• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

OLD AND NEW PHOTOGRAPHS

Okay so this is sheet A20 something a bit more modern however there is nothing on the sheet for the first few - most are recognisable though.

First up is a doorway with a medieval vibe , someone will tell us where it is but I do recognise it.
View attachment 178792
Apologies if this already has been answered but looks like Edwards No. 8 night club on Lower Severn Street.
 
still in and around the Jewellery Quarter and on a frosty day in January 1991 we have the Jewellers Arms Hockley Street / Spencer Street. on the left and then a wide variety of styles and shapes of buildings as we move to the right. We can also see the stepped roof line although the slope is not that apparent on the ground


20230108154529_10.jpg
 
next is a shot down Hockley Street from the corner of Vyse Street, I reffered to the " Ltd" on the wall previously. This row of buildings has more of a similar build design, and a large brick built building is very impressive. We can see that the second building dowen has had a doorway bricked up and an attempt to infill with a similar window - not sure how old that repair is though. I will point out that the lack of cars is due to most of the photos been taken on a Sunday when in those days nothing was open!

20230108154529_11.jpg
 
Next we walk up Broad Street, these were taken after the opening of the ICC but before everything started to be redeveloped although looking at the the building still there in these photo the redevelopment took 40 years !
First a general view of the ICC with the bridge link from the Hyatt Hotel.

20230108154806_01.jpg
 
Next an interesting view emphasising the high of the Hyatt Hotel, and also that the House of Sport / Registry office is still there. It took a number of years before it was removed. If you are aware of the current location you notice the road layout and the lack of tram tracks.
20230108154806_04.jpg
 
next is a shot down Hockley Street from the corner of Vyse Street, I reffered to the " Ltd" on the wall previously. This row of buildings has more of a similar build design, and a large brick built building is very impressive. We can see that the second building dowen has had a doorway bricked up and an attempt to infill with a similar window - not sure how old that repair is though. I will point out that the lack of cars is due to most of the photos been taken on a Sunday when in those days nothing was open!

View attachment 192838
A photo taken looking from the other direction c1970 is on post 35 at https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/threads/birmingham-1969-73.23229/page-2. This looks very similar
 
Although we have seen this building before I think another picture would not harm. The Crown on Broad street with its clock tower although the walls of the ICC looming over it shows how it has changed around there. A quick look on Google street view shows how the frontage has been ruined and saved over the years since this picture has been taken.

20230108154806_08.jpg
 
Last few off this roll of film and we head in and around Cambridge Street, first up we have the National Indoor Arena ( NIA) still to be opened, picture taken January 1991and opened on 4 October 1991, fine selection of red and white barriers. . The NIA has changed externally since its opening with a lot more glass and windows to assist the view.

20230108154806_11.jpg
 
Next we have an interesting bit of wall and buildings behind it. Surprisingly unlike many areas this all still exists, wall street signs and the buildings behind , and now forms part of an office complex called Austin Court. Love the rook and the tiles and the many chimneys which due to refurbishment all now how they should be !!
20230108155001_01.jpg
 
Moving back up Cambridge Street and we come to the Prince of Wales, once a watering hole for the employees of the area it is now a stop of for Music "lovers" . Much changed from this picture in what has now become a leafy location. White frontage is now tiles ( where they always there?) and the fronatge has now been tidied up, with now cars parked .
20230108155001_02.jpg
 
For the last two picture we move a short distance to Gas Street to show the view before its was loved !! This view has now got canalside bars and restaurants, , and is a trendy drop in place for boaters, with the paths and bridges refurbished for the many tourists which travel the short distance the the ICC/ NIA or the Cube and Mailbox in the other direction

20230108155001_06.jpg
 
another view this time to what has become the restaurant area around Regency Wharf, we can see how the buildings on Broad street used to look and how the towpaths in this area have also been tidied to make this a pleasant place to be. Much restored or sypathetically rebuilt to mirror the area it used to be.

20230108155001_09.jpg
 
Moving back up Cambridge Street and we come to the Prince of Wales, once a watering hole for the employees of the area it is now a stop of for Music "lovers" . Much changed from this picture in what has now become a leafy location. White frontage is now tiles ( where they always there?) and the fronatge has now been tidied up, with now cars parked .
View attachment 192861
Yes Steve, it was popular with office workers in Alpha Tower.
 
