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Newtown

I crossed-paths at Christmas with a retired social worker who worked in that area and I am hoping the two of us and the necessary technology can get together in the near future and put together some more background.

It would be nice if someone recognises themselves! I was thinking that maybe those children wouldn't have had many photographs taken of themselves at that time but maybe we only recognise ourselves as children because our relatives were able to point us out in old photographs?
 
Astoness said:
thought i would put this pic on. its taken in new john st west newtown 1967. on the right you can just see the old houses are still up. maybe someone will recognise these three lads. wales
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I lived in John St the other side of Newtown Row i the late 40's 50's..
 
Spargone said:
I crossed-paths at Christmas with a retired social worker who worked in that area and I am hoping the two of us and the necessary technology can get together in the near future and put together some more background.

It would be nice if someone recognises themselves! I was thinking that maybe those children wouldn't have had many photographs taken of themselves at that time but maybe we only recognise ourselves as children because our relatives were able to point us out in old photographs?
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god willing they are out there somewhere spargone...fingers crossed some may turn up on this forum.. :)

lyn
 
thanks viv..just trying to place where brooks tower was situated

edit it was demolished in 2002...clifford walk
 

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Brooks Tower was a 20 storey tower block in the Newtown area of Aston, Birmingham. Plans for the block were approved in 1968, along with Wiggin Tower and Hodgson Tower, as the final tower blocks in the Newtown area. Construction was completed in 1971 by Bryant using the Bison construction technique. It was 57 metres tall and contained 118 flats.Birmingham-tower-blocks-6.jpg
 
mw0njm. said:

​

Brooks Tower was a 20 storey tower block in the Newtown area of Aston, Birmingham. Plans for the block were approved in 1968, along with Wiggin Tower and Hodgson Tower, as the final tower blocks in the Newtown area. Construction was completed in 1971 by Bryant using the Bison construction technique. It was 57 metres tall and contained 118 flats.View attachment 167785
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thanks pete...the block behind thats just a puff of smoke is wiggin tower where my brother lived on the top floor
 
C Bryant & son did a lot of work in aston they built the new astonbrook sewer in newtown in the 60s as well
 
mw0njm. said:
C Bryant & son did a lot of work in aston they built the new astonbrook sewer in newtown in the 60s as well
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Hi All, Just read this amazing thread. What wonderful photos. Thank you Spargone and many others.
I worked in Newtown, so it was very interesting for me.

A couple of weeks ago I was reading a thread about fish and chip shops, I posted that I used one in Newtown Row, when I fetched the lunches for the girls in the office when I was a junior. Unfortunately, I couldn't get my bearings and didn't remember quite where it was. What do I find when looking at this thread? A pic of that very fish shop. (#84) (Aston lad confirms this for me in post #94). I was over the moon, it meant a lot. Thank you Pete.
The moral of the story is never give up. This isn't the first time BHF has made me happy with photographs and information. Thanks to Lyn and all Moderators. You are amazing.
Kind regards Sue
 
hi sue so pleased you have found your chippy bit like finding an old friend:).....like i always say they are out there somewhere and never give up searching for photos..ps i am sure we have a thread for newtown row with more photos...

lyn
 
Sugar said:
Opposite Harts before they knocked that side down there was a pub there I thought it was called the sportsmans inn but I cannot find any reference so I must of got the name wrong .Iwas certain there was a pub there as when I was young I use to go with my mum while she done some cleaning in there for them also I vaguely remember a chip shop somewhere along the same side as harts .Maybe someone might remember if they were there so I can see if my memories are correct.
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The chip shop was next door to Harts. It was owned/run by John Shakespear's mom & dad. He went to Elkington Street School and then on to Marsh Hill Boys.
 
mw0njm. said:
View attachment 182071
Newtown Row in the 1970s - Photograph reproduced with the kind permission of the late Keith Berry
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Check this thread for a set of photos I posted previously of these shops not long before they were demolished - starting at post #118:-

Newtown Row

i think this is mitchells although the caption says no 30 not 145 so that could be wrong lyn ta lyn thats the one next to the orient flicks, they had 2 shops
birminghamhistory.co.uk birminghamhistory.co.uk
 
