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High Street Erdington

mikejee said:
Afraid I am a bit cynical about that. This is because my local library authority (Reading ) are in the process of building a small extension to the main council building (about half the size of the present central library), which a new central library is shortly occupy. This will, it seems, have many community facilities (ie computers and play spaces,) with not much mention of books. A local forum member who works at the library tells of palletting up loads of books to be sent to paper recyclers, with no attempt to pass them on to those who might appreciate them.
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mike maybe they could ship them over to birmingham library who not so long ago were asking people to donate books.. :rolleyes:

lyn
 
Kevkonk said:
Yes it is, but I am intrigued about the building on the left next to it, anyone have any information?
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Yes. I remember that shop. It was a small outdoor. Used to sell sweets and such as well.
I spent a fair proportion of my youth in Erdington Library or the swimming baths next door. Even met my first girlfriend there.
Very glad to hear that it's still thriving.
 
Taylors also had shops in Potters Hill, probably until the late 1950s, and one in King's Heath. For those interested there's a thread here about the Potters Hill shop :

https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/threads/taylors-of-potters-hill.26


I remember Taylors in Erdington High Street very well having worked in a Saturday job across the road for a few years. When it became Owen Owen I sometimes went in their cafe with friends after school, but didn't often buy anything. Previously as Taylors the clothes were perhaps a little outdated and what we'd call 'frumpy'. I wonder if this feeling continued as I didn't shop there when it became Owen Owen, preferred Chelsea Girl down towards Six Ways - more fashionable and exciting. And CG was much cheaper !

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Source: British Newspaper Archive
 
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The rebuilding of W.M.Taylors in the 1960s and its takeover by Owen Owen in the 1970s. Must have been a sad, but predicted, end for Taylors.
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Source: British Newspaper Archive
 
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The Woolworths site, the cottages were 'at the back of Easy Row'. What happened to Easy Row ? Was it once behind, and absorbed into, the later High Street development ? I've not seen Easy Row labelled on a map. Does anyone have one please?

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For info Woolworths was at 153 -157 High Street.

Thanks go to LadyPenelope who posted this view of the cottage(s) on another thread. The building gives a clearer impression of the building as virtually derelict in parts.

For some reason, the person in front of the building looks 'official' to me. (I wondered if it was the vicar - St Barnabas, premises belonging to the church? or a surveyor even ?) Or could this person have lived there ? At first I doubted it given the building's condition. But then I noticed the left-hand side looks in better condition and has 'arranged' curtains at the window. Someone may have, in fact, still occupied the building.

It looks like a large cottage, or was it two cottages (one derelict) ? I see multiple chimneys.

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Vivienne14 said:
The Woolworths site, the cottages were 'at the back of Easy Row'. What happened to Easy Row ? Was it once behind, and absorbed into, the later High Street development ? I've not seen Easy Row labelled on a map. Does anyone have one please?

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viv the caption on post 370.. does it say easy row was opposite the national school on the high st..is the national school marked on a map..like you i have never heard of an easy row in erdington or have i confused myself :D

lyn
 
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I suggested the need for a map so we could look at the area marked blue. Woolwoorths (now B&M) was on the corner of Barnabas Road and High Street. So assumed Easy Row must have been on that site somewhere.
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easy row certainly existed in 1894 ..i put in easy row erdington in the newspaper archives and plenty of snippets turned up one snippet mentions no 4 easy row and another no 17 easy row high st erdington

lyn
 
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mikejee said:
The 1881 census goes down Sutton Road to the Roebuck, then there is easy row. I presume it changes sides of the road.The itinerary on front page is not much help.
However the 1891 census goes down High St as below

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mike how many properties were on easy row..i dont know how to get onto a census without a name....thanks

lyn
 
It seems to sometimes have 'High Street' added after the name Easy Row. I wondered if it was a passageway leading off High Street.

This (last paragraph) may/may not be connected to the cottage but, in any case it adds to Erdington history. A tollgate board was found in an ancient house behind Easy Row pre-WW! during its demolition. The house owned by George Machin was a soup kitchen. (Maybe we could check Machin's address). The board was given to Canon F S Swindell. Wonder why it was given to the vicar? Why was the board at the house in the first place ?



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Source: British Newspaper Archive
 
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