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Erdington

Wendy said:
Chester Road Erdington 1906 from a post card.



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I wonder where it actually is, from 1941 to 1947 I walked from Court Lane to Green Lane's school every day, there was a bus the S73, but it did not run to suit me. The last time I visited, I drove the route........nowadays that walk is probably considered too tiring for the little dears!!!
 
Hi Onceabrummie,

Sorry - only just spotted your response about the Knights at the Pavillion (436). I will tell my friend. And no, I didn't sneak in - I'd like to say that it was because I was law-abiding but actually I didn't know that was happening!
I see you walked from Court Lane to Green Lanes school so do you remember the wooden bridge over the railway at the top of Sheffield Road (actually in Sutton, but only just)? An old school friend of mine lived in Goosemoor Lane and made the same trip. I only remember the present bridge. I lived in Court Lane 1947-1963, by the park.
 
Lady Penelope said:
Hi Onceabrummie,

Sorry - only just spotted your response about the Knights at the Pavillion (436). I will tell my friend. And no, I didn't sneak in - I'd like to say that it was because I was law-abiding but actually I didn't know that was happening!
I see you walked from Court Lane to Green Lanes school so do you remember the wooden bridge over the railway at the top of Sheffield Road (actually in Sutton, but only just)? An old school friend of mine lived in Goosemoor Lane and made the same trip. I only remember the present bridge. I lived in Court Lane 1947-1963, by the park.
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Lady Penelope
Good afternoon to you, recently on a return visit to the city I still consider to be home, I took my wife to see the way that I used to go to schools, left at the Baptist Chuch, cross over, past Highbury Little Theatre and then SHOCK HORROR!!, it is now a brick bridge, no longer could small boys do what during the war years small boys did especially if there was a train passing underneath. To quote the song, ah yes, I remember it well. I lived up the top end in the prewar (1939) built houses just before the cemetery. I was born over the other side of the road which was Sutton, but moved across in 1939 into one of Grosvenor Estates modern three bed semis. 1947 went to BVGS. Sunday mornings used to go down to the park to watch the football. My father in law a Cornishman born and bred who moved to Plymouth from the county could never get over Birmingham with all its trees and parks. He anticipated dark satanic mills, but got used to the tree lined A38. I have an old picture of Goosemoor Lane which I will try to put on as I need some location identification. Do you remember the big house on the corner of Court Lane and Goosemoor Lane where Hastilows who owned Tudor Rose Coaches used to live?
 
Sorry Onceabrummie, I don't remember the house you mention although I should do because we used to go to the doctors who lived just before the spinney. Also we used to catch the 5a or 7 into Birmingham. Look forward to seeing the picture of Goosemoor Lane (or Goosegog Lane as we used to call it!) There was a very large house a little further down towards your house but I don't know if it's still there. Must go and look. I remember the tennis courts just before the doctor's house too.
 
Onceabrummie said:
Lady Penelope
Good afternoon to you, recently on a return visit to the city I still consider to be home, I took my wife to see the way that I used to go to schools, left at the Baptist Chuch, cross over, past Highbury Little Theatre and then SHOCK HORROR!!, it is now a brick bridge, no longer could small boys do what during the war years small boys did especially if there was a train passing underneath. To quote the song, ah yes, I remember it well. I lived up the top end in the prewar (1939) built houses just before the cemetery. I was born over the other side of the road which was Sutton, but moved across in 1939 into one of Grosvenor Estates modern three bed semis. 1947 went to BVGS. Sunday mornings used to go down to the park to watch the football. My father in law a Cornishman born and bred who moved to Plymouth from the county could never get over Birmingham with all its trees and parks. He anticipated dark satanic mills, but got used to the tree lined A38. I have an old picture of Goosemoor Lane which I will try to put on as I need some location identification. Do you remember the big house on the corner of Court Lane and Goosemoor Lane where Hastilows who owned Tudor Rose Coaches used to live?
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Hi Onceabrummie.
I share your sentiments once a Brummie always a brummie, I moved away 10years ago to North Devon love Devon but still think a lot about what Birmingham gave me.
The house you were talking about was Hastilows The Removals people, I believe it was themother of Hastilows who sold the house and it was pulled down I think it was in the 1960's, in its place the Built a number of houses and called it Witton Cote.
Haven't been that way for over 20 years.
The girl I married lived just up the road in Abbeyfield Road
Regards Ray
 
