All that time and they give him a blooming umbrella
That was to block out the light from the street light that shone through his bedroom window so he could sleep inAll that time and they give him a blooming umbrella
The city council had many departments that looked after various aspects of the council’s assets, a few I recall are:
The lighting department as said, looked after street lighting, gas and electric. It also organised the paint of lighting columns
The Public Works department looked after the maintenance of public loos etc
The Education Department maintained the schools
The Engineers department looked after the council house, libraries and law courts.
The hosing department – social housing stock
The highways department
The refuge department
There was also of course gas, electricity, water and sewage sections too.
Seems like a lot of departments, a octopus perhaps, how much duplication of resources ?.
How many mid - managers too many ?.
How many times have we looked at three guys and only one digging the hole then one other in the shelter making a cuppa.
Back to light poles
My grandad worked for the Birmingham lighting in the late 50s he used to have to go round Perry Common at lighting up time to replace any gas mantles that had failedI thought lighting was the responsibility of the Electric Boards. First time I’ve heard of the public service of Birmingham Lighting Department. This one refers to a Spring Lane Erdington Depot. Viv.
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Just to say that in the 1970/80"s all Hackney's (Black cabs ) were taken to the old Public Lighting Depot building in Cambridge Street, for their annual fitness to work inspection fora licence to operate as taxi in Birmingham TomI thought lighting was the responsibility of the Electric Boards. First time I’ve heard of the public service of Birmingham Lighting Department. This one refers to a Spring Lane Erdington Depot. Viv.
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Off the top of my head, Birmingham had a number of small local electricity generating stations known as The Birmingham Electric Supply Co. This is before the time of the big power stations like Salford Bridge and Hams Hall etc. There was one on Mary Street Balsall Heath, and I recall a few others scattered around Birmingham.I have just downloaded a 1921 census record for my Grandfather and it shows his employer as The Birmingham Electric Supply Co. His occupation was recorded as "Ash Hand". Does anyone know anything about the company and what that job might have been? He was previously a tram conductor