sophietherat
proper brummie kid
Funny about that Viv. ALL of our chimney stacks have gone! One of the first things I spotted when I moved into my flat was that most of the terraces along that side of Birchfield Road have no chimneys!
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Birchfield Road Perry Barr
- Thread starter debi
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Yep, just compared the older photo and Streetview. Looks like the terrace is missing one section next to the Avenue entrance. It doesn't look like WW2 bomb damage so it must have purposely been altered. I expect it was altered for vehicle access. Viv.
sophietherat
proper brummie kid
Crown Avenue must have been crazy narrow back then! Or that terrace was a really tiny one!
There was once a yard at the back of the old Wilkin's Chemist so I'm wondering if better access by vehicles was needed to that yard for some reason. There's now a building over the yard and the bricked up arch joins the shop with this building. Not sure what this tells us! But it might be worth knowing the types of businesses (before Wilkins Chemists) occupying the shops, along that part of the terrace if anyone has any info. Viv.
Had a bit more of a dig around re. the entrance to Crown Avenue. The section of the terrace which appears to have been removed is /was #363 Birchfield Road. In the 1950s/60s #363 had been a chemist (Weston's), a cycle dealer (Foyles) and another chemist (Wilkin's wholesale). So no striking clues there as to why #363 was removed. The building was still intact when the road system was significantly altered in the 1960s as this Digital Handsworth photo shows.
You can see Bill Switchgear just behind the crane hook in the photo. Bill Switchgear built their single level factory in the 1930s, which is behind the more modern multi-storey building in the photo. I'd guess the BS multi-storey building must be late 50s60s. I wonder, therefore, if the Avenue was widened to increase access to the modern BS building.
There's also a very large workshop built behind the former Wilkin's shops in the yard I mentioned in earlier post (the building joined by the bricked up archway to the back of the shops). Maybe this workshop was also part of BS?
Viv.
You can see Bill Switchgear just behind the crane hook in the photo. Bill Switchgear built their single level factory in the 1930s, which is behind the more modern multi-storey building in the photo. I'd guess the BS multi-storey building must be late 50s60s. I wonder, therefore, if the Avenue was widened to increase access to the modern BS building.
There's also a very large workshop built behind the former Wilkin's shops in the yard I mentioned in earlier post (the building joined by the bricked up archway to the back of the shops). Maybe this workshop was also part of BS?
Viv.
sophietherat
proper brummie kid
Nice work Viv! The large workshop behind Wilkins is still there! It's a garage now but the man who runs it (who may also be a little mad) tells me it's the same building that you can see in a lot of the old photos. I'll whack up a photo with an arrow when I'm back at the computer.
Another interesting fact, the flat next to mine has it's window bricked up in most of the 50s and 60s photos. When Indigo Blue was at 365, up until about 4 years ago, it was STILL boarded up! They used to have to go up and remove all the dead pigeons through a hatch, because there was no direct access up there! It had been completely untouched since it was bricked up!
Another interesting fact, the flat next to mine has it's window bricked up in most of the 50s and 60s photos. When Indigo Blue was at 365, up until about 4 years ago, it was STILL boarded up! They used to have to go up and remove all the dead pigeons through a hatch, because there was no direct access up there! It had been completely untouched since it was bricked up!
Charlie
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
They were two completely separate companies Viv. I worked at BS (not a good abbreviation?) when Ron Bill was in charge there, so a family business. As far as I know, they didn't merge at all.
The cottages aren't the ones fronting (or WERE fronting) Aston Lane are they? I remember a row on the left-hand side going towards Witton, near a church I think. I haven't been down there for years. Mind .. my memory's like a sieve these days!
Thanks Charlie. That's confirmed it in my mind about Bill S's. On the cottages/houses, I'm pretty sure the ones in the Birchfield Rd School photo are the Crown Avenue ones because their entrances face the railway as marked on the map. If the houses in the photo were on Aston Lane, the backs of the houses would face the railway.
Just out of interest Charlie, did you ever use the Crown Avenue entrance on Birchfield Rd as a route through to Bill Switchgear's? Viv.
Just out of interest Charlie, did you ever use the Crown Avenue entrance on Birchfield Rd as a route through to Bill Switchgear's? Viv.
