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Corporation Street

Vivienne14 said:
First photo is Corporation street in 1925.

No date for the second one but love the "50 shilling tailor" who claims "rational tailoring". Maybe then it was around WW2 or just afterwards. There's no "rational tailoring" in the 1920s though ! Viv.
The rear view of the bus dates it as being from the post WWII purchases, all raised corners to the platform window
and the registration number in the middle of the cream band under the window, 1946/7 onwards, but I can guess no further.
Bob




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Lots of sandwich boards along Corporation Street. Maybe they were announcing the opening of a new shop ? I guess it's about 1920s, but not sure. Viv.

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Looks like the tram is about to drop off the edge of the world !!

Seriously though, Coleridge Chambers which was built near the steam tram came into being in 1904. So the photo is pre-1904, in fact much earlier if it is a steam tram. Viv.
 
A common view of Corporation Street. But what I like about this one is the cart, bottom right. Looks like he may be carrying milk churns (from the station perhaps ?). Don't have a date, but possibly 1910s/20s ? Viv.

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Here is the Corporation Street/Bull Street junction before and after demolition in September 1966. Viv.

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I note that around WW1 and in the days when many people played and owned pianos and having frequent musical soirées, there were four companies in Corporation Street where pianos and other musical instruments could be purchased. They were William Sames, Cranes & Sons, Scotchers & Son and finally Murdoch. I don't know how long these companies lasted and if they moved where they went. I believe Crane & Co are still in business and were when I shopped there in the early 1950,s
 
The ABC Warehouse on Corporation Street once was the premises of Pitman's/Lawrence's College 1950's and 1960's. I went to school there in the 1953 and years later climbed the stairs up to the ABC Warehouse. The College moved and the building was demolished in the late 1970's.
 
This corner of Corporation Street/Bull Street will be very familiar. Looks about 1960s. What was 'Noel' ? I remember the name but not what they sold. Was it clothes ? Or shoes ?

Nice view of Rackhams proudly flying its flags. Viv.

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Is Rackhams now owned by House of Fraser? It was announced today that the Birmingham House of Fraser store is set to close in early 2019. Dave.
 
Some prime sites among this list. Worth far more than the stores I guess.
The House of Fraser stores identified for closure:
Altrincham • Aylesbury • Birkenhead • Birmingham • Bournemouth • Camberley • Cardiff • Carlisle • Chichester • Cirencester • Cwmbran • Darlington • Doncaster • Edinburgh Frasers • Epsom • Grimsby • High Wycombe • Hull • Leamington Spa • Lincoln • London Oxford Street • London King William Street • Middlesbrough • Milton Keynes • Plymouth • Shrewsbury • Skipton • Swindon • Telford • Wolverhampton • Worcester
I haven't been in the Plymouth one for years, but this is what it looked like last time I was in it in 1988.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-england-devon-44397260/house-of-fraser-in-plymouth-store-closure
 
Animal rights activists, whom as far as I recall were never apprehended, set fire to the place. Firefighters from many parts of Devon went there.
 
Nice one Stitcher, always glad to see Corporation Street which to me always felt like the essence of Brum. There was always something going on. My Dad was the head waiter at the New Victoria Hotel for some years from 1946 and I seem to have spent hours looking down on the passing parade of life from the Dining room window.
Thanks for the memories from tuther side of the globe. Tim
 
mikejee said:
Really alan. It was like that when you last went in? - In flames?
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Yes it was, but that is why I was there, I never shopped there living some distance from Plymouth. In the link there is some info about the fire.
However, it seems like the HofF Plymouth store could well be reprieved. I could not see any reference in the Birmingham Mail to the reprieve of the Birmingham store but as the Oxford Street, London one will not be closing there should be every hope for the city one.
https://www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/house-of-fraser-saved-flagship-1920988
 
This part of Corporation Street is the less photographed end. It once had many more buildings (left side of photo). Very surprised to discover the building to the right was once the Labour Exchange. This was later moved to its 1930s home near the Fire Station. Viv.
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Its amazing what interesting and beautiful architecture you will find if you just lift your vision above eye level. Thanks Rosary Boy
 
Top two photos are of Caxton House. This is the view on Cannon Street, it is also on Fore Street.



Pevsner on Cannon Street:

The rear of Martin & Chamberlain's building of 1880-1 for Marris & Norton.
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Pevsner on Corporation Street:

Nos. 19-21 by Martin & Chamberlain of 1880-1 for Marris and Norton, a furniture shop; their only surviving building on the street they planned. Flemish style in red terracotta, with some brick on the upper storeys. Five bays to Corporation Street with a big central gable, the symmetry carefully broken by the off-centre entrance and first-floor windows. The two floors of display windows reflect the original retail use. Octagonal corner turret with a short spirelet, the only complete survivor of many in the street. Iron frame structure concealed inside.
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