• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

Balsall Heath.

Hi Dave, Thanks for the reply and a few more memories such as Jack Mills where we had a weekly order which he would deliver and to which he added any thing special. This was due mainly to the fact that Mom was always working.
Though she was trained as a Dairy Analyst she gave that up when she married Dad in 1930 but ran a canteen in a factory during the war and could never seem to settle for a fulltime housewife's role and went from one new café etc but seemed to always want a new challenge after a while. I think she ended up with The Whimpy Bars firstly at Snow Hill then at Broad Street.
When at the Tillingham St café there was that takeaway side but there was a regular lunchtime trade of local business people, Jack Ross the drycleaner from Ladypool Rd, 2/3 from the road transport mob also in Ladypool Rd, they had been taken into The British Road Service when they were Nationalised and made a nice little profit when they bought it back cheaply and their trucks had been renovated at Tax Payers expense. They parked some of their trucks in Tillingham St and these were part of our play ground becoming pirate ships or the like to us tykes!
Another regular was Phil Smith from the 2nd hand car yard just round the corner of Stratford Rd and Ladypool Rd and also the owner of SPQR Furniture Shop where Mom got me a job for the summer school holidays. He drove a V8 Ford Pilot which he parked outside his shop where he could keep an eye on it. After a couple of weeks he sent me off to his other shop in Alum Rock Rd as I think he got fed up with me.
I'm sad to say that I don't recall you in the flesh as it were so maybe you are somewhat younger than me, I was born 1938 and lived from then until 1961 in Tillingham St. I started school at Stratford Rd School, then Golden Hillock Rd Sec.Mod then went to Handsworth. Tech from 1952-54. I started work in Handsworth then moved around so didn't spend much time in the street as it were.
Came out to Oz in !961 and have settle here. We were back in Brum in 1978 and 2004 for fleeting visits and it was also different but some things were still hanging in but in different roles.
Thanks again Regards Tim.
 
Hi Tim
Jones transport guys were big customers of Moms & there was also a Phil Harding who had a TV repair place in an office above Charlie Sims Garage. Phil Smith was a big fishing buddy of Jack Mills & Bert Griffiths who had the little second hand shop in what appeared to be an old garage, I used to buy 2nd hand comics from him.Jack Ross remained a customer of Moms as did Phil Smith & all the others around including the guys from Hemmings in Highgate Road & the dry cleaners between Jonese Transport & Charlie Sims's place.
we were in Oz this year this time in Perth but have been all down the East coast from Cairns right round to Melbourne on our visits to OZ, whereabouts are you?
You must have been around the age of Gerald Crook & the eldest of the Summers boys as well as Billy Payne & his brothers.
Cheers
Dave
 
Hi Dave,
Don't really know where to start a reply. Certainly knew Gerald Crook, was in his gang at one time, must have been close mates actually as I went as his brother to the Xmas Parties at Highgate Rd Bus Depot where his Dad was a driver, until his sister was old enough to go. When we were all playing in the street Mrs. Crook would come to their front door and shout that Dick Barton was going to be on the radio in 5 mins and we would all rush home to hear the latest episode. I think when we left Stratford Rd school I went to Golden Hillock Rd school and he went to Dennis Rd. Incidentally one of my Aunts, Daisy Turner lived in a house right next to Dennis Rd school, but that may have been a bit later.
I transferred my allegiance to Raymond Young who lived in a Terrace just round in Turner St and we had some battles over possession of the bombed shop right on the corner of the two streets. As ammunition we would pull bits of plaster off the wall and it made a bit of a "poof' noise and dust smoke when it hit the road or brick walls. A few years later I met Raymond when we were about 18 and he had this Dolly Bird hanging off his arm. He had done the Charles Atlas Body Building Course and had shoulders like a barn door.
Did you survive the Big Freeze and snowfall of 1947 when the snow that was cleared from the road was so high you couldn't see over it and we thought we were in the Swiss Alps. It was so bad the Co-op Bread man (Or was it the milk man ?) left his horse and cart at the end of the street and used a toboggan to finish his deliveries.
Did you use the skid pad outside Dunnett's Garage which would have been opposite your house (sort of) The oil that had dripped from the cars parked outside had mixed with the dust and tar over the years and when you belted up to it on your bike on a wet day, slammed on your rear brake you could almost make it to Ladypool Rd (in your dreams did you say). It Later became Tillingham Street Motors, used to advertise in Motor Sport Magazine. I think it was the only bit standing in 1978?
Sad to say I cant recall the names of Summers or Payne. There was a Barber family the mother of whom died quite young and left about 4/5 kids Ronnie was the eldest ,about the same age as my sister Jeanne (I think there was a hint of romance at one time). He looked a bit like Tyrone Power a film actor of the period. There was also a chimney sweep and on my paper round I used to deliver to houses say 2 back of, and the sweeps garden had a heap of soot that he dumped there ,people used to go and get a bucketful to put on the gardens.
In the words of Looney Tunes "That's All for Now Folkes"
Just remembered my wife Maggie and I live in a small town in Gippsland, Victoria, called Yarram. Population about 2000 ,about two and a half hours from Melbourne, so at some time you may have been 80 kms away from us if you came down the East Coast by road, or 28000 feet if by air.
Will write more when the Grey Matter works.
Cheers Tim.
 
