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john70
master brummie
Hi. Mr. North was the headmaster when I was there, I seem to remember a little shop about halfway up Albert Road that I used to buy a bag of broken crisps for a penny from,
sospiri
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Hi John,
So my memory wasn't faulty after all!
The little "hucksters' shop", as we used to call them, was run by a Miss Susannah Greves, who passed away some years ago now. The premises have since been converted back into a house. The row of old terrace houses almost opposite the shop were also demolished and the Council also forcibly provided all the house owners with a new brick front garden wall. There was previously a wooden picket fence in front of number 26 which I had erected. "You will conform!"
The houses were built in the 1870s and I guess they were trying to make them look like 1980s boxes!
Maurice
So my memory wasn't faulty after all!
The little "hucksters' shop", as we used to call them, was run by a Miss Susannah Greves, who passed away some years ago now. The premises have since been converted back into a house. The row of old terrace houses almost opposite the shop were also demolished and the Council also forcibly provided all the house owners with a new brick front garden wall. There was previously a wooden picket fence in front of number 26 which I had erected. "You will conform!"
The houses were built in the 1870s and I guess they were trying to make them look like 1980s boxes!
Maurice
Hello John 70 and Sosphiri
Are sure about the Albert Road Shops? They played and important role in my young days when I could lay my hands on a penny or two to spend on the way to Wheelers Lane Junior school. As I remember, coming up from the Alcester Road there was first shop on the left that sold amongst other things Cadburys seconds (recycled from the Cadbury staff shop).
Then much further up past what looked like old farm buildings amongst the terraces was the shop on the right. Good for lucky bags, sherbet and a variety of suckable and chewey things you could get for 4 a penny. Next on the right was a off licence where you could buy the broken crisps.
The problem was that the supply of crisps was always limited and sporadic. If they didn't have any that meant going back to the shop and risking being late for registration. There was never enough time to go back to the first shop.
Are sure about the Albert Road Shops? They played and important role in my young days when I could lay my hands on a penny or two to spend on the way to Wheelers Lane Junior school. As I remember, coming up from the Alcester Road there was first shop on the left that sold amongst other things Cadburys seconds (recycled from the Cadbury staff shop).
Then much further up past what looked like old farm buildings amongst the terraces was the shop on the right. Good for lucky bags, sherbet and a variety of suckable and chewey things you could get for 4 a penny. Next on the right was a off licence where you could buy the broken crisps.
The problem was that the supply of crisps was always limited and sporadic. If they didn't have any that meant going back to the shop and risking being late for registration. There was never enough time to go back to the first shop.
sospiri
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
RobertS:
I lived in Albert Road from 1950 until 1960, and almost opposite that row of terraced houses, at number 26. The house was set back from the general building line and was a cottage built on the site of an old orchard.
Next door at number 28 was Tony Keyte (a builder & plumber trading as O.R. Keyte & Son), then the FARMERs and then the EAGLES. Miss Greves' general shop was number 34 and the outdoor was a little further down on the same side (before Alfred Street) from where I would fetch a jug of ale and 5 Woodbines for my father.
There were no shops on either side at the Alcester Road end. On the right hand side (looking towards the school) were the long gardens of the houses on Alcester Road, and on the left hand side were houses, one of which was occupied by a young lady called Dorothy HOWELLS who was heavily into ballroom dancing.
There was, however, a little shop on the left hand side, much further towards the school and probably about opposite the outdoor, which I never frequented, but nothing at the Alcester Road end.
Maurice
I lived in Albert Road from 1950 until 1960, and almost opposite that row of terraced houses, at number 26. The house was set back from the general building line and was a cottage built on the site of an old orchard.
Next door at number 28 was Tony Keyte (a builder & plumber trading as O.R. Keyte & Son), then the FARMERs and then the EAGLES. Miss Greves' general shop was number 34 and the outdoor was a little further down on the same side (before Alfred Street) from where I would fetch a jug of ale and 5 Woodbines for my father.
There were no shops on either side at the Alcester Road end. On the right hand side (looking towards the school) were the long gardens of the houses on Alcester Road, and on the left hand side were houses, one of which was occupied by a young lady called Dorothy HOWELLS who was heavily into ballroom dancing.
