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OLD BIRMINGHAM PHOTOS FROM STEVEBHx

and finally for today, a bit further down 668 Coventry Road in 1968, starting from the top, attic gables, like how the two meet in the middle rather than them spaced in the centre of the roof. Next layer down the same with the windows the two small windows meet with the larger window set alone. nice top to the window frame and nice sash windows - yet to be replaced. Finally on the street MIdland Bank now HSBC and " Griffin" the name of the logo which is a griffin !!. Bedford van to the left , bike infront of the bank and Eatons stockists of Lightning zips and Emu wool, your local clothes / cotton and wool shop .
Hope you enjoyed them .

666 Coventry Road - 68.jpg
 
SteveBhx said:
This is the junction of Suffolk Street, Smallbrook Ringway, fountain now replaced by Mr Yips pagoda, this is ( Hebe) water goddess, ( Thanks for the correction Tinpot - see post 2783 below) , a look down the left side of the road sees a few building have not been built yet, and I imagine the view in the distance is quite different today.

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She is indeed, corner of James Watt Queensway just at the bottom of Corporation Street
 
SteveBhx said:
This view is 580 Coventry Road in 1981, Park View school of dance advert in the