Guildford Street Lozells

[John merricks]

Yes Dave A, I was in Mr Dean's class in my 3rd year. He used to throw the blackboard chalk at us if we angered him. Other teachers were J.D.T.Ball Head Teacher, Mr Williams 2nd year, Mr Wally Eyton, Mr Robertson P.E, Mr Cross science & a teacher we called "chrome dome", possibly Richards?

 

[Astoness]

hi john thanks for the photo..can you name anyone in it please

lyn

 

[John merricks]

I've put two photos together to make a panorama of Guilford St & Gower St. In 1960-61 when I was in the fourth year over the road at Gower St School, I was often charged by our teacher Mr Ward to go and get his daily sandwich. I also bought myself a tomato dip sandwich which cost 2d (tuppence). Yummy with brown sauce!View attachment 123279

Hi Banjo. I’ve only just come across this forum and it’s bought back many memories of my time at Gower Street Secondary Modern school 1958- 1962. Mr Phillips, Mr Eyton who chucked blackboard cleaners across our heads, Mr Ball the headmaster. I was a prefect and was in the chess team. Attached is a photo of the team in 1962. I left in July 1962 when I was still 14! Left on Friday, started work in Hunters Vale on the Monday - 5 and a half day working week. Wasn’t 15 until the August. Sounds Dickensian!

 

[John merricks]

hi john thanks for the photo..can you name anyone in it please

lyn

Michael Trigger? Can‘t remember the other kids. Teachers Mr Phillips and Mr Eyton.

 

[Astoness]

ok thanks john and welcome...we do have a dedicated thread for gower st school with lot of photos start reading from post 1 so that you do not miss anything...click on the link below to take you to the thread...enjoy

lyn

Gower Street Boys and Girls Schools

I don't know the exact details of the school - but it has written on the back 'Gower Street Standard VI 1918'. My great-uncle is on the middle row, 2nd from right.

birminghamhistory.co.uk

 

[adap2it]

And the picture is taken on the roof. Possibly unique among schools to have a flat roof. It was also used to host disagreements between students where you would put "the gloves on"
Dave A

 

[Banjo]

Hi John, I left in March 1961 so, the only one in your photo I recognise is Mr Williams on the left. I couldn't help but notice the two other teachers though. Are they twins or do they just bear a lot of similarities?

 

[John merricks]

I used to live at 1/107 Wilton road Lozells (back to back houses). 3 sisters and me in a two bedroom house). Anyone remember this shop just up the road from 107 or the Wheeler twins who lived in the front of 105?

 

[brummy-lad]

I used to live at 1/107 Wilton road Lozells (back to back houses). 3 sisters and me in a two bedroom house). Anyone remember this shop just up the road from 107 or the Wheeler twins who lived in the front of 105?

Hi John, welcome to the forum, have you viewed the Wilton Street thread there is a picture of 2 shops.

Wilton Street Lozells

The top photo is interesting. There are new lintels and brickwork around the windows suggesting an extension of life to the places at some time but what has happened to make the centre one unsafe? The nearer car (Prefect?) does not look new so maybe the photo is more mid 1960's

birminghamhistory.co.uk

 

[John merricks]

Hi John, welcome to the forum, have you viewed the Wilton Street thread there is a picture of 2 shops.

Wilton Street Lozells

The top photo is interesting. There are new lintels and brickwork around the windows suggesting an extension of life to the places at some time but what has happened to make the centre one unsafe? The nearer car (Prefect?) does not look new so maybe the photo is more mid 1960's

birminghamhistory.co.uk

Hi John, welcome to the forum, have you viewed the Wilton Street thread there is a picture of 2 shops.

Wilton Street Lozells

The top photo is interesting. There are new lintels and brickwork around the windows suggesting an extension of life to the places at some time but what has happened to make the centre one unsafe? The nearer car (Prefect?) does not look new so maybe the photo is more mid 1960's

birminghamhistory.co.uk

Have now found the Wilton Street thread and have reposted. To correct my post here, the twins were the Lambert twins not the Wheeler twins- got confused with Wheeler Street!

 

[Xtina19]

hi everyone , i'm wondering about the same map, ie guildford street in 1951-1955 I have on my moms birth certificate papers an address which is 2 bk of 183 guilford street birmingham . I'm not sure if this is a works building or a house. Any information an input would be gladly appreciated

 

[MWS]

It was a house, here's a map from 1950 with house marked...

 

[brummy-lad]

Picture showing 183 Guildford Street

 

[Xtina19]

Hi all , i'm looking into my family past. i'm wondering if any one would recognise the name Philomena Martin . i think she would have been born @ late 1920 to 30's.

 

[Banjo]

Picture showing 183 Guildford Street

During the period 1959-61, our gang used to hang around my friends house at No175. I always wondered why No181 was derelict. It stood out from the rest of the houses because it had a posh front door with columns either side. You can see it on photo #613. Another odd thing was that No179 had their door in the entry. Don't know if anyone can enlighten me.

