• 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.

Jill said:
How great to read your memories of Balsall Heath Robert. I lived in Longmore Street (I'm sure you remember where this is) and used to frequent the Luxor often. We used to go to the Saturday morning kids show and a couple of evenings as well. I loved Betty Grable and Betty Hutton films. My best friend was Betty Grable and I was Betty Hutton when we played out the next day. My grandfather had Henn's greengrocers in Clevedon Road. You were lucky to have an entrance to your cellar for the coal. We had it left outside our only door and had to cart it in bucket by bucket to the inside coal hole. We had one downstairs room, one bedroom on top of that and an attic on top of that. Damp wasn't the word!! We had just the one cold water tap. But our mom always had a roaring fire in the cold weather and our dinner on the table and made it cosy for us. I too remember the outside loos. Bloody cold in the snowy weather but, as you say, useful for catching up on the news! And we had a brew house for washing (laundry that is). Bet you played footie on the black patch in Calthorpe Park. Chris is thinking of the Triangle Cinema in her post (or the flea pit as it was known locally) - that was in Gooch Street wasn't it? Thank you Robert for your post. Jill.
Click to expand...
Sorry for being 18 years late to this post........looking for relatives I have found my Wifes Great Uncle and a totally unknown part of family......living at 8/61 Longmore St.He sadly died in 1944 at just over aged 30.His wife lived on there until rehoused just before they were demolished. He was Frederick Butcher and worked as a porter on the railways. His wife was Violet (Harris) and I am sure her close family also lived in the same back to backs. They had 2 children who died within a week of each other - one hours old the other months......Violet moved to back of Kings Heath main St in later life.They are both buried in a war grave at Yardley Cemetary which we visit but we havent been able to contact anyone who knew them or any relatives.
 
An unusual view. It's looking into Cannon Hill Grove from Hallam Street. No wonder the trees were removed, if they'd been allowed to grow into more mature trees, I dread to think of the effect on the house foundations. And they'd have made the house interiors quite dark too. All the same, the grove looked very attractive with its iron railings and central lamp.

Screenshot_20240421_093840_Chrome.jpg
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_20240423_133446_Maps.jpg
    Screenshot_20240423_133446_Maps.jpg
    329.3 KB · Views: 28
lovely ornate railings viv...could have been removed for the war effort...looks like the house in the distance has now gone

lyn
 
My Nan was born in Clifton Terrace, Queen Street in 1902. Has anyone got a map or info on that area please. My great grandfathers name was Harry Field, my gran was Violet Field.
 
Last edited:
NannaGee said:
My Nan was born in Clifton Terrace, Queen Street in 1902. Has anyone got a map or info on that area please. My great grandfathers name was Harry Field, my gran was Violet Field.
Click to expand...
Have a look at thread called Friston Street [use search function] which you may find useful as well as a map.
 
Below is a 1880s map, which, from a later 1950s map, shows some numbering, which was consecutive (1,2.3...). The 1920 electoral roll shows that Clifton Terrace was 6 houses between nos 11 and 12, Therefore Clifton Terrace must be the unnamed houses in blue

map 1880s showing clifton terrace . queen St.jpg
 
superdad3 said:
Have a look at thread called Friston Street [use search function] which you may find useful as well as a map.
Click to expand...
thank you
mikejee said:
Below is a 1880s map, which, from a later 1950s map, shows some numbering, which was consecutive (1,2.3...). The 1920 electoral roll shows that Clifton Terrace was 6 houses between nos 11 and 12, Therefore Clifton Terrace must be the unnamed houses in blue

View attachment 198054
Click to expand...
thank you
 
Jill said:
Hi Barney,

I worked as a receptionist for Dr. Deary for a short time at his surgery in Longmore Street which fronted our houses in a yard at the back. His surgery was always full to bursting. He worked very long hours and was well respected. I believe he was Egyptian and a very nice man too.
Click to expand...
My mom also worked as a cleaner for Dr Deary, lived also in the yard at the back
 
