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Aston Brook Street/Chester Street

A

AstonStudentsUnion

Brummie babby
This image shows what is now 1 Aston Brook Green in the corner of Chester Street and Aston Brook Street (East) in Aston. The photograph was taken in 1979 before the housing was saved from demolition, renovated and named Aston Brook Green. We are interested to hear the history of these houses and who lived here before 1979. We believe the houses were originally built in 1893.AstonBrookStreet.jpg
 
The end corner house appears to have been built as a business premises and first appears in directories in 1908 or just before, a shop occupied by Joseph Latham. Nothing is listed there in 1904. He is only there for a short time, as by 1910 the occupier is William holder, shopkeeper, who stays there till 1921, and by 1922 the shopkeeper is Ellen Follis , who stayed till at least 1925.. By 1927 the shop had been taken over by Arthur and Elizabeth Hughes. The Hughes family run it till at least 1946, but the 1947 directory does not list a shop there. The shops listed would have been small corner shops selling confectionary, some food items and possibly newspapers. No information is available directly after 1946, Although Frank Knight obviously (from the photo) occoiedn it, it is only their office at chester wharf, opposite no 2, that is listed
 
mikejee said:
The end corner house appears to have been built as a business premises and first appears in directories in 1908 or just before, a shop occupied by Joseph Latham. Nothing is listed there in 1904. He is only there for a short time, as by 1910 the occupier is William holder, shopkeeper, who stays there till 1921, and by 1922 the shopkeeper is Ellen Follis , who stayed till at least 1925.. By 1927 the shop had been taken over by Arthur and Elizabeth Hughes. The Hughes family run it till at least 1946, but the 1947 directory does not list a shop there. The shops listed would have been small corner shops selling confectionary, some food items and possibly newspapers. No information is available directly after 1946, Although Frank Knight obviously (from the photo) occoiedn it, it is only their office at chester wharf, opposite no 2, that is listed
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That is really interesting, I wonder what the shop was. I wonder if the properties were empty from 1946 until the renovation started in 1979? By the look of our picture they had probably been empty a few years, but I hadn't imagined it had been that long. Where did you get the plan from?
 
did you read post 2 and click on the link posted there for frank knights coal wharf...that is what the offices were used for..how long frank knight was trading from there i dont know..maybe someone can check the directories for you

lyn
 
Astoness said:
did you read post 2 and click on the link posted there for frank knights coal wharf...that is what the offices were used for..how long frank knight was trading from there i dont know..maybe someone can check the directories for you

lyn
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Thanks Lyn. I just looked at that, I can see the houses weren't there on the plan that covers to 1891.
 
I think the building was built as a shop or business, so presumably the first occupant is likely to have been sometime between 1904 and 1908, when is the first mention I found in directories. As I said previously directories do not listb Frank Knight at that address, presumably because the registered office nwas opposite at the wharf.
 
mikejee said:
I think the building was built as a shop or business, so presumably the first occupant is likely to have been sometime between 1904 and 1908, when is the first mention I found in directories. As I said previously directories do not listb Frank Knight at that address, presumably because the registered office nwas opposite at the wharf.
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Thanks so much. When do the buildings first appear on plans? They aren't there on the plan from 1891.
 
There is a reference to 100 Chester Street in the papers of 1900 (hover over and it will show the paper and date).
Birmingham Daily Post - Saturday 17 February 1900.jpg
 
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Frederick Finney was another resident of 100 Chester Street in 1911, he was found guilty of fraud.

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Source: British Newspaper Archive
 
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Land was being sold in lots with frontages to the "newly laid out street called Chester Street" in the 1850s. Obviously residential building must have come much later. There was certainly industrial activity here (eg night soil collection, coal and timber businesses), made possible because of its proximity to the canal.
 

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pjmburns said:
I think 98 to 124 are on the 1901 census. Need to check when I have my laptop on.
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They are listed on the 1901 census. Here is the start. 1743507540688.png
Covers 2 more pages.

1911 and 1921 would be trickier as they are 2 pages per household.

I would advise either a free trial of Ancestry or FMO or a month's subs for either, Then you can find out about the people who lived there in those years. Also check the 1939 register
Erolls should also give names.
 
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Checking erolls shows the houses were still occupied in 1965 - (last year erolls are on Ancestry).
1743507865086.png

For later dates you would need to check erolls at the Central Library
 
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