There was, however, a little shop on the left hand side, much further towards the school and probably about opposite the outdoor, which I never frequented, but nothing at the Alcester Road end.
Maurice
Brum Burgin
knowlegable brummie
I remember the TV and Radio shop well Bernie.My Grandparents lived at 10 Drayton road until they died in the 70's and I used to take Granddad's wireless accumulator to be recharged and pick up one already charged.That would be in the 50's I think.
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Brum Burgin
knowlegable brummie
Hi RobertS,The shop next door to the off licence in Middleton road was owned by my great granparents,their name was Hall and the off licence was run by the Pellings.It had a beautiful glass door with a leaping deer etched into it(Ansell's I think).Granddad Hall's shop used to be a coaching house years ago and there was a yard and a workshop at the back where the horses were re shod.38 Middleton road(shop) is still standing but totally changed and modernised but ,if you look at the front door entrance you can still see the shape of the stable entrance(Horse shoe shaped).
sospiri
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
RobertS:
Strange that in all the years I lived there, I never walked the length of Middleton Road - never had the need to I suppose. In fact, I can't ever recollect walking up that row of terraced houses off Albert Road. Bit late now as they were all knocked down years ago! Anyway, I'm glad that your recollections are now in perspective.
Maurice
Strange that in all the years I lived there, I never walked the length of Middleton Road - never had the need to I suppose. In fact, I can't ever recollect walking up that row of terraced houses off Albert Road. Bit late now as they were all knocked down years ago! Anyway, I'm glad that your recollections are now in perspective.
Maurice
B
BernardR
Guest
I wished youi had not mentioned accumulators BB. I was told not to put a naked flame near one when on charge or it would 'Pop' - one Saturday (and wearing a rather nice Harris Tweed Jacket) I put a match near a glass one. Pop indeed; the darned thing burst sending sulphuric acid over my new jacket. Did not dare say what I had done so said it had slipped. Every time the jacket got damp the acid would start to work again - I only discovered that I could neutralise it far to late. One customer who had their accumulator charged was a family called Firkin - I leave the rest to imagination as I like it in here.
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Brum Burgin
knowlegable brummie
On earlier photos you will notice that there was a spire on top of the tower on the right.I was told that the spire leaked profusely into the classrooms below and it was too expensive to replace so they removed it.
Brum Burgin
knowlegable brummie
Re: Hello Ironfighter
View attachment 68146Jake,here is a picture of Chapman & Saunders that I came across.
View attachment 68146Jake,here is a picture of Chapman & Saunders that I came across.
I am trying to track down the loaction of Mrs Smallwoods shop. My mum used to visit it often but is struffling to remember exactly where it was. My mum was living in Fairfield Road at the time.
I remember I used to visit a small general grocery store in one of the side roads which sold the worlds best bacon and I was fascinated watching the owner slice it. I am struggling to remember his name, possible Alf?, he was quite a tall man who was rather rotund and loved cycling, ring any bells with anyone?
I remember I used to visit a small general grocery store in one of the side roads which sold the worlds best bacon and I was fascinated watching the owner slice it. I am struggling to remember his name, possible Alf?, he was quite a tall man who was rather rotund and loved cycling, ring any bells with anyone?
ColinB
gone but not forgotten
Bella1, welcome to the forum,
I remembered the shop on the corner of Silver Street and Fairfield Road, never changed for years.
Fred. D. Smallwood, Grocer, 47, Silver Street, there's a picture of the shop on https://www.photobydjnorton.com/GTC/KingsHeath.html
Not sure about the other one though, there were quite a few small grocery shops around Kings Heath.
Colin
I remembered the shop on the corner of Silver Street and Fairfield Road, never changed for years.
Fred. D. Smallwood, Grocer, 47, Silver Street, there's a picture of the shop on https://www.photobydjnorton.com/GTC/KingsHeath.html
Not sure about the other one though, there were quite a few small grocery shops around Kings Heath.
Colin
ellbrown
ell brown on Flickr
I was in King Heath yesterday, when on Silver Street I spotted a old wall advert for Twinings. On closer inspection of my photos, at the top it said
Smallwood Grocers - G M Smallwood. It is on the corner of Silver Street and Fairfield Road in Kings Heath.
