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Bull Ring 1960s - 1980s

see also

George Matthews

Hello Can any tell me if they have any info on George Matthews.He had a stall for many many years.Any photos would be great as well.
birminghamhistory.co.uk birminghamhistory.co.uk

Birmingham Wholesale Market 1973

This thread has been created from posts on the various Biringham markets. For details of each market see here https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/guide-to-birmingham-wholesale-retail-markets.3073/ My dad and grandad used to work at the Wholesale markets. Dad worked for...
birminghamhistory.co.uk birminghamhistory.co.uk
 
Vivienne14 said:
My dad might well have bought two of your guinea pigs. I had a smooth haired one and a flat (rose) haired one. After them I moved on to rabbits (pet ones!). One was called Mandy - what a trendy 1960s name I’d chosen, albeit controversial. Expect Mandy was from a pet shop as the Market Hall would have been swept away by then. Viv.
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When was the Market Hall sept away? I left in November ‘62 and thought it was still there (could be wrong of course).
 
mw0njm. said:
see also

George Matthews

Hello Can any tell me if they have any info on George Matthews.He had a stall for many many years.Any photos would be great as well.
birminghamhistory.co.uk birminghamhistory.co.uk

Birmingham Wholesale Market 1973

This thread has been created from posts on the various Biringham markets. For details of each market see here https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/index.php?threads/guide-to-birmingham-wholesale-retail-markets.3073/ My dad and grandad used to work at the Wholesale markets. Dad worked for...
birminghamhistory.co.uk birminghamhistory.co.uk
Click to expand...
George Matthews and his son located to the new indoor market
 
An amusing account (albeit not very pc!) of early morning in the fruit and veg market. The piece certainly creates a picture of market life and the camaraderie of workers and customers. Viv.

Screenshot_20230227_151632_Chrome.jpgScreenshot_20230227_151618_Chrome.jpg
Source: British Newspaper Archive
 
its a great photo viv and i totally agree with your sentiments...a way of life never to be seen again...i actually had an insight into the wholesale market in the very early 80s....my sister used to have a flower stall in the bull ring and i would go with her to buy the flowers to sell and also help out on the stall...lovely people and smashing atmosphere and an early start :rolleyes:

lyn
 
Not sure if this is posted in the correct place, but I could not find anyplace to open a thread elsewhere. If already shown, I will remove.

This may have been seen by everyone already, or even the relatives are on here, but I came across it only the other day, and thought it was sad in a way, but also caught the feeling of how my generation had that innocence and looking forward to the future come what may, as the girl in the clip was about the same age as myself. I thought of all that time passing and things happening to us, but we all still retain some if not all of that confidence in the future.

 
Kevkonk said:
Not sure if this is posted in the correct place, but I could not find anyplace to open a thread elsewhere. If already shown, I will remove.

This may have been seen by everyone already, or even the relatives are on here, but I came across it only the other day, and thought it was sad in a way, but also caught the feeling of how my generation had that innocence and looking forward to the future come what may, as the girl in the clip was about the same age as myself. I thought of all that time passing and things happening to us, but we all still retain some if not all of that confidence in the future.

Click to expand...
Slightly off topic but in case anyone is interested, the music accompanying the film is Blue Eyes by Don Partridge from 1968.
I recognised the tune straight away and thought it was Don.....? and had to Google to find out! I remember seeing him at Mothers Club - he was a busker and played all the instruments.
 
I remember as newlywed 20 year old's in 1976 standing in the large crowd in front of the crockery stand in the rag market.
" I'm not asking £25 or even £15" shouts the salesman as he smacks the tea chest with the edge of a plate. We eventually
got our first 35 piece dinner service for £7 ! We still use some parts of it today.
Onwards to the outdoor market where I snapped up a patchwork leather bomber jacket for £15 and my new wife a
pair of wedge type platform sandals for around £4.
 
The Bull Ring branch of Fine Fare. Banner above says there would be a grand opening of the Bull Ring on Friday 29 May 1964. It was opened by Prince Phillip. Looks like they needed to do a bit more tidying up of Manzoni's garden before then !

