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Mary Street Balsall Heath

M

mrbluesky1957

master brummie
Hi, can you please point me in right direction for any pics after early 1900s of Mary Street, Balsall Heath. My dad was born nest door to what is called Snickers. I'm certain it was The Eagle before. After seeing google maps, it was next door to the pub. Obviously demolished, think its a care home of some sort. My gt nan also lived there till her death. I can sort house nos bak of etc. Any help would be appreciated, some fantastic help in the past. I still cannot thank you all, and the information that made the front page of The Birmingham Gazette 1929. That was a huge find, although very tragic and sad. It explained alot about my father and my upbringing. So thank you all, Lyn and Astoness and the guy who found that paper clipping.
 
www.midlandspubs.co.uk said:
This photograph of the Eagle Tavern was taken shortly after WW2 :

View attachment 142328
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Thank you, as usual a fast reply. The partly hidden house is the one I was hoping for. From your other photo 2002 it's a care home next door. I can see from the older pic that house was in the family for a fair few yrs. Having done a fair bit of ancestry, as usual never knew much about my parents until everyone had passed away. Was always told dad was from Small Heath, he was, Arthur Street. But he was born in Balsall Heath. The newspaper clipping was an amazing find by another clever kind guy. Never bothered researching my grandfather, Harold. He died tragically on new years eve 1930. I just thought he was probably enjoying himself. The front page of the Gazette told the story I didn't want, but gave me Alot of insight. He'd been out of work for a couple of yrs. Don't know why he was living in Dudley, dad's 2 sisters were born there. His first job and it was a hell of along way in those days from Dudley to Hams Hall. There were 12 workers in the back of a wagon, freezing weather. Truck skidded on ice, all 12 were thrown from it. My grandfather was the one that died impaled on railings. There was a photo of him and my dad aged 5 on his lap. Just glad I found out after going right back but not researching him. The accident happened at Minworth, still don't know where he was buried. He left £5. So I totally understand how hard my dad's and his mom and sisters lives must of been. Hence he wanted the best for me, I didn't always agree or wanted that. Thanks for the pic, brilliant.
 
Vivienne14 said:
Welcome back mr bluesky.

A search using Mary Street will bring up posts within threads which might be of interest.See #812 on the link below. One example of what can be found. https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/then-now.44065/page-41

There doesn’t appear to be a thread for Mary Street so I shall set one up for you using your previous post. Member’s May be able to help you further. Viv.
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Hi Vivienne, thank you very much for your help and pics. Can see from the pics posted that the family house was next door to the old pic of the eagle. So from other pics posted, the house must have been demolished well before 2002. I have not been over that way for many years, but remember Mary Street. Thank you for re threading me a link, This is where my technology struggles a bit, where and how to post. Its a great site and looks even better than when I last used it. Can see people like Astoness are gladly still very active and others. Thank you once again for all your help, Kindest regards, Keith.
 
mrbluesky1957 said:
Thank you, as usual a fast reply. The partly hidden house is the one I was hoping for. From your other photo 2002 it's a care home next door. I can see from the older pic that house was in the family for a fair few yrs. Having done a fair bit of ancestry, as usual never knew much about my parents until everyone had passed away. Was always told dad was from Small Heath, he was, Arthur Street. But he was born in Balsall Heath. The newspaper clipping was an amazing find by another clever kind guy. Never bothered researching my grandfather, Harold. He died tragically on new years eve 1930. I just thought he was probably enjoying himself. The front page of the Gazette told the story I didn't want, but gave me Alot of insight. He'd been out of work for a couple of yrs. Don't know why he was living in Dudley, dad's 2 sisters were born there. His first job and it was a hell of along way in those days from Dudley to Hams Hall. There were 12 workers in the back of a wagon, freezing weather. Truck skidded on ice, all 12 were thrown from it. My grandfather was the one that died impaled on railings. There was a photo of him and my dad aged 5 on his lap. Just glad I found out after going right back but not researching him. The accident happened at Minworth, still don't know where he was buried. He left £5. So I totally understand how hard my dad's and his mom and sisters lives must of been. Hence he wanted the best for me, I didn't always agree or wanted that. Thanks for the pic, brilliant.
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ahh yes i remember that newspaper article that was posted by one of our members...such a very sad story...i always say that when we start delving into our past as many of us do we have to be prepared to find out the not so nice things...always difficult but it is part of our ancestry....all the best

lyn
 
Hiya Lyn, didnt know how to contact you, hope yur ok? I struggle with posts and threads totally. Much better with ancestry after a few yrs now and of course yor help. I have only just worked out that you are Astoness lol, amazing. Remember you lived n Winfield House, Kingshurst. Ive been lookin back there and recognise 2 parish councillors from the past when I went to Kingshurst Comp. Moved about a fair bit now, getting older. My wife was interested in Harry Lucas School, she lived in Villa Street and attended that school. Thank you, Take care, no doubt will cross paths, Keith.
 