It's now Kings Heath Hydroponics
Hi Bella 1 the shop on the corner of Silver St was owned and run for years by Grace Smallwood I lived nearly opposite the shop at 92 Silver St from 1965 to 1986 and Grace was there when we moved there and was still there till she sadly died a few years ago, Grace lived over the top of the shop with her daughter and her two grandchildren. I think the shop in open all hours was based on Smallwoods because the inside resembled Arkwrights shop.
B
BernardR
Guest
Johnieo do you recall where the café was along Silver Street? If I am correct it was on a corner on the left hand side as you looked from the High Street though it may have been along one of the side roads that went off Silver Street.
hi ellibrown
yes its abit of a coincidence but yes its as benard said looking down the street from the high stret its on the botom end of silver street
i know it very well for the very reason way back in the eightys and ninetys one of our long life school and neibour bought that shop
and he was a builder named davidsons [ [ sid ] and it was a builder merchants with hardware shop combined a real tradesman ;
he is well known guy he is getting on in life now he sold every think even glass this guy was and is still worth a fortune
he learnt is trade a a young kid from mr horton a well known bulder of the yester years of victoria rd aston sid uused to and brought up in vicarage rd aston
facing the old bakery shop on the corner of vigarage rd and victoria rd and he bought that shop of your relie,s and
after years of trading moved down to alum rock and bought the land and the shops facing the old picture house and as far as i know he still ownens all those shops and the rear lands today he as bult propertys for the NHS AND BIG PROPERTYS AROUND the midlands he had dozens of men working for him
old sid was a bussinress man from the day he was born and he worked hard and saved hard to build a bussiness and by golly he knows is trade
and on that subject of sving hard as kids and young men he worked for old man horton and spent all is time at our house day and night we or should i say my mother
kept him fed him 24 hrs a day ; i say that because he never went home as we lived on victoria rd our selfs at 47 and he lived down by the police station
we would be playing darts at our moms house day and nigh andhe used to smoke our faggs very rarely old sid would buy is own
so you see thats how i know of your relies shop i used to go and see him from time to time to buy my hardware materials when working around kings heath myself way back around that period best wishes Astonian
yes its abit of a coincidence but yes its as benard said looking down the street from the high stret its on the botom end of silver street
i know it very well for the very reason way back in the eightys and ninetys one of our long life school and neibour bought that shop
and he was a builder named davidsons [ [ sid ] and it was a builder merchants with hardware shop combined a real tradesman ;
he is well known guy he is getting on in life now he sold every think even glass this guy was and is still worth a fortune
he learnt is trade a a young kid from mr horton a well known bulder of the yester years of victoria rd aston sid uused to and brought up in vicarage rd aston
facing the old bakery shop on the corner of vigarage rd and victoria rd and he bought that shop of your relie,s and
after years of trading moved down to alum rock and bought the land and the shops facing the old picture house and as far as i know he still ownens all those shops and the rear lands today he as bult propertys for the NHS AND BIG PROPERTYS AROUND the midlands he had dozens of men working for him
old sid was a bussinress man from the day he was born and he worked hard and saved hard to build a bussiness and by golly he knows is trade
and on that subject of sving hard as kids and young men he worked for old man horton and spent all is time at our house day and night we or should i say my mother
kept him fed him 24 hrs a day ; i say that because he never went home as we lived on victoria rd our selfs at 47 and he lived down by the police station
we would be playing darts at our moms house day and nigh andhe used to smoke our faggs very rarely old sid would buy is own
so you see thats how i know of your relies shop i used to go and see him from time to time to buy my hardware materials when working around kings heath myself way back around that period best wishes Astonian
castalla
master brummie
My Grandfather Denis W Breakwell lived in 13 Adrian Cottage (1901 census) long gone now i bet not sure where it was, then he moved to 24 Grange Road 1911 census. Married my Grandmother Gladys Finch 47 Highbury road, when i went to that area 2 years ago could not beleive that this house has still got the green front door that i remember from the 60´s when i used to visit.
