Aston - Miscellaneous Pictures

[Astonian]

HI MIKE ,
Some Of Us Have ProbalyHad Seen Them Before .But It Good To See Them Again ,
The Forth Pic You Showed Was The Old Garage Forecourt Which Was Directly Oppersite Our Terrace House Which Was Called Cromwell Terrace It Had Two Big Walls In Blue Brick On Each Side With Two Big Whopping Balls Of Concrete On Each One And You Walk Through It To Walk Up A Hill To The Terrace House Which Was Both Sides Of You As You Walked Up These Row Of Houses ,But Getting Back To The Garage , That Where Old Claribelle Staerted Its Sharra Bangs And Where You See That Dark Fencing It Was Only Put There I Would Say About Three Years Before That Picture Was Taken It Was All New Just Where The Fencing Is The Fore court Would Go Down Very Rapid Slope And That Side Of The Fence Used To Belong To A Builders Merchant Whom,S Name I Cannot Recall At The Moment And You Could Get Off The Bus At That Lamp post And Walk Through To Wain Right St , Same You Walking Along To The Corner Of Portland St And Turning Down Into Wain Right St But More Often And Enough The Builders Merchant Would Lock The Gates In Wain wright St And You Would Have To Walk Back And Around The Little Shop Next On Your Riight Was Greens The News Agent , You Would Have To Step Right Down Into The Shop If He Had Three People In YouCould Not StepIn Because It Was That Small . And Next Was The Chippy ,The Chips Was a Penny , And ThenThey Started Over The Years Creeping Up To 2 Pence Then 3 Pence Mind You They Was Good Chips And If You Asked For The Scratchings Because We Could Not Afford The Fish They Would Give You A Big Bag Of Them , ThenThere Was The Gallaghers The Barbers With His Cut Throat Razor For Men My Dad Took ME oVER wHEN i Was Able To Walk Turn Into Portland Street At The Corner Side Of Gallaghers Was A Cafe He Was My Friend Raymond We Used To Play With All His Dinky Cars His momHad A Morriss 1OOO Commercial Which Was Kept At The Back Of That Fence But Before They Ever Built It Because The Builders Merchants Sold Out And Claribelle Bought The Land And Built Himself A Proper Little Office
Facing The Cafe And The Side Of Gallaghers Was An Horse Trough For All The Ansells Dray Horse The Draymen Would Often Start There Or Finish There With A Breakfast Or A Cup Of Tea When They Had Finished There Round And Un load In The Yard And Take Ther Horse Up To Vicarage Rd Stables Facing The School You Certanly Have Brought Memories Back To Me Today Mike , You Have Put The Icing On The Cake
Because Today I Got A Bonus , I Got A EM From Dave Bath And A Proper Picture Of The Widdows Arms As Some Members Thought I Got It Wrong And It Was ,t There
And It Was And It Was As I sAID wITH oLD mATTY On The Corner The Butchers Then The Entry For The Back House Then Old Parkes Grocery Where He Done The Butter Patting Then The Old Widdows As I Recall It From BirthIt Was A Little Short Of Catching Into View Old Cromwell Terrace Where I Was Born And Brought UP .
Any Way Mike Thanks A Million And Keep Up The Good Work You Are Doing For Us All On The ForumYou Have Made Me A Happy Man Along With Dave , Have ANice Day Both Of You
Best Wishes ASTONIAN,;;;

 

[Michael_Ingram]

Who needs pictures when you can give us that sort of detail Astonian! Many thanks

 

[Peter Walker]

Yes Patty, it was a 39 bus, and it dates the picture, because the buses didn't replace the 3X tram until 1 January 1950 and the last tram on the Lichfield Road ran on 4 July 1953.
Peter

 

[Peter Brackley]

Hi Michael,

Thanks for posting such a great set of pictures, the ones of Elkington Street were particularly evocative for me. I am the little boy on the end seat in the front row on the left as you look at the picture, Mrs Cropper is on the same side. A more distinguishing mark would be the size of my ears which it took me another 50 years to grow into.