hi keith afraid i never lived in winfield house...what number villa st did the wife live at

lyn
 
couple of new ones i think...courtesty of carl chinn..mary st and george street.jpgmary st bath tavern.jpgmary street eagle taver.jpgmary street no 99 to 109 1961.jpg photo 1 mary st with george st..photo 2 bath tavern photo 3 eagle tavern photo 4 numbers 99 to 109 dated 1961..now who is that little girl sitting on the step and the boy playing in the road
 
thanks jan bit annoyed at our member lynn was at 120 so i would think 99 to 109 was almost opposite or there abouts... but we are getting closer
 
Lyn, its not through any lack of effort on your part!...I really appreciate it, and I'm going to look on a map to see how these matched up with my house (3 bk 100/102) . Thanks again x
 
getting closer lynn i will ask mike to post a map for you with the numbering on unless someone else gets there first
 
i
Astoness said:
couple of new ones i think...courtesty of carl chinn..View attachment 153673View attachment 153674View attachment 153675View attachment 153676 photo 1 mary st with george st..photo 2 bath tavern photo 3 eagle tavern photo 4 numbers 99 to 109 dated 1961..now who is that little girl sitting on the step and the boy playing in the road
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remember the shops in #14 i got my chomp from there for my dinner.when we worked for kids in need appeal at xmas time in a rented office that was falling down.
 
Brilliant photos, and maps, Thank you all, my gt nan lived next door to the Eagle, can just see it. Care home now, my dad was born in Balsall Heath Road 1925. He always told me he was from Small Heath. He was when he was abt 6 yrs old, Arthur Street back to back. So was a another shock when I started ancestry. Yet on his birth cert his mom was in Franklin Terrace, think that was near Edward Street? Mus have been at a relatives or friends. thanks again you folk, appreciated.
 
mrbluesky1957 said:
Brilliant photos, and maps, Thank you all, my gt nan lived next door to the Eagle, can just see it. Care home now, my dad was born in Balsall Heath Road 1925. He always told me he was from Small Heath. He was when he was abt 6 yrs old, Arthur Street back to back. So was a another shock when I started ancestry. Yet on his birth cert his mom was in Franklin Terrace, think that was near Edward Street? Mus have been at a relatives or friends. thanks again you folk, appreciated.
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Mrbluesky, sometimes boundaries were a bit different then. A place I lived as a child was Gordon Street, always known as Bordesley Green but on some records it's classed as Aston.
 
I have details of a death certificate for Bethia Oldham who died at 111 Mary Street, Balsall Heath, in 1877 so the photos and the map are of special interest to me, so thank you everyone. I have not found the number yet on the map, I am wondering if it may be up the passage that appears in the area thereabouts. Bethia was the wife of William Oldham of Oldham and Cooper, photographers at New Street, Birmingham. It is difficult to plot his movements but he seems to have moved to Mary Street as his residence and carried on some photography there whilst retaining the New Street premises. It is a huge disappointment to me that there has never been discovered any glass negative plates from his business nor any identifiable photos of his family. I wonder if a huge hoard of plates were found when the buildings were demolished! Thanks again to the remarkable Birmingham History forum buffs!
 
edcartermo said:
I have details of a death certificate for Bethia Oldham who died at 111 Mary Street, Balsall Heath, in 1877 so the photos and the map are of special interest to me, so thank you everyone. I have not found the number yet on the map, I am wondering if it may be up the passage that appears in the area thereabouts. Bethia was the wife of William Oldham of Oldham and Cooper, photographers at New Street, Birmingham. It is difficult to plot his movements but he seems to have moved to Mary Street as his residence and carried on some photography there whilst retaining the New Street premises. It is a huge disappointment to me that there has never been discovered any glass negative plates from his business nor any identifiable photos of his family. I wonder if a huge hoard of plates were found when the buildings were demolished! Thanks again to the remarkable Birmingham History forum buffs!
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I've only got access to an iPad at the moment but isn't No. 111 The Bath Tavern shown on the map in post #19 ?
 
brummy-lad said:
I've only got access to an iPad at the moment but isn't No. 111 The Bath Tavern shown on the map in post #19 ?
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Yes it is, highlighted here in yellow, but could it have had different numbering in 1877?
List on right is from PO directory 1879

bath tavern.PNGmary street 1879.PNG
 
Last edited:
Yes, it appears to be so. Kelly's records William Oldham in 1868 at Upper Mary Street; 1873 White's Directory has William Oldham (O & Cooper) Mary Street, Balsall Heath. Above that White's record is Mrs Bethia Oldham, Hightingham place, Upper Mary Street, while Bethia's death certificate records her death at 111 Mary Street. Are we dealing with the same address? I think so but I did not think I was looking at a Tavern premises. Perhaps a previous building on the same site? I would not have thought so, but possibly. I always imagined an address with outbuildings that could be adapted for photographic purposes -- such as the building yard premises?
 
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