Just Outside Birmingham by Post Card.

[Lloyd]

Leamington and Warwick were joined by an electric tramway typical of its era, open-topped cars with ornate overhead wire poles in the middle of the road down Leamington's main Parade. Eventually Midland Red buses took over, and the requirement of replacement was that the ex-tramway routes were operated by vehicles and crews on a seperate basis from the rest of the area - note the brand-new AHA 489 has a 'Town Service' board under the cab window - lower fares were charged than on other routes using the same road. Midland Red's 'special agreements' with local authorities also included Worcester, where the company replaced the city council's trams under an income protective agreement which lasted from 1929 until the new transport act of 1986. (A percentage of fares on ex tram routes was paid to the city).

 

[Stitcher]

A 17th century building in Upton On Severn.

 

[Stitcher]

I spent the greater part of my working life as a driver and feel priviliged, is that how it is spelt? to have seen most of these places while earning my living driving around the country.
The first one is The Cathedral, Hereford.
Second is Grange Court,(The Old Market House),
and last is Eastnor Castle near Ledbury.

 

[Stitcher]

When I got a bit too old for really hard work, Ha Ha, I became a Hackney Carriage owner driver in Birmingham and completed a course to be a Tourist Guide for the City. This led me into taking visitors to Birmingham on days out with my Taxi. More than a few of them bought their wife on the trip and booked me for an outing.

Wilton Bridge, Ross-On-Wye.
River Wye Rapids
Ross-on-Wye from the river.

 

[Arkrite]

Lovely county Herefordshire. Its no wonder I have lived here since 1968. The towns have grown but I reckon 90% of what you remember is still here Stitcher. Road improvements make it easier to reach from Birmingham now, making it even more popular with day trippers.

 

[Stitcher]

Arkrite, I drive down to a village near Llanelli about 6-8 times during the summer months and I often take a route through that area. It is my love of the Englis, Welsh and Scottish countryside that keeps me here for my holidays rather than going abroad.

 

[motorman-mike]

Stitcher took us over to Ledbury, so here it is again, this time at The Market House seen somewhere about 1970.

 

[Stitcher]

Nice one Mike. I wish we could somehow have the life of the 50s-70s with modern technology. I suppose thats a dream too far eh. I posted a short story on the lorry driving thread about a mishap I had in Ledbury when I was on the road.

 

[motorman-mike]

Fraid so Trevor but at least we have the Forum to keep us connected to those days gone by.
Mike
Now from down the Malvern Hills way to over the Cotswolds Hills way for a look at 1960's Broadway and Bourton on the Water - another nice day out from Brum.

 

[Stitcher]

This one is almost in walking distance.
The Lake in Mary Stephens Park, Stourbridge.
Smite Gardens in Droitwich
and River Severn at Bewdley.

 

[Stitcher]

First one is Broadway. A beautiful place
Second is Wribbenhall.
The third one is Stourport On Severn
and fourth is Brinton Park in Kidderminster

 

[Lloyd]

Stourport was a regular day out for Dad and I in the late 50's & early 60's. I usually talked him into a trip on the boat "P.S. Amo".

 

[Stitcher]

Lloyd, I remember when an hour on the rowing boats with mom and dad then a walk around Cannon Hill or Swanshurst Park was a big day out. Stourport and the like was a special occasion. I must say when I was a little older dad took to me wherever we were allowed to fish. I can say without doubt that I have either fished, or been with dad when he has fished in a competition to practically every lake, river, canal or pool where coarse fishing was allowed.

 

[Stitcher]

First a row of lovely old cottages in beautiful Broadway.
Next is Broadway Tower, the view from this point is truly stunning.
What a place for a pub lunch, The Fleece Inn, Bretforton.
The river Avon at Evesham, and then The Stocks and 'Ye Olde Red Horse' again in Evesham.

