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312 Bradford Street, Digbeth

AndyOram

AndyOram

Brummie babby
Hi All

I work for EH Smith Builders Merchants (a good honest Brummie company!) and we will be opening an office at 312 Bradford Street in early 2024. I'd love to know more about the history of the building (and Bradford St in general) if anyone is able to help. We believe that the building there now was built in the 1920s. If anyone is able to shed any light on it, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks!
 

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  • 312 Bradford Street.jpg
    312 Bradford Street.jpg
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hi andy and welcome....you have come to the right place...i am sure that some of our members will be able to supply you with some info re 312 bradford st so watch this space...see the extensive thread below for bradford st which you should find interesting

Bradford street

Hi, My Grandparents lived in Bradford Street in the 1920`s As anyone got any Photo`s of Bradford Street as it was then please. Thankyou Carolann
birminghamhistory.co.uk birminghamhistory.co.uk

lyn
 
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Astoness said:
hi andy and welcome....you have come to the right place...i am sure that some of our members will be able to supply you with some info re 312 bradford st so watch this space...see the extensive thread below for bradford st which you should find interesting

Bradford street

Hi, My Grandparents lived in Bradford Street in the 1920`s As anyone got any Photo`s of Bradford Street as it was then please. Thankyou Carolann
birminghamhistory.co.uk birminghamhistory.co.uk

lyn
Click to expand...
Thanks Lyn!
 
AndyOram said:
Hi All

I work for EH Smith Builders Merchants (a good honest Brummie company!) and we will be opening an office at 312 Bradford Street in early 2024. I'd love to know more about the history of the building (and Bradford St in general) if anyone is able to help. We believe that the building there now was built in the 1920s. If anyone is able to shed any light on it, I'd really appreciate it.

Thanks!
Click to expand...
I think the building was probably built before the 1920s. The aerial view below is dated 1921.
Bradford St 1921.jpg
image source 'britainfromabove'
 
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Here's a map from 1890 when 314 (pink dot) was sperate from 312 & 313 ? (green dot) which appears to be part of something much larger. 1891 census gives the next 2 houses to the Anchor as 311 & 310...

0 - Bradford St.jpg

...by 1950 the Anchor as expanded into 311 & 310 and if it hasn't been rebuilt 312, 314 & 313 (?) are now one building though much reduced at the rear...

0 - Bradford St.jpg
 
Here is a photo I took of it around 1970.

20A__Nos_308-314_Bradford_St_.jpg

As you can see, it was then J.B. Machine Tools. In 1921 it was the Birmingham and Midland Counties Transport Co., who were commercial vehicle contractors and engineers. A description of one of their products includes the following (from https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/13th-september-1917/12/-the-ralls-5-ton-chassis) :
" The Machine. is constructed to carry a useful load c • five. tons ; its appearance is such as to impress the
beholder with the notion that it will successfully convey that load, and "never feel it." In this connection we may, without endorsing the opinions expressed quote the designer, "The maker of a steam wagon never thinks it necessary to warn a buyer again overloading his chassis, the manufacturer of petro driven • vehicles, • however, invariably warns h customer `against the dreadful evils of this practice"

No 314 is not listed in Kellys pre 1921, so I would suspect that it was constructed sometime between 1915 and 1921
 
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This is brilliant, thanks everyone! What we're trying to achieve with the design of the space when we move in is have it as a contemporary design space for construction folks to come and see different types of building materials, but with a definite Birmingham heritage to it too. Anything we can get whether it be photos or stories will help us to create that kind of environment there.
 
mikejee said:
Here is a photo I took of it around 1970.

View attachment 175420

As you can see, it was then J.B. Machine Tools. In 1921 it was the Birmingham and Midland Counties Transport Co., who were commercial vehicle contractors and engineers. A description of one of their products includes the following (from https://archive.commercialmotor.com/article/13th-september-1917/12/-the-ralls-5-ton-chassis) :
" The Machine. is constructed to carry a useful load c • five. tons ; its appearance is such as to impress the
beholder with the notion that it will successfully convey that load, and "never feel it." In this connection we may, without endorsing the opinions expressed quote the designer, "The maker of a steam wagon never thinks it necessary to warn a buyer again overloading his chassis, the manufacturer of petro driven • vehicles, • however, invariably warns h customer `against the dreadful evils of this practice"

No 314 is not listed in Kellys pre 1921, so I would suspect that it was constructed sometime between 1915 and 1921
Click to expand...
Thanks Mike. It's a real lesson to all of us who enjoy history that taking pictures of the 'ordinary' today will help future generations discover their past. It's not all about the soft focus and perfect composition; sometimes it's just about recording life as we see it.
 
MWS said:
Here's a map from 1890 when 314 (pink dot) was sperate from 312 & 313 ? (green dot) which appears to be part of something much larger. 1891 census gives the next 2 houses to the Anchor as 311 & 310...

View attachment 175417

...by 1950 the Anchor as expanded into 311 & 310 and if it hasn't been rebuilt 312, 314 & 313 (?) are now one building though much reduced at the rear...

View attachment 175418
Click to expand...
We're thinking that it used to be part of the Avery works which was on Moat Lane. The original Mr EH Smith's wife's surname was Avery and we got all excited hoping there might be a family link, but actually there isn't
 
Andy
Do you mean that you think it was part of the Avery works before Rollo?
In 1901 it certainly was not, as it was occupied by Albert Bruce, veterinary surgeon
 
mikejee said:
Andy
Do you mean that you think it was part of the Avery works before Rollo?
In 1901 it certainly was not, as it was occupied by Albert Bruce, veterinary surgeon
Click to expand...
Hi Mike
On your 1890 map it looks like it's part of the back of the Avery works. It could well be that the Bradford St part of the Avery building was sold off after this point.
 
Vivienne14 said:
It has the look of a Chapel but the central door looks enormous. Viv.
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Hi Viv, yes we were originally led to believe it had been a chapel but there's no evidence for it having been one in its current form. Maybe way back in the dim and distant past, but I think the art deco touches make it look more ecclesiastical than it really was!
 
oldMohawk said:
It appears that the Rollo Car Co moved into 314 Bradford St in 1913 but the company was wound up in 1915
View attachment 175422
Click to expand...

rollo works.jpg
Our latest parish magazine contains x4 pictures of church processions in 1913 including this one in Conybere Street showing the Rollo Car Co. Works. The premises were formerly used by the Electric Tramway Equipment Co. How interesting it is when information from totally different sources link up!

Electric Tramway Equipment Co [from Graces Guide]​



1898 Business established by Alfred Wiseman (1863-1948) who set up works in Conybere Street, Birmingham, using his own design of machines.

1902 of 138 and 140, Conybere Street, Birmingham

1903 Purchased additional works in Glover Street for expansion, particularly making switchboards for tramways but also established gear cutting machinery.

Later concentrated on making gears - Alfred Wiseman Ltd
 
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