Whoops it's happened again! A lorry collided on Summer Road in Erdington, before 11am on Friday (Jan 3). The road was shut in both directions by police while emergency teams worked to remove the lorry. Train services from New Street Station to Lichfield Station were disrupted by the incident:
I can date that photo for you. The brick extension to the Roebuck was built in 1962, and everything you see was demolished 2 years later in 1964.
Thanks for your kind offer of information. Unfortunately, member Jennyann passed away a while back, hence her avatar is showing “gone but not forgotten”
Yes. The High Street travels along high ground that dips down sharply towards Spring Lane. Rainfall would take the same path and rose as a spring now concealed under the gardens of Fern Road. It was piped under the houses to the other side of the lane, where it emerged in the field behind Briar Cottage known locally as the 'Scout Field' on account of it hosting the scout hut for the 105th Birmingham scout troop (later burnt down by vandals). Crossing the field it was known as Holly Brook and was conduited at the outbreak of WWII to cross under Spring Lane AAA site, finally emerging on the far side of Holly Lane. The Scout Field was later developed as the Blossom Hill estate. The scouts used to host a fireworks night like no other; there would be a huge bonfire and a basic display, but visitors were allowed to bring and set off their own fireworks wherever they wanted! Health & Safety would have a fit these days, but then it was just incredible fun with jumping jacks and bangers going off all around.
Sorry to hear about Jenny Ann. I wish that I'd found this thread earlier.
I'm going to come out all guns firing here, as this is my patch. These are two conjoined cottages known as 'Shipley Cottages', which stood in Moor End Lane from around 1600 until 1936, whereupon they were bulldozed in favour of the Berkswell Road development. They stood opposite to what became Moor End Lane School, and my family home was built on the site in 1937. Here is a larger photo, which shows the Moor End Lane context:
When I was young a Bakers Removals van was routinely parked in Mason Road opposite the swimming baths. Maybe one of the drivers lived there.Well spotted Curly ! I suppose as good a place as any to show off their furniture vans ...
Isn't that a very desirable Vauxhall VX490? Erdington still looked very respectable in the 1960s, but note the empty bottle having been dumped in the right foreground.
That restaurant was called the 'Lotus House'. Back on the library side was Wilton Road, which hosted 'Colmore Depot' and a music shop. I recall that the garage extended back to a showroom that opened on to the High Street where the old 'Picture House' had been (possibly the same building knocked through). I went with my father there to have a look at an Austin 1100 when it was introduced c1970. What stood in place of 'Blockbusters' I also cannot recall.
If you lived opposite the school would you remeber the Newton family?
Pedro you've asked an essay question, which I will gladly answer in due course on the 'Moor End Lane' thread rather than the 'High Street' thread, because there is a wealth of history attaching to that particular area. In very simple terms you only have to look at it to date it, but its actual structure goes back to mediaeval times and was probably moved from elsewhere c1600.
