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OLD AND NEW PHOTOGRAPHS

back again and still in Gas Street, continuing with the 360 degree view and this time we are looking towards the James Brindley pub, spent many a lunchtime there - plenty of canal boats and the back of the ATV/ Central TV studios. , on the left we have the start / finish of the Hyatt Hotel.

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Next view, and completing the circle this is the view towards Broad Street, taken before the regeneration took place and all the buildings were refurbished. In this picture, windows are broken tiles are missing and a small step away from losing these buildings. The current view has so much historical context that it is used in filming .

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SteveBhx said:
Next we have rather a wide ranging title so hopefully you can work out what is where . Title says, Some old building standing in Ashford Street St. Stephen Street, Bracebridge Street Aston Brook Street and Elkington Street taken on the 23rd July 1995
Easy Start Ashford Street.
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This is George Henry Capewell Hughes' 'Hughes Wire Wheel' works, who lived in Wootton Hall, Wootton Wawen - see https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/threads/george-hughes-wheelmakers.540/

Why are all your photographs such high contrast? Surely the originals are not? It is some developing, scanning or photoshop fault? It rather destroys their usefulness.
 
Wolstan Dixie said:
This is George Henry Capewell Hughes' 'Hughes Wire Wheel' works, who lived in Wootton Hall, Wootton Wawen - see https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/threads/george-hughes-wheelmakers.540/

Why are all your photographs such high contrast? Surely the originals are not? It is some developing, scanning or photoshop fault? It rather destroys their usefulness.
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hi wolstan dixie...have you read post 1 which explains how the photos came about...i think we all agree that for whatever reason some are not the greatest quality but surely a tad better than nothing at all especially after steve is taking the time to take them off negatives for us

lyn
 
Still on Roll 13, this is very much of its time and place - this is the view of the Copthorne Hotel from the Library or the hole then was underneath the library before the filled it in, and on the right is part of the Grapevine, a lunchtime watering hole before that end of town went cosmopolitan.
Like the lamp posts, note that under the sloped glass roof on the left was a swimming pool !

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One for Donbogen, a close up of the Shakespeare, large arched windows on the ground floor, turret like windows on the corner and two floors above, row of shops down to the left and parking meters - what happened to them?. I remember there was a room in the basement of Baskerville house where the money from the meters was gathered and counted it was like a win on the slot machines hearing the money rattle through.
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Having walked underneath the Library we come to this view - if we do not turn around then nothing has changed much although a lot cleaner these days, this is Chamberlain Square to the rear of the Town Hall and the fountain, much loved for the ability to fill it with foam by students. We can just make out the Post Office building to the left of the Town Hall

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Next we have the Chamberlain memorial built to commemorate the great man. One of the advantages of all the changes at this end of town is the refurbishment of this memorial and the other ones around it. There are a few more high rise buildings in the background and you cannot say that the new surroundings are sympathetic to the street scene.

20230107195545_05.jpg
 
SteveBhx said:
One for Donbogen, a close up of the Shakespeare, large arched windows on the ground floor, turret like windows on the corner and two floors above, row of shops down to the left and parking meters - what happened to them?. I remember there was a room in the basement of Baskerville house where the money from the meters was gathered and counted it was like a win on the slot machines hearing the money rattle through.
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Great memories of happy times with Val 1982/83
Cheers Steve
 
Moving to the front of the Town Hall and this another of the then and now type pictures, the Town Hall looking rather grimy , with two lanes of traffic outside - pedestrian crossings everywhere - car was king back then , and a sixties office building background - compare that to today with the tram tracks, pedestrianisation and modern buildings.

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We now move to the right and an unsympathetic view of the Council House with the roads along the front and curling round, fences to keep the public from crossing over the road and a traffic light . We can also see the changes that have happened on the right, with the old Lloyds Bank, and the edge of the Nat West Tower.