Ray Griffiths said:
Hi Onceabrummie.
I share your sentiments once a Brummie always a brummie, I moved away 10years ago to North Devon love Devon but still think a lot about what Birmingham gave me.
The house you were talking about was Hastilows The Removals people, I believe it was themother of Hastilows who sold the house and it was pulled down I think it was in the 1960's, in its place the Built a number of houses and called it Witton Cote.
Haven't been that way for over 20 years.
The girl I married lived just up the road in Abbeyfield Road
Regards Ray
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I now live in North Devon, moved to Plymouth first of all and then came up here. Hastilows had removals and the coaches. The daughter used to go to the posh private school in Sutton (blue uniforms I think) but I cannot remember the name. Back to Brum again this weekend as one side of my family lived in the back to backs, Grosvenor Street and Ickneild Port Road, hoping to have a look at them this Saturday. I was delighted to see on my last visit that the Greyhound is still open in Court Lane. Although the shop by the side of it is still there, how many remember 'Davis's ' little shop at the end of the terrace of houses just beyond the pub and Aston Unity Cricket Club...spent many an afternoon down there
Onceabrummie
 
Onceabrummie said:
I now live in North Devon, moved to Plymouth first of all and then came up here. Hastilows had removals and the coaches. The daughter used to go to the posh private school in Sutton (blue uniforms I think) but I cannot remember the name. Back to Brum again this weekend as one side of my family lived in the back to backs, Grosvenor Street and Ickneild Port Road, hoping to have a look at them this Saturday. I was delighted to see on my last visit that the Greyhound is still open in Court Lane. Although the shop by the side of it is still there, how many remember 'Davis's ' little shop at the end of the terrace of houses just beyond the pub and Aston Unity Cricket Club...spent many an afternoon down there
Onceabrummie
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Hi Oncebrummie

What part of North Devon we live Yelland
 
Key Hill Brian said:
The shot is taken in Silver Birch Road, looking towards Orphanage Rd. Turn left for Chester road (with Josiah's head on the island - still with his father Xmas hat on!), turn right for Erdington.

Brian
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A view of Silver Birch Road, Erdington looking towards Josiah Mason's Orphanage - the orphanage towers in view. Nice to see evidence of how the road got its name; a row of silver birch trees visible on the right. There are still some silver birches along the road today. Viv.

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Lovely photos Viv, when I was a kid 'posh people' lived in Silverbirch road. Road.
I don't think there was ever any bomb damage in the High street.
The places that suffered were around Goosemoor Lane, Jarvis Road and Court Lane.
 
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We regularly have a page in the Parish Magazine entitled 'Churchyard Tales' and September's issue features bombing in Goosemoor Lane. I've enclosed a copy and wonder if anyone can explain how the 3 men died together. I noticed that Alberta mentioned Jarvis Road and although this wasn't cut until the 60's there was a steam laundry nearby (where Cookes is now) maybe the were working there or on the allotments. I've got an idea that Enstone Road was also bombed but not sure which end.
Just tried to upload a scan of the document without success so will try copying and pasting below.

CHURCHYARD TALES

The Churchyard has been in the history of this Parish for over 150 years, and has become the final resting place to generations.

Here is one of its stories......

GEORGE JAMES HARRIS BERT HARRIS ALFRED JOHN GOODWIN

Died by Enemy Action – April 10th 1941

On 9th and 10th April 1941 Birmingham was subjected to two heavy raids by the Nazi German Luftwaffe.

