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Ghost signs of Birmingham
- Thread starter Gez
- Start date
It's a mystery Mike. Just an observation, but looking at the B/W photo, the building seems very thin, so maybe the name is, in reality, much longer if you get my drift. But afraid still none the wiser!! Thanks for trying to pinpoint the name. Viv.
This sign is next to Bordesley Station, corner of Upper Trinity Street and Coventry Road. The photos are in order left to right. It seems to say more than just 'Bordesley Station' but can't make it out. Are the letters on the first photo the railway company name perhaps? Viv.
B
BernardR
Guest
I don't know but they appear to be painted over even earlier letters.
bordesly cattle station that what it was where they brought the cattle to for market
and down and around to the bordesly arches for the general market of yester years one for the pigs and one for sheep and one for the cows
i used to whatch them coming down bordesly street many times as a nipper and eventualy they came down through the warren of arches to new cannal
and along the rd to two doors away into the hide and skin yard they would walk on the pavement and some would stop and stair into the coffee shop windows and the man would shove them along i was not very old at the time they wpould frighen me even when i got abit older we used to go to the grand fathers farm and out of all my eight brothers i would not walk down the lane to fetch the cows from the field and bring them up to themilking barn where as my dad and fbrothers did they would call me from behind the cottage garden gate but i would not until theyu was all rounded up and some one was milking them
then i would peer into the milking sheds from a distance i was slly i surpose but in my older days now i have no fear ;
ernie jelf my grand father s back yard would lead right into the hide and skin yard and we would walk up by the slaughtering section ; and i wopuld see all the cows and sheeps skins all piled up high and the yard full of blood
this was is coffee shop and transport coffee house for all transport drivers bringing cattle to bordeslly and right next door to typhoo tea factory
he wopuld garage is car and van in this yard which was another gate to there side number 1 newcannal street digbeth
oppersuiithim on the corner of bordesley street was a very tiny littleforecourt and two little petrol tankd ; and a little hut
and opersite there was the spotted dog ;
these years are the forties and fifties ; best wishjes astonian;;
and down and around to the bordesly arches for the general market of yester years one for the pigs and one for sheep and one for the cows
i used to whatch them coming down bordesly street many times as a nipper and eventualy they came down through the warren of arches to new cannal
and along the rd to two doors away into the hide and skin yard they would walk on the pavement and some would stop and stair into the coffee shop windows and the man would shove them along i was not very old at the time they wpould frighen me even when i got abit older we used to go to the grand fathers farm and out of all my eight brothers i would not walk down the lane to fetch the cows from the field and bring them up to themilking barn where as my dad and fbrothers did they would call me from behind the cottage garden gate but i would not until theyu was all rounded up and some one was milking them
then i would peer into the milking sheds from a distance i was slly i surpose but in my older days now i have no fear ;
ernie jelf my grand father s back yard would lead right into the hide and skin yard and we would walk up by the slaughtering section ; and i wopuld see all the cows and sheeps skins all piled up high and the yard full of blood
this was is coffee shop and transport coffee house for all transport drivers bringing cattle to bordeslly and right next door to typhoo tea factory
he wopuld garage is car and van in this yard which was another gate to there side number 1 newcannal street digbeth
oppersuiithim on the corner of bordesley street was a very tiny littleforecourt and two little petrol tankd ; and a little hut
and opersite there was the spotted dog ;
these years are the forties and fifties ; best wishjes astonian;;
Well blow me down Alan. That's brilliant! And Bernie you're right too - a sort of double ghost sign. I was about to ask for volunteers to go along there with some very long ladders and a sturdy set of shears to reveal the full sign. Thanks Alan and Bernie. Viv.
Found a photo of the full Bordesley Cattle Station sign. The additional letters at the beginning of the sign are B.R.W. Viv.
We all know of the world-famous STANLEY steel products, namely the Stanley Knife, do we? Any connection there, maybe?
Excellent Lyn. Think the word 'stationers' might be in there too. Or at least something with ' .......tioners' in the title.. Think the second name starts with a W, so as you say Lyn " Green & W ......., (sta)tioners" perhaps..Viv.
hi viv yes you could be right...crikey it was really hard to make much of it out and i was right on top of it lol..have a look again at pic 2..looks to me like there could have been another firm there before the green one...think i can make out fainter but different lettering....not got me glasses on though..
