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Kings Hall Market

F

flossiefoster

master brummie
When I was a small child which would have been from about 1955 (I was born in 1952 and lived in Shirley) my mother used to take me on the bus into Birmingham where we would go to her favourite place to shop - The King's Hall Market. I vaguely remember being taken around the indoor market and being aware of the crush with people everywhere. On one occasion, we stopped at a stall where there were gold rings for sale. My mother bought one for me and then had it engraved with my name "Denise". I remember nothing else about the market or where it was. Can someone enlighten me please? How long had the market been there and when did it close?
 
flossiefoster said:
When I was a small child which would have been from about 1955 (I was born in 1952 and lived in Shirley) my mother used to take me on the bus into Birmingham where we would go to her favourite place to shop - The King's Hall Market. I vaguely remember being taken around the indoor market and being aware of the crush with people everywhere. On one occasion, we stopped at a stall where there were gold rings for sale. My mother bought one for me and then had it engraved with my name "Denise". I remember nothing else about the market or where it was. Can someone enlighten me please? How long had the market been there and when did it close?
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I never went to Kings Hall Market but it was on Corporation St. opposite to The Old Square. Knocked down to build Inner Ring Rd. so would have been early 1960's Found this picture on Facebook.
 

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flossiefoster said:
When I was a small child which would have been from about 1955 (I was born in 1952 and lived in Shirley) my mother used to take me on the bus into Birmingham where we would go to her favourite place to shop - The King's Hall Market. I vaguely remember being taken around the indoor market and being aware of the crush with people everywhere. On one occasion, we stopped at a stall where there were gold rings for sale. My mother bought one for me and then had it engraved with my name "Denise". I remember nothing else about the market or where it was. Can someone enlighten me please? How long had the market been there and when did it close?
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The Kings Hall was built in 1897 and was next door to The Grand Theatre on Corporation Street. The Kingshall started life as on assembly hall and the HQ of a non conformist church. It opened as a variety and music hall 1907. It became a cinema in 1912 and also contained a billiard hall. It changed name twice to The Royal Cinema De Luxe and then Corporation Street Picture House. In 1918 it was renamed Back to Kings Hall.

In 1932 the building opened as market hall and went on to be demolished in around 1963.
 

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devonjim said:
I never went to Kings Hall Market but it was on Corporation St. opposite to The Old Square. Knocked down to build Inner Ring Rd. so would have been early 1960's Found this picture on Facebook.
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Well done. For some silly reason as well as being a small child, I thought it was close to the Bull Ring. Where was/is The Old Square because I'm not sure that I know that. Please forget that I said that because I have just come across the map at the top of the page. I see the Minories which were close to Lewis' I seem to remember. I will sit and mither over that map to see if it helps.
 
Janet Hunt said:
This Picture on this link is supposed to be the inside of the Market hall (found on pinterest). Not certain when it was taken or if it is. Seems odd as it appears to have windows either side and Globe Theatre was next door (unless of course the market was long). Maybe Flossie can recall seeing this ceiling.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/475763148126749002/
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Janet, unfortunately, I can't. I remember it was packed with people and that the stalls were right next to each other. I seem to remember I wasn't tall enough to look over the top of the stalls but my eyes were rather level with them. I don't remember looking up at the ceiling but remember that the place seemed huge and rammed full of people, stalls and things for sale. My mother never discussed it with me after that and I am far from sure we ever went again. Thank you for digging around to find these references. I am very grateful because it has been something in the back of my mind during lockdown would you believe it. I still have the tiny signet ring that my mother bought there and had engraved with my name. I must have been about 4 or 5 years old I would think because any younger than that I wouldn't have been able to walk all that way and I wouldn't have had a pushchair as we would have gone into town on the bus. Pushchairs in those days were heavy and I would have been too big for one anyway.
By the way, was the Kings Hall Market built for that purpose or was it something else before then. It looks very much like a chapel with a gallery at the back - or perhaps it was a dance hall?
Sorry, Janet. I have just read the post at the top of the page which tells about the opening of the market and what the building was before that. I started at the bottom and worked my way up.
 
Janet Hunt said:
The Kings Hall was built in 1897 and was next door to The Grand Theatre on Corporation Street. The Kingshall started life as on assembly hall and the HQ of a non conformist church. It opened as a variety and music hall 1907. It became a cinema in 1912 and also contained a billiard hall. It changed name twice to The Royal Cinema De Luxe and then Corporation Street Picture House. In 1918 it was renamed Back to Kings Hall.

In 1932 the building opened as market hall and went on to be demolished in around 1963.
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Fascinating, it is such a pity that those magnificent Victorian buildings have gone so the city centre has lost that character. Thank you Janet. That has settled my mind on that subject now. During lockdown my mind has pondered on subjects I never had time to ask about when I was a lot younger and far more able. Now my mind thinks about those times I don't have anyone in the family to ask questions of. Thank you all, very much.
 
flossiefoster said:
Fascinating, it is such a pity that those magnificent Victorian buildings have gone so the city centre has lost that character. Thank you Janet. That has settled my mind on that subject now. During lockdown my mind has pondered on subjects I never had time to ask about when I was a lot younger and far more able. Now my mind thinks about those times I don't have anyone in the family to ask questions of. Thank you all, very much.
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Thank you Flossie for giving me the opportunity to research a building that I myself never set foot in, it has been interesting, and your memories are what inspired me to delve further.
 
Janet Hunt said:
Thank you Flossie for giving me the opportunity to research a building that I myself never set foot in, it has been interesting, and your memories are what inspired me to delve further.
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Thank you for researching it for me, Janet, and it's good to know that you found pleasure in looking into it too. I hadn't realised that the building was demolished around 1963 when I was 11 or so. That explains why I never heard of or saw it again. My mother used to do a lot of sewing and it was there, I think, that she used to go for sewing materials, reels of cotton etc.
 
Astoness said:
kings market

lyn

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Despite being so small when I went there with my mother I found it an atmospheric and fascinating place with activity all round me. Goods were laid out on what I think were trestle tables so there were rows and blocks of reels of cotton, piles of zips, glassware, materials and so much more that I couldn't take it in. I still have a small, gold signet ring which my mother had engraved with my first name, Denise, in a lovely script which is clear and well written. I remember that ring just fitting my thumb but now it just about fits my little finger. I never knew there were amusements there but only know that from the picture above. It was a fascinating place and I remember looking down at the floor boards which were dark grey and dirty with the constant footfall. A happy feeling has just wrapped itself round me as I remember just those few memories. I couldn't have been more than about 3 or 4 years old.

Thank you for your post, Lyn. I hope your research into the building was a worthwhile venture. The memories evoked here have certainly been that for me.
 
I never went in the place. My guardian went in - to buy whatever elderly ladies bought - and I was told to wait in Old Square. That was no hardship for a young boy as I was able to watch the trams ans buses as they went past. ;)
 
I just wish that I could see inside it today as I saw it all those years ago (about 65 or so). I can't remember seeing the ceiling but it looks as though it should have been a theatre or swimming baths. It must have been wonderful when first built in 1897. My grandfather was born in 1895 (in Kings Heath) and went to the Central Secondary School in Suffolk Street until 1911/12 of which he was so proud.
 
MWS said:
Map from 1950...

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Looking at this map - thank you, it's really a good one - does anyone know what was built (if anything) on top of the Friends Meeting House and the neighbouring Burial Ground next door - between Bull Street and Upper Priory? What was the burial ground called and was there a church or chapel attached to it? I remember the Minories from the days of going to Lewis's with my mother (stockings 1s11d a pack!).
 
flossiefoster said:
Looking at this map - thank you, it's really a good one - does anyone know what was built (if anything) on top of the Friends Meeting House and the neighbouring Burial Ground next door - between Bull Street and Upper Priory? What was the burial ground called and was there a church or chapel attached to it? I remember the Minories from the days of going to Lewis's with my mother (stockings 1s11d a pack!).
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Current Google shot shows Friends Meeting place still there, many years ago I saw, I think Tibetan Buddhists, doing a talk there.
 

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Kings Hall Market

Wal I was too small and always got chased out of the Amusement Arcade, even at the age of 14 I was only 4ft 10 inches and looked about 10 years of age. Luckily I sprouted up about 6 inches in my last year at school. This is a photo of the Shalimar that was in Lower Priory underneath the...
birminghamhistory.co.uk birminghamhistory.co.uk
 
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