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Slums

Hi pedrocut
By coincidence today my oldest son showed me that site early this morning and to be honest as i said to my son
There is not much difference compared to brum in thou,s years
But then it all depends of what area you was lucky enough to be brought in
Aston, Balsall heath Ladywood winson green , more so Ladywood as it is today a deprived area , but it was ten times years ago
before the regeneration of developments started we had severe slums in Aston lichfield road in the back to backs
We had to endure alsorts of filthy conditiond over run with rats cockroaches red plater bugs and get bitten alive
these was not just a single cockroach or single red plaster bugs the walls was massive hundred of them congrgating
24 seven like the cockroaches massives a army of hundrens on the walls and floors and stair way you could not walk down
the stairs in any time of day winson green was even worse and more so ladywood was what you was looking at on
the manchester site spark brook was run down as well back streets as i say i think it was like that across the country really
councils was poor and no money before the wars even after the wars
and if you was luckly enough to be brought up in the middle clas area of brum you was lucky
your own bath room and toilets , instead you had a slop bucket for the night and in the morning carry your ennamel bucket uo the court yards to empty it and que up with twenty or more familys
four toilets for twenty familys and of course you had to bring your own news papers for the nessary bit
should you feel the neede you had to go and more often thn not a neibour as already beaten it to you
best wishes Astonian,,,
 
I do wonder where those people in the slums ended up when they were cleared. I bet it wasn't in a nice little house on the posh new Corporation St.
 
Here is an outsider's opinion of Birmingham slums in 1912. This is from the Settmakers & Stonemason Gazette, but copied from an issue of the Chinemuri Gazette of the same year (in New Zealand)

Birm.slums.Settmakers& stomewrkers J.1.3.1912.jpg
 
Slum clearance in statistics. Comparing it with other cities like Leeds and Manchester, it's clear Birmingham was not alone in ridding their cities of housing that had become unhealthy and dangerous. In fact some northern areas look to have had a larger problem, in terms of the statistics. In total, it was a massive undertaking over 20+ years.

Screenshot_20240915_095244_Chrome.jpg

Screenshot_20240915_095134_Chrome.jpg
 
Quite a lot I would guess, but Birmingham had a "clear it all" policy. Leeds modernised many of their back to backs and made them into what in effect were small largely one person homes with all facilities, though, of course, this was ( I assume) only those built well
 
I am of the opinion that the back to back housing had to go, but there was a lot of terraced housing that was in perfectly good condition. Most of that hat could have been upgraded.

At the time, there were a lot of governments grants available for redevelopment which I feel could have been better utilised.

I also feel the same with the prewar housing. The mid 60’s was the start of a modernisation programme that was ill conceived and executed. Most certainly amendments to the 5 door kitchen and bathroom layouts and hot water systems were a must. Changing all the internal doors, architraves and skirting boards and some windows was a waste of time and money.

The problem of course with grants is they always come with strings attached
 
Morturn said:
I am of the opinion that the back to back housing had to go, but there was a lot of terraced housing that was in perfectly good condition. Most of that hat could have been upgraded.

At the time, there were a lot of governments grants available for redevelopment which I feel could have been better utilised.

I also feel the same with the prewar housing. The mid 60’s was the start of a modernisation programme that was ill conceived and executed. Most certainly amendments to the 5 door kitchen and bathroom layouts and hot water systems were a must. Changing all the internal doors, architraves and skirting boards and some windows was a waste of time and money.

The problem of course with grants is they always come with strings attached
Click to expand...
After the war there was also a serious problem with homelessness which needed to be addressed. I have a letter sent to my Dad by a comrade in the army describing how difficult it was to even find lodgings let alone a house to rent. Also how landlords were charging high rents. added to that was war damage and the large number of back to backs and courtyard houses with inadequate bathroom and toilet facilities.

One of the systems I recollect used in Small Heath for refurbishment was called ‘enveloping’ which took place on some of the roads off Green Lane.
 
Sounds right to me, my own mom and dad had to go on the council house waiting list for over 8 years before getting a flat on the Lyndhurst Estate. They lived with the in-laws during that time as a lot of couples did.

I too recall the council doing envelope schemes around Aston, Witton and Lozzels. It was supposed to make the external look a lot better and improve insulation. I thought it was papering over the cracks.
 
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