Viv.
Screenshot_20231025_210029_Chrome.jpg
 
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Vivienne14 said:
The Bull Ring branch of Fine Fare. Banner abovensays there would be a grand opening of the Bull Ring on Friday 29 May 1964. It was opened by Prince Phillip. Looks like they needed to do a bit more tidying up of Manzoni's garden before then !

Viv.
View attachment 185444
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UGH, I guess I am too much or a traditionalist. Certainly they could have done something better than a concrete edifice in a beautiful old city!
 
Now why would an architect or developer think to put seating in the middle of a very busy roadway looking down on the top of roofs over the market stalls shutting out anything interesting below ? 1964 crazy design. Viv.

Screenshot_20231025_210040_Chrome.jpg
 
They did it on the Aston Expressway too

"
The planners and architects were also keen to sell their baby with the self-same promise
of goodies. On the new Victoria Road Island, they installed this row of benches so that joe
public could sit and watch the passing Aston Expressway traffic in extreme comfort. As you
can imagine, you had to stand well clear in case you were trampled under the rush of people
eager to try out this new form of entertainment.
Nobody loves a baby as much as its mother"
 
Morturn said:
They did it on the Aston Expressway too

"
The planners and architects were also keen to sell their baby with the self-same promise
of goodies. On the new Victoria Road Island, they installed this row of benches so that joe
public could sit and watch the passing Aston Expressway traffic in extreme comfort. As you
can imagine, you had to stand well clear in case you were trampled under the rush of people
eager to try out this new form of entertainment.
Nobody loves a baby as much as its mother"
Click to expand...
And I guess the smelly smoke environment is good for your health!
 
Not sure Richard. This is where I thought it might be, maybe someone can advise.
 

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Oisin said:
I'm guessing these are classed as "Old Brum" since the Bull Ring has been redeveloped since they were taken. I came across them in my archive of slides taken in 1992...

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BullRing09a.jpg


BullRing08a.jpg


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BullRing01a.jpg


BullRing03a.jpg
, this wud be circa

I think this bloke with the barra musta bin workin' on the lump as he wasn't too happy about having his picture taken. ::)
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My Mum lived in Belmont Row just down from the market, she was sent late afternoon to buy cheaper cuts of meat because in those days there were no fridges this wud be circa 1920s, she still continued up to 1990s, we took her every Saturday, she died at 101 years, a lot to be said for workin all ur lives, I did till 72, glad I did....anyone remember the elderly flower lady seller?
 
COMPRESSORMAN said:
My Mum lived in Belmont Row just down from the market, she was sent late afternoon to buy cheaper cuts of meat because in those days there were no fridges this wud be circa 1920s, she still continued up to 1990s, we took her every Saturday, she died at 101 years, a lot to be said for workin all ur lives, I did till 72, glad I did....anyone remember the elderly flower lady seller?
Click to expand...
My mother was good friends with the flower ladies they came to visit her in the US circa 1970/72. I did not know them other that in the late 40’s early 50’s I would go to the Bull Ring every Saturday and she would talk to them.
 
A couple more 1964 photos. Walked that ramp in the second view many, many times. My main memory of it was, as a youngster, how annoying to have circle round to get where you wanted to go. And our pace would always speed up to get there faster !
Screenshot_20240823_063023_Chrome.jpg
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COMPRESSORMAN said:
My Mum lived in Belmont Row just down from the market, she was sent late afternoon to buy cheaper cuts of meat because in those days there were no fridges this wud be circa 1920s, she still continued up to 1990s, we took her every Saturday, she died at 101 years, a lot to be said for workin all ur lives, I did till 72, glad I did....anyone remember the elderly flower lady seller?
Click to expand...
THOSE PICS i REMEMBER FROM THE 1970S.
Vivienne14 said:
A 1967 aeriel view, helpfully there's a compass in case you're lost in all that traffic !View attachment 194921
Click to expand...
Road on right went to the station.
 
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