Join¡ed the Navy in September 72 with a lad who lived in Silver Street can´t think of his name want to say Horton but not 100% sure
Join¡ed the Navy in September 72 with a lad who lived in Silver Street can´t think of his name want to say Horton but not 100% sure
B
BernardR
Guest
No Colin this was way back in 1959/60 I worked at 'Drayton Radio' and 'Hobby' Hobday would often call in there when we were on our way to do some electrical job. Always ran into MEB electricians moaning abut how much work they had to do. Funny thing was they were already in the Café when we arrived and still there moaning when we left. Having looked on Google Earth I now think it may have been somewhere between Silver Street and York Road. I will have a wander around next time I am in Kings Heath - which may be this Friday since I discovered 'Maison Mayci' in Silver Street.
I seem to recall the Silver Grill was a Greengrocer's back then but not sure.
I seem to recall the Silver Grill was a Greengrocer's back then but not sure.
hi bernad
we lived in heathfield road in the seventys and we got a compulsive order to move so they could buld that so called comunity centre
that isthere now yes it was good in kingsheath in those days but now i would not give you tuppence for it charity and fast food shops virtualy every other door way
is a food shop oh beg your pardon they must be about six computors technolgy shop gong towards the church
fast foods are springing up like nobodys bussiness just like harbourne high street just like lady pool rd
whom is paying for al these take aways whom is issueing these licences shop after shop in these rd are fast foods harborne high street is gone down
ride down pershore rd its the same there shop after shop take away curry houses whats the reasons and why are we being bomb barded wich such shops i asked
alot of these take aways and pittas aint takng money surely not you wont find solihull or sutton bombarded with these shops in any street one after one
best wishes astonian;
we lived in heathfield road in the seventys and we got a compulsive order to move so they could buld that so called comunity centre
that isthere now yes it was good in kingsheath in those days but now i would not give you tuppence for it charity and fast food shops virtualy every other door way
is a food shop oh beg your pardon they must be about six computors technolgy shop gong towards the church
fast foods are springing up like nobodys bussiness just like harbourne high street just like lady pool rd
whom is paying for al these take aways whom is issueing these licences shop after shop in these rd are fast foods harborne high street is gone down
ride down pershore rd its the same there shop after shop take away curry houses whats the reasons and why are we being bomb barded wich such shops i asked
alot of these take aways and pittas aint takng money surely not you wont find solihull or sutton bombarded with these shops in any street one after one
best wishes astonian;
ColinB
gone but not forgotten
castella, see my post https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=43013&highlight=adrian+cottages last year.
Colin
Colin
Hi Bernard R I think the cafe that you are thinking of was in York Rd the next road down from Silver, if I remember right it was called the York Rd cafe and it was just above where the Ritz used to be on the right hand side looking from the high st it was more of a transport cafe as they were known in them days, I hope this is the cafe you are refering to.
Regards John.
Regards John.
Hi Bernard
I have been going through a book called Birmingham look back and I seem to recall not so long back you put a thread regarding kings heath
Section how you worked in kings heath and the cafe you used but could not quite recall it
Well in this book there is a page called the kings Norton observer its all business advertisements
The original cafe in silver street at that time as I recall j now as I said I lived in heathfield avenue k heath
They put a compulsory purchase on our house a small batch of us in act to build the comuneity centre that is now
I do know k,heath very well silver street its just two streets from us in those days
But getting back to the subject of the. Are its advertised in this k Norton observer
And the block adverts says meet me at ,,,,, my cafe 34 silver street,kings heath for lunch
Hours between 12 pm and 2.15 pm. Each day
Renowed. For real home cooking ,,,,,,,so that be the cafe you would have been thinking as they was there before the York road one
Best wishes astonian, Alan,,,,,,,
I have been going through a book called Birmingham look back and I seem to recall not so long back you put a thread regarding kings heath
Section how you worked in kings heath and the cafe you used but could not quite recall it
Well in this book there is a page called the kings Norton observer its all business advertisements
The original cafe in silver street at that time as I recall j now as I said I lived in heathfield avenue k heath
They put a compulsory purchase on our house a small batch of us in act to build the comuneity centre that is now
I do know k,heath very well silver street its just two streets from us in those days
But getting back to the subject of the. Are its advertised in this k Norton observer
And the block adverts says meet me at ,,,,, my cafe 34 silver street,kings heath for lunch
Hours between 12 pm and 2.15 pm. Each day
Renowed. For real home cooking ,,,,,,,so that be the cafe you would have been thinking as they was there before the York road one
Best wishes astonian, Alan,,,,,,,
