I thought the section nearest High Street was damaged during WW2 and the section with scaffolding was demolished (if so it must have been demolished around the time of the photo). But could be wrong on this. Viv.
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New Street City Centre Birmingham
- Thread starter postie
- Start date
devonjim
master brummie
A couple of John Ball's pictures from early 1960's from the other direction.
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Here we have a very lively New Street scene from Charles Radclyffe's Birmingham 1840. KE Grammar School to the left and Christ Church spire in the distance. No right turn for Corporation Street as it had yet to be cut through.
School boys in mortar boards dotted about, two buying - possibly pies or buns (?) - from the lady to the left. One lad walking along reading a book or paper. Cabs for hire in the middle of the street. A crouched lady selling something or possibly begging, but she's managed to get the attention of a passer-by. What a busy scene. Viv
School boys in mortar boards dotted about, two buying - possibly pies or buns (?) - from the lady to the left. One lad walking along reading a book or paper. Cabs for hire in the middle of the street. A crouched lady selling something or possibly begging, but she's managed to get the attention of a passer-by. What a busy scene. Viv
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Does anyone know anything about the source of this document? Is 'Charles Radclyffe, Birmingham, 1840' its title and publishing date?
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Possibly commissioned for the Rev Lee of KE Grammar School but not sure. The book of views is for sale on eBay for £300 - so pretty rare. See below. Viv.
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Thanks
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19th Century New Street at, what I think would be the junction with High Street. I think the building to the left of the first image is the same building as the building to the right in the second attached image (1840). (Although the balcony looks more rounded than the 1840 image). Would this be where the Rotunda is today ? Viv
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Lots to see in this view looking towards High Street. The edge of the Exchange Building to the right and KE Grammar School further along with a line of buses nearby. A nice row of street lamps along the left-hand side. And a man in a suit outside a first floor window on the left !
Maybe someone can date this by the vehicles.
Viv.
Maybe someone can date this by the vehicles.
Viv.
You may not normally notice this building near the top end of New Street. It has a few nice details giving clues to its age, including one of the original doors. Even the top floor balconies have survived. It was built on the site of the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists building. The drawing below is from 1913. Today, the word "Medicine" can be seen over one entrance. The building has the name New Street Chambers. Viv
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This brave scaffolder seems to be very much at home towering above New Street in 1954. There's the Exchange Building across the road to his left, with the view behind him up towards the Town Hall. Wonder what building he was working on ? Marshall and Snelgrove - or had that gone by 1954 ? Viv.
Radiorails
master brummie
Wow! Danger men at work!
The days before HSE - no safety equipment, no hard hat, no correct footwear no HI-Vis clothing etc. etc.
The days before HSE - no safety equipment, no hard hat, no correct footwear no HI-Vis clothing etc. etc.
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Janet Hunt
master brummie
I would guess,Marshall & Snelgrove
| Architect | North, Robin & Wilson |
| Date Built | 1938 but not finished until 1956 |
| Location | New Street |
| Description | |
| Built as a department store for Marshall and Snelgrove. Converted in 1970, by the architectural practice of Ted Levy, Benjamin and Partners, into a hotel. The conversion included the addition of a mansard roof. In 2011 there are retail outlets at street level. An O2 branch sits in the location of the former Marshall and Snelgrove entrance. The Britannia Hotel, offering 214 bedrooms, occupies the upper floors. Its entrance is on the side down an alleyway. |
Source: https://manchesterhistory.net/archi...a department store,addition of a mansard roof.
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Janet Hunt
master brummie
Makes me feel quite ill just looking at the way he is balancing on the scaffold, great picture though.
I can't place where this was on New Street. (The late Phil posted this on the other Birmingham history forum site). I remember the one in High Street. Maybe it moved to High Street,. Photo might be around 1950s.
Janet Hunt
master brummie
It was on the corner of High Street and Bull Street, you can just make it out in this 1948 aerial image
historicengland.org.uk
EAW013573 - Aerial Photo | Historic England
Explore the aerial photo collection
historicengland.org.uk
brummy-lad
master brummie
DavidGrain
master brummie
That building is King Edward House. I recognised it by the Midland Red bus shelter and then checked the windows on the first floor. I remember Littlewoods on the Big Top site as a good place to have lunch.
That's the one I remember Janet. It must have moved from New Street by 1948 then. Thanks. VivIt was on the corner of High Street and Bull Street, you can just make it out in this 1948 aerial image
EAW013573 - Aerial Photo | Historic England
Explore the aerial photo collection
Janet Hunt
master brummie
By 1969 that area had been rebuilt and this is the Littlewoods store I remember. which is basically where boots is now, Chelsea girl used to be on the corner where Burger king is. It is the same building structure from the 1969 picture
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An very busy scene looking down New Street from Victoria Square (I think). To the left (level with the first bus) would have been Rowans, alongside which would have been Christ Church Passage. The building to the immediate left would have been the Galloways building. No date for this one, but it would be post -1930s.
MWS
from Bham
I think it's a view that holds up fairly well, Lyn. The buildings down to Christ Church passage have gone but the remainder are a lot cleaner at least...
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Radiorails
master brummie
The photo of New Street - post 472 would be after 1934 as that was when bus 571- AOB 571 was introduced. It was on route 6 Sandon Road.
DavidGrain
master brummie
Lyn, If you look at the building level with the back of the Sandon Road bus, you will see that the corner is cut away and that is the first building on the left in the present day photo. The buildings on the right are also unchanged except for the ground floor shop fronts..
Yes, there's a lot of interesting buildings at this part of New Street. I see Rowans is now a Nandos but most of the late 1920s shop cladding has been retained. It looks very modern but dates back nearly 100 years ! Pity they didn't keep the original windows. A shop design at the forefront in the 1920s. Also we tend not to see beyond the ground floor (often quite ugly or characterless) shop front. You just need to look up above them to discover a wealth of interesting architecture of different styles and different periods.
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DavidGrain
master brummie
When I lead guided walks, especially in streets with shops, I always tell people to look up above the shop front.
Absolutely David ! Glad you're doing that.
