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Higgins New Canal Street
- Thread starter Prof
- Start date
DEAR PROF,
I CAN REMEMBER THE HIGGINS FAMILY ,OR SHOULD I
SAY MRS HIGGINS, AND THE CAFE ON THE CORNER OF FAZELY ST.
THEY WAS GREAT FRIENDS OF MY GRAND PARENTS ,AND MY MOM
WHOM WAS THE JELF,S OF NO.I .NEW CANNALSTREET,
MY MOM JOYCE,SPENT MOST OF HER LIFE THEREGROWING UP ,
THERE ,BEFORE GETTING MARRIED FROM THERE ,
AT AN EARLY AGE SHE GOT HER SELF PREGNANT ,
SHE WAS BORN AT NO 3 PARLIMENT STREET ASTON,
A COUPLE OF DOORS FROM JOHN HOUGHTON MOM,S IN ASTON.
ANY WAY PROF. HAS YOU CAN SEE MY GRAND FATHER JELF,S SHOP
WAS ABOUT 3OO. HUNDRED YARDS FROM THE HIGGINS CAFE ,
AT THE OTHER END OF THE BLOCK, WHICH I THINK IS THE CORNER OF
BORDSELY STREET WHICH HIS NO. 1.
OUT SIDE HIS SHOP IN THEM DAYS , WAS A BIG RED BOX
ON A STAND AND IT WAS A FIR E ALARM
WHICH SAID SMASH GLASS IN CASE OF FIRE, AND A POLICE BOX
WAS THERE.
THE HIGGINGS SHOP WAS A SMALL PROPERTY ON THE CORNER OF FAZELY STREET
AND IT WAS PAINTED ALL IN BLACK FOR YEARS,
THEN IT WAS PAINTED BROWN .
NOT MANY PEOPLE WENT IN THERE,
MY GRAND FATHERS SHOP WAS A TRANSPORT CAFE, FOR BED AND BREAK FAST,
FULLY BOOKED SEVEN NIGHTS AWEEK ALL THE YEAR AROUND
EVEN AT CHRISTMAS TIME ,
THE THING WAS WITH THEM THEY HAD A BIG HOUSE THAT AJOINED THEM
PLUS THE COFFEE SHOP ACCOM;; UP STAIRS,
HE HAD A BIG YARD NEXT TO HIM , OUT THROUGH HIS KITCHEN AND
THROUGH A GATE YOU WOULD BE INTO THE HIDE AND SKIN ,
MANY TIMES THE GATHER WOULD COME AND SAY ERNIE
CAN I BORROW JACK . JACK THE DOG A JACK RUSSELL . GOT A COUPLE OF RATS
TO CATCH, HE SAID OKAY .
HE USED HOLD BIG PARTY,S THERE QUITE OFTEN ,
AND ANSELLS BREWERY WOULD DO SPEACIAL DELIVERYS
TO NO I . NEW CANNAL STREET, WITH BOOZE OF ALL SORTS ,
THE HIGGINS CAME DOWN TOO, ALONG WITH SUCH HIGH RANKS
OF THE TOP BRASS OF THE POLICE , AND CERTAIN LEADING MEMBERS OF OUR CITY .
AND BECAUSE OF CERTAIN INPROPER GAMBLING AT CERTAIN ESTABLISHMENTS
HE WOULD BE INFORMED OF THE PLANNED POLICERAIDS ON HIM,WHEN THEY
WAS DUE.
THERE WAS ANOTHER CAFE ALONG THE ROAD TOWARDS DIGBETH , BUT THAT WAS NEVER OPEND
WHEN EVER I WENT DOWN THERE TO WALK THE DOG,
SORRY PROF, OR JOHN, IF I HAVE GONE ON ABIT LONG ABOUT GRAND JELF,
BUT THATS THE ONLY BIT I KNOW ABOUT THE HIGGINS ,
AND THERE HIS A LOT MORE I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ABOUT THE JELFS
I AM COMPILING ALOT , AND HOPING TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER SOON,
AND HOPE THAT I CAN GET IT ON THE FORUM
I CAN REMEMBER THE HIGGINS FAMILY ,OR SHOULD I
SAY MRS HIGGINS, AND THE CAFE ON THE CORNER OF FAZELY ST.