Hi Tim
Ronnie Barber is still here & lives over Kings Heat way. He still looks good as well!!!
I remember the big freeze of 47 as my Dad was in hospital & he was discharged but had to brought home by Ambulance, he worked on the Railway & when his mates came to visit him thye bought him bags of coal not grapes!!!! Very useful for us at the time. The chimney sweep was Jack Devey & he lived about 4 doors up from my Nan at No.28.
I used to fancy Jill Crook but it was never returned!!
Is there an Aircraft factory in Gippsland & there is a plane by that name used for Parachuting?
We were in Melbourne in 2011.Cheers
Dave
 
Hello Dave, Love the idea of being given coal instead of grapes and the like, as you say a lot more useful.
Good to know Ronnie Barber is still going he must be well into his 80's, my sister Jeanne who was in his time frame is 83 and living in Andover where she has recently moved in a total care home. She sounds very happy there when I phone, thank goodness for Skype!!
So you fancied Jill Crook, only knew her as a very young girl, I seem to have lost contact with Tillingham St from about the age of 13 though I lived there until I was 23,very strange. Seem to have done most things outside of the area though I was connected to St Agatha's Church, was in the youth club until I was 17 or 18. I bought an old car from my mate Bertie Moyden but couldn't afford to run it and have a normal (?) life on the wages we got in those days.
I worked at GKN in Handsworth for a short while and was in a Football pools syndicate which had a bit of a win, I think we came out with about 600 quid each. I bought a motor scooter, joined a club and went mad for a while. Six months later I applied for a bank loan (which was rejected by the bank manager who could have been related to Capt. Mannering I think he called me "Stupid Boy" as he showed me the door.
Was I dejected ? no way, went to Kings Motor Cycles in Broad St, got a good trade in on the Lambretta, bought a better machine on HP , got a new job at real wages plus expenses and carried on regardless!
Used to come home mainly down Highgate Rd ,turn into Turner St, switch off the motor at Marshall St (just about by Mr Barlow the fruit and veggie man with the horse and cart) and into Tillingham St all silent like!
There was and is an aircraft factory in Gippsland, you can find it at gippsaero.com a couple of years ago they went into some sort of partnership with the Indian mob, Mahindra Aerospace and produce the Airvan, a multipurpose craft, maybe a version of The Nomad. They seem to be going well with order from o/seas, and is indeed used for skydiving.
I think that is it for now but may well get inspiration in the near future.
Cheers Tim
 
Hi Tim Eborn ,or ticker as my cousin Bertie Moyden called you. Saw your reply to Dave Rock and thought I would give you a shout.
My name is Charles Rose or Chas and if you remember you sometimes joined us to play with his collection
of Dinky Toys in the garage yard amongst the sand and rubbish, great days never forgotten.
Sadly the only member of the family left with us is Betty Moyden who lives in the Philippines but visits the UK sometimes and we join her for a pub lunch and remember the old times. As youngsters Bertie and I were very close and we spent a lot of our childhood together. Hope you are keeping well.
Best Wishes
Chas
 
