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Ghost signs of Birmingham

You are right ellbrown! Kelly's for 1973/4 says he was " Harry Fisher (Metals) Ltd. Scrap Metal Merchants, 9/11 Hack St."
rosie.
 
What about next door. Where it starts off as "PDP" something. At 10 Hack Street.


Have they been empty for a long time? Or is somebody using them?
 
I only have the 1973/4 in hardback, I think it's the last year they printed. Mike will know more!!
P.D.P Engineering Co. Ltd. are listed as precision engineers at 10 Hack St.
rosie.
 
On July 2015 Google Earth street view the shutters are up and a door open at "PDP" . Lights are on upstairs at "Harry Fisher". In neither place can I tell what they are being used for.

Janice
 
Yes Rosie , that is correct, there are no more Kellys for Birmingham after the 73/74 edition
 
I just read The Road To Little Dribbling by Bill Bryson in which he claims there is a society in existance that records Ghost Signs and I thought of the Forum Post. I don't get the links often so I will enjoy trawling back through these.
 
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This is in Newhall St. Is it medicine related? Think it has a Royal GR or ER above he door. Viv.

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There's a vague imprint left across the arch of this letter box that hasn't quite rubbed out. But what's the name? Looks like a long name to me. The address for the letter box is 44 Hylton Street Hockley Viv.

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In 1884 no 44 was Brockington Bros, goldsmiths. The numbering changed the year before, and in 1882 it was no 11 Hylton St. 1872 it was R J Lawrence & Co. 1867-68 no 11 is not listed, 1862 only some buildings numbered in directory. In pre 1862 Hylton st does not seem to be listed. It looks like LY close to the left hand side, which fits none of these.
 
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Agree Mike. And there seems to be an 'H' at the end of the name. So both company names wouldn't fit. Pity we don't know the date of these boxes. But there seems to be very little information about them. I expect these were mainly for business use and I think it's no coincidence that there are quite a few left in walls in the JQ. I would guess that they were made locally. Viv.
 
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While the Sainsbury's building in Selly Oak is "modern" (assume it dates to the 1960s or 70s?) yesterday I noticed a ghost sign on the left (on the Bristol Road) saying "J Sainsbury". That building will eventually get demolished after the new Sainsbury's get's built at the Battery Park site in Selly Oak.
 
In 1899 and 1900 the premises were occupied by Wynn John Hy a ring maker (I assume that is Henry). By 1908 he occupied 42 as well.

Janice
 
Thanks Janice. The letter box is different to the others in that the ends of the arch drop much further below the letter box slit. That may or may not mean it was made at a later date to the other similar examples in the JQ. The name could be J H Wynn & ........ or the full John Henry Wynn ......... But we might never know. Unless of course someone restores the sign and removes the many layers of paint. Viv.
 
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Took this photo yesterday of 'Hotel' sign above the Britannia Hotel in New Street. It's not too old but probably goes back to the 1960s. Doesn't seem to have been painted for many years. I think the sign is fixed to the building which used to be Marshall and Snelgrove. Viv.
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This ornate building in Carrs Lane was once occupied by William Powell & Co. The company was established in 1802 according to the sign on the first floor, but I doubt it was in this building as it looks later in design. There's an 'R', 'O' 'W' 'E' and 'L' name or monogram on square plaster tablets across the first floor too. The external decoration has seen better days. But it has some excellent brickwork and plasterwork. Maybe it will one day get a facelift. Think it should be listed. Viv.

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Vivienne14 said:
This ornate building in Carrs Lane was once occupied by William Powell & Co. The company was established in 1802 according to the sign on the first floor, but I doubt it was in this building as it looks later in design. There's an 'R', 'O' 'W' 'E' and 'L' name or monogram on square plaster tablets across the first floor too. The external decoration has seen better days. But it has some excellent brickwork and plasterwork. Maybe it will one day get a facelift. Think it should be listed. Viv.

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It was a gun shop. I remember telling the man who opened the clothes store what it was before. He said there is a little range out back. I asked if I could see it? he said he was busy but come back in the week. I did go back a couple of times but it always was a different man who didn't have the keys. As you see the shop is shut now.
 
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Robert said:
Viv i think the R O W E L may read powell.
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Thanks Robert. Of course I should have realised that. My photo cut off the second L ! A lot of effort went into decorating the face of this building, such a pity to see it decay.

Thanks. Froth All sounds a bit dodgy doesn't it. Hope it isn't demolished it's about the only building with any history left along Carrs Lane. Viv
 
Vivienne14 said:
This ornate building in Carrs Lane was once occupied by William Powell & Co. The company was established in 1802 according to the sign on the first floor, but I doubt it was in this building as it looks later in design. There's an 'R', 'O' 'W' 'E' and 'L' name or monogram on square plaster tablets across the first floor too. The external decoration has seen better days. But it has some excellent brickwork and plasterwork. Maybe it will one day get a facelift. Think it should be listed. Viv.

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Not sure of the date of this picture, but Powell's was still operating from Carrs Lane
 
That's a smashing photo Jim. The condition of the building looked good. Hopefully the sign above the door in your photo is still underneath the 'Big Save' sign. It might have been fixed on top of the old sign. Might be able to estimate the date of the photo by the 'Group4' security alarm near the door. When did these alarms come into being/or were popular on commercial premises? Viv.
 
The Carrs Lane picture was late1980's. There was a thread on the subject in 2010. Not sure how to do a link!
 
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devonjim said:
The Carrs Lane picture was late1980's. There was a thread on the subject in 2010. Not sure how to do a link!
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Hi Jim. I can't find the thread, do you know the title of the thread and I'll have a look and insert a link for you. Thanks. Viv.
 
William Powell and Sons stayed in business in those premises until 2008 when they were taken over by a firm called J M Osborne. Not sure if that was when they firm finished in Birmingham though. It now operates from Banbury. The Carr's Lane site was bought in 1860.
There is an interesting video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRTfWZRCQsU


Janice
 
Thanks Janice for researching Powells. So it's not that long ago that they occupied Carrs Lane. Afraid I can't see your video link.

Be nice to know what the future plans are for the building given its current state. Looks pretty vulnerable amongst the newer buildings. Another one to keep outer eyes on. Viv.
 
Sorry about link - not sure what happened - have tried again. The reason I was interested is that I (or rather my Dad) knew a connection of the family another William Powell.

Janice
 
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