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Bradford street

Carolann

Journeyman Brummie
Hi,
My Grandparents lived in Bradford Street in the 1920`s
As anyone got any Photo`s of Bradford Street as it was then please.
Thankyou
Carolann
 
carolann im just going through some books i have been lent and ive come accross a pic of bradford st taken in 1950..if thats any good to you let me know and i will post it for you..

lyn
 
carolann i thought as i was on the page i may as well post it for you...

lyn
 
thanks paul..yes ive seen all of phyllis nicklins photos...what an asset to brum history she was...have you seen the keith berry collection they are not to be missed either..

lyn
 
I like this 1783 drawing of Bradford Street, think it's a fascinating because it's got so much going on in it. I recognise St. Martin's (to the right I think?) but which church is that directly ahead? Viv

Bradford_Street_1783.JPG
 
What a cracker of a picture, is that a toll gate in the middle distance?
 
Yes. that is on the border of St Martins and Deritend & Bordesley Wards. At this point this is also along the river Rea
 
I was going to say St Pauls, because that sits on a hill, but if you look just in front of the church there is the round building with the conical roof. It appears in the Samuel Lines painting and was on New Street.
So, I think that the church in the distnace must be Christchurch.
 
Yes Neville I think it's a toll gate and the road looks cobbled to me, so probably had quite a bit of traffic. Leslam, I've had a look at the Samuel Lines picture, and yes it does look like Christ Church. On this drawing it looks so big and out of proportion, but maybe that's because it's on top of a hill. So the church on the very far right must be St. Phillip's. Roughly whereabouts do you think the river is Mike? Viv.
 
It does look dramatically steep at this end, don't you think?

Perhaps it has been made a more gentle slope in recent times..
 
Leslam
I agree the large church in the distance is Christchurch. I di not mean you could see the Rea in th epicture, just that it follows the boundary. you can see this from the 1839 map. I am certain the tollgate is where the boundaty (in red) crosses the road. The blue river by it is the Rea

mike


1123_a4b4.jpg
 
Thanks Mike, I see it now. Your map really helps. Looking at it I'd say the view in the 1783 drawing might be much closer to St. Martin's than I first thought. The road in the drawing veers off to the right and Bradford St on the map is very straight until you reach the point where there's a #7 on the map. That's assuming the earlier course of the road was followed. It might also explain the large appearance of Christ Church. But that doesn't explain the position of the toll gate, as I agree with Mike that this is most likely to be on the boundary. Viv.
 
hi carolina thats a great drawing and map off mike of bradford st...i was down that way recently...how its changed....
lyn
 
I have looked at this picture many times before and did come to a different conclusion about it but I am sure you are right. I would have expected Christchurch to be placed higher than in the drawing though and not so large as shown. Still licence is always required and both churches seem to be in the right direction. Looking at, even todays view, it just feels like Bradford Street does it not. Yes there is a turn in the end as it goes up to Moat Row.
 
The 1783 drawing is also interesting as it shows what I recognize as two pottery kilns. I wonder what the history of them, or the pottery, might be?
 
Agree Alan. It would be interesting to find out more about the kilns. They wouldn't be brick kilns would they? Also, Neville's suggestion in post #13 about the slope of the road was correct! Here's an extract from Langford's 'A century of Birmingham Life'. It says: "October 21 1805. It gives us pleasure to observe the great improvements which are making in Bradford-street, by removing the hill at the top and carrying the soil to the lower part thereof. We think it proper, however, in order to prevent accidents, to recommend travellers and the public in general to avoid passing with horses or carriages along that part of Deritend till a safe and secure road is completed" Viv.
 
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