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Bull Ring 1960s - 1980s

A misty, atmospheric February 1963 view with building in progress on several new projects. In contrast, a few old reminders with days numbered top left. Source: Birmingham Mail Archives. Viv.

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Great photo but I really liked it best before all that was done! I clearly remember Smallbrook Ringway on a Sunday morning in September 1962 thinking it was so stark and cold! Oh well!
 
I’ve just noticed there’s a hawker in the photo - didn’t take this one long to set up his pitch in this ‘new’ area. Wonder what he was selling ? And can we spot the ‘looker outer’ ? Viv.
 
Great photo Covroad. Woolies to the left. Must have walked past these stalls hundreds of times. Don’t remember the name B&J Eustace #1 stall. It’s looks like they sold fruit. Viv.
 
The weather does not look to good!
The handcart with B&J Eustace signage , is I believe Barry Eustace a market trader in fruit and veg at the time.
Attached is another picture from Birmingham Live nostalgia showing the rotunda under construction in the 60’s
 

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Pictures of the Bull Ring (source John Laing Ltd design brochure)
 

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The weather does not look to good!
The handcart with B&J Eustace signage , is I believe Barry Eustace a market trader in fruit and veg at the time.
Attached is another picture from Birmingham Live nostalgia showing the rotunda under construction in the 60’s
Thanks for this pic Covroad. A sign for the Chopsticks restaurant on the balcony. Our favourite Chinese eatery in the mid sixties. Fabulous. Happy memories. Kind regards Sue.
 
thanks from me too covroad...i always look at the faces in the hopes that i may spot our mom and dad as they loved to shop in and around the bull ring

lyn
 
Picture of the then new / under construction West Midlands Gas Board showroom in Dale End circa 1981(ish)
 

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Attached, a detailed and labelled model of the Bull Ring including the Midland Red bus Station.
A fantastic 3D model, to show what the constructed site will look like Including the spiral ramp by St Martins.
Source John Laing Archives
 

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Attached, a detailed and labelled model of the Bull Ring including the Midland Red bus Station.
A fantastic 3D model, to show what the constructed site will look like Including the spiral ramp by St Martins.
Source John Laing Archives
Back in those days those models were made by Model Makers from drawings primarily to make sure that everything fits, today the model makers for the most part are gone replaced by a CAD program. Using a CAD system the time to complete is much faster and so much easier to facilitate any changes almost at will!
 
Back in those days those models were made by Model Makers from drawings primarily to make sure that everything fits, today the model makers for the most part are gone replaced by a CAD program. Using a CAD system the time to complete is much faster and so much easier to facilitate any changes almost at will!
Yes, technology has revolutionised civils works , I recently worked on a project where we met the designer on site, his team set the site out with bluetooth pegs and over flew the site with a drone .
In less than 2 hours we had a topographical survey, 3D build, ( including excavations,footings,materials, quantities etc) .
 
Back in those days those models were made by Model Makers from drawings primarily to make sure that everything fits, today the model makers for the most part are gone replaced by a CAD program. Using a CAD system the time to complete is much faster and so much easier to facilitate any changes almost at will!
I had a friend in those days who could interpret engineering drawings into artists impressions with perspective views. No doubt a talent made obsolete by technology!
 
I had a friend in those days who could interpret engineering drawings into artists impressions with perspective views. No doubt a talent made obsolete by technology!
Exactly, because the CAD system can be manipulated readily into impressions and actually are the drawings.
 
The Brooke Bond / PG Tips chimpanzees having a tea party in the Bull Ring concourse mid 1960’s
 

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Turners Shoe Shop in the Bull Ring Centre late 1960’s ? Next to Lewis Separates, and a Cadbury Dairy Milk advert above the shops
Source.JLaing archives
 

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My memories of the Market Hall in the 1950's are quite small but two things -

1. My Grandad going there on Saturday afternoons when he finished work to buy meat and veg when they were being sold off at knock down prices. He had a family of 9 to feed so with weekly wages in his pocket he bought as much as he could at the sale prices as traders cleared their goods for the weekend. No food banks then.
2. I kept guinea pigs as a boy and to my surprise this lead to baby guinea pigs (who knew?). I couldn't keep them all. I used to take them on the bus (50) in a box to the Market Hall and sell them for 2/6 to a pet stall. They sold them for 7/6. If only Dragon's Den or The Apprentice had existed I could be a millionaire by now with my guinea pig farms.

Simpler days !
 
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The Bull Ring / Market area with Bell St to the left (where the old Market Hall was)
This is and the subsequent Bull Ring rebuild in the 60’s was the Brum I will always remember , there was always a happy and friendly atmosphere in amongst the hustle and bustle .

Source Phyllis Nicklin©B'ham University Picture dated 1959
 

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My memories of the Market Hall in the 1950's are quite small but two things -

1. My Grandad going there on Saturday afternoons when he finished work to but meat and veg when they were being sold off at knock down prices. He had a family of 9 to feed so with weekly wages in his pocket he bought as much as he could at the sale prices as traders cleared their goods for the weekend. No food banks then.
2. I kept guinea pigs as a boy and to my surprise this lead to baby guinea pigs (who knew?). I couldn't keep them all. I used to take them on the bus (50) in a box to the Market Hall and sell them for 2/6 to a pet stall. They sold them for 7/6. If only Dragon's Den or The Apprentice had existed I could be a millionaire by now with my guinea pig farms.

Simpler days !
My dad might well have bought two of your guinea pigs. I had a smooth haired one and a flat (rose) haired one. After them I moved on to rabbits (pet ones!). One was called Mandy - what a trendy 1960s name I’d chosen, albeit controversial. Expect Mandy was from a pet shop as the Market Hall would have been swept away by then. Viv.
 
A picture of the Bull Ring in the 70’s (source Birmingham Live Nostalgia )
Bill and Joan Eustace, their son was Barry. One of the biggest traders on the market, two stalls, sometimes three and and inside stall too.
 
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