Recent content by Frank M

Hello Viv, Thank you for this newspaper cutting of the Cannon Hill gardeners at work. The big man in the dark clothing is my great uncle Henry Frankcom. Henry (Uncle Harry) was born in 1887. He lived in Tyseley most of his early life and began work at Canon Hill after leaving school . He...

My 1st cousin 3 x removed, John Frankcom, joined Birmingham City Police on 17th June 1864. His disciplinary record shows that between 1875 and 1871 he was found to be drinking on duty on eight occasions, asleep on duty, absent from his beat x 2, late for duty, dring in a beer house at 6.35 on...

Here,s an advertisement for Wright Bindley and Gell.

Here,s an advertisement for Wright Bindley and Gell.

A Great photo. I lived most of the early part of my life in Newton Road and always remember the shop on the corner of Hendon Road as being owned and run by Mrs Shipman. I would guess that the photo was taken in the early 1900s. Like the horse and cart at the bottom of the road. Frank M

Hello John, I'd almost forgotten about this thread and nearly a year to the date of the last entry you come up with the last piece in Bertha's jigsaw. This is the great thing about BHF, never say never. My neighbour is away this week and she'll be amazed when I show her this on her return...

Thanks Mike. Great map. Interesting to note Dovehouse Farm in the bottom right of the map which is now Dovehouse Parade.

They must have had a hard winter that year.

Thanks Pedro. You could be right. In 1900 five residents of nearby St Bernards Rd got together and leased the Mere from the canal company for sailing, fishing, and shooting. However, the shooting was stopped in 1926 due to lack of wildfowl. (Must have been good shots.)

I think it's just a reservoir known as Olton Mere.

Olton Mere was created in 1799 as a reservoir to feed the Grand Union Canal. It is situated on the border of Solihull and Birmingham. The Mere has suffered from the drought. I took this photo on Saturday. It took me 40 minutes to walk round it and only saw one heron and very few other birds.

Hi Kirsty, It's great to have at last found a relative of Abraham Lake. I need to contact you as I would like to return the whistle to the Lake family. I don't think the history forum like you giving email details and so I will try to trace you via ancestry. If go onto Ancestry and under...

Thanks Tinpot. I think you maybe right about The Old Lodge. One of Pedro's press cuttings shows the Yardley Lodge Secretary as W.Hunter of 58 Coventry Road. The address of the Old Lodge Pub was 53 Coventry Road. Hand for having your Lodge Meetings.