goldy
proper brummie kid
Hi, I apologise if there is a suitable link/thread already in existence, but I have tried several searches on a variety of similar topics associated with this post. Anyway, here I go:
Anyone remember the London Brick offices and garage situated in the railway sidings in Anderton Road Small Heath?
I started work here as my first job as a junior clerk/checker after leaving school in 1965/66.
The office was a squarish wooden affair at the top end of the sidings almost opposite the Sydenham pub. Although watertight, it was boiling hot in Summer and freezing cold in Winter. It was split between the main office where I worked and the transport manager’s office. (Frank) My wage at the time was a princely £6/15/0 a week.
The people I can remember in the office were Mick Mehler (Senior Clerk), Bill Fellowes (an old chap who fought in the 1st World War as a cavalryman and who used to take snuff) and Doug.
The lorry fleet was looked after by a big bloke called Bert, who spent most of his time in the huge Nissen Hut garage at the farthest end if the sidings.
Apart from making the tea and doing general clerical work, I had to check the railway wagons in the sidings every day to make sure that there weren’t any extraneous bricks left in what should otherwise have been empty wagons, otherwise an extra charge (Demurrage) would have been incurred, and to count up the total wagons and note any that had had been partly emptied. Occasionally I would be allowed to allocate loads of bricks to the delivery drivers (2750 x 3” commons, or 3125 x 2 5/8”) and assign their delivery addresses. All these bricks had to be loaded and unloaded by the Driver and his mate maybe 8 times a day (4 deliveries). No palletised/banded bundles of bricks in those days!
it was ironic that shortly before I left in ‘68 that the company was actually delivering bricks to the new housing development on the old Hough & Co. clay pit and brickyards at Kings Road, Kings Heath that they had closed down probably 7 or 8 years earlier!
I can remember vividly when I was on ‘earlies’, riding my bike to work through the back streets of Sparkbrook - the place always reeked of burnt toast, and echoed to the morning prayers of the faithful.
Looking via Google Maps, the old office site is now covered by ‘Parts for Cars’ scrapyard, and the B’ham Hotel now stands where the Sydenham pub was.
Anyone remember the London Brick offices and garage situated in the railway sidings in Anderton Road Small Heath?
I started work here as my first job as a junior clerk/checker after leaving school in 1965/66.
The office was a squarish wooden affair at the top end of the sidings almost opposite the Sydenham pub. Although watertight, it was boiling hot in Summer and freezing cold in Winter. It was split between the main office where I worked and the transport manager’s office. (Frank) My wage at the time was a princely £6/15/0 a week.
The people I can remember in the office were Mick Mehler (Senior Clerk), Bill Fellowes (an old chap who fought in the 1st World War as a cavalryman and who used to take snuff) and Doug.
The lorry fleet was looked after by a big bloke called Bert, who spent most of his time in the huge Nissen Hut garage at the farthest end if the sidings.
Apart from making the tea and doing general clerical work, I had to check the railway wagons in the sidings every day to make sure that there weren’t any extraneous bricks left in what should otherwise have been empty wagons, otherwise an extra charge (Demurrage) would have been incurred, and to count up the total wagons and note any that had had been partly emptied. Occasionally I would be allowed to allocate loads of bricks to the delivery drivers (2750 x 3” commons, or 3125 x 2 5/8”) and assign their delivery addresses. All these bricks had to be loaded and unloaded by the Driver and his mate maybe 8 times a day (4 deliveries). No palletised/banded bundles of bricks in those days!
it was ironic that shortly before I left in ‘68 that the company was actually delivering bricks to the new housing development on the old Hough & Co. clay pit and brickyards at Kings Road, Kings Heath that they had closed down probably 7 or 8 years earlier!
I can remember vividly when I was on ‘earlies’, riding my bike to work through the back streets of Sparkbrook - the place always reeked of burnt toast, and echoed to the morning prayers of the faithful.
Looking via Google Maps, the old office site is now covered by ‘Parts for Cars’ scrapyard, and the B’ham Hotel now stands where the Sydenham pub was.
Last edited:
