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Yes, I assume that AC is alternating current - direct current was rather dangerous to work with I think. It seems that Chamberlain & Hookhams, as well as other companies, laid down the basics for today's manufacturers. That's over a hundred years ago which is amazing.

Thank you for your reply. That's probably about right as he would have been 12 in Sept 1907. My grandfather loved to quote Dickens, Shakespeare and other contemporary writers. He bought me a copy of Palgrave's Golden Treasury when I was about 12 and was always very interested in innovations...

That's a lovely picture of an enormous building. Thank you, Pedrocut.

Yes Lyn, when I have watched Homes under the Hammer I have seen houses that had holes in the roof, bulging walls and damp coming from the roof and rising out of the ground but they are always turned around with anything between £10 and £50,000 depending on the person who takes them on. I...

So, when Central started in September 1897 my grandfather, Frank Gossage, was just 2 years old (he was born 9th Sept 1895). At what age did they start at CSS? At the time he went to CSS he lived in Albert Road, Kings Heath (the provisions and off-licence shop). I hope all goes well for your...

Thank you, Old Mohawk for that. I can see though that the did have back gardens (of varying lengths) which must have been a comfort considering how densely populated those streets are. But I suppose that was their community and from what I hear from other people, the families were very close...

Yes, they would be now but still have done well to stand the test of time. I see that the rest of the area, particularly on the right, is now industrial and a train line weaving its way between the houses and the yards. Thank you for looking that out for me.

Oh, Lyn don't they look sad but must have been sturdy little houses when first built - they stood the test of time even if the look sick in those photos. I presume that White Street was probably similar to Malvern St. Thank you so much for find them, I'm very grateful. That was really what I...

I forgot to ask. Are the houses still there in Malvern and White Streets?

Thank you for the link.

Yes, I remember when Mondays were washing days then Tuesday was for ironing etc.... or Wednesday if the washing was still drying on the clothes horse around the fire. Thank you for your help Covroad, Mikejee and oldMohawk. The maps and photos are super and show the houses had gardens too, not...

I wonder if I could ask a question, please. I have tried to find the right thread and forum but still am not sure that I have found it so please forgive me if I have got it wrong. My great, great grandfather, John Gossage born 1837 in one of the court houses in Bradford Street, moved with his...

No, you are right pmjburns. The sorting office or telephone exchange could have been a piece of land where my great grandfather, John Gossage (born 1862) kept a cow. That stretch of grass that is now a children's playround had houses on it so it couldn't have been there. My brother-in-law and...

I have just checked the 1891 Census. John Gossage and his wife Eliza with 4 children were living at 73 Middleton Road so I think that Grea may be right thinking that the piece of ground where John kept his cow must have been on the other side of Howard Road where the Telephone Exchange now...

Well done, Grea. Now why didn't I think of that? You could be right that it was opposite the back of the house. Thank you for that.

Well, he did because my grandfather told me that he remembered it too but I don't know how old he was at the time. Yes they lost Amy as a baby and then Ernest died of meningitis when he was 6 years old.

Thank you, devonjim, MWS, mikejee. What a surprise. I did wonder why such a large piece of ground stretched back from the Alcester Road when nearly every inch has been built upon. That probably ties in though with what happened in 1912. It was then that John Gossage must have suffered some...

My great grandfather, John Gossage (born 1862) married Eliza Burton and lived at No 4 Albert Road, Kings Heath which was a provisions shop with an off licence. There is a large piece of open ground on Alcester Road South between the corner of Albert Road and Howard Road. It has been open...