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High Street Erdington

Thanks all for the wonderful photos. Erdington was my ‘happy hunting ground’. Anybody remember the Swan, Roebuck, the old Acorn on the corner of Church Street and the big pub, sat back from Six Ways? Probably on Gravelly Hill, technically speaking. Had a club in the back room- what was it called? The Cross Keys and the pub down from there on the corner of Station Road? Memory fails me badly these days! (I might have a few places/directions wrong- I’m sure somebody will see through my memory (alcohol) haze!) And the Curry Gardens- where we all went when we were p****d and hungry!
Woolworths, opposite St Barnabas church always, from my earliest recollections had a special place for me because of its stone structure (or maybe it was just a facade?) And the old market opposite, down Barnabas road. If I remember correctly, the post office was just at the back of there. Good days, good people.
 
Hi Paul: I have written a lot about Erdington in this site. I am from Erdington originally and you can find my posts by entering Erdington in the Search at the right hand top of the first page. The pub on Six Ways was called The Queen's Hotel. It's all gone now. I remember the Acorn, the Roebuck and the lovely old Cross Keys on Station Road. Many others on this site have written about these places as well. St. Barnabas Church, as you may know, was set on fire by an arsonist in October 2007 and is at present being rebuilt. It's very sad that this happened.

The present Erdington is much changed from those days that you have referred to, especially the High Street. Those were different times and are remembered as being for the most part as happy and good times by those who lived in Erdington back then.
 
Hi, jennyann. That's the one, the Queens- but wasn't it the Queens Head as opposed to Hotel? It must be 30 years since I walked down the High Street. I've been back since, family events as I have a sister still at Bracken Road and a brother in Hart Road. But it's alway been arrive, function, sleepover and home. Next one I must make the time for a walk round Erdington.
 
Hi Paul: Yes you are right it was the Queen's Head and not Hotel. Slip of the mind. A close friend of mine had her wedding reception there and it was tucked away off Reservoir Road at Six Ways. Such a shame that that corner was in such a derelict state for so long. It's all changed now with housing
being built there. I haven't been back for four years so haven't seen that
site in it's latest form. Here is a photo of what is now known as Queen's Court with living accommodation and it looks like shops on the ground floor.

You must have a walk down the High Street next time you visit Paul. It
certainly is very different and now that Woolworth's and Littlewoods have gone it must be even more "different" if you get what I mean. Also Erdington Parish is being rebuilt which once again will make changes. Part of the High Street at the Library end is pedestrianised these days.
 

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Thanks for that photo, jennyann. Certainly looks a lot different. I spent many hours in the Queens Head and various other similar establishments in Erdington. Then it was the long haul down to the Erdington Arms that eventually became the Armada. But it was worth it because then you had Lichfield Road with a pub almost every three staggers right into Brum!
 
Hi Astoness...did you manage to find any photos of "Taylors Department Store"? I have been away and the thread seems to have ground to a halt. I will contact Frothie too as he seems to be very knowlegable. Thanks in advance.
 
suze said:
Hi Frothie...if I may call you Frothie...any news on the Michael Taylor front,is he still alive my Mum wonders?
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I don't mind being called Frothy suze, it better then what some people call me on here. Sorry I can't help on Michael Taylor. Come on you lot,help the girl
 
Thanks....my Mum will be very interested...I will try to get it printed off.....any more anyone please?
 
Frothblower said:
I don't mind being called Frothy suze, it better then what some people call me on here. Sorry I can't help on Michael Taylor. Come on you lot,help the girl
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Thanks someone nearly did.......I saw you have a Lad in the Lane site. iused to live in the maisonettes ,bit further up the road. I remember there was a "bomb" site between us before the garage was built. Is that still there? Cant remember too much(underage for drinking) but I will talk to my Mum tomorrow. All I can remember is we used to be sent to "the outdoor" to buy crisps ( Smiths with the blue bag of salt) and take the empties back for the 1p on the bottle (we didnt have much money)
 
suze said:
Thanks someone nearly did.......I saw you have a Lad in the Lane site. iused to live in the maisonettes ,bit further up the road. I remember there was a "bomb" site between us before the garage was built. Is that still there? Cant remember too much(underage for drinking) but I will talk to my Mum tomorrow. All I can remember is we used to be sent to "the outdoor" to buy crisps ( Smiths with the blue bag of salt) and take the empties back for the 1p on the bottle (we didnt have much money)
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Maisonettes still there suze. Garage as gone, it's just car park for the pub now.Theres not even an outdoor at the pub anymore.
The Lad is up for sale at moment,just hoping and praying it's not turned into another Chinese restaurant
 
Hi Suze, is this what you are looking for, W.M.Taylors & Sons Ltd is the building on the right with the arched windows. My wife worked there for about three years up untill they closed.

Brian
 

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I don't know whether this photo has been on here before.I was only looking at them ball kind of thingies at weekend thinking how tatty they looked and then I found this photo with the ball thingies on top of the shops.They look great.
 
That's exactly what I thought Chris, you've just got Taylors in that one. remember that conversation we had the weekend. scary!
 
O K you clever people, my mom used to manage a posh shop on the high street, they specialised in wedding dresses and posh frocks. The shop was called Linnell's not sure of the spelling, it would have been about late 1930's early 40's I think they had a shop on the Litchfield rd Aston first, which she also managed before they moved
 
Frothblower said:
I don't know whether this photo has been on here before.I was only looking at them ball kind of thingies at weekend thinking how tatty they looked and then I found this photo with the ball thingies on top of the shops.They look great.
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I hope theydont turn The Lad into ANY form of anything other than what it has been for the last x hundred years. Somebody somewhere should be looking after our history and heritage.....the dont make em any more!
 
Hi all...no I have discovered how to save old photos,are there any more to be had of old Erdngton please
 
Hi Froth'
What a trip down memory lane that is. What a shame that most of those pubs are now gone, And they call it progress! I used to drink in the Digby, is it still going? last I heard it was a druggies pub. Thanks for showing the film, enjoyed it.
 
chocks2 said:
Hi Froth'
What a trip down memory lane that is. What a shame that most of those pubs are now gone, And they call it progress! I used to drink in the Digby, is it still going? last I heard it was a druggies pub. Thanks for showing the film, enjoyed it.
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The Digby is still a nice pub Chocks
 
this photo has appeared on the forum before but i thought it should appear on this thread too
 

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