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Soho Road Handsworth

Burtons seem to have gone in for impressive buildings. The one in Blacheath, for example, outclasses the former bank building next door
 
Redevelopment was as a result of substantial WW2 bombing on that section of Soho Road. So it dates the B&W photo in post #691 to pre-1942. Source: Library of Birmingham:


Description:Bomb damaged shops during the air-raids of 1942. The photograph covers the buildings between numbers 216 down to 192. At that time left to right they were: Pearks Dairies, The National Provincial Bank (managed by C S Parker), Woolworths, Freeman Hardy Willis, Michael Wynn Ltd (gowns), Pearl Assurance Co Ltd, Burton Montague Tailors, Peacock's Stores, and England's Smart Shoes. Also of interest in the photograph is the sign on the lamp-post pointing to the nearest shelter.

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It looks rather like the bank was built with more substantial materials. It also suggests that the photograph was taken fairly soon after the bombing. The S sign was to found in well populated areas and of course in well known shopping areas. I recall being taken to a shelter on more than one occasion.
 
Vivienne14 said:
This was taken from Holliday Road. Looks about 1920s. The parade to the right has a sign giving the date of 1914, so the view is after that date. Lots of architectural features on the parade building and mostly well maintained.

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Thank you for the 2 pictures of Soho Road, Handsworth. Brought back happy memories of the Elite Cinema just before the Handsworth Library on the right hand side. Often visited the library in 1950's and early 1960's helping with my school homework projects long before the internet and AI
 
Hi Folks!

I come rather late to the Party, as only just joined today.

I lived at 7 Haseley Road. There were 5 New houses and my Uncle Den designed them. I went to Boulton School. Born 1955 Left 1976ish.

Soho Road memories:-

Barn Lane both when there were houses on Boulton Road and when they were demolished.

Reids/Reads Newsagents on Boulton Road. Got my games from there. He retired to Cleobury Mortimer.

Darlingtons, both the newsagents and the stationery shop above.

And next door was a grotty ironmongers were we bought the parafin. Owner died fell down the basement stairs drunk.

Pricerite Supermarket. Opening offers a bucket then a coloured torch.

I worked at Midland Bank Handsworth around 1976.

The Barrel pub.

MEB set back from the road.

The 2 telephone boxes were the Post Office was. No one had residential phones.

The Regal cinema.

Handsworth Library.

The Corgi and Dinky shops.

I worked at Pendrys Greengrocers then Merrick & Heath neat the Library.

The Fire Station with the Green Goddess on the right.

My Nan & Grandad lived in Albert Road then moved to Leyton Road. Handsworth Park was immaculate and my Nan loved playing bowls.

So many more memories if anyone is interested in me carrying on!
 
pageyboy said:
Hi Folks!

I come rather late to the Party, as only just joined today.

I lived at 7 Haseley Road. There were 5 New houses and my Uncle Den designed them. I went to Boulton School. Born 1955 Left 1976ish.

Soho Road memories:-

Barn Lane both when there were houses on Boulton Road and when they were demolished.

Reids/Reads Newsagents on Boulton Road. Got my games from there. He retired to Cleobury Mortimer.

Darlingtons, both the newsagents and the stationery shop above.

And next door was a grotty ironmongers were we bought the parafin. Owner died fell down the basement stairs drunk.

Pricerite Supermarket. Opening offers a bucket then a coloured torch.

I worked at Midland Bank Handsworth around 1976.

The Barrel pub.

MEB set back from the road.

The 2 telephone boxes were the Post Office was. No one had residential phones.

The Regal cinema.

Handsworth Library.

The Corgi and Dinky shops.

I worked at Pendrys Greengrocers then Merrick & Heath neat the Library.

The Fire Station with the Green Goddess on the right.

My Nan & Grandad lived in Albert Road then moved to Leyton Road. Handsworth Park was immaculate and my Nan loved playing bowls.

So many more memories if anyone is interested in me carrying on!
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Welcome to BHF pageboy. A really great place with wonderful knowledgeable people, enjoy!
 
Welcome to BFH .Hope you enjoy sharing your memories on the forum. You have given us quite a list - some I remember and some I don't.

My brother went to Boulton Rd school much earlier towards the end of WW2 in mid 1940's. For some reason I was sent to Rookery Road School in late 1940's and early 1950's and caught the No 11 Outer Circle bus on Boulton Road -there and back every day ! I fondly remember the Regal Cinema. On Saturday mornings we all went 'as a road' to watch mainly the cowboy films of the day such as Hopalong Cassidy with his big hat & Gene Autrey- long before Children's TV. Later I went with my brother and sister in law to see some of the great films of the time such as The Glenn Miller Story and Giant. I spent alot of happy times in the Handsworth Library and later to help with my school homework projects. Of course the Fire Station was just around the corner before Handsworth Tech. I do remember Darlington Newsagents going in to spend my pocket money if I was lucky - a few old pennies after WW2 and Rationing ( didn't end until 1952-1953?).

My grandfather and father also enjoyed playing bowls in Handsworth Park (1937 - 1955). My wife's grandparents lived in Rookery Road opposite the Farcroft Hotel not far from Albert Road and my old school
 
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soho road used to be a lovely place to shop...mom used to have the provident cheques for christmas and would trundle up to soho road to a place called blundells to get christmas presents for 6 children..i remember one year i had a toy sewing machine that really worked (in a fashion)...i had hours of enjoyment with it...happy days :)

lyn
 
Astoness said:
soho road used to be a lovely place to shop...mom used to have the provident cheques for christmas and would trundle up to soho road to a place called blundells to get christmas presents for 6 children..i remember one year i had a toy sewing machine that really worked (in a fashion)...i had hours of enjoyment with it...happy days :)

lyn
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My mom used to got to Blundells, I think they had carrier bags with their name on, not sure. 75 years ago! How time flys.
Yes Soho Rd was a nice place to shop I worked at a butchers shop, 264. Never a hint of trouble.
 
Provident were cheques and could be spent in a wide variety of places and not just locally. I knew people that had them and they had used then to purchase furniture from a local shop, gas fire from the gas board as they were called before privatization and even a. timber framed garage from well known Yorkshire company.
John Blundell, a nationally known company and credit company, sold mainly clothing, bedding and drapery but also furniture, household goods and items often suitable for gifts i.e. watches.
Both companies relied on weekly payments as settlement.
 
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