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Kingshurst Shopping Parade

M

mrbluesky1957

master brummie
Trying to work my round of shops in late 60s and 70s. A family member also remembers a electrical shop. Tvs and repairs etc. We think it was the only local place to buy records. I'm sure I can recall seeing a weekly top 40 in the shop. Cannot recall the name. Remember Fosters on the corner, Paynes, Dillons. Various butchers, post office in the corner and hardware shop next door. Was The bookies Corrigans, not sure. Bunny's Plaice, struggling with rest. Any help gratefully received. Apologies if posted in The wrong place. Doctors, Foster, Cranston, Metha. Also the legend nurse. Suppose that has all been hopefully demolished now after all the promises. Thank you.
 
There was a florist, a small coop supermarket and the MEB shop (midlands Electricity Board) which sold household appliances. The post office was divided in two with a shoe shop, also an optician but I can’t recall the name, opposite the library entrance was a Midland bank. Hope this helps.
 
Thank you, I remember PO now was divided in two as a shoe shop. The bank I've been told was up until recently used by Hadfield opticians. Wow he must be getting on as I recall the name. I've been told the parade finally has been flattened. Must be 10 yrs of promises. Obviously Solihull Council didn't think much of Kingshurst.
Sadly I went back last year. Growing up there, wasn't the same. Mate who grew up with me from the age of 4 is on the coast. I'm in the countryside, times move on. Still have good memories, but no regrets.
 
I too have fond memories of growing up on the estate but as I remember the shopping centre being built it’s about time it was replaced. We moved to Kingshurst about 1958/9 and there was just a small parade of shops so the new centre was a vast improvement. The library was in a small community hall behind the church and the racks of books had to be pushed out of the way when in use for other purposes, there was a dance school there among other things. I moved away from the area many years ago but still visit family living nearby.
 
Jeanmarie said:
mrbluesky1957 said:
Trying to work my round of shops in late 60s and 70s. A family member also remembers a electrical shop. Tvs and repairs etc. We think it was the only local place to buy records. I'm sure I can recall seeing a weekly top 40 in the shop. Cannot recall the name. Remember Fosters on the corner, Paynes, Dillons. Various butchers, post office in the corner and hardware shop next door. Was The bookies Corrigans, not sure. Bunny's Plaice, struggling with rest. Any help gratefully received. Apologies if posted in The wrong place. Doctors, Foster, Cranston, Metha. Also the legend nurse. Suppose that has all been hopefully demolished now after all the promises. Thank you.
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Shops I remember, going from the Overgreen Drive end...
Paynes shoe repairers - Dillons newsagent - Greengrocers - Betting shop - M.E.B. shop - Chemist.
Going up the hill...
Opticians - Bragg's Bakers - Wool shop - George Mason Stores (later became VG Stores then Spa) - Hardware shop - Post Office + shoes.
Down the hill...
The Co-op - Barbers - Fishing tackle shop just around the corner.
In the tunnel... Norton the dentist (that name still gives me the shivers) - Solicitors office - Bank (Lloyds perhaps?)
Back along the bottom row...
Lynn's Candy Cabin - Launderette - Small glass display cabinet advertising record sleeves - Moss Electrical (for records too) - Off Licence - Foster Brothers (great corner for doing a 'Harry Worth').
Bunny's Plaice.

I'm sure others will fill in the gaps.

I moved there in 1961 and left in 1980.
 

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dry cleaners to right looking from tunnel. that is the dentist that broke my jaw and i had to go to bham dental to have it fixed..i lived across from there in redwood
:mad:
 
mw0njm. said:
dry cleaners to right looking from tunnel. that is the dentist that broke my jaw and i had to go to bham dental to have it fixed..i lived across from there in redwood
:mad:
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Even the grown-ups were scared of Norton!... And the doctor's surgery just around the corner with Dr Foster, Dr Cranston (who always had a fag on the go during examinations!) and the dominant figure of Nurse Harrison who ruled the place with a rod of iron!

Only other shops I remember.... "Harper's" down by the roundabout on Silverbirch Rd / Kingshurst Way.... Dillons in Dunton Rd.... And on Sundays, waiting for the mobile shop to come around.... Not forgetting the Tonibel icecream van!

I lived in Gilson Way from 1961 to 1968 and Dalewood Rd from 1968 to 1980.
 

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Jeanmarie said:
I too have fond memories of growing up on the estate but as I remember the shopping centre being built it’s about time it was replaced. We moved to Kingshurst about 1958/9 and there was just a small parade of shops so the new centre was a vast improvement. The library was in a small community hall behind the church and the racks of books had to be pushed out of the way when in use for other purposes, there was a dance school there among other things. I moved away from the area many years ago but still visit family living nearby.
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'Overgreen Hall' in Church Close.... We had Saturday morning pictures in there as a kid in the 60's.... Films like 'Tom Thumb' with Terry Thomas etc... The projector was just sat on a table at one end of the hall and projected onto a screen at the other.... Boiled sweets thrown into the air and lots of cheering, booing and laughing etc from a hall full of boisterous kids.... Much better than an X-Box!
 