Well Chas what a really pleasant surprise to hear from you.
What a magic place the Moyden's backyard was, the memories keep coming, from that Prussian Blue Persian cat that always seemed to be on the window sill, the ever going egg and bacon sandwiches that keep the family going between the shifts everyone took their turn at. Watching Freddy spray painting in the shed that wouldn't be allowed today, with a chance he would give your bike a quick coating. I loved the smell of the duco, and still do!
I learnt to ride a bike in that yard, it was on the family fairy cycle which was up on the stand and I was peddling like mad with the rear wheel spinning away until someone gave me a push. I went straight through the archway and gate into Tillingham St, turning right, past our house and the Davies's off license and into the lamppost halfway down the street with Bertie shouting not to look at the wheel. By the end of the day I thought I was Evil Kanevil a kept on to my folks for a real bike.
I got one , a pre war sit up and beg, cost 5 quid (that sounds dear!) from a house in Larches St, black but it had real plastic ivory handlebar grips. We stripped it down quick smart, but the grips stayed.
Do you remember when Mr Moyden bought a double decker tram, when they were taken off the tracks.
Bertie and I ran home from school the day it was to be delivered with plans of playing on it like a pirates galleon or the like. When we got into the yard it was just a huge pile of smashed firewood, it had been crushed or suchlike by something huge and the splinters were cream and navy blue 6 foot long and would have skewered anything that fell on it.
When we were in the UK in 1978 we spent a lovely afternoon with Violet Moyden at her home in Pear Tree Close and sat watching the Narrow boats passing on the canal at the bottom of her garden.
When Marion was here on a flying visit in something like1990ish I was only able to take her for lunch and a quick visit to the boat club I was a member of at the time then she was booked for a group dinner on a tramcar restaurant.
She was able to fill me in with the family history, Fred's death , Jimmy losing his beautiful curls and Betty going to The Philippines, please give her our regards when next you see her. Funny I know she must be middle aged like the rest of us but I still see her as a teen ager (is that weird or what!)
Well I think that is it for now, keep in touch.
Cheers Ticker (I'd forgotten that!)
 
Thanks for the pic and the memories. Used to stand outside when it was rated an A film and ask people to take us in as their own kid. Had to remember not to take sweets from strangers though, didn't want to wake up a "white slave" in Tangiers!
Cheers Tim
 
afer we bombed out we moved to Brighton place, Vincent street. Very happy memories of Chrissie and Chick who lived next door. Went to Tindal Street school then Upper highgate street until 1953. We were re-housed to the end of the world, or so it seemed tome. I loved Balsall Heath, the people, the scools and the shops.It was so convenient to walk into town or to Ladypool Road and even Coventry road when we felt fit.Havent spoken to anyone about Balsall Heath who lived there-so sad.
Bea
 
I have gone all through this thread and I think I have replaced everything that is replaceable. I'm just adding this photo, whilst I realise that the bottom part of Balsall Heath road past the river Rea was never a part of Balsall Heath and was in fact Edgbaston whenever there was a story in the newspapers concerning Alexandra Rd, Princess Rd. and Varna Rd it was always reported as being in Balsall Heath. It got so as the residents came to believe it as well.

Just look at these lovely houses that were demolished and replaced with little boxes, it really annoys me when I know that within a few years of demolishing such lovely houses that the Council was spending thousands of pounds more than the actual houses were worth renovating and modernising street after street of terraced housing.
 

Attachments

  • BIRMINGHAM Balsall Heath-Road.jpg
    BIRMINGHAM Balsall Heath-Road.jpg
    196.3 KB · Views: 80
It's great to read about the old days in Balsall Heath! However, I can't access the majority of photos - they show up as, 'Photo not found' and 'CLICK for Photos', which doesn't work for me. Any ideas anybody? Has the site been hacked?
 
Jill said:
Catherine, Your post mentioned my cousins Mary & Denise Henn. I'm Gillian Henn. Do you remember my grandfather who ran the greengrocer's shop in Clevedon Road with my uncle Dennis. I found a picture of Clevedon Road which shows Dennis outside the shop getting into his car but I'm not sure if I can post it because of copyright. Do you remember Pamela Bates who also lived in Cheddar Road?

Pam lived at No 11, I was at No 9.
Click to expand...
 
catherine said:
Hi Jill,
Yes, I certainly do remember Dennis and his lovely irish wife, Mary. I remember the girls too,from seeing them at mass, though they were a little older than me and went to a different school, I think. I went to St, Johns and they possibly went to St. Catherines. I don't recall your grandfather, but I'll ask my mum if she does. But I certainly recall going to Henns with her. I seem to recall the potatoes being in what seemed almost like a cattle pen type thing with wooden sides. I can also remember bunches of sage at Christmas to make stuffing. And always a friendly welcome from Dennis and Mary. My mum enjoyed going there. Where did they go when the shop went?
I can't recall Pamela Bates. What number did she live at? Aside from my mum who has been there since '55 we've got a friend in the road who has lived there all her life and goes back further than we do. I bet she will remember your cousin.
Nice to hear from you.
Catherine
Click to expand...
I lived at No 9 from 1943 to 1960. Pam was a good friend and playmate who lived at No 11.
 
cul8ron said:
It's great to read about the old days in Balsall Heath! However, I can't access the majority of photos - they show up as, 'Photo not found' and 'CLICK for Photos', which doesn't work for me. Any ideas anybody? Has the site been hacked?
Click to expand...

