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Passages, Alleyways Gulletts and Snickets of Old Brum

Dennis
Can't find Orwell passage referred to on a map. In 1890 it can be seen that it was Court 17. by the digbeth spring and mineral water works. didn't know till now exactly where that was.
Mike

map_c_1889_court_17_2C_otherwise_Orwell_passage.jpg
 
Dennis
The Paternoster Row name actually seems to appear around 1876. It is not listed previously in directories, even in the lists of small terraces etc at the beginning of the directories. The only listed occupant then is Cund Bros.lithographers & printers, which will be the Moor St printing works which is shown in hte 1890 map as running down the south side of the Row. Just a thought. The London Paternoster Row was apparently known as a centre for the publishing, stationers and bookselling trades (https://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=45042 ). Could the presence of a large printing works be the reason for naming the birmingham one the same?
Mike
 
Dennis we did a thread on Paternoster Row earlier in the year back in the late 50s the barrow boys used this route from the railway arches to the Bull Ring. Dek
 
To add to my last comment on Paternoster Row and publishing, stationary connections. The Row came out between 31 and 35 Moor St. the following were nearby;
Court 6 (between 20 & 21) Osborn Wm. lithographic printer
( No number but around 32 ) White & Pike, printers & account hook makers
White & Pike's Railway Guide, White & Pike, publisher
35 & 36 Evans & Adlard, paper makers
39 Shipway Geo.& John Henry, printers

Also.For some reason i put Orme St instead of Orwell passage in post 156. getting a bit befuddled. Have corrected it
Mike
 
Yes Dek, sorry I should have known it had been trawled before, but there is still nothing to beat Mike's theory of a link to the Printing Trade methinks to explain the name? Some clever clogs will do it though, I have no doubt - there are some astonishing researchers on this Site.

Interesting Mike. Great map. The Artesian well marked would fit in with the original map I got from another site showing the fault line that fed the wells around Digbeth and presumably the nearby de Bermingham Moat and the River Rea. I know that the area of High Street from the Bull Ring to the Police Station (Allison St) was first called Cock or Well Street (see map). And of course in Well Street was Assinder’s famous Tripe House, from which of course Aston Villa developed their perennial football style. Not many people know that…

Sorry if I've deviated a little from Thread topic.
 
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Assinder’s famous Tripe House, from which of course Aston Villa developed their perennial football style. Not many people know that…

Dennis i am so impressed with your vast knowledge i am learning so much off you whoever i must question the above statement to my knowledge for the last 120 years all the tripe has been played at St Andrews.Dek
 
And just to add a little more to the Castle Street file, already mentioned by Dek, Moss and Aidan in posts 49, 50, and 51 plus Phil's picture in post 61 shows it when it may have been a continuation of Shut Lane. There is a horse and cart in the shot, and sign for Wines on the right. I looked in the Census for any Pub or Inn of note and found this reference to The Golden Elephant in the 1901 Census. I doubt that any decent Elephant of whatever colour could fit down that narrow Street in practice, but what do I know?

In olden days, evidently it was also in this vicinity that the first theatre was built in Castle Yard, were you could watch a performance for 3 pennies. Birminghams first theatre was the Moor Street Theatre which opened in 1740 but was not evidently very fit for purpose, and it moved into a disused building in a back yard between Moor Street and Park Street shortly after in 1747. It closed in 1763. Interestingly, but surely not connected, the News Theatre was built in High Street somewhere near there much later.View attachment 80824


Castle Street Golden Elephant Pub.jpg Golden Elephant Castle Street 1901.jpg Castle Street map 1889 .jpg Castle Street M&S 1904.jpg Moor St Theatre Castle st Bill.jpg
 
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Another two candidates, already discussed on another Thread, St Peters Place and St Martins Place (Broad Street). Some pictures and a map. The 'St Peters' Thread is well worth a visit I think. Can't do links yet...sorry.


St Peters place 1a.jpgs PLace Broad St 1938.jpgs RC Church Map, 1825.jpgSt Martins Row Broad St.jpg
 
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In trhe late 50`s there was a passage way connecting Stratford Road ,Sparkhill to Showell Green Lane and we used to call that " the Gullett",donty know if its still there
 
Ed,

This would be what is left of it today, wouldn't it?

