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Down the old end

L

Lizzie Drippin

New Member
"Down the old end"was always the starting point for my nan Elsie Turnpenny nee Fitter, to begin her stories of life in Bridge St West, Aston.I wish she was here now to answer the many questions I have since starting to research family history.The only memories I have of the area, was visiting a Great Aunt, as by this time nan had been rehoused in Erdington.It was like a different world, cobbled streets, a shop on most corners, and what a shock, Aunts house was so small.I remember keep asking mom (one of 8 children),how they all fitted in.My most vivid memories though were of having to go down the entry into the yard,"to spend a penny", and I had a thing about the celler !!The sink was by the stairs ,so I would go to wash my hands and dare myself to look down into the pitch darkness, only to have mom bellow "Gerra way, the Bogey mon ull ave ya ". Never been so scared in me life.Although it was a tough life ,nan missed the old friends and neighbours.
Im so glad I was able to see a little of "The old end" for myself.As a newbie to the site, can I just say how fantastic it is and so full of useful info.
 
Welcome Lizzie. Lovely to hear your memories. I know there are people on here who remember the 'old end' so keep those memories coming! Enjoy the forum. Viv.
 
All us "Brummies" , used the phrase, "down the old end" after we moved house, when talking of where we had been brought up. Paul
 
Well you learn something new every day on here Paul! I never knew that, thought it was used to fondly refer to a particular part of Birmingham. (Shall now sit in the corner in pointy hat with a big 'D' on it). That actually makes more sense Paul. Thanks. Viv.
 
paul stacey said:
All us "Brummies" , used the phrase, "down the old end" after we moved house, when talking of where we had been brought up. Paul
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hi paul i take a trip down my old end quite often..although my old house has gone i am quite lucky as there is still enough left for me to see...cant beat it...bet a few of you remember if you were playing up outside neighbours further up the street they would should out..hey you lot get down yer own end lol

lyn
 
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if you were brought up on a modern housing development like I was (inter- war 1930s housing), I don't think anyone called it 'old end' because it wasn't, it was relatively newer. So maybe old end only refers to the older streets of Birmingham. It always sounds to me as though it's used fondly. I'm now doubting my right to call myself a brummie! Viv.
 
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Hi viv,
Nice to know you was brought up in a nice area of moderen housing but in our all our days of yesterdays
And the unfortunates like most people and myself in the Pitts of Aston
One would refer to people of such fortunate,s we would call them, and use the expression
Ho there house is only all kippers and curtains just look at them this was often used by the poor family's of society
Even if they was dressed up to the nines ,the expression , just look at the get out of him or her all dressed up like a dogs dinner
Oh she's got very nice curtains ah, they are all kippers and curtains
Where we lived up Cromwell terrace out of twenty houses up this terrace there was at least 6 houses we all referred to as kippers and curtain, I will not name the names from up the terrace from the 30.s to fiftys,
One never knows we may have one of them from the past from Cromwell terrace ah ah best wishes Astonian,,, Alan,,,,
 
Vivienne14 said:
if you were brought up on a modern housing development like I was (inter- war 1930s housing), I don't think anyone called it 'old end' because it wasn't, it was relatively newer. So maybe old end only refers to the older streets of Birmingham. It always sounds to me as though it's used fondly. I'm now doubting my right to call myself a brummie! Viv.
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hi viv i know people who were also raised on the modern developements then moved when they married but they always refer to street/rd/area where they grew up as the old end so i dont think its anything to do with older streets well not from what i can see..all i know is i love my old end lol

lyn
 
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An interesting description Alan 'all kippers and curtains'. My mum used it regularly about some of our neighbours. She was a northener, her father was a miner, she came from a very large family who didn't have it easy and and didn't hesitate to say it as it was !

Lyn - I must have lead a very sheltered life! Viv.
 
