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Aston Pictures

mansfielder said:
anyone got a photograph of the newsagents shop which stood on six ways aston, not too far from the Barton Arms, as a child in the sixties i would buy all my comics from there, usually american comics marvel and dc, it had a very large supply of american comics, and what was the name of this newsagents, and when was this demolished.
Click to expand...

If it was on the same side of the road as the Barton Arms then that would be Mitchells Newsagents. Their reading-matter was, shall we say, rather varied.... They also sold plastic model kits, and were nearly always first with the latest Airfix kits.

Big Gee
 
many thanks Big Gee, there was also another newsagents on six ways aston close to the Orient Cinema, even as a child i can remember, its reading-matter was rather varied, it had a poor supply of american comics, what attracted me to its windows was its large supply of plastic model kits, particularly Aurora model kits featuring the Universal monsters ie Frankenstein, Dracula etc, the box claimed they glowed in the dark, unfortunately i could never afford one, alot of them are collectors items now. what newsagent was this?
 
Hi Mansfielder, the newsagents next to the Orient was another Billy Mitchell shop, as Big Gee mentioned he sold questionable material for Adults and I seem to remember him being prosecuted. The name of the cobblers with the policeman's big shoe was Neals, we always had our shoes repaired there.
 
There was another one by the name of Allens Big Gee. Pete said he used Michell's for his comics too. Sylvia Pete can't remember the questionable material though.
 
As someone who collected Dinky and Corgi models in the 1960`s, I discovered Mitchells at Six Ways Aston. What a wonderful cave of wonders it was. The shop was very untidy and disorganised by the late sixties, with little evidence that they were ever stockists of the models. After a few visits the gentleman (I presume Mr Mitchell) allowed me to look in the storeroom. and I discovered loads of interesting Matchbox, Dinky and Corgi items. These were still priced from about 10 years previous and I cleared as much as I could. Much of this stock was used to expand my own collection, which eventually exceeded 800 models. I dont ever remember any dubious magazines, but I do remember a little shop at Stirchley which sold old car magazines and girlie mags. It was next door to a motor bike shop I think.View attachment 66488 I used to buy old American car mags for about a shilling each. The old man that owned the place said that people who liked cars usually liked the ladies too ! Happy Days
 
Thanks for that Doug. Pete said do you want some more for your collection?. He has some of the original. Jean.
 
Jean, perhaps Pete was a little too young to know about the dubious material Billy Mitchell sold, but it is certainly true, although I didn't use either of his shops and when he was prosecuted it was reported in the Birmingham Mail.
 
Sylvia I guess today they would be on open display but in those days it would have made the headlines. Pete was always a bit short and maybe couldn't see that high up. I spoke with Mervin his older brother and he said he DOES remember the top shelf stuff. Jean.
 
Big Gee, just re-reading the posts, can I correct you, the Billy Mitchell was opposite the Bartons Arms, next door but one to the Globe Cinema, at one time late 1940s the newsagents next door to the Bartons was owned by the Lamberts, their daughter Pearl was in the same class as me at Burlington Street School.
 
The first picture I have seen of Phillips Street. Does anyone know of a company by the name of Washbourne that was there until the late 1940's early '50's? I believe it was burnt down, possibly with fatalities
 
Re posts 364 365 and 368 I was on jury service around early 60's or a bit earlier and the trial involved a news agent near the Aston Hippodrome selling pornographic books. Magazines and films, cannot remember shops name though. Both the Judge and jury had to read 2 books 3 magazines and taken to a room in the Crown court buildings to watch one of the films, I found this rather embarressing as some of the jury were women. The judge told us we simply had to decide whether they would 'corrupt the mind', if not the a verdict of not guilty must be returned, on the 6 charges he was only found guilty on one count which involved children. I wonder if this is the shop in question ??? That was the one and only time I have ever been on Jury service or entered Bham Crown courts for that matter which has quite an impressive interioe. Eric
 
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Cookie I am sure the name of the shop was mentioned on another thread and that subject was brought up by Sylvia. I think it was Mitchells?. Jean.
 
Here are a couple of Aston expressway.



Image4_The_completed_Aston_Expressway.jpg







The opening of Aston Expressway May 1972


Image1_The_opening_of_Aston_Expressway~0.jpg



Regards Stars
 
Hi, I am trying to view the photos at the start of this thread but cannot open the attachments. I am trying to find photos of Church Lane, Aston. My Dad, Peter Wallis, lived here in the 40's. Any help would be appreciated.
 
Hi Wallis
I am afraid the forum lost a lot of photo's when we were hacked, so you will see a lot of boxes with no photos.
Members are working hard to re-post them. Hopefully someone will see your post and put the photo back on.


Regards stars
 
Thank you for the quick reply. I have found some great photo's of Church lane on another thread that include his house and his mum's old shop!! I will keep looking.
 
Hi Wallis
I have 4 of the lost church lane lost photo's, i will sort them out and post them for you.


Stars
 
Hi
Here is 3 of the lost photo's.



The first two are Church Lane 1969

img178_church_lane__aston_1969_2.jpg
img177_Church_Lane_aston_1969.jpg





The Queens Hotel at the junction of Church Lane and Queens Rd 1968

img145_queens_hotel__church_lane__aston_1968.jpg




Hope this helps you a bit Wallis. Regards stars
 
Thanks Stars, I have the top 2 pictures from another thread. The top picture of Powell's has my Dads old house in it (where the man is standing). The 2nd picture had his mums shop - B. Davies. The family also had a Haberdashery Shop on Church lane that I am looking for a photo of. Do you know the source of those 2 pictures so I could try to get a high res copy? Thanks again.
 
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