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Aston, Lozells & Witton Photos Reposted thanks to Ray Griffiths...

There were a great many of the homes demolished that were privately owned or belonged to private landlords and rented out, sometimes to more than one family.

The house in Potter's Hill that I mentioned was a private landlord property but my MIL had moved there froma a council house in Kingstanding on an 'exchange'

My company's service manager owned his house in the area, the council announced that the area was to be 'redeveloped' which put an immediate blight on the house values.

He was told he would be compensated one pound only, the land value, and rehoused in an overspill area near Walsall.

The company's solicitor challenged the council and in the end they paid him £1100 with which he bought a house in Perry Bar.

After removing the occupiers of these houses and paying £1.00 compensation the council rented them out again to new tenants from the waiting list until they were eventually demolished.
 
The number of older houses left in Aston, Witton and Lozells is really a testament to how they were built, even though some have been badly maintained.

My mother helped my sister, her husband and a young child to buy a house in Dunsink Road In the early 70s. Although the house was not in the best of repair, it was solid enough. The house had a resident cat, and they soon found out why. They had a constant battle for two years to stave off rats, with very little help from the council but a great deal from the cat. My mother, after relentless battles, managed to get them a council house in Short Heath.
 
Pedrocut said:
The number of older houses left in Aston, Witton and Lozells is really a testament to how they were built, even though some have been badly maintained.

My mother helped my sister, her husband and a young child to buy a house in Dunsink Road In the early 70s. Although the house was not in the best of repair, it was solid enough. The house had a resident cat, and they soon found out why. They had a constant battle for two years to stave off rats, with very little help from the council but a great deal from the cat. My mother, after relentless battles, managed to get them a council house in Short Heath.
Click to expand...
we had them in Philip st, they come from the brook. burrowing under the ground,then into the cellar,1585492896915.png
 
Astoness said:
hi folks thought this would be a good time to bring this wonderful thread to the top for members who may have missed it...please read from post 1 which gives the story behind the wonderful photos that i have posted...

lyn
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After looking back again on Lyn's Furnace Lane photos, I noticed that the 5th photo on #10 looks like Gerrard st looking towards Gower St. I am really surprised at how narrow the road looks considering it was a busy road and also the No 8 route. Although, it could just be an optical illusion? The 4th photo shows a tantalising glimpse of our school playground wall in Gower St. I've seen many photos of Gower St school old section (which is still there) but, never a full photo of the 'new' section on the corner of Guiford St & Gower St. Come to think of it, there doesn't seem to be any photos of the craft section on Lozells Rd either. I hope Lyn doesn't mind me re-posting her two photos mentioned.
PHOTO 5.jpegPHOTO 4.jpeg
 
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BazzM said:
Re: Aston and lozells pic reposted...

Lyn. Im nearly lost for words. The pics are absolutely AMAZING. Such memories of Aston Cross, Chester St looking towards Tubes Ltd office entrance, and Electric Avenue, I can see Hallidays building where my Dad worked all his life. Fabulous Lyn. You know I cant thank you enough.
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Hi Lyn the pub you mensioned was the Golden Cross i used to work for Ansells in the 60S and used to drink in the Golden Cross HAPPY MEMORIES.
 
They demolished our houses in Witton Road in 1956/7 to extend the ICI, so they said, nothing was done with the land for years, then they turned it into a car park which wasn't used and became overgrown, the last time i saw it three years ago there were just two giant billboards on it, such a waste of decent houses.
 
Johnny52 said:
I was born at 71 Queens Rd 1952 we moved to Bordesley Green in the 1962 Mom wanted to go back to Aston we moved to 86 Queens Road in 1966 my Mom loved Old Aston
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Hi.. does anyone on here have a connection with a member called Goldie.. as i saw her post about her neighbour being born in the pub The Minerva Vaults pub in Gt Hampton Row.. and wanted a picture..if anyone could please put me in touch with her.. I am a ex landlady of that pub..xx
 
Bushbaby,

The only member with that username joined and left on the same day in 2012 without posting anything! Unfortunately, the memberships search doesn't allow mere mortals like us to use wildcards. Perhaps one of the mods can help.

Maurice :cool:
 
sospiri said:
Bushbaby,

The only member with that username joined and left on the same day in 2012 without posting anything! Unfortunately, the memberships search doesn't allow mere mortals like us to use wildcards. Perhaps one of the mods can help.

Maurice :cool:
Click to expand...
I thought you was a immortal....THERE CAN BE ONLY ONE "MAURICE"
 
Pete, one is more than enough for anyone! And there's no chance I will be elevated to the immortals. :)

Maurice :cool:
 
eamonnfpc said:
I lived on Wills St circa 1964/65. Does anybody know what (Catholic) school I would have attended back then? If memory serves me I used to walk down Wills St towards Hunters Road. After that it's anyone's guess. Any help would be appreciated.
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I went to St Frances in hunters rd, but about 1964 st frances shool had an an ex in will st . This was about the time moh omed Ali then casino clay fought sonny Liston . One frosty morning after arriving at school there someone seid that someone else seid thay saw i witches hat over the old broken houses opposite the school. Loads and loads of kids went over to have a look .when we all gave up looking, we all went back to the school only to be met by Mr woods the head master.each child was lined up ." Did you go over to the bomb peck?" Each puplished was asked. ......."yes sir"." Bend over" slipper (pump) this took about 1 hour to get through us all.
 
