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Kingstanding

Greenholm Road probably the 1950s and the second shop from the left is the Marlborough Cafe. In my early working days I used to cycle past it four times a day. I worked in Witton and went past in the morning, back home for lunch, then back to work, and finally back home after work. I was very fit in those days!
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On Google Streetview I notice the cafe is still there and appears to have steel roller shutters as do the shops next to it.
Today on streetview https://goo.gl/maps/NAsTJ
 
This photo brought back a lot of memories for me. Corner of Kingstanding Road and Dyas Road. I remember (usually) queuing at Clarkes for fruit and veg. But they also sold cod roe which was a treat I loved from there. It was an incredibly popular shop in the 1950s/60s. In front of the shop was a long slope, the stalls used to be perched on the slope usually with the awning pulled out over them. Then there was Lathams next door, occupying the whole of the shop units to the left of Clarkes. Mum got her fancy net curtains from there (or 'nets' as they were always referred to). It was a very well stocked shop, can still smell the new material smell as you walked in through its doors. Didn't realise it was called Lathams Warehouse. Only ever knew it simply as Lathams. Then to the right of Clarkes there was Kirton's, owned by the footballer. Mum worked at Bywaters next to Kirton's. Consequently we were never short of bacon, chops or pork pies. What an unhealthy diet I must have had in those days. I remember the ironmongers off to the right, all his stock would spill out across that spacious pavement in front of the shops. But the line of demarcation between the ironmongers and his neighbours was clear from the red hoarding alongside each side of his shop. There was a dress shop along there somewhere too with dresses for the more mature lady. Think I said earlier on this thread that the shops to the right were all thriving shops in the 50s/60s. They would have set up there in the early 40s and by the 60s would have benefited from the boom in spending. There was Littlewoods, Woollies and Geo Mason over on Hawthorn Road opposite, but in the 60s there was room for everyone on the High Street. At the time this would have also have been a modern local High Street with every amenity but that still didn't stop us from the regular visits to the 'Town' shops at the weekend. Viv.

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Interesting picture I remember the greengrocers was Haynes before Clarks took over.

Kirton's newsagents was the pop in shop before and after school at Cranbourne Rd not that we had a lot of choice with rationing on.

Over the other side in Hawthorne Rd used to be Toy's sweet shop And Gwens across the road thi was the pop in shop from Seniors School In Dulwich Rd.

Lathams was the "House of Jack built" of Kingstanding



Vivienne14 said:
This photo brought back a lot of memories for me. Corner of Kingstanding Road and Dyas Road. I remember (usually) queuing at Clarkes for fruit and veg. But they also sold cod roe which was a treat I loved from there. It was an incredibly popular shop in the 1950s/60s. In front of the shop was a long slope, the stalls used to be perched on the slope usually with the awning pulled out over them. Then there was Lathams next door, occupying the whole of the shop units to the left of Clarkes. Mum got her fancy net curtains from there (or 'nets' as they were always referred to). It was a very well stocked shop, can still smell the new material smell as you walked in through its doors. Didn't realise it was called Lathams Warehouse. Only ever knew it simply as Lathams. Then to the right of Clarkes there was Kirton's, owned by the footballer. Mum worked at Bywaters next to Kirton's. Consequently we were never short of bacon, chops or pork pies. What an unhealthy diet I must have had in those days. I remember the ironmongers off to the right, all his stock would spill out across that spacious pavement in front of the shops. But the line of demarcation between the ironmongers and his neighbours was clear from the red hoarding alongside each side of his shop. There was a dress shop along there somewhere too with dresses for the more mature lady. Think I said earlier on this thread that the shops to the right were all thriving shops in the 50s/60s. They would have set up there in the early 40s and by the 60s would have benefited from the boom in spending. There was Littlewoods, Woollies and Geo Mason over on Hawthorn Road opposite, but in the 60s there was room for everyone on the High Street. At the time this would have also have been a modern local High Street with every amenity but that still didn't stop us from the regular visits to the 'Town' shops at the weekend. Viv.

.View attachment 98157
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Hi Ray. I too went to Cranbourne Road School - was called Kingsthorne when I was there in the late 50s. Spent many pennies at Kirton's after school. Used to walk up there from school when I was in the juniors. Then back down Kingstanding Road to the gully opposite Tansley Road and through the gully to Atlantic Rd where I lived. Think all the gullies around there are now locked by gates. In those days they were all open and provided quick routes to access the roads. Atlantic Road was quite a long road, so these gullies that cut into it were a real time-saver. They were also our main places to play in. Couldn't do that safely these days. Viv.
 
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Was reading a Birmingham Uni thesis about Sutton Chase (Hodder, 1988) and discovered this about the area.

On Yates's Staffordshire map of 1775 below, Perry Barr Common contained two buildings: Warren Farm and Kingstanding Lodge (see orange dots). Both were associated with rabbit warren management. Conies (or rabbits) were deliberately managed in the 17th century and artificial warrens may have been constructed around the area. The use of 'warren' in local names suggests it was an especially important activity. Warrening would have continued until the early 1800s.


