Lewis's Department Store

[oldMohawk]

Another picture of the building before Lewis's ...

A view of Old Square c1900 showing a large three arm street lamp and another lamp on a decorative arch near the underground conveniences. The large lamp might be the one mentioned in post#544. The Newbury's building with turrets topped by cupolas makes a nice back scene.

 

[tim eborn]

fantastic photos col...what a wonderful building newburys was with its at least 3 domes...so sad it was destroyed

i have always maintained that although the written word is great the photograph is greater and has much more pulling power and without them we can only imagine what birmingham once looked like...thanks so much

lyn

Well said !

 

[Astoness]

great photo OM..didnt we once have some spendid buildings in the city centre and there is no excuse for pulling them down as most were still in great shape and would still be here now..i wonder if in 100 years time nay even 50 years time they will say this about the lifeless ones with no great architecture we have now got going up...

lyn

 

[John L]

A bit off topic, but Colroy07's map (posted @ 987) showing Old Square as it once was, peaked my interest in Berlin House & The Grand Theatre. Here are a couple of photographs I've found, that show both Berlin House (when still standing behind the new Lewis's - posted by mikegee 11 years ago on a Berlin House thread on this site) and The Grand Theatre (opened in 1883, converted into a cinema in 1930, later becoming The Grand Casino & Ballroom until 1960 and sadly demolished in 1963 -picture 3):

 

[Richard Dye]

great photo OM..didnt we once have some spendid buildings in the city centre and there is no excuse for pulling them down as most were still in great shape and would still be here now..i wonder if in 100 years time nay even 50 years time they will say this about the lifeless ones with no great architecture we have now got going up...

lyn

Lyn, we sure did have some splendid building! and I doubt 50 years from now let alone 100 they will say the same. It seems like the new building do not last!

 

[Colroy07]

 

[A Sparks]

View attachment 169787

When traffic used to come through the Minories

 

[Colroy07]

old square

 

[TerryD147]

great photo OM..didnt we once have some spendid buildings in the city centre and there is no excuse for pulling them down as most were still in great shape and would still be here now..i wonder if in 100 years time nay even 50 years time they will say this about the lifeless ones with no great architecture we have now got going up...

lyn

I was horrified when as a youngster in the 1950s I saw the vandalism of great old buildings taking place. I had hoped that wiser counsels would prevail these days, but it would seem the same process is happening even now!

 

[Gerry Cannell]

View attachment 169787

A Bradfords Bread delivery fpr someone, in a Commer Van. Happy bygone times.

 

[TerryD147]

The van is actually a Ford Thames ET7, going through the memorable site of the Minories, but I surely do remember seeing smaller local delivery vans (where I lived in Yardley Wood) and I'm prettyy sure they were small Commer vans. Happy days!

 

[Colroy07]

The other end

 

[Vivienne14]

Two stores in 1926 but one business and calling itself “The Shopping Centre”. Viv.
Source: British Newspaper Archive

 

[Ernie B]

I remember Lewis's having animals in cages, one was a polecat I got to understand what it meant to "smell like a Polecat".

Ernie

 

[Gerry Cannell]

The ROOF TOP ZOO was a favourite in the fifties for us kids.

 

[John L]

This topic is full of great photographs and memories of this flagship store, that I always liked to drop into when in town. Here are a couple more photographs that are all taken at the same spot, the first two of which are around six months early):

 

[Maria Magenta]

The ROOF TOP ZOO was a favourite in the fifties for us kids.

I wish I could remember it.

 

[Brummie a long time ago]

I wish I could remember it.

Me too. I was taken to Lewis's in the 50s, but I simply cannot call up any memories of that part. It is quite possible that my parents never took me up there, but looking back on other experience enhancing things, such as Dudley Zoo visits, it would seem likely that we went.
Andrew.

 

[John L]

Having looked back at this topic today, the Roof Top Zoo is mentioned a few times on earlier pages, perhaps a few memories might be jogged by the descriptions and pictures, that have been posted (such as on pages 38 - 41)?

 

[Maria Magenta]

Having looked back at this topic today, the Roof Top Zoo is mentioned a few times on earlier pages, perhaps a few memories might be jogged by the descriptions and pictures, that have been posted (such as on pages 38 - 41)?

I seem to remember a stream with a tiny bridge?

 

[Richard Dye]

Me too. I was taken to Lewis's in the 50s, but I simply cannot call up any memories of that part. It is quite possible that my parents never took me up there, but looking back on other experience enhancing things, such as Dudley Zoo visits, it would seem likely that we went.
Andrew.

Andrew, I really liked Dudley Zoo, the best part I always remember was the Castle!

 

[mw0njm.]

the water feature on the roof. my brother fell in it. and lewis's gave mom a complete set of new cloths for him.

 

[Terence David Lines]

Only thing I remember about Lewis’s. Father Christmas Grotto was always on the top floor.

 

[mw0njm.]

I never found out who the ek uncle holly was

 

[Terence David Lines]

I was horrified when as a youngster in the 1950s I saw the vandalism of great old buildings taking place. I had hoped that wiser counsels would prevail these days, but it would seem the same process is happening even now!

Well as a friend of mine who is married to a German girl says. Birmingham Planning did more damage to Birmingham than the Luftwaffe ever did.

 

[John L]

Uncle Holly used to herald herald the arrival of Father Christmas at Lewis's, here is one of his badges mw0njm:

 

[A Sparks]

I think I had one of those badges, I certainly remember Uncle Holly!

 

[Vivienne14]

Uncle H looked a bit scary to be honest - well at least on the badge ! Although a BIG fan of Christmas and am an early Christmas decorator, I’m not too keen on Father Christmas or Mr Holly. Sorry folks, goes against all we teach children to not put their trust in strangers. As a child I was not keen on people ‘imitating’ Santa at all. And prefer them at a distance today. Just my opinion. Viv.

 

[jmadone]

Apparently Lewis' weren't the only store with an Uncle Holly

I wonder which one came first and were there any copyright issues?

 

[NoddKD]

Uncle H looked a bit scary to be honest - well at least on the badge ! Although a BIG fan of Christmas and am an early Christmas decorator, I’m not too keen on Father Christmas or Mr Holly. Sorry folks, goes against all we teach children to not put their trust in strangers. As a child I was not keen on people ‘imitating’ Santa at all. And prefer them at a distance today. Just my opinion. Viv.

You have to trust Santa,how else would you get presents at Christmas? He always brings just what I put in my letter.


NoddKD. Still innocent even after 69 years.