Mrs Cropper holds a special place in my memory as it was in her car that I had my first car journey, a dark green A35 I think. It was as a reward for doing well in the end of year exams, four of us were taken out into the countryside to set the class newts free. Three of us sat in the back and one on her lap, no seat belts or risk assessments in those days.

Sadly I can't remember the names of almost anyone else in the picture, although I think my best mate Geoff Smith is in the middle of the middle row. I was slum cleared before I came to the end of what would now be year 5 but when I went back after passing the 11+ I was told that Geoff had gone to Handsworth Grammar I think, I went to KEGS Aston.

I have posted more about my time at Elkington St on another thread but sadly there don't seem to be too many school/classmates who are involved on the site.

I loved my time at Elkington St. perhaps it was one of the reasons why I became a headteacher, in a Primary School, myself. Have been retired for two years now but still come up from the Essex coast to watch my beloved Baggies, along with my oldest son who I brainwashed.

Thanks again for bringing back happy memories.

 

[BobS]

How about a couple of pics of Lichfield Road railway bridge when it was parked on it and not over it!!. BobS.

 

[Empty]

Michael,
just spotted this. Mrs Cropper was my teacher at Westminster Road school too! I have very fond memories of her. I was there from 1959 -1966 and have a pic of her somewhere....
Empty

 

[The Baron]

Hi Michael, your pic LOVERS WALK ASTON,
As a GEC employee I walked that WALK every day for 5 years from 1954, CAN YOU TELL ME WERE THE HOUSES WERE as shown in your pic?

 

[The Baron]

PIC #26 . any one remember the young boy being crushed by an ANSELLS lorry on the spot marked * In the late 40s (Outside what was the home&colonial? or Maypole? on the corner of Tower Road /Park road)
This site has stuck in my memory all my life. I would have been about 6 at the time.

 

[G G Jean]

Pat was he the short lad I think his name was Johny?. I used to get the 39 bus to get to town. Jean.

 

[JoanL]

I used to pass this on the inner circle bus on my way to my Grandmothers in bordesly Green from geech street in the 60's

 

[Michael_Ingram]

Did you live in Geach Street Joan?

 

[Di.Poppitt]

Witton Road. Checking on the 1946 Kelly I would say this bit is between Jardine Road and Nelson Road just by the Villa Ground

Missed this post until tonight, you are right Mike, the shops are the Outdoor on the corner of Nelson Road, Dave Brick, remember him!!, lived opposite, then Mouseleys Chemist, Miss Edward's Sweet Shop, in my day, Oliver's Newsagents, and just visable The ExRay.

 

[Peter Walker]

I've also missed this post until tonight and can only say, although I went to Aston Grammar from 1944 until 1950 and took quite an interest in what was going on locally, I don't recall the accident to the boy on the corner of Park Road and Tower Road. I spent most lunch times exploring, and my parents took the Mail every night, so I would expect I would have noticed something. Sorry not to be able to help.
Peter

 

[JoanL]

yes I did live in Geach Street from1958 to1966

 

[Big Gee]

Witton Road. Checking on the 1946 Kelly I would say this bit is between Jardine Road and Nelson Road just by the Villa Ground

Michael,

I've only just seen your photo of Witton Road. I delivered papers for Oliver's when I was but a nipper - I can't remember the name of the manager of the shop in those days, but he was a right *****! I also used to fetch prescriptions for my gran from Mousley's Chemist - she would never use Buckingham's further up Witton Road because she thought they were too up-market for her!

Big Gee

 

[dereklcg]

Some of these may have been posted before. They are in no order; here are the first.
Elkington School 1956. Some of our members must be here. lets have there names please.

The whole photo shoot is fantastic Michael
well done what a find. regards dereklcg.

 

[The Baron]

Can any one ADD LIGHT."Steam Engine's passing by ASTON HALL in 1851 as per this sketch.
Was it the start of the tram? or something to do with the GREAT EXABITION of 1851?
It looks all out of proportion showing the Parish Church were I would have thought the Holte would be?
ANY COMMENTS PLEASE?

