Erdington

[Richard Dye]

Another memory reawakened. I was always surprised by the strength of their windows the way they moved when the dancing was on. I only remember it late fifties. Were Dale Forty a group with outlets in the City?
Bob

Bob, the one I am aware one in the city. I think there were more but not sure.

 

[Pedrocut]

July 1978 Birmingham Post shows picture of a petrol tanker that overturned on 23 September 1976.

 

[Lady Penelope]

Very interesting Pedro, I wonder where it was? Six Ways?

 

[Pedrocut]

Bad picture but it is Six Ways.

 

[Pedrocut]

For Lady P, a bit about the Bell and Cuckoo written in 1870. Didn’t know the reference to Cuckoo’s Corner.

A CENTURY OF BIRMINGHAM LIFE (JOHN ALFRED LANGFORD, 1870.)

 

[Lady Penelope]

Thank you for that Pedro. I have a copy but I think it was probably written much earlier as it mentions the droves which ceased when the railways came. Maybe a hundred years earlier and it was written by the landlord, trying to drum up business. I think the pub closed in the mid-1800's. I'm very glad to have a copy I can read. Mine is one of those reverse prints, white on black, that make your eyes 'go funny' when you're trying to read it!

The Bell & Cuckoo and Cuckoo Corner are on my list of things to research. I'm not sure why the pub closed - it could have been due to road widening or perhaps that it was a house of 'unsavoury' behaviour and by the mid-1800's the gentry were moving into the area. Lots of big houses going up. It was on the junction of two turnpike roads so I think it would have been very busy. It's very close to the 'other' Beggars Bush mentioned on another thread.

Cuckoo's Corner was diagonally opposite to the pub and the area is now known as The Yenton.

 

[mikejee]

Lady P.
If you have a photo-program , it should have the facility to produce a negative image , or "invert". this would solve your problem. Below is Pedrocuts version inverted

 

[Lady Penelope]

This is just for interest really. It's a copy of the original of the printed poem about 'The Bell' and explains why I was glad to have a translation! I always find the 'f for s' very confusing.

 

[Pedrocut]

August 1939, Birmingham Mail.

 

[Oldun]

Postcard from,I think,the 1920’s,which may be of interest.The photo’s emerge from a flap at the base of the bear.

 

[Frothblower]

Lovely postcard.

 

[Jaffa]

This is a great photo of Erdington High street and the Palace Picture house,I think it was a theatre them days?
Has anyone got any idea of the date of this photo?

My great grandparent's cafe is in this photo, so it's around 1909 - 1910.

 

[Pedrocut]

Report on the health of the Urban District of Erdington and Witton for the year of 1903 by the Medical Officer for Health

[Report 1903] : Erdington (England). Urban District Council : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive

archive.org

 

[Pedrocut]

Sure I’ve seen this picture before, but can’t locate it.

Erdington Station circa 1910.




(1997) A century of railways around Birmingham and the West Midlands : a personal selection. Vol. 1, 1900-1947 by Boynton, John,

 

[Alberta]

I don't think it is the one in Station road but rather the Chester road one just down from the Yenton

 

[Pedrocut]

Perhaps a signaling expert can explain…”the train is passing the signal, where the Chester Road distant arm is also painted red, not yet yellow.”

 

[Morturn]

I don't think it is the one in Station road but rather the Chester road one just down from the Yenton

I think you are correct, Erdington had a Ladies Waiting room on the far side

 

[Pedrocut]

OS Maps from around 1915 for Erdington (top) and Chester Road.

 

[Pedrocut]

In the index of the book the stations are given as Erdington and Chester Road. Opened 1862 and 1863.

Also associated text says picture taken at Erdington.

 

[Lady Penelope]

Pedro, the boundaries frequently change in this area and quite often around the early 1900's it appears as Erdington rather than Sutton as it is now. Here's a couple of pictures of Chester Road station for comparison taken around the same time.

 

[Mark Tooze]

Here are some photos of Erdington Station from the 1980s. Genuine old DMU's, 60's BR totem signage on the notice boards (and 80's-style adverts) - and a real signal box with real signals!!!

 

[Pedrocut]

Pedro, the boundaries frequently change in this area and quite often around the early 1900's it appears as Erdington rather than Sutton as it is now. Here's a couple of pictures of Chester Road station for comparison taken around the same timeView attachment 175171View attachment 175172.

As far as the Stations are concerned they were built in 1862/3 and are referred to as Erdington Station and Chester Road Station. It seems that they have continued to be referred to as such through to the present day.

Taking the picture from the book it says looking in the direction of Sutton Coldfield. The ground to the right looks to be higher as it would for Station Road. This could lead up to Erdington Abbey, where on the map (not shown in the above) there are a number of trees. Around Chester Road Station the ground is flatter and even in 1915 shows a number of dwellings.

At this stage I would tend towards Station Road.

 

[Lady Penelope]

Pedro, I think the clincher is that the rail has no bend and there is a definite one at Chester Road also there's no footbridge which you can see in the far distance at Chester Road. The tall trees in the centre of the original photo would have been on what is now the Lyndhurst Estate but was then and estate of very large, private houses along Sutton Road. Definitely Erdington.

 

[Pedrocut]

Chested Road had a lady porter…March 1956.

(1997) A century of railways around Birmingham and the West Midlands : a personal selection. Vol. 2.

 

[Morturn]

I recall the lady porter at Erdington Station. She gave a whole new meaning to the word strict

 

[mw0njm.]

In the early 1960s Erdington won the best kept station award for many years running, as mort said the station master was a very formidable lady.'

 

[mw0njm.]

 

[Morturn]

In the early 1960s Erdington won the best kept station award for many years running, as mort said the station master was a very formidable lady.'

Indeed it did, all of the certificates were hanging in thw waiting room. Best kept station over several years.

 

[mw0njm.]

wonder what the original ghost sign writing says before the word LMS on the bridge

 

[mw0njm.]

oops! The lorry stuck the bridge in Summer Road, Erdington, carrying rail services on the Cross-City Line. 2018