Radiorails
master brummie
I wonder if it is artistic licence? I note the corner of the Town Hall and Christchurch in the painting, also a tea rooms? opposite the Town Hall. Nice picture anyway.
The castellated building to the right is the corner of Congreve Street and Ann Street. At one time this housed Allin's Cabinet of Curiosities, a typical commercial urban exhibition building in the pre-museum era.That also answers a question I had about whether it was Ann Street behind the buildings to the right and running down the side of Christ Church.
Viv.
No.10 was also a beer house, though they may not have had a sign.From a different angle it fits on a photo as well
View attachment 145484
With a nice beerhouse for Kieron at no 9 on the right hand side of the building marked with an arrow
VivThanks Mike. That also answers a question I had about whether it was Ann Street behind the buildings to the right and running down the side of Christ Church. Ann Street is one of those old streets that I find can be confusing, as although some of Ann St became Colmore Row, some disappeared under the Council House - well as I understand it, hopefully correctly !
Viv.
This is earlier than 1870 as the last business here was Bryan's pastry shop. Next door is the former White Lion which became the Town Hall Tavern. The inn sign suggests it is trading as the White Lion here so it is quite a bit earlier.A drawing from c1870 made by Clement Selkirk Jones. Congreve Street is to the left and Ann Street to the right. Viv.
That building on the corner is Bryans Pie Shop. This was owned by my great grand parents.think i would agree mike here is a photo of where the council house is nowView attachment 145489
Personally I think the building now in the position of the former brutalist Central Library is an improvement. Thanks for the update Ell.
Viv
There is a photo here of the White Horse, Congreve streetFurther to all the help I have had with this query I am tempted to think the most likely was the White Horse in Congreve St. Although it isn't that close to Smethwick and Birmingham Heath, it would have been convenient for my 2 x great grandfather. More often than not he was making a journey from Halifax to Warwick which he did regularly to visit various farms around there buying wool. In the early days of the diaries he goes by coach - latterly by train via Manchester to Birmingham and in both cases Congreve St. would presumably have been convenient as a place to stay en route. My original thought was that he would have stayed close to his uncle but visits to uncle would presumably not have been as important as being close to the trains and coaches seeing that he was just passing through.
Does anyone know if there are photos of the White Horse - I understand that there isn't even a Congreve Street any longer but that it was roughly where Congreve Place is today.
Thanks again for all your help
Kind regards,
Dick