Kingstanding Lodge marked on the Yates' map was a brick-built cottage built on Kingstanding Warren. The Lodge and Warren House were built in 1780, the Lodge being demolished in 1930 when Birmingham City Corporation bought up the land for housing development. Viv.
 

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Thanks for this info Viv. I had often wondered about the use of the word Warren locally but didn't put it down to Rabbit culture from those older times.
 
A view of Hawthorn Road. Think it must be about late 1950s. This is the parade of shops opposite Charlton Road. Surprised to see the Post Office is still in the same place. I remember Taylor's the electrical shop was along there - they also sold organs. My mum knew all the shop keepers well in this parade as she ran Wrights bakery shop, which was near to Taylor's. I remember it as a very friendly community, a little distant from the main Hawthorn Road parade where the bigger shops like Littlewoods and Woolworths drew the crowds. All the same this parade of shops did good trade and was always busy when I called in there on my way home from school. Used to help my mum clear up. If some cakes were unsold they were returned to Bradford's bakery (or to our house). Certain cakes were kept for a few days such as coconut madeleines, Eccles cakes or macaroons. These were placed in plastic bags overnight. The more perishable unsold produce was put into the bakery crates to be picked up by the Bradford bakery van when it called in the morning to deliver the next day's fresh bread and cakes. Think my mum said the waste bread and cakes became pig feed.

I love the policeman on his bicycle making his way down past the Co-op shop on the left (still a Co-op). A policeman on a bicycle - a thing of the past. Vilv

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Ever noticed the striking resemblance between the Kingstanding Odeon and the old billiards hall on nearby Kings Road?

image.jpegimage.jpeg
 
Viv

I know a lot of the Odeon chain of cinemas were designed by Birmingham born architect Harry Weedon, perhaps the snooker hall was as well.
 
Phil said:
Viv

I know a lot of the Odeon chain of cinemas were designed by Birmingham born architect Harry Weedon, perhaps the snooker hall was as well.
Click to expand...

Thanks Phil. Shall see if I can find a connection between Harry Weedon and the billiards hall on Kings Road.

Iloyd - and good Art Deco examples they are too. Seems quite lavish architecturally for the billiards hall to be designed in that way compared to the Odeon. But I suppose both were inportant pastimes and attractions in that period. With the explosion of the population around Kingstanding by the 1930s I think attention to the architecture would have been important, it would have fitted well with the dream of its residents of a new and promising start. Viv.
 
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This nice first pic from Shoothill is tagged as 'Kingstanding Road 1932' but it does not look like Kingstanding Rd to me. Although there are houses like those in the pic on the east side of Kingstanding Rd, the houses on the west side are completely different.
It looks (to me) like the junction of Kings Rd and Finchley Rd.
road1932.jpg
An enlargement from the 1932 image show some shops on a corner and the roof lines and window styles in the old pic seem to match the same features in the modern pic.
shop1932.JPG shopnow.JPG

The problem is that there are similar shops on three corners of the Kings Rd - Finchley Rd junction so it is difficult to decide in which direction the road is going in the pic. There are other puzzles such as some houses in the old pic do not seem to be there today. I've had a good look at Kingstanding Rd on streetview and can find no shops matching those in the old pic.

Any thoughts about this ?
 
Can't work this one out either Phil. It's definitely not Kingstanding Rd. Having lived just off Kingstanding Rd it's none of the clusters of shops I remember. It could be yet another main road in the area other than Finchley/Kings Rd junction but couldn't say which. Viv.
 
oldMohawk said:
This nice first pic from Shoothill is tagged as 'Kingstanding Road 1932' but it does not look like Kingstanding Rd to me. Although there are houses like those in the pic on the east side of Kingstanding Rd, the houses on the west side are completely different.
It looks (to me) like the junction of Kings Rd and Finchley Rd.
View attachment 104987
An enlargement from the 1932 image show some shops on a corner and the roof lines and window styles in the old pic seem to match the same features in the modern pic.
View attachment 104988 View attachment 104990

The problem is that there are similar shops on three corners of the Kings Rd - Finchley Rd junction so it is difficult to decide in which direction the road is going in the pic. There are other puzzles such as some houses in the old pic do not seem to be there today. I've had a good look at Kingstanding Rd on streetview and can find no shops matching those in the old pic.

Any thoughts about this ?
Click to expand...
The second photo looks as though it is facing Kingstanding circle further down the road. Going to Castle Brom tomorrow and will take a look when passing. I think there is a Chinese Take away on the left out of view!.
 