Hi Sophie look forward to the garage pic. Bricked up flats above shops aren't so common these days - too much potential income lost I suppose. Pigeon problem must have been horrendous!
Another feature of the row of terraced shops I find interesting is the former 'Crown' nearer Barclays Bank corner of Aston Lane. As you know, there have been several 'Crowns' and it gets confusing knowing which one people are referring to. The former Crown building on your side of the road is now broken up into shops, I think. There was an alleyway alongside the pub which must have come out somewhere near Crown Avenue. Will have to check it out on a map. Viv.
Assume it was named after the Crown Pub Phil - but don't know if it would be the Old Crown on the Barclays Bank side or the Crown Inn alongside the tollgate on the other side (The little Inn that was located in front of the big Crown & Cushion pub, then demolished when the C & C was built). I don't think the use of 'Avenue' to name a road was typical in victorian times, could be wrong though. Viv.
Three Crowns ...
Top (left - hand side) Old Crown & Cushion Inn
Middle ( right- hand side) Was it called the Old Crown?
Bottom, Old Crown & Cushion
And of course there's the most recent one replacing the bottom pic.
Viv.
Top (left - hand side) Old Crown & Cushion Inn
Middle ( right- hand side) Was it called the Old Crown?
Bottom, Old Crown & Cushion
And of course there's the most recent one replacing the bottom pic.
Viv.
sophietherat
proper brummie kid
Viv, the crown on our side of the road, which we always called the little crown (not sure if this was it's actual name!) does have an alleyway running alongside. It did come out at the back of crown avenue, but they're now building a couple of new student flats there. Something else I'll grab a photo of shortly! They're right at the back of the church.
hi viv thanks for posting that pic of the little crown and cushion...(your 2nd pic) i did have that one but cant seem to find it..not sure if ive posted this one before but it really is unique as it shows both the first and second crown and cushion pub on the same photo...obvious that they built the 2nd one before demolishing the first one..i wont bother posting a pic of the one thats there now as its not really worth it..
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Hi Sophie and Lyn. Think using 'Little' is a good way to distinguish it. Brilliant photo Lyn. I remember you posting it before. Seems incredible that the two stood there together. Both buildings of their time. Here's the full copy of that little Crown, Lyn. Sophie, I think it was the tram terminus along by your terrace, someone correct me if I'm wrong.
Like Oldmohawk, must have travelled past Crown Avenue hundreds of times (on the 29 or 29a bus) and never thought there would once have been a little community behind the shops. I love the idea of Mr Cole's 'garden allotment/nursery once being at the end of the Avenue. a hint of Birchfield/Perry Barr's agricultural past. Viv.
P.S. just noticed the Bundy clock on the photo, so must have been the terminus.
Like Oldmohawk, must have travelled past Crown Avenue hundreds of times (on the 29 or 29a bus) and never thought there would once have been a little community behind the shops. I love the idea of Mr Cole's 'garden allotment/nursery once being at the end of the Avenue. a hint of Birchfield/Perry Barr's agricultural past. Viv.
P.S. just noticed the Bundy clock on the photo, so must have been the terminus.
Charlie
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Never used Crown Avenue Viv. I used to cycle to work from Handsworth along Wellington Road and down Aston Lane. Once coming off same bike when making a left turn into Bill Switchgear .. trying to watch a braking lorry in front!
Wish I could remember those cottages though!!!!
Re: Birchfield/Perry Barr's agricultural past, there was Hirons nurseries along Livingstone/Havelock Road, there was a path through that led into Wellington Road, we called it The Gilly Gardens. It's been mentioned on the Forum before.
Wish I could remember those cottages though!!!!
Re: Birchfield/Perry Barr's agricultural past, there was Hirons nurseries along Livingstone/Havelock Road, there was a path through that led into Wellington Road, we called it The Gilly Gardens. It's been mentioned on the Forum before.
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oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
Hi Viv - It was the terminus with the tram stopped in the middle of Birchfield Road and the conductor had to walk round to change the pole ready to go back to town. I like the bloke on the bike giving a clear right-turn hand-signal !
