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Kingstanding

  • Thread starter Thread starter margaret
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Hi Viv my brother in law lived in Warren road till last year two doors down from the church. You are right it is a steep hill. Was the social club up a gulley on the left of Warren road when you lived in the area?. Jean.
 
Hi Jean. Afriad I don't remember the social club. I lived in Kingstanding from '53 until 70's. It's quite funny because it's often not until you see pics of these places that it jogs your memory. Lots of the names seem familiar but I can't always recall where the places were!! And I haven't been back there for a very long time. However I do remember quite a lot about Hawthorn Road itself as a shopping area. Seeing George Mason's shop in one of the earlier pictures brought back some memories of shopping there. These grocery shops were typical I suppose before the supermarkets moved in. My mum worked at Bywaters meat shop too which was on Kingstanding Road (the row of shops which curl round to Dyas Road - Lathams was the big drapers on that corner, I think). Further along that row of shops on Kingstanding Road there used to be a hardware shop (possibly named Jones??) - sold everything. Loved it in there. I suppose these shops were the lesser known or remembered shops as the main shopping area was then on Hawthorn Road. Viv
 
hi all....as you all know the old odeon cinema is mecca bingo now and one day next week the manager has said he will give me a guided tour of the building and i can take pics....its retained many of the art decco features (thank goodness) including the lighting hand rails..pillars and stairs....all the orginal cinema seats are still in place up in the gods and there is also the old projection room and a flat that i will be shown round....cant wait for this.....

lyn
 
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Hello, I hope you do take lots of photos of the old lady in Kingstanding, if you can take lots in the projection room as I
love to see the operation suits as we projectionists called them, and pleased post them here.
 
hi andrew i will be posting the pics under the cinemas.theatres and rinks thread....hope to get some good ones.....

lyn
 
Look forward to seeing the pics Lyn. Went to Saturday morning shows there quite a few times in the 50's but can't for the life of me remember any of the films I saw. Probably too busy messing around! Enjoy your visit. Viv.
 
My neighbours daughter works at the Bingo Hall and it has just been re furbished. I will ask her if she has some old photo's of when it was a cinema. Jean.
 
Hello mossg I remember the Allens shop the house to the right down the hill was doctor Massey;s house i used to go to him in the 1940;s and 50;s
 
I have only lived in Kingstanding for 6 years I know that many years ago that it had a bad reputation I live in a quiet avenue off Danesbury Crescent and can honestly say that in those 6 years i have led a very peacful existance things are changing for the better
 
Re: kingstanding Greenholme road

Hi Mauricesellars if i remember rightly the Sand pits was at the bottom of Rough Road not far fron Sutton Park
when we was kids we used to dig in the sand pits all sorts of items what the Americans took off the German prisoners
when they were held in the camp in the park.
 
Hello Richard Shephard. I and my two younger brothers went to Christ the King Sc hool until we were 11 years. I then went to Dulwich Road Sec. Mod. and my brothers went to Erdington Abbey. Our surname was Hemus. Mr. Howard was the Hwad Master whilst I was there. Miriam.
 
I lived in Kingstanding from 1953 until 1976, and have really enjoyed reading this thread, it has bought back sooo many memories, every time I read a shop name I go...oooh yes, I remember that one. I used to have a saturday job in Littlewoods and we bought our wedding rings from Tranters the Jewellers. Does anyone remember the "posh" dress shop( can't remember the name) on the Kingstanding Road, on the run of shops where Lathams and Kirtons was, I think there was then a betting shop a few doors away?
 
Andrew glad you liked the picture, unfortunately, on the 3 buses shown a number cant be seen. This is where you got off the bus and started your long walk to Sutton Park (I think).
 
Hello again, way back when I was a lot younger I walked all the way to Hednesford from the circle after missing the last bus, think it took me about 2 to 3 hours, dark and raining too but I got home in one piece, I only ever did that once and I started the walk from just by some shops on the road that goes to Sutton Park, is it Banners Gate.
 
Hi, Great picture of the circle, Carolina, The buses you can see would be either the 29 or the 29a, the latter went on from there to turn up Kettlehouse road and head for the Pheasey, I think it may have turned around in those days at the Trees Public house. The 29 would empty there, outside the Kingstanding public house, and go around the island to stop outside the post office, ready for its journey back into Birmingham. Just to sit and gaze at the picture brings back so many memories, Thank you.
 
kingstanding road when it was known as holly lane..dated 1900

the same road in 1928 taken near the circle with kettlehouse farm and the bandy woods in the background..

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kingstanding circle looking towards sutton..1923

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warren farm cottage..1921

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Great photos Lyn. Warren Farm Cottage is not your average farm or cottage is it? It definitely mimics Perry Hall architecture. Some architect went to a lot of effort to develop that design. From other discussions on the forum (remember the "Poole Farm Cottages, Rodwell Drive" thread?) I think Warren Farm probably had an important place in the area. It was probably linked to Pool Farm Cottages. I expect it also had something to do with Lodge Pool. Another feature that came out on that thread that there was probably a dam nearby. Putting two and two together (and making 5!) I'd guess that that's the reason Warren Farm was located there in the first place. But I wonder if they were doing more than just farming. Maybe they were using the water power around to work machinery? I also wonder if, because of the natural resources, this very site was developed way back even in roman times, this being near to Icknield St (or Way) Who knows, but I find this utterly fascinating as there's only a few remaining glimpses of this past rural life around in the area. Viv.
 
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