My Grandparents once lived in Gerrard St in early/middle nineteen hundreds moved to Fentham Rd Aston where all my memories were made. My Grandad was in wheelchair and my Mom pushed him up the hill from Clock Tower Aston Cross with me on my 3 wheeler. I was about 4.
These pics bring so many memories of my childhood & later. Aston Hall being a favourite. My parents married at Aston Church & renewed their vows there after 60yrs together.
My Aunts worked at Kynochs which is just up the road from Witton Station & also Lucas's.
I'm so glad people have taken photos of the area as most of it has been redeveloped now.
 
Astoness said:
hi and welcome..what dates are you looking for because the houses in dunsink road are still there and must have been so for over a 100 years..click on link for streetview


www.google.com

Dunsink Rd · Handsworth, Birmingham

Handsworth, Birmingham
www.google.com www.google.com
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I was wondering if there were any photos of Dunsink Road from the 60s or 70s. I want to see what Dunsink road used to look like because my family have lived on Dunsink road since 1981 but I was not around then and I’ve never seen any old photos of Dunsink road. If anyone has any photos it would be great because I would like to see them.
 
HJ4 said:
I was wondering if there were any photos of Dunsink Road from the 60s or 70s. I want to see what Dunsink road used to look like because my family have lived on Dunsink road since 1981 but I was not around then and I’ve never seen any old photos of Dunsink road. If anyone has any photos it would be great because I would like to see them.
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right ok...to be honest i dont think the road would have changed that much but fingers crossed someone may have a photo of it duringthe 60s or 70s i will look in my photos files and if i have one i will post if for you

lyn
 
Astoness said:
right ok...to be honest i dont think the road would have changed that much but fingers crossed someone may have a photo of it duringthe 60s or 70s i will look in my photos files and if i have one i will post if for you

lyn
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Thank you
 
Wonderful range of photographs which have been a delight to view and which have brought back some very happy memories. Born in Erdington but moved to Holland Road in Aston at a very early age. My school days up until leaving at age 15 were spent at Upper Thomas Street. Who could forget the saying that Ansells Brewery and HP Source made a stink on Aston Craws. Hav'nt been able to read too much on the forum about my old school but they turned out some wonderful sportsmen, from memory I believe they won the all England Swimming Shield in 1950 which apparently was the second time. Most of my time was spent looking after the schools sporting equipment, cricket gear blowing up footballs etcetera. I was captain of Aston Boys football team and was disappointed not to get a trial at Villa Park but did play for St Andrews Athletic and Birmingham City Colts, until the coach left overnight to become the manager of Walsall, that put paid to the ambitions of the guys I played with, me included. Holland Road was just round the corner from the Astoria
Picture House which became the Television Studios.
Proper Brummie Kid.
 
Hi i was born in park lane in 1949 at 5/86a park lane b6 my name is tony reynolds i remember the villa bringing the cup through aston cross in 1957 i went to burlington street school teachers i remember burgess ernie eastwood lovie i think and i think a miss stock or rock our house flooded because the factory applebys was vandalised we moved to bge neighbours i remember were lakin ronnie and peter the shop was ran by commis and we had a book there i remember stirks the pet shop and the copper with the big boots at the coal yard i used to fetch my dads beer from the outdoor and he'd stick a hot poker in it to liven it up i remember a mrs flook a bit frightening we were about 3 doors away from the black horse up an entry my dad was irish eddie reynolds he worked at hardy spicer and on the buses loved perry como my moms name was nora she was married before to a man called perry who died and my brother david was his son my auntie lil clark and her husband les lived further down park lane on the other side towards aston cross they had a son dennis some of the boys and girls that i went to school with were called anson bradley jimmy winkle martin spencer colin hems jennifer Jennifer diane thompson tomohawk i went to uts but only for a month or two tony reynolds
 
hi tony you have most likely already seen them but if not there are loads of old pre demo photos of park lane on the park lane thread...i am sure they will bring back memories

lyn
 
My mate lived at number 92 Park Lane during the 1950's and 60's...Pinkerton is their surname..Alan was the eldest but he was a year or two younger than yourself ...Anson Bradley lived in the same street as myself, my late sister Pauline would have been in the same year at school along with Arnie Morris, probably Robert Gouldingay as well, I am about 4 years younger than all of them ...
 
Hi what was your sisters surname at school was she at burlington st
aston lad said:
My mate lived at number 92 Park Lane during the 1950's and 60's...Pinkerton is their surname..Alan was the eldest but he was a year or two younger than yourself ...Anson Bradley lived in the same street as myself, my late sister Pauline would have been in the same year at school along with Arnie Morris, probably Robert Gouldingay as well, I am about 4 years younger than all of them ...
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hi what was your sisters name at school did she go to burlington st tony
 
Tony. my sister was Pauline Colin, and she did attend Burlington St ( sometimes ), sorry to say she didn't attend that often and was put into care with another relative, across the city somewhere Selly Oak...
 
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