Peter Walker
gone but not forgotten
Most of the houses built after 1918 had electric lighting built in, nut earlier houses, like my two nans' houses in Grasmere Road Handsworth originally had gas lighting. My one nan lived in a rented place where the electricity was put in by the landlord about 1930, but thge other owned her house, but got her brother in law, Uncle Les to wire it up - he had been an electrician in the Navy and later worked for Mitchells & Butlers. His wiring was sound enough perhaps but you could see it everywhere, nothing was concealed in the plaster.
In about 1946 we went to visit former neighbours who had taken on a shop in Deykin Avenue Witton, near the corner of Brookvale Road. That still had gas lighting then. I remember the palaver of turning the light on when it got dark. But I do like to see gas lights in the street.
There is nstill a pub that has gas lighting - the Beacon in Sedgeley, a wonderful piece of reconstruction which aI would recommend to anyone who likes a good traditional (home-brewed) beer. But I mustn't advertise!
Peter
In about 1946 we went to visit former neighbours who had taken on a shop in Deykin Avenue Witton, near the corner of Brookvale Road. That still had gas lighting then. I remember the palaver of turning the light on when it got dark. But I do like to see gas lights in the street.
There is nstill a pub that has gas lighting - the Beacon in Sedgeley, a wonderful piece of reconstruction which aI would recommend to anyone who likes a good traditional (home-brewed) beer. But I mustn't advertise!
Peter