Ashted House, St James Street

[strowger]

I would like to find out any information on the above house, especially a photo. I have searched this and other forums, and books etc, but found nothing of that end of St James Street.

But please note, there appears to have been two houses of this name in the latter part of the 19th century. The one in Ashted Row, which appears on the 1890 map, and of which photos have been circulated here and in books, is NOT the one I am interested in.

The Ashted House of my interest was at the end of St James Street, south side, where it joins Vauxhall Road, opposite the Adelaide Arms. Postal address No 30 St James St. This was a much bigger palatial mansion in its own extensive grounds. This is also shown on the 1890 map but around this time I believe it was erased, as on subsequent maps the whole area has been filled in by more standard terraced housing.

The property was the home of an ancestor, Joseph Guest, a corn merchant and manager of the corn exchange, who lived there for at least 30 years before his death in 1889. Thus it would seem that the property was probably re-developed on his death. Thus any photo would have to date from before about 1890.


Martin

 

[dek carr]

Strowger I lived 2 doors away from the Adelaide there was no grand building there in my time 40s until demolished in fact there was nothing on the corner but waste ground and that was not a large area.I have been seeking a photo of St James St for some years sadly no sign of one yet but we live in hope.Dek

 

[Astoness]

hi dek i didnt know you were looking for pics of st james st...will ask around for you..i take it you have one of the adelaide arms if so does it show your old house..

lyn

 

[dek carr]

Thanks Lyn Yes I have the Adelaide.That map in post *1 also shows our house 2nd down Erskine St from the pub so it must have been built before 1890.in fact many of the houses that I knew are on there,the area where Ashted house is shown was also small terraced houses along St James St and down the Vauxhall Rd.Dek

 

[Astoness]

ok dek will get back to you with any st james st pics....they are out there somewhere...

lyn

 

[mikejee]

It was not immediately demolished.The 1888 Directory lists Joseph Guest, but the 1890 one lists a George Lomas, who may be connected a metal factors Lomas & Co at 160 moor st. By 1892 and 1895 the building is not listed, and you are probably right that it was then demolished
Mike

 

[strowger]

That is interesting, as George Lomas was my great grandfather who was "adopted" supposedly by Joseph and got married (at Mathon, Worcs) within one month of his death, inheriting considerable wealth. I did not know if he spent any time living at the house before it was demolished, I had assumed not. It was I assume liquidated as part of the probate ( I do have the will) . But I guess it may have just caught a directory listing in between at it were.

Martin

 

[strowger]

Strowger I lived 2 doors away from the Adelaide there was no grand building there in my time 40s until demolished........Dek

Dek - Did you live in Erskine St? Do you recall the premises of Walker & Loach my ancestors metal pressings factory? They built it in late 19th century and were there until 1954ish. See my website at:
https://www.aeolian-hall.myzen.co.uk/walkerloach.html

Martin

 

[dek carr]

Yes I lived in Erskine St. There was a metal pressing factory on the corner of Erskine and Dollman St this was at the bottom of the hill under the railway bridge I am sorry I cannot recall its name.Dek

 

[Phil]

Dek

According to kelly's it would have been more or less opposite St Vincents School playground between Spooner St and Scott st.

strowger I have looked at your web page and there is something I don't understand. Is that a photo of the Erskine St premises in the backround? if so then it must have got flipped as it looks like the hill is running the wrong way it should be downhill from left to right.

Phil

 

[dek carr]

Thats interesting Phil and has helped me to recall another building which was on the corner of Scott St it appeared to be more involved in wood than metal but that would have been in the 50s.Dek

 

[Phil]

Dek

The wood turners were on the corner of Spooner St, then came Birmingham & Midland Demolition then Walker & Loach. I don't remember any of them they were probably gone before I moved down to Inkerman St from Francis St.

Phil

 

[dek carr]

So there were 3 different companies i thought it was one, and Walker and Loach must have been on the corner of Scott St it ran up Scott St for a 30 odd yds and then we had the back gardens of Spooner St right up to Newdigate St.We often played football in this street as no one bothered us nobody seemed to use this road. .In the early 50s I never took much notice.Dek

 

[Rupert]

No photographs but this drawing might be of interest to you. The subject area was an upper class one that, like other then outskirts of Brum, was over run by the needs of industry. Before this event though the sketch is of what would have been across the road (Vauxhall Road) in the 19th century. It's the noted Vauxhall Gardens...a place with theatre and floral beds...pavilions, walks, tall trees, a bowling green. All of this from Vauxhall road down to the river Rea.On the other side of the Rea the railway was built and trains can be seen in the distance. The road leading away on the right is Erskine and the houses there are the backs of houses on Vauxhall Grove. They also had extensive gardens at the front and were a decent size. The land between the Vauxhall Grove houses and Erskine was later built on with working class dwellings but not in the picture then. The large drive past the front corner house leads to the manor and the archway in the iron railings led to a bowling green on the front grounds. The archway would be opposite Great Brook Street. To the left of the drawing would be a crescent...Alma Crescent which was to be one with upper class houses on it looking out over the plain of Washwood Heath. Even in our day...mine anyway...there were large old row houses on Great Brook St. and Ashted Row. I have not looked at this area for a while but I think the large house in the picture was Vauxhall Manor. There are those on here who will correct this if wrong. Anyway a rail line was put right through the gardens and alas the end was upon it all. The entrance gate at the front is opposite Great Brook St. and the large stand of trees on the left is quoted in Pyes Travels of the early 1800s. For a while there was a barrack's for the army towards the far end but they were later housed in purpose built accomodations on Barrack Street, opposite St. James Church. There are many photo's of the area in this pool and folk who lived there even but have not seen any of that house or indeed of Vauxhall Grove. Not what you asked for but it might paint a bit of a picture.
The picture would have to be contrived because there is nowhere high enough to provide the vantage point. I don't know who deserve the credits for the picture but it was on here before the wipeout. Come to think of it, I seem to remember a bus/tram stop called The Bowling Green around there; ah..maybe my memory is playing tricks.

 

[strowger]

No that is the later Walker & Loach premises in Belmont Row.

Dek

strowger I have looked at your web page and there is something I don't understand. Is that a photo of the Erskine St premises in the backround? if so then it must have got flipped as it looks like the hill is running the wrong way it should be downhill from left to right.

Phil