Recent content by Lady Penelope

My Dad always used to say 'scrub round it' - meaning 'leave it alone'. Also, when ironing a shirt he would say 'first the collar, then the chest, then the cuffs and blow the rest'. I suppose they were the only things that showed when in uniform.

I found the attached photo which states in the write up that the old school bell (from The National School) was taken to the new school. As this article appeared on 22 May 1964 the move must have occurred before this date. You'll find this information at the bottom left hand corner.

Thanks Peter, I'm still trying to finish my article for the History Group about Jordan's Grave, Beggars Bush and Gibbet Hill but progress is slow at the moment. The area was 'wild and lonely' and largely uninhabited and I do tend to think that many myths and legends formed during those dark...

Mike, I believe this is a requirement before any plans can be made. I've been studying the children of Princess Alice Orphanage who are buried in the churchyard. There were three orphanages within the parish at one time. The oldest stone has disappeared under grass and is in the area of the...

I think the councillor's wording probably confused matters Mike. The most used entrance for St Michael's is on Church Road and it's practically impossible to park on this road unless you arrive for church at the crack of dawn. Boldmere itself has only roadside parking or over subscribed...

Only six more sleeps to the big day! Happy Christmas to all you lovely people. It's so nice to be able to join in with everyone on this forum, get lots of help and messages and occasionally be able to help others. Thank you and A Happy New Year to everyone. Penny

Thanks for printing that Janice. This has been going on for some time with petitions and objections from people who don't have the full picture. I'm hoping that gravestones, hidden at the moment, will be recovered as this area is full of graves - literally hundreds - and some of the stones have...

Smashing picture of Berwood House, Pedrocut. I haven't seen it before but there are lots of references to Berwood around here. William Dargue has an interesting page on it: https://billdargue.jimdofree.com/placenames-gazetteer-a-to-y/places-b/berwood

Holly Lane was previously Blythe Lane.

Hi Janice, I hadn't seen Sutton Road with reference to the High Street before but it was the road to Sutton so I suppose that makes sense. Especially when you look at the by-pass which was named 'New' Sutton Road.

Janice post #412 shows Easy Row much clearer than my map. I think Easy Row was definitely on the High Street not at the rear. There are more buildings behind the Row so I'll see what Saxton has to say on the subject. I'm taking the book back this evening so will have a look before then.

Apologies for the standard of these photos of Easy Row - The photo is taken from Saxton's Bygone Erdington and the map is from Birmingham Library. Easy Row is just at the bottom of the map, disappearing onto the next one. Barnabas Road wasn't there then.

The shops on the right gave way to W M Taylor and then Owen Owen. The church was on Newman Road I think. .

Pedro, I'm having a senior moment I think. What does the previous post refer to please?

Looks to be the 1950's mw0njm. I believe the donkeys belonged to the Chipmans who had a field at the Chester Road end of Court Lane. I remember them well.