Just Outside Birmingham by Post Card.

[Stitcher]

BazzM, Although society has changed drastically over the years, many country place remain as they always have been, thank god.

 

[davidfowler]

Re Ebrook Lane, thanks Lloyd. I found the modern one like you but as Stich says it was in Pype Hayes I was looking on my old Alan Godfreys. Unfortunately they don't seem to go further East than sheet. 8.11. This shows Pype Hayes park and Plants Brook right at the top right hand corner. It also looks like what could be Terrys Lane going off the Chester road on the South edge of the park. I wondered if it can be found on the maps on British History Online?

 

[motorman-mike]

Still over in Coventry with attractive 1930's prewar art views. Interesting is to see the original Cathedral before the devastation of the war that left it as a burnt out shell..

 

[Stitcher]

Mike, you know the old saying about art; 'I dont know what's good or bad but I know what I like'. That is how I feel about architecture, and like most of the modern buildings in Birmingham, the new Coventry Cathedral is not nearly as attractive as the original.

 

[sospiri]

Back in Worcestershire and here's another fine old building that was almost completely demolished in 1926. Built in the 1770s, it was thought no longer suitable for a gentleman's residence. Prior to demolition, everything of value, such as staircases and fireplaces, was auctioned off and maybe still remain to grace other buildings somewhere in the locality. Just the old servants' quarters remains, now converted to a residence called "The Garden House" and up for sale again if you have 950,000 quid to spare!

Maurice

 

[sospiri]

Whilst still in Worcestershire, I must show you this picture of Witley Court in its heyday before the great fire of 1937. Now in the care of English Heritage, the fountains have been partially restored since my last visit many years ago. Although only the walls of this once great house now exist, the place is well worth a visit if you're within striking distance.

Adjacent to Witley Court is the Church of St Michael & All Angels with its wonderful painted ceiling - acknowledged to be the finest baroque church in England. My father's eldest brother was christened there many moons ago.

Maurice

 

[motorman-mike]

In the 1960's another good day trip from Brum in a different direction combined a visit to Crich Tramway Museum and on to Matlock Bath in Derbyshire. Still a good day out now with the improvements and extra trams at the tram museum in recent years.

 

[G G Jean]

My parents used to take me there Mike and loved it. Dovedale is a beautiful place too and we used to take our twins for days out. Lovely part of the country. Jean.

 

[motorman-mike]

My parents used to take me there Mike and loved it. Dovedale is a beautiful place too and we used to take our twins for days out. Lovely part of the country. Jean.

Jean, you are right about Dovedale. My Aunt and Uncle from Alum Rock in their younger days used to cycle there on a tandem and then go walking as well. It's certainly a lovely place for a bit of walking.
Mike

 

[motorman-mike]

Over to c1950's Stourbridge now.

 

[motorman-mike]

Now back over to Warwick in the 1970's and with the sort of weather we could just do with.

 

[davidfowler]

Following on Mike's Warwick pic, here's a scene we don't see now. West Street, Warwick.

 

[Stitcher]

I have a few pictures of old Sutton Coldfield. First is this map. It was hand drawn in about 1800 and hopefully it will be of use to locate where the pictures were taken.

After the map is this photo of Holy Trinity Church. These cottages on Church Hill were demolished sometime in the late 1930s.

 

[Stitcher]

Thse pictures I assume all relate to Sutton and the surrounding area. I obtained a small bag of them and the bag was labelled 'Sutton Coldfield'.
This one is titled Children Gathering sticks in Blackroot Glade at the turn of the century.

 

[Phil]

Another marvelous old photo, Solihull High Street, stated to have been taken in 1853. To be honest I think it looks too good a photograph to be that old.

It does show Solihull like it must have been in those days, similar to a country village.

There is not even a dog on the street.

Phil

 

[Stitcher]

That a lovely old picture pmc, I wouldnt know cow manure from a frogs foot about most of the scenes on this thread but that does not stop me looking and admiring them. Of course Solihull would have been a small village at one time and I cant help thinking what life must have been like in those days. I am grateful that you and some of the others can and do shed some light on most of the pictures.

 

[Rupert]

Just looking on the old map the Solihull picture was taken around Mill Street, I think, looking towards St Alphages (cant read it). Maybe the absence of people is because of the early time exposures necessary. Movment would not be recorded or only show up as a blurr maybe. They must have had great rose gardens in those days. Maybe the shot was taken on a Sunday when most were in church. Perhaps the shadows indicate an afternoon picture though. Great picture.

 

[chucka]

West Bromwich Train station, demolished in the late 60s, now a metro station.

 

[motorman-mike]

Surprising where people sent postcards from right up to the 1960's. Well known publishers Valentine's put these attractive views of Olton together.

 

[Stitcher]

These next few a little obscure but I am hoping they may be of interest to someone.

The first one is The Housekeeper, Mrs Wimpress outside Harry Greener's cottage in Grange lane Erdington. 1895.
The second one is winter in Terry Lane Erdington. 1890
I assume that these next two are on the other side of town.
Third is The garden of the old farm house in Edgbaston Lane. 1898
And fourth is The Mill in the same Lane. no date on this one.

 

[mikejee]

Can't find Edgebaston lane in directories back to 1855, but at https://forum.birminghamhistory.co.uk/showthread.php?t=3444&page=19 the same picture is shown and it is suggested that the mill is on the site of the Tally Ho club, or perhaps vice versa
Mike

 

[Stitcher]

Thanks for that Derek. I have a few of these and it is obvious they have been cut from a book at some time.

 

[lencops]

The Grand Hotel Birmingham, Year unknown possible 1900?. Len.

 

[Peter Walker]

Many thanks at all concerned for some more inspiring photos.
Just a detail for Stitch - It was Jerry's Lane, Short Heath, which I recall from my cycle rides had some odd old buildings in it in the 40s. It still exists, and I thought I saw some meaty historical stuff on a local web site, but the nearest Google has got me to it tonight is a history of Goosemoor Lane. There is also a lively pub in Jerry's Lane3 today. Must get there and do that!
Peter

 

[jennyann]

Hi Peter: Jerry's Lane was on "my patch" so to speak years ago and in recent times when I visit Brum, my brother and I drive to his place in Sutton Coldfield from Stockland Green via Jerry's Lane. "The Hovel" is the once abandoned cottage to which you refer. In recent times it was restored
and sold for quite a price. It is privately owned now. There is a description of the restoration at this site: https://www.picturesofengland.com/England/West_Midlands/Erdington/article/1045
There are other articles about "The Hovel" on the web, however, they
are under the control of Highbeam to which you have to subscribe after you have had one free read. It looks like they have quite a lot of Birmingham Mail and Birmingham Post historical articles "tied up".

The pub would be The Leopard wouldn't it. I have never been in it but have driven by it many times. Here is a photo with kind permission of Roy Hughes who took the photo.

 

[john knight]

Hello Stitcher,
Did you notice that the house on the left in the second photo is the house in the first photo, the two people in the doorway are probably the two who are standing in the hedge on the second one.
In all probability taken at the same time.
Regards John.

 

[john knight]

Just as a matter of interest.

 

[davidfowler]

The Grand Hotel Birmingham, Year unknown possible 1900?. Len.

Nice pic Len, don't suppose you could post, or IM me, a larger resolution copy please?
Cheers
David

 

[Stitcher]

Peter, I did check the picture and although its old and faded, it certainly looks as though it isays 'Terrys Lane'. Of course this could be a simple mistake or the way they wrote in those days. Thanks for all the effort from everyone who has an input about these old pictures.

 

[Stitcher]

John Knight, Now you have pointed it out I can see what you mean. I sometimes wonder what everyday life was like for the people in these pictures. The builders and other workmen also make me wonder about how much skill they must have had to turn out such good quality workmanship with inferior tools and such like.