• 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

Newtown Palace Cinema

hi maurice. im struggling with that as well. i dont think the road where the bus is is new john street west. looked in a 56 kellys and it says the north side starts right after guest st. civic radios is the first building on that side of new john street west heading towards summer lane. think i will have to ge me old 60s a to z out. wales
 
nar. im stuck. had a look in the old a to z and new john st west delfinately comes off guest st. think ive lost me bearings here. wish i could see the number on that bus and whats the building behind the bus. hope someone can sort it out. confused.com.
 
Well done Lloyd thats Hockley Hill and that must be a Church Wales is on about, I couldn't make it out:)

Is that a No 11 Bus you might know Lloyd:)
 
Phil,
Great photos,I lived in this area for the 1st 21 years of my life.But for the life of me I can't recognise the location shown in this picture of New John Street West.Can you help me please?
Maurice.

Hi Maurice

I think its the Hockley Hill End, Thats a No 15 or 16 bus I think coming down the Hill. My stamping grounds at that time was Nechells so I am out of my depth.

Phil
 
It's too blurred to read the route, and I'm a vehicles rather that routes man. Surely the 11 outer circle wouldn't get that far in?
It's one of the early 1950s 'New Look' fronted buses, early in its life (the front mudguards were cut back in 1953 to aid wheel ventilation after brake fade troubles in the hot summer).
 
Don't think you are out of you depth we all slip up some times :)

Keep the Pics coming its great to see the old places again and show me Lads.:)
 
Lloyd

It looks like a No 15 to me, what do you think. Didn't the 15 run through Hockley and Lozells to Hamstead.

Phil

NewtownNewJohnStWest-1.jpg
 
The 16 was the Hamstead bus, wasn't the 15 Coventry Road / Yardley area?
It could be, from the enlarged photo. Is the Destination


Garratts Green Lane
Yardley​
 
I had to join in this one. I want to know too.
Based on Phils map it cant be Guest St as Little King St would be seen on the RHS. I think its Hockley Hill with the jct of Farm St (hidden to the right just about where the bus is). The 15 and 16 buses came along this route from Handsworth Wood / Lozells Rd. A lot of other buses used this route but definitely not a No. 11. They crossed Handsworth Road much further out of town in the heart of Handsworth. My sixpenneth!
 
Last edited:
The 16 was the Hamstead bus, wasn't the 15 Coventry Road / Yardley area?
It could be, from the enlarged photo. Is the Destination


Garratts Green Lane
Yardley

If so what would it be doing over Newtown / Hockley way as the street name plate on the original photo says New John St West. Would a bus go that far off route with number and route still showing

Phil
 
Phil,
Lloyd might be right about the destination of No. 15 bus? As I remember it did traverse a strange route across from one side of the city to the other. There was a 15 and a 15A.
 
Last edited:
Phil,and all who responded to my question.
Problem solved (I think).Just looked at the map in Ron Smiths book "A paddle in Hockley Brook"It shows V.E.Coleman as the 1st shop on turning the corner out of New John Street West into Hockley Hill at Hockley Brook.Other shops shown are Higgs.Ironmongers.Bendalls.Charlie Bull the butcher.Hardys.Shoe shop.Izons & Cockrams.
There is no mention of the impressive building.
Maurice
 
Maurice

If you are talking about the building on the corner of Hunter Rd & Farm Rd, the one with the clock it is Goodlass House owned by Goodlass, Wall & co. Paint Manufacturers.

Phil
 
Last edited by a moderator:
hi. wales aving her ten penath worth. just checked the kellys trade section. as phil said the large building is indeed goodlass wall and co ltd. 102 to 103 hockley hill. hockley hill veers off hunters road and farm street. not sure of the bus though. dont forget apart from the 16 there was the 74.75 and 79. cant beleive i have so much trouble with this one. wales
 
one more thing lads. if thats farm street just where the pub is ajacent to that should be a big pub called the benyon arms. (thought i had a photo of it in my hockley pubs) it was situated at farm st and hockley hill. i will ask dad. hes 80 and was born in hunters road. lived in villa st/farm street for years and is only a stones throw away now. wales
 
Hello Astonite,

Great to see a picture of the old bug hole again, I often frequented it as a kid and have posted some thoughts about it on the cinemas thread.

I think that the picture was probably taken at the start of the 60's rather than late 50's becuase I lived in the Street opposite, New John St West, until 1958/59 and there was certainly no verge with plants in it opposite the cinema. The whole area was completely built up and a pub, was it the Vine? stood on the corner where you can see the traffic lights. I don't remember any traffic lights there in my time, although there was a zebra crossing on which I got knocked over once on the way home from school.

Thanks again for posting the pics great to see them once more. I have a vague memory that it may have become a cinema once more at some stage specialising in Asian films. Although this may be a figment of my imagination since I have lived in Essex since 1981 and only saw the Palace in passing when visiting relatives in Brum.
have got a couple of pictures of the area
 
Re the Globe Cinema.

Do you remember how Kids used to get in nothing.

One would be sent in and pay and proceed to the screen end of the cinema where there was an emergency door opening into New St. they'd open the door and let there mates in.

I think this was the only cinema in Birmingham that didn't have the seats secured to the floor.

If you didn't scratch when you went in, you did when you come out.

I also remember been taken to Aston Hipp to " Jane " out of the Daily Paper, behind her Frosty screen so that all you saw was her shadow.

Blimey that takes you back a bit, I must be getting old.
 
Phil. I used to take rags and I think scrap metal down New John Street but I cannot remember much about the area, You all seem far more intelligent than I could ever be about it.
 
Yes Ray I remember all those steamy joints when I lived in Aston.

Can't remember sneaking into the Globe but I did at the Newtown also waited outside for an adult to take you in.:)

It wouldn't happen now.:(
 
Back
Top