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  1. S

    Smethwick

    Webbs of Bearwood have a Facebook page which has a lot of historic pictures and photos behind the scenes. I wish Pauline and Steve a happy retirement. Tomorrow is their last trading day. Lots of nostalgic memories for me of buying bulbs in the Autumn and poinsettia for Christmas.
  2. S

    Happy birthday Richard Dye

    Happy Birthday, Richard! Derek
  3. S

    Rotton Park street

    See my post #19 above. I linked to the copyrighted picture, the text below says the major bombing and subsequent fire was the following night 28 July 1942. 'L G While in his booklet `Raiders over Rotton Park’ names them as Bill Griffin, Bill Russell, Harry Norgrove and Bill Field. Two nights...
  4. S

    Rotton Park street

    Can't find any mention of the air raid or fire in the papers, but Birmingham Images has a photo of the damping down. https://www.search.birminghamimages.org.uk/Details.aspx?ResourceID=7423&PageIndex=1&ThemeID=857
  5. S

    Rotton Park street

    https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/threads/dockers-paints-rotten-park-street-ladywood.43410/ 28 July 1942 Air raid set Dockers alight. I heard vivid accounts from the locals 20 years later. Four brave firemen were lost. But as a child they didn't tell me that.
  6. S

    Benjamin Zephaniah

    Looks good the Benjamin Zephaniah building will house the relocated College of Education.https://associated-architects.co.uk/bcu_bzb/
  7. S

    Open Railway Map

    Andrew That's very disappointing when people tip. In Worcestershire gateways, fields and footpaths together with canals have the same issue. Some of it is undoubtedly trade waste. I was delighted to see the Harborne line which is a cycle and walkway in Birmingham. Derek
  8. S

    Open Railway Map

    Just started to explore this. There's a lot here including some closed lines. It is scalable like the NLS mapping. https://www.openrailwaymap.org//index.php?style=standard&lat=52.293180116799626&lon=-2.087770957586094&zoom=19&mobile=0 Top right is a box with three horizontal lines - click and...
  9. S

    new peaky series

    That's good and I'm happy to hear it. Surveys of British perceptions of accent even among young people tell a different story https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwyjdyj729ro
  10. S

    new peaky series

    I suspect that Steven Knight was inspired more by 'The Godfather' rather than social history. I wish him success in making film and TV in Birmingham, but associating the city with violent gangs is unfortunate. I stopped watching at a similar place when it shifted to fantasy. Derek
  11. S

    new peaky series

    I was interviewed for a role copywriting and recording adverts on a local radio station and was told firmly that listeners didn't respond to local accents. Years ago, but I'm afraid many are still prejudiced about Birmingham and Black Country accents.
  12. S

    HS2 Archaeology

    I'm sure everything will have been measured and photographed. MOLA are a respected commercial archaeological contractor. But this is rescue archaeology and the new station will be built on top of the roundhouse site? https://www.hs2.org.uk/building-hs2/archaeology/curzon-street-station-archaeology/
  13. S

    HS2 Archaeology

    Lyn, I imagine there will be plenty of analysis of the remains for signs of disease and industrial injuries. It is often possible to discover where an individual was born before they came to Birmingham. This could take a long time. I think there were many more buried at Birmingham than initially...
  14. S

    HS2 Archaeology

    https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/publications/preserving-archaeological-remains/appdx5-cs1-curzon-street/ The Round House foundations are reburied. This is intended to be permanent, but should preserve the site. I'll be interested if we learn any more of the 6500 burials in...
  15. S

    Lancaster makers of cameras

    Thanks Mike. Appreciated.
  16. S

    Lancaster makers of cameras

    The history of photography isn't a development from one person or company, but a synthesis of many knowledges and inventions. I think more of us will have owned a Box Brownie than will have a Lancaster. I've developed 4x5 sheet film in trays in my bathroom and the process demands absolute...
  17. S

    Lancaster makers of cameras

    I think that Eastman Kodak might have had something to do with the development of amateur photography. "You Press the Button, We Do the Rest" The Kodak system enabled rolls to be sent away for development or handed to the chemist. Originally the entire camera was returned. With a plate camera...
  18. S

    Perrott's Folly By Dr. Carl Chinn-birmingham Mail 9/2/13

    Mother who lived in Reservoir Terrace always called the tower 'The Observatory.' I have walked past many times over the years, but never been inside. I hope it opens to the public again while I'm still able to manage the stairs! I see it's still on the At Risk register due to damage to the...
  19. S

    Well in my garden

    The water supply in Smethwick including Bearwood which is close to the Birmingham border is hard and markedly different in taste to the Welsh water now supplied to Birmingham.
  20. S

    I have a wedding photo from Percy Taylor photographers Handsworth! Does anyone know anything about this photographer?

    As to your family photos Wendy, perhaps you might be very lucky if you make a family tree on say Ancestry and put your photo in the gallery? I have found some family photos this way. If you have older relatives with photos then see if they will pencil names on the back and let you copy them...
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