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Josiah Mason’s Orphanage

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sjjones

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Does anyone remember Sir Josiah Mason’s Orphanage, Erdington and know where I can find photo’s of it please?
I remember playing there in the early 1960’s when I was about 9 or 10 and being amazed by what I thought was an architectural wonder. It was empty at the time, (probably awaiting demolition) but I thought it an amazing building and for it’s splendour to have such an effect on someone so young, I guess it was quite spectacular. I’d love to see photo’s of it and if anyone knows where I could access them I’d be grateful.
Thanks
Steve
 
I've since learned that the smaller building in the grounds was a mausoleum, do you know why it was demolished?
 
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Some more pictures of Sir Josiah Masons Orphanage.
The mausoleum held the body of Sir Josiah and children who died and had no one to claim them.
It was said that Sir Josiah was interned in Aston church when the orphanage ws demolished.
 
Thanks Rowan,
Such a shame they couldn't have let Josiah & children rest in peace and save the mausoleum at least, but that's progress I suppose.
I guess the trustees must have had a good reason for selling the land for the housing development...Wads of cash no doubt, or am I being synical.
 
Heard a talk by a lady this week who had been in the orphanage with her brother after her father died and she had been very happy there. She had loads of stories about her time there, apparantly boys had to leave when they were 15 and girls when they were 16. She loved the building and had some great pictures and was very sad to see it go. She is one of the trustees and I got the impression that it was Birmingham Councils decision to demolish it. She still organises reunions from time. A former inmate was 'Amos', the pub landlord in the cast of the original Emmerdale Farm.
 
Yes Ron Magill was one of 3 brothers at Josiah Masons and my husband knew Fred Magill from days gone by working for Birmingham City Council. Betty Foster who gave the talk I heard, knew all 3 brothers and seemed to remember Fred was a Union Rep. One of the things she did mention was that the children at JM had a good education and had good clothes provided at a time when life was very hard for many folks.
 
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