Spring Hill

[Vivienne14]

Looking towards Spring Hill from Summer Hill Road, the only constant seems to be the Library. So through time we have ....

Early 1900s/1910 ? (sorry, no specific date). A very busy junction and cabman's shelter in the middle of the road. Maybe a cinema (?) opposite the Library on Summer Hill Road. The hoardings to the right suggest building work perhaps.



In 1951


In 1973


And to present day. Widened roads and a large traffic island.

 

[Astoness]

always loved that first photo viv...the building on the opposite corner to the library is the palace theatre..pretty sure it was still there when i used to go to the rollar rink

lyn

 

[Vivienne14]

The Palace Theatre/Cinema had an interesting history Lyn. Viv.

https://cinematreasures.org/theaters/34730

 

[Vivienne14]

This'll look very familiar then Lyn taken in 1967. Viv.

 

[Astoness]

oh yes viv very familar and of course all the houses and shops along icknield st were still there...just found out that the rollar rink was built on a quarry..never stop learning do we

lyn

 

[Phil]

Lyn

Most everything around that area was built on a Quarry, that's why it's called "the Sandpits" I would assume.

 

[Astoness]

yes phil i knew that but found it interesting to find out that my rollar rink was built on a quarry...i want to try and get an older map to find out just how much quarry was around the area

lyn

 

[Phil]

Lyn

I don't think the quarry appeared until c1910 (ish) as prior to that where the rink was it was the grounds of King Edward VI Grammar School for girls. The school itself disappeared before WW2.

 

[Astoness]

thanks phil

lyn

 

[mikejee]

Lyn
It seems to have been quite a small quarry and fairly recent,As shown from the map below, around the 1920s it was a quarry, but c1890 it was part of the grounds of the King Edward Grammar School.

 

[Astoness]

yes thanks for the maps mike..phil said there was a grammar school there before the quarry would love to find a photo of that...

lyn

 

[Pedrocut]

I notice that on the 1885 surveyed OS Map Summer Hill Road changes into Summer Hill Terrace before reaching the Parade, or is Summer Hill Terrace a separate entity? This seems to be the area that is referred to as Sand Pits and the middle of the road is tree-lined.

 

[Phil]

Pedrocut

Summer Hill terrace was and is separate to the Parade inasmuch as it is on different levels. In this photo the terrace being where the car is parked.

 

[Vivienne14]

Wondered what the 'box' was along that terrace. It's visible on Streetview. Viv.

 

[Radiorails]

On the Dudley Road bus routes a bus stop was always referred to as Sand Pits in the early 1950's though I guess the pits had long gone.

 

[Vivienne14]

Lyn

I don't think the quarry appeared until c1910 (ish) as prior to that where the rink was it was the grounds of King Edward VI Grammar School for girls. The school itself disappeared before WW2.

I have the quarry marked on a 1914 map (possibly the earlier version of Mike's 1920s map). So it was definitely there in 1914. Viv.

 

[Pedrocut]

The Box, but what is it?

 

[Astoness]

very lucky to have been given permission to post these photos of spring hill....if posting elsewhere please credit carl chinn/and or the birmingham history forum....i think most of these will be new ones

lyn

 

[Astoness]

and more...please credit carl chinn/and or the birmingham history forum

 

[Radiorails]

very lucky to have been given permission to post these photos of spring hill....if posting elsewhere please credit carl chinn/and or the birmingham history forum....i think most of these will be new ones

lyn

In the post a photo of Dudley Road No. 46 appears. On the upper part of the Turf Accountants premises the large poster mentions rents and a Rent Officer. Does such a position exist today?
I thought that the photos may have been taken on a Sunday as the traffic is not that heavy and moreover there are no buses in sight. The B80 - B87 routes all ran there, both BCT and Midland Red, so it seems odd not to see them. Maybe it was evening? Nostalgic photos anyway but not one of the Faggots and peas shop!

 

[Radiorails]

and more...please credit carl chinn/and or the birmingham history forum

More great photos and I did spot a bus - well the roof of one anyway. A Midland Red in the photo showing Savoy Motors.

 

[oneofsixteen]

Pedrocut

Summer Hill terrace was and is separate to the Parade inasmuch as it is on different levels. In this photo the terrace being where the car is parked.

View attachment 118009

Oh my word I spent a larg part of my childhood playing/hiding round there, wow thanks for the memory.

 

[Sarah M]

I think this is 134 Spring Hill circa. 1915-1920's. It has two numbers above the door 57 and the painted 34 which I think is 134 going on trade directories and census - possible evidence of renumbering? It was a Watchmaker's shop run by my great, great grandad Louis McCourt (1856-1931).He grew up in Wolverhampton where he married his wife Elenora Kirner (1868-1932). They had four children: Cyril (1894-1958), Hilda (1897-1981), Mary (1899-1969) and my grandad, John (1901-1953).

 

[Williamstreeter]

Lyn I've just gone all through C Chinn/BHF pics of Spring Hill looking for a specific shop . It was in the second batch the shop was Browns boot repairs . When my Mom and I as a very young boy used to go to Spring Hill we would automatically call in to Browns whether for a boot repair, bag repair, or just a chin wag . As soon as Frank Brown saw my mom he just burst out in song "I'll Take You Home again Kathleen" I hated it when he sang that, thinking my Mom was going to be snatched from me . Apart from that Mom and Mrs Brown would have a chat and I was fascinated looking at Frank on the boot repair machine smoothing the newly nailed on soles or heels . Heart wrenching but educational at the same time , Thanks BHF C Chinn .

 

[Astoness]

ahh bless john...are you saying there was a photo on here of browns and you cant find it? if so can you direct me to the thread it was on

lyn

 

[Williamstreeter]

ahh bless john...are you saying there was a photo on here of browns and you cant find it? if so can you direct me to the thread it was on

lyn

I did find it Lyn and the strains of I'll Take You Home Again Kathleen came into my head . Thanks again Lyn

 

[Astoness]

great john glad you found it...

lyn

 

[cranky]

and more...please credit carl chinn/and or the birmingham history forum

Hi Astoness. Do you know if any more photos in this series exist? I am particularly interested in the premises along Spring Hill from the Monument Road junction from number 1. Many thanks.

 

[Astoness]

hi cranky no sorry that is all i have but maybe other members may have some that they can post...do you have the name of the premises you are looking for ie was it a shop or just a house

lyn

 

[cranky]

hi cranky no sorry that is all i have but maybe other members may have some that they can post...do you have the name of the premises you are looking for ie was it a shop or just a house

lyn

Hi Lyn. Thanks for looking and responding. The premises were neither a shop or house but probably some sort of administrative or religious premises. It was in the region of numbers 1 to 20 just down from Monument Road near to the record shop. I am going back to the 50’s here. From memory I think there were metal gates and I had it in my mind that it was a synagogue or other Jewish premises, but I can find nothing at all about such a building. If anyone could throw some light on this I would be very grateful.
Frank