 

[brummy-lad]

During the period 1959-61, our gang used to hang around my friends house at No175. I always wondered why No181 was derelict. It stood out from the rest of the houses because it had a posh front door with columns either side. You can see it on photo #613. Another odd thing was that No179 had their door in the entry. Don't know if anyone can enlighten me.

Hi Banjo, looking at the map No. 179 is much narrower than the other houses and has a wide entry leading to houses at the back. Possibly if it was originally a similar design to the others which meant the door would have been where the entry was and so they put the door in the entry.

 

[BOB1]

Hi Banjo, looking at the map No. 179 is much narrower than the other houses and has a wide entry leading to houses at the back. Possibly if it was originally a similar design to the others which meant the door would have been where the entry was and so they put the door in the entry.
View attachment 188848

BOB1
I was friends with 2 guys in the 1950`s who lived at 179 Guildford street they were the 2 oldest sons of the Woolaway family who lived there.
I believe that the house may at onetime had been part of 181 because their front door was added in the entry.
During the 1950`s I believe the family who lived at 181 were called Doodies and when they left the property it was vandalised and flooded and always remained empty due to the extent of the damage.
At 177 across the large entry lived a family called O`neils and up the entry was Weston place and if I remember correctly there was a family called king who's grand daughter Roma was a friend of mine.

 

[Banjo]

BOB1
I was friends with 2 guys in the 1950`s who lived at 179 Guildford street they were the 2 oldest sons of the Woolaway family who lived there.
I believe that the house may at onetime had been part of 181 because their front door was added in the entry.
During the 1950`s I believe the family who lived at 181 were called Doodies and when they left the property it was vandalised and flooded and always remained empty due to the extent of the damage.
At 177 across the large entry lived a family called O`neils and up the entry was Weston place and if I remember correctly there was a family called king who's grand daughter Roma was a friend of mine.

Thanks for your comments BOB1, I guess that explains the dereliction. I'm still wondering why that was the only house in the street with columns either side of the front door. Incidently, I don't know if the Woolaway family lived there in 1960 but, I too knew one of the sons. Before I left school I had a part-time job at Lincoln Jeffries in Steelhouse Lane and he also worked there in the workshop. At that time the Green family lived at 177 and my mates family, the Huddlestons lived at 175.

 

[Astoness]

i know there were so many lives lost during the bombings of ww2 (2 of my own rellies included )but i dont think any has touched me so much as the loss of the astle family..mother 6 children and mother is law all perished....how on earth george astle senior who was injured but survived coped with the loss of his mother..wife and 6 children i will never know..so very sad..the other fatality on this list was mrs emily wadhams...the rest were all injured...food for thought...if you click on view it gives you a bit more info

Last Name	Forename(s)	Date of Injury	Location of Injury	Age	Civil Defence Status
Alden	Caroline	01/11/1940	18/144 Guildford Street, Lozells		Civilian	View
Astle	David	01/11/1940	4/142 Guildford Street, Lozells	7	Civilian	View
Astle	George	01/11/1940	4/142 Guildford Street, Lozells	10	Civilian	View
Astle	George	01/11/1940	4/142 Guildford Street, Lozells		Civilian	View
Astle	Horace	01/11/1940	4/142 Guildford Street, Lozells	9	Civilian	View
Astle	Leah	01/11/1940	4/142 Guildford Street, Lozells	36	Civilian	View
Astle	Maureen	01/11/1940	4/142 Guildford Street, Lozells	2	Civilian	View
Astle	Raymond	01/11/1940	4/142 Guildford Street, Lozells	8	Civilian	View
Astle	Susannah	01/11/1940	4/142 Guildford Street, Lozells	62	Civilian	View
Astle	Thomas	01/11/1940	4/142 Guildford Street, Lozells	10	Civilian	View
Caine	Thomas H.	09/04/1941	79 Guildford Street, Lozells		Civilian	View
Darbisher	A	03/12/1940	4/185 Guildford Street, Lozells		Civilian	View
Deeming	Elsie	22/11/1940	110, Guildford Street, lozells		Civilian	View
McDonald	H	09/04/1941	64 Guildford Street, Lozells		Civilian	View
Moseley	George	22/11/1940	1/37 Guildford Street, Lozells		Civilian	View
Overton	Elijah	19/11/1940	2/212 Guildford Street, Lozells		Civilian	View
Wadhams	Emily Elizabeth	01/11/1940	Guildford Street, Lozells	59	Civilian	View
Wilkins	William	22/11/1940	2/40 Guildford Street, Lozells		Civilian

 

[BOB1]

Thanks for your comments BOB1, I guess that explains the dereliction. I'm still wondering why that was the only house in the street with columns either side of the front door. Incidently, I don't know if the Woolaway family lived there in 1960 but, I too knew one of the sons. Before I left school I had a part-time job at Lincoln Jeffries in Steelhouse Lane and he also worked there in the workshop. At that time the Green family lived at 177 and my mates family, the Huddlestons lived at 175.

