Nechells Parkway

[macremus]

Hello all.
I have just joined the forum and wondered if any of you out there have any information or photos that can help me with my research into my short life in Birmingham.

I was was born in 1960 in Bham and left with my parents in the overspill to Daventry in 1968. From my family tree, the families on my moms and dads side have always lived there. I still have vivid memories of the short time I was there and would love to see pictures of the area around that time.

my gran and mother lived in Lennox St. As far as I know, gran lived there most of her life until it was demolished and she was moved to Carpenters Rd. Her Name was Florence (floss) Smith and my Garndad was Fred. She lived at 91 Lennox St. My mom (Val) moved from there in 1959 to her marital home St Martins St. Ladywood, after being married at Lozells Congregational Church. (I have seen a pic of that which Lyn has posted under a post headed Wheeler St) I remember living at her next home which was a block of flats in Heneage St. She thinks it was called Oak House.

Around 1964 we then moved to 14 Emcote Rd, a stones throw from the Villa. It is still there, but the other side of the street has been demolished and replaced with modern housing. Most of my memories are living here. I went to Yew St school, which doesn't look like it's changed much.

I came to a Villa match with a friend a few years ago. I took him to Emcote Rd to show him how close we lived to the ground. I was approached by some Asian guys, who lived there and basically told to sling our hooks! I explained that we were just visiting, but they became aggressive and we beat a hasty retreat. It really upset me to think that this was a sort of no go area? How this area and Lozells has changed. Such a shame.

My parents were good friends with the Read's. Alan and Janet. Alan was a barber (fingers) and had a shop just around the corner from Emscote on the roundabout where the Witton Arms and Aston Hotel are. I'm sure this area had a name, but can't remember. When they moved to Daventry, we came with them.

So any tales pics of Lennox St, Heneage St and Emscote Rd and Yew Stret School would be greatly appreciated.

Paul.

 

[jimbo]

macremus. Welcome to the Birmingham History Forum. I am sure you will have success in your in your search. There are a number of "threads" dedicated to Streets, Pubs etc; with loads o photos, so have a look in Forum Home (top of the page) and see what you can find. All the best, jimbo

 

[Astoness]

hello paul and welcome...if you search the forum you will certainly find photos of both heneage st and lennox st.....

all the best

lyn

 

[Phil]

Hi Paul

There are certainly photos of Heneage Street on the forum, try this thread,

https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=10613

I know you will find plenty of photos of Heneage St on there because I posted them. I also know there are photos of Lennox Street somewhere, try the search engine at the top right of the page that will help you to find places you are looking for.

 

[macremus]

I will have a good look Jimbo. Thank you.

 

[macremus]

Cheers Phil.

 

[mikejee]

It was Oak tree house, as can be seen on the c 1959 map below

 

[Phil]

Paul

Was the block of Flats you mention in Heneage Street a tower block or was it one of several blocks of maisonettes because they built both types in the area bounded by Heneage St. Windor St, Great Lister St and Henry St?

Sorry I've just read what you posted again and what Mike has added later. It's possible I might have a photo of Oak Tree House, I'll have a look and see what I have got.

 

[Phil]

Paul

I'm pretty certain the first tower block on the left here is Oak Tree House, it was one of the first of the new type of tower blocks to be built in the area. The previous four were built with bricks and unlike the ones shown here are still around today.

I remember this one going up because it was built about ten years before the others in the line, you can see they are a different design. I only lived about two minutes walk away and I had a mate who lived in the block on about the fifth floor, that was over fifty years ago. So I watched them being built and I even saw them being demolished although I wasn't still in the area then.

 

[macremus]

Hi Phil. It was a tower block, thank you Mikejee! Oak tree House.

 

[macremus]

Hi Phil. yes it was a tower block. I remember playing on the lifts. I was only 4 yrs old. They couldn't have been up for long? Thank you for posting the pic, that's great.