Brookfields Ellen Street School

[Vivienne14]

I have a vague memory about the new school (after WW1) wasn't built in exactly the same place. Maybe someone can confirm that please ? Viv.

 

[Peg Monkey]

I have a vague memory about the new school (after WW1) wasn't built in exactly the same place. Maybe someone can confirm that please ? Viv.

Coincidently my Birmingham A-Z (Edition 6 2013) features Brookfields on its cover, showing a school in the same position as shown on the map dated 1892-1914.
Brookfields is the name given to the area of land immediately north of Jewellery Quarter Station, occupied by Key Hill Cemetery.
I lived in Heaton St for the first 10 years of my life (1949-59) and, inexplicably, never remember the name Brookfields being used. Hockley Brook is not far away, perhaps that partly explains how the name came about.
Peg.
P.S. I haven't included an image of my A-Z cover for copyright reasons.

 

[Nick Phillips]

Astonian

Ellen Street, the teachers, Mrs Clancy, I remember she went to Africa on holiday, it was very unusual then, Mrs Barrow, Mr Waugh, was very good he use to take us to The Y.H.A. it was the only time we got out of Brum. Mr Smith was the Headmaster, not very nice when it suited him, Mr Holders was the school caretaker (in the mould of Derek Guyler, Fenn street gang tv prog.)
Icknield Street, Mr Northedge the Maths teacher, Mr Urch, a chip on his shoulder about not being the headmaster, Mr Wise (Joey), Mr Nobby Norman art (he was a WW1 soldier) Mr Kitchen, headmaster hard but fair, Mr Fortune, I think I was in the Ist year when one of the kids in the class punched him, the kid was immediately expelled, It was a very unusual event in those days.
The school tokens I remember, can you remember the segregation of people eating dinners at school, people who paid went in 1st and those who could'nt afford them(free dinners went in after. I left in 1966.

Thanks

I started Brookfiels school at age of 5 in 1957. To keep me in the class on my first day Mrs Clancy locked the door like any back street kid I left via the window. Mrs Clancy was always very kind to me she made me feel safe.

Nick S Phillips 26 Coralie street

 

[Vivienne14]

July 1939 evacuation practice for Ellen Street School, Brookfields. Viv.

 

[Vivienne14]

Think these are probably the same group as the previous post. Viv.

 

[Vivienne14]

The 1957 school nativity, (Image from the British Newspaper Archive). Viv.

 

[carolina]

Carolina, do you know what year this photo was taken at Ellen St School?

Sorry just seen this, mom was born 1913 so I would think around 1918

 

[Vivienne14]

Surprised these children weren’t evacuated. Viv.

 

[Nick Phillips]

Thank you for the photo, only eighteen years later I became a pupil of the school.

Nick S Phillips

 

[mikejee]

When a land mine hit the school

 

[Nick Phillips]

When a land mine hit the school

View attachment 154232

Do you know the date of this article ? I expect it was the Birmingham mail

 

[mikejee]

It was from Old Brum, a supplement to the Evening Mail Feb 9th 1998

 

[Nick Phillips]

It was from Old Brum, a supplement to the Evening Mail Feb 9th 1998

Thank you, but I'm sure that's not the date the photo was taken, I would guess 1952

 

[mikejee]

I thought you meant the date of the article. The heading under the photo says it was at the opening of the school in 1950

 

[Vivienne14]

Retirement of the Head, Mr Ernest Harris, in 1935. Viv.


Source: British Newspaper Archive

 

[Vivienne14]

School choir at the opening in 1950. Viv.


Source: British Newspaper Archive

 

[Terence David Lines]

I do not know if the school is still open but my 4 children all went to Brookfield school between 1975 to 1980.

 

[Vivienne14]

When the early school was being built at the corner of Ellen and Pitsford Streets. Opened as a non-denominational school in 1869, open to children of parents of all denominations. Viv.

Source: British Newspaper Archive

 

[Nick Phillips]

I do not know if the school is still open but my 4 children all went to Brookfield school between 1975 to 1980.

Terence, I'm pleased to say I often pass the old school and its still open.
I was a pupil at the school from 1957 - 1963.

I still remember my first day. I did not want to stay. Miss Clancy locked the door, like any good Hockley lad I left via the window and ran home.
I did enjoy my years at the school.

Nick Phillips.

 

[Christopher Mcevoy]

This is a class photo of my Grandad taken in 1930/1931 at Ellen Street School, did anyone's family go there during those years, maybe they are in the photo??

My Grandad is in the third row back, fourth from the right, handsome little chappy wasn't he

Hello , Clare-Brum71 ; Alas , can't see your photo ; me Mom went to Ellen St School late 30s and Camden St School, her name was Jean Gurdin. Would love to see the photo and any photo of the school before the bombing ? Mank Thaanks ! xxxxxxx

 

[mikejee]

Christopher
Some years ago the forum was hacked and we lost all the images. Many have been replaced,but not this one. Claire has apparently not visited the forum for 2 years, but is still a member, so may see your message. It might be worth you sending her a personal message (click on envelope sysmbolin the top r,h corner of the page) .