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City And Midland Arcades

Hi Kirk

These are a few photos taken through the years since the bombing. Can you give a year that you want a listing for.
 

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Kirk


The listing from 1956.

CITY ARCADES (2), Union street to Union passage & Warwick pass. MAP G 4.

1 & 2 Terry Gabrielle Ltd.ladies' outfitters
3 Isabel Ltd. milliners
4 Birmingham Dairy Co.Ltd
5 6 & 7 Isabel Ltd. milliners

here is Union Passage & Warwick Passage

8/9 Brown George M. Ltd. house furnishers
 
Thank you Phil for all your help.

I am currently looking into getting a lease for unit 2 of the arcade to maybe turn into a coffee bar - its such a shame it is becoming so run down again like in the 1960's. The units are becoming empty every 6 months and i hope i can inspire and bring back the arcade to former glory of when it was built.

So any information on previous businesses and photos will be of great help so i can save the provenance of the building for future generations so it not lost.

Question - In the first photo from the main entrance there is a art deco hexagonal light... do you know if it was re-purposed in another building or scraped... Also do you know what the colour of the glass was?
 
The Co-op purchased the Midland Arcade in 1928 for investment and expansion. The Arcade had 7 shops with frontages on New Street and 14 shops within the Arcade itself. This photo shows the Co-op's chemist and opticians within the Arcade. Viv.

image.jpeg
 
The Blitz left the whole of the Midland Arcade on fire from High Street to New Street, with the road itself ablaze and a molten stream of blazing tar pushed its way downhill towards New Street Station.
 
Need some help working this out. In the centre of this WW2 (April 1941) aerial photo you can see a burnt out arcade. Can someone tell me if it's the Midland Arcade ? Thanks. Viv.

image.jpeg
 
Thanks Mike.

As some images are missing from this thread, here are two of City Arcades. The first image is 1912, the second looks earlier. They both show intersections of the Arcades, although which intersections I'm not sure. Viv.

image.jpeg image.jpeg
 
After a lot of searching I found Stanley and Co in 1913 Kelly's and all is says is "blouse specialists 69, 70 and 71 City Arcades".
The "erff" is for Werff Bros Ladies Tailors at 82 to 85. Midland Arcade is between 44 and 46 as far as I can tell.
 
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My grandmother worked at Stanleys in the 1920s and early 1930s. Was Stanleys on City Arcade? So in the lower postcard in the previous post is the left side the end of City Arcade heading towards Union Str and the right side Union Passage heading towards Union Str?
The left side looks like the end of the arcade in this picture attached. Where else could this "Y" junction be?
 

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JonJB said:
My grandmother worked at Stanleys in the 1920s and early 1930s. Was Stanleys on City Arcade? So in the lower postcard in the previous post is the left side the end of City Arcade heading towards Union Str and the right side Union Passage heading towards Union Str?
The left side looks like the end of the arcade in this picture attached. Where else could this "Y" junction be?
Click to expand...
Just found Stanleys advert Evening Despatch 13/12/1939 confirming shop front faces City Arcade and Union Passage
134428
 
I’m adding this view to the thread because it shows a small flight of steps and balustrade leading into the arcade. Afraid I don’t have a date for this but it looks around early 1900s. Viv.

9C7ED966-CF12-49F9-A48E-6604CC1FB4CB.jpeg
 
Were there shops on the balconies? It looks as if there could be. There's something very glamorous and mysterious about the arcades.
 
A slightly unusual c1906 image in that W.H.Coe is informing readers/customers of the relocation of its business. But it shows the previous business on the premises of the new location.

W.H.Coe, moving to City Arcades into premises previously occupied by Geo Herbert & Co. at #76 in the Arcade. The new address is given as 76 High Street and 34 City Arcade. The photo is clearly in the Arcade. The takeover of premises would be for the corner site only (#76). Change of use from grocery/wine/provisions merchants (?) to boot making. Viv.
3D29DE21-5DD4-4F33-9206-5DA1B8D5C51F.jpeg
 
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Phil said:
Mike

Take no notice of me, I rely on my failing memory too much, but I think I was partly right because There was a junction in The City Arcades where the arcades from New St and High St met.It's been so long since I was in the city but I think they still do.

Here is a photo of the old entrance to the City Arcade on New Street and here is an old post card of the arcade itself you can just make out the junction on the right.

Phil

View attachment 134429View attachment 134430
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My grandmother Mabel Redgrave worked at Werff Brothers 11 City Arcade according to 1921 census on FMP
 
It’s not easy to see the products in the windows in most photos of arcades. But the shop to the left in this 1905 postcard appears to be selling men’s hats and detachable collars. Viv.

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I just tried looking for a Roaghan (or Roughan) which is an Irish surname but can't find anything connected with hats under that!
 
Thought I would add to this thread as the old arcades fascinate me, I found this site that pretty much explains the layout of the "city" arcade which intersected with the "midland" arcade.

tiltbrum.com

CITY ARCADE HISTORY — TILT

tiltbrum.com tiltbrum.com

Sadly city arcade is much shorter predominately empty units these days. Walked through it yesterday on my way to New Street. It was just litter strewn and neglected all the way down to the Britannia Hotel, which also looks worse for wear.
 
A WOODHALL said:
Hi Everyone my grandmother according to the 1921 census FMP worked at Werff Brothers 11 City Arcade
Click to expand...
Looks like your Grandmothers shop is shown on the photos on my post #115. Sixth line down first two photo's. Middle of photo you can just make out "ERFF B". Also shows a No 11, on a photo further down.
 
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