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HI folks the server that hosts the site completely died including the Hdd's and backups.
Luckily i create an offsite backup once a week! this has now been restored so we have lost a few days posts.
im still fixing things at the moment so bear with me and im still working on all images 90% are fine the others im working on now
we are now using a backup solution
Apparently her grandfather met her grandmother as she lived their to. Her own father lived their upto two years ago. She was quite sad when he moved because she knew someone from her direct line had always lived on the road since it was built. Although her auntie still lives on the road now.
Hi Len
Sounds right, my mother lives in Salcombe Avenue, and I think it
was built early 30's.
Kind regards
Dave
brummie nick
master brummie
Hi Len, I have lived in Parkdale Rd since 1963, a house a few doors down from us has only recently demolished one of those shelters.
Nick
lencops
gone but not forgotten
The friend i mentioned was also a workmate at BSA Tools, Kitts Green circa 1956?, and kept poultry, and 1 Christmas i went to collect my roaster & he showed me the still he had set up in his air raid shelter to make vodka, he gave me a glass "swallow it straight down!" says he, it landed in my stomach like a ball of fire!!!, he was born in Poland, a real nice bloke. Len.
J
Jack's Grandson
Guest
I grew up at number 47 Cranes Park, moving there in 1972 to live with my grandmother and leaving in 1984 to join the London Metropolitan Police Force.
lencops
gone but not forgotten
Bail hostel ban on Sheldon hotel scheme. From Len.
Oct 24 2009 by Neil Elkes, Birmingham Mail CITY planners have told the architects of a controversial hotel scheme they cannot operate it as a bail hostel, refugee centre, care home or student dorm.
Birmingham’s planning committee was responding to fears that a proposed hotel at the busy Radleys junction in Sheldon would not be a commercial stopover point for airport users.
Residents groups in the area believed that the basic design, tiny rooms, lack of parking spaces and lack of kitchen and other amenities suggested some use other than a stopover for weary travellers and air crew.
The four storey building plan, which includes a Tesco Express or similar convenience store, was given planning permission under strict conditions.
Terry O’Toole, of the Sheldon Residents’ Association, said: “The design is in no way suggestive of a commercial hotel, it is more like a hostel.
“There is insufficient parking and the rooms are so small for passengers with luggage.
“The four storey flat roof is out of character in an area which is predominantly three-storey buildings with pitched roofs.”
He added that the busy Radleys shopping area already has three supermarkets and does not need a fourth. A spokesman for developer Bywater Homes insisted there is a need for more hotels to serve the airport and it would be aimed at staff and air crew.
“We are in advanced negotiations with Days Inn and Tesco for the hotel and convenience store,” he said.
He added that the next phase of development would see the company demolish the derelict Radleys pub opposite and expand the hotel with more rooms, a restaurant and laundry.
The committee was supportive of the development but insisted on conditions to ensure its use as a hotel. There were also concerns about the design.
Coun Jim Whoorwood (Lib Dem, Acocks Green) said: “If it is to be a hotel it needs to be far more attractive.
Oct 24 2009 by Neil Elkes, Birmingham Mail CITY planners have told the architects of a controversial hotel scheme they cannot operate it as a bail hostel, refugee centre, care home or student dorm.
Birmingham’s planning committee was responding to fears that a proposed hotel at the busy Radleys junction in Sheldon would not be a commercial stopover point for airport users.
Residents groups in the area believed that the basic design, tiny rooms, lack of parking spaces and lack of kitchen and other amenities suggested some use other than a stopover for weary travellers and air crew.
The four storey building plan, which includes a Tesco Express or similar convenience store, was given planning permission under strict conditions.
Terry O’Toole, of the Sheldon Residents’ Association, said: “The design is in no way suggestive of a commercial hotel, it is more like a hostel.
“There is insufficient parking and the rooms are so small for passengers with luggage.
“The four storey flat roof is out of character in an area which is predominantly three-storey buildings with pitched roofs.”
He added that the busy Radleys shopping area already has three supermarkets and does not need a fourth. A spokesman for developer Bywater Homes insisted there is a need for more hotels to serve the airport and it would be aimed at staff and air crew.
“We are in advanced negotiations with Days Inn and Tesco for the hotel and convenience store,” he said.
He added that the next phase of development would see the company demolish the derelict Radleys pub opposite and expand the hotel with more rooms, a restaurant and laundry.
The committee was supportive of the development but insisted on conditions to ensure its use as a hotel. There were also concerns about the design.
Coun Jim Whoorwood (Lib Dem, Acocks Green) said: “If it is to be a hotel it needs to be far more attractive.
The for sale sign has only recently gone up has it not? I noticed it only the other day for the first time when I headed for the bus stop.
I can't see a hotel even for air crew extra working at all and like said in the article is their really a need for another mini supermarket at the Radleys.
