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Chain Walk, Birmingham

Dolly, I'm surprised that Chain Walk is still here, and the houses virtually the same. My older brother and sisters learnt to dance at Madam Amies in Chain Walk.
 
I used to pass it on the bus every day for years and always wondered why it got such a name.

Chris
 
I have talked about Madame Amies before on this site and have great memories of going there with my friend Margaret. It was a completely different era back in the late l950's.
The floor specially treated to make dancing easier, the small cafe like area that sold no more than orangeade, coffee, tea and fairy cakes. The special professional dancing couples that visited from time to time, as good as the " Dancing with the Stars" programmes we see now on TV, so glamorous and great to watch. Yes, I abandoned Amies for the "Lockers"(Locarno) in Hurst Street with it's large live band but I have never forgotten the great evenings I spent dancing the night away at Madame Amies.
 
My dad grew up there, in a house behind the back of the ones facing the street..‚.. The houses were lined up in rows, the yards were shared by two houses, and I think there were gates into each yard.‚.. Long time ago and the mind does play tricks.‚.. :-\

Thanks again Pete.
 
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they have done a splendid job of renovating all the stonework on and it looks great,apart from the big advert on about the creche facilities it has to offer,
 
Many thanks Dolly. There were lots of trees Peter; there were two in the court outside our backyard gate and plenty in Burbury Street Park.
 
This thread has renewed old memories of Chain Walk. My old friend Tommy Watters used to live in the 2nd or 3rd house down from Lozells Rd. Manys the evening spent there with my elder brother, chatting, playing records, supping on rock cakes and dandelion & burdock. Always finishing up playing cards for matchsticks - pontoon, horsey horsey and snap. That was were I learned to play snap with a man that stuttered. I won every time. This was all pre-war and it wasn't until 1945 that I began to attend "The Coffin" aka Madam Aimies in order to learn 'proper dancing'. Ah happy days. Strict tempo with Victor Sylvester all under the watchful eye of the instructors. :smitten:
 
I recall as a child visiting my Aunt Rose who used to live there and I am trying to access details of the residents who were there in the 60's. I cannot access the Census for 1961. I think the surname may have been AUSTIN, CHILES/CHILDS or CRAWFORD. Any suggestions please?
 
in 1967 there is an Emily Austin at 26 Chain Walk, Lozells Ward. Is this the Chain Walk you want? I cannot see anyone else in 1967 with the names you mention. The last census you can view is 1911. You wont see the 1961 for at least another 40 years.
 
I've just checked the Electoral Rolls for Chain Walk in 1960, 1962, & 1965 and none of those surnames exist in those years. Perhaps if you can give us some forenames for those surnames, we might be able to find them for you.

There is a Cheyne Walk in Harborne, but it doesn't appear to have any houses and is a footpath only about four feet wide!

Maurice :cool:
 
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I've just checked the Electoral Rolls for Chain Walk in 1960, 1962, & 1965 and none of those surnames exist in those years. Perhaps if you can give us some forenames for those surnames, we might be able to find them for you.

There is a Cheyne Walk in Harborne, but it doesn't appear to have any houses and is a footpath only about four feet wide!

Maurice :cool:
Brilliant and Thank You. All I recall is that her name to me was Aunty ROSE. I believe she had a son who was killed in the War. I was told he was on HMS HOOD but I have checked that and cannot see anyone of that name on the dead/casualty list
 
in 1967 there is an Emily Austin at 26 Chain Walk, Lozells Ward. Is this the Chain Walk you want? I cannot see anyone else in 1967 with the names you mention. The last census you can view is 1911. You wont see the 1961 for at least another 40 years.
Brilliant and Thank You. All I recall is that her name to me was Aunty ROSE. I believe she had a son who was killed in the War. I was told he was on HMS HOOD but I have checked that and cannot see anyone of that name on the dead/casualty list
 
Brilliant and Thank You. All I recall is that her name to me was Aunty ROSE. I believe she had a son who was killed in the War. I was told he was on HMS HOOD but I have checked that and cannot see anyone of that name on the dead/casualty list
Thank You. It was definitely Chain Walk, Lozells.
 
The are some pics of Chain Walk in several posts on the forum .... :)
Chain Walk pic in post below ..

And if you have the time you can catch a glimpse of it from a No 6 tram in a 2 hour film in the post below ..
https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/electric-trams.28642/post-605401
It is mentioned about 1hr 14min into the film as the tram passes Chain Walk.

Several more pics in a forum pdf can be seen in the link below. It will open in your default browser or save it in your computer.
kb4.pdf
 
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