Carole40 said:
My sister Christine remembers Violet
Click to expand...
Thanks Carole for finding that out.
She must have had a very hard life....after marrying in 37 she and Frederick had 2 children during the war when he was away.In 1941 both children died within days of each other. I think Violet had family in Shirley place so hopefully she was helped a lot during the long time until she passed away.
WE have only found out about ALL the family which no one mentioned or knew about from doing a family tree. Fred was my Wifes great uncle and he and Violet are together in a Commonwealth War Grave at Yardley and we have been visiting and tidying up for a couple of years.He died in Selly Oak Hospital and we cant find out why he has a CW grave.
Your sister is the only person we have heard of who knew her. We have looked for here nieces for any pics etc but have drew many blanks.
Thanks again.
Keith
 
The first Photo appears on Birmingham Live as wreckage of a redevelopment site Balsasll Heath 1967.
The second picture appears on several sites at least 3 saying Benburb Street, Dublin.
The third on Alamy as Irish Traveller family Group on inner city wasteland soon to be developed Balsas Heath 1968. Homer Sykes.
Last also Gypsy inner city camp site by same photographer. Also temp scrap car dump. Slum and red light area. Houses Emily St.
 
Last edited:
My wife new a gypsy family in balsall heath in the 1960s called the kellys. She says the Kelly's were a lovely family and everyone liked them
 
hi folks i lived in Hick St opposite the Wellington pub on the corner of Highgate Streeton the other corner was the outdoor Mr & Mrs Frost kept it down looked straight Highgate Street. Also in Hick St was a foundry, nice to see those old pictures .Thanks for your post our name was Hood
 
Hi all
I'm trying to find the pub that my Nan and Grandad ran in the 1940s. It was in Gooch Street, Balsall Heath, can anyone tell me the pubs that were open in that street in that decade? Thanks in advance.
 
Lemonella said:
Hi all
I'm trying to find the pub that my Nan and Grandad ran in the 1940s. It was in Gooch Street, Balsall Heath, can anyone tell me the pubs that were open in that street in that decade? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
What were their names? They'll be in the 1939 register (a sort of census).
 
Well worth trying, though a lot of pubs changed landlords in WW2. But should be able to find with the names. In the meantimr, the pubs listed as in Gooch St in 1946 were, Thr Clements Arms, Wellington Inn, Sir Charles Napier, The Star Inn, The British Oak and the Bath Tavern
 
mikejee said:
Here are some photos labelled as Irish families at Balsall Heath in 1960s, though would be better labelled Irish children at Balsall Heath. Not sure where taken, but suspect it must be somewhere just off Balsall Heath Road

View attachment 206171View attachment 206173View attachment 206175View attachment 206177
Click to expand...
Mike, the first image is Knutsford Street.
Second image comes up as Benburb Street, Dublin
For the 3rd and 4th images it says:
Gypsy inner city camp site 1960s Balsall Heath Birmingham
Balsall Heath, Birmingham, England circa March 1968. A gypsy Irish travellers encampment and temporary scrap car dump on waste ground in Balsall Heath, an inner city slum and red light area.
 
Last edited:
mikejee said:
Well worth trying, though a lot of pubs changed landlords in WW2. But should be able to find with the names. In the meantimr, the pubs listed as in Gooch St in 1946 were, Thr Clements Arms, Wellington Inn, Sir Charles Napier, The Star Inn, The British Oak and the Bath Tavern
Click to expand...
The Clements Arms definitely rings a bell for my Nan and Grandad. Thanks again mikejee.
 
Do not have any record of them in gooch St, but from 1944 till 1949 they were at the Baltic Inn at 376 Sherlock St, on th ecorner with Hope St, which was not far from Gooch St

Correction Corrected, as last known date there was 1949 nor 1950
baltic inn 276 sherlock st.jpeg
 
Last edited:
mikejee said:
Do not have any record of them in gooch St, but from 1944 till 1949 they were at the Baltic Inn at 376 Sherlock St, on th ecorner with Hope St, which was not far from Gooch St

Correction Corrected, as last known date there was 1949 nor 1950
View attachment 207205
Click to expand...
Thank you mikejee. I remember my Nan talking about "the baltic" now. Was I wrong about the Clements Arms? That could possibly have been much earlier.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top