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Erdington
- Thread starter gingerjon
- Start date
W
Wendy
Guest
Yes I think you are right Bren. My sister worked in a shop next to the funeral directors and if my memory serves me right it was next to the allyway where "Mothers" "Carlton" was. I remember a little indoor market down the road next to Woolies.
Peter Walker
gone but not forgotten
It's surprising that the picture of Erdington High Street before Sutton new Road was opened isn't better known, because it was one of a set published by Birmingham Public Libraries about 30 years ago I think.
Sutton New Road was opened and through traffic diverted to it from Erdington High Street on 25 September 1938. But I would agree that the picture was probably taken about 1930 from the vehicles on the street.
Peter
Sutton New Road was opened and through traffic diverted to it from Erdington High Street on 25 September 1938. But I would agree that the picture was probably taken about 1930 from the vehicles on the street.
Peter
W
Wendy
Guest
Village Green
Here's the Village Green, Erdington c1930
Replacement image - may vary from original
Here's the Village Green, Erdington c1930
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Frothblower
Lubrication In Moderation
I never tire of looking at old photos of Erdington.
See the Night-watchman's shed and fire on the right of the Village green, You could have a good chat with them old fellows in the evening.
Poor blokes would be mugged these days!:|
See the Night-watchman's shed and fire on the right of the Village green, You could have a good chat with them old fellows in the evening.
Poor blokes would be mugged these days!:|
W
Wendy
Guest
View from the church tower Erdington 1900
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Frothblower
Lubrication In Moderation
Wow! look at all that smoke,their surely must have been more carbon pumped into the atmosphere them days.
jennyann
Gone but not forgotten. R.I.P.
This thread on Erdington sent me to look at my books on Erdington. In the early l990's a friend of mine sent me a book called "The Story of Erdington" from Sleepy Hamlet to Thriving Suburb, written by Douglas V. Jones ( one of a few he wrote. The book was published by Westwood Press Publications, who were at that time situated on Boldmere Road in Sutton Coldfield. I used to call in to see what other books they had when I visited the area. I have a feeling that the book publishing end of the business was taken over by Brewin Books who publish Alton Douglas' books on Birmingham among others. I would imagine that the book is available in the Library.
The book has many old photographs of Erdington, a lot from the famous Sir John Benjamin Stone collection. Just a note about Benjamin Stone...he was born in Aston and some of his background can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Benjamin_Stone There is some historical info on Erdington through to the present day at : https://gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=NEWS&template=wiki&text=Erdington I can remember a lot of the buildings that are now gone. The National School and other old buildings in the High Street, Jaffray Hospital,
Sir. Josiah Mason's Orphange at Wood End, the cotttages above the Village Green on Sutton Road, the big Farm House on Station Road at Osborne Road and also the Alms Houses on Station Road and probably a few others.
There were some amazing Edwardian homes both off and on Graveley Hill and also on Copeley Hill close to where Spaghetti Junction is now.
I started attending Erdington Parish Church at aged 8 along with my two brothers. My life revolved around the church and we had the freedom to roam over the whole of the area for years and years. When D.V. Jones started writing about the area there were no books available on Erdington written in this style. I have another book that I bought a couple of years ago called "Erdington" put together by Marian Baxter and Peter Drake, first published in l995. This book is crammed with black and white photographs of old Erdington. Once again many of them from the Benjamin Stone Collection and from the Birmingham Library collection. They have a Volume 2 out now which I haven't as yet seen. They have also written books on other Birmingham suburbs.
The bypass was built by R.M Douglas (Civil Engineers) Ltd. of George Road in l938. Robert Douglas had photos of the by-pass on his office walls when I worked there in l959. The photo of Coton Lane being cut in half by the bypass is very interesting, several families lost their homes when the bypass went through. Noticing also the Post Office building on Sutton road, built in l934 standing amidst all the construction for the new road. This book would be available in local libraries.
Many people don't know that there were three churches along Erdington High Street in the l940's. The Baptist Church at Six Ways, the Methodist
at Newman Road and High Street completewith tall spire. It was on two levels with a balcony going around the second level and St. Barnabas at High Street and Church Road.
One of my friends now living in Sutton used to live off the High Street in York Road and there is a photo of York Road and her house. The street is now all businesses, mainly Estate agents.
So many lovely buildings were demolished in an around Erdington over the years including the mansions that fronted Sutton Road above the Abbey that were demolished in the l950's to make way for the Lyndhurst Estate which is now being renovated and some of the three storey flats are being demolished. Those Victoria and Edwardian houses were really beautiful and I am glad I was old enough to remember them. They were large homes with lovely grounds and entrances to accommodate coaches at one time.