There a plenty of other better uses for the land.
I can't see a hotel even for air crew extra working at all and like said in the article is their really a need for another mini supermarket at the Radleys.
There a plenty of other better uses for the land.
stars
master brummie
the photo would have been taken from the shops opposite side where there was a toy shop called Nurseryland. where as a child i used go in there and ask for the sixpence draw. The man would pull out one of the drawers to which i could choose a toy. I remember the man who run the shop had a large brown chow dog, who used to take the man for a walk. and just down from there was Taylor and Wane( a sweet shop and post office. ) then a hardware shop and then Wrensons. I also remember as a kid there was a farmer who came on a tractor and trailor from Chelmsley Wood up the Radleys and pick up woman and there kids and take them potato picking on Chelmsley before it was built on. Stars
I was brought up at 227 Cranes Park Road and went to Mapledene School.My grandparents on my dad's side lived round the corner in Whitecroft Road.I can remember the row of shops at the end of Cranes Park Road.The number 60 Corporation bus used to terminate there.My parents moved in 1958.
Attached are two photos of the Coronation street party of 1953,held in front of the shops.
Attached are two photos of the Coronation street party of 1953,held in front of the shops.
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Dennis Williams
Gone but not forgotten
Quick question - I live in an Edwardian House in Church Road, YARDLEY built circa 1891. In the deeds the land to build was bought by a Charles Harvey (Tube Mfctr) who lived in KITE HOUSE Sheldon, situated where the brilliant Coopers butchers are now I think, over the Rd from what was the Good Companians. Another bowling green gone forever... Any one know anything about this house? The original land was owned by the Barrows family.
lencops
gone but not forgotten
Jean, Artists impression (go to #140 & #146 this thread) of the proposed Hotel to be built on the site of the Neighbourhood Office which has been demolished & The Radley Arms pub site when that is knocked down on the Sheldon Heath Rd/The Radleys corner. Len.
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I have just joined the Forum and some of the topics have stirred up lots of long-hidden memories of my childhood in Sheldon. Someone a while back mentioned Victor Skipp who, back in the 60's, did a great deal of work on the history of Sheldon. He was my history teacher at Sheldon Heath and had the inspired insight to use local history as a kind of conduit to the bigger historical picture. He brought history alive by showing us the history around us. One vivid memory I have is helping him (along with other pupils in his class) to undertake an excavation of the moated site that used to be at the Hayes just off Blakenhale Road. It was historically known as Kents Moat though there had not been a building on it in living memory. The excavation showed that it had been a fourteenth century manor house which had burnt down in the fifteenth century and never rebuilt. We were able to date the building from all sorts of interesting finds that we made during the course of the excavation, including charred roof tiles, and shards of pottery. I often used to conjecture that the origin of the name Blakenhale Road could have had something to Blaken Hale .... a blackened hall which no doubt would no doubt have slowly crumbled away following the fire That suggestion could be completely off the mark but it seemed to fit. We traced the manorial boundary (or pale) - the Manor incidentally was called East Hall - through the fields that in my day bordered the Pool Way shops. And we also traced the ancient shire boundary (Worcestershire/Warwickshire ) that was clearly delineated through these same fields. Broadstone Road was almost certainly named after a large stone that marked the County line. Strange to think that in days gone by Yardley was actually in the County of Worcestershire, while Sheldon was in Warwickshire! I could tell you lots more about those early local history explorations with Victor Skipp if anyone was interested. Incidentally for those who knew him Victor Skipp is now in his 80's and lives quietly in an old picturesque Norfolk rectory. He was an outstanding teacher. Ray
Many thanks for your welcoming words.
Perhaps I had better explain straightaway that I lived in Sheldon from 1948 to 1965. I have been back only once since then and I was shocked by the dramatic changes that had taken place .....some for the good but not all I am afraid. This is of course very subjective. What one person sees as progressive another may see as destructive. Having said all of that I really only know Sheldon as it was, in the 50's and 60's - Having read all of the entries on this thread some of the comments are a mystery to me because they post-date my knowledge of Sheldon. I am still finding them of great interest, nonetheless, because Sheldon whatever its form will always run in my veins because it is the place that moulded my character in those early days of my youth.
