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Gravelly Hill - Slade Road / The Slade

jennyann said:
Hi Smudger. Welcome to the Forum. Highcroft Hospital was closed in 1996. Northcroft Hospital was built on the Stockland Green/Reservoir Road side of the very large site that was Highcroft Hospital. There are still a couple of psychiatric wards at Northcroft named after original wards in the old hospital, George and Eden. The main building was renovated and turned into condominiums. It has been a very successful project so far it seems. There is still a lot of redevelopment being carried out. There are several homes and flats on the site as well. I attended school at Fentham Road in the l950's and I passed by Highcroft Hospital on my way to school along Highcroft Road. You can see photos of the site as it was at: https://www.workhouses.org.uk/Aston
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Hi Jennyann. Highcroft was a big place, & after hearing about abuse that has gone on in various "care homes" lately, it makes you wonder what kind of things went on back in the 50`s that were never reported upon, & treated as the norm for patients with mental illness. If i`m not mistaken, if a girl was unlucky enough to get pregnant back then, was she put in some sort of home? Were they the good old days? Some obviously were not. Smudger
 
Hi Smudger, I have not been on here for some time so only just seen your post. It,s possible you do know me ,I used to go to the park alot on the boats and get pie and chips from Sugdens ? at the corner of Doidge road before the owners went to Cornwall. As you say the old brain ain't what it use to be but I remember Keith Newman and his parents, Chris Bell,the Riley twins and a girl called Pat ? who lived in your road.
I exchange Xmas cards with Christine Price she lives at Droitwich but I last saw her in 1981. I left Brum in 1960 ,lived in several different places but now live not far from you, near Stockton on Tees
 
G T Harding said:
Hi Smudger, I have not been on here for some time so only just seen your post. It,s possible you do know me ,I used to go to the park alot on the boats and get pie and chips from Sugdens ? at the corner of Doidge road before the owners went to Cornwall. As you say the old brain ain't what it use to be but I remember Keith Newman and his parents, Chris Bell,the Riley twins and a girl called Pat ? who lived in your road.
I exchange Xmas cards with Christine Price she lives at Droitwich but I last saw her in 1981. I left Brum in 1960 ,lived in several different places but now live not far from you, near Stockton on Tees
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Hi Graham? Yes i remember the chippie on the corner of Doidge road. I think it was you who carried me back inside the chippie when i fainted. I`d been ill for a while & i guess that all the gorgeous smells in the chippie got to me. I remember Keith Newman ( did he have a gorgeous sister called Heather, or am i mixed up as usual? ) As for Pat, that was Pat Hearn who i went out with for a while ( first girl i ever kissed ). I also went out with Christine price ( i can`t imagine what those gorgeous girls saw in me ) Brookvale park was great for the boating & fishing, but judging by photo`s i`ve seen of it recently, it seems to have lost it`s " rustic charm" :-{ As the saying goes "never go Back"
 
I suspect the shop in this 1910 photo of Stockland Green Stores on the corner of Slade Road and Marsh Lane no longer exists. Think it must be Mr. Dickinson in the doorway. Viv.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1367135425.822602.jpg
 
Hi Vivienne. The shop in your photograph is still there but is now called Crystal nails. if you search on Google maps the address is given as 2 marsh hill, Birmingham. you can see that the lower part of the building is modern but the windows at the top are the old windows. john
 
Well that's very good (unexpected) news John. Would have thought with allthe road development around there it would have disappeared. Thanks.

Two more :

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1367264886.268203.jpg Slade Road, Gravelly Hill 1908
ImageUploadedByTapatalk1367264926.357305.jpg Gravelly Hill North 1925

Viv.
 
Looking at Google maps recently, it appears that my old school, Stockland Green (sandwiched between the two Marsh Hill Techs) has been demolished. Can anyone confirm this please. Thanks.
 
Thanks jennyann, brought a lump to my throat. Fortunatley, I popped in a few years back and have the old school on film. One of the things that struck me was the photo of the old gym, it had radiators in it. If my old PE teacher, 'Puffer' Thompson saw that, he would have had them dismantled. If there wasn't frost on the inside of the windows he was disappointed. He took great pleasure in making us suffer.
 
Hi - my dad lived on Gravelly Hill North - leaving Erdington towards Sutton Coldfield - house was called Greylands, Italian Family called Fachino - bisquit makers lived opp. him - 200 yards to the West. My grandfather was a dr. with practice in house with waiting room, toilet for patients........He's 84 - any chance of a photo of that area of Gravelly Hill......he also went to a school.......St. Mary's / St. John's........Any info greatly appreciated. Ann
 
Hi Ann

There were 4 large houses in that area that I am aware of:- Copeley House, Salford House, Highlands and Greylands. Have you got any pics of the house itself?

Cheers

James
 
Erdington. I was born & raised in Erdington, a lovely place in the 50`s. I went to Aston once but it was closed. ( Just kidding: ) Two things stick in my mind about Aston. Going to the Aston Hippodrome to see naked females, although they weren`t allowed to move back then. And a newsagent shop (near the R/way bridge trying to goad my mates into going in the shop to buy a copy of "Health & Effeciency". Jeez, we must have been randy teenagers back then :-}
 
HI Eddi Lowe, This is Sajid Shah, I am sure you will remember me I was the runner ? anyway the Maths teacher was Mr Griffiths and the other one was Mr Hitchcock, whom we all had another name. Glad to hear you remember so many of the teachers etc the art teacher had a ginger beard, I recall when he slippered Stewart, he never cleaned his pants and upside down SAMSON would be on his backside all day, you could not get away with this today, and his classroom was next to the Geography Teacher Mr Jones also I think.
Those were the good old days.