Phil
Thanks Phil. Looking again at the 'little' Crown photo, that was an Ansell's pub, but the Crown & Cushion Inn and the Old Crown & Cushion were both Atkinson's pubs. this seems to explain why there were pubs so very close together on opposite sides of the road. And of course both were very local breweries. The big Old Crown & Cushion was built as an inn/hotel with two ballrooms, very impressive considering it was in what was effectively still a village at the time. Even at that time, the through traffic at that junction must have been pretty significant when the big Crown was built to replace the Crown & Cushion Inn. Viv.
Hi Charlie. No surprise you nearly came off your bike as I remember the traffic well around there, lots of commercial traffic to Bill S's and Ellison's along with all the buses. Brings it home what a bottleneck Birchfield/Perry Barr could be. No wonder they built the new road system in the 60s. Viv.
hi viv thanks for posting that pic of the little crown and cushion...(your 2nd pic) i did have that one but cant seem to find it..not sure if ive posted this one before but it really is unique as it shows both the first and second crown and cushion pub on the same photo...obvious that they built the 2nd one before demolishing the first one..i wont bother posting a pic of the one thats there now as its not really worth it..
Just for comparison with Lyn's (Astoness's) photo of the C&C Inn with the big Old C&C being built in the background. There seems to be an extension to the C&C Inn in the foreground which isn't on Lyn's photo Not a great quality photo, but one for the record. Viv.
Morning Lyn. Don't think this particular scene of Birchfield Rd, showing the Crown & Cushion Inn, has been on here before. A lovely view of Perry Barr, still as a village. Not too much traffic but lots going on. I like this especially as it's how my relations would have known it.
Hi Oldmohawk, note a cyclist FOLLOWING the tram this time, maybe he was trying to catch the jet stream! Viv.
Hi Oldmohawk, note a cyclist FOLLOWING the tram this time, maybe he was trying to catch the jet stream! Viv.
good mornin viv
hope you are well; do you know what year this picture was taken like the rest of our guys i have not seen this before
i presume it as to be before the 1950 era loking in the thirty or fortys i would say
i would dearly love to know the years as i do have abit of intrest in this pub of its early years especialy during the fortys [ early fort years ]
have a nice day viv ; best wishes alan ; astonian;;
hope you are well; do you know what year this picture was taken like the rest of our guys i have not seen this before
i presume it as to be before the 1950 era loking in the thirty or fortys i would say
i would dearly love to know the years as i do have abit of intrest in this pub of its early years especialy during the fortys [ early fort years ]
have a nice day viv ; best wishes alan ; astonian;;
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
Highly technical comment here Viv. When I altered the contrast/brightness of your pic I could see that the tram pole was connected to the overhead line going towards town, so the cyclist overtaking that cart is living dangerously going towards an oncoming tram !
From memory I think trams did not have 'horns', the driver operated a bell with his foot, but maybe a tram expert can advise about this.
Super old pic ....
Phil
Hi Alan, hope you're well too. Sorry don't know the date but looks about 1930/40s to me, definitely before the 1950s.
Hi Phil, thanks for the techie stuff. Would never have dreamed for one minute the tram was coming towards us. But just shows you what a risky business it would have been even on relatively less congested roads.
For any footie fans, the Crown & Cushion Inn was used as changing rooms for AVFC in their early days and a meadow at the back of the Inn was used for football matches. I expect these must have been some of the earliest matches, but maybe an expert can advise. Viv.
Hi Phil, thanks for the techie stuff. Would never have dreamed for one minute the tram was coming towards us. But just shows you what a risky business it would have been even on relatively less congested roads.
For any footie fans, the Crown & Cushion Inn was used as changing rooms for AVFC in their early days and a meadow at the back of the Inn was used for football matches. I expect these must have been some of the earliest matches, but maybe an expert can advise. Viv.
W
Wendy
Guest
Billy Smarts Circus Birchfield Road Perry Barr 1959
Thanks for posting Wendy. Earlier on this thread I think I mentioned queuing for tickets for the circus at Birchfield Harriers stadium - the old stadium. (Think it's a dog track now). As it turned out we didn't go to the circus because we either gave up waiting or they ran out of seats. But I wonder if it was the circus in the photo you've posted. Datewise it would have been about 1958/9/1960ish. If so the circus must have been held in the stadium. Viv.
My Sister remembers Billy Smarts Daughter attending Canterbury road girls School back in the late fifties, must have just been for the duration of the circuses visit.