Lad in the lane

[Frothblower]

This is what greets me every time I walk into my Pub, "wonderful":love:

 

[mike-g]

Look after it Froffy, another two pubs in Lichfield boarded up this week, it seems like the end of the traditional english pub.

 

[davidfowler]

Hi Chris,
Still haven't managed to meet you in there yet for a pint, but it is a long way from Banbury!
Great to see the ceilings the way I imagine they were when my Grandad used to walk past the Navigation (just up the road from where he lived) to drink there and also play football for the pub team. Thanks again for the photo you sent but I still can't spot the likeness of any of them to be certain he was on it.
BTW, the print of the Navi states "Eadington", should of course be Erdington!:redface:

 

[Frothblower]

Never seen that photo of the Navi before. Nice one Dave.

 

[lencops]

The Navigation Pub is now named the Spice Island, selling all you can eat Chinese, Thai etc food.

 

[Frothblower]

The Navigation Pub is now named the Spice Island, selling all you can eat Chinese, Thai etc food.

NO it's "Buffet Island"
At least it's still standing, not like the demise of other Pubs.:angry:

 

[dereklcg]

Hi Chris,
Still haven't managed to meet you in there yet for a pint, but it is a long way from Banbury!
Great to see the ceilings the way I imagine they were when my Grandad used to walk past the Navigation (just up the road from where he lived) to drink there and also play football for the pub team. Thanks again for the photo you sent but I still can't spot the likeness of any of them to be certain he was on it.
BTW, the print of the Navi states "Eadington", should of course be Erdington!:redface:

had a few in the navi in its hey day the wifes father used it as well as the lad lived in bromford cresent the wifes sister still does.
we had our wedding reception of a sort in there,do you remember danny mc alindon,s pic up in the bar?happy days regards dereklcg.

 

[beaglehole]

I work down the road from The Lad in the Lane, never been in, always favoured The Armada which is probably a bit nearer.

I'll go in tomorrow, just to see if it's as good as the OP say it is.

I'll report back tomorrow.

 

[Lloyd]

The Lad in the Lane, Wood End - wasn't that originally the Old Green Man?

 

[davidfowler]

Hi Froffy,
I bought the print on ebay (where else) a couple of months back, it's an original architect's print of the plan for the pub. A lot of the general design seems to have gone ahead but the last time I walked around it (Dec last year) it seems that some things have been omitted or altered. I should be going to Central Library and BMSG next week so I'll try to take a pic from the same point as the print and compare.
Several of my "lot" lived in the Bromford Lane/Wheelwright Road triangle (including me until I was 7) and so the Navi was our local. When I moved around the corner into Tyburn Road I used to walk down on a Sunday to the Valour Sports ground to have a kick-about and then go over to my Nan's house where she'd give me a bitter shandy (very weak I imagine as I was only 8 to 12 ish).:sick:

 

[Frothblower]

I work down the road from The Lad in the Lane, never been in, always favoured The Armada which is probably a bit nearer.

I'll go in tomorrow, just to see if it's as good as the OP say it is.

I'll report back tomorrow.

I will have to do like wise, I have never been to the Armada. I will have a reconnoiter some day.
I have never said the Lad is perfect but I like it

 

[davidfowler]

If you look at the grond floor plan, (if you can make it out) it shows the left hand bay window, just behind the double gates, as the Smoke Room. Here's a pic I took last December of what seems to be the same. Incidentally, the print was by Herbert T Buckland, Architect and appeared in the Building News Oct. 21st 1898. Another bit of info, the Navi was originally on the south side of the canal opposite Wood Lane.

 

[Frothblower]

Hi Dave, just off to work I'll reply later.

 

[Dave M]

The old Navigation

 

[Dave M]

A few of the Lad in the Lane

 

[Frothblower]

Can anyone remember the Lad in the lane having the pub sign reading Ye Olde Green Man on one side and the Lad in the Lane on the other. I don't remember but my brother is adamant their was.

 

[dereklcg]

The Lad in the Lane, Wood End - wasn't that originally the Old Green Man?

hi Lloyd you,re right it was the old green man,
but where,s the wood end bit come from?
as far as i know it,s just bromford lane erdington,my wife lived in
the cresent to the right of it and her sister in the block of flats
next door on the left on the corner,i,ve just looked at an a- z and wood end lane finishes at kingsbury rd and bromford lane starts,is that where you,re coming from? regards dereklcg.