My father and his brother Frank used to walk over the brush land from Wyreley Road across Brookvale and up Hunton Hill and along Gravelly Hill
to get to Erdington High Street. My father told me it was a most lovely
village when he was young.
The book has many old photographs of Erdington, a lot from the famous Sir John Benjamin Stone collection. Just a note about Benjamin Stone...he was born in Aston and some of his background can be found at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Benjamin_Stone There is some historical info on Erdington through to the present day at : https://gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=NEWS&template=wiki&text=Erdington I can remember a lot of the buildings that are now gone. The National School and other old buildings in the High Street, Jaffray Hospital,
Sir. Josiah Mason's Orphange at Wood End, the cotttages above the Village Green on Sutton Road, the big Farm House on Station Road at Osborne Road and also the Alms Houses on Station Road and probably a few others.
There were some amazing Edwardian homes both off and on Graveley Hill and also on Copeley Hill close to where Spaghetti Junction is now.
I started attending Erdington Parish Church at aged 8 along with my two brothers. My life revolved around the church and we had the freedom to roam over the whole of the area for years and years. When D.V. Jones started writing about the area there were no books available on Erdington written in this style. I have another book that I bought a couple of years ago called "Erdington" put together by Marian Baxter and Peter Drake, first published in l995. This book is crammed with black and white photographs of old Erdington. Once again many of them from the Benjamin Stone Collection and from the Birmingham Library collection. They have a Volume 2 out now which I haven't as yet seen. They have also written books on other Birmingham suburbs.
The bypass was built by R.M Douglas (Civil Engineers) Ltd. of George Road in l938. Robert Douglas had photos of the by-pass on his office walls when I worked there in l959. The photo of Coton Lane being cut in half by the bypass is very interesting, several families lost their homes when the bypass went through. Noticing also the Post Office building on Sutton road, built in l934 standing amidst all the construction for the new road. This book would be available in local libraries.
Many people don't know that there were three churches along Erdington High Street in the l940's. The Baptist Church at Six Ways, the Methodist
at Newman Road and High Street completewith tall spire. It was on two levels with a balcony going around the second level and St. Barnabas at High Street and Church Road.
One of my friends now living in Sutton used to live off the High Street in York Road and there is a photo of York Road and her house. The street is now all businesses, mainly Estate agents.
So many lovely buildings were demolished in an around Erdington over the years including the mansions that fronted Sutton Road above the Abbey that were demolished in the l950's to make way for the Lyndhurst Estate which is now being renovated and some of the three storey flats are being demolished. Those Victoria and Edwardian houses were really beautiful and I am glad I was old enough to remember them. They were large homes with lovely grounds and entrances to accommodate coaches at one time.
My father and his brother Frank used to walk over the brush land from Wyreley Road across Brookvale and up Hunton Hill and along Gravelly Hill
to get to Erdington High Street. My father told me it was a most lovely
village when he was young.
W
Wendy
Guest
What a lovely account jennyanne I enjoyed reading it. I visited Erdington often when I was young and used the swimming baths as there wasn't an indoor one in Sutton.
I have Douglas V Jones's book on the Royal Town Of Sutton Coldfield which I often use as a reference book.
I have Douglas V Jones's book on the Royal Town Of Sutton Coldfield which I often use as a reference book.
Jennyann ,I never knew there was a Methodist church in Newman Rd ,you learn something new on this site every day.
Like you and others I will always have fond memories of Erdington having spent my childhood there.
I had a Saturday job in Woolies and my exhusband worked in Wrensons grocery which I think was on the corner of Newman Rd,there was another on the Green.
My Dad was the 'beat bobby' around the High street,stationed at Wilton Road.
I went to 'the orphanage' which also taught day pupils.The building especially the assembly hall was very imposing.
I married at the Methodist church in Station Road 1961 but they knocked it down to build the new one so my sister married at the one in Gravelly Hill.
My sister still lives in Erdington,shopping 'up the village'.
Like you and others I will always have fond memories of Erdington having spent my childhood there.
I had a Saturday job in Woolies and my exhusband worked in Wrensons grocery which I think was on the corner of Newman Rd,there was another on the Green.
My Dad was the 'beat bobby' around the High street,stationed at Wilton Road.
I went to 'the orphanage' which also taught day pupils.The building especially the assembly hall was very imposing.
I married at the Methodist church in Station Road 1961 but they knocked it down to build the new one so my sister married at the one in Gravelly Hill.
My sister still lives in Erdington,shopping 'up the village'.
jennyann
Gone but not forgotten. R.I.P.
