Hurst Street

[brummy-lad]

I seem to remember a photo of a full size house on top of a building I think was by the hippodrome.
I cannot find anything about it and now doubting myself would anyone know of it
Col

Hi Col, I have posted an aerial view of Hurst Street on the Hurst Street thread, perhaps you can spot the building

 

[Vivienne14]

The two Hurst Street threads are now merged into this one. Earlier posts may not have been seen before.

 

[Colroy07]

Tony’s amusements hurst street October a1940.

 

[superdad3]

Brooks & Hawkes, Hurst Street.

Just been looking at post number 3 from Astoness and the atmospheric photograph looking down Ladywell Walk from the corner of Hurst Street. What a gem

The building on the corner [no 40] was originally the warehouse etc for Brooks & Hawkes Ltd [founded 1860] who described themselves as a merchants and manufacturers of ship, yacht and boat fittings. Their ships compasses are now collectors items and there are quite a few for sale on line.

A copy of their 1921 sale catalogue is for sale on Abe Books and has a great photograph of their premises and a selection of their ships lamps. Surprised that they were located in Birmingham rather than eg Liverpool in view of what they sold.

 

[superdad3]

This print is on sale on Abe Books. Tried to edit to make clearer without success but thought it would be of interest because of its age. It shows Smallbrook Street from Hurst Street in 1867. The wall sign reads J.Child, Corn dealer..... But the corner shop looks like a china shop? Anyone any ideas?

 

[mikejee]

I think the date may be wrong. There is a John Child, corn dealer at 23 Tonk St, which is probably between St Judes church and Smallbrook St. But he only first appears in the 1872 directory, and is not in the 1867 or 1868 directory. I can find no mnetion of a china shop thereon tonk St or in Smallbrook St at that position. however I have no directories for 1869-71

 

[brummy-lad]

I think you are correct about the china shop, probably Crystal Palace No. 76 Smallbrook Street.
The sign for J. Child appears to say 8 doors above which would put it on Hill Street perhaps.

 

[brummy-lad]

Mike is spot-on with 23 Tonks Street and it does appear to be later than 1867.

 

[izzy eckerslike]

Mike is spot-on with 23 Tonks Street and it does appear to be later than 1867.

The photo suggests quite an early date using a timed lens cap as it shows everyone blurred because they moved, but the building is more focused, there is even a ghost image of a figure in the road

 

[mikejee]

Just to add another fact. John Child was there till the 1880 directory, but had gone by 1882

 

[BrummieGeoff]

Here's a clearer copy of the photo .... taken by photographer Henry Joseph Whitlock, and tagged with a date of May 1867. Above the door is the address "25", and the name "Joyner". The sign above the window in Tonk Street includes the words "cured ham". Thomas Joyner is listed as a Pork Butcher at 25 Smallbrook Street in directories for 1855, 1858 and 1862.

 

[Astoness]

i can just imagine the excitement there would have been for the people having their photograph taken

lyn

 

[BrummieGeoff]

Astoness: maybe it's the queue for Thomas Joyner's pork scratchings?

 

[BrummieGeoff]

brummy-lad mentioned Crystal Palace on the corner of Smallbrook Street and Hurst Street .... later known as Empire Palace and Empire Theatre, and bombed in 1940.

 

[superdad3]

few more of hurst streetView attachment 194884View attachment 194885View attachment 194886View attachment 194887View attachment 194888View attachment 194889View attachment 194890View attachment 194891View attachment 194892

This area of Bham around the junction of Smallbrook Street and Hurst Street facinates me. Probably because of the brilliant photos of the area on the forum. Intend to research the area and the shops etc as time allows. Second phot above posted by Astoness is classic showing part of Hurst Street as it looked originally.

Hope I have got this right! Reading from right to left:

Smallbrook Street
Empire Vaults Public House
Empire Theatre
Empire Fish Restaurant
Empire Commercial Hotel
Hippodrome tower beyond Thorp Street

 

[Astoness]

i agree superdad along with other areas it also interests me...look forward to reading about your research and i will check my photo files to see if i have any that i have not yet posted..

lyn

 

[mw0njm.]

few more of hurst strView attachment 194884View attachment 194885View attachment 194886View attachment 194887View attachment 194888View attachment 194889View attachment 194890View attachment 194891View attachment 194892

thanks for great pics.

