Birchfield Road Perry Barr

[BrumMack]

Does anyone know the year when the small estate that includes Bragg Road and the western end of The Broadway was built?
On old (1913) OS maps there seems to be a house called 'Birchfields' off Birchfield Road that appears would have been demolished to make way for Bragg Road / The Broadway. Does anyone know anything about the history of that house and when it was demolished.
Many thanks

 

[Mercy]

I seem to remember there was a sweet shop in the block opposite Dodds?
Can't remember if they did hot Vimto though.

Re Wallsallie's mention of the Clarkes shoe shop - would it have been on the corner of the block that used to exist between Aston Lane and the Library, before they widened Birchfield Road for the underpass?
[/QUOTE
There was a sweet shop , my brother and I used to buy my Nan the offcuts of chocolate which was cut from big slabs by hand, the smell was amazing, we’d go on our way to our nan’s for Sunday tea. was amazing in there as a kid, and a little old lady served us and it was dark in there with the outside awning keeping the sweets in the window cool.

 

[Vivienne14]

There is now a dedicated thread for Birchfield House here https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/birchfield-house-perry-barr.52851/

Viv.

 

[Astoness]

i have managed to get some photos of the chaos going on at perry barr today and will post them later on but all the shops from the subway (which is closed off) to the alleyway of the old crown and cushion has been demolished in the last few days in total 10 shops have gone including what used to be the little crown and cushion pub leaving only 5 shops and the bank which will be next...so sad as these buildings were very old...for now here is a street view of the shops demolished up to where the alley way is to the left of that where it says united shipping is what was the old crown and cushion..

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

 

[Richard Dye]

i have managed to get some photos of the chaos going on at perry barr today and will post them later on but all the shops from the subway (which is closed off) to the alleyway of the old crown and cushion has been demolished in the last few days in total 10 shops have gone including what used to be the little crown and cushion pub leaving only 5 shops and the bank which will be next...so sad as these buildings were very old...for now here is a street view of the shops demolishe up to where the alley way is to the left of that where it says united shipping is what was the old crown and cushion..

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

Such a shame that SO much history has been so quickly dashed!

 

[Rob1abb]

Point of interest or sadness the Birchfield underpass is being demolished to make way for the Commonwealth games which I believe is in 2022. Perry Barr railway station is supposedly being ungraded to international standard. The site were the City of Birmingham University was housed has been completely demolished and also the ground opposite has been cleared.
They are building the Commonwealth village there.
Have been trying to remember what the polytechnic name was on that site before becoming a University.

When it first opened it was Aston Technical College, transferred from Whitehead Road. I was studying HND Electrical Engineering there up to 1965 and my certificate says Aston Technical College.

 

[Vivienne14]

There is a specific thread about Perry Barr flyover demolition here https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/perry-barr-flyover.52907/

Viv.

 

[A Sparks]

i have managed to get some photos of the chaos going on at perry barr today and will post them later on but all the shops from the subway (which is closed off) to the alleyway of the old crown and cushion has been demolished in the last few days in total 10 shops have gone including what used to be the little crown and cushion pub leaving only 5 shops and the bank which will be next...so sad as these buildings were very old...for now here is a street view of the shops demolished up to where the alley way is to the left of that where it says united shipping is what was the old crown and cushion..

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

It had got quite run down along there so, to be fair, it will probably look much better when it's all finished.
I knew those shops in the 50s and 60s so well, my mother worked at Wilkes haberdashery before she was married and knew many of the shop owners. I knew one of the men who worked in Dodds as Uncle Rex.

 

[JudiM]

i have managed to get some photos of the chaos going on at perry barr today and will post them later on but all the shops from the subway (which is closed off) to the alleyway of the old crown and cushion has been demolished in the last few days in total 10 shops have gone including what used to be the little crown and cushion pub leaving only 5 shops and the bank which will be next...so sad as these buildings were very old...for now here is a street view of the shops demolished up to where the alley way is to the left of that where it says united shipping is what was the old crown and cushion..

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

I didn't realise they were demolishing the shops too.

