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Great Hampton Street

J

Jules65

master brummie
I have memories as a child either driving down Gt. Hampton Street or possibly being on a bus, straining to see the Pelican on the top of a building there. Does anyone know what this building was used for? Is it still in existence?
 
HI JULES ,
Thats A Very Good Question ,And I Would Certainly Would Like One Of Our
Experts To Answer That Question , It Looked Like An Intresting Building ,At This Of The Generation Its Only An Asian Ware house But Judging It By Previous Years
It Would Have Been A Large Office Complex I Know That InTime Gone Bye THE Building Next To It Was A Rain coat Manufactor Very Well Known One As Well
And If My Memory Serves Me Right Harold Wilson The Prime Minister Used ToWear One Of There Branded Rain Coats For Decades , And Yes I Used To Stare Up At This Pelican On The Building And Often What Type Of Building Used Be In Its Hey Day
So I Hope One Of Our ExpertsCan Give Us An Answer ,
Have A Nice Day ,Best Wishes ASTONIAN,;;
 
I worked in Gt Hampton St for just a month when I left school at a garage business Herbert Pollitt. Pollitt owned a farm somewhere outside Brum and one of the jobs I had to do every evening was to walk down the road to the Pelican Cafe to collect the bin of waste food for his pigs. Can't help with the original question though. E.
 
A modern picture of the building is at https://www.imagesofengland.org.uk/Details/Default.aspx?id=217155&mode=quick

The attached notes are from the English Heritage book on the jewellery quarter. The Fig 245 referred to is the same picture as that on the site above.

Mike


Pelican_works_2.jpg


Pelican_works_1.jpg
 
Thank you all for your responses. Doesn't the building look grand in the up to date photo. Its still got me wondering though why it has a Pelican on the top of it!
 
that pelican scared the life out of me every time i had to walk past there, someone told me it came to life and swooped on people walking past, yes i believed them and used to run as fast as i could past but looking at it the whole time.
 
the pelican is still there and i think it was swallow raincoats that was in gt hampton street. my aunt used to work for them. wales.
 
hi eric i also worked at H.Pollitts and well remember the pig swill bins he used to have a 1930ish Railton car it had a bonnet about 6ft long lined with rivets it looked just like the high German Command type cars you see in the old wartime movies .He used to roar up the long drive into the garage and jump out look around to see if everyone was working
i didnt stay long i was halfway through painting the underside of a tipper lorry with a bitumastic type paint it took me days for it to wear off my hands i think it was 1950/1
33bus
tom
 
sylviasayers said:
Lyn thanks for mentioning Swallow Raincoats, I was racking my brain trying to remember it.
Click to expand...

I have just seen a photograph of this building on Keith Berry's website. One of the comments mentions a company called Pelican Rainware. Is this the reason for there being a Pelican on the top of the building?
 
33bus said:
hi eric i also worked at H.Pollitts and well remember the pig swill bins he used to have a 1930ish Railton car it had a bonnet about 6ft long lined with rivets it looked just like the high German Command type cars you see in the old wartime movies .He used to roar up the long drive into the garage and jump out look around to see if everyone was working
i didnt stay long i was halfway through painting the underside of a tipper lorry with a bitumastic type paint it took me days for it to wear off my hands i think it was 1950/1
33bus
tom
Click to expand...
He had two of those Railtons when I was there Tom, one was smashed up where he'd supposedly crashed into a concrete anti tank bollard on a trip to France. While I was there my first job of the day was to clean out the office with a dustpan and brush then ride around town on the Gundle errand bike fetching spares for the workshop. I was there in March 1950 but only stayed a month, I was offered a better job nearer home. E.
 
I used to work at The Gourock Rope Company Gt Hampton St. I can remember it was almost opposite a big furniture shop.Later Iworked at Bakelite, t is was in the building next to the GPO telephone exchange. ( the old one) I worked overlooking the road and listened formonths to the pile drivers going in for the new exchange being built across the road. This would have been about 1959 or 1960 ish.
 