Hi viv
Do you know that Cromwell terrace was a huge terrace and from the commencement of the terrace
It had two huge brick pillars one either side of the opening it was about eight foot tall with huge big concrete balls on them
One each side it started on the flat ground of Lichfield road and it had ten houses of the terrace as you was walking up
It and then half way up it went into a a steep hill ,with two houses both side of the terrace
Each and every house up Cromwell had a decent side garden, ours was the biggest and we all had gates on
But at the very top of the terrace these two houses had gates as well and because it was there garden
And we had to go through there garden gates ,all depending which side of the terrace you lived , left or right ,
We was on the right had of the terrace half way up we had one of those old gas mantles out side our gate
And the gas lamp lighter came around 4 or5 to light the lamps climbing on is ladder to do so
But getting back to these top houses because nobody up that terrace had a bath room nor toilet as with most people in those years pure war and after wars never had a inside toilet so we all used the enamel buckets with lids for night use
As you know what I mean, mm. Slopping out so it was habit embarrassing for all neiboirs to be seen carrying these buckets
And having to race up this hill to slop out your waste before any of your neibours
And we had to walk through there gates and yard the lady on our side at the top of the yard was always watching and waiting for anybody whom comes through and never shut the gate after them either way coming in or out back
But also there was only three toilets to share between ten family's both side so if the neibour s there before you
With her bucket and at that precise Tim she needs to go you would have to wait for her to come out and believe it or not you would get another lady with her bucket queuing and right next to that you had the was house with a dolly maid
And some one as to light the fire beneath it and share it on wash day blues with a big dolly stick thumbing it
Then there was the big Bertha wringer , meaning the mangle tosqeeze the water out of your clothes
Thank god we was the first to move out eight of us in that 1 up and down,
We eventually went to amoderen house with a bath room then we thought we was kippers and curtains
I used to travel back to Cromwell terrace to see my old mate Colin and tell the neiboirs about our posh house with four bedrooms
Apparently we learnt it used to be a pawn brokers shop /house before we moved in
Best wishes Alan,,, Astonian,,,,,
 
Until I read this thread I had never heard the term 'old end'. I was brought up in inter-war 1930s housing but my mother's family all lived in Aston until moving to new housing on Perry Common.
 
If I can go off on a slight tangent, when we lived in a back terrace in Upper Webster Street in the '60's, the old girl on the end of our four houses shouted at my wife to "Get back to Scotland, where you belong".
She must have heard at sometime, someone talking about where my wife was born, "STOCKLAND GREEN".
Silly old sod must have missheard.
Made us chuckle.
 
Sheilr said:
Also remember aston refered to as the gillygardens, no idea why
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Welcome to the forum Sheilr. The only thing I can think of is Gillyflowers - carnations or pinks or wallflowers. Maybe it was something to do with the soil, good for growing these flowers? Just an idea. Enjoy the forum. Viv.
 
I was born in 1930 in Queens Road Aston, next door but 2 to Atkinsons brewery (who was the landlord), Wonderful memories, the huge dray horses clip clopping down the cobbled street, playing games in traffic free streets, crossing Park Rd and into Aston Park, down to the Villa ground, free after half time, wonderful care free times. Now all the old terrace houses gone and all the community spirit with it. It broke my heart when I saw it a few years ago on a forum 'meet' to Aston Hall. I'll never go again, its like visiting a foreign land. So sad. Eric
 
We lived in a smokey and sometimes grimy wonderland, Cookie, if only we had known then, watching an old English black and white film to night from the 50's I really did realise exactly, what we had lost in this confusing and strange (to me), England we now live in.Paul
 
Hi viv
Another word was used in Aston up the terrace I used the word terrace but on the electrol register it was titled
Cromwell square but in those days of thirty and fortys they would see a lady going out on a week end
Friday and Saturday. Nights waltzing down the terrace ,possible at the bottom of the terrace
The widows arms , or may be the best clip would be where my old man used to work there since he was fourteen
Right through until he was fouty two years old and died of lung cancer
Our mom even used the word her self to us as kids telling us how she caught our dad in the passage way
At the golden cross when he was head barman with a certain lady whom I will not name because she was known to a lot
Of people connected to the pub and its patrons she used the expression old trollup dressed like a painted doll
This expression was from the ageing people years older than my mother
We used to hear as well when neibours used to shout across the terrace yard to each. Other
Like get back in your house you old troll up Cromwell square Aston,
I often wonder where did all these family's moved out too,I knew craddocks moved to Alum rock
And I think the gammages moved to chelmsley wood but the rest I do not know
I would love to have heard some one from the terrace, Cromwell square come and joined this forum
For years I have been watching but no one as ever come on still not to worry
Best wishes Alan,,, Astonian,,,,
 
Lovely to read everyones memories.Have been thinking a lot about nan and the familys life in Aston and trying to recall what they told me of life. One thing was ,nan ran a kind of savings club, which she referred to as "The Diddle Em"(not sure of spelling).Friends,neighbours, workmates would try to save what they could each week.Does anyone remember anything like this. Regards Karen
 
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