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Pete, I recall that LBSC was a model loco engineer who designed small but working steam locomotives. The blue tank engine looks similar to Rob Roy a Caledonian tank engine also a popular model engineer project.

Its one of those ongoing arguments like scone and scon. Growing up in Birmingham we always called the (the 4” dia ½ inch thick) pikelets. Crumpets seemed to creep in on TV adverts for butter, these were also identical to what I had known as pikelets. I then noticed some supermarkets seeing...

Many thanks for that snippet from the book, it generally fits the family stories that I know about. A couple of Pardoe lads married a couple of the gypsie girls from the caravan site too. Gypsies or travellers and traders seems to fit with a few other bits too. The boxing shed would have been...

Herbert died in 1957, so both the houses stood empty for many years. There was a chap by the name of Joe Dainty who lived at the Pardoe’s property. For many years. The story’s goes he was left at the house as a small boy and the Pardoe’s gave him accommodation. He acted like a caretake for the...

yes I recon so, it did change its name in some records and is also shown as Upper Gaolford too

Not sure about that, but it has always been a fun talking point

I do indeed have a copy of Old Ward End. It has few pictures of Tomy the boxer. I don’t recall the story of death of one of the Pardoe’s attributed to the eating of cress that a Toad had slept beneath but I am aware of a food poisoning events where two children died. Thanks

The embankment is the sandpit my grandad dug with the wall behind being church walk,

Mark, this is Martha and my mom. Note the caravans in the background. The kids are from the caravans

Yes here would be my great grandad the 1916 sounds about the right date too

Well, Mark, you’ve hit the nail on the head with these images—they’ve confirmed what I knew about my family but seeing it all in pictures is amazing! I’m descended from the Pardoe family of Ward End. They lived in the two large double-fronted houses on Church Walk, opposite the church. My...

I do find handwriting quite fun to look at, even the illegible stuff like off the doctor. Not that I am any good at reading it either, I am just thinking about how records and what records were kept. The high proportion of white collar staff Dunlop puzzled me at first, but then thinking of the...

You have not seen my handwriting yet Mike

I am confident that everything has been measured and photographed. However, the issue I raised with the HS2 Park Hill Cemetery archaeology team years ago persists: their reluctance to share data. The entire project seemed to revolve solely around archaeologists, excluding historians and offering...

Mark Thanks for that insight into the later years of Dunlop. Growing up in Erdington, I remember how it employed so many local people—one of the major employers alongside GEC, Lucas, and ICI. Looking at the Tyburn Road housing, I wonder if there was a deal between Dunlop and the council (or...

Looks like a ladybird lava to me Janice

Mark, many thank for posting this it a super article. I would be very interested to know where the workers houses were built? I do recall the Dunlop bus service with stops along Holly Lane. It is interesting how the whole organisation was structured itself around it workforce providing local...

I had one in my garden the other day, early morning

Looks like they are widening the bridge

Looks like this with it railing and the plaque wat at the one end. Here is a description of the plaque https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/7571205