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Villa Road Handsworth

Jayell said:
Correct Radiorails - it was the No.5!
It was a long time ago that I used this tram which used to stop outside Mrs Payne's sweet shop at the top of Villa Road which was the terminus. I can remember running along the tram pushing the seat backs to face the other way for the return journey.
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I remember pushing those seats!
 
Here’s a lovely snippet of Villa Road history. The middle building, according the Birmingham Archives, is thought to date back to 1815 and was quite possibly once a farmhouse. Incredibly it’s still there along with a few more old (Victorian) buildings to the left. Viv.
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The Oak Cottage photo must have been taken just before demolition. The cottage to the right is boarded up and the upper windows are broken. Can we find out anything about these cottages; Oak Cottage, it’s neighbour and Linden Cottage ? Residents names etc. There was an appeal for info on the Birmingham Archive site, but not sure how long ago that was made. Thanks. Viv.
 
This is #39 - #41 Villa Road so those cottages in the first photo of post #75 labelled Oak Cottage. #41a - Linden Cottage - must have been next to these (to the right or perhaps behind #41 on the end-right side). Interestingly, Linden Cottage has a side gate, so was this gate leading to an entry off Villa Road ? There seems to be another building behind #41. It must be on a map. The image is from Birmingham Archives dated January 1981. Viv.

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For comparison
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Vivienne14 said:
This is #39 - #41 Villa Road so those cottages in the first photo of post #75 labelled Oak Cottage. #41a - Linden Cottage - must have been next to these (to the right or perhaps behind #41 on the end-right side). Interestingly, Linden Cottage has a side gate, so was this gate leading to an entry off Villa Road ? There seems to be another building behind #41. It must be on a map. The image is from Birmingham Archives dated January 1981. Viv.

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For comparison
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Interesting, it appears to have a garage of carriage park on the left side.
 
These houses were built in the 1840s on land owned by Matthew Boulton’s grandson. They were #34 - #42. They were occupied by jewellery and gun craftsmen, attorneys and clerks.You can see from the old 1981 B&W photo what a sorry state they were in, but they were thankfully revived with a very impressive refurbishment in the 1990s. A lovely example of a stepped terrace. Viv.

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Source: Birmingham Library Archives

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Vivienne14 said:
These houses were built in the 1840s on land owned by Matthew Bouton’s grandson. They were #34 - #42. They were occupied by jewellery and gun craftsmen, attorneys and clerks.You can see from the old 1981 B&W photo what a sorry state they were in, but they were thankfully revived with a very impressive refurbishment in the 1990s. A lovely example of a stepped terrace. Viv.

View attachment 171923
Source: Birmingham Library Archives

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What a great save! They have SO much character which we sorely miss in todays building.
 
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Vivienne14 said:
These houses were built in the 1840s on land owned by Matthew Bouton’s grandson. They were #34 - #42. They were occupied by jewellery and gun craftsmen, attorneys and clerks.You can see from the old 1981 B&W photo what a sorry state they were in, but they were thankfully revived with a very impressive refurbishment in the 1990s. A lovely example of a stepped terrace. Viv.

View attachment 171923
Source: Birmingham Library Archives

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viv i have always admired those stepped terraces....we are lucky they are still around...i did not know they were once owned by matthew boultons grandson...we never stop learning

lyn
 
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this photo is incorrectly labelled as being taken along the lichfield road...it is actually taken at the terminus of the no 5 tram villa road near to the soho road junction...note the shed like building with double gates to the left...photo 2 shows the no 5 at the terminus which also shows the building and double gates...also posting overhead shots of the terminus posted by oldmohawk..post 67 on this thread shows that the shed like building with double gates is still there..last photo taken looking down villa road ...no 5 terminus on the left near to the lampost..the church is still there2129A83E-1FBB-4051-9540-0A87B044BA55 (1).jpegVilla Road no 5 terminus.jpgvilla road terminus overhead 2.jpgvilla road terminus overhead.jpg

lynHandsworth Villa rd 4.jpg
 
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Astoness said:
View attachment 175720View attachment 175721View attachment 175722View attachment 175723

lynView attachment 175724
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Thanks Lyn - Not seen the aerial photos before and they bring back many memories of an area where I grew up. I wonder what year Dennisons Watch Case Co was expanded to take in the houses on the left, as they weren't there when I was living just a couple of minute's away? I went on the tram many times from the terminus which was outside Mrs Payne's sweet shop in the 40s (hidden behind the tram).
 
Richard Dye said:
A little before my time, but I remember those shops and the #5 tram. I think the Polar Bear sweet shop was on the left(not in 1918). Went there many times!
Great photo, thank you!
Happy Easter to everyone!
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Richards mention of The Polar Bear sweet shop, bought back so many memories to me. I remember this shop from the middle of the 1950s and onward, it got its name from the big Polar Bear standing on a Foxes Glacier mint as an advert. By the way whilst finding the advert i found out that Fox's Glacier Mints were founded and manufactured in Leicester .
 

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Harry Gower said:
Richards mention of The Polar Bear sweet shop, bought back so many memories to me. I remember this shop from the middle of the 1950s and onward, it got its name from the big Polar Bear standing on a Foxes Glacier mint as an advert. By the way whilst finding the advert i found out that Fox's Glacier Mints were founded and manufactured in Leicester .
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Thank you for that Harry, I did not know but loved the place aand Mrs Brandts sweet shop! Did you grow up in Handsworth?
 
Richard Dye said:
Thank you for that Harry, I did not know but loved the place aand Mrs Brandts sweet shop! Did you grow up in Handsworth?
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Hi Richard, ive been busy and couldn't answer before, no i didn't grow up in Handsworth, but to the south of Villa Rd (down Hunters Rd) in Lozells B19, although i was very familiar with Handsworth.
 
Harry Gower said:
Hi Richard, ive been busy and couldn't answer before, no i didn't grow up in Handsworth, but to the south of Villa Rd (down Hunters Rd) in Lozells B19, although i was very familiar with Handsworth.
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Well not too far, I was born in Aston but grew up on Radnor Rd, just north of Hunters. Rode and walked it many times!
 
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