New Street City Centre Birmingham

[Vivienne14]

Yes, there's a lot of interesting buildings at this part of New Street. I see Rowans is now a Nandos but most of the late 1920s shop cladding has been retained. It looks very modern but dates back nearly 100 years ! Pity they didn't keep the original windows. A shop design at the forefront in the 1920s. Also we tend not to see beyond the ground floor (often quite ugly or characterless) shop front. You just need to look up above them to discover a wealth of interesting architecture of different styles and different periods.

 

[DavidGrain]

When I lead guided walks, especially in streets with shops, I always tell people to look up above the shop front.

 

[Vivienne14]

Absolutely David ! Glad you're doing that.

 

[Vivienne14]

A stereographic view of New Street. I don't know the date, but perhaps c1900. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but is it King Edwards School to the right. It might even be KEGs boys just in frame (right). Therefore is this looking towards High Street ?

 

[mikejee]

Yes Viv, to the right would be the School

 

[Vivienne14]

This (c1965) eventually replaced ........


........... this view. But the 1960s view has also changed once again.

 

[Richard Dye]

This (c1965) eventually replaced ........
View attachment 191578

........... this view. But the 1960s view has also changed once again.

View attachment 191580
View attachment 191579

Regarding the first photo, looks like something from East Germany during the Soviet occupation. What happened to style? Sorry.........

 

[Radiorails]

It is known as the 'neo brutalist' style Richard or 'cliff face' architecture.

 

[mikejee]

Regarding the first photo, looks like something from East Germany during the Soviet occupation. What happened to style? Sorry.........

Not completely Richard. That picture was shortly after the war. The really awful stuff came with the 1960-70s library, which was then replaced by the latest one where style (of a sort) completely conquers purpose

 

[Vivienne14]

New Street in 1963 - two ladies clearly having spent quite some time shopping. Theres a mysterious box on the pavement behind the bonnet of the car. Wonder what it was ?

 

[Astoness]

New Street in 1963 - two ladies clearly having spent quite some time shopping. Theres a mysterious box on the pavement behind the bonnet of the car. Wonder what it was ?View attachment 192717

nice photo viv no idea what the box is

lyn

 

[Morturn]

Looks like a tea chest, maybe a street trader?

 

[Donbogen]

Yea those tea chests were used by removal men
Damm those sharp bits

 

[Vivienne14]

Oh yes, of course. I can see the metal edging, seems to be lying on its side. Looks like some of the metal has come away. We kept some of these tea chests in our shed from one of our house moves. Yes they were lethal, full of splinters too.

 

[Donbogen]

Oh yes, of course. I can see the metal edging, seems to be lying on its side. Looks like some of the metal has come away. We kept some of these tea chests in our shed from one of our house moves. Yes they were lethal, full of splinters too.

And tea dust

 

[brummy-lad]

A different view of the Waterloo Bar (1895) as can be seen in posts #26, #332 and #394.

 

[BrumMack]

Lyn

Here is another, much better and earlier photo showing Christchurch as well.

Phil
Lost photo replaced by what I believe is same photo

View attachment 186462

Oldham and Cooper's top floor photographic studio can be see at the junction of New Street and Pinfold Street. According to Kelly's Directory Oldham and Cooper occupied those premises in the 1870s. The building still stands today.

 

[Vivienne14]

Bomb damage in New Street September 1941. Was this the damage to the New Street/High Street junction ? (ie High Street off to the right out of view ?)

 

[BrumMack]

A stereographic view of New Street. I don't know the date, but perhaps c1900. Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but is it King Edwards School to the right. It might even be KEGs boys just in frame (right). Therefore is this looking towards High Street ?

View attachment 186274

A full view of the front of Hyam's store on the left.

 

[Donbogen]

Bomb damage in New Street September 1941. Was this the damage to the New Street/High Street junction ? (ie High Street off to the right out of view ?)

View attachment 194864

Chesnut fencing erected miles of that stuf

 

[Morturn]

Chesnut fencing erected miles of that stuf

Its was standard Housing Department back garden fencing, miles of it.

 

[Donbogen]

Its was standard Housing Department back garden fencing, miles of it.

yea i must have fenced half the gardens of Kingstanding

 

[Morturn]

yea i must have fenced half the gardens of Kingstanding

The Housing Department had a guy called Stan Crump who was always working on fencing around Kingstanding

 

[Donbogen]

The Housing Department had a guy called Stan Crump who was always working on fencing around Kingstanding

What year what depot or sub depot i was fencing till i got put on planed maintaince was Stan made a chargehand

 

[Morturn]

What year what depot or sub depot i was fencing till i got put on planed maintaince was Stan made a chargehand

It was early 70's based at Collage Road. He did not become a charghand

 

[Eric Gibson]

We had those palings in our back garden 82 Hurlingham Road but the front was proper fences and gates when we were young, they were painted in a blue creosote finish, when VE Day happened a lot were wrecked by the kids and used on the celebration street bonfire.

 

[Radiorails]

So vandalism is not a recent thing?

 

[Eric Gibson]

I think after the war it was a case of 'Anything goes' Alan, I remember one lad bringing chucking the door of their outside loo on the fire. The damage couldn't have been any worse than our good neighbours the Germans did.

 

[Donbogen]

It was early 70's based at Collage Road. He did not become a charghand

morturn as you know we had PM,Voids,and Repairs at that time my memory fails me i only recall the name of my chargehand on Pm as Ron

 

[Astoness]

new st circa 1912