For the last two picture we move a short distance to Gas Street to show the view before its was loved !! This view has now got canalside bars and restaurants, , and is a trendy drop in place for boaters, with the paths and bridges refurbished for the many tourists which travel the short distance the the ICC/ NIA or the Cube and Mailbox in the other direction

View attachment 192862
Trident House in the background i had a 15th floor flat there in the 90s
Best view of Brum EVER
 
Thanks to Lyn for opening the post and allowing me the chance to scan the negatives . I am only going to post one picture tonight as I am still trying to work out the numbering system and tidy images.

This is the Duke of Wellington 355 Monument Road / Leach Street taken on the 4th April 1959, and gives an idea of what the pictures look like - the description is all I have on a type written sheet. Comments and information as usual thanks. Thanks to RobT for the correction.
View attachment 178738
Trying to place this pub, facing Brum, Broad St, if I turn left off Hagley rd at the Ivy bush, where then is this pub please?
 
Last one for the moment, a few shops and pub on the left , one a record shop and then a line of house , they have an interesting layout, ground floor has a small window and a front door first floor is one large window and top floor is two small small windows, this then varies as you have door alley door so there is a window or two above the alleyway . Heading up the road is an Ansells pub with its hanging advert and at the top of the road a very fine railway bridge.

EDIT : From Astoness lichfield road?
View attachment 184419
This is Bracebridge Street
 
hi cjh could you confirm which photo you think is bracebridge street... you have quoted a post from steveBhx showing this photo which is not bracebridge st its lichfield road with the railway bridge in the distanceimage (12).jpg

thanks

lyn
 
hi cjh could you confirm which photo you think is bracebridge street... you have quoted a post from steveBhx showing this photo which is not bracebridge st its lichfield road with the railway bridge in the distanceView attachment 193332

thanks

lyn
Hi Lyn, cjh is right it is Bracebridge Street. The building in the distance is Premier Motors on the corner of Dartmouth Street and Aston Road.
 

Attachments

  • bracebridge street 3.jpg
    bracebridge street 3.jpg
    58.8 KB · Views: 31
hi dave i see....so in the distance is not a bridge its premier motors on aston road ? thanks for correcting this photo

lyn
 
next we are in the same location almost , corner of Aston Church Road and Washwood heath Road - heading back towards the cinema , and a line of traditional shops, nets to make them respectable and sash windows upstairs. proper barge boards on the eaves and brick work under the guttering making interesting patterns. If you look on street view image it is strange to note that the sign has gone - I though advertising there would be ideal but there is a cast iron street sign for Aston Church Road which is not there on this image - where did it go / come from?
View attachment 191889
OMG - I use to live at 297 aston Church rd, opposite Warren rd, the last time i when I passed my old street - all the houses had gone - i didn't recognise anything even Alum Rock rd, some of my friends went to Warden hall , Washood Heath, Nasby and I went to Hodge hill comp. My Mom and Dad work for Metro Cammel , I remember those workers and their kids Xmas party, all the staff received a Xma turkey
 
This picture is perhaps the one which shows how it has changed down Broad Street, which once was a row of old shops and antiques stores has now become and row of restaurants and bars. The original building has been kept fortunately which has not always happened

View attachment 192843
That antique shop was run by Johnny Cash
he then moved to the Collectors shop
i met him in the 60s when he had a shop on Wheeler St
 
Back again with hopefully a new selection - after posting so many images they seem to merge together and you lose track of whether you have posted or just viewed the image !!
Moving on to Roll 43 - which I know have some duplicates, I hope to avoid double posting . - if you notice I have please shout -no offence will be taken - it will confirm my original thought of seeing a picture before.
For newcomers my details for these pictures are from a typewritten sheet outlining location and date of the picture, these are also pictures of pictures- with an occasional original thrown in - which are all taken on the same day and follow a route around an area either on foot or by car.

First image is a view down High Street Aston to Newtown Row - taken in August 1956, and apart from the bus in the distance not a vehicle to be seen. A few people about and a few Ansells signs, love Norris's sign on the right and the metal StBruno Flake enamel sign.

20230108165244_01.jpg
 
Next we have the Bulls Head, Bishopgate Street and Tennant Street, like the frontage of the building with the window surrounds and the lorry making deliveries - taken in April 1960, see also the metal frames windows next door and the old car around the corner

20230108165244_03.jpg
 
Next we move over to Trinity Road and Witton Lane and The Holte Pub, still recognisable - although the area around it has been subject to to redevelopment. I am sure there is a mixed response to this picture dependent on the colour of your scarf !! The picture was taken in 31st March 1991, pity the building on the right has gone the turret is an interesting feature.
20230108165858_02.jpg
 
Back
Top