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AVERY SCALES HISTORY

Sean - there are several threads where the demo/archaeology of the Park St/Digbeth site has come up in discussion. EllBrown took quite a few photos of the site where the George pub and the Music Hall once stood on the corner of Park Street. They may or may not be of interest but I’m posting the two main ones here as a quick link.

Royal George Tavern, Park Street/Digbeth

The Ship from the Royal George went back to the brewery, who then put it in storage......how do I know, well when it closed on the door was the plaque saying who was the licensees, and my great uncle Robert Burrows was licenced from late 1930's till his death in 1954, his wife Gladys then took...
birminghamhistory.co.uk birminghamhistory.co.uk

Digbeth Music Hall London Museum Music Hall

The London Music Hall opened in 1863 and was nicknamed The Mucker, it later changed name to The Canterbury Music Hall. In 1912 it opened as the Bull Ring Cinema and operated as such until December 1931 when it closed. Since then it has many uses. I have memories of it as an amusement arcade in...
birminghamhistory.co.uk birminghamhistory.co.uk

Viv.
 
Pedrocut said:
Reproducing Sean’s Fire Insurance Map (1885 ish) from the previous thread, and adding one for the southern side of Digbeth (turned 180 deg)


View attachment 176196


View attachment 176198
Click to expand...
Looking at this fire map again, the outline for 135/136/137 looks as it is now, as does 138, we also have the base to the candle factory (the awkward angles match the base i've found) at a slightly higher level (a step up) from our base in 138, so in my opinion this could be undisturbed ground for a long long time (before this map), now all is uncovered it all looks right to this map to me
 
I noticed from the Avery Scales website that the museum at Soho Foundry has now closed. Does anyone know what's happened to all the exhibits, especially the weighbridge? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
 
Lady Penelope said:
I noticed from the Avery Scales website that the museum at Soho Foundry has now closed. Does anyone know what's happened to all the exhibits, especially the weighbridge? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks.
Click to expand...
hi pen its been closed for a few years now i think...no idea where the exhibits are but they could still be in the building...shame it closed as i fancied a visit

lyn
 
Thanks Lyn. I thought that would be the case.

Graham and a friend are looking into John Wyatt's inventions at the moment so I'll do a bit of emailing to see if there is any hope of visiting. If we do manage to get in I'll let you know so that you can come too. It's a faint hope but nothing ventured....!

Penny
 
Lady Penelope said:
Thanks Lyn. I thought that would be the case.

Graham and a friend are looking into John Wyatt's inventions at the moment so I'll do a bit of emailing to see if there is any hope of visiting. If we do manage to get in I'll let you know so that you can come too. It's a faint hope but nothing ventured....!

Penny
Click to expand...
thanks pen...

lyn
 
see also

W T Avery scales

Remember that in those days all prices were calculated using mental arithmetic. The weight in lbs and oz times the price per pound in shillings and pence. Scales like these, and not all shops had them, helped the calculation of ounces by the price per lb but if the weight was over 1 lb you still...
birminghamhistory.co.uk

Henry Pooley & Sons

I'm trying to find any photos or illustrations of the Henry Pooley & Sons factory in Heath Mill Lane. The main factory was listed as being in Liverpool but they transferred to Birmingham. Eventually they were taken over by W. & T. Avery. Thanks
birminghamhistory.co.uk
 
#138 Digbeth (Avery’s) was designed in 1936 by Samuel Nathaniel Cooke according to the Midlands Pubs site - extract below and annotated with Digbeth building addresses.

This also ties in with a sale of the lease in 1924, which at that time only had 12 years left on the lease, therefore expiring in 1936. That must have been when the old building was demolished and the current building was erected.

I’ve included in the Midlands Pub extract details of the adjoining building too (#137 Digbeth - once the umbrella maker’s premises for interest).

Viv
B91080AC-D9D1-4FB0-9BF2-404405BE1D76.jpeg
Source: https://www.midlandspubs.co.uk/birmingham/digbeth/
 
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And once the BVSC signs come down we might have some clearer ghost signs. The Phyllis Nicklin 1968 image shows ‘scales’ to the left of the W & T Avery name above the ground floor level shop front.

Viv.

8D140226-4103-4E78-87E2-C3B40BD36D16.jpeg
EBFC9458-1B00-4C3D-83F3-153BA1D307D8.jpeg
Source: Last image extracted from 1968 Phyllis Nicklin image
 
Just so that I can keep up and get my bearings Sean, am I right in thinking all the later buildings (red arrow) have now gone - ie the rear of #138. (I realise EllBrown’s photo below was taken a few years ago of course). Viv.

DFA29C20-FF0B-42FD-B0ED-8DC4DEF38ED0.jpeg
 
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