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New unseen photos of brum

Vivienne, as a child aged 10 in 1940 I lived in Shirley and my mom and dad used take my sisters and I to our nans in Aston every weekend, this involved getting of the 154 Midland Red bus in the Bull Ring walking up past the Markets to Martineau St to catch the 3X tram and I remember some toilets in the vicinity, could that be what is in front of fish market (rather vague on this I was only a child and it was 75 years ago) the statue farther on of course is Nelsons statue. I remember on a couple of occasions buildings on the right having been bombed previous night and the firemen still on the scene 'damping down' water everywhere and still smoking. Eric
 
viv thanks the pic looks better but i still cant work out what is in front of the fish market...[/QUOTE said:
I thought that it was the Nelson Statue, not sure where it is now. Roof came off in early 40's carried on being used until the 60's redevelopment of the Bull Ring.
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cookie273uk said:
Vivienne, as a child aged 10 in 1940 I lived in Shirley and my mom and dad used take my sisters and I to our nans in Aston every weekend, this involved getting of the 154 Midland Red bus in the Bull Ring walking up past the Markets to Martineau St to catch the 3X tram and I remember some toilets in the vicinity, could that be what is in front of fish market (rather vague on this I was only a child and it was 75 years ago) the statue farther on of course is Nelsons statue. I remember on a couple of occasions buildings on the right having been bombed previous night and the firemen still on the scene 'damping down' water everywhere and still smoking. Eric
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Hi Eric and thanks. Looking at these two photos, one shows a fenced area - possibly with public conveniences - the other with telephone boxes. So it might have, over time, been an area providing services of one sort or another. Viv.
 

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Vivienne14 said:
Hi Eric and thanks. Looking at these two photos, one shows a fenced area - possibly with public conveniences - the other with telephone boxes. So it might have, over time, been an area providing services of one sort or another. Viv.
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In the more recent picture(looking down hill towards St. Martin's) the iron railings are certainly around the Nelson Statue. The base of the statue can be seen clearly.
 
Thanks Jim. I think the perspective of Astoness's photo is confusing. The railings I was referring to seem to be the entrances to the underground toilets. In the later photo this is telephone box area. On the original photo looking close up you can just about make out the tops of the telephone boxes. Viv.
 

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Vivienne14 said:
Thanks Jim. I think the perspective of Astoness's photo is confusing. The railings I was referring to seem to be the entrances to the underground toilets. In the later photo this is telephone box area. On the original photo looking close up you can just about make out the tops of the telephone boxes. Viv.
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This gives a better perspective. From Times Building 1959img075.jpgFrom 1986 book "Memories of Birmingham" Alton Douglas.
 
Thanks Jim. In the 1950s the toilets/phone box island seems to have become a convenient stopping point for Midland Red buses coming in to(?) Town. Astoness's photo must have been taken from the bus stop or maybe even on the bus. Viv.
 
Thanks Lyn, i can see that you are right from the angles of all of the roads, but i cant remember there ever being an island or traffic lights there.
 
Astonian said:
Hi Carolina
The Lyric
Picture house was in Edward roads along summer hill just out side the town it was once called the parade
You would have gone past the sand Pitts for about300 yards and crossed over and turned the corner
On your left you had a big square concrete course it had three steps to walk up to the front entrance
We spent many hours there for the sat morning crush for 3d rammed with kids only compared to the Victoria on Victoria road Aston
That was a Tanne 6d to get in there all the kids in Ladywood would be in there
And as I said that particular end of summer hill was known and listed as the parade and there was a big pub on the corner
Called the king Edward my old friend mossy and another old friend of mine and mossy drank in there
When they remoderenised that part of the city and they brought the new DHSS offices there by the canal
They renamed the parade As Summer hill and as done so from that day to this day ,,,,Alan Astonian,,,,,
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I remember it well too Astonian. Every Saturday we kids from the Ladywood area would be at the Lyric to watch Flash Gordon etc., then playing the part all the way back home again.
 
