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ANN STREET CITY CENTRE
- Thread starter Astoness
- Start date
Thanks Leslam! Didn't think of that. Viv
Phil. Nice to see the 1855 drawing of the early buildings when they were thriving businesses. Thanks. Viv.
Phil. Nice to see the 1855 drawing of the early buildings when they were thriving businesses. Thanks. Viv.
Just read the earlier "ann street" thread. Highly recommended to anyone who hasn't seen it. A fascinating and very informative insight into the earlier history of this area of Birmingham. Thoroughly enjoyed it. Thanks for the pointer Leslam. Viv.
We tend to think that Ann Street became the end of Colmore Row but it seems to me that all of the old northern frontages on what was Ann Street were in fact demolished forming a triangular, sort of, area where the Council House was built and a larger open frontage for the same in Victoria Square. The south side remained, rounding the old Christchurch. So the buildings on the right became a cleared lot, up to the Town Hall. I don't know...possibly the first 'demo' after open fields maybe. Two of the great photo's on here.
Another Ann Street (Court #6) photo. Looks to be in the process of demolition. Maybe to make way for the Council House perhaps? Viv.
Ann Street School - interior view. Image from the Connecting Histories site. Viv.
Ann Street must still be visible in this section of Samuel Lines's painting showing the view from the dome of St. Phillips's church. Not sure exactly where the street begins and ends but assume its to the right of Christ Church (centre of the view). Viv.
S
Stitcher
Guest
I am told that Allins was a cheap shop for mainly women's clothes and was situated near the top of new Street.
Radiorails
master brummie
A lot in a small place it says but I don not know what was especial about the York shoes.
Stitcher Allins shop in your image was at the junction of Ann Street (disappeared when Colmore Row was extended) and Congreve Street. Allin also set up another shop in High Street. A nice clear image, thanks for posting.
Alan, I'd be interested to know what 'York shoes' were too. One thing we can probably assume is that they were relatively cheap. Maybe the man in front of the shop is wearing them. Viv.
Alan, I'd be interested to know what 'York shoes' were too. One thing we can probably assume is that they were relatively cheap. Maybe the man in front of the shop is wearing them. Viv.
S
Stitcher
Guest
This is inside Allins.
Lady Penelope
master brummie
Post #123 - just looked up 'multum in parvo'. It means 'much in a little'. Do you think it's 'Allins' or 'All - ins'?
Stitcher, is your post #126 the shop in Digbeth?
Stitcher, is your post #126 the shop in Digbeth?
Radiorails
master brummie
See my post 124 Lady P. 
Re Astonesses post #127, this 1880 drawing from Dents "Old and New Birmingham" shows clearly how far Ann Street reached. Christ Church is central, New Steeet is to the right and Ann Street is to the left. Ann Street came down as far as Allin's shop on the left, just behind the group of three pedestrians. Viv.
S
Stitcher
Guest
Hello Lady Penelope, as far as I am aware it is Allins.
Have found this very poor photo (not sure from where it came of the junction of Ann St with Newhall St. I also have the earlier discussed photo labelled with two houses. That would indicate that the building with the coat of arms is the RSPCA local offices (which would explain the coat of arms), and make the postered buildings nos 25 & 24.
Just realised that the drawing of Ann st from around 1870 from another thread (https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/for...of-birmingham-c-1870.41158/page-2#post-563889), has not been included . Here it is , hopefully displayed larger than originally, so it can be appreciated better, with the comments describing the view.
The fifth panorama is of Ann St, in particular part of the frontage of Ann st that was demolished in the early 1870s to make way for the Council House, going from either 25 to 40 Ann St. The view seems to have been between about 1868 and 1872, as the firm of Joseph Jones, auctioneer at no 33 was listed in the 1872 directory, but not in the 1868 or 1873 directories.. By the time of the 1876 Post Office directory all these buildings had disappeared, to be replaced by the Municipal buildings..
At the far right of the picture is Eden Place, and next to it no 25-26 (listed as 25in some directories and 26 in others), occupied mainly by the RSPCA and the Anti-Contagious Diseases Society. The latter was not formed to act against smallpox and the like, but as a campaign organization against the Contagious Diseases Act, which, from 1864, enabled prostitutes in navy and army towns found to suffer from venereal diseaes to be confined in Lock hospitals, though, conveniently for the male politicians and lawmakers, made no such restriction on male clients. It was at one time suggested that it be extended all over the country, but thebefforts of the above society and its successors saw the Acts repealed in 1886 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contagious_Diseases_Acts) . A coat of arms is visible by the door, presumably that of the RSPCA at the time, though it does not resemble the present version..
Next door at 27 was Heptinstall & Lawledge, file manufacturers, who moved here in 1789 and remained until demolition for the municipal buildings. they are mentioned at
https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=10608.