In my previous contribution I mentioned Victor Skipp and his excavation of Kents Moat. Another commendable thing he did was to bring together a group of people to study the history and evolution of Sheldon. It was a sort of evening class comprising I suppose about twenty people and we were given permission by the Rector at the time to examine, transcribe and interpret all of the documents in the Parish Chest of St Giles Church. This took place in the late 50's and early 60's and culminated in the production of a book entitled Discovering Sheldon. I would imagine it has now become a rare publication and in fact I have even seen it for sale at a specialist bookshop for 65 or 70 pounds. I recall that the task that Victor Skipp allocated to me was to examine what were called the Perambulation Records. There was an ancient ceremony which took place annually in Sheldon (and no doubt in many other parishes) called Perambulating the Parish Boundaries or "Beating the Bounds" Because there were few or no maps in olden times and because it was essential to know exactly where the parish boundaries ran, all of the small children of the parish were taken around the boundaries in a ceremonial fashion and given a good thrashing at important landmarks on the boundary so that they would remember for the rest of their lives. (It must have been tough on the poor kids but I suppose it served its purpose!)These annual perambulations around the boundaries were dutifully recorded in parchment books by the Parish Clerk and stored in the Parish Chest in the vestry..As a student fascinated by history it was of great interest to me. And I was certainly very proud to make a contribution to Victor Skipp's publication "Discovering Sheldon" In fact, Victor Skipp went on to do a similar (and more extensive) exercise with similar publications dealing with the History of Yardley and of Bickenhill.. He really did a magnificent job preserving the history of these midland parishes as they gradually lost their identities amid growing urbanisation. At the same time he became a national authority on local history in midland parishes.
I hope to goodness I have not bored you! And I am sorry, Beamish, I can't help you much with Rectory Park Road.
Ray
Perhaps I had better explain straightaway that I lived in Sheldon from 1948 to 1965. I have been back only once since then and I was shocked by the dramatic changes that had taken place .....some for the good but not all I am afraid. This is of course very subjective. What one person sees as progressive another may see as destructive. Having said all of that I really only know Sheldon as it was, in the 50's and 60's - Having read all of the entries on this thread some of the comments are a mystery to me because they post-date my knowledge of Sheldon. I am still finding them of great interest, nonetheless, because Sheldon whatever its form will always run in my veins because it is the place that moulded my character in those early days of my youth.
In my previous contribution I mentioned Victor Skipp and his excavation of Kents Moat. Another commendable thing he did was to bring together a group of people to study the history and evolution of Sheldon. It was a sort of evening class comprising I suppose about twenty people and we were given permission by the Rector at the time to examine, transcribe and interpret all of the documents in the Parish Chest of St Giles Church. This took place in the late 50's and early 60's and culminated in the production of a book entitled Discovering Sheldon. I would imagine it has now become a rare publication and in fact I have even seen it for sale at a specialist bookshop for 65 or 70 pounds. I recall that the task that Victor Skipp allocated to me was to examine what were called the Perambulation Records. There was an ancient ceremony which took place annually in Sheldon (and no doubt in many other parishes) called Perambulating the Parish Boundaries or "Beating the Bounds" Because there were few or no maps in olden times and because it was essential to know exactly where the parish boundaries ran, all of the small children of the parish were taken around the boundaries in a ceremonial fashion and given a good thrashing at important landmarks on the boundary so that they would remember for the rest of their lives. (It must have been tough on the poor kids but I suppose it served its purpose!)These annual perambulations around the boundaries were dutifully recorded in parchment books by the Parish Clerk and stored in the Parish Chest in the vestry..As a student fascinated by history it was of great interest to me. And I was certainly very proud to make a contribution to Victor Skipp's publication "Discovering Sheldon" In fact, Victor Skipp went on to do a similar (and more extensive) exercise with similar publications dealing with the History of Yardley and of Bickenhill.. He really did a magnificent job preserving the history of these midland parishes as they gradually lost their identities amid growing urbanisation. At the same time he became a national authority on local history in midland parishes.
I hope to goodness I have not bored you! And I am sorry, Beamish, I can't help you much with Rectory Park Road.
Ray
Dennis Williams
Gone but not forgotten
Thanks Ray, a lovely dissertation. You may like to know that Victor's 'Discovering Sheldon' book is free to view on the 6th Floor of the Birmingham Library in the Local History Section anytime. Was browsing through it only last week. Fascinating stuff. There was also an anecdotal, local research type book next to it that seemed to be interviews and reminiscences by various Sheldon elders, which was even more illuminating if you like people, places and tales from yesteryear. I don't think it was ever formally published, but well worth a look, especially if you have galloping Sheldonitis.
Dennis
Dennis
Hi Ray,
Interesting to hear of the poor kids being beaten, - where
I was born in Suffolk there was also an annual beating the
bounds ceremony, but the only thing that got beaten was
the ground around the edge of the village!
I always understood that it was something to do with
keeping out evil spirits.
Kind regards
Dave
Interesting to hear of the poor kids being beaten, - where
I was born in Suffolk there was also an annual beating the
bounds ceremony, but the only thing that got beaten was
the ground around the edge of the village!
I always understood that it was something to do with
keeping out evil spirits.
Kind regards
Dave
Interesting, Dave. I have just had a quick look at the Wikipaedia entry for "Beating the Bounds":
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beating_the_bounds
Evidently in some parishes the boundary stones were beaten, and in others, the poor kids, themselves, got a beating. But I don't think it was anything to do with evil spirits.