Yes unfortunately the forum was hacked some time back, and more recently we lost some of the replacement images due to changes made in their terms of use by Photobucket, but efforts are being made to replace them all, but these things take time.
 
Phil said:
Yes unfortunately the forum was hacked some time back, and more recently we lost some of the replacement images due to changes made in their terms of use by Photobucket, but efforts are being made to replace them all, but these things take time.
Click to expand...
What a shame. There are some v sad people about. Thanks for the swift reply though.
 
cul8ron

If you look back now I think I have replaced all of my missing images, if you come across any more just let me know,
 
Cul8ron

I see you lived at 9 Clevedon road, that would have been close to the Parker Osborn factory that was bombed out during WW2 was your house damaged? I'm posting some more photos of the Clevedon Rd area, some might be from before your time, but there is a photo of the bomb damage to Parker Osborn, one of a back court, one of the Balsall Heath Road at the end of Clevedon Rd, and one of some of the residents shortly before demolition of the street.

Balsall Heath Clevedon Rd Parker Osborn.jpg Balsall Heath Clevedon Rd.jpg Tram Turning outof Balsall Heath Rd 1949.jpg Balsall Heath Clevedon Rd Tennants.jpg
 
I actually lived at No 9 Cheddar Rd, opposite the prefabs on the edge of Calthorpe Park. Born in 1943. My Mom told me there were no windows in the house when they first moved in, so I presume that would be due to the bomb blast. Also, the factory had been reduced to rubble by the time I was old enough to play in the street, but all that area, including jakeman walk was a great place to explore.
 
Phil said:
I'm pretty sure that I haven't posted these photos before (well almost sure).

The first one is of Knutsford Street; it ran from Wenman Street to Mary St and now is the site of the School that replaced MaryStSchool. If you ever owned a soap box go cart and you lived in Balsall Heath then you knew Knutsford St. That hill was a lot steeper than it looks here.

The second one is Belgrave Rd; it must be in the 50's. If I'd have thought I could have used that cafe in the "Where is this" feature. But perhaps it would have been too hard.

Next is Clevedon Rd sometime in the 60's I would think, because the Kashmir Cafe is in evidence. One of the very many cafe bars that abounded in Balsall Heath in the 60's. I sometimes thought they did more business than the pubs. Perhaps it was because of the type of business that went on in them.

Number four is of Gooch Street, one of the best shopping centres in Balsall Heath at the time. It was pretty much of a toss up between here and The Lane.

Last one on the list Gooch St again, I think this one is at the bottom of Highgate Street, but I the way my old memory is failing me lately I could be wrong. If you think I am please feel free to correct me.

28/11/11.Please forgive me if I have inserted the wrong photos, when I have reloaded those that were lost.

Phil

BalsallHeathKnutsfordSt1964.jpg
BalsallHeathBelgraveRd.jpg


BalsallHeathClevedonRd1969ad.jpg
HighgateGoochSt1967.jpg


BalsallHeathGoochStApproachingBelgraveRd.jpg
Click to expand...
Hi Phil. These photo's are not showing up, and I am particularly interested in those of Gooch Street where my Mom and I used to queue regularly at the butchers, (there were always rumours of ration bargains that created huge queues). Any chance of recovering them? Cheers!
 
cul8ron

I've reinstalled those images for you, sorry no butchers shop. Though if you know the name or location it's possible I may be able to help.
 
I think the name was 'Colemans'. It was before the Triangle, probably near Woolies, but that's the best I can do!
 
cul8ron

In the 50's Colemans was at 294 Gooch street which was on the original photo of Gooch street that I posted or rather reposted, but it wasn't a very good copy so you couldn't perhaps see it very well, so I have posted a better copy, also the premises across the road at 321 that they moved to in the 60's before that as well came under a demolition order.

Balsall Heath Gooch St at Highgate St 1949 .jpg Highgate Gooch St 1963.JPG
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top