Market Hall 1835 - 1963

[cookie273uk]

I used to go when it had a roof on in the late 30's. We lived in Sheldon and our Mom used to take us to see our Nan who lived in Queens Road Aston. Cannot remember whether we caught a tram or trolley bus into town, but we always called at the Market Hall on the way to Martineau Street to catch the 3X tram, she would buy us a plate of Mussels, we loved them. Eric

 

[Vivienne14]

The Hall reopening in 1942. Viv.

Source: British Newspaper Archive

 

[paul stacey]

Great news VIV, again went many times with my Mom and Dad, to buy and just brouse.

 

[mikejee]

Engraving of the fountain in the old Market hall , and the pet food stalls there in 1870, from the Illustrated Midland News

 

[Richard Dye]

Engraving of the fountain in the old Market hall , and the pet food stalls there in 1870, from the Illustrated Midland News

View attachment 162721View attachment 162722

Seems like there was SO much style & finish to building in those days!

 

[cookie273uk]

It was such a shame when it was demolished, part of old Birmingham gone forever. Eric

 

[Radiorails]

And a close look at the figures beneath the circular fountain reveal some of the wares that Birmingham was famous for.

 

[Vivienne14]

Angora wool spinning. Remember having a sweater made of angora, it never stopped shedding its fluff ! But it was wonderfully soft. Viv.

 

[A Sparks]

I guess the young boy watching intently worked in the market as he's got his apron on!

 

[mikejee]

An unusual view of the wall of the market hall , along what would have been Bell St in 1963, shortly before demolition, taken by John Ball

 

[mikejee]

In 1961, Looking along the other side of the hall where Phillips st once was, taken by john ball

 

[Rupertstill]

Yeah...the Market Hall...of forever memory. No roof ever for most of us and yes, little plates of whelks...a good chew. Hmmm., sorry, I loved them. Gone but not forgotten and after saying that...it was an ugly monolithic building; roof or not. Missed now because it was ours. A style anomaly perhaps tied to Christ Church in Victoria Square which was disliked by folks of the day seemingly and out of place where it was also.
These places still haunt us though...as they should...after all, they were all, ours. If, as I believe, Charles Dickens stayed at The Swan; one could have pictured him walking down Worcester Street from Swan Passage and climbing the curving staircase into the Market Hall to enjoy a plate of whelks. Maybe we had something in common.

 

[brummy-lad]

An aerial view from 1948.

 

[Chunky AC]

I seem to remember an old bomb on the site which was defused and was used as a large collecting  box to collect money for a charity - can anyone confirm.

Yes I also remember it. Found it fascinating.

 

[jmadone]

Yes I also remember it. Found it fascinating.

Was it a bomb or a mine. I seem to remember the latter.

 

[Chunky AC]

Was it a bomb or a mine. I seem to remember the latter.

My recollection was that it was a bomb, see pics on #225

 

[Morturn]

Was it a bomb or a mine. I seem to remember the latter.

My memory is of the bomb, but my relatives have said there was also a mine at the entrance.

 

[Richard Dye]

My memory is of the bomb, but my relatives have said there was also a mine at the entrance.

Mort, why would it be a mine there?

 

[Morturn]

Mort, why would it be a mine there?

They were used to as money collection boxes. I don’t recall for what cause though

 

[paul stacey]

I remember the mine outside the hall , in the 50's, I am sure it was painted blue.

 

[Vivienne14]

I remember a bomb painted red. It was lying horizontally and I’m sure it was inside the Market Hall walls. Viv.

 

[Richard Dye]

They were used to as money collection boxes. I don’t recall for what cause though

My bad I thought it was a live mine!

 

[Morturn]

My bad I thought it was a live mine!

Here it is

 

[Richard Dye]

Here it is

View attachment 170888

Thank you! I remember seeing those around.

 

[Terence David Lines]

I seem to remember an old bomb on the site which was defused and was used as a large collecting  box to collect money for a charity - can anyone confirm.

I thought it was an old. Mine from the sea. You could put your copper coins in for seafarers charity I think. Can not remember a bomb.

 

[jmadone]

Here it is

View attachment 170888

Now that looks more like a bomb than the mine I thought I remembered. I have recollections of a large round object possibly painted red but that may have been from a different location.

 

[mw0njm.]

I though it was one of these

 

[paul stacey]

Thought it was blue , just shows you how your memory is wrong at times...

 

[mw0njm.]

 

[jmadone]

This is what I recall