• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

New Street City Centre Birmingham

Just a thought.....it maybe that the theatre being a well patronized place would need good lighting at the entrance for safety reasons, plus it would be more inviting. Older types of gas lamps need a serviceable mantle, which was serviced by the lamplighter,
 
Radiorails said:
Just a thought.....it maybe that the theatre being a well patronized place would need good lighting at the entrance for safety reasons, plus it would be more inviting. Older types of gas lamps need a serviceable mantle, which was serviced by the lamplighter,
Click to expand...
Very good point!
 
mikejee said:
This is listed as a 1912 view of the first motor bus in birmingham. It is in New Street, outside H. J Nicoll, ladies & gentlemens merchant tailors at 39 New St. £9 Nes st is now Claires, and the columns in the photo can still be seen on streetview

View attachment 203545
maps.app.goo.gl

Street View of Corporation St · Google Maps

Birmingham
maps.app.goo.gl maps.app.goo.gl
Click to expand...
Wonderful photo and the “street view” right hand picture showing the columns, what magnificent architecture and at least 114 years old and still going strong!
 
Just being pedantic. The Midland Red, original official name Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Company Ltd. was founded in 1904 and other BET companies were operating bus services at that time whose bus services the Midland Red took over. The BET logo is displayed on the side of the bus which was used before they changed to displaying the MIDLAND name.
 
New St. 1817.jpg

Here is a sketch of New street in 1817 from the short-lived publication The Birmingham Inspector, which only lasted 8 months. The impressive building in the centre is the original Theatre Royal. To the right of it is Portugal House, This was originally the home of Joseph Green, a merchant, who was made bankrupt in 1799. It seems to have been a linen warehouse for a while, but by at least 1807 it was the establishment of Mrs Thomas , who, from 10.00am till 4.00 pm, took orders for her millinery and Mantuas (apparently an overgown or robe typically worn over stays, stomacher and either a co-ordinating or contrasting petticoat). According to Wikipedia at this time the article had somewhat fallen out of fashion, though possibly not in Birmingham. The building was put up for sale in 1810 ( perhaps the decline in mantuas had reached Birmingham). For some time it was occupied by Hickin & Dunsford, distillers & spirit merchants, but it may have been used as an auction site, as in 1822 there was a sale there of the belongings of Lucien Buonaparte, the younger brother of Napoleon. He had some disagreements with his brother, and spent about four years in England till 1814, living for a time in Ludlow.

aris birm gz.22.4.1822.jpg

In 1823 it became a wine merchants under S.A.Wheeler. The wine side was pushed at first, but later he seemed to concentrate more on distilling, presumably gin. The premises, both house and distillery were sold in 1830. Later the building became the New royal Hotel
 
mikejee said:
View attachment 209885

Here is a sketch of New street in 1817 from the short-lived publication The Birmingham Inspector, which only lasted 8 months. The impressive building in the centre is the original Theatre Royal. To the right of it is Portugal House, This was originally the home of Joseph Green, a merchant, who was made bankrupt in 1799. It seems to have been a linen warehouse for a while, but by at least 1807 it was the establishment of Mrs Thomas , who, from 10.00am till 4.00 pm, took orders for her millinery and Mantuas (apparently an overgown or robe typically worn over stays, stomacher and either a co-ordinating or contrasting petticoat). According to Wikipedia at this time the article had somewhat fallen out of fashion, though possibly not in Birmingham. The building was put up for sale in 1810 ( perhaps the decline in mantuas had reached Birmingham). For some time it was occupied by Hickin & Dunsford, distillers & spirit merchants, but it may have been used as an auction site, as in 1822 there was a sale there of the belongings of Lucien Buonaparte, the younger brother of Napoleon. He had some disagreements with his brother, and spent about four years in England till 1814, living for a time in Ludlow.

View attachment 209887

In 1823 it became a wine merchants under S.A.Wheeler. The wine side was pushed at first, but later he seemed to concentrate more on distilling, presumably gin. The premises, both house and distillery were sold in 1830. Later the building became the New royal Hotel
Click to expand...
Wonderful building!
 