Mark Tooze said:
Check this thread for a set of photos I posted previously of these shops not long before they were demolished - starting at post #118:-

Newtown Row

i think this is mitchells although the caption says no 30 not 145 so that could be wrong lyn ta lyn thats the one next to the orient flicks, they had 2 shops
birminghamhistory.co.uk birminghamhistory.co.uk
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hi mark just say again that the set of old photos you posted of newtown row are little gems..just looked at them again..not only did you get shots of the front of the shops but also of the backs which is rare to see

lyn
 
Astoness said:
hi mark just say again that the set of old photos you posted of newtown row are little gems..just looked at them again..not only did you get shots of the front of the shops but also of the backs which is rare to see

lyn
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Hi Lyn - I'm just kicking myself I did not take more! I can think of lots of things I wished I had photographed but did not - main reason probably being I could not afford the film then! Digital cameras do have some advantages.........
I've been going through some old family photo negatives from the Guildford St area - I will post any that have street scenes etc - like this one of Guildford St / Geach St in the 60's:-
1689931952122.png
 
mark i think a lot of us wished we had taken more photos when we had the chance but your archives are extensive and very important ...as you may know i was born in paddington st which is off guildford st and although i moved from nans back to back when i was about 5 my nan stayed there until they threw her out in the late 60s so any photos you have of around there is of great interest..going back to your family photo..guildford st was on a steep incline and as your photo seems to be taken on the flat part at the bottom of the st i am thinking that the far corner on the right is paddington st...thanks

lyn
 
It could well be - with Geech St behind it. Photo taken somewhere around no 27 I think - probably early 60's before I was born! We lived a bit further up at 1/39 - next to Gina (the Girl From Guildford St). My gran lived at 2/27 and my aunt at no 90.
 
Mark Tooze said:
It could well be - with Geech St behind it. Photo taken somewhere around no 27 I think - probably early 60's before I was born! We lived a bit further up at 1/39 - next to Gina (the Girl From Guildford St). My gran lived at 2/27 and my aunt at no 90.
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no doubt about it mark..just taken this photo off the guildford st thread which confirms location of yours..geach st is first right paddington st 2nd right..note the st sign in the same place on both photos and also the upstairs and downstairs windows are the same

lynindex.php (3).jpg
 
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Astoness said:
mark i think a lot of us wished we had taken more photos when we had the chance but your archives are extensive and very important ...as you may know i was born in paddington st which is off guildford st and although i moved from nans back to back when i was about 5 my nan stayed there until they threw her out in the late 60s so any photos you have of around there is of great interest..going back to your family photo..guildford st was on a steep incline and as your photo seems to be taken on the flat part at the bottom of the st i am thinking that the far corner on the right is paddington st...thanks

lyn
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When I saw that photo of Guildford St / Geach St, it looked very familiar except for the woodyard on the corner. But that is definitely Paddington St on the left, with the outdoor on the corner opposite the peck.
Dave A
 
Sammie said:
The chip shop was next door to Harts. It was owned/run by John Shakespear's mom & dad. He went to Elkington Street School and then on to Marsh Hill Boys.
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That is correct Sammie next door to Harts (my late dad's car Insurance company). In the mid sixties it was run by a Greek family, they had two sons, Andrew and Steve. My cousin Christine is married to Steve. They had a fabulous Greek wedding at the Tower Ballroom in the early seventies from memory. Kind regards, Sue
 
i am bringing this thread to the top because the photos posted by spargone see from post 19 are stunning...we always hope that one day some members may join and recognise some of the people and children in the photos

lyn
 
Vivienne14 said:
This photo of flooding was taken in Newtown, Aston in June 1902. Flags are out for an important occasion, pity about the weather. Coronation of Edward VII ?

View attachment 194793
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The 'important occasion' was probably the Coronation of King Edward VIII and Queen Alexandra on 26 June 1902, which had to be postponed at the last minute because because the King had been taken ill with an abdominal abscess that required immediate surgery. The event eventually took place on 9 August 1902.
 
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