OLD AND NEW PHOTOGRAPHS

[Amjo]

Okay so this is sheet A20 something a bit more modern however there is nothing on the sheet for the first few - most are recognisable though.

First up is a doorway with a medieval vibe , someone will tell us where it is but I do recognise it.
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Apologies if this already has been answered but looks like Edwards No. 8 night club on Lower Severn Street.

 

[SteveBhx]

still in and around the Jewellery Quarter and on a frosty day in January 1991 we have the Jewellers Arms Hockley Street / Spencer Street. on the left and then a wide variety of styles and shapes of buildings as we move to the right. We can also see the stepped roof line although the slope is not that apparent on the ground

 

[SteveBhx]

next is a shot down Hockley Street from the corner of Vyse Street, I reffered to the " Ltd" on the wall previously. This row of buildings has more of a similar build design, and a large brick built building is very impressive. We can see that the second building dowen has had a doorway bricked up and an attempt to infill with a similar window - not sure how old that repair is though. I will point out that the lack of cars is due to most of the photos been taken on a Sunday when in those days nothing was open!

 

[SteveBhx]

Next we walk up Broad Street, these were taken after the opening of the ICC but before everything started to be redeveloped although looking at the the building still there in these photo the redevelopment took 40 years !
First a general view of the ICC with the bridge link from the Hyatt Hotel.

 

[SteveBhx]

Next an interesting view emphasising the high of the Hyatt Hotel, and also that the House of Sport / Registry office is still there. It took a number of years before it was removed. If you are aware of the current location you notice the road layout and the lack of tram tracks.

 

[mikejee]

next is a shot down Hockley Street from the corner of Vyse Street, I reffered to the " Ltd" on the wall previously. This row of buildings has more of a similar build design, and a large brick built building is very impressive. We can see that the second building dowen has had a doorway bricked up and an attempt to infill with a similar window - not sure how old that repair is though. I will point out that the lack of cars is due to most of the photos been taken on a Sunday when in those days nothing was open!

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A photo taken looking from the other direction c1970 is on post 35 at https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/threads/birmingham-1969-73.23229/page-2. This looks very similar

 

[SteveBhx]

moving under the link bridge and a look to the left sees this view, something that you cannot see today, the chimney is there as is of course the Canal but the whole frontage has been covered by the leisure industry

 

[SteveBhx]

Although we have seen this building before I think another picture would not harm. The Crown on Broad street with its clock tower although the walls of the ICC looming over it shows how it has changed around there. A quick look on Google street view shows how the frontage has been ruined and saved over the years since this picture has been taken.

 

[SteveBhx]

This picture is perhaps the one which shows how it has changed down Broad Street, which once was a row of old shops and antiques stores has now become and row of restaurants and bars. The original building has been kept fortunately which has not always happened

 

[SteveBhx]

Last few off this roll of film and we head in and around Cambridge Street, first up we have the National Indoor Arena ( NIA) still to be opened, picture taken January 1991and opened on 4 October 1991, fine selection of red and white barriers. . The NIA has changed externally since its opening with a lot more glass and windows to assist the view.

 

[SteveBhx]

Next we have an interesting bit of wall and buildings behind it. Surprisingly unlike many areas this all still exists, wall street signs and the buildings behind , and now forms part of an office complex called Austin Court. Love the rook and the tiles and the many chimneys which due to refurbishment all now how they should be !!

 

[SteveBhx]

Moving back up Cambridge Street and we come to the Prince of Wales, once a watering hole for the employees of the area it is now a stop of for Music "lovers" . Much changed from this picture in what has now become a leafy location. White frontage is now tiles ( where they always there?) and the fronatge has now been tidied up, with now cars parked .

 

[SteveBhx]

For the last two picture we move a short distance to Gas Street to show the view before its was loved !! This view has now got canalside bars and restaurants, , and is a trendy drop in place for boaters, with the paths and bridges refurbished for the many tourists which travel the short distance the the ICC/ NIA or the Cube and Mailbox in the other direction

 

[SteveBhx]

another view this time to what has become the restaurant area around Regency Wharf, we can see how the buildings on Broad street used to look and how the towpaths in this area have also been tidied to make this a pleasant place to be. Much restored or sypathetically rebuilt to mirror the area it used to be.