 

[gingerjon]

it's called artists prerogative did it mention the date with this etching

 

[The Baron]

Yes John, as I stated .1851

 

[gingerjon]

whoops never noticed the date just interested the drawing if you notice Aston church is also in the wrong place as it's opposite the main entrance to Aston Hall this shows it to the right. I posted a train on the viaduct on a previous post which shows the church and hall in the right position

 

[G G Jean]

Have just spent over half an hour reading through this thread and found it fascinating. Was there also a 39A bus or is it just my imagination. Jean.

 

[Rupert]

The tree lined avenue in #47 would have been the same run as Queens Road on the 1890 map and there is a branch of the railway at the end. The church seems to be in the right location. Distances and perspective may be a bit off though. In fact this picture and Johns seem to be from almost the same place.

 

[sylviasayers]

Jean there was definitely a No.39 bus - terminus Witton Island. I used it every day when I worked at Atkinsons, and often when visiting my sister in Yew Tree Road, and my in-laws in Queens Road.

 

[G G Jean]

I used that bus more than any it was a short cut to town but wondered if there was also a 39a? Sylvia. Jean.

 

[sylviasayers]

Jean I can't honestly remember, but on other routes the 'A' denoted either a shortened service or like the No.8 and No.11 whether it was anti-clockwise A or C - clockwise.

 

[Big Gee]

The 39 ran from Witton Island (stop was outside the old tram-shed, now the Transport Museum) to Dale End, if memory serves. My mother always preferred the 39 to go into Brum, because it was 'quieter' than the 5 or 7 buses from Witton Road. In fact, it was so 'quiet' that it was taken off ages ago. I do recall a 39A, but don't know the difference in its route.

Strange, but my gran always preferred the long walk up The Broadway to Birchfield Road to get the 29A or the 33 into Brum, and my dad being my dad would walk down to Witton Station to get the train!

Big Gee

 

[G G Jean]

Big Gee I remember the 39 bus being taken off and had forgot the 29. I didn't like the 5 as it seamed to go all the way round the Reakin. When I was a very young child I remember waiting for the 39 bus outside Aston church gates [the small one] and someone giving me a boiled sweet that I almost choked on. Mrs Wragg was there and I remember her turning me upside down by the ankles and thumping my back. All those years ago I can feel the panic when I couldn't breath. Jean. [Oh as you've gathered] I did live to tell the tale. Jean.

 

[Big Gee]

Jean,

Wow, what an experience! Something similar happened to me in a ladies' outfitters in Witton Road (can't remember the name of the shop) when I was with my gran, who just whacked me on the back making the sweet shoot across the floor. We were asked to leave!

My mother's prejudice against the No 5 and 7 buses was that they went down Alma Street and Summer Lane, and she was always worried about the 'type of person' who might board! My dear old mom was Aston born and bred (Bevington Road) yet she was so particular...some might even have said a snob, bless her. It goes without saying that she always travelled 'inside', as she was very much anti-smoking...

Big Gee

 

[jennyann]

Great thread about the buses around the Witton area. Most people know my fears about the Bundy Clock beside the No.39 bus stop on Witton Circle or just beyond. I was often late getting the bus in the mornings and my fears started with the clock at the ICI and the bank at Six Ways Aston.
The ICI clock was sometimes wrong but the Bundy Clock wasn't!

It was always a toss up for me whether I should take the Outer Circle 11 from Marsh Hill School to Witton Circle and catch either the 5a or
the No.7 into town. If I was quite late going to school or work the 39 would always win out. However, I can remember being stuck in traffic
coming home at Six Ways Aston. The 5a bus would crawl up Alma Street for ages it seemed.

When I worked at New St Station I had a rail pass and thus avoided any
traffic jams. However, after getting off the train at Gravelly Hill Station I had to catch the 65 along Slade Road to Stockland Green or Dallas Road, one stop on and walk home from there.

 

[Di.Poppitt]

Graham, the ladies outfitter on Witton Road was Em's.

What roundabout journeys you had Jennyann. The train didn't play any part of my childhood, we on;y ever used the railways for going on holiday. But when our first baby came along I used to take him to town in his push chair. I would push him down to Witton station and catch the train into New Street, it was so easy. There was no contest with picking up a push chair and baby and trying to get onto a bus and wheeling Steve and push chair onto the guards van.