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Digbeth

I just checked out the history of the building (interested as it's my surname too!!)...

Spencer House in Birmingham (Digbeth Garage):
  • Function:
    Served as the offices for Midland Red, a major bus company in the Midlands.
  • Naming:
    Named in honor of Sir John Spencer Wills, chairman of Midland Red.
  • Reconstruction:
    The Digbeth frontage was reconstructed in 1958, and the building was named Spencer House at that time.
  • Part of Digbeth Garage:
    The building was part of the larger Digbeth Garage complex, which included bus maintenance and storage facilities.
 
This is how I remember it. I used it as a student for coaches back to London Victoria when I couldn't afford the train. But I don't remember any Midland Red buses in the station, it was mostly National Express coaches. Was this the Midland Red terminus before the bus station in Station Street ?

Screenshot_20250624_122715_Google.jpg
 
Vivienne14 said:
Aeriel view posted by the late Oldmohawk on the Midland Red Digbeth thread.

View attachment 204439
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Fantastic aerial view and really interesting...for me......the dog legged road through the centre is Oxford St and can see Coventry St running across it near the top.On one corner is Thomas Walkers and the other The Old Warfe pub with the Back to backs running to the right....looks like a Monday as the washings out.My interest was I worked in printers joined onto the pub and I think this was just b4 they were formed......In the 70's the back to backs had been knocked down...not long though....and we played footie in lunch hour on the site.
 
Very interesting drawing in Post #155 Pedro. My umpteen times gt grandfather (wrong side of the blanket) gave his address as Deritend Bridge but I think the one in the picture was built in the early 1800's. Can't remember the exact date.
 
Vivienne14 said:
This is how I remember it. I used it as a student for coaches back to London Victoria when I couldn't afford the train. But I don't remember any Midland Red buses in the station, it was mostly National Express coaches. Was this the Midland Red terminus before the bus station in Station Street ?

View attachment 204447
Click to expand...
Im sure it was Midland Red in the 60s when i used it
i might be proved wrong
we have many members on here
who are legends in these matters
 
It was certainly Midland Red before National Express began. My brother Allen test drove some of the first motorway coaches from there to London.
 
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