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Mary Street Balsall Heath

edcartermo said:
I have details of a death certificate for Bethia Oldham who died at 111 Mary Street, Balsall Heath, in 1877 so the photos and the map are of special interest to me, so thank you everyone. I have not found the number yet on the map, I am wondering if it may be up the passage that appears in the area thereabouts. Bethia was the wife of William Oldham of Oldham and Cooper, photographers at New Street, Birmingham. It is difficult to plot his movements but he seems to have moved to Mary Street as his residence and carried on some photography there whilst retaining the New Street premises. It is a huge disappointment to me that there has never been discovered any glass negative plates from his business nor any identifiable photos of his family. I wonder if a huge hoard of plates were found when the buildings were demolished! Thanks again to the remarkable Birmingham History forum buffs!
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This shows a William Oldham at Upper Mary St in 1867

william oldham 1867.PNG
 
When Upper Mary St was combined with Mary St , the numbering was altered also from consecutive to odd one side, even numbers the other. From the directories of 1892 and 1895, either side of the change, many of the occupants names are the same In particular; 1892 1895
110 Hirst 256 Hirst
111 - 254 Haynes
112 - 252 --
113Hudson 250 Hudson
(Sorry they haven't formatted very well)
From this I think it can be deduced that 111 was later no 254. Below are maps c1954 and c1889 showing the building

map c1954 showing 254 Mary St.jpgmap c1889 showing 111 upper Mary St.jpg
 
Hello all, hope you are keeping well.

Does anyone please have any images and/or maps of Upper Mary Street, please? Would also love to hear from those who also lived in or around Mary Street.

Thanks!
 
Hi Aaron welcome to the forum, have you tried using the search button and entering "upper mary" ? there seems to be quite a few posts.
 
evening all, the council installed buttresses for the council improvement initiative during the 1980's, would anyone happen to have any info on this?
 
mrbluesky1957 said:
Thank you, as usual a fast reply. The partly hidden house is the one I was hoping for. From your other photo 2002 it's a care home next door. I can see from the older pic that house was in the family for a fair few yrs. Having done a fair bit of ancestry, as usual never knew much about my parents until everyone had passed away. Was always told dad was from Small Heath, he was, Arthur Street. But he was born in Balsall Heath. The newspaper clipping was an amazing find by another clever kind guy. Never bothered researching my grandfather, Harold. He died tragically on new years eve 1930. I just thought he was probably enjoying himself. The front page of the Gazette told the story I didn't want, but gave me Alot of insight. He'd been out of work for a couple of yrs. Don't know why he was living in Dudley, dad's 2 sisters were born there. His first job and it was a hell of along way in those days from Dudley to Hams Hall. There were 12 workers in the back of a wagon, freezing weather. Truck skidded on ice, all 12 were thrown from it. My grandfather was the one that died impaled on railings. There was a photo of him and my dad aged 5 on his lap. Just glad I found out after going right back but not researching him. The accident happened at Minworth, still don't know where he was buried. He left £5. So I totally understand how hard my dad's and his mom and sisters lives must of been. Hence he wanted the best for me, I didn't always agree or wanted that. Thanks for the pic, brilliant.
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hi keith hope you are still looking in...just going back on this thread if you can give us your grandads surname we maybe able to find out where he is buried/cremated

lyn
 
Hi Lynn, great to hear from you. Glad your still going, gets harder but no complaints. His name was Harold Davis born 1900. Died new yrs eve 1929. First job in 2 yrs.. Travelling from Dudley then to build The New Hams Hall at the time.
Really weird, was just looking seeing if I could get help deciphering a news paper clip? It's South Wales gazette. Family moved from Wales to Brum. I still in touch with my mom's cousin. Amazing woman 85 with Ms on her own. Lived originally on Pershore Rd. 50 yrs in Harborne. Got close since my mom passed in 2015. The article is her father's sister. He died tragically in 1975, gas explosion, due to retire.
Thank you for remembering me. You've always been a gem. I think my grandfather was in a papers grave. He left £5.Thank you so much, Keith.
 
There is a burial for a Harold Davis at Brandwood End Cemetery in Jan 1930.

There are only a couple of deaths registered for a Harold Davis around that time and the other is in Havant, so could be yours.

His probate suggests he left £10.
 
Hey, so glad your still about.
Great to hear you also. As usual always helpful. I saw probate of £10. Didnt know where he was Is Brandwood End still contactable? Ive only got one Davis headstone. 1877 my gt gt grandfather. He died in The Royal Oak, Evesham Still the best pub there. Thank you so much Fate, I just was browsing. Astoness was in touch also..
 
Thats my great grandfather. Harolds father. We knew he was at Yardley. Really surprised and said burial. Was in a paupers grave. Was a master barber with 3 shops in brum. Never understood that.
 

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