Newtown shopping centre

[sylviasayers]

*I remember a secuirty guard was killed in the precinct, but can't remember the year.

I have posted some photos to Patty and she will try and post them on this thread when she gets the hang of the new system.

Ray has lots of tales of his time in Aston and Newtown Shopping Centre, one was when the Centre was declining and a lot of winos hung round, one day in the winter and there was snow and ice around one broke his leg and someone propped him up outside a shop and called an ambulance, when it arrived he was still clutching his bottle and shouted "I don't need you lot, I'm in BUPA".

 

[ianw]

Here is an old picture of the shopping centre after it had all closed down (photo by Paul Greeves)

 

[Jasminesmummy]

Hi.
I wonder if you can help me? I'm trying to find out the names of any butchers shops that were in the Newtown shopping centre in 1980. I know there was a W H Smith but were there any others you can remember?
Thanks in advance!!

h markon
nice to hear your memos ; i was one of the first residents to move into inkerman house the first block to be built there afew years before you
i lived on the very top floor of the flats and the flat over looked the concourse and the shops and of a night time i used to watch the yobs play up the security officers and they always called the polce and watch the fights and the struggles i lived next to a guy whom was timmins and old guy whom lived on his own ; but i can recall all the shops name and the flat we lived in if you was to look up in the sky at the top of the flats
our flat was slapp bang in the middle i myself would like to think that some one may have a picture of it ;
as i would dearly love to see it also to mention my younger brother lived up on those new houses in what they called barton bank
they are the ones that was facing the main rd where all the shops and the picture house used to stand years ago along with the nat west bank ;
best wishes astonian

 

[TOPSYTURVEY]

I can remember there being a Poxons and Walter Smiths.

 

[Jasminesmummy]

Thank you , that's what I meant Walter Smith not WH Smith lol
Th reason I'm ask is I'm trying to find my dad, all I know is his name was Joseph / Joe he would have been about 17/18 & he worked in the butchers which is where my mum met ,him, she says she cant (or wont) tell me anything more than that!!
Its a bit of a long shot I know ...
Just wondering if the firm still exists somewhere and they may have old company / staff records...
Thanks again

I can remember there being a Poxons and Walter Smiths.

 

[mikejee]

The forum does not allow discussion in open forum where someone is looking for people who still may be alive, so if anyone has any personal information on this person please contact Jasminesmummy by IM. If they have general information about the butchers , or suggestions as to where information may be found, then, of course it may be placed on open forum

 

[Sugar]

Yes I done my first shopping experience on my own doing a full shopping list with my mums wheelie shopper in sainsburys I was only 9 but I felt I was a grown woman going into a big shop on my own without anybody with me.I remember the Tesco's on the corner which had a set of stairs just outside the shop that took you to an open air carpark and of course nearly everybody went to Ray's hairdressing salons .His wife use to run the ladies and he ran the mens .my dad went to Ray's for many years when he was situated in bracebridge street we even got some wooden chairs from him when he moved to newtown when he left newtown my dad still took a bus to his new shop which was quite far to get to because he did not want anybody else to cut his hair.I would not mind but he was bald with a bit of hair either side of his head ha ha.

 

[Astoness]

I think you are right Mrs. S. Was Collins further up opposite the market area, if I remember correctly there was also a Tesco which I think later became Bobbys.

thanks sylvia ive been trying for ages to remember the name of a supermarket that was in the precinct..it was collins and i think it was more or less opposite the round market

lyn x

 

[Williamstreeter]

Newtown SShopping Centre I remember it very well , as I lived in Selston Road which was just off Victoria Road . I used Rays shop for my haircut when it was next to the bank , I also used Bobby's for my bottles of Checker Bitter , when I was fitting a new kitchen . I used The Griffin and The Paddock , Poxon's, Walters Smiths butchers , the record shop in the indoor market plus the decorators shop further down . One of the partners used to live around the corner from me when I lived in Great Barr , I left GB two years ago . I worked with a man who lived and unfortunately died in Inkerman House , I also decorated one of the flats there , There was also a man that when he saw me in The Paddock would give me a couple of tickets for Perry Barr greyhound track for Saturday nights , he also lived in Inkerman house . Also used to get what used to be known as six pennorth from the chip shop but it was more than sixpence . Great days indeed I lived around there 1976-96 when we moved to Great Barr

 

[Astoness]

many thanks to sylviasayers who has sent me through the post about 18 photos of the shopping centre taken possibly in the late 80s early 90s.... most shops are closed down ready for demo but they are still of interest to those of us who knew the shopping centre...i will scan them and post them on this thread asap...thanks again sylvia you are a star

lyn

 

[Astoness]

ok folks here we go....these photos will not have been seen before...as always we have no objections to them being posted on other networks which no doubt they will be.... all we ask is if you do please credit the birmingham history forum as your source...thank you im sure they will bring back memories to some of you..they do to to me..thanks again sylvia...

lyn

 

[Astoness]

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[aston lad]

My play ground when it was being built....The Paddock was our headquarters....I can recall walking in there with a few friends one night probably around this time of year in 1967 just after the builder had concerted the floor....I bet he wasn't very happy next day....we were probably called vandals, we didn't mean to cause any damaged on purpose....

 

[Astoness]

My play ground when it was being built....The Paddock was our headquarters....I can recall walking in there with a few friends one night probably around this time of year in 1967 just after the builder had concerted the floor....I bet he wasn't very happy next day....we were probably called vandals, we didn't mean to cause any damaged on purpose....

just kids being kids john......

lyn

 

[Williamstreeter]

My play ground when it was being built....The Paddock was our headquarters....I can recall walking in there with a few friends one night probably around this time of year in 1967 just after the builder had concerted the floor....I bet he wasn't very happy next day....we were probably called vandals, we didn't mean to cause any damaged on purpose....

Yes The Paddock good old pub I moved to Selston Rd in 1976 , The gaffer of the Paddock at the time was good old Dick Patterson , shortly after he brought Tommy Swords in to run it for him who I think ended up owning it . If I ever went into the Barton Arms when Tommy was on his tea break as he called it He always bought me or anyone else that used the Paddock a drink . Thinking back wonderful days indeed ..... Thank You Lyn and thank you Sylvia how's Ray nowadays ?

 

[sylviasayers]

Sad to say William that Ray died in 2012, but thanks for asking about him.

 

[Williamstreeter]

Sad to say William that Ray died in 2012, but thanks for asking about him.

Sylvia I'm sorry to hear that news, I remember Ray and his two colleagues as though it was yesterday , I used Ray's shop many times on a Saturday afternoon , when I lived in Selston Road 1976-96 .

 

[Pedrocut]

From Birmingham Post April 1973, Newtown after the vandals...