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I knew about Gough Square but there are others mentioned in Christopher Hibbert's book, although I suspect they were just where he stayed a while, not where he actually lived. It's through reading about him, I found out that Barclay's Bank started life as a brewery - although that's shortening...

Elbrown, it's because I live about ten miles from Lichfield that I became interested in Sam Johnson. I have several books and have visited his birthplace many times - each time I see something I have not seen before. One of those men I would love to have known along with I K Brunel and...

Now that's nice to know, so Samuel Johnson would have been in Old Square. Next time I walk that way I shall feel quite differently, depsite the buildings being totally different. Thanks Elbrown.

Well that's because he did not live in Birmingham, just visited from time to time Viv. I don't know about that comment, if I had read it, I have forgotten, but knowing him and his friends, I can understand why. He belonged to a group of very cultured people, he had a ferocious wit, and was...

Well they cannot have been sealed in the 1950's Brian, as the photos (colour) were taken in the 1970's. I know Barry and are you sure he is not on a little leg-pull there? I will email you.

Brian - I gave Richard photos of the catacombs at Warstone, before they were bricked up and that was in the 1970's. Same as Key Hill, they were bricked up to stop druggies and drunks from spending the night there. There were no coffins in there then, at least in the corridors, they would have...

Viv, Samuel Johnson went to Birmingham very frequently, his wife Tetty was a Birmingham widow. Johnson used to stay at the house of Dr Hector, which was around the site of Johnson Passage. I have read his biography by Christopher Hibbert but the above is the only bits I can remember about his...

I remember it, Viv, it was only very small, and if I remember rightly, it was still there, with the nameplate still intact, when the new square was built in the 1960's. I have a book which calls it Dr Johnson Passage, but I am sure the sign said Dr Johnson's Passage which I am sure caused at...

Rupert, I think I am right in saying that the Berlin House building along with the Lewis's building was not demolished, merely clad in a Palladian style during the 1930's. The original was terracotta and rather ornate, I think I would have liked to have seen it in the flesh, so to speak, but...

I did wonder Viv, because Bull Street looks flatter in the photo than it is in reality - I had not seen the number. Could it even be the other end, at the junction with Colmore Row? I would query whether the spelling of Birmingham is an 'old' version - because there was no regular...

Where in Bull Street is this, Viv? Is this looking into Temple Row?

I know Cresser, but Birmingham have got A4 copies for public consumption, Tamworth do not have them - I have personally taken the Key Hill and Warstone Lane originals to have them scanned - and they are huge, much too large for an ordinary scanner, so perhaps that is what Redditch has, because...

Cresser, Redditch may not actualy have plans apart from for their own use. It may sound surprising, but in Tamworth there are no plans available, as I have tried. I need to locate graves for someone living in Gloucester, but it's not an easy job without a plan. Try looking on the headstones...

I remember that, too Nick, it meant quickly (I love that saying to be honest, it's quite sweet) , but 'for two pins' beats me as to the meaning.

Yes Fountain, Stoddards closed by about then, so perhaps we are both right - the thing that made me wonder is that the name Bakers rang a bell. I had forgotten about the bag shop, yes, they did sell jewellery. I remember buying (I don't know where from) a 'Corocraft' bracelet, it may have been...

My mother used to say 'For two pins' as in 'For two pins I would give you a hard slap' - does anyone know where that came from, and what kind of pins?? Baffling, that one.

Fountain - I think the butchers was Stoddards - I have contact with a member of the family, the shop was known as 'The Top Shop' - however, it may have been in a different place, Soho Road is a long stretch! Patti French - Oh yes, now I remember. I got my Lovable bras from there just after...

Fountain, I don't think I remember the old Pimms shop, but I do remember it being in Grove Lane - I can only remember the small annexe that was for haberdashery in Woolworths. I was not sure where Freeman Hardy Willis was exactly, but now you mention it, I can see. I don't know if the other...

Austen, Wilkinsons on Soho Road was near the junction with Linwood Road. On the corner of Linwood there was a wine shop, then Henry Playfair shoes, next to which was a greengrocers. Next to that was Wilkinsons. I lived at 10 Linwood Road (the paint and wallpaper shop) for four years from...

Harrisons was on the corner of Livery Street Viv, as that was where I used to go, so yes, that is the turning on the right. The tower is a complete mystery. If Freemans is on the corner of Bull Street, the building that advertises Greys is what exactly? I remember going down into Upper Priory...