Phil

showell green lane.JPG
 
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Thanks for the photo Phil, i see the sweet shop has disappeared next to that was the record shop,Greens?,happy days then ,used to leave for school from Newton Road down Stratford Road then go up the Gullett along Showell Green Lane to the park and through the park to St Johns...ah well
 
Frothblower said:
Burlington Passage 1960
Click to expand...


In addition to Frothy's cracking picture in Post 90, here are a couple more, plus the back end in Stephenson Place today. I remember it was a special 'calling place' in the Midland Hotel Bar on Christmas Eve lunchtime when we finished work. Then into Town to buy Christmas prezzies for the Missus and kids with a few 'on board'. Marvellous memories.View attachment 81055



Burlington Passage 1959.jpg Burlington Passage 1953.jpg Burlington Passage 1960.jpg Burlington Passage 2009.jpg
 
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Another little alley that looked a hive of industry. I can't tell you much more about it than it ran from Spring Hill to Stour St .I also think there was a school nearby, and the alley was called Spring Hill Passage.

Phil

Spring Hill Passage .jpg
 
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My wife was born in Ashley Passage in 1951 and lived there for 8 years before in was demolished about 1960, i believe it was formally called a gullet.
Would like more info on Ashley Passage and photo's if possible. Have one photo of wife and her sister standing in Ashley Passage
Ashley passage was close to Corporation Street, Stafford Street , Silver Street.
 
Just to finish off Colonnade Passage, it ran down the side of the Colonnade Hotel, which was at the junction of New Street and Ethel Street. The Hotel was obviously far too gothic and beautiful for the City PLanners so they knocked it down and built something really ugly instead.



Colonnade Passage 2 .jpg
 
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bowler said:
My wife was born in Ashley Passage in 1951 and lived there for 8 years before in was demolished about 1960, i believe it was formally called a gullet.
Would like more info on Ashley Passage and photo's if possible. Have one photo of wife and her sister standing in Ashley Passage
Ashley passage was close to Corporation Street, Stafford Street , Silver Street.
Click to expand...

There is a great Thread with pictures and Maps here bowler https://forum.birminghamhistory.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3245&highlight=Ashley+Passage
plus a few good pictures earlier on this Thread. Welcome aboard. Hope you enjoy the ride. Please publish your photo, would love to see such a rare shot! I trust they are not the ladies in the front of Lyn's spooky photo in Post 35???
 
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And today's puzzler is Beak Street. No, I've never heard of it either. Its only claim to fame seems to be that it contains the back entrance to the old Skin Hospital in John Bright Street. Here are some before and after photos and a map. The very evocative one from 1951 shows its junction with Suffolk Place. You can se on the right the premises of Associated British Pathe, advertising rental of films made at both Elstree and Welwyn Studios, and the Central Motors Garage. The shop on the corner G.B Kalee were cinema furnishers. You can see the Chrstadelphian Hall opposite in Suffolk Street quite nicely. The car is a Standard Vanguard if anyone asks.


Beak Street 1951.jpgSuffolk PLace Modern.jpgBeak St 1808 Marked .jpgSuffolk St Map 1903 BEAK ST.jpg
 
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One more for luck. A favourite shot of Phillips Street, by the side of the Market Hall. You can also just make out the entrance to Swan Passage further up on the same side.


Bull Ring Phillips Street 1958.jpg
 
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Hi Dennis, I had an ancestor who lived in Beak St, I believe it was right by Greens Village. see pic.

Terry
 
Yes, I do believe you are right Terry. Greens Village, the Inkleys and other tough old area of poverty were demolished to make way for John Bright Street in 1881. Carl Chinn states Greens Village was a mainly peopled by Irish immigrants from Shannon and Roscommon. As he says so rightly, reputations for violence and thuggery are often imposed upon areas of great poverty without any real just cause. I'll try and find an old map of the area circa that date and post later. Cheers.
 
Hi Terry. Found a map of sorts dated 1808, but nothing showing The Greens Village. Perhaps Mikejee will oblige, he has a map for every occasion. I've marked Beak Street, which comes off Cross St which is now Lower Severn Street. You can see the infamous New and Old Inkleys nearby. I've also marked Summer Street, a short distance away where all my old rellies lived mid 1800s.

Beak St 1808 Marked .jpg
 
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