In the first of these raids on 9th April 235 bombers dropped 280 tonnes of explosives and 40,000 incendiaries, concentrating on Birmingham City Centre, inflicting heavy damage on the areas of Birmingham Bull Ring, High Street and Dale End, and the surrounding areas of Small Heath, Aston and Nechells. St Martins in the Bull Ring was damaged and The Prince of Wales Theatre and Midland Arcade destroyed.

The Air Raid on 10th April 1941 began at 10:08pm and particularly targeted Fort Dunlop and Castle Bromwich (site of Castle Bromwich Aerodrome where most of Britain’s Spitfire fleet were built). During this second night 245 bombers dropped 245 tonnes of explosives and 43,000 incendiaries, causing major damage, widespread across Smethwick, Winson Green, Handsworth, Gravelly Hill, Castle Bromwich, Sheldon, Birmingham Airport, Solihull Lodge.

As a result of the two raids there were 1,121 casualties, some fatal.

George, Bert and Alfred were all related and lived close together on Goosemoor Lane Erdington. It is likely they worked together (due to their varying ages) maybe as some of the thousands involved in War Work. However records show they died at Goosemoor Lane, likely as the result of the bombing and where it is recorded there were other fatalities that night.

George (born: 1879 – died aged 62) father of Bert and husband to Lillian lived at 52 Goosemoor Lane

Bert, (born: 1916 – died aged 25) son of George and Lillian lived with his wife Laura at 85 Goosemoor Lane

and

Alfred (born: 1907 – died aged 34) son in law to George and Lillian, lived with his wife Beatrice at 66 Goosemoor Lane.

George, Bert and Alfred are buried at the rear of the Churchyard in the central area.

Peter Knight
 
Thanks for reminding me oldMohawk, I had looked at the site before (very informative) but hadn't read the bit about the bombing as I was looking for something else at the time. It definitely looks as though they were all in their own homes at the time but I wonder where the rest of their families were?
 
Hi all, I'm new here and I did this search for Erdington to find this.
I was born in Gravelly Lane in 1959 and we moved to Tamworth in about 1962 then to Margate in 1968, (boo hoo), I haven't had the chance to go back to visit. My memories are a bit vague but I do remember 'The Village' a bit, we always called it 'The Village', but not well.
I'm going on my Mom's memories now, i really want to sit and talk to her and record her memories before they're lost forever. My Great Aunt worked as a jeweller for some years and after that at SU Carburetors. My Nan worked at 'The Fort' and also sang in some of the pubs around the area and also at the Hippodrome in Birmingham, light Opera and stuff like that. My Great Grandmother ran a pub in Lozells.
I've already got lots of snippets of info like this but I'm interested in my Brummie heritage.
You can take the boy out of Brum but you can't take the Brum out of the boy.
Although I lost my Brummie accent my Mom says it'll come back if I go back to Brum for a while. I'm proud to be a Working class Brummie.
Enough woffling.
I was born, as I said, in Gravelly Lane at number 306 and was sort of friends with 'The girl next door' even though I only saw her two or three times a month, it'd be nice to hear from her again.
I will probably be on again to ask questions and offer my snippets.
 
hello spyke and please keep on woffling..that is what the forum is for...our memories and finding out about our family history is very important to most of us..:)

lyn
 
Doidge Road - the buildings still very recognisable. Pity the picket fences have gone. Viv.

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Lady Penelope said:
Sorry Onceabrummie, I don't remember the house you mention although I should do because we used to go to the doctors who lived just before the spinney. Also we used to catch the 5a or 7 into Birmingham. Look forward to seeing the picture of Goosemoor Lane (or Goosegog Lane as we used to call it!) There was a very large house a little further down towards your house but I don't know if it's still there. Must go and look. I remember the tennis courts just before the doctor's house too.
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Lady Penelope, At long last, I have found the picture it is not very good quality I am afraid, but the name is Chipman, Chimney Sweep and Drain Cleaner, on the back it says Goosemoor Lane. When I lived in Court Lane, the Chipmans had the field that is now covered in houses, opposite the college and bordering Chester Road and lived on the right hand side going up in some old houses which we all knew as the barracks. These were not the terrace immediately after the 1930s houses, but as you rounded the slight bend opposite the entrance to the College, went off down a small track. The field that lay beyond their houses they kept Donkeys, which at certain times of the year brayed all day and all night, in which I believe they used to run in Sutton park as Donkey rides, alongside the fairground. So where in Goosemoor Lane (yes that's right Goosegog Lane) was this house?
 