 

[mw0njm.]

sat afternoon spent mooching around all the electrical shops

 

[Astoness]

ok i have these of hurst street...hover over them and they should give you some info hope they are of interest

lyn

 

[mw0njm.]

ok i have these of hurst street...hover over them and they should give you some info hope they are of interest

lyn

View attachment 205101View attachment 205103View attachment 205105View attachment 205107View attachment 205109View attachment 205111View attachment 205113View attachment 205115View attachment 205117View attachment 205119View attachment 205121View attachment 205123View attachment 205125

brilliant thanks Lyn

 

[Astoness]

just found this one smallbrook st from hurst st

lyn

 

[mw0njm.]

 

[aggie2347]

few more of hurst streetView attachment 194884View attachment 194885View attachment 194886View attachment 194887View attachment 194888View attachment 194889View attachment 194890View attachment 194891View attachment 194892

Crikey that building brought back a few memories. It was the HQ of Universal Sewing Machines where I worked for a brief period as a 'Sewing Machine Mechanic' (front left on the picture) before joining the Army, which was a good move for me and I've never looked back. Keep up the good work

 

[aggie2347]

few more of hurst streetView attachment 194884View attachment 194885View attachment 194886View attachment 194887View attachment 194888View attachment 194889View attachment 194890View attachment 194891View attachment 194892

Universal Sewing Machines Hurst St 1950s.

 

[superdad3]

Universal Sewing Machines Hurst St 1950s.

Hi, Just to be certain, was Universal the building on the corner of Thorp Street on attachment 194892?

Many thanks.

 

[aggie2347]

Yes that's right demolished and rebuilt. Universal Sewing Machines went out of business years ago. Regards.

 

[poker_pete82]

View attachment 205129

Great photos. Could somebody tell me when the 'tower' at the hippodrome was taken down? It's quite impressive. Was it taken down in the name of progress? ‍

 

[mikejee]

It was said to be unstable, and was removed in 1963

Hidden Hippodrome – A History of Access Through The Ages – Birmingham Hippodrome

www.birminghamhippodrome.com

 

[izzy eckerslike]

sat afternoon spent mooching around all the electrical shops

And me, they used to put out containers on the pavement of low priced weird switches and other strange bits of electrical gear which I used to buy occasionally thinking ,this might come in handy.

 

[superdad3]

This area of Bham around the junction of Smallbrook Street and Hurst Street facinates me. Probably because of the brilliant photos of the area on the forum. Intend to research the area and the shops etc as time allows. Second phot above posted by Astoness is classic showing part of Hurst Street as it looked originally.

Hope I have got this right! Reading from right to left:

Smallbrook Street
Empire Vaults Public House
Empire Theatre
Empire Fish Restaurant
Empire Comercial Hotel
Hippodrome tower beyond Thorp Street

This area of Bham around the junction of Smallbrook Street and Hurst Street facinates me. Probably because of the brilliant photos of the area on the forum. Intend to research the area and the shops etc as time allows. Second phot above posted by Astoness is classic showing part of Hurst Street as it looked originally.

Hope I have got this right! Reading from right to left:

Smallbrook Street
Empire Vaults Public House
Empire Theatre
Empire Fish Restaurant
Empire Commercial Hotel
Hippodrome tower beyond Thorp Street

This area of Bham around the junction of Smallbrook Street and Hurst Street facinates me. Probably because of the brilliant photos of the area on the forum. Intend to research the area and the shops etc as time allows. Second phot above posted by Astoness is classic showing part of Hurst Street as it looked originally.

Hope I have got this right! Reading from right to left:

Smallbrook Street
Empire Vaults Public House
Empire Theatre
Empire Fish Restaurant
Empire Commercial Hotel
Hippodrome tower beyond Thorp Street

Empire Vaults P.H. - timeline
1852: James Day listed as a wine & spirit merchant at 76 Smallbrook Street.
1855: James Day now described as a victualler at Crystal Palace 1862: James Day’s Crystal Palace Concert Hall now listed at 75 Smallbrook St.
1868: Concert Hall at 75. Crystal Palace at 76.
1883/1890: Now listed as Day Brothers.
1893: Concert Hall closed and site sold to Moss Empires who demolished it and build the Empire Theatre and Empire Vaults PH on the site [opened 1894]. Both owned by Empire Palace Co. Ltd.

1941: Theatre bombed and PH damaged.
1951: Theatre demolished.

Photo 1 said to be of Empire Pub in 1951under demolition. Photo 2 very odd – ground floor of pub still there with a bit of 1st floor above. Not sure when whole site was cleared
1955: Temporary prefabricated shops built on site.