Alma Street, Six Ways, Aston

[Astoness]

tried a licorice stick a few years back...how on earth i would make one last all day as a kid i will never know lol

lyn

 

[Linda Jennings]

Hi, its amazing how we remember the sweets isnt it, I liked pink Kalai and black jacks 4 for a penny, Dont know if I could bring myself to eat the licorice stick that looked like a twig off a tree now!

It was desperate measures if bought a ha’penny liquorice stick. Not to my taste then and doubt I would like them now. However back in the day it was something to chew on!
I liked Chix bubble gum. They were 4 for a penny too, pink and very sweet!

Linda

 

[Banjo]

Hi, its amazing how we remember the sweets isnt it, I liked pink Kalai and black jacks 4 for a penny, Dont know if I could bring myself to eat the licorice stick that looked like a twig off a tree now!

For some reason I knew those as spanish sticks.

 

[mikejee]

Banjo
See below. Apparently those were different than the stuff used in sweets:

What is the origin of the term 'Spanish' as used, during my childhood in Yorkshire at least, to mean liquorice? Is the term still used, and is it, or was it, only used in Yorkshire? | Notes and Queries | guardian.co.uk

www.theguardian.com

 

[sandrada]

Banjo
See below. Apparently those were different than the stuff used in sweets:

What is the origin of the term 'Spanish' as used, during my childhood in Yorkshire at least, to mean liquorice? Is the term still used, and is it, or was it, only used in Yorkshire? | Notes and Queries | guardian.co.uk

www.theguardian.com

Thats was interesting . I remember the woody stuff, and also liked the jet black strips wound into wheel shapes. And can I say Pontefract Licorice cakes on the Brum page!

 

[Suy]

Hi Linda,
Thank you for the information. I wondered if I could ask you a couple of questions? What year are you talking about here and do you know the name of the French person you mentioned?
Many thanks,
Susan

 

[Linda Jennings]

Hi Linda,
Thank you for the information. I wondered if I could ask you a couple of questions? What year are you talking about here and do you know the name of the French person you mentioned?
Many thanks,
Susan

Hi Susan
My family and I lived at 125 Alma Street from late 1956- November 1967.
I was friendly with Georgina Glenn after starting school from 1959. The era I’m talking about is between 1960 to 1965.
I don’t know the surname of the French neighbour. I believe her husband was British. I think they had 2 or 3 daughters who, were older than us.

I hope this is helpful to you.

Best wishes
Linda

 

[Suy]

Hi Susan
My family and I lived at 125 Alma Street from late 1956- November 1967.
I was friendly with Georgina Glenn after starting school from 1959. The era I’m talking about is between 1960 to 1965.
I don’t know the surname of the French neighbour. I believe her husband was British. I think they had 2 or 3 daughters who, were older than us.

I hope this is helpful to you.

Best wishes
Linda

Hi Linda,

Thank you very much for your reply. I am trying to trace the family who lived at 117 Alma Street, the Williams family. This was in 1917 and I believe it was a shop, but I think they were there for many years, maybe until the early 60's. I also heard that there was someone who was French in the family, which was why I asked you about that. This is all rather vague, I know. I have scraps of information and I am trying to piece them together. I never lived there, so I don't know any other names of people who lived there.
Thank you again.
Best wishes,
Jill

 

[brummy-lad]

Hi Linda,

Thank you very much for your reply. I am trying to trace the family who lived at 117 Alma Street, the Williams family. This was in 1917 and I believe it was a shop, but I think they were there for many years, maybe until the early 60's. I also heard that there was someone who was French in the family, which was why I asked you about that. This is all rather vague, I know. I have scraps of information and I am trying to piece them together. I never lived there, so I don't know any other names of people who lived there.
Thank you again.
Best wishes,
Jill

Entry on 1955 Kelly's directory

 

[mikejee]

Here are those listed at 117 on the online electoral rolls (which only cover some years):

1920​	Aston	Lozells	James William​	Williams​
1920​	Aston	Lozells	Alice​	Williams​
1922​	Aston	Lozells	James William​	Williams​
1925​	Aston	Lozells	James William​	Williams​
1930​	Aston	Lozells	Kathleen​	Williams​
1930​	Aston	Lozells	James William (th younger)e​	Williams​
1930​	Aston	Lozells	Thomas Walter​	Williams​
1935​	Aston	Lozells	Kathleen​	Williams​
1935​	Aston	Lozells	James William (th younger)​	Williams​
1935​	Aston	Lozells	Thomas Walter​	Williams​
1939​	Aston	Lozells	James William​	Williams​
1939​	Aston	Lozells	Kathleen​	Williams​
1939​	Aston	Lozells	Alice Maud​	Williams​
1945​	Aston	Lozells	Kathleen A​	Williams​
1945​	Aston	Lozells	James W​	Williams​
1947​	Aston	Lozells	James W​	Williams​
1947​	Aston	Lozells	Kathleen A​	Williams​
1950​	Aston	Lozells	James W​	Williams​
1950​	Aston	Lozells	Kathleen A​	Williams​
1952​	District	Lozells	James W​	Williams​
1952​	District	Lozells	Kathleen A​	Williams​
1955​	Handsworth	Lozells	James​	Williams​
1955​	Handsworth	Lozells	Kathleen​	Williams​
1957​	Handsworth	Lozells	Kathleen A​	Williams​
1960​	Handsworth	Lozells	James W​	Williams​
1960​	Handsworth	Lozells	Kathleen A​	Williams​
1952​	District	Lozells	Kathleen A​	Williams​
1955​	Handsworth	Lozells	James​	Williams​
1955​	Handsworth	Lozells	Kathleen​	Williams​
1957​	Handsworth	Lozells	Kathleen A​	Williams​
1960​	Handsworth	Lozells	James W​	Williams​
1960​	Handsworth	Lozells	Kathleen A​	Williams​
1962​	Handsworth	Newtown	James W​	Williams​
1962​	Handsworth	Newtown	Kathleen.A​	Williams​
1965​	Handsworth	Newtown	Paul R​	Mason​
1965​	Handsworth	Newtown	Anona B​	Mason​

