Bristol Street 1950's, 60's

[Grassy Bank]

Hi everyone,View attachment Bus 1935.jpg

Can anyone help me with information and/or photo of a strange building in Bristol Street in the 50's/60's.

I attach a picture, undated but around early 60's? of a no.19 City Circle bus that has just turned left into Gt. Colmore Street from Bristol Street. The Bell pub is just visible to the right of the bus and the man is crossing Bell Barn Road which ran immediately behind the pub, Bromsgrove Street is visible behind the bus with the Wellington pub on the corner.

What I would like information on is the strange square building with the tiered roof to the left of the bus. It appears to be on the opposite corner to the Bell but I can't find any reference to it on maps or Kelly's Directories.

 

[Banjo]

On my old Geographia map of Birmingham, that corner shows a police station but, that's the only info I have.

 

[mikejee]

I presume it is the same as the hatched item on the c1950 mp. could it be a tram shelter?

 

[oldMohawk]

Hi everyone,View attachment 147670
Can anyone help me with information and/or photo of a strange building in Bristol Street in the 50's/60's.
I attach a picture, undated but around early 60's? of a no.19 City Circle bus that has just turned left into Gt. Colmore Street from Bristol Street. The Bell pub is just visible to the right of the bus and the man is crossing Bell Barn Road which ran immediately behind the pub, Bromsgrove Street is visible behind the bus with the Wellington pub on the corner.
What I would like information on is the strange square building with the tiered roof to the left of the bus. It appears to be on the opposite corner to the Bell but I can't find any reference to it on maps or Kelly's Directories.

It appears on the left in the photo below, unfortunately no date but looks early 20th century.
It looks rather solid and bulky to be a tram shelter but it could be ...

 

[Banjo]

I always rely on my "Geographia" map when looking for old roads & streets and as you can see, it shows a police station. As there is no date anywhere on my map, I was wondering whether anyone could roughly date it based on this photo.

 

[oldMohawk]

It is on this 1937 map and appears to be labelled 'G.P'.

 

[oldMohawk]

The photo in post#1 made clearer and sharpened.

 

[mikejee]

It is on this 1937 map and appears to be labelled 'G.P'.
View attachment 147685

I think the GP refers to the dot next to it, as it is OS abbreviation for Guide post (sign post).
On seeing the better photo I wonder if the pagoda-like appearance might be due to an opening immdeiately below the roof, and that it might be a public toilet, though, if so , it should be so labelled

 

[Astoness]

i have moved this thread from forum rules to the streets section of the forum

 

[oldMohawk]

I think the GP refers to the dot next to it, as it is OS abbreviation for Guide post (sign post).
On seeing the better photo I wonder if the pagoda-like appearance might be due to an opening immdeiately below the roof, and that it might be a public toilet, though, if so , it should be so labelled

The roof on the public toilet below looks similar to the roof on the unknown building ... good for ventilation.

 

[Grassy Bank]

It appears on the left in the photo below, unfortunately no date but looks early 20th century.
It looks rather solid and bulky to be a tram shelter but it could be ...
View attachment 147679

Thanks for this photo from a different angle. At least we know what it looks like from the front. With such ventilation it could well have been a public convenience although a little extravagant compared to the normal!

 

[knobbydave]

PTP indicates a Police Telephone Pillar or Post

When I saw the picture my first thought for the building was 'toilet'

 

[Grassy Bank]

It looks like the thinking is towards it being a toilet and this maybe the answer. In Old Mohawks picture you can see that it has a centre entrance which is tiled and with the ventilated roof it looks that it is a large toilet building. A little detail that has come to light is that the 'Horsefair' was still held on this site until 1912 and this may explain the building size due to the large crowds that attended the fair. I wonder if it was still in use at the time of my photo?

Many thanks to all who contributed.