 

[davidfowler]

DaveM
Thanks for the pics of the Navi. It looks like there are more similarities to the original plan than I thought.
Having re-visited the Lad for a pint, I'll have to see what I can do in the Navi. (Other than special fried rice!)

 

[Frothblower]

If you look at the grond floor plan, (if you can make it out) it shows the left hand bay window, just behind the double gates, as the Smoke Room. Here's a pic I took last December of what seems to be the same. Incidentally, the print was by Herbert T Buckland, Architect and appeared in the Building News Oct. 21st 1898. Another bit of info, the Navi was originally on the south side of the canal opposite Wood Lane.

I am not really convinced it's the same pub. Maybe it was the one on
the other side of the canal, as you said.

 

[Mossy]

Froth the lad is a very old pub with some good history,i have drank in there from time to time

There are two pubs with those vaulted ceiling's that i have drank in The Shoes Kings Heath and The Fordrough West Heath do you know anymore

Mossy

 

[Alberta]

Frothblower,if you are a long time regular you might remember my late brother in law and my sister.
Until he passed away in 1999 they spent Friday Night,Saturday night and Sunday lunchtime at the Lad,along with many friends.
He was a tall quite Irishman and Norma has the loudest laugh in the world,everyone in Erdington seems to know her.,She could drink for England but she has slowed down now.

 

[Lloyd]

hi Lloyd you,re right it was the old green man,
but where,s the wood end bit come from?

If you come down Wood End Lane from Erdington (Pics 1 & 2) it changes at Kingsbury Road to Bromford Lane. I read somewhere (but stupidly didn't record where) that the area from there south was called Wood End. Rookery House in Rookery Park, Kingsbury road, was originally called Wood End House https://www.rookery-house.co.uk/history.htm
By the time of the 1880's map (pic 3) it was Bromford, and past the canal there is a Wood Lane. I got the feeling there was a huge wood there, one of many which were felled and disappeared when timber was the main construction material for buildings and ships.
Note also the map shows the Navigation South of the canal: Tyburn Road is of course modern, shown on the new map (pic 4) : Canal lane which links Wheelwright Road and Bromford Lane north of the canal is still there, but not much more than a track now.

 

[davidfowler]

Hi Lloyd,
Nice old pic of Wood End Road.
On my photo here, Canal Lane is over the blue painted gates on the left. The pic was taken from the canal bridge over Wheelwright Road looking towards the bridge over Bromford Lane.

 

[Astonian]

HI MIKE,
Yes Our Pubs Are Dying And Disapearing Fast Thick Andd Thin
I Heard Yesterday That The Jug Of Ale Is Finally Closing Its Doors Tomorrow
Yet Another One For The Bull dozers I ,VE Heard Its A Housing Complex Coming Up The Village Of Moseley As If Not Already Gone To The Dogs
I,VE Seen It Deteriate Slowly Over The Years In Time Gone Bye
I Worked In The Area Repossing Houses ,Its A Shame Really His
And Wake Green Road , -Well What Can You Say Bout That ,
The Brewery,s Are Into Food Now Thats Where The Money Is ,
Still There Are A Couple Of Well Known Cowboys Out There Whom I Know But Will Not Name Them Will By Them Of The Brewery , The Pubs ,
They Have Got Now Are The SELLOff,s Living Off The BACKS Of The Down An Outs ALOCHOLICS So Enjoy Your Tipple Now Why You Can ,
Best Wishes ASTONIAN ,;;;

 

[Catkin]

The Navigation Bromford. What an incredibly intriguing Inn the navigation must have been...Cat

 

[Frothblower]

Hope you don't mind I thought I'd ask again-

Can anyone remember the Lad in the lane having the pub sign reading Ye Olde Green Man on one side and the Lad in the Lane on the other. I don't remember but my brother is adamant their was.

 

[Frothblower]

This picture is hanging in the Lad in the Lane ( Old Green Man)
After days of taking photos without too much flash off the glass, here it is.

 

[davidfowler]

Nice pic there Froth.

 

[lencops]

The Lad in the Lane pub is officially the oldest pub in Brum, carbon dating was done on the timbers and they were found to be over 400yrs old it was built before the Crown pub, Digbeth.

 

[Frothblower]

The Lad in the Lane pub is officially the oldest pub in Brum, carbon dating was done on the timbers and they were found to be over 400yrs old it was built before the Crown pub, Digbeth.

You are partly right lencops.
The Lad in the Lane ( Green Man)is the oldest building in Birmingham, some Churches are older. The Crown pub is still the oldest Pub because the Lad in the Lane ( Green Man) has not always been a pub.