T​

 

[Linda Jennings]

Hi Linda,
Thank you for the information. I wondered if I could ask you a couple of questions? What year are you talking about here and do you know the name of the French person you mentioned?
Many thanks,
Susan

Hello again Susan
I have copied the following for you from the forum. It was put on by Colinwilliams Guest 1

Hi Susan
My family and I lived at 125 Alma Street from late 1956- November 1967.
I was friendly with Georgina Glenn after starting school from 1959. The era I’m talking about is between 1960 to 1965.
I don’t know the surname of the French neighbour. I believe her husband was British. I think they had 2 or 3 daughters who, were older than us.

I hope this is helpful to you.

Best wishes
Linda

Hi Linda,

Thank you very much for your reply. I am trying to trace the family who lived at 117 Alma Street, the Williams family. This was in 1917 and I believe it was a shop, but I think they were there for many years, maybe until the early 60's. I also heard that there was someone who was French in the family, which was why I asked you about that. This is all rather vague, I know. I have scraps of information and I am trying to piece them together. I never lived there, so I don't know any other names of people who lived there.
Thank you again.
Best wishes,
Jill

Hi
I remember Mr and Mrs Williams and their shop. They were very nice people.
To me as a child they seemed old. However, anyone over 21 was old to me!
My mom and dad used the shop often. I recall OXO tins on the shelves. There was also a penny bubble gum machine outside.

I recall Mrs Williams passing away. My family were saddened by her death. I’m not sure how long after her death but Mr Williams wasn’t well. He was outside the shop in his pyjamas. He must have needed help. I can remember an ambulance being called and he was taken away. I don’t recall seeing him again after that. This could have been around 1961/62.

A man called Pete took the shop over. He had short black hair. He wasn’t there that long.

It then became a ladies hairdressers. This was around 1964/65. I can’t remember the name of it though.

I hope my recollection has been somewhat helpful.
Best wishes
Linda

 

[Suy]

Here are those listed at 117 on the online electoral rolls (which only cover some years):

1920​	Aston	Lozells	James William​	Williams​
1920​	Aston	Lozells	Alice​	Williams​
1922​	Aston	Lozells	James William​	Williams​
1925​	Aston	Lozells	James William​	Williams​
1930​	Aston	Lozells	Kathleen​	Williams​
1930​	Aston	Lozells	James William (th younger)e​	Williams​
1930​	Aston	Lozells	Thomas Walter​	Williams​
1935​	Aston	Lozells	Kathleen​	Williams​
1935​	Aston	Lozells	James William (th younger)​	Williams​
1935​	Aston	Lozells	Thomas Walter​	Williams​
1939​	Aston	Lozells	James William​	Williams​
1939​	Aston	Lozells	Kathleen​	Williams​
1939​	Aston	Lozells	Alice Maud​	Williams​
1945​	Aston	Lozells	Kathleen A​	Williams​
1945​	Aston	Lozells	James W​	Williams​
1947​	Aston	Lozells	James W​	Williams​
1947​	Aston	Lozells	Kathleen A​	Williams​
1950​	Aston	Lozells	James W​	Williams​
1950​	Aston	Lozells	Kathleen A​	Williams​
1952​	District	Lozells	James W​	Williams​
1952​	District	Lozells	Kathleen A​	Williams​
1955​	Handsworth	Lozells	James​	Williams​
1955​	Handsworth	Lozells	Kathleen​	Williams​
1957​	Handsworth	Lozells	Kathleen A​	Williams​
1960​	Handsworth	Lozells	James W​	Williams​
1960​	Handsworth	Lozells	Kathleen A​	Williams​
1952​	District	Lozells	Kathleen A​	Williams​
1955​	Handsworth	Lozells	James​	Williams​
1955​	Handsworth	Lozells	Kathleen​	Williams​
1957​	Handsworth	Lozells	Kathleen A​	Williams​
1960​	Handsworth	Lozells	James W​	Williams​
1960​	Handsworth	Lozells	Kathleen A​	Williams​
1962​	Handsworth	Newtown	James W​	Williams​
1962​	Handsworth	Newtown	Kathleen.A​	Williams​
1965​	Handsworth	Newtown	Paul R​	Mason​
1965​	Handsworth	Newtown	Anona B​	Mason​

T​

Hi Mike,

You are indeed a super moderator! Thank you so much for this information. Can you tell me where you found this? I have not been able to find the electoral roll for those years.

