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Nice picture Viv, especially with the tram just coming through. We always referred to trips to the High Street as going to 'The Village'. Now we call it 'Erdington'.

That's a smashing photo John, a real find. I shall be spending some time later looking for various buildings that I'm interested in.

Hi Sahar, this is the nearest picture I have of the area. It shows the actual 'bush', the orphanage and the first few houses of the block where I think your family might have lived.

Hi Thomas, Glad you've got some more information - it's a good feeling isn't it? I've always known the pub as the Racquet Court and that's what the book says.

Drucker's on the corner of the Great Western Arcade has now disappeared and has been replaced by something so trendy that when I passed it on Wednesday I couldn't work out what they were serving!

Hi AnnS, I knew about the Sutton Coldfield horse racing but hadn't heard of the sport taking place at New Oscott. I'm very interested in this area and would love to know where it was. Could you let me know please? The Horse & Jockey pub in Sutton Coldfield is supposed to be named after a...

Hello Sally, I was doing some research into what went on at our church in earlier times and came across The Flannel Dance. I was very puzzled by this and my mind conjured up a lot of strange images. However, the answer was that all dances in the 1930's tended to be more formal affairs and this...

Hi Tom, Write up attached. I was researching this pub in connection with boxing in the mid-1800's. Sadly, it doesn't actually say very much and doesn't mention all the licensees

There's a drawing of the Racquet Court in Joseph McKenna's book 'Central Birmingham Pubs' Vol 1. There's also a write-up in paragraph 4 on the page opposite. Let me know if you want the full one scanned.

I agree with your last post Mike. Three of my post-75 friends have just caught Covid (separately) despite having 5 jabs. Not life threatening but very unpleasant. Back to the thread - Graham went along to the Wolfson Centre on Saturday and was very impressed. He said to say 'Thanks for the...

Thanks for the heads-up Mike. Graham has booked for the archives open day.

Apologies Mindy 1459, I can't think why I didn't thank you for the photos you posted. However, a bit late but thank you anyway! They're smashing.

Thank you both for your input. MWS, The 'Old' Chester Road has been the same route since it was turnpiked in 1760 and there are one or two theories about why it was so named as it didn't go to Chester. Mike, I'll ask around at the history group to see if anyone has a subscription. My problem...

I wonder if someone can point me in the right direction please? There is a large white building which is actually two properties close to Chester Road station. This house was built before the railway came and, like a good many other buildings in this area, sits on the boundary between Erdington...

I suppose the platform was the 19thC equivalent to decking. He was ahead of his time! I love that the the assembly rooms would be 'thrown open' so much more impressive than 'opened'.

I think it says bowling green but maybe 'dancing on the platform'?

It doesn't look as though the pole jumpers had a very soft landing does it Viv? Very interesting to see that Mr Avery was 'Manhattan and (?) New York Timekeeper'. I wonder what LAC stands for after Mr Shearman's name?

Viv, I remember the assistants drawing their finger down the indicator and peering at the result so I think A Sparks is right and it's a bit like the thing in the back of the map books where you look for where you are along the top and then for where you're going down the side and where the...

I don't remember lamplighters but I do remember the men who used to come round and clean the glass of the old gas lamps. They had a ladder which was narrower at the top just like in some of the pictures. Silk stocking, pegs and condensed milk tin? So far, so good - but can somebody tell me what...

Hello BLISSJG. I expect you've already been in touch with Highbury Little Theatre in Sheffield Road, Sutton Coldfield but if not, John English and his wife, Mollie, were instrumental in setting up the MAC so maybe the theatre has something that would be of use to you. Steve Bowyer was the...