Saj
 
Sajid Shah said:
HI Eddi Lowe, This is Sajid Shah, I am sure you will remember me I was the runner ? anyway the Maths teacher was Mr Griffiths and the other one was Mr Hitchcock, whom we all had another name. Glad to hear you remember so many of the teachers etc the art teacher had a ginger beard, I recall when he slippered Stewart, he never cleaned his pants and upside down SAMSON would be on his backside all day, you could not get away with this today, and his classroom was next to the Geography Teacher Mr Jones also I think.
Those were the good old days.

hi sajid im sorry but I don't remember you, what year did you leave, where you in the same class, judging by your name I would assume you are of Asian extraction if so were you one of the cottage home lads ? any names you remember ? I still see roy cole (the drummer ) every week we are still best mates after over 50 years by the way geography teacher was mr linnell classroom next to the hall next to Johnson was religious education.( apologies to all who read this and have no interest in this school ) edd

Saj
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hi sajid im sorry but I don't remember you, what year did you leave, where you in the same class, judging by your name I would assume you are of Asian extraction if so were you one of the cottage home lads ? any names you remember ? I still see roy cole (the drummer ) every week we are still best mates after over 50 years by the way geography teacher was mr linnell classroom next to the hall next to Johnson was religious education.( apologies to all who read this and have no interest in this school ) edd
 
Hi Edd, no problems, yes in deed I aM of the Asian origin, there were not many, and ai knew of Karban Mohammed who was from the cottages, but we came to UK in 1963 from Asia, few folks I recall were guys like David Stevens. Dave Exton, Carl Tulloch, John Hokke etc few folks were ahead a year and these were David Evans. Wajid Shah (brother) etc, still it's good to go down the memory lane, and thanks for reply, there was great history teacher also, Mr Dearden who was Welsh.
much regards
saj
 
Hi Saj

Well I certainly remember you and your brother, there were some really great and interesting characters at Slade Road; subsequently Erdington Boys school.
 
Morturn said:
Hi Saj

Well I certainly remember you and your brother, there were some really great and interesting characters at Slade Road; subsequently Erdington Boys school.
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Good to hear some dear school friends are still out there and kicking well, hope life has been kind and peaceful for you, family and friends.

Were you a year ahead or one year younger at school, cheers for now
saj
 
saj it looks like I was a year ahead of you david evans was the same year as me I left in 1967 people I remember roy cole, phil goode, alex bailey, kev Somerfield, billy Arnold (aka rambling sid rumpold and his nog), plus a few more. perhaps your brother will recall a few of these names edd
 
Corner of Slade Road and Hunton Hill. Then and now. There was once a stationers - A.Fanthom - on the corner. Sorry no date for the old postcard view. Viv.

image.jpgimage.jpg
 
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I lived in Hillside road, opposite Hillaries Rd, next road down from Hunton Hill from 1962 till 1987 there was an off licence c/o Hillaries and Slade Rd owned by a Scotsman Jim Angus, we both worked for PO Telephones (later BT), his Wife ran the business, farther down by the railway bridge was an Asian green grocer, I used to give him the Worcester apples out of my garden and we went 50/50 on the sales, our garden backed on to George Rd MEB and Brookvale Park. Eric
 
Hi Eric. When they say 'locally sourced produce' you couldn't get more local than the apples from your garden! Pity we don't have more of this going on these days. Viv
 
Big Gee said:
Great photos! I had a friend who lived on Slade Road right opposite where George Road joins it. His dad was Polish and didn't speak any English whatsoever, even though he'd lived here for years.

I also remember a small garage on Slade Road that only did MoT's - I could never figure out how they made a living.

Big Gee
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Hi what was the name of the sweet shop owner right on that corner of George rd and Slade rd ?
 
I`ve been in that sweet shop hundreds of times But i`m blowed if i can remember the name. Was there a greengrocers shop next door, & scruffy Joe`s cafe a few doors up.?
 
Hi thanks for your reply, i sort of remember the name started with H :) cafe yes but no money for cafe back then :) years later used to pop into the Brookvale pub
 
cookie273uk said:
I lived in Hillside road, opposite Hillaries Rd, next road down from Hunton Hill from 1962 till 1987 there was an off licence c/o Hillaries and Slade Rd owned by a Scotsman Jim Angus, we both worked for PO Telephones (later BT), his Wife ran the business, farther down by the railway bridge was an Asian green grocer, I used to give him the Worcester apples out of my garden and we went 50/50 on the sales, our garden backed on to George Rd MEB and Brookvale Park. Eric
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Hi Eric do you know of Charlie, Edith or Irene Hawkesford? (they lived at 20 kegworth Rd.) coincidently they also moved in 1962. Me and my mom (Irene) moved out in 1985, my nan (Edith) passed away in 1988 and finally my grandad (Charlie) moved out in 1995.

Kind Regards

James
 
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