• 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

Villa Cross Cinema

Astoness said:
hi richard if you used the villa cross where did you live....new housing on the site of the old villa cross pic house now...the white building to the right in street view below was the little shop we used to use every saturday...would this be your mrs brants shop

lyn

www.google.com

Villa Rd · Birmingham

Birmingham
www.google.com www.google.com
Click to expand...
Lyn, I lived on Radnor Rd, it kind of behind the Villa Cross. If you went down Heathfield Rd toward Perry Barr, a short left on to Heathfield Ave and there is Radnor Rd.
 
hi richard i think i remember you telling me that some time ago...memory not as it was lol...yes i know radnor road as one of my teachers lived there....went to her house for tea once....was that the sweet shop you were on about...i posted a link to it ..think its grade listed but as we all know that does not really count for much these days

lyn
 
Astoness said:
hi richard i think i remember you telling me that some time ago...memory not as it was lol...yes i know radnor road as one of my teachers lived there....went to her house for tea once....was that the sweet shop you were on about...i posted a link to it ..think its grade listed but as we all know that does not really count for much these days

lyn
Click to expand...
It might be the Sweet Shop, the owner was Mrs Brant.
 
well if mrs brants was on the right as you face the pic house then yes i would say so...its the only one i remember...we also used to buy a glass of tizer pop from there for a penny :)
 
Radnor Road was on my bread round route when I was part timing for Bradfords back in around 1948, we also had the flats in Hampstead Road where a blind lady would give me 1d for a tip when I delivered, she said it's not much but if every customer gave you a penny and you saved them you would soon be rich. :)

Are those flats still there?
 
Eric Gibson said:
Radnor Road was on my bread round route when I was part timing for Bradfords back in around 1948, we also had the flats in Hampstead Road where a blind lady would give me 1d for a tip when I delivered, she said it's not much but if every customer gave you a penny and you saved them you would soon be rich. :)

Are those flats still there?
Click to expand...
Don't know about the flats Eric, I haven't lived there since 1962! About pennies, my grandfather used to say, pennies make pounds then we have real money!
 
Eric Gibson said:
Google Earth says yes, and looking good too.

View attachment 140284
Click to expand...
Are thay the flats the late noel gorden from crossroads fame .?she used to park her rolls Royce in hall road outside our house and walk up to the ville ge to do her shopping. Our back gate on hampsted rd
faced Radnor Rd had I have seen that small quadrant of the villa cross window in that rubble back then when thay tore it down I might have given the demolition men a drink for it .what a wonderful bit of nostalgia to be on the front of any home.
 
NoelleO 64 said:
Are thay the flats the late noel gorden from crossroads fame .?she used to park her rolls Royce in hall road outside our house and walk up to the ville ge to do her shopping. Our back gate on hampsted rd
faced Radnor Rd had I have seen that small quadrant of the villa cross window in that rubble back then when thay tore it down I might have given the demolition men a drink for it .what a wonderful bit of nostalgia to be on the front of any home.
Click to expand...
I got the wrong flats. Sorry I went past thosed flats this morning trying to avoid perrybarr new lay out.????? Joining the walsall rd from the aldridge rd into town is looking for an accident . The flats were actually about 100 yards down the hampstead rd from the old mists garage , remember them? Nice photo anyway.

.
 
Astoness said:
reposting...
villa_Cross.jpg
Click to expand...
In posts #37,38, and 39, Photobucket have put their water mark across the pics. I've stripped their watermark off the pics and put copies below. These could be moved to the original posts if others are seeing the watermarks on the original pics.
VillaCrossCinema1.jpg
VillaCrossCinemaFoyer.jpg
VillaCrossCinemaInside.jpg
they have now been copied to original posts
 
Last edited:
cookie273uk said:
Yes I went a few times in the 50's, cannot remember what films though ! Eric
Click to expand...

had a wonderful interior eric.. sadly the likes we will never seen again last film i saw there was true grit...there is no room now for great architects whos names will be remembered.. same with interior designers and made to last materials...anyone can design nowadays and throw up a building in a matter of weeks only to be demolished 50 years later and this comes from my american son in law who although a modern day architect he can appreciate old architecture and can not believe the magnificent historical buildings this city has raised to the ground..moan over :D

lyn
 
Last edited:
Sorry I still can't get the hang of how to post these things, just been reading about and looking at some fabulous photos of the Villa cross picture house, me my brother and sister used to go there every Saturday morning
6d in and 6d to spend!!
 
same here brian...every saturday morning...did you live local...i was in villa st...happy days

lyn
 
Yep Radnor Road same building as one of your other forum members Richard Dye, I've also spent more than a few hours standing outside the Villa Cross pub playing with any other kids whilst mom and dad had a cheeky bitter inside!!
 
brian one of my teachers from lozells girls lived in radnor road...once again happy days

lyn
 
Monique Woodward said:
What lovely pics from Astoness. Happy memories for me. Every Christmas Eve I seem to remember we went to this glorious emporium to see Mr McGoo’s Christmas Carol - never got tired of it!
Click to expand...
same here...very happy memories we lived just a short walk away and went most saturday mornings delighting in going down to the front to dance to the lastest songs after the film had ended...did you live near to the the villa cross

lyn
 
TOPSYTURVEY said:
Such a shame when you see it as a ton of rubble. Many memories of my youth were had in that Picture House.
I used to love that little Sweet Shop next door it used to remind me of something from a Dickens novel.
Click to expand...
Just picked up this thread of Villa Cross Cinema.
I used to go there with my new girlfriend Ann at the age of 15 (who lived in nearby Whitmore Street) around 1963 and always used to go to that little Sweet shop next door.
We got married in 1973 and Ann sadly died in 2019, but this thread bought back many happy times.
 
Great story, rummie, have very similar memories of the Royalty, Harborne, so sorry you lost your wife so recently. Regards Paul
 
TowerStreetBrummie said:
Just picked up this thread of Villa Cross Cinema.
I used to go there with my new girlfriend Ann at the age of 15 (who lived in nearby Whitmore Street) around 1963 and always used to go to that little Sweet shop next door.
We got married in 1973 and Ann sadly died in 2019, but this thread bought back many happy times.
Click to expand...
Mrs Brandts sweet shop!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top