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Thanks Bob, I can't say I remember the name Chipman but I do remember the donkeys. Were there any ponies or am I getting confused with Bleak Hill Road? I presume this would be where Fosse Way Drive estate used to be and which now houses the Oscott retirement village. We would pass there on a Sunday evening on the way from our pre-fab to the pub on the opposite corner. Vimto and crisps.
 
Lady Penelope said:
Thanks Bob, I can't say I remember the name Chipman but I do remember the donkeys. Were there any ponies or am I getting confused with Bleak Hill Road? I presume this would be where Fosse Way Drive estate used to be and which now houses the Oscott retirement village. We would pass there on a Sunday evening on the way from our pre-fab to the pub on the opposite corner. Vimto and crisps.
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I have just looked at the map to refresh my memory, presumably you lived in the prefabs by Short Heath Park and the pub was the New Oscott. Is that New Oscott Village that you are referring to? I see that Green Lanes School is now Wylde Green Primary School, a much more Sutton Coldfield image I have been back a couple of times and tried to recreate the bus and tram journeys of my youth, my wife is usually at the NEC quilting or craft shows, but one or two of the routes I can't seem to trace. Is there still a bus down Court Lane/Goosemoor Lane to Six Ways. Used to be the S67/S76, always very old single deckers. I was surprised to see the 65 turning at the spinney on one trip, but could not seem to get to Erdington. Grandmother lived in Queens Road off Slade Road and if I walked, it would be via Jerrys Lane and Streetly Road.
 
Yes Bob, I lived in the pre-fab next to the park gate opposite Jerry's Lane. My Mom's mom lived near Witton Lakes and Dad's mom lived at Salford Bridge so, like you, the new extension of the 65 route would've suited me down to the ground. We used to walk to Witton Lakes for one and catch the 65 (earlier 78 tram) from the terminus to Salford Bridge.

The Court Lane buses you mention are long gone. I used to catch one to get to school in Kingsbury Road. That's if it wasn't full by the time it got to us. Otherwise it was walking again up to Six Ways then the No. 11. (Why is it always the 5a or the 28 etc but always the Number 11!) The 66 goes from Birmingham, via Nechells and Six Ways up Gravelly Lane as far as Jarvis Road then turns right into Court Lane and left, I think at Jerry's Lane. Not quite sure what happens to it then but it doesn't go the length of Court Lane like the other two did.
 
Lady Penelope said:
Yes Bob, I lived in the pre-fab next to the park gate opposite Jerry's Lane. My Mom's mom lived near Witton Lakes and Dad's mom lived at Salford Bridge so, like you, the new extension of the 65 route would've suited me down to the ground. We used to walk to Witton Lakes for one and catch the 65 (earlier 78 tram) from the terminus to Salford Bridge.

The Court Lane buses you mention are long gone. I used to catch one to get to school in Kingsbury Road. That's if it wasn't full by the time it got to us. Otherwise it was walking again up to Six Ways then the No. 11. (Why is it always the 5a or the 28 etc but always the Number 11!) The 66 goes from Birmingham, via Nechells and Six Ways up Gravelly Lane as far as Jarvis Road then turns right into Court Lane and left, I think at Jerry's Lane. Not quite sure what happens to it then but it doesn't go the length of Court Lane like the other two did.
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Many thanks, used to go down to the park on a Sunday morning in the hope of getting a game of football with one of the teams that may have been a man short. The team that always stood out were Erdington Liberals who seemed to win nearly every match. Yes you are right it was the 5 or 28 or 7 or if you had changed in town the 3 or 9 and even with the midland red the 107 or the 113, but always ' and catch a Number 11 and also a number 8', but for the City Circle - the 19....anybody know why?
 