 

[Stitcher]

Unfortunately, with changing times and attitudes the vast majority of people born since the 60s do not seem aware that one of the things that made Birmingham such a great place was the surrounding areas of unspoilt beautiful countryside, each area having its own history which is/was quite often linked to the City.
This is the last post from me for Hereford and Worcester.
First we have yatch's and anglers sharing the river at Pershore.
Then we a view of The Abbey, Pershore.
Children fishing heaven forbid, on the Severn in the shodow of Worcster Cathedral.
Church Lane Ledbury.
A nice scene by the river at Upton on Severn.

 

[motorman-mike]

Here is a much older view of Stourport.

 

[Stitcher]

I would think that one is a bit before our time, I remember how popular the place used to be in the summer hollidays.

 

[jennyann]

Great photos of some beautiful spots and you are absolutely right about these places within a 50 mile radius of Birmingham. So many lovely places well worth a visit even today.
Back in the day most people went on day trips in coaches or charabancs. Their holiday connections for the most part were made by train. The motorcycle and sidecar owners got out into the immediate countryside. Of course there were cars but not as many as there are today!
I have a friend who lives in Pershore and although it has grown it is still a
pretty place. I used to go and stay there when I was l5 and 16. I have some great memories of it. When Dad got his first car in l957-Austin Somerset, Broadway, Moreton-in-the-Marsh, Upper and Lower Slaughter and other places were favourites.
Dad loved driving and we ended up at Painswick and other neighbouring places on Sunday's. We had the all the picnic gear and those little "canned heat" type fuel cans were available and we would make tea with them.
Dad wasn't a fishman but we would walk along waterways and chat with the many fishermen and have a look at their catches.

 

[Stitcher]

jennyann, I believe that what you posted is very the reason why we were happier/more contented than youngsters are today. Many thousands flock to Spain just to get drunk and shout in the street.

 

[Rupert]

I could go to places that a Red went to or a Stratford Blue or sometimes the train. Bicycle was great too but Mucklows was a bit of a trial. The pictures of the Malvern Walk and the Yat Rock were all visited. I learned of British Camp on here and it seems that it was a pre-Roman fort that was destroyed by the fiendishly cleaver Roman war engines. The river picture at Leamington shows the pump house does it not.

 

[Stitcher]

Rupert, I am glad the pictures bought back a few memories for you. My wife and I still go to the more local places for a drive out and a pub lunch. I used to book small parties in for tours of Heritage buildings when I was a taxi driver, then I would take the group and walk around the building with them and the guide. Doing this, I got paid as I toured all the castles, large houses and places of scenic beauty.

 

[motorman-mike]

Here is a 1970's card that speaks for itself.

 

[Stitcher]

Mike, now that is a nice one, I actually passed that with a very large lorry.

 

[Stitcher]

Ebrook Lane, Pype Hayes in 1893.

 

[sospiri]

Let's go a bit more northerly for a change and three old undated postcards of Dudley:-

High Street - complete with tramlines & cobblestones

Guest Hospital

Dudley Road & the Opera House

Regards,

Maurice

 

[davidfowler]

Stitch, any idea where Ebrook Lane was? Was it anywhere near Plants Brook/Terrys Lane?

 

[motorman-mike]

A ride on the old Midland Red 159 in the 1960's took you through Meriden to Coventry. On the right the Centre of England stores belonged to the famous Wrenson's at that time.

 

[Stitcher]

I really don't have a clue David apart from the fact that it is/was in Pype Hayes.

 

[Lloyd]

Stitch, any idea where Ebrook Lane was? Was it anywhere near Plants Brook/Terrys Lane?

Can't find an Ebrook Lane, but Ebrook Road is between Coles Lane and Coleshill Road, Sutton Coldfield.
https://maps.google.co.uk/maps?f=q&...58221,-1.820254&spn=0.01268,0.027637&t=h&z=15

 

[BazzM]

Love the pictures on #75 Stitch. Barry.