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Highgate Street Factory & Square
- Thread starter barkleyplastics
- Start date
Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
superdad3
master brummie
I have been researching Charles Iles and his company of thimble makers.
His first premises were in Coneybere Street but just before he died in 1870 he moved to premises in Highgate Street. To begin with this was just a dwelling house, with offices, with a covered gateway leading to a yard and workshops behind the house. A three-storey mill was built behind the offices and a steam engine and other machinery added later.The address remained, as 138 Highgate Street even though other properties in the street were acquired. It was known as ‘The Unity Works’. Employees lived in ‘back to back’ houses also in Highgate Street. Several generations of these families worked at the Iles factories.
This description is from a book by Norma Spicer called "Iles: a family of thimble makers"
Attached is a copy of a photo from the book of the premises in Highgate Street. I'm wondering if anyone has any other photographs of this part of Highgate Street or even has memories of the premises or even worked there? That would be marvelous and I would be really pleased but it was a long time ago. Thank you.
Can just make out the works on map on post 31 above. {RH} [Thank you Oldun]
The factory and houses were demolished in the early 1960s and Charles Iles moved to Tyseley.
His first premises were in Coneybere Street but just before he died in 1870 he moved to premises in Highgate Street. To begin with this was just a dwelling house, with offices, with a covered gateway leading to a yard and workshops behind the house. A three-storey mill was built behind the offices and a steam engine and other machinery added later.The address remained, as 138 Highgate Street even though other properties in the street were acquired. It was known as ‘The Unity Works’. Employees lived in ‘back to back’ houses also in Highgate Street. Several generations of these families worked at the Iles factories.
This description is from a book by Norma Spicer called "Iles: a family of thimble makers"
Attached is a copy of a photo from the book of the premises in Highgate Street. I'm wondering if anyone has any other photographs of this part of Highgate Street or even has memories of the premises or even worked there? That would be marvelous and I would be really pleased but it was a long time ago. Thank you.
Can just make out the works on map on post 31 above. {RH} [Thank you Oldun]
The factory and houses were demolished in the early 1960s and Charles Iles moved to Tyseley.
Last edited:
Kingsheathboy
Brummie babby
Many thanks for posting this photo.Does anyone have any information about Diecastings Ltd? My father worked there in the 50’s and 60’s as an aluminium sawyer.
joeandsheila
Brummie babby
My Mom did 50 years all but 2 weeks at Charles Iles and Gomm .....She was born in 1916 in Highgate Street.....Emma Elizabeth Mead ( maiden name) Her mother ( my grandmother....who passed before I was born) also worked there as a Thimble Maker......During the late 50s the Factory re- located to Tyseley.....Mom said it was too far to travel from Vaughton Street South, where we then lived........She ' left' after working there since she was 14.....did a week at Rainford & Lines....didn't like it .....and a week at Ephraim Phillips....again didn't, like it......so went back to Iles & Gomm.....until she was 73 ......Her friends had all been there since aged 14 and most worked into 70s and 80s.....as Mom said they were like family.....but although she did 50 years all but two weeks she never got any recognition for working there....she was a Power Press Operator and over the years they were making Spoons and other small metal items.....She was only about 4ft 10" and how she 'swung' those machinery parts, which were huge presses...I'll never know....and it was smelly dirty and very hard work ..... Bless my Mom and her Mom before her xx
joeandsheila
Brummie babby
I was amazed to come across not only this piece on Diecastings but also the piece on Charkes Iles & Gomm where my Mom worked for 50 years...... I worked in the Offices to the left of the picture.....I was Telephonist / Receptionist and Typist from 1963/5......also remember the Fire Station being close by .....xx