My grandparents lived across the road behind "Loo Blooms" gents tailors, during the '30's, '40's and '50's. Have you seen the photo on the BHF site for Great Hampton Row? It has a good photo of the Gourock Rope Works. willey
 
yes viv..most of the buildings you see are still there...my first job was in vyse street and it never ceases to amaze me just how little interest i took back then..mind you when we are young we just didnt notice..i was always too busy rushing home to have me dinner then jump the no 8 bus to the roller rink..

lyn
 
Well that's good news. Yes we missed a lot didn't we? Not only did I usually spend most of that journey in a haze, more often than not it was too difficult to see through the dripping condensation and dense smoke on the top deck of the bus! Viv.
 
Vivienne14 said:
Well that's good news. Yes we missed a lot didn't we? Not only did I usually spend most of that journey in a haze, more often than not it was too difficult to see through the dripping condensation and dense smoke on the top deck of the bus! Viv.
Click to expand...


oh happy days ehh viv..
 
Now I'd be truly amazed if you told me that it's still a pub Lyn

Guilbert - an excellent record of many of the buildings. Let's hope the area gets some attention before it's too late. Viv.
 
had a look at your pics guilbert and i agree there are still some nice old buildings in the area..all they need is a bit of TLC..

lyn
 
We went to see our musical hero Brookes Williams at The Lord Clifden a couple of weeks ago, as part of the Birmingham Jazz and Blues Festival. I remember the Clifden from the 60's and early 70's as a bit of a run-down "boozers pub", kind of place where you'd stop and have just one pint before moving on. Not any more! It's been renovated with care, still retains its "old Brum" atmosphere, serves real ale and good grub, and I'd go any time. Can someone please tell me what the new building is, directly opposite the Clifden on the other side of Great Hampton St? I think it's where Cannings used to be.

Thanks,

Big Gee
 
sorry big gee cant help you with the new building but agree with you about the lord clifden...changed a bit since i worked there and going strong now...

lyn
 
hi the building opposite the lord clifton was formerly lucas,s, now converted to expensive apartments, to the left with the clifton behind you the other new unit is a tesco express, by the way i run a business from the old swallow raincoats factory and have been there about 30 years
edd,
 
eddlowe said:
hi the building opposite the lord clifton was formerly lucas,s, now converted to expensive apartments, to the left with the clifton behind you the other new unit is a tesco express, by the way i run a business from the old swallow raincoats factory and have been there about 30 years
edd,
Click to expand...
Swallow Raincoats the building was later taken over by the Midland Bank and used as their stores app.1966. Dek
 
Hi

my great x 6 grandparents had a jewellers in Great Hampton STreet in the 1800s called Joseph Price & Son it was at number 86. I just wonder if anyone had any old photos of the area or where the jewellers would have been at all? Thanks v much
 
No 86 is at the same place now as in the 1880s. It is shown in red on the maps below for c1889 and c1955

map_c_1955_showing_86_gt_hampton_st.jpg
map_c_1889_showing_86_gt_hampton_st.jpg


With regards to no 52, it is where Guru enterprises is, as you surmised in your IM, though the present building occupies the site of also what was 54 also. Below is 1890 map showing 53 in red, and a superimposed map on google view
Mike

googleview_gt_hamp_st_no53_2.jpg
map_c1890_gt_hampton_st_no_53.jpg
 
Last edited:
lindyloo said:
Hi Mikejee, I'm not very good with the street numbering thing am I :dejection: :) I was hoping you would pick up on the thread.
I found a thread for Leo Bloom, Gt Hampton Street ?.. but alas the pictures you originally posted are gone.
I did initially put 86 Great Hampton Street in the search on google maps and when it brought up the street view picture, the number is actually on the sign above the shop, which is why I presumed it was probably the right one, but I will go with your knowledge on it. I have another query for you but do not wish to go off thread so if its ok I will pm you.
Click to expand...

hi lindy i notice that you mentioned loo blooms..i have the pic of that shop...would you like me to post it ...its showing as no 152
 
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