Bull Street

[Ray Barrett]

ray ive posted a pic of henrys on the old street pics thread..well what was left of it...

lyn

I have seen it Lyn but still couldn't remember it.However,the trouser were etched in my memory...I ripped the backside out of them the first time I wore them...mom wasn't pleased.....

 

[Phil]

A drawing of the original Cadbury's shop on Bull Street in 1874 when they were primarily tea dealers according to the signage.

Phil

 

[lindyloo]

Rupert Thank you
I compared the two and also found it on the Old-maps site. On the aerial shot on google I can see the passage way it comes out where I thought and the entrance in Bull Street is fronted by KFC
MIke did explain about doing the overlay thing but I havent had chance to try it out yet
( I would add lots of smilie faces but they seemed to have done a runner )
Thank you again
Lindyloo

 

[lindyloo]

I don't know the date of this photo, but the name of the store here is Crockford, Gove & Sons. You can see Union Passage on the left of the photo and also a photo of that section of the passage taken in 1907.

Phil

PHIL, Thank you so much for the photos, they are way more than I could have hoped for
I am a little confused about the passage in the shop photo though, you have said it is on the left ? Is it the dark area on the right under where it says on the sign Ltd 101-103 ?
I have found a newspaper article which as I understand dissolved the original partnership in March 1894, but then carried on presumably with the Sons in charge (although I may be totally off the mark as I am not very good with legal jargon)


EDIT I'm not sure of the date Phil, but I just looked at Kelly's and in 1905 it says 101 + 102 ( no number 103 is showing,) the next number is 104,
then in 1913 and 1915 it says 101+102+103 so presumably it was after 1905

 

[Jayell]

Excellent pictures Phil. The modern one of Bull Street showing Barrows brought back memories as I remember well the fashion shop opposite called McConvilles. I had forgotten all about that shop until I saw your photo.

 

[lindyloo]

I remember as a child, spending time at my Nan's place of work, which was The Portman Building Society on Temple Row (west ?) At lunch time she would take my brother and I to a cafe which was under a subway and we used to have carry out cups of Oxtail Soup with a chunk of bread..I have a feeling it was a Lyon's Cafe..??
Does anyone remember it and if it would have been on Bull Street please

 

[A Sparks]

There used to be a subway in the Bull Street area by the front, corner entrance of Lewis's at the junction of Corporation Street if I remember rightly (where Lewis's Record shop was).

I seem to remember there was a bread shop there that sold take away which would probably include soup.
Might it have been there?

 

[Phil]

Lindyloo,

I'm sorry I must seem like I don't know my left from my right. Union Passage was of course on the right of the shop and not as I stated the left.

Phil

 

[Phil]

A couple of photos that partially show the subway below the Bull St - Corporation St junction or the Hump as it was called I understand. I remember when it first opened the shop in the centre of it was a circular shaped café who were the owners I cant say my memory is not that good. I know it didn't last long before it closed.

Phil

 

[Jayell]

There was an Ice Cream Parlour in the basement of Lewis's in the early 60's which looked out on to the subway.

 

[Jayell]

In fact that could be my sister walking up those stairs!!!

 

[Astoness]

judy i wonder if phil could sharpen that pic for you...how great if it was your sister...i now remember those stairs...

thanks phil..

 

[Jayell]

Be funny if it was her, or even me!!! We both had beehives like that in those days.

 

[lindyloo]

There used to be a subway in the Bull Street area by the front, corner entrance of Lewis's at the junction of Corporation Street if I remember rightly (where Lewis's Record shop was).

I seem to remember there was a bread shop there that sold take away which would probably include soup.
Might it have been there?

A Sparks Thank youfor the information, that certainly sounds like it was the right place, I was only a youngster at the time and my memory is not as good as I would like it to be

Lindyloo

 

[lindyloo]

Lindyloo,

I'm sorry I must seem like I don't know my left from my right. Union Passage was of course on the right of the shop and not as I stated the left.

Phil

No worries Phil and no need to apologise ... easily done..I get mine mixed up all the time
and thank you again for more great photos, those steps certainly seem familiar and I have a vague recollection of the circular cafe..how I wish my dear Nan was still here to ask.
Lindyloo

 

[mikejee]

Lindy
You or rupert asked for a superposition map of lower Bull St (I think it was the lower part ) on google. I have done this below usiong a c 1912 map giving the 3 views - full ,half and none as before

 

[lindyloo]

Hi Mike, Thank you very much once again, your help is most appreciated I was trying to establish where Union Passage, as in the 1840 buildings picture earlier in the thread, would be on Bull Street today, in order to work out exactly where my ancestor worked. Your overlay confirms what I thought
Here is a shot of where the Passage would be today, I believe it is fronted by the KFC entrance and that 101+102 Bull Street would be where Rowfers and Claire's are now.

 

[Astoness]

I have seen it Lyn but still couldn't remember it.However,the trouser were etched in my memory...I ripped the backside out of them the first time I wore them...mom wasn't pleased.....

bit before your mom was buying you them trousers ray but here is an advert for henrys...1930s

 

[Vivienne14]

Not born when this ad was around but I did have white crepe soled sandals. Used to have to whiten the leather uppers. Sooo comfy. Been struggling to think what chenile covers are? Thought maybe tablecloths or sofas, but all the other items are clothes. I know there were chenile tablecloths as my nan had one for best! Viv.

 

[sistersue61]

Viv, chenile covers could have been cushion covers, my great aunts had them in "various colours and designs" I loved the feel of them!but no, have just looked at ad again and as they were 54"x54" would have been big cushions, so I guess must be what we would call throws today - nan used to cover her frocks and winter coats with chenille covers to stop the dust - mind, when the covers came off there was more dust than ever lol
Sue

 

[Vivienne14]

Thanks Sue. Interesting use of chenile. In the 70s I had a chenile coat. If you ever go into Costa Coffee they have the same material on some of their seat covers!! Sorry off thread - but I'm sure it would have been a fabric familiar to Bull Street drapers in the 1800s. There, come full circle! Viv.

 

[Di.Poppitt]

Thanks for the map Mike, I have been trying to think where Martineau is. I still can't picture it, next time I am in Birmingham I will go and have a look.


There were Chenile curtains, mostly used to cover an outside door, it stopped the drafts. EVerybody had a polished table in our family and a chenile table cloth sat on the table between meals. A friend of mine found a pair of small chenile curtains in an antique shop and they look good in a bedroom window.

 

[davidfowler]

As Cadbury's are mentioned can I link to a recent post I've made?
https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=38838

 

[Vivienne14]

This 1851 notice shows Cadbury's cocoa to be marketed as a medicinal/ homeopathic product. Viv.

 

[davidfowler]

Fascinating advert Viv.

 

[maggs]

Thank you Ray, nice to know I am not losing my marbles.

 

[maggs]

I do remember chenille tablecloths which were used underneath the white linen one on top. Also I think in old houses people had chenille door curtains to keep the draughts out. Chenille cardigans came into fashion during the 1990's.

 

[Vivienne14]

This is the Friends Meeting House, Bull Street (Doctor Johnson Passage). Originally it had a small graveyard adjoining the Meeting House and brick vaults. The 1831 Picture of Birmingham description was of "a plain, barn-like edifice but fitted up,in the interior, with peculiar neatness". The original Meeting House was replaced in the 1930s. Viv.

 

[Richie]

Here is the former Friends' Meeting House from a slightly different angle but in considerably more detail

 

[Stitcher]

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Both are of Bull Street, the first one in 1954 and the second is obviously later.