Lovely memories indeed Alberta. I have a friend Margaret, who lives right next door to Osborne Road School in Wilton Road. M keeps me informed of "goings on" in Erdington High Street area in particular. I used to go to Pottery classes at Osborne Road School. I remember the old Methodist church in Station Road. My mother used to go to coffee mornings at the new model many years ago.
I believe that Barclays Bank bought the Methodist site in the High Street many years ago. They built a very modern bank but pulled out years later.
Fancy your hubby working out of Wilton Road Police Station. I remember going in their once decades ago because my friend and I saw a man in Erdington Parish Churchyard having some kind of fit and tearing up graves. The police believed us even though we were about 7 at the time. They came and took the man away.
I believe that Barclays Bank bought the Methodist site in the High Street many years ago. They built a very modern bank but pulled out years later.
Fancy your hubby working out of Wilton Road Police Station. I remember going in their once decades ago because my friend and I saw a man in Erdington Parish Churchyard having some kind of fit and tearing up graves. The police believed us even though we were about 7 at the time. They came and took the man away.
jennyann
Gone but not forgotten. R.I.P.
Mrs. T. A very good deal for the postcard. Good for you. That's going back to early in the l900's I would think. That's the village my father and his brother Frank would walk over to from Witton when they were young and Dad always said it was a wonderful place.
You can see the spire of the Methodist Church on the right hand side at Newman Road and the High Street and, of course, the Six Ways Baptist Church right on Six Ways which was demolished in the early l960's.
You can see the spire of the Methodist Church on the right hand side at Newman Road and the High Street and, of course, the Six Ways Baptist Church right on Six Ways which was demolished in the early l960's.
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Wendy
Guest
A very nice postcard Mrs T thanks for sharing.
C
Catkin
Guest
Crossed Path's
Hello Di,
lots and lots of memories i had forgotten the El Toro and the Wikipedia write up is exciting to read wonder if we ever saw each other. All my haunts when younger WELL NEARLY ALL...
.......Cat
Hello Di,
lots and lots of memories i had forgotten the El Toro and the Wikipedia write up is exciting to read wonder if we ever saw each other. All my haunts when younger WELL NEARLY ALL..........Cat
F
fliermike45
Guest
Growing up in Erdington
My family was from Aston but my Parent's got a new house in Streetly Rd. just after the war finished. Houses were built in blocks of 4 and every fourth house was a Police house.
Our house (281) was directly opposite the back gate to Turfpits Lane primary school. My Sister and I attended Court Farm (previously Tedbury Crescent) School. I went on to King Edward's Aston and she went to Fentham Rd.
Saturday's we shopped in Erdington Village, my Mom liked to eat lunch at the cafe across the street from the Church and next door to the Carlton.
Same people owned the business for years.
My Mom was nuts about the movies, I collected postage stamps, so she made a point of ordering the Grace Kelly wedding stamps from the Book Shop across the street from Littlewoods.
I particularly enjoyed swimming at Erdington Baths, wonder if it's still there? Do you remember the sugar fish from the sweet stall in Erdington
Market?
We always went to the pictures, Palace, Picture House, Plaza, Pavillion, Star..................happy days.
I live in Florida now, what a difference.
Michael Young
My family was from Aston but my Parent's got a new house in Streetly Rd. just after the war finished. Houses were built in blocks of 4 and every fourth house was a Police house.
Our house (281) was directly opposite the back gate to Turfpits Lane primary school. My Sister and I attended Court Farm (previously Tedbury Crescent) School. I went on to King Edward's Aston and she went to Fentham Rd.
Saturday's we shopped in Erdington Village, my Mom liked to eat lunch at the cafe across the street from the Church and next door to the Carlton.
Same people owned the business for years.
My Mom was nuts about the movies, I collected postage stamps, so she made a point of ordering the Grace Kelly wedding stamps from the Book Shop across the street from Littlewoods.
I particularly enjoyed swimming at Erdington Baths, wonder if it's still there? Do you remember the sugar fish from the sweet stall in Erdington
Market?
We always went to the pictures, Palace, Picture House, Plaza, Pavillion, Star..................happy days.
I live in Florida now, what a difference.
Michael Young
F
fliermike45
Guest
Erdington bookstore
Bookstore I mentioned was the Midland Educational. Is the city center store still in business?
Bookstore I mentioned was the Midland Educational. Is the city center store still in business?
jennyann
Gone but not forgotten. R.I.P.
Hi Fliermike: The Midland Educational in Corporation Street has been gone for over 20 years. The building, however, is still there. It was a great store.