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mrbluesky1957 said:
Trying to work my round of shops in late 60s and 70s. A family member also remembers a electrical shop. Tvs and repairs etc. We think it was the only local place to buy records. I'm sure I can recall seeing a weekly top 40 in the shop. Cannot recall the name. Remember Fosters on the corner, Paynes, Dillons. Various butchers, post office in the corner and hardware shop next door. Was The bookies Corrigans, not sure. Bunny's Plaice, struggling with rest. Any help gratefully received. Apologies if posted in The wrong place. Doctors, Foster, Cranston, Metha. Also the legend nurse. Suppose that has all been hopefully demolished now after all the promises. Thank you.
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One of my brothers worked at the electrical shop, the other brother worked in the co-op butchers, Mom worked in both Dillon shops one was previously named Candy Cabin. Mrs Holmes was well known member of staff in Bunny's place. Cranston, Foster, Leung, Metha, Nurse Harris from doctors surgery. The surgery is still going. Foster brothers I remember the guy member of staff with the ginger hair and freckles with a tape measure around his neck. Happy days
 
Wow Moss electrics, spot on. Remember them closing down. I bought all the vinyl singles that were sold off. Good times then.Bookies Corrigan's, used to stand outside when younger. Get someone to put a bet on my dad when he was ill.
 
mrbluesky1957 said:
Wow Moss electrics, spot on. Remember them closing down. I bought all the vinyl singles that were sold off. Good times then.Bookies Corrigan's, used to stand outside when younger. Get someone to put a bet on my dad when he was ill.
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Where abouts in Kingshurst did you live? I lived on the corner of Silverbirch Road opposite St Barnabas Church. My mom was the keyholder
 
mrbluesky1957 said:
I was baptised there lol.Dont know why, I had a newspaper round. The sports Argus around Silver birch rd. I lived in Meriden Drive.
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I was born in our family home and baptised there. I think my parents moved there in the 1950s and Mom died in 2008 so it was a good while. Mom went down the parade to get a few bits and ended up coming home 2 hours later. She would talk to everyone. Always in the hairdressers every Friday. Some parts unrecognisable now and people there have no shops, I think it's going to be a slow redevelopment
 
Slow, it's been going on over 10 yrs at least. It's North Solihull. Have relatives moved out of The Wood. Now under Fordbrige, think they have won the lottery. I went to Fordbrige infants, still in touch with a mate from the age of 4. Never know where you will end up.
 
mrbluesky1957 said:
Slow, it's been going on over 10 yrs at least. It's North Solihull. Have relatives moved out of The Wood. Now under Fordbrige, think they have won the lottery. I went to Fordbrige infants, still in touch with a mate from the age of 4. Never know where you will end up.
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Yes no doubt they will prioritise Solihull redevelopment now and forget Kingshurst. Moved to Marston Green, was nice once but now it's plunged
 
Yes had friends there. Unfortunately they said the same. The Tavern wasn't good. Even Coleshill has gone down. Used to go on a pub crawl in Coleshill. Sad really, I think The Centurion is still going.
 
Coleshill definitely gone down. I use the Costa there and the Morrisons and never seen any trouble but to live there I've heard all sorts. It's such a shame as it's such a quaint place. HS2 has driven people crazy. Too many Roadworks and diversions everywhere. I don't know where I'm going these days, old roads disappearing and new roads popping up all over the place. It's so confusing
 
Was visiting last year. HS2 has destroyed most places around that area. Water Orton, Gilson, Parts of Coleshill. Even the old wood yard is HS2. Looked a total wreck, even then, yes roadworks. Those lovely places not nice surrounds. I remember walking from Coleshill to Kingshurst or thumbing it. Glad I moved about and happy where the family are know. Saying that, houses shooting up everywhere. Just fate really.
 
mrbluesky1957 said:
Was visiting last year. HS2 has destroyed most places around that area. Water Orton, Gilson, Parts of Coleshill. Even the old wood yard is HS2. Looked a total wreck, even then, yes roadworks. Those lovely places not nice surrounds. I remember walking from Coleshill to Kingshurst or thumbing it. Glad I moved about and happy where the family are know. Saying that, houses shooting up everywhere. Just fate really.
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It has. I'd love to move but no idea where. Wish I'd thought about it 10 years ago. I never thought for a minute that the area would deteriorate this bad and so fast
 
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