Kendrick and Sons - Jewellery Quarter

[Mark Tooze]

I have a large batch of photos to post of the derelict building of Kendrick and Sons Printers - but first I want to establish their exact location as I cannot remember precisely - I think they were somewhere by the top of Key Hill Drive backing onto Hylton Street?? - can anyone help with a map please?
Here are a few to "set the scene" as it were:-

 

[A Sparks]

This one is a bit of a mystery isn't it?

I looked at the photographs this morning and out of interest, had a quick look on Google - which I'm sure you had already done - but nothing seems to come up for the name of the company!

I've just had another look this evening and the only thing I can find is on a WikiTree page of a John Edwin Kendrick of Calthorpe Road, Birmingham (born c1907) who was described as a Printer (Master)

John Edwin Kendrick (abt.1907-) | WikiTree FREE Family Tree

Is this your ancestor? Explore genealogy for John Kendrick born abt. 1907 Birmingham, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom including research + more in the free family tree community.

www.wikitree.com

How very strange there seems to be no mention of a company whose name is so clearly displayed in the photos!

 

[pjmburns]

1960 phone book

 

[pjmburns]

Phone books online stop in 1980 on Ancestry but Kendrick and Sons were still listed at that address. They were also there in the 1950s

 

[mikejee]

Here is a map from 1950s showing no. 73. It is a bit difficult to distinguish between buildings and spaces . It seems printing works is marked as 72, but the front of 72 is marked rivet works. Perhaps Kendricks also took that over

 

[Mark Tooze]

Thank you - I was not far off - about a hundred yards!!!! My index said "Old Factory Jewellery Quarter" which is as much use as a one legged man in a butt kicking competition.......
I'll post the other photos tomorrow.

 

[pjmburns]

Here is a map from 1950s showing no. 73. It is a bit difficult to distinguish between buildings and spaces . It seems printing works is marked as 72, but the front of 72 is marked rivet works. Perhaps Kendricks also took that over

View attachment 167466

I think later phone entries did say 72/73

 

[Astoness]

well 72 and 73 gt hampton st are still there and as the map shows kendricks were at the back of those... great photos mark look forward to seeing some more

lyn

73 Great Hampton St · 73 Great Hampton St, Birmingham B18 6EW

73 Great Hampton St, Birmingham B18 6EW

www.google.com

 

[Mark Tooze]

First batch - various photos of the building exterior - all taken around 1980 as part of a school project:-

 

[Mark Tooze]

And some more:-

 

[Mark Tooze]

And some more:-




Many photos of the interior to follow later - if you think it was a bit rough outside, wait until you see inside......

 

[A Sparks]

well 72 and 73 gt hampton st are still there and as the map shows kendricks were at the back of those... great photos mark look forward to seeing some more

lyn

73 Great Hampton St · 73 Great Hampton St, Birmingham B18 6EW

73 Great Hampton St, Birmingham B18 6EW

www.google.com

Thanks - I know those houses very well as they were on my bus route to Town for many years!
Glad that the address has been located now.

What happened to the company I wonder?

 

[Mark Tooze]

Here are some photos of the interior, starting at the top floor - when I look at the roof and floors (or to be more precise - the lack of them......) - I must have been out of my mind wondering around taking these shots - you do odd things when you are younger......
The interior is like a time capsule - left to decay exactly as it was when the doors were locked for the final time. Machinery, tools, all kinds of things left to rot, window panes broken, vegetation already growing:-

 

[Astoness]

hi mark stunning photos and a fantastic reminder of history past....i can feel a little investigation coming on because i am not entirely convinced that this building has been demolished..looking at the map it was sandwiched between 73 gt hampton st back of no 127 branston st which is roughly where the new branston court is now...if we look through the gate on st view those buildings look old to me but cant be sure if they were part of kendricks as looking at the map again kendricks look a tad further back...will try and get down there...it was certainly a great day for this forum when you came along and decided to share with us a massive amount of the photos you took...

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

lyn

 

[Mark Tooze]

And some more:-

 

[Mark Tooze]

And some more - note the drive shaft in the roof that would have worked all the machinery on this floor from one motor:-

 

[Mark Tooze]

And some more:-

From (what was left of) the upstairs windows you could see down into the courtyard below:-



Next we go downstairs into even more dereliction and chaos:-

 

[Mark Tooze]

Now we are downstairs - even more chaos - everything left behind:-





Again note the various driveshafts in the roof - used to power machinery across the factory:-

 

[Mark Tooze]

And some more:-
Here you can see through the ceiling to upstairs:-


You can just make out details of a wall poster about how to deal with Electric Shock and administering CPR:-

Does anyone know what any of these items would have been used for please?

 

[Mark Tooze]

And some more:-

 

[Mark Tooze]

And more - looks like some kind of loading bay area:-

 

[Astoness]

mark post 18 pic 3 are those printing blocks....wonderful photos...just as an aside in one of your posts you said you must have been mad to get into buildings like this to take photos but you were at school and very young...aside from the past 3 years you want to see the buildings i was getting into and i am 70 next year...have to be careful these days as dodgy knee prevents clambering over heaps of rubble ...all in a good cause though

lyn

 

[Mark Tooze]

And finally - now in the courtyard:-

 

[pjmburns]

hi mark stunning photos and a fantastic reminder of history past....i can feel a little investigation coming on because i am not entirely convinced that this building has been demolished..looking at the map it was sandwiched between 73 gt hampton st back of no 127 branston st which is roughly where the new branston court is now...if we look through the gate on st view those buildings look old to me but cant be sure if they were part of kendricks as looking at the map again kendricks look a tad further back...will try and get down there...it was certainly a great day for this forum when you came along and decided to share with us a massive amount of the photos you took...
lyn

Found a planning applcation for 1993

• 
  71-72-73 GREAT HAMPTON STREET & CNR BRANSTON ST & VYSE ST CITY

• Proposal DEMOLITION OF 71/73 GT HAMPTON ST.(RETAIN FACADE)/ERECT 3-ST. BUILDING/RETAIL G.F./OFFICES ABOVE,2/3ST OFFICES/CARPARKING

However, as it is that long agao there are no documents with that to provide details. Looks as if the front was left and the back part demolished.

 

[pjmburns]

Looking on goggle earth and trying to compare to the map

 

[Astoness]

thanks jan so all gone....

lyn

 

[pjmburns]

Looks that way - suppose we should be glad they saved the facade,

 

[Astoness]

Looks that way - suppose we should be glad they saved the facade,

jan i dont think they saved anything..kendricks looks to be where car park now is

lyn

 

[pjmburns]

Sorry - I was referring to the facade of 72 and 73 Great Hampton Street

 

[A Sparks]

It looks like some of the building might still exist, looks like there is a recording studio and gallery at the back of the new court buildings.

Gallery Recording Studio Birmingham​

Art gallery in Birmingham, England