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Needless Alley
- Thread starter Astoness
- Start date
Thanks for raising it Pedro. It deserves some attention.
An evocative photo Lyn. Viv.
An evocative photo Lyn. Viv.
Seems the alley might go as far back as medieval times. From Birmingham Conservation Trust:
"This little passage way is a survivor from old Birmingham that has managed to escape the urban planners! For although the buildings around it have changed over the years, the outline of the alley itself still remains as it was. The first mention of Needless Alley was from maps dated from 1731, however, it it likely to have been there much longer, perhaps even as far back as medieval Birmingham. It has been suggested that it is a remnant of Birmingham’s agricultural past, likely to have been fordrough, which is a farm track allowing space for plough teams to turn between medieval fields.
Local historian Chris Upton researched the alley during the late Georgian period and noted that in 1829, for example, a local papers reported that the alley needed to go! The Birmingham Journal dubbed it “needless by name and needless by nature”. Indeed in the Georgian and early Victoria era’s Needless Alley was a “disorderly street”, full of “disorderly houses”. In the summer of 1829 six individuals appeared before the magistrates accused of keeping “disorderly houses”, whilst a woman that also who stood in the dock was described as “a nymph, resident in Needless Alley”.
"This little passage way is a survivor from old Birmingham that has managed to escape the urban planners! For although the buildings around it have changed over the years, the outline of the alley itself still remains as it was. The first mention of Needless Alley was from maps dated from 1731, however, it it likely to have been there much longer, perhaps even as far back as medieval Birmingham. It has been suggested that it is a remnant of Birmingham’s agricultural past, likely to have been fordrough, which is a farm track allowing space for plough teams to turn between medieval fields.
Local historian Chris Upton researched the alley during the late Georgian period and noted that in 1829, for example, a local papers reported that the alley needed to go! The Birmingham Journal dubbed it “needless by name and needless by nature”. Indeed in the Georgian and early Victoria era’s Needless Alley was a “disorderly street”, full of “disorderly houses”. In the summer of 1829 six individuals appeared before the magistrates accused of keeping “disorderly houses”, whilst a woman that also who stood in the dock was described as “a nymph, resident in Needless Alley”.
I think I remember that too Rosie. Small tapestries in the window spring to mind for some reason. Although I sometimes mix up in my mind Needless Alley with Cannon Street. Viv.
A Sparks
master brummie
The shop was called The Needlewoman, I remember it very well and can picture the lady who ran it. I used to buy embroidery thread from there
HEATHEROFSTAFFORD
New Member
I spent many happy hours in the Stamp Shop in Needless Alley
To add ‘colour’ to this alleyway, this was its condition in December 1847 - sounds disgusting. Viv.
ellbrown
ell brown on Flickr
Needless Alley in 2019.
Looking up to Temple Row. Behind me was one of those security barriers.
Pedestrianised at this end. Down to New Street.
On New Street is Watches of Switzerland.
This below on a post from the Birmingham Conservation Trust.
Looking up to Temple Row. Behind me was one of those security barriers.
Pedestrianised at this end. Down to New Street.
On New Street is Watches of Switzerland.
This below on a post from the Birmingham Conservation Trust.
And there was a stream that once flowed down the alley - although I wonder how much of an exaggeration this might have been. https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/springs-and-wells-of-birmingham.49560/
Viv.
Viv.
mw0njm.
A Brummie Dude
prob a burst water main. it took so long to repair folks began to think it was a stream
Hi Oldbrit,
It was the West End Stamp Company. The other main philately shop in Birmingham
was Margoschis in the Burlington Arcade.
Kind regards
Dave
oldbrit
OldBrit in Exile
Thanks dave, Collected stamps for years did a lot of business with them Also it was a penny black, very rare in those days
I remember the West End Stamp shop very well.I used to spend my pocket money there in the 1950’s.Mr Hughes a charming polite man in gold bi-focals always humming.He would go to immense trouble to help you find a stamp.He even gave us credit.In Paradise Street there was another stamp shop which also sold cigarette cards run by a lovely lady.We always dropped in there too as it was near another essential school boys shop Spicers the Taxidermist which soldequipment to blow birds eggs and butterfly specimens.Edward Spicer was another great chap... but I degress ! We discovered that Mr Hughes was ‘walking out’ with this lady.. we spotted them going into the Cinephone[which showed european films every 3 weeks[financed by suedo porno from Sweden].I hope they married and were happy they were old school personalities urbane,cultured , kind and well mannered.. a rarity these days.
Alf Rogers
master brummie
Great memories! Many thanks! But I can't remember where Spicers were located. I'm sure I must have passed their shop and peered in from time to time
Fabulous....we were so lucky to have such times. Whilst I would love to be young again I do not see the 17/20 year olds having such vivid and beautiful memories of the time we had in Brum.....then. No virtual world with pretending friends, no letters, hand written, no waiting, in anticipation, for such letters to fall through letter box. No real photographs treasured enough to put in physical albums.....Yes, I do also recognise the progress, I think. lol.
Looking at this image, you can see where the ‘stream’ story might have came from. Viv.
Source: British Newspaper Archive
Geoff Stollard
New Member
There was lovely lively cafe down here on the left hand side going down from New Street where my father took me for lunch often as he always used it walking over from Newhall Street and having a good lunch every day. Surface was kept clean and I remember the stamp shop too expensive for me. Some nice little shops as well history did not imply wealth but good little premises with close together community of shoppers helping each other to keep going this was in the early 1960'sNeedless Alley in 2019.
Looking up to Temple Row. Behind me was one of those security barriers.
Pedestrianised at this end. Down to New Street.
On New Street is Watches of Switzerland.
This below on a post from the Birmingham Conservation Trust.
Almost an atmosphere of reverence in there in the late 60s - the chap with half moon specs pulling out old binders and sorting through obscure stamps with gold plated tweezers - very Dickensian!
Williamstreeter
master brummie
Used to walk up here to get into the back entrance of The Windsor pub , Ted and May behind the bar upstairs 1960's great unforgettable days
