1 Perry Barr to Erdington

[Phil]

1 Perry Barr to Erdington

The start of out journey begins for the purpose of this thread at Birchfield Rd Perry Barr, running along Aston Lane to Witton then we turn into Witton Rd,Witton Road changes to Brookvale Rd and then Marsh Hill as we approach Stockland Green and cross over the Slade Rd - Streetly Rd junction into Reservoir Rd. From here we continue on until we reach six ways Erdington and the end of the first leg of our journey.

I only intend to do a basic commentary on this journey so that anyone can record their own memories of this section of the route, All I ask is that you keep your posts and photos pertinent to this section of the route only.

 

[Phil]

The next 5 photos in this section, travelling up Witton Road and Brookvale Rd,

 

[Phil]

The next 5 photos of this section, Brookvale Rd, Marsh Hill to Stockland Green,

 

[Phil]

Here are the last five photos of this section of the route, Stockland Green to Erdington Six Ways. Please add any comments or photos of the route that are relevant to this section of the thread on this section of the thread only.

 

[A Sparks]

Apologies if this isn't really relevant to the thread but Perry Barr to Stockland Green on the number 11 was my route to school for five years.
Very nostalgic!

 

[Phil]

Apologies if this isn't really relevant to the thread but Perry Barr to Stockland Green on the number 11 was my route to school for five years.
Very nostalgic!

This is exactly what I am looking for, and as I open more sections of the route hopefully others will add their memories.

 

[Vivienne14]

I remember using the #11 outer circle in the 1950s and 60s in conjunction with the #29 from Perry Barr. My mum and I used to take the #29 from Kingstanding to Perry Barr to link up with the 11 outer circle from PBarr to Kenilworth, Rd Aston. This was a regular weekly trip which I always enjoyed because I knew at the end of it I'd be able to browse my mum's friends Freeman's and Littlewood's catalogues when we got there while they talked the hind legs off a donkey. But I remember the return journey being incredibly tedious, having to change buses, waiting around for the #29 home.


Later on the #11 played a key role in my teenage years when my friends and I used to (literally) jump on it after school at the Bleak Hill/Marsh Hill junction to go into Erdington High Street for either coffee and discussions (mostly about boys) in the cafe in Taylor's/Owen Owen or a browse in Chelsea Girl. To us the bus was a lifeline in holding our social/love life together. We solved all the problems of teenage life on that bus journey, planned our futures and even bunked off school using the service.


Mostly my later memories are of the #11 providing a link to various other bus routes to navigate Birmingham. I rarely used it exclusively for one journey, but combined it with other bus routes to get me where I wanted to go.


Memories generated by the photos:
Stockland Green Plaza where I saw the first screening of Jungle Book. We took loads of snacks into the cinema with us and got a roasting from the usherette for making such a racket with our crisp and sweet packets during the performance. Also remember going there one Sunday afternoon taking warm roasted chicken sandwiches on freshly baked home made bread (one of those part-baked/bake at home loaves) to see "Lady Sings the Blues".


The bread shop on Stockland Green that sold warm pies. In the 6th form we'd go in there at lunchtime and ask for a 'Sweeney Todd' (pie) and Devon Bun. Don't think the assistants ever quite got to grips with why we'd ask for 'Sweeney Todds' - and we'd be terribly smug about it of course being arrogant, liberated 1960s 6th formers! We'd then go over to one of the exits from the Plaza cinema and sit on the steps to eat our pies.


The Stockland Inn - next door was the coach company where, as a youngster, I was taken to catch the night-time coach to Newquay for our holidays. In later years the Stockland Inn was used by teachers (and 6th formers) from the Marsh Hill Grammar Tech Schools - unbeknown to the heads of those schools.




Ahhhhh, the freedom of those days .... Viv.

 

[Astoness]

hi dave re post 7 i cant see the photo could you try again please..

 

[Dave M]

hi dave re post 7 i cant see the photo could you try again please..

Hi lyn have tried a few times, have changed the title, will try again later

 

[Astoness]

hi dave if changing the title does not work slightly reduce the size of the photo and delete the first one you tried to post.. if that does not work we can swap emails via private message and if you email me the photo i will post it for you...

 

[Dave M]

Granddad on duty outside the Plaza

 

[Astoness]

dave thats a cracking photo of your grandad...i can even see the likeness to you...i have deleted the post where you tried to upload the photo to keep the thread tidy...

thanks dave

lyn

 

[Phil]

A few more photos of this section of the route, we have among these, Brookvale Rd crossing the canal bridge, The bottom of Marsh Hill by Gypsy Lane, and a couple of the junction of Reservoir Rd and Sutton New Rd.

