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Bull Ring 1960s - 1980s

I wonder if she picked up any bargains. A nice little purse to put in her handbag, or some dog chews for the corgis!
 
Been looking at the shops in the photo #200. "Wrights" was the Bakers. "Pfaff" were, I think, sewing machines. No idea what the other shops were. Don't remember ever going onto that balcony. Viv.
 
These good quality images are on eBay. Must be 1960s as it all still looks quite fresh and new. Viv.
 

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Vivienne14 said:
Been looking at the shops in the photo #200. "Wrights" was the Bakers. "Pfaff" were, I think, sewing machines. No idea what the other shops were. Don't remember ever going onto that balcony. Viv.
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Pfaff are indeed a sewing machine, high quality and metal framed and bodied, along with Bernina, the other good quality Swiss made sewing machine.
Bob
 
indeed eric...where did it all go wrong....ade it has been posted before but many years ago so thanks for bringing it to our attention again...i have watched this many times and yes although it did ring more changes for the city centre i actually liked the new look...in my opinion far better than the way todays city centre changes are looking....

lyn
 
Thanks Ade. Shall merge this thread with an earlier thread about the 1960s Bull Ring. Viv.

Edit. Posts #199-#202 above now moved to this thread. Viv.
 
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I only visited Birmingham three times since I moved to Devon in 1954. Once when in the RAF (1955) to visit old friends, again in 1964 to visit relatives and finally in 1989 for a similar reason. It was only on the 1980 visit that I was in the Bull Ring area, but do not recall how it looked at that time. From the photos here on BHF I have to say that I liked the open grassed areas of the Manzoni era. But living in a semi rural area I guess I would.
 
Hello all , bit new to this so please forgive.
My uncle George used to have a fruit and veg stall ,was more or less run by a women called Nancy ,
Any more info would be appreciated .late 70s I think .
 
Jim morgan said:
Hello all , bit new to this so please forgive.
My uncle George used to have a fruit and veg stall ,was more or less run by a women called Nancy ,
Any more info would be appreciated .late 70s I think .
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Yes I knew George Morgan and Nancy. They used to specialise in salads, lettuce, cucumbers etc. Nancy was a very outgoing Welsh lady with ribald sense of humour.
 
Vivienne14 said:
Be interesting to hear about any memories forum members have of the opening day. I don't really remember its opening. Although I was old enough to remember it, I have no recollection. When I went to town, I wouldn't go specifically to browse around the Bullring. It wasn't until I was a bit older that my friends and I would go there (not with parents) but simply to cut through it to go to Silver Blades Ice Rink. Then in the late 60's it would be to visit only specific things like the rag market for vintage clothes, or to the Chinese restaurant - whose name I've forgotten - or to the stall that sold lovely suede boots under the ramp in the outdoor market. Trying to pinpoint what the Bullring really meant to me, but am struggling a bit with that. I think it seemed a bit soulless at times, a place you passed through. Viv.
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I do remember opening day of the Bull Ring Centre and I was there that day, but all I remember was the crowds and being pushed and jostled. So after a quick tour around we retired to our usual hang out the Woolworths cafeteria it was much more interesting in the later weeks when the crowds started to drop off.

This photo shows the crowds on the walkway from the Manzoni Gardens entrance, in fact you can see the gardens from the windows on the left, they eventually moved those hawkers you can see because they interfered with the traffic flow.

City Bull Ring Market opening day .jpg
 
Not entirely sure of the date of this, but my guess it was probably drawn/painted just before the development of the bullring. There’s no signature except “LDB Studio 70” Or does the “70” refer to 1970, so a retrospective view. Viv

CCDDF7F4-3A40-448B-AD13-222CD927C679.jpeg
 
Curious print, but interesting nonetheless. Apart from the few figures on the far right everyone else is looking towards you. An awful lot of people stood looking on, so what was happening - if anything? There are many connotations, in a search, for Studio 70 but none suggesting the originators of the sketch. Much is as I remember it in the early 1950's, but the buses are something else. The double deck has the appearance of the front of a BCT bus, which would be odd in that position at that spot. The single deck would be a rarity on route 150, as busy route to Stratford-upon-Avon. Anyway lots of life in the sketch and for those into fashions of the past there is much to see.
 
brummie nick said:
Never worked in the market, but I worked in Pershore Street, and used to see the barrow 'boys' in the café there.
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I worked as a barrow boy for TC Brown on Pershore Street in 1965 and used the cafe there, I later moved to the old Rag Market and was a barrow boy for Matthews & Sons, in 1966 I joined the Royal Navy! #happydays
 
Yes definitely the Bull Ring, looking towards the old Market Hall from St Martins Churchyard. Probably pre-WW2 as the Market Hall still looks like it has its roof. Viv.
 
Not sure about the other vehicles, but the bus suggests a post 1950 date. The buildings in the background, however, suggest 1960's.
Those hoardings, in the churchyard, seem to have been there a while; they may give a clue to the approximate date.
 
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