No 28, clearly numbered on the print, changed hands several times over the period, and could have been R Mann Paperhanging manufacturers, Jabez Wilson, bookseller or Henry Stern, glass merchant. similarly no 29 would have been John Tristram Caswell, hair worker, or Bowdidge & Norton, auctioneers.
No 30 was Adam & co, sewing machine agents, though G.H.Adam was also the registrar of births & deaths.
No 31 was either Suckling & Ormond, auctioneers, or James Cox , poulterer.
No 32 was confectioner Thomas Richards,
No 33 was Thomas Arnold Jones, auctioneer while 33½ , in court 5 behind the building, was James Hughes, french polisher.
No 34 was Miss Mary Jane James, milliner, who took over from auctioneer Earl James, presumably her father or husband, while 35 was either unoccupied or occupied by Henry Stern , glass sign writer.
The name over no 36 shows it to be George Gardner,fruiterer & tobacconist, while next door at 38, under the sign "Irish Porter Stores" was the Bell & Candlestick pub, run by Charles Godfrey.
Adam Smith ,chemist was at no 39, and at no 40 was iether David or Nathan cohen-Spiers (depending on date), pawnbroker, with brass balls displayed.
The fifth panorama is of Ann St, in particular part of the frontage of Ann st that was demolished in the early 1870s to make way for the Council House, going from either 25 to 40 Ann St. The view seems to have been between about 1868 and 1872, as the firm of Joseph Jones, auctioneer at no 33 was listed in the 1872 directory, but not in the 1868 or 1873 directories.. By the time of the 1876 Post Office directory all these buildings had disappeared, to be replaced by the Municipal buildings..
At the far right of the picture is Eden Place, and next to it no 25-26 (listed as 25in some directories and 26 in others), occupied mainly by the RSPCA and the Anti-Contagious Diseases Society. The latter was not formed to act against smallpox and the like, but as a campaign organization against the Contagious Diseases Act, which, from 1864, enabled prostitutes in navy and army towns found to suffer from venereal diseaes to be confined in Lock hospitals, though, conveniently for the male politicians and lawmakers, made no such restriction on male clients. It was at one time suggested that it be extended all over the country, but thebefforts of the above society and its successors saw the Acts repealed in 1886 (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contagious_Diseases_Acts) . A coat of arms is visible by the door, presumably that of the RSPCA at the time, though it does not resemble the present version..
Next door at 27 was Heptinstall & Lawledge, file manufacturers, who moved here in 1789 and remained until demolition for the municipal buildings. they are mentioned at
https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=10608.
No 28, clearly numbered on the print, changed hands several times over the period, and could have been R Mann Paperhanging manufacturers, Jabez Wilson, bookseller or Henry Stern, glass merchant. similarly no 29 would have been John Tristram Caswell, hair worker, or Bowdidge & Norton, auctioneers.
No 30 was Adam & co, sewing machine agents, though G.H.Adam was also the registrar of births & deaths.
No 31 was either Suckling & Ormond, auctioneers, or James Cox , poulterer.
No 32 was confectioner Thomas Richards,
No 33 was Thomas Arnold Jones, auctioneer while 33½ , in court 5 behind the building, was James Hughes, french polisher.
No 34 was Miss Mary Jane James, milliner, who took over from auctioneer Earl James, presumably her father or husband, while 35 was either unoccupied or occupied by Henry Stern , glass sign writer.
The name over no 36 shows it to be George Gardner,fruiterer & tobacconist, while next door at 38, under the sign "Irish Porter Stores" was the Bell & Candlestick pub, run by Charles Godfrey.
Adam Smith ,chemist was at no 39, and at no 40 was iether David or Nathan cohen-Spiers (depending on date), pawnbroker, with brass balls displayed.
Great Mike. This gives us such a good account of that section of Ann Street. So difficult to imagine today. Seem to remember that not all of Ann Street became Colmore Row as the road was re-aligned when the Council House was built. Viv.
A few doors down from the pawnbroker to the left of image #133 would have been number 48, the home of Ann Street School. Opened in 1826 and closed in 1867. The exact spot is now under the Council House building. Viv.
https://www.bmagic.org.uk/objects/1928P644
https://www.bmagic.org.uk/objects/1928P644
I am copying this image (posted by Stitcher on the Old adverts thread) to this thread as it shows premises of Adams & Beresford's music establishment in Ann Street in the 1700s. It's hard to imagine this building being on Ann Street, it being so large and grand. Viv.
In the 1860s and 70 s Ann Street must have been an important commercial street. The Registrars Office and the Patent Office. There was an Emigration Office, particularly to New York and Canada. The branch office of the RSPCA (mentioned earlier by Mikejee) were also located there. Viv.
Source for all newspaper extracts: British Newspaper Archives.
Source for all newspaper extracts: British Newspaper Archives.