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We nearly lost the Lad in the Lane!

I first sited this picture of the Green Man under the Thread, Birmingham Mail 1939, but as it involved something of a story concerning Erdington, which I did not know about, I have continued on this Thread.

It seems that Ansells Brewery Ltd had been granted the provisional order that the licence of the Green Man could be transfered to a new site on the Kingsbury Road. (Constructed on land at the southerly corner of the junction of Kingsbury Road and Bromford Lane). "It is the first step in the removal of one of the most ancient landmarks in the Midlands...the oldest public house in Birmingham, and is stated as the third oldest in the county, dating from the 14th C...many of the original features have been left intact, and huge cross timbers that intersect the ceilings of the smoke rooms and bar remain untouched. They are so solid that, during recent repairs, one of them took about two and a half hours to drill....Many people will regret the passing of the Lad in the Lane..."

Later we find...City Hostelry closing after 631 years....the Birmingham Gazette learns that the building has been reprieved from the death sentence. It is understood that it may become part of a nearby public institution.

I have not as yet found out how the move was stopped, but good news that it was!
 
Vivienne14 said:
I like this view of High Street, a glimpse of the Victorian shops near Orphanage Road end. Sadly most have gone. But straight ahead is one recognisable building on the Green. My mum loved to go shopping in Erdington; she'd throw us in the pram and she'd walk there from Kingstanding. And no wonder she made that effort. Up until the 1960s it must have retained its village character whilst offering a good choice of shops. Viv.

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Your mum must have been extremely fit, Kingstanding to Erdington seems an awfully long way, we have walked as small children, no pram - the walk will do you good -from the top end of Court Lane to the 'village' and that was some walk, but Kingstanding -wow 2 miles? I suppose we thought nothing of it then, now I have a youngster working for me who uses his car to drive between two different work sites - 300yds or whatever the metric equivalent is. Here is another question for one of you with better memories than me...was a house bombed in Goosemore Lane one night, I have some vague memory of it and an unusual smell and my mother telling the neighbours of it on the way home as we stopped every few minutes can someone clarify please

Bob
 
I think people did do far more walking then. People today seem to think that a walk down to the chemist is a long way now.


My mom would walk with me in the pushchair into the Village (Erdington) from Turfpitts Lane, Perry Common and bring back really heavy paper carrier bags of shopping.
 
Onceabrummie said:
Your mum must have been extremely fit, Kingstanding to Erdington seems an awfully long way, we have walked as small children, no pram - the walk will do you good -from the top end of Court Lane to the 'village' and that was some walk, but Kingstanding -wow 2 miles? I suppose we thought nothing of it then, now I have a youngster working for me who uses his car to drive between two different work sites - 300yds or whatever the metric equivalent is. Here is another question for one of you with better memories than me...was a house bombed in Goosemore Lane one night, I have some vague memory of it and an unusual smell and my mother telling the neighbours of it on the way home as we stopped every few minutes can someone clarify please

Bob
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As a child I used to walk once a week from Beeches Estate to my Grans in Perry Common and just checked on Google maps that it is 2.5 miles ... I didn't know that back then !!

There is a picture of me doing that journey in my pedal car towing my sister in a trailer shown in a forum post here ...

Regarding WW2 bombing Goosemoore Lane have look at links below
https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/erdington.3193/page-24#post-573478
https://www.goosemoor-lane.com/history.htm
 
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https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-37606627

Did anyone else read this article on the BBC website?
It says that Erdington is 'one of Britain's poorest places' which did surprise me. I haven't been there for a number of years, having lived in London since 1997 but I would have never classed the area as such in past years.
What's the general opinion nowadays?
 
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