chl Brom", which i take to mean Castle Bromwich. apparently it was exhibited at the first Exhibition of the Hall green Photogrphic society in 1934 and Midland counties Photo Exhibition 1934, and is by H.R.Dovey, 79 High St Erdington. It seems to be printed bysome artistic printing process which gives a textured finish that is not glossy, but reflects, which makes it difficult to copy.
Does anyone know where the smithy was? It doesn't seem to be marked on the OS maps.

TheSmithyCastleBromwich1934photoA.jpg
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Hi Mike. Have you still got this picture of the smithy at Castle Brom. It's not showing up here. Thanks. Bill
 
my uncle had his wedding rec there, in the 50s, some one stood up and said lets have a toast!.i thought he ment the burnt bread toast, I never heard that sayng before. dah.
i remember the smithy too on the green.smithy.png
 

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This postcard is labelled “PO” - presumably Post Office. You can just see a sign with “Office” visible to the left. Photo possibly about 1920s.

FDBFD199-9467-44B0-AFDD-D50A6F4B6B5E.jpeg

And another of the Gables. Viv.

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Regarding Police Stations, my recollection is that there was a police house/station on the side of Castle Bromwich village green in the 1940s manned by PC Colloby (Copper Colloby to us kids). I remember going there to report my stolen bike when I was 11. The station was probably terminated when Kingshurst Police Station (I lived opposite) was built in the 1950s.
 
Vivienne14 said:
Another of the Bradford Arms. A time gone by - cyclists stop off for a drink amongst the chickens. Looks early 1900s. Viv.View attachment 149710
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This was my father's local (1940s -60s) where he met his friends every night. On our way back from Birmingham one day, my father got off the bus outside the Bradford and when I asked the reason why, my mother said he was going to his church. When we next passed the Bradford, I embarrassed her my announcing in a loud voice to all the passengers "Look mummy, there's daddy's church". Another story is when my father and his friend were late on Home Guard parade having spent too long in the Bradford. When the Sargeant asked why they were late, they replied that they were delayed by two men. "What are their names" he asked. "Mitchell & Butler" they replied.
 
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The first map all the buildings beyond the Coach & Horses appear on is 1916-1924 (not there 1904) and by 1937 the Coach & Horses has gone, replaced by a bigger building.
 
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