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Marvellous to see all these connections with Blakesley Hall. You see, my Great Grandfather, Joseph Whiles (born 1816 )was the tenant there is the 1860s. He was distinguished by having three wives! First wife, Harriet died young. Second wife, my great grandmother, Aney Ann Palmer had my...

So sorry Acklam 19 - ! I have been absent from this so interesting forum really as I was widowed very suddenly and it has taken me quite a while to deal with that. We went as a family to St Aidens which was just across the road from 22 Chapman Road where we lived at the time. My...

Thank you for this map. In fact the space next to no. 22 on your map was a bomb site. I remember it as a totally demolished area, probably the site of a couple of houses. There were heaps of brick and twisted metal and there were the remains of an air raid shelter - and we all played there...

My Great Grandfather, Joseph Whiles lived in Blakesley Hall as a tenant farmer and I finally visited the house, now a museum of course some 15 years ago. Strange to think that my grandfather, Thomas, his son ran around those corridors about 1870 onwards. This was Joseph (b. 1816) probably aged...

Thanks very much Viv

The entry from Kelly's is so interesting. My Great Grandfather and my Great Great Grandfather were mentioned in Birmingham trade and business directories as running their business from 34 Congreve St from the early 1800s. I believe that one of my Great grandfather's businesses was a tavern...

Thank you for the map. You have pin-pointed the site of my Grandfather's shop very clearly. He was a very well known figure: he was well educated and played the piano wonderfully. He was also an immensely talented artist. He lived with us at 22 until he died when I was 3: I remember the...

Many thanks to everyone who provided these fascinating entries! So kind of you! I will reply individually too. Regards Val W

Many thanks for this! It's closer than I've ever reached before...! The aerial view is difficult for me to tie in with very old memories as I am not a spring chicken any more! I wasn't born in 1940... When the shop was bombed in 1940, my father took his dad down Chapman Road and literally...

Yes. I can confirm that it was 353 Coventry Road. The name was Thomas G Whiles. Actually, his father Joseph Whiles, my great grandfather, had the tenancy of Blakesley Hall and my grandfather lived there as a child! I contacted Blakesley Hall some 15 years ago and had a conducted tour of the...

Have you any photos of Small Heath? My grandfather had his butchers shop on the corner of Chapman road until it was bombed in 1940. It i think 353 Coventry Road. I'd reallly love to have a picture of it! I was born in Chapman Road and lived with my family there at no. 22 and then No 19. Any...