Hi Banjo
What a small world it is ,that was Tony Woolaway who worked at Lincoln Jeffries in Steelhouse Lane.
Like yourself he started working for them part time while at school and then full time on leaving. I remember him telling me that his first job was to take gun barrels to the Birmingham Proof House for testing.

 

[Banjo]

Hi Banjo
What a small world it is ,that was Tony Woolaway who worked at Lincoln Jeffries in Steelhouse Lane.
Like yourself he started working for them part time while at school and then full time on leaving. I remember him telling me that his first job was to take gun barrels to the Birmingham Proof House for testing.

Blimey! I reckon Tony was around 18yrs old back then and I looked up to him. I thought he was really cool ( remember Kookie in 77 Sunset Strip). I myself went to the Proof House many times. Unfortunately, Tony's Dad didn't like us as we were always messing about in that entry. Many a time he'd come out telling us to clear off. Thanks BOB1 for that brilliant info.

 

[Dave P]

Hi Banjo
What a small world it is ,that was Tony Woolaway who worked at Lincoln Jeffries in Steelhouse Lane.
Like yourself he started working for them part time while at school and then full time on leaving. I remember him telling me that his first job was to take gun barrels to the Birmingham Proof House for testing.

i know there were so many lives lost during the bombings of ww2 (2 of my own rellies included )but i dont think any has touched me so much as the loss of the astle family..mother 6 children and mother is law all perished....how on earth george astle senior who was injured but survived coped with the loss of his mother..wife and 6 children i will never know..so very sad..the other fatality on this list was mrs emily wadhams...the rest were all injured...food for thought...if you click on view it gives you a bit more info

Last Name	Forename(s)	Date of Injury	Location of Injury	Age	Civil Defence Status
Alden	Caroline	01/11/1940	18/144 Guildford Street, Lozells		Civilian	View
Astle	David	01/11/1940	4/142 Guildford Street, Lozells	7	Civilian	View
Astle	George	01/11/1940	4/142 Guildford Street, Lozells	10	Civilian	View
Astle	George	01/11/1940	4/142 Guildford Street, Lozells		Civilian	View
Astle	Horace	01/11/1940	4/142 Guildford Street, Lozells	9	Civilian	View
Astle	Leah	01/11/1940	4/142 Guildford Street, Lozells	36	Civilian	View
Astle	Maureen	01/11/1940	4/142 Guildford Street, Lozells	2	Civilian	View
Astle	Raymond	01/11/1940	4/142 Guildford Street, Lozells	8	Civilian	View
Astle	Susannah	01/11/1940	4/142 Guildford Street, Lozells	62	Civilian	View
Astle	Thomas	01/11/1940	4/142 Guildford Street, Lozells	10	Civilian	View
Caine	Thomas H.	09/04/1941	79 Guildford Street, Lozells		Civilian	View
Darbisher	A	03/12/1940	4/185 Guildford Street, Lozells		Civilian	View
Deeming	Elsie	22/11/1940	110, Guildford Street, lozells		Civilian	View
McDonald	H	09/04/1941	64 Guildford Street, Lozells		Civilian	View
Moseley	George	22/11/1940	1/37 Guildford Street, Lozells		Civilian	View
Overton	Elijah	19/11/1940	2/212 Guildford Street, Lozells		Civilian	View
Wadhams	Emily Elizabeth	01/11/1940	Guildford Street, Lozells	59	Civilian	View
Wilkins	William	22/11/1940	2/40 Guildford Street, Lozells		Civilian

How sad, never knew this history. Lived at 29/146 from 1963 - 1968 (until I was 11) and always wondered why there were garages / yard at the entrance where 144 & 142 would have been. Never questioned why and assumed houses opposite ours were also 'back of 146'.

 

[Astoness]

How sad, never knew this history. Lived at 29/146 from 1963 - 1968 (until I was 11) and always wondered why there were garages / yard at the entrance where 144 & 142 would have been. Never questioned why and assumed houses opposite ours were also 'back of 146'.

yes dave its so very sad...my mom was living just a couple of mins away from the astles house she lived in paddington st and she was about 11 at the time the bombs hit...she told me the shop on the corner of guildford st and paddington st (about 6 houses away from moms) was hit and that a man was found just sitting in his chair dead but not a scratch on him...ive no doubt that there was a hit on that corner because photos taken after the war just show a bomb peck however i must try and find out if someone was actually killed or injured there during that raid..another memory mom had was of walking to school one day with a classmate who lived near wheeler st and he turned to mom and said..one day beryl i will marry you...the next day his house was hit and he and his family died....mom never forgot that lad

lyn