Good to hear from you.
Ray
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beating_the_bounds
Evidently in some parishes the boundary stones were beaten, and in others, the poor kids, themselves, got a beating. But I don't think it was anything to do with evil spirits.
Good to hear from you.
Ray
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Do any of you people who spent their childhood in Sheldon in the 50's remember a place that we, as kids, called The Diamond Dump? It was a a vacant site where if you scratched around in the soil you would find lots of colourful glass beads. Goodness knows where they came from. My recollection is that it was somewhere off Garrett's Green Road.
Ray
Ray
I have some very vivid memories of playing in Chelmsley Woods when I was a boy in the fifties. What a beautiful place it was especially when the bluebells and primroses were in profusion. A gang of us kids would walk from our homes in the Garretts Green area - across the cornfields on Garretts Green Lane, past the farm near Mackadown Lane,under the railway bridge, on past the old Toffee factory near Tile Cross, past the Bell Inn, and Hatchford Brook and on to the Woods themselves. What a variety of fun confronted us. I remember one particular occasion when we ventured further into the Woods than we normally did and were confronted with what seemed to be an impenetrable swamp. The only way to cross the swamp was to leap from grassy tussock to tussock. If you missed your footing you sank into the bog up to your knees. This seemed to go on for hours. When we finally conquered the swamp we came to a wide river. Thinking back it must have been the Cole. On the banks of the river a local farmer was allowing his sow to forage about freely for food along with six piglets. We chased the piglets for hours, delighting in the way they scampered through the bracken but always returning to the haven of their mother. Happy days indeed!
I wonder if others have fond childhood memories of playing in Chelmsley Woods?
Ray
I wonder if others have fond childhood memories of playing in Chelmsley Woods?
Ray
lencops
gone but not forgotten
cathray, The sweet factory was Moseleys taken over by Walkers who are now in Hay Mills just down from the old Adelphi cinema going towards the City, their factory is of the highest standard available, a lot different to Marston Green which was infested by squirrels. Len.
stars
master brummie
Hi Ray
I remember your route well. We use a similar one. Coming down the radleys to the end, crossing the road by the sweet factory and up the hill towards Marston green. When we arived up by the station, we turned left where just down the road in marston green there was the pub on the left, on just a bit further where the road went into a fork, there was a public garden with a bench at the end. I remember being there as a kid, we had been out all day and was very hungry and sat on the bench and directly behind was a little apple tree, I don't know what kind they were, but they were red all the way through. We only know this because we could not stand the hunger no longer and picked one each and would turn our backs to face the tree and take a bite and turn back again, hoping no one would see us. With our bellies full it was off to the train station and up on the footbridge and waited for a steam train to come and blow all over us. Then it was off home by another route. Over the train lines and turn right down the lane with the golf course on our right. on we went through King george Playing fields with the big umberella tree on our left untill we reached the towpath where we turned right up the hill to Elmstead ave follow that to the Radleys and home safe and ready for another days adventure. Perhaps tomorrow we would buy some caylie and make some pop and jam butties and off to the bluebell woods for a pickpick or perhaps i would go with my mom potatoe picking at Chelmsley Wood.
Happy Days hey Stars
I remember your route well. We use a similar one. Coming down the radleys to the end, crossing the road by the sweet factory and up the hill towards Marston green. When we arived up by the station, we turned left where just down the road in marston green there was the pub on the left, on just a bit further where the road went into a fork, there was a public garden with a bench at the end. I remember being there as a kid, we had been out all day and was very hungry and sat on the bench and directly behind was a little apple tree, I don't know what kind they were, but they were red all the way through. We only know this because we could not stand the hunger no longer and picked one each and would turn our backs to face the tree and take a bite and turn back again, hoping no one would see us. With our bellies full it was off to the train station and up on the footbridge and waited for a steam train to come and blow all over us. Then it was off home by another route. Over the train lines and turn right down the lane with the golf course on our right. on we went through King george Playing fields with the big umberella tree on our left untill we reached the towpath where we turned right up the hill to Elmstead ave follow that to the Radleys and home safe and ready for another days adventure. Perhaps tomorrow we would buy some caylie and make some pop and jam butties and off to the bluebell woods for a pickpick or perhaps i would go with my mom potatoe picking at Chelmsley Wood.
Happy Days hey Stars
I remember Chelmsley wood and Bluebell wood very well. when I was a youngster we lived in Tile Cross and I used to spend many happy hours exploring Bluebell wood , another favourite place was Babs Mill , when I was about 5 we moved to Kingshurst but we could still go and explore bluebell wood via babs mill , we used to cut through the farm leading onto Cooks Lane and walk the short distance to "Bluebell Lane" as us kids called it .. happy times..
