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City Centre Photographs

I suppose things will always change with buildings in the city. An interesting 1932 photo HERE showing what was there before the Central Fire Station was built.
 
Now I'm struggling to get my bearings with Stitcher's W & G building photo (post # 1007). Can't work out what we're looking at. Can anyone help? The building (which I remember next to the Gaumont) must have been significantly repaired as I remember it as a complete Victorian and dominant gothic building in the 1970s. Viv.
 
I can't help either Viv, I only have the pic and those few words with it.
 
Vivienne14 said:
Now I'm struggling to get my bearings with Stitcher's W & G building photo (post # 1007). Can't work out what we're looking at. Can anyone help? The building (which I remember next to the Gaumont) must have been significantly repaired as I remember it as a complete Victorian and dominant gothic building in the 1970s. Viv.
Click to expand...

Here's the Gaumont in the early 1970's with the Wesleyan next door to it. You need to scroll down the page. More complete pictures of the then Gaumont/Weslyan do exisit but necessarily in less close-up
https://www.cinerama.topcities.com/gaumont.htm
 
Referring to my earlier post today (no.1011) we need to distinguish between the Victorian Wesleyan Assurance building and the more modern insurance building in-between there and the Gaumont.

The Robert Darlaston site has just the photo required: its in the railways section marked 'trams 1950-53'. Its half-way down the history there.

More modern colour photo here:- https://www.flickr.com/photos/dartsmaster/209014278/
 
Vivienne14 said:
Now I'm struggling to get my bearings with Stitcher's W & G building photo (post # 1007). Can't work out what we're looking at. Can anyone help? The building (which I remember next to the Gaumont) must have been significantly repaired as I remember it as a complete Victorian and dominant gothic building in the 1970s. Viv.
Click to expand...

i agree viv..here is the wes and gen that was next to the gaumont..the only street i can think of that had a bridge/walkway going accross as in pis 1007 is hill st..

weslyn and general.jpg
 
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I have searched for more information on the picture and on one search I was directed to a Flickr page. It showed the exact same image but dated the air-raid as 1941.
 
Looking at Stitcher's photo in #1007, the brickwork to the left seems different, so it could be the Gaumont. I notice a man is standing on what might be the Gaumont.

The 1983 photo in #1012 shows a 'bridge' connection to another building.

I've seen this on the web from a war diary - Saturday 26th October 1940 - The Wesleyan and General Assurance Society in Steelhouse Lane sustained a direct hit.

From somewhere else I've seen the Gaumont was closed for a month in July/August 1942 due to bomb damage, but this does not tie in with the 1940 date. Maybe the Gaumont was damaged twice.
 
ccc.jpeg 1880.
The Childrens, previously The General hospital stood on this site . The picture shows the almshouses which were built on Steelhouse Lane in 1764 and were demolished soon after this picture was taken.
 
City Centre..jpg
All I have with this one are the words 'Birmingham City Centre'. It would be nice if someone could identify a few landmarks.
 
Hi Stitcher,
I think it looks down at what was to become Lancaster Place. I think I can see the General Hospital and going up Steelhouse Lane, Colmore Row can be seen with St Philips Cathedral on the left. The roof of New Street station also can be seen.
Nice photo
oldmohawk.
 
Thanks Charlie - I just had a look on street view - very different and I don't like the new lamp posts even though they have made them decorative !
oldmohawk
 
Another view from the Central Fire Station c1946. An nice old Midland Red FEDD bus in the view, I can't see whether it is a number 188 which I used to catch when I was a lad.
Lancaster Place from Fire Station 1946.JPG
 
I remember him well Carolina. Small hot potatoes in those little triangular paper bags, and sprinkled with a bit of salt.
 
How many times I have stood at those bus stops #1031, for the "Blue Bus" (West Brom), to my Nan's in Handsworth, and like Carolina, and Jayell the hot chestnut man across the road, all now totally vanished.
paul
 
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