You might take a look at this site where you can find a whole file of
Erdington photos including the High Street, The Plaza, etc.
https://www.pbase.com/beppuu
You might take a look at this site where you can find a whole file of
Erdington photos including the High Street, The Plaza, etc.
https://www.pbase.com/beppuu
It is reckoned that the fire at St Barnabas' church was the result of arson by sick person or persons unknown. In the Sutton News of a week or so ago there was a picture of the church in its early stages of rebuilding. I should imagine that an appeal has been launched. It was never one of my personal favourite churches, being very, very dark and rather dismally Victorian, but nevertheless it was a place of worship and meant a very great deal to a lot of people.
Big Gee
jennyann
Gone but not forgotten. R.I.P.
There has been very little news since the fire at Erdington Parish(St. Barnabas). No arrests for the arson but someone may come forward with information at some point. Friends have told me that,as Big Gee says, the church is being rebuilt. You can visit the Erdington Team Ministeries web site and the Bell Ringing page which has some very sad photos of the burned hand bells and a photo of the refurbished clock on the tower.
I attended that church for many years and it will always be in my thoughts and that of many of my friends around the world who spent their childhoods attending.
What's left is even blacker than before the fire, of course. The stone that the original church was built of was very soft indeed and very expensive to clean.
The windows were excellent and you can see photos of them on the Team Ministry site also.Just one was saved. https://www.erdington-team-ministry.org.uk/stb/st_barnabas_bells.htm
I attended that church for many years and it will always be in my thoughts and that of many of my friends around the world who spent their childhoods attending.
What's left is even blacker than before the fire, of course. The stone that the original church was built of was very soft indeed and very expensive to clean.
The windows were excellent and you can see photos of them on the Team Ministry site also.Just one was saved. https://www.erdington-team-ministry.org.uk/stb/st_barnabas_bells.htm
Erdington St Barnabas Church.
Big Gee. jennyann. Thank you so much for your replies. I did not know Erdington too well, but when I went there last year shortly after the fire I was shocked to see the devastation of the church, i believe at the time that I heard that only the tower seemed to have remained untouched.
Big Gee. jennyann. Thank you so much for your replies. I did not know Erdington too well, but when I went there last year shortly after the fire I was shocked to see the devastation of the church, i believe at the time that I heard that only the tower seemed to have remained untouched.
dereklcg
master brummie
paget road
hello jude, my wife and her two sister,s went to paget road school,and the one sister inlaw lived on the top floor in cleeve house when she got married not sure of the years but i,ll find out.
they lived i bromford crescent just past the old grn man / lad in the lane,
the sister inlaw that lived in cleeve still lives there opp where they were brought up not such a small world,hows the greenwood? we if you remember lived on the corner in a flat
up from you, before we moved to redditch.. regards dereklcg.
hello jude, my wife and her two sister,s went to paget road school,and the one sister inlaw lived on the top floor in cleeve house when she got married not sure of the years but i,ll find out.they lived i bromford crescent just past the old grn man / lad in the lane,
the sister inlaw that lived in cleeve still lives there opp where they were brought up not such a small world,hows the greenwood? we if you remember lived on the corner in a flat
up from you, before we moved to redditch.. regards dereklcg.Yes, the Old Market is still in Barnabas Road down the side of Woolworths and I go there every few weeks as my other hobby is card making and there is a very good area at the back for crafts.
Going in there is like going back in time. Its hardly changed since the 60s and they always have old pop music on so then I sit in the cafe and listen with a cuppa while looking across to a bric a brac stall that always has lots of old things.
There used to be a Dolls' Hospital and we also bought budgie seed and millet there in the early 60s.
Going in there is like going back in time. Its hardly changed since the 60s and they always have old pop music on so then I sit in the cafe and listen with a cuppa while looking across to a bric a brac stall that always has lots of old things.
There used to be a Dolls' Hospital and we also bought budgie seed and millet there in the early 60s.
jennyann
Gone but not forgotten. R.I.P.
Brenda, do they still sell sweets? We used to buy our Troach drops from there
and my brother brought home a couple of chicks just before Easter one year. This was years before the Wilton Market was opened. Yes, it was a sad story later on I always pop in there when on a visit. They used to hold Wrestling matches in there in the late l950's.
Here is a link to some Erdington photos and the Barnabas Road market is featured. https://www.pbase.com/beppuu/erdington
and my brother brought home a couple of chicks just before Easter one year. This was years before the Wilton Market was opened. Yes, it was a sad story later on
I always pop in there when on a visit. They used to hold Wrestling matches in there in the late l950's.Here is a link to some Erdington photos and the Barnabas Road market is featured. https://www.pbase.com/beppuu/erdington