A very interesting annotated sketch of the top end of New Street dated 1814 that shows the Panorama and Post Office .... and other buildings in that part of the street.
The sketch is from the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists collection, and is currently on display in the "Mapping the Archive" exhibition at their Brook Street gallery.
The notes at the bottom read (from the left):
- Judd Wagon Warehouse. Daily Wagon to London & Banbury
- Campbell Spar Ornament Warehouse and Museum
- Panorama
- Hunts' Pattern Card. Hay & Straw Warehouse
- Malcot Web Manufactory EDIT: T Walcot listed in 1818 Directory with Coach, Livery lace and Fringe manufactory, New Street
- Galmatz Garden
- Mail Coach Gateway
- Post Office. M Gallmatz house EDIT: Miss Gottwaltz listed in 1818 Directory as Postmistress, New Street
- Letter Office
- Mail Coach Gateway
- Dore Boot & Shoe Maker
- Sheldon Metal Warehouse
- Sheldon
- Temple St
- Miriam Anox?? V Sem Firsham??
- John Newbold Plumber & Painter

New Street (artwork) 1814.jpg
 
Last edited:
BrummieGeoff said:
A very interesting annotated sketch of the top end of New Street dated 1814 that shows the Panorama and Post Office .... and other buildings in that part of the street.
The sketch is from the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists collection, and is currently on display in the "Mapping the Archive" exhibition at their Brook Street gallery.

View attachment 211025
Click to expand...
It is very interesting, I have never seen anything quite like that!
 
Yes very interesting. This would have been a drawing of the odd numbers side (well at least today it is)
Screenshot_20251010_145148_Maps.jpg


Tracked down
Campbell - he was in the 'Fancy Trade'
Judd and Sons were carriers and wharfingers.
The Panorama was Parker's Panorama by 1818. This might be the address Campbell used for his advert response 'Museum, New Street' Screenshot_20251010_145857_Chrome.jpg
Screenshot_20251010_142359_Chrome.jpgScreenshot_20251010_144157_Chrome.jpg
Source: British Newspaper Archive
 
Vivienne14 said:
Yes very interesting. This would have been a drawing of the odd numbers side (well at least today it is)
View attachment 211031


Tracked down
Campbell - he was in the 'Fancy Trade'
Judd and Sons were carriers and wharfingers.
The Panorama was Parker's Panorama by 1818. This might be the address Campbell used for his advert response 'Museum, New Street' View attachment 211033
View attachment 211037View attachment 211035
Source: British Newspaper Archive
Click to expand...
I hope that street is still there, it is beautiful and shows how good Birmingham is! Classy!
 
There's a thread about the early post offices here too:

Vivienne14

Post in thread 'New Street Post Offices until 1873'

Thank you Richard that’s a great addition to this thread. I think the second and third buildings depicted in the drawing are new information which I don’t think has been mentioned before. It certainly helps to make sense of the reference to the New Street Office in the September 1877 newspaper article below. I couldn’t relate the description of the interior with Post Office #1 in the drawing.

EF4F04B3-9AF2-4FDB-B9E8-F87D1200FB0C.jpeg

It’s surprising (and slightly confusing) as to how many central Post Offices there have been. But the drawing provides the missing links. Viv.
  • Appreciate

As the postmistress in 1818 (4 years later) was Georgina Gottwalty, she may have been the same family, perhaps Georgina was the daughter of the 1814 Postmaster, M Gottwalz.

Gottwalty" is a surname that appears in various records, but the most likely connection is to the German surname "Gottwaltz" or "Gottwalo,"

Screenshot_20251010_183717_Samsung Internet.jpg
 
Last edited:
Been trying to get a better sense of how the section of the 1814 view (post #351) showing the Post Office on New Street compares today. I think this is how it compares. Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong. Thanks.

I think today, Grosvenor House occupies the site at #56 and #57, formerly the location of the old Post Office. The 1950s Grosvenor House is Grade II listed.

Screenshot_20251011_181456_Samsung Internet.jpg
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top