I lived in the area for a few years in the late 80's & early 90's and drank in the little Crown & Cusion a few times (never in the big one). There was a shop I used a lot that sold baking 'mis-shapes' - not quite round cobs, wonky loaves & cakes - was it to do with Braggs, or Bakers Dozen? And I used the little library as well.

The tower block I lived in was demolished a few years ago. I bet I'd hard placed to see anything familiar now.

 

[A Sparks]

I didn't realise they were demolishing the shops too.

I lived in the area for a few years in the late 80's & early 90's and drank in the little Crown & Cusion a few times (never in the big one). There was a shop I used a lot that sold baking 'mis-shapes' - not quite round cobs, wonky loaves & cakes - was it to do with Braggs, or Bakers Dozen? And I used the little library as well.

The tower block I lived in was demolished a few years ago. I bet I'd hard placed to see anything familiar now.

Yes, there was definitely a 'bargain' bakery shop in that block but I can't remember the name either!

 

[Astoness]

Such a shame that SO much history has been so quickly dash

I didn't realise they were demolishing the shops too.

I lived in the area for a few years in the late 80's & early 90's and drank in the little Crown & Cusion a few times (never in the big one). There was a shop I used a lot that sold baking 'mis-shapes' - not quite round cobs, wonky loaves & cakes - was it to do with Braggs, or Bakers Dozen? And I used the little library as well.

The tower block I lived in was demolished a few years ago. I bet I'd hard placed to see anything familiar now.

judi it was greggs bargain bakery and was still there up until about 4 years ago...my dad used to jump the bus from newtown every week to shop there..the library has been gone for many years possibly 15 years and the land lain empty and overgrown ever since however work is now going on...really annoyed me to see that library destroyed but over the years i have got used to it...i think the shops either side of the train station will also go as the station is also getting a make over..

lyn

 

[Vivienne14]

There’s a thread covering some of the shops here https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/birchfield-rd-shops-perry-barr.27211/page-3

Viv.

 

[JudiM]

judi it was greggs bargain bakery and was still there up until about 4 years ago...my dad used to jump the bus from newtown every week to shop there..the library has been gone for many years possibly 15 years and the land lain empty and overgrown ever since however work is now going on...really annoyed me to see that library destroyed but over the years i have got used to it...i think the shops either side of the train station will also go as the station is also getting a make over..

lyn

I thought it was Greggs (or Braggs as it was called back then) but wasn't 100% certain.

Shame about the library. Though it was small, I much preferred it to the Central Library in Town, which I playground dark, dingy & soulless.

That station is well overdue for a makeover! It would be a shame if the shops go too, but not having been to the are for some years, I don't know what condition the buildings are in.

 

[A Sparks]

Yes I loved the Perry Barr library too. We were taken with Birchfield Road Juniors and shown how to use the card index in the little drawers to look up books.

Remember the reading room on the left hand side of the corridor as you went inside? Usually just men in there, some of them having a doze!

 

[Astoness]

hi judi yes with most of them already gone it looks like the rest of shops and bank will be going...age of the shops i would guess at 1850 ish...however the shops either side of the train station would be no great loss now built in the 1960s.70s and in a right old state

lyn

 

[JudiM]

hi judi yes with most of them already gone it looks like the rest of shops and bank will be going...age of the shops i would guess at 1850 ish...however the shops either side of the train station would be no great loss now built in the 1960s.70s and in a right old state

lyn

I just remember shabby concrete!

 

[Banjo]

In 1959 I lived 28 Birchfield Road right opposite Mansfield Rd (marked red). It was a big View attachment 99951Georgian type house and must have belonged to someone of note back in the day.
Does anyone remember Harry Bastable's shop? He was a speedway rider in the 40s/50s? and owned the motorcycle shop on Birchfield Rd. I bought a BSA A7 & Sidecar from him in 1963, for £55. Apologies regarding photo position as I can't get the hang of inserting them.

I wrote this 6 years ago but have since discovered that this house was once known as Mansfield House. When I lived there in 1959 it had been split into two. I lived with a Family in 28A and presumably the timber merchant was 28B Birchfield Road. I made an image from memory of what it sort of looked like at that time. I would really appreciate any info from the Forum on this house as I can't find anything myself online. P.S Finally got the hang of photo positioning.

