• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

Late 70s amateur Aerial Photos, city and south to Longbridge

40124-6
linked to the earlier photo of 5 tower blocks in a line and three in a triangle.
The triangle's just off-centre now, and you can make out three of the five at centre-left. Does that major road and the flyover (?) junction help? I am certain that someone local/familiar will have got it now, though I am also convinced I should have known it instantly!

20160912140124_06.jpg
 
40817-1
Similar to earlier just moved along more, guessing a little zoomed.
Corporation St across top-right corner with Cherry St/Rackhams/Bull St/Lewis's ... and PROPER buses everywhere!

20160912140817_01.jpg
 
Last edited:
40817-2
A very grim shot of Bham Post and Mail Bldg with Lloyd House behind, Gaumont Cinema partly concealed, flattened Snow Hill Station vandalism beyond that visible as a mosaic of a car-park.

20160912140817_02.jpg
 
40817-3
A serious blast from the past, complete with lower-level shopping precinct.

When we were newly married I drove round that roundabout/circus probably 50+ times continuously one afternoon while my wife ran in to Lewis's to get another tin of paint so we could finish decorating the room we had started that morning ... it turned out that there had been a mistake in the labelling of one tin and so they gave her a next-size-up tin of the proper paint free and a box of chocolates as an apology for the inconvenience of having to mess about coming-in.

20160912140817_03.jpg
 
40817-5
Nowhere that I am familiar with but I am sure someone will be, the roads/junction and some of the buildings look memorable enough too ... maybe even a Pub on the corner with a couple of shops adjoining?

Could the facility have a connection to Aston Villa maybe, a practise ground possibly at some point? ... the seating could be interpreted as claret and blue.

EDIT - Identified as Hadley Stadium, Waterloo Rd. West Smethwick. Thanks Curly!

20160912140817_05.jpg
 
Last edited:
40817-10 & 11
Lake with some boating facility/club ... maybe once a quarry? Maybe in a dry spell as it looks like it is lower than it ought to be?

EDIT - Identified as Bittel Reservoir & Barnt Green Sailing Club. Thanks devonjim.

20160912140817_10.jpg20160912140817_11.jpg
 
Last edited:
40817-12
Not a clue, seems to be a style typical of school-building in the late 50s and 60s so I'm going with that along with what looks to be School-entrance road markings ... though it appears to be quite expansive premises ...

EDIT - Identified as Shelley Court, Long Nuke Rd., Northfield. Thanks Les Williams.

20160912140817_12.jpg
 
Last edited:
41353-1
Birmingham Uni before the new QE Hosp took over the neighbourhood and trashed so much, including *my* special place a nice 15 minute walk along field-paths to a spot on the curve of the railway line - paradoxically right about where University Station is now - just where it went through a small cutting, where I'd go with my dog and just enjoy sitting for an hour and waving at the trains as they came along ... sometimes Mum would put up a picnic and we'd all go and make an afternoon of it.

20160912141353_01.jpg
 
41353-2
Same school as a couple above - any help?

EDIT - Identified as Shelley Court, Long Nuke Rd., Northfield. Thanks Les Williams.

20160912141353_02.jpg
 
Last edited:
41353-3
Just not seeing this, though I know I should easily work it out ..... small piece of industry in what seems predominantly a residential sprawl ... keeps pulling me back to an Incinerator but that's mainly because of the stack. Loads of potential clues all over the place again, but they are only clues if you have some familiarity and can recognise them as such I suppose.

EDIT: Identified as Northfield, the vicinity of the junction of Hawkesley Mill Lane (cutting-in on diagonal at lower left) and the Bristol Road (horizontal line of trees passing in front of open grassed area and continuing in front of houses) ... enclosing former Kalamazoo factory/offices, later to become Reynolds & Reynolds. Factory demolished 1980s, office remains. Thank you oldMohawk.

20160912141353_03.jpg
 
Last edited:
41353-4 & 5
I know that's Longbridge as-was, recognise the circular building from somewhere, possibly their marketing at the time . I gather Longbridge is now a Town!

20160912141353_04.jpg20160912141353_05.jpg
 
Last edited:
41353-6
Somebody's school/s ... yours?
Guessing First and Middle, or maybe it was still Infants and Juniors then or am I showing my age?

EDIT - Identified as Richmond Road, Olton; St Margaret's C of E Primary School. Thanks Old Mohawk.

20160912141353_06.jpg
 
Last edited:
41353-7
A nice little lakeside community, goodness knows where. Looks pleasant, has/had a rather nice cricket pitch by the look of things, good to see someone had their priorities in order!

EDIT - Identified as Olton Reservoir, Thanks old Mohawk.

20160912141353_07.jpg
 
Last edited:
Back
Top