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Birchfield Road Perry Barr

D

debi

Brummie babby
could any one out there please help me find out the history of my shop ? i run the hairdressers on birchfield road perry barr opposite one stop called indigo blue. a few days ago i was looking at old photos of perry barr and saw one of the row of shops which mine is in the middle. i couldn't quite see my salon so it would be really interesting to see photos or read stories about what it once was especially 1950's 60's and 70's.
thanks x
 
The only shop I remember well was DODDS the tool & hardwear store were I bought most of my tool when a GEC Apprentice (joined there tool club). It was the first shop in that row on the left looking towards the City, was there not a BANK at the other end opposite the New Crown & Cushion, somewere before the bank was The Old Crown & Cushion
 
A painting I did of Birchfield Road, the bank is on the corner, Aston, and Dodds was below it.
 
If my memory serves me right Di,  that Bank was THE OLD MUNICIPAL BANK (later the TSB).In later years was there not a large shopping square over the road from Dodd's, it name escapes me at the moment I think it was next to the railway station? :-\
Used to go in to Wellington Rd for my Garden bedding  from Hirons? plant's (I think thats how its spelt).
This is another one of those Topics that gets the old grey matter pulling out pictures in one's mind, its amaazing What one as forgoten thats  still at the back of your memory banks,just needs the trigger to have it all come flooding back! O0
Great Picture again Di. :smitten:
ASTON
 
thanks for all your replies it was great to see your picture Di what was Astons i know now that Dodds must have been where Papaya cafe is now. John, my shop number is 365, thanks. ;D
 
Not very good Pics but this is the  TSB Bank & SHOPS looking towards Walsall.Also the shops.
 
Welcome Debi
In 1949 , no. 365 was Albt. C. Callis , Cooked Meat Dealer

Colin
 
I got to know Birchfield Rd, quite well in the 40s
walked up and down there 100s of times trying to get ciggies
for the motley crew of builder's where I was employed as an apprentice.
Like Aston, I bought a lot of my tools from Dodd's and also
used to take the picks and crowbars to be sharpened
at the Blacksmith in Welling ton Road,also taking timesheets
to the offices at #316, just opposite the Odeon
 
Aston,
next to the railway on the left hand side,
was "Kings" cafe, the other side of the railway,
was the Perry Barr Greyhound Track
 
if only everybody else took pride in their property as you do debi it would be a nicer place again
 
There's no priide anymore is there. I can see the young lads wrapped in an apron, wash leather in hand cleaning shop windows.
 
In the middle of that block was Clarke's Fruiterer's. They were two brothers and kept the shop there for at least 30 years. Walter Clarke lived in the same street as myself and his brother lived in Milverton Road close to Highcroft Hall. Christine his eldest daughter was my friend at primary school. It was a hard life since they sold mostly fruits and vegetables and had to get up very early to go to the markets in the Bull Ring.

It was a very good business for that area as I can't remember any other fruit and veg shops along Birchfield Road. What an unsightly, sad looking place now. I saw it all several times a couple of years ago when I would catch the Sutton bus in Carrs Lane and go back to Sutton the long way round.
 
Reply 4. The name of the Sq in PERRY BARR I just remembered was LYNTON SQUARE.
We had some very good friends who worked there at Capital Finance.
We all belonged to the Rugely & District Car Club at the time .(More good times remembered)
 
I was at Birchfield sec mod when they built (or dug) the underpass. All of the shops on the other side of the road were knocked down. But not before an unruly bunch of yobbos got into them to see if they had left anything useful. I seem to remember a newsagents and a chemist, but that is about all.
 
kelly's 1956 no need to guess here they are I can complete Birchfield road from Lozells end if you are interested
 
HI ASTON
I CAN RELATE TO LYNTON SQUARE I USED TO WORK FOR WILLIAMS FURNITURE WE HAD THE SHOP ON THE CORNER THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN AROUND 1974/5 THEN MUCH LATER I WORKED FOR M F I WHO HAD I THINK THE OLD WOOLWORTHS SHOP BIT FURTHER BACK. STILL HAPPY HOURS IN THE CROWN AND CUSHIONS ( BOTH) AS WELL AS THE DOGS AND SPEEDWAY AT THE TRACK.
JOHN
 
Hi, John what I remember of the square was around the 60s come early 70s spent a lot of time down that way in our lunch hours.
So many Pubs around GEC Witton where I worked,We used to try to see how far we could get, have a pint and still get back for 2.00pm with out being late. Church Taven, Tennis Courts, Crown & Crown & Cush, O & The Towers.
What Happy care free days they now seem.
ASTON
 
DON'T WORRY to dolly ferret i ain't  offended at all.  the shop will look  better when i can afford to get a new sign and paint the front which is definately over due !
thanks for popping in to see me i just wondered what was going on but now i've seen it, it really dosn't matter so don't fret!
thanks for going to the trouble of taking the pics it is still really interesting because i can compare the shops to how they once were which is a blooming shame  they do look a mess and i shall try to keep mine as nice as i can. i wonder why some people let places get into this state ?!! :)
 
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