 

[nickcc101]

Sorry the only big house in that area I remember was my Dentist Mr Pugh who lived in Heathfield rd.

 

[Astoness]

shame the house has gone banjo...i take it you have but just in case we have an extensive thread for birchfield road with many photos..never know one may just show your house..link below

lyn

Birchfield Road Perry Barr

could any one out there please help me find out the history of my shop ? i run the hairdressers on birchfield road perry barr opposite one stop called indigo blue. a few days ago i was looking at old photos of perry barr and saw one of the row of shops which mine is in the middle. i couldn't...

birminghamhistory.co.uk

 

[A Sparks]

Sorry the only big house in that area I remember was my Dentist Mr Pugh who lived in Heathfield rd.

Mine too!

 

[oldMohawk]

An aerial view dated 1920 unfortunately low res. Mansfield Road runs from top centre to Birchfield Road running diagonally from top right. There appears to be a house set back on Birchfield Road opposite Mansfield Rd.

The pic below (again low res) is a screenshot from a film taken from a tram looking up towards Six Ways. There is a gap on the right behind the building with the 'Greys' advert The house Banjo mentioned must be slightly special and not with the others built directly on the road.

Unfortunately these pics don't answer Banjo's query ...

 

[brummy-lad]

A few references to Mansfield House although you may already have them.

 

[Richard Dye]

I wrote this 6 years ago but have since discovered that this house was once known as Mansfield House. When I lived there in 1959 it had been split into two. I lived with a Family in 28A and presumably the timber merchant was 28B Birchfield Road. I made an image from memory of what it sort of looked like at that time. I would really appreciate any info from the Forum on this house as I can't find anything myself online. P.S Finally got the hang of photo positioning.

View attachment 157885View attachment 157887

Hell Banjo,

I think I did remember Harry Bastables shop, mostly because I went to the Speedway quite frequently In the mid late 50’s. Used to remember to remember the riders with and against us.

 

[Astoness]

thread locked until we can merge it with the main birchfield road thread

 

[Vivienne14]

Two threads have now been merged into this one thread about Birchfield Road. There may be other previously unseen posts. Viv.

 

[brummy-lad]

What a contrast between 1889 and 1950, Lozells Grove becomes Lozells Grove Terrace and I wonder if any of the 100+ trees survived. Mansfield house gives up a major part of its garden for housing and as Banjo has said was split into 2 houses. On the 1950 map the trees are only worthy of display in the parks and other recreational areas.

 

[brummy-lad]

In the 1881 census, Edward Preston (in post #1710 living at Mansfield House) is shown as resident at No. 30 Birchfield Road, most probably Mansfield House itself. He is listed as a master rule maker with 83 employees, perhaps he was a trustee of the Ladies' College, Ashted Row. He appears to have been on the Aston Local Board.

 

[Banjo]

A few references to Mansfield House although you may already have them.

Thank you brummy-lad, I couldn't find anything myself. I had to smile at the first attachment. Stable? saddle room? conservatory? tennis lawn? Needless to say, none of those things were there in 1959. In fact, it was pretty run down then. I still remember an unused tiled bathroom with a rusty bath. The toilet used was outside in the back yard. There must have been prior building work inside the house to fill in the centre wall that separated the two halves.

 

[brummy-lad]

Unfortunately it looks as though Mansfield House suffered the same demise as Guildford House, they must have been superb accommodation for the wealthy when they were first built. A stable and tennis court, what luxury.
Such a shame we don't have drawings of Mansfield House similar to those of Guildford House, I bet there are some out there somewhere.

 

[Banjo]

Unfortunately it looks as though Mansfield House suffered the same demise as Guildford House, they must have been superb accommodation for the wealthy when they were first built. A stable and tennis court, what luxury.
Such a shame we don't have drawings of Mansfield House similar to those of Guildford House, I bet there are some out there somewhere.

The only Mansfield House now is a block of flats in Chelmsley Wood. I've found a census from 1891 which actually states Edward Preston of Mansfield House. This was the son of Edward Preston 1798-1883 who went on to change the company to Edward Preston & Sons, the famous hand tool manufacturer. When the reference library opens I shall research more.