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Finally last picture on this roll and we had simpler times, these are the very ornate stamp machines outside the Central Post Office standing on Victoria Square, it has many styles - urns , triangular roof - I know that style has a name !, Boxed gable roof - thanks Donbogen column legs and circular motive across the base - a simple machine where you put your coin in the slot lift the door and a book of stamps came out.

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SteveBhx said:
Finally last picture on this roll and we had simpler times, these are the very ornate stamp machines outside the Central Post Office standing on Victoria Square, it has many styles - urns , triangular roof - I know that style has a name !, column legs and circular motive across the base - a simple machine where you put your coin in the slot lift the door and a book of stamps came out.

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Boxed gable roof years since i done one
 
SteveBhx said:
Next view, and completing the circle this is the view towards Broad Street, taken before the regeneration took place and all the buildings were refurbished. In this picture, windows are broken tiles are missing and a small step away from losing these buildings. The current view has so much historical context that it is used in filming .

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Steve and in one of those little cottages lived a certain Mr Smith who pulled me out of the canal before I could swim whan a nipper , talk was I was going down for the third time where it apears there is no return Great pic all the same .
 
SteveBhx said:
Still on Roll 13, this is very much of its time and place - this is the view of the Copthorne Hotel from the Library or the hole then was underneath the library before the filled it in, and on the right is part of the Grapevine, a lunchtime watering hole before that end of town went cosmopolitan.
Like the lamp posts, note that under the sloped glass roof on the left was a swimming pool !

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I used that Grapevine a few times on a Saturday dinnertime as my mother lived in the flats across the road , I was supposed to be shopping in town
 
SteveBhx said:
One for Donbogen, a close up of the Shakespeare, large arched windows on the ground floor, turret like windows on the corner and two floors above, row of shops down to the left and parking meters - what happened to them?. I remember there was a room in the basement of Baskerville house where the money from the meters was gathered and counted it was like a win on the slot machines hearing the money rattle through.
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Ah the good old Shakespeare had many a pint in there Pat Brennan was licensee here before he went on to buy and renovate umpteen pubs .
 
SteveBhx said:
Next we have the Chamberlain memorial built to commemorate the great man. One of the advantages of all the changes at this end of town is the refurbishment of this memorial and the other ones around it. There are a few more high rise buildings in the background and you cannot say that the new surroundings are sympathetic to the street scene.

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I remember having a dip in there with mates as a nipper during the holidays when it was warm
 
SteveBhx said:
Finally last picture on this roll and we had simpler times, these are the very ornate stamp machines outside the Central Post Office standing on Victoria Square, it has many styles - urns , triangular roof - I know that style has a name !, column legs and circular motive across the base - a simple machine where you put your coin in the slot lift the door and a book of stamps came out.

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love the stamp machines steve...all gone now

lyn
 
SteveBhx said:
One for Donbogen, a close up of the Shakespeare, large arched windows on the ground floor, turret like windows on the corner and two floors above, row of shops down to the left and parking meters - what happened to them?. I remember there was a room in the basement of Baskerville house where the money from the meters was gathered and counted it was like a win on the slot machines hearing the money rattle through.
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Still there. I visited it a couple of years ago and it was not much changed since I used to go there when I was at college in the late 60s
 
SteveBhx said:
Next is the Bridge Inn Monument Road, and you can just make out the cast iron urinal with lamp over it very useful on dark evening I imagine. Taken 2nd March 1961 to the left of the people is that a " Bus clock" I would try and name it but there are too many experts !!

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I have seen a much better quality copy of this photo. The old chap on the bench has only one leg, probably lost the other in the Great War. Note the Bundy Clock behind him.
 
SteveBhx said:
Some old shops standing in Aston Street by the Fire Station the year is again 1933 Not if you look at the vehicles - thanks Lyn, just re checked and it says 1969, apologies and thanks again

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I may have gotten my wires crossed but in the 1960's in Bristol there was a brake lining manufacturer 'Trist Draper & Co' who made TOP DOG brake linings. Look at the name of the shop here.
 
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