It looks to me like the junction of Bendall Road and Tottenham Crescent with the junction of Finchley Road in the distance. The photographer would have been standing adjacent to Hatcham Road
 
G G Jean said:
The second photo looks as though it is facing Kingstanding circle further down the road. Going to Castle Brom tomorrow and will take a look when passing. I think there is a Chinese Take away on the left out of view!.
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Hi Jean, Yes I think it is a view on Kings Road looking down the slight hill towards Kingstanding Circle but the photographer was standing further back as Morturn confirms in his post.
Morturn said:
It looks to me like the junction of Bendall Road and Tottenham Crescent with the junction of Finchley Road in the distance. The photographer would have been standing adjacent to Hatcham Road
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Hi Morturn, thanks for that. I notice when I position there on 'streetview' the shops are far in the distance with a few trees in the way. I suppose it isn't important but it is a good excuse to look at nice old pics ...:)
 
On the enlarged section of the photo is a road sign, to the left of the person walking in front of the shops. The sign can't be read but it looks like a very short road name, so Kings Road would fit. Viv.
 
Vivienne14 said:
On the enlarged section of the photo is a road sign, to the left of the person walking in front of the shops. The sign can't be read but it looks like a very short road name, so Kings Road would fit. Viv.
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Hi Viv ... In the aerial view below the photographer would have been standing opposite the blue car (bottom left) and the shop can be seen on the junction top right in the view. Looking at aerial views of the area they seem to have planned it with quite a few large circles and open spaces.
Kings Rd_iOS1.jpg
 
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oldMohawk said:
This nice first pic from Shoothill is tagged as 'Kingstanding Road 1932' but it does not look like Kingstanding Rd to me. Although there are houses like those in the pic on the east side of Kingstanding Rd, the houses on the west side are completely different.
It looks (to me) like the junction of Kings Rd and Finchley Rd.
View attachment 104987
An enlargement from the 1932 image show some shops on a corner and the roof lines and window styles in the old pic seem to match the same features in the modern pic.
View attachment 104988 View attachment 104990

The problem is that there are similar shops on three corners of the Kings Rd - Finchley Rd junction so it is difficult to decide in which direction the road is going in the pic. There are other puzzles such as some houses in the old pic do not seem to be there today. I've had a good look at Kingstanding Rd on streetview and can find no shops matching those in the old pic.

Any thoughts about this ?
Click to expand...
This is Kings Rd and Finchley Rd junction the 33 bus used to terminate here and on the corner which the picture was taken was a BCT bundy clock used by the bus drivers before going in to city.

In the late 40s and early 50's I used to serve milk with my dad round that area of Kingstanding for Midland Counties Dairy.

The shop next door but one to the Fish Bar in the picture used to be a Café which used to be our calling place for morning coffee break in the window used to be one of these tipping birds which used to swing and dip into a glass of water.

Outside the Café used to be a Telephone box one Saturday morning there had been a gang fight which started in the famous Kings Charles Pub on the corner on the other side of Kings Rd the box was covered in blood somebody had been stabbed I think he may have died.

Because the problems at the King Charles Pub over the years it was close and pulled down.

On the corner where the photo was taken used to be a Hardware Shop, and just up the Kings Rd towards the Bush used to be an enter to the Park another area for gang fights in the 40/50 .

Nice pictures brings back a lot of memories of my childhood .

Ray
 
Some nice memories Ray.

Hi Phil the aeriel view suggests a patches of road alteration to me, maybe to widen the road at this junction. Viv.
 
Great photos Bob. I realise you're practicing, but would love to know the story behind the photographs, especially Gladys and George in Kingstanding. (Was born in Kingstandng, lived there 20 years). Viv.
 
Thanks Lyn, Vivienne, been looking on here for a few weeks and feel like I already know some of you, great site, my other granddad John Jordan lived in Binstead road had family all round the circle at one time. I am going to see my uncle Arnold ( Sheldon ) this weekend he still lives there and I have not seen him for a long time all because of your site. so a great big thanks to all of you. just need to learn how to do this properly now.
 
bren said:
Welshmans Hill and the "Pimple" are not the same place, Welshmans Hill is halfway between the Bush and Banners Gate on the Chester Rd and yes, you will find it on old and modern maps. The Pimple was allotments bordered by Finchly, Sidcup, Ellerton and Danesbury Cres, the place doesn't feature on any old maps i have seen and as others have said i think the name was a local name for the place.


bren
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I was looking through the forum comments regarding the 'Old' & 'New' Colleges and found a map being shown that indicates the hill North East of the Lodge Pool having the name of 'Branston' or 'Brunston' Hill. Perhaps someone having a better print of the map might be able to clarify. We lived at 11 Hurlingham Rd (the back garden was 'The Pimple' to me). The dirt racetrack on the flatter lower section (now housing) - ah the memories..
 

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DaveWall said:
I was looking through the forum comments regarding the 'Old' & 'New' Colleges and found a map being shown that indicates the hill North East of the Lodge Pool having the name of 'Branston' or 'Brunston' Hill. Perhaps someone having a better print of the map might be able to clarify. We lived at 11 Hurlingham Rd (the back garden was 'The Pimple' to me). The dirt racetrack on the flatter lower section (now housing) - ah the memories..
Click to expand...

You must have been close to the entry to the 'pimple' at the bottom of Hurlingham Road (we called it the gulley), we used to go in from Sidcup Road at the top end.
I remember the dirt track racing, we had Raymond Nye from Leyton Grove as our best at it.
 
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