 

[Astoness]

thanks phil love the one of the man tending what i presume is a gas light...

 

[Phil]

A few more just discovered images of Aston Lane that belong at the beginning of this thread. One of the junction of Aston Lane and Birchfield Rd another of the junction of Aston Lane and Wellhead Lane. The last one I'm not sure of the location other than it is Aston Lane. I'm sure that someone who lived a lot more local or used the number 11 route more than I did will soon pick it out.

 

[A Sparks]

I'm just trying to figure out what the large building is in the distance of the third picture.
Thought it might be Kynochs but I think it may be too far away from the corner of Walsall Road and Aston Lane?
There are a few houses before the Methodist Church but I can't remember a block as long as that after the church and before Kynochs - could be wrong though.

 

[Phil]

If it's of any help, the name over the tunnel access in the middle of the photo is "Bills Switchgear"

 

[Astoness]

sparks that building was getting me as well..it looks to be on or near the corner of aston lane and wellhead lane..it could be the building that was demolished just a few years ago but i dont know what company that was...i think switchgears was just after the methodist church but would need mike to provide a 50s map for the stretch of aston lane from birchfield road to wellhead lane to confirm...if you have time mike...thanks

lyn

 

[Astoness]

sparks that factory in the distance is not swtichgears...if you look at this photo you can see that there were houses after the methodist church and switchgears is behind those houses..

lyn

 

[mikejee]

Here is map c 1951. I think it must be the "electrical insulating material works (Tufnol) listed in wellhead lane

 

[Astoness]

thanks mike thats what i thought...the aston lane part of tufnols that you see in the photo was demolished only a few years back but the wellhead lane part is still up and running...nice to see that the map also shows the line of houses in the photo...

lyn

 

[Vivienne14]

Think it might have been Bill Switchgear's place. There was an alleyway leading from Aston Lane to Bill Switchgear behind the houses.



Tufnulls (formerly Geo Ellisons) was closer to Wellhead Lane and occupied both sides of Wellhead Lane. As can be seen by these two photos. See "E" for Ellisons on the Wellhead Lane gates. Viv.

 

[Astoness]

hi viv yes the alley way did lead to switchgears but the factory you see in the distance was not switchgears as confirmed to me by someone who worked there..cant be certain though if the building in the distance was in fact part of tufnols...i watched it being demolished its just waste ground now

 

[Vivienne14]

Oops thought we were talking about the factory behind the houses on Aston Lane, The electrical insulating co on Mikes map on Wellhead Lane/Aston Lane is/was definitely Geo Ellisons/later Tufnoll. Both my mum and dad worked there and I remember waiting outside the factory to meet them after work. Geo Ellisons/Tufnolls on the other side of Wellhead Lane (just off Mikes map to the right) has been demolished but still has the gates with Ellison's 'E' logo on it. Looks like Tufnolls on the other side (marked Electrical insulating co on Mikes map) is still there today. Viv.

 

[Astoness]

thats great viv so now we know for sure what the factory in the distance was...actually its only been in the past few months they have cleared all the rubble away..and as i said earlier the wellhead lane part of tufnols is still up and running

lyn

 

[Pedrocut]

A few more photos of this section of the route, we have among these, Brookvale Rd crossing the canal bridge, The bottom of Marsh Hill by Gypsy Lane, and a couple of the junction of Reservoir Rd and Sutton New Rd.

The picture in post 13 entitled "Brookvale Road crossing the canal bridge" is actually looking from near the railway bridge at Witton. The bus is travelling towards the bridge and passing over the river Tame having passed Tame Road. The road curves to the left and on the right can be seen Hardy Spicer and further round the Yew Tree pub. A closer view of this area can be seen on my picture from the 70s seen here...

https://www.panoramio.com/photo/30903991

A further view from the canal bridge, before the motorway, can be seen here...

https://www.panoramio.com/photo/30901569

 

[Pedrocut]

Living in Brookvale Road for around 50 years. If I was to recall the journey on the Outer Circle from Perry Barr to Six Ways Erdington...

Rush hour traffic jams around Witton Circle.
The mesmerising motor that was for ever spinning at Higgs Motors.
The regular flooding around Tame Road and the Yew Tree pub.
Looking from the top deck to the bowling green at the Yew Tree Pub.
The lovely weeping willows on the far bank of the Tame.
The Large Stone Mason's building opposite the Cemetery, before the dual carriageway.
The unusual stone used to build the Stockland Pub.
The prefabs along Reservoir Road.

Of course many people would describe the stops on the Outer Circle by the Pub names, so should I say from the Crown and Cushion to the Queens?