Balsall Heath.

[Keith R]

How great to read your memories of Balsall Heath Robert. I lived in Longmore Street (I'm sure you remember where this is) and used to frequent the Luxor often. We used to go to the Saturday morning kids show and a couple of evenings as well. I loved Betty Grable and Betty Hutton films. My best friend was Betty Grable and I was Betty Hutton when we played out the next day. My grandfather had Henn's greengrocers in Clevedon Road. You were lucky to have an entrance to your cellar for the coal. We had it left outside our only door and had to cart it in bucket by bucket to the inside coal hole. We had one downstairs room, one bedroom on top of that and an attic on top of that. Damp wasn't the word!! We had just the one cold water tap. But our mom always had a roaring fire in the cold weather and our dinner on the table and made it cosy for us. I too remember the outside loos. Bloody cold in the snowy weather but, as you say, useful for catching up on the news! And we had a brew house for washing (laundry that is). Bet you played footie on the black patch in Calthorpe Park. Chris is thinking of the Triangle Cinema in her post (or the flea pit as it was known locally) - that was in Gooch Street wasn't it? Thank you Robert for your post. Jill.

Sorry for being 18 years late to this post........looking for relatives I have found my Wifes Great Uncle and a totally unknown part of family......living at 8/61 Longmore St.He sadly died in 1944 at just over aged 30.His wife lived on there until rehoused just before they were demolished. He was Frederick Butcher and worked as a porter on the railways. His wife was Violet (Harris) and I am sure her close family also lived in the same back to backs. They had 2 children who died within a week of each other - one hours old the other months......Violet moved to back of Kings Heath main St in later life.They are both buried in a war grave at Yardley Cemetary which we visit but we havent been able to contact anyone who knew them or any relatives.

 

[Vivienne14]

An unusual view. It's looking into Cannon Hill Grove from Hallam Street. No wonder the trees were removed, if they'd been allowed to grow into more mature trees, I dread to think of the effect on the house foundations. And they'd have made the house interiors quite dark too. All the same, the grove looked very attractive with its iron railings and central lamp.

 

[Astoness]

lovely ornate railings viv...could have been removed for the war effort...looks like the house in the distance has now gone

lyn

 

[NannaGee]

My Nan was born in Clifton Terrace, Queen Street in 1902. Has anyone got a map or info on that area please. My great grandfathers name was Harry Field, my gran was Violet Field.

 

[superdad3]

My Nan was born in Clifton Terrace, Queen Street in 1902. Has anyone got a map or info on that area please. My great grandfathers name was Harry Field, my gran was Violet Field.

Have a look at thread called Friston Street [use search function] which you may find useful as well as a map.

 

[mikejee]

Below is a 1880s map, which, from a later 1950s map, shows some numbering, which was consecutive (1,2.3...). The 1920 electoral roll shows that Clifton Terrace was 6 houses between nos 11 and 12, Therefore Clifton Terrace must be the unnamed houses in blue