All brilliant photo's Lyn, and took me back in time to a very different Brum to what we have today. Thank you for all your time putting them on for us all to enjoy...Well done.
 
thanks maggs and thanks to everyone for the great posts and contributions...it was well worth posting them...

lyn
 
Hi maggs
That was nice to know you was there ,because we was there screaming and shouting at the screen when it was coming on
As all the kids did and pushing and shoving to get in and get the postion we wanted ( our gang from kingedwards road
And one great member of the gang was Ronnie Edie Lowe cousin ,and the chimney sweep sons Phil, and billy , Micky crease
Dave Adams whom I believe whom you know as well and a couple of other lads in the gang
We never missed an episode , to be honest maggs I also went down to the Victoria on Victoria road and seen it again
I was a film buff in those days and later years I went to most picture houses around brum
And watched pat boone film Called April Love A couple of hundred times over and over,
And I would not be surprised that I myself may have rubbed shoulder with you at some point when we was charging and pushing to get in
Nice to hear from you Maggs, Its been Some time since we spoke have a nice Evening best wishes to you both Alan,,, Astonian,,,,
 
how nice to see the unseen pics love the old 60s pics have to say i love to go back to them days /city center was a lot better then to what thay built to day
 
devonjim said:
This gives a better perspective. From Times Building 1959View attachment 97829From 1986 book "Memories of Birmingham" Alton Douglas.
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Towards the bottom right corner there appear to be traders selling their wares from baskets on the pavement. I think we recently saw a close-up photo of this activity, which ceased around 1960, shot by Phyllis Nicklin?
 
Reminds you why in many parts of the country their markets are known as "Pannier markets" never heard that name applied to any of the Birmingham market halls
 
devonjim said:
Reminds you why in many parts of the country their markets are known as "Pannier markets" never heard that name applied to any of the Birmingham market halls
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Yes indeed, devonjim. Isn't there a flourishing pannier market in your county, at Barnstaple on Fridays?
 
devonjim said:
Austin Healey (BN1?) Had one of these 1964/5 TNN 377 Drove it from Brum to Athens in the summer of '64. Memories!
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With apologies
Just to prove an old nerd is alive and well in Leamington Spa and that "Big Healeys" are my specialist BORING subject
The car in the photo is definitely an Austin Healey 3000 (post 1959) due to its front disc brakes, curved windscreen and wind up windows. A BN/1 was a 100/4 (4 cylinder 2.4 litre) circa 1954 which was developed to a BN6 (6 cylinder 2.6 litre) 1957/58. In 1959 it became the "3000" BN/7 and BT/7 -2 /4 seats - (6 cylinder 2.9 litre). I think the car in photo is a post 1962 BT/7 or BJ/7.
Thats enough
 
My mate and I used the car park opposite just about every week. My mate was a rep for Gloster Aircraft and his usual vehicle was an Austin A40 shooting brake, British Racing Green with a small and tasteful decal of the company. One time we drove into the car park and the new attendant refused entry on the basis that it was a commercial vehicle and therefore not allowed. Despite our protest he was adamant that we had to leave. He didn't last long and we were soon allowed back in.

Before long he had gone and we were allowed back in.
The Arden Hotel was where I attended The Cobbers Club before coming to Oz in 1961
 
Just catching up after a week away Lyn. Many thanks for posting these, they're fascinating.
 
Glassman said:
With apologies
Just to prove an old nerd is alive and well in Leamington Spa and that "Big Healeys" are my specialist BORING subject
The car in the photo is definitely an Austin Healey 3000 (post 1959) due to its front disc brakes, curved windscreen and wind up windows. A BN/1 was a 100/4 (4 cylinder 2.4 litre) circa 1954 which was developed to a BN6 (6 cylinder 2.6 litre) 1957/58. In 1959 it became the "3000" BN/7 and BT/7 -2 /4 seats - (6 cylinder 2.9 litre). I think the car in photo is a post 1962 BT/7 or BJ/7.
Thats enough
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Gosh! To see such detail you must have much better resolution on your screen. BN1 was certainly 4 cylinder with 3 speed gear box plus overdrive. Struggled to top a ton. Remember being left for dead on the M5 by a Mini Cooper. 001ag.jpg
 
Have just returned after being away a few days. Below is a plan of the area around the Fish Market c 1955 showing the toilets.

map_c_1955_area_around_fish_market.jpg
 
Astoness said:
ok folks here we go...

co op from new st across the big top
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If you hadn't been able to tell us where this was Lyn, I think I'd have struggled to place it. It looks like Christmas time with all the decorations. When you look closely at the Co-op frontage I think there's an image of a woman (below my yellow dot). Wondering if it's the Madonna? Or was it some other celebration? Viv.
 

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hi viv it is a strange one to try and pinpoint just what the celebrations were..i wonder if its the queen on the building and the celebrations are the coronation.. looking at the dress the year looks about right..
 
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