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Thanks Lencops for the link to those old cinema organ recordings. What a nice surprise. I bought a few old records years ago, but I haven't got round to playing them for ages. There is a terrific range of recordings there, and all of them free, even if the quality is a bit shaky — it's the...

The depot at Silver Street was built in the 1880s for steam trams, which worked the routes until the Corporation took them over on 1 January 1907. The Council electrified the line, and so the electric service began on on 1 January 1907, working from the brand-new depot at Trafalgar Road. From...

Thank you Bernard67Arnold That certainly brings back memories to me. I was still at school in 1948, but I well remember Peter Yorke's arrangements, which were often very clever. In March and April 1948 he had a slot on the Home Service just before 8.00 am, and sometimes he would broadcast in the...

An important reason for developers favouring back-to-back or blind-back houses was yo cram as many dwellings on to the site as possible. On the issue of dampness, I suspect that the dampness was due more to the shoddy construction than to the lack of through ventilation, which would obviously...

Phil - that's a brilliant answer to Lisa's query — and, with little exertion on your part. We are very lucky to have such dedicted people taking part in our network. I've seen and copied several of the early maps and have noticed how the Rea was progressively straightened. On early 1900-vintage...

Just to confirm, I am sure the view is at the Coleshill Street end of Stafford Street. You can just see tram tracks crossing in the very bottom foreground, where thesingle track ran from James Watt Street into Coleshill Street en route to Saltley. the light-tinted building on the far right was...

It's always very touching to read people's reminiscences about the school — not that I attended there, but my dad taught music, art and whatever, and sometimes gets a kind mention even today. I think he moved to Queensbridge Road School in the mid- to late-1950s, about the time that my mother...

Got me ticket to ride a few pints ago. See you there, hopefully Peter

I've only just found this thread, and my reaction is OUCH! They remind me so clearly of why I left Brum over 50 years ago. Before I was born, my mum was typist in the City's Public Works Department. When I qualified as an architect in 1955, my first job was with the City Architect's Department...

Mike, That is a very nice picture at Witton, but I think it was taken when the 3/3X loop service was still operating, and Witton was not strictly a terminus, as cars ran out to Witton either bearing the number 3 via Six Ways, turned the corner at Witton and returned via Aston Cross under the...

Perraps, but us old'uns couldn't get on and off them trams like you can with a bus or tram today. For me that is progress. Peter

Hello Maizie, There have been quite a lot of Green Lanes in and around Birmingham in the past. I think there are still six within the city:- 1 - Green Lane, Small Heath B9 (a main road and bus route) 2 - Green Lane, Handsworth B21 (runs southwards off Holyhead Road) 3 - Green Lane, Quinton B32...

Z_Abidi, Welcome to our site. There is a lot we have to offer, but we always want to learn, which we can often do together. To research the former occupants in Ladypool Road, your best plan is to go to the Central Reference Library, top floor, where they hold the old directories (mainly Kelly's)...

The old card tickets cost money, and would never be thrown away, until the late 1960s, when things were rationalised. Agencies virtually went out of the window. Travelling on a Saturday was always a hazard, because that was the day everyone went on holiday. Every available carriage was brought...

Paul. I think you are describing St Michael's church (consecrated 1855). St Mary's is the original parish church dating back to the 1100s. It stands by the Hamstead Road gate of Handsworth Park, unsurprisingly facing Church Road, and has impressive memorial to Boulton, Murdock and Watt, to...

A bit more anorak information on those inner circle buses. Conventional top-covered buses were too high under the railway bridge at Hockley. The overall height of the bus was reduced by lowering the outer 1ft 6in or 450mm sides of the upper deck floor by about six inches or 150mm. This was a...

There may not be any Brum trams at Crich (because of the track gauge) but there are a lots of Birmingham tram relics on display there. Just look at the Bundy clock, the Town End waiting shelter and the finials of many of the overhead poles. Peter

Re: Refuge Collecting Vehicles My childhood recollection of dustbins was that they mainly contained ash from the domestic fire. and perhaps a few empty tins. Anything that could be burned was put on the fire, anything that could be composted like potato and other peelings went on the heap. Tea...

And, just for the record it was Western Road, not Weston. There are some other threads on this subject, if you try the search engine. Peter

Well, it looks as if I've talked myself into organising a trip to Soho Hall, St Michael's Church and a meal at the Black Eagle. We are away late May and edarly June, so it would have to be mid-May (a bit too soon after the St George's day do) or mid to late June, preferably I imagine before the...