Kind regards,
Susan

 

[mikejee]

Suy
They were on https://www.midlandshistoricaldata.org/Elect2Srch. They are also on Ancestry if you have a subscription

 

[Suy]

Hello again Susan
I have copied the following for you from the forum. It was put on by Colinwilliams Guest 1



Hi
I remember Mr and Mrs Williams and their shop. They were very nice people.
To me as a child they seemed old. However, anyone over 21 was old to me!
My mom and dad used the shop often. I recall OXO tins on the shelves. There was also a penny bubble gum machine outside.

I recall Mrs Williams passing away. My family were saddened by her death. I’m not sure how long after her death but Mr Williams wasn’t well. He was outside the shop in his pyjamas. He must have needed help. I can remember an ambulance being called and he was taken away. I don’t recall seeing him again after that. This could have been around 1961/62.

A man called Pete took the shop over. He had short black hair. He wasn’t there that long.

It then became a ladies hairdressers. This was around 1964/65. I can’t remember the name of it though.

I hope my recollection has been somewhat helpful.
Best wishes
Linda

Hi Linda,

Thank you so much for this, it is very helpful. I have a lot of searching to do so I may post some more questions. I appreciate your and everyone's responses.

Best wishes,
Susan

 

[Banjo]

This is a picture of my Nan inside the shop, hope you don't mind, nice to have her back with the shop

Although this post is 4 years old, I've only just seen it and showed the photo to my wife. She recognised Mrs Herbert. My wife's Family used to live 5 doors away in Whitehead St.

 

[G G Jean]

Hi Linda,

Thank you so much for this, it is very helpful. I have a lot of searching to do so I may post some more questions. I appreciate your and everyone's responses.

Best wishes,
Susan

I still have one of those old oxo tins.

 

[Banjo]

This is Jelf's cafe on the corner of Alma St & Gerrard St. The lady is probably Mrs Beatrice Jelf.

 

[sandrada]

Re Alma St

Hi Colin, Sorry, but I've no memory of a shop run by Williams. We used the shop run by Mr/Mrs Burbeck. They were at 39 I think. Mom used to run a 'tab' there and pay up every Friday. They were always most kind to us kids when we went there on an errand.
Mom used to say"Ask him for half a loaf and ask him to cut it with a jammy knife!".
I have a few photos of the demolition of the street and the construction of the new roads circa 1960. I'll see if I can upload them. :wink:

Hi, the couple at the shop 39 were Les and Ivy Bradbury. Nice people.

 

[www.midlandspubs.co.uk]

Did anybody buy their knickers from Florence Uebersax? https://www.midlandspubs.co.uk/birmingham/alma-street/index.html#Florence-Uebersax

 

[www.midlandspubs.co.uk]

I have a virtual tour of Alma Street now at : https://www.midlandspubs.co.uk/birmingham/alma-street/

 

[ChristinaA]

Hi I've just started to research my family history to find out my Nana, Annie May Williams, born 28/10/1903 used to live at 101 Alma Street with her parents. She had a brother, William A William born in 1900 died 1963.

She married when she was 18 so must have left the area in 1921 to live in Coventry. Her father's name was William James Williams. He was born in 1850. I do not have the name of his wife. According to my Nana's marriage certificate her father was a Labourer's foreman. Does anyone have any more information about this family.

 

[brummy-lad]

Hi Christina welcome to the forum, I'm sure there are members that will be better able to help you with your family history than me, in the meantime here is a photo showing No. 121, unfortunately partly hidden by the beer delivery van.

 

[MWS]

I can't see any likely Williams family living on Alma St on the censuses or ERs. Is the address from one of them or from Annie's marriage?

 

[ChristinaA]

It is from my Nana, Annies marriage certificate.

 

[MWS]

Ok, a bit tricky then because she may have just been boarding/lodging there at that time.

 

[Astoness]

Hi I've just started to research my family history to find out my Nana, Annie May Williams, born 28/10/1903 used to live at 101 Almahi Street with her parents. She had a brother, William A William born in 1900 died 1963.

She married when she was 18 so must have left the area in 1921 to live in Coventry. Her father's name was William James Williams. He was born in 1850. I do not have the name of his wife. According to my Nana's marriage certificate her father was a Labourer's foreman. Does anyone have any more information about this family.

hi christina and welcome...if you need any help with family research could you go to the surname interest section of the forum and start a new thread for annie may williams...thanks

lyn

 

[ChristinaA]

I can't see any likely Williams family living on Alma St on the censuses or ERs. Is the address from one of them or from Annie's marriage?

My Nana moved to live in Coventry after her marriage, hence I assume the address is of her parents, father William James Williams, no name of his wife I am afraid. Many thanks for checking the censuses and ER records.