Think you're right Lyn, one sign painted over an earlier one. I think it's the same company. The second name looks like it starts " & VELBU ......" The two 'V's' superimposed make it look like a 'W'. Luv these lifesize puzzles! Viv.
N
Neville Philpott
Guest
Blimey, i can't even read the graffiti underneath...
the smiths
master brummie
Could it be Green & ? Auctioners?........... Great thread by the way.
thats another good idea...at least it keeps the little grey cells working lol..
Had a fresh look after coming back from shopping. Wonder if it's "Green and Velbourn". Never heard of them! Business activities suggested so far:
Stationers
Auctioners
I'll also suggest Confectioners.
Anyone have any other 'tioners' ?! Viv.
Stationers
Auctioners
I'll also suggest Confectioners.
Anyone have any other 'tioners' ?! Viv.
Yes thanks Mike. Think the older and newer signs threw us slightly off the scent Lyn Nice one.
Here's a more mundane sign (corner of Hockley St and Barr St) interesting products though. Leonard Gundles....they made bikes, notably ice cream bikes and butchers bikes. Think it says "Engineers" after the words Gundle on the Barr St side. Viv.
Here's a more mundane sign (corner of Hockley St and Barr St) interesting products though. Leonard Gundles....they made bikes, notably ice cream bikes and butchers bikes. Think it says "Engineers" after the words Gundle on the Barr St side. Viv.
john knight
signman
Corner of Green Lane and Second Avenue Small Heath.
john knight
signman
Next two photos near my daughters house in Overbury,taken from google street view,2nd photo not a ghost sign,but there can't be many of these left.
B
BernardR
Guest
I recall seeing an AA sign similar in a Suffolk village a few years years back.
B
BernardR
Guest
No Mike you are correct - the subject of Ghost Writing thread by Frothy has this as a subject- https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=39151&highlight=Green+Welburn If Viv and Frothy do not mind I am thinking of moving the above thread into this 'Ghost Signs' thread but it will appear at the start as it will be placed in calendar order.
Very happy to link them up Bernie. Didn't find Frothy's thread when I first searched, so more than happy for you to merge them. Viv.
Can't make out any of the words on this one. It's on Icknield Square and currently occupied by Biddle & Webb, Auctioneers. Viv.
hi viv
the building in question should be easy for me but for the love nor money i just cannotrecall the name as i grew up there just around the corner ; so to try and make out what it was i suggest we get two people involved here and thats mike with is records or may be a dear old friend mossy whom grew up almost oppersite that building in shakespear rd ;i my self should know it but at this precise time no
so if any one as got the dirctorys for the forties and fifties bussiness ones for the period of 1940 to fifties you will find it was lesbrooks factory whom was there right up until the late sixties possible seventy one i recall and its the previuos occuppys whom was there just before less brooks
and it was biddle and webbs whom bought it from them ;in the eighties i think they moved in but it was lessbrooks cycles sadle makers and cables i thin they done they done a combination of things as i said i seen it as i was growing up on the block before lesbrooks moved in
i know they was there in the sixtys early if not before have a nice day best wishes astonian;
the building in question should be easy for me but for the love nor money i just cannotrecall the name as i grew up there just around the corner ; so to try and make out what it was i suggest we get two people involved here and thats mike with is records or may be a dear old friend mossy whom grew up almost oppersite that building in shakespear rd ;i my self should know it but at this precise time no
so if any one as got the dirctorys for the forties and fifties bussiness ones for the period of 1940 to fifties you will find it was lesbrooks factory whom was there right up until the late sixties possible seventy one i recall and its the previuos occuppys whom was there just before less brooks
and it was biddle and webbs whom bought it from them ;in the eighties i think they moved in but it was lessbrooks cycles sadle makers and cables i thin they done they done a combination of things as i said i seen it as i was growing up on the block before lesbrooks moved in
i know they was there in the sixtys early if not before have a nice day best wishes astonian;
That's a good start Alan on the Icknield Sq building. Hopefully someone can pin it down for us. Thanks Alan. Viv.
Frothblower
Lubrication In Moderation
The Kardomah Cafe corner of Needless Ally and New Street. Closed in the early 70'