THEY WAS GREAT FRIENDS OF MY GRAND PARENTS ,AND MY MOM
WHOM WAS THE JELF,S OF NO.I .NEW CANNALSTREET,
MY MOM JOYCE,SPENT MOST OF HER LIFE THEREGROWING UP ,
THERE ,BEFORE GETTING MARRIED FROM THERE ,
AT AN EARLY AGE SHE GOT HER SELF PREGNANT ,
SHE WAS BORN AT NO 3 PARLIMENT STREET ASTON,
A COUPLE OF DOORS FROM JOHN HOUGHTON MOM,S IN ASTON.
ANY WAY PROF. HAS YOU CAN SEE MY GRAND FATHER JELF,S SHOP
WAS ABOUT 3OO. HUNDRED YARDS FROM THE HIGGINS CAFE ,
AT THE OTHER END OF THE BLOCK, WHICH I THINK IS THE CORNER OF
BORDSELY STREET WHICH HIS NO. 1.
OUT SIDE HIS SHOP IN THEM DAYS , WAS A BIG RED BOX
ON A STAND AND IT WAS A FIR E ALARM
WHICH SAID SMASH GLASS IN CASE OF FIRE, AND A POLICE BOX
WAS THERE.
THE HIGGINGS SHOP WAS A SMALL PROPERTY ON THE CORNER OF FAZELY STREET
AND IT WAS PAINTED ALL IN BLACK FOR YEARS,
THEN IT WAS PAINTED BROWN .
NOT MANY PEOPLE WENT IN THERE,
MY GRAND FATHERS SHOP WAS A TRANSPORT CAFE, FOR BED AND BREAK FAST,
FULLY BOOKED SEVEN NIGHTS AWEEK ALL THE YEAR AROUND
EVEN AT CHRISTMAS TIME ,
THE THING WAS WITH THEM THEY HAD A BIG HOUSE THAT AJOINED THEM
PLUS THE COFFEE SHOP ACCOM;; UP STAIRS,
HE HAD A BIG YARD NEXT TO HIM , OUT THROUGH HIS KITCHEN AND
THROUGH A GATE YOU WOULD BE INTO THE HIDE AND SKIN ,
MANY TIMES THE GATHER WOULD COME AND SAY ERNIE
CAN I BORROW JACK . JACK THE DOG A JACK RUSSELL . GOT A COUPLE OF RATS
TO CATCH, HE SAID OKAY .
HE USED HOLD BIG PARTY,S THERE QUITE OFTEN ,
AND ANSELLS BREWERY WOULD DO SPEACIAL DELIVERYS
TO NO I . NEW CANNAL STREET, WITH BOOZE OF ALL SORTS ,
THE HIGGINS CAME DOWN TOO, ALONG WITH SUCH HIGH RANKS
OF THE TOP BRASS OF THE POLICE , AND CERTAIN LEADING MEMBERS OF OUR CITY .
AND BECAUSE OF CERTAIN INPROPER GAMBLING AT CERTAIN ESTABLISHMENTS
HE WOULD BE INFORMED OF THE PLANNED POLICERAIDS ON HIM,WHEN THEY
WAS DUE.
THERE WAS ANOTHER CAFE ALONG THE ROAD TOWARDS DIGBETH , BUT THAT WAS NEVER OPEND
WHEN EVER I WENT DOWN THERE TO WALK THE DOG,
SORRY PROF, OR JOHN, IF I HAVE GONE ON ABIT LONG ABOUT GRAND JELF,
BUT THATS THE ONLY BIT I KNOW ABOUT THE HIGGINS ,
AND THERE HIS A LOT MORE I WOULD LIKE TO SAY ABOUT THE JELFS
I AM COMPILING ALOT , AND HOPING TO PUT IT ALL TOGETHER SOON,
AND HOPE THAT I CAN GET IT ON THE FORUM
HI PROF,
TO MY RECOLLECTION THE CAFE CLOSED DOWN
AROUND 1955, 1956 . FOR A VERY LONG LONG
TIME ,IT WAS AROUND THE SAME TIME GRAND DAD SOLD THAT SHOP
AT NO. ONE NEW CANNAL ST,OF HIS.GRAND MA , DIED 1953, AND HIGGIE WAS AROUND THEN.
BUT I,M PRETTY SURE IT WAS ABOUT 1955/6 THAT SHE CLOSED DOWN.
NINE OR TWELVE MONTHS LATER IT OPENED UP AGAIN , AND
IT WAS PAINTED ,TWO TONE BROWN ,
AT THE MOMENT I CANNOT TELL YOU ANY MORE,
BUT I HAVE GOT AN UNCLE WHOM HIS STILL ALIVE, AND HIS IN IN NINETY,S
AND STILL GOT HIS MARBLES ,
I WILL ASKED HIM TO FIND OUT ,WHAT REALLY HAPPEND TO HIGGIE
HE USED TO COME TO THE PARTY,S AND NEW THEM ALL .
SOON AS I GET THE INFO;; I,LL LET YOU KNOW.
TO MY RECOLLECTION THE CAFE CLOSED DOWN
AROUND 1955, 1956 . FOR A VERY LONG LONG
TIME ,IT WAS AROUND THE SAME TIME GRAND DAD SOLD THAT SHOP
AT NO. ONE NEW CANNAL ST,OF HIS.GRAND MA , DIED 1953, AND HIGGIE WAS AROUND THEN.
BUT I,M PRETTY SURE IT WAS ABOUT 1955/6 THAT SHE CLOSED DOWN.
NINE OR TWELVE MONTHS LATER IT OPENED UP AGAIN , AND
IT WAS PAINTED ,TWO TONE BROWN ,
AT THE MOMENT I CANNOT TELL YOU ANY MORE,
BUT I HAVE GOT AN UNCLE WHOM HIS STILL ALIVE, AND HIS IN IN NINETY,S
AND STILL GOT HIS MARBLES ,
I WILL ASKED HIM TO FIND OUT ,WHAT REALLY HAPPEND TO HIGGIE
HE USED TO COME TO THE PARTY,S AND NEW THEM ALL .
SOON AS I GET THE INFO;; I,LL LET YOU KNOW.
HI PROF ,
I,VE BEEN RACKING MY BRAINS OUT, BUT FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY
I JUST CAN,T COME UP WITH THE NAME .
HE PLAYED MANY TMES IN THE SHOP, WHEN I WAS A LAD
SINCE YOU LAST WROTE , IT WAS ONLY TODAY
THAT I THOUGHT YOU WAS RIGHT .
I HAVEN,T SEEN UNCLE YETTO ASKED FOR HIS NAME
SPEAK TO YOU LATER ASTONIAN ;;;
I,VE BEEN RACKING MY BRAINS OUT, BUT FOR THE LOVE OF MONEY
I JUST CAN,T COME UP WITH THE NAME .
HE PLAYED MANY TMES IN THE SHOP, WHEN I WAS A LAD
SINCE YOU LAST WROTE , IT WAS ONLY TODAY
THAT I THOUGHT YOU WAS RIGHT .
I HAVEN,T SEEN UNCLE YETTO ASKED FOR HIS NAME
SPEAK TO YOU LATER ASTONIAN ;;;
hi colin ,
thanks for jogging my memory , i could visualize the man
but i just could not put a name to his face , a great player.
great tunes he played, i was so engrossed by his playing
once again thanks a million for bringing a good memory back to me ,
best wishes astonian ,.;;;;;;
thanks for jogging my memory , i could visualize the man
but i just could not put a name to his face , a great player.
great tunes he played, i was so engrossed by his playing
once again thanks a million for bringing a good memory back to me ,
best wishes astonian ,.;;;;;;
hi i believe william higgins who owned the cafe was my mothers half brother her name was amelia,we have little info about this side of the family so anything you can tell us would be useful many thanks
john knight
signman
Hi everyone,
When I was an apprentice signwriter in Stafford St, Tamburro had a shop on the left hand side just before Coleshill St.
He was a little huch back man- I think his first name was Jack, this was sometime between 1956-59.
When I was an apprentice signwriter in Stafford St, Tamburro had a shop on the left hand side just before Coleshill St.
He was a little huch back man- I think his first name was Jack, this was sometime between 1956-59.
hi prof
are you sure you have got the right side of new canal st
around that time there was only three coffee shops operating in the very early years along on new cannal street
no 1 was my grand parents, and that was bed and breakfast for
the transporters . and down on the corner was a coffee shop
as you correctly said but going along the other was towards digbeth
along on the new cannal st was another coffee shop
is it possible it could have been that one .
just yards from the gueest banna store ware housing for the markets
best wishes astonion ;;;
are you sure you have got the right side of new canal st
around that time there was only three coffee shops operating in the very early years along on new cannal street
no 1 was my grand parents, and that was bed and breakfast for
the transporters . and down on the corner was a coffee shop
as you correctly said but going along the other was towards digbeth
along on the new cannal st was another coffee shop
is it possible it could have been that one .
just yards from the gueest banna store ware housing for the markets
best wishes astonion ;;;
hi prof ;
they was at the other end of new cannal street from my grand parents my grand parents coffee and transport cafe was at no 1 ;
your family was at the other end of new cannal st facoing the old pub at the traffic lights and on the very corner of fazely street
as you turn left from fazely street onto new cannal street and head towards digbeth you would have been about three hundred yards from the old dogs home on new cannal street but half the time they was never open and i can recall them being closed down for years
befor some one did try making a go of it this was in the fifties when some one bought it ;
was it you whom used to come to the partys at our coffee shop they was big partys and see the monkey nan kept ;
playing the acarrdian astonian ps; paul my mother was there only child there ; nan bertha ; and ernie jelf ;
they was at the other end of new cannal street from my grand parents my grand parents coffee and transport cafe was at no 1 ;
your family was at the other end of new cannal st facoing the old pub at the traffic lights and on the very corner of fazely street
as you turn left from fazely street onto new cannal street and head towards digbeth you would have been about three hundred yards from the old dogs home on new cannal street but half the time they was never open and i can recall them being closed down for years
befor some one did try making a go of it this was in the fifties when some one bought it ;
was it you whom used to come to the partys at our coffee shop they was big partys and see the monkey nan kept ;
playing the acarrdian astonian ps; paul my mother was there only child there ; nan bertha ; and ernie jelf ;
Hi prof
Good old new canal street the hours I spent down there I remember the old fire box outside our grandparents shop
And the old police box out side your relies shop by the lights
I used to love going into the hide and skinn yard which was between our shops with grand dad and his dog to catch the rats
When the gather used to come around from time to time and he would say Ernie can I borrow old Jack the rats back
Speaking of the hide and skinn dealers which was on new canal street for years they moved I think it was in the seventys to Dudley
By the black country museum all those years sgo and yesterdasy I drove past there along passing the black country museum
And I notice they have finished and gone and that got me thinking about the old days of the canal street such memory
As I said I remember your cafe and relies the higgins about ten years ago I did write about them on here but all the story lines and pictures have all gone
Because of being hacked , best wishes Alan Astonian,
Good old new canal street the hours I spent down there I remember the old fire box outside our grandparents shop
And the old police box out side your relies shop by the lights
I used to love going into the hide and skinn yard which was between our shops with grand dad and his dog to catch the rats
When the gather used to come around from time to time and he would say Ernie can I borrow old Jack the rats back
Speaking of the hide and skinn dealers which was on new canal street for years they moved I think it was in the seventys to Dudley
By the black country museum all those years sgo and yesterdasy I drove past there along passing the black country museum
And I notice they have finished and gone and that got me thinking about the old days of the canal street such memory
As I said I remember your cafe and relies the higgins about ten years ago I did write about them on here but all the story lines and pictures have all gone
Because of being hacked , best wishes Alan Astonian,