Kings Heath Institute

[Vivienne14]

Does the Institute still exist ? I don’t seem to be able to see it on Streetview. Image dated 1907. Viv.

 

[pjmburns]

Went a number.of years ago. I don't remember it.

 

[Morturn]

It was on the corner of Institute Road and High Street. There is a Costa Coffee shop there now.

 

[pjmburns]

Morturn - I have a caption in a book for the same image which suggests the institute (built 1878 funded by J H Nettlefold) was demolished to make way for Woolworths. The building opposite demolished later to make way for shops was Kings Heath Board School.

 

[Phil]

I don't think it was Woolworths who demolished the Institute, well not at first anyway because as this photo shows they just adapted the building to suit their purpose although they might have been responsible for the later concrete box.

 

[ellbrown]

For many years Clarks Shoes was at the corner of Scots Corner before they moved into one of the middle ex Woolworths units.

Google Maps Street view of Scots Corner.

 

[pjmburns]

Thanks Phil but I wasn't sure which was the Institute and you have confirmed it is the opposite corner to where Costa Coffee now is - in the Clarke's building of Ell's photo.

 

[Vivienne14]

Re #5 - How unusual it must have been for a building like this to be part-converted into retail units for Woolworths, Timpsons, Butchers etc Viv

 

[Phil]

Thanks Phil but I wasn't sure which was the Institute and you have confirmed it is the opposite corner to where Costa Coffee now is - in the Clarke's building of Ell's photo.

Janice

The building opposite was a school that was used for senior, junior and infant pupils throughout the various phases of it's life from it's opening in 1878 when it opened as Kings Heath Board School until it closed in 1982 and it was demolished around 1990.

 

[pjmburns]

Thanks Phil that is what I thought then Morturn seemed to suggest the Institute was where Costa Coffee now is. That then confused me - I vaguely recall the school building and remember Clarke's being built.

 

[ellbrown]

After Woolworths collapsed they split the units into Poundland, Clarks and New Look. Looking on Google Maps Street View, New Look was already there to the right of Woolworths. Therefore Poundland and Clarks took over the remaining Woolworths units from 2010. Street map view jumps from 2008 to 2011.