See Birmingham by Post Card

[Teddy Fan]

I only ever remember Corporation Street as being one-way traffic - admittedly, I am just thinking back to the 1960s and early '70s when I lived in Birmingham. It might have changed since then. I have a photo (not a postcard though) from 1969 showing the one-way system quite clearly. I can post it if anyone is interested.
The school outfitters - I seem to recall it was somewhere round by the back of the Hippodrome, (I think!) when I was a girl but I might be wrong, well, it is a while back!

 

[Vivienne14]

I thought one-way road systems were a more modern idea, but Corporation Street seems to have been one-way for a very long time. But interestingly, Corporation Street seems still be a one-way system but it has changed direction! It now runs down towards New St Station, whereas Angela's pics show it running up towards Rackhams. Oh dear, I must get out more ........ Viv.

 

[Teddy Fan]

I have only walked through the town centre once in the last twenty-five years - about ten years ago - and that was enough to confuse me. All of the same streets and arcades but virtually none of the same shops which was really strange.
I used to know it all so well, I shopped there and worked there for years; for two years I even lived in the centre, right on Corporation Street, in the Victoria Hotel.
I am enjoying the photographic tour of old Birmingham much more than that walk through the new-style town.
Keep those great pictures coming, please!

 

[Vivienne14]

Yes Angela. Really enjoying the pictures too, so keep 'em coming please! I use google street view to check out the streets referred to on the forum as I moved away from Brum a long time ago. Most of the time you can find a recognisable view/ building. But sometimes it's like stepping on to a new planet ! Viv.

 

[dek carr]

Ah I remember waiting at that bus stop on many Saturdays for the 29 or 29A bus home! (I think it became the 90 and 91 bus). On first looking at this I felt I'd actually stepped into the picture. It also looks like it was a one way street. Date-wise it looks to be very late 1950's or maybe 1961/2. Pure nostalgia for me. Many thanks. Viv.

Our buses were up the top end by Harry Parks 55 & 56 How I miss all those Starlings on a winter night I know they made a mess and there was an awful din but what a spectacle to watch them coming in to roost. Dek

 

[Vivienne14]

Dek that's such a vivid memory for me too. They used to swoop around searching for their perches for the night. I think they mostly headed for the buildings around St Phillips square, but I guess any warm and safe perch was all they needed. I can still hear that shrill chirping. And of course they didn't have to contend with the 'spiked' buildings of today. I agree though, the downside of their dramatic display at dusk was the dreadful mess! Viv.

 

[GeorgieG]

If you go back to posted by Phil on Sept 2, 2008... there is a great photo of Corporation Street... with a better look at the old building that was by Union Street.. The Fifty Shilling Tailors.. opposite the Cobden Hotel. https://forum.birminghamhistory.co.uk/showthread.php?t=15768&page=16&highlight=Rackhams Am I right? Georgie

 

[Richie]

That is correct Georgie. We are building up a door-by-door picture ofCorporation Street very efficiently now.Only a few hundred pictures more to go. Just meant inadvertantly having to hi-jack the threadstarters purpose all those years ago. Maybe one of the Moderators could shift everything over to a brand-new Corporation Street home for us maybe? I can't get into Birmingham just yet so if anyone has a Kelly's from the mid-1950's thatwould be helpful-I'm trying to locate the premises number of a 'Timpsons' shoe shop from that period as have accessed a classic frontage picture.

 

[Astonian]

hi richie
there was a huge pen specialist along from the midland hotel in the early fories and fifties
where you could buy top of the range pens of all discription from the common biro to the excetives fountain pens from across the globe some with a diamond inbedded in them
and it was only the top excetitives went in there and the famous ones whom stayed at the hotel the store was on the end of the block of the hotel
best wishes astonian

 

[Vivienne14]

Been messing around with the British History Maps link which Rupert posted on message #1392 (thanks' great map site) and notice on the 1890 map there's an arcade running from Corporation St through to Cannon St. It's just down from Fore St but well before Midland Bank/now Waterstones. I don't remember ever seeing an arcade there. Does anyone have any pics? The entrance must still be visible on Corporation Street as the old buildings on that stretch are still there, but I don't recall seeing it. Viv.

 

[Fashionz]

The clock you can see on the left hand side used to be where "The Education" was. Does anyone that place. I was hardly tall enough then to reach the counters.

Hi, I think I've seen this picture, or similar, on one of the previous postings.
It appears to have been taken from a little further up than the 1354 posting, it looks very different but the far distant view matches quite closely. It's all a bit confusing!
The whole right-hand row of buildings don't seem to be the same. There is a space on the right side of the street as if a building has been demolished - does anyone know what was there previously or what was built there afterwards? Has anybody got dates for either picture?
Angela

 

[Richie]

Ah I remember waiting at that bus stop on many Saturdays for the 29 or 29A bus home! (I think it became the 90 and 91 bus). On first looking at this I felt I'd actually stepped into the picture. It also looks like it was a one way street. Date-wise it looks to be very late 1950's or maybe 1961/2. Pure nostalgia for me. Many thanks. Viv.

Viv, the date listed by the respective photo-archive is 1962. Not every detail on every register is always perfect but I think this is as good as.

 

[Rupert]

Vivienne, there is a thread on the City Arcade (passages alleys and snickets) or possibly elsewhere also. Try putting City Arcade in the search upper right. If nothing comes up someone will find it for you. There is a piece remaining, the entrance to which can be identified on GE and also some posts on here somewhere.

 

[Vivienne14]

Thanks Rupert will take a look now I have a name - there's no name given to the arcade on the 1890 map just "arcade".
Thanks Richie that date for photo sounds right to me. Regards Viv.

 

[ragga]

I like the Sherbourne road the most ........ ragga ....

 

[Richie]

I like the Sherbourne road the most ........ ragga ....[/QUOTE]

And referring to photo number 1 (New Street looking North), here is Austin Reed in its opening year glory. Upstairs too, and everything for the sartorial gentlman........

 

[Vivienne14]

Richie. Now that's a proper shop! Lovely. The shop fittings look top notch. Viv.

 

[Teddy Fan]

Thanks Ragga, for the picture of Blakesley Hall.
I used to go there often when I was young. It looks just how I remember it from years ago, before the visitors centre was built.

 

[ragga]

Me to Angela ......... i did visit Blakesley hall 2 years ago , i really enjoyed it .
ragga ....

 

[ragga]

This is a strange postcard , if i was a visitor to Birmingham back then
i certainly wouldnt sent this postcard . would you ??
ragga .......

 

[paul stacey]

well well well, austin reed how many times as a youth I gazed in that window but could never afford anything in there then had to use Jacksons or burtons, but later in life had a card account and shopped pretty well exclusively there, in Cambridge.
paul

 

[Teddy Fan]

The postcard of the church isn't one I'd choose either.
I suppose it might appeal to people who lived near it or got married there - something with a personal meaning perhaps?

 

[ragga]

3 nice postcards from the past which ive never seen before .
ragga .........

 

[carolina]

Ragga how peaceful the scenes are - thanks

 

[A Sparks]

View attachment 66997

This is a strange postcard , if i was a visitor to Birmingham back then
i certainly wouldnt sent this postcard . would you ??
ragga .......

Just picked up on this one - I went to Birchfield Road Junior school so I know the church on the corner with Trinity Road (I presume it's still a church?).

Amazing to see the area around it then - have you any idea of the date?

 

[lindaparry19]

nice picks regars linda

 

[motorman-mike]

We are really turning the clock back with these views!

 

[pollypops]

Great pictures - any idea what year the St Martins view may of been?

 

[G G Jean]

Thanks Mike great post cards.

 

[Astoness]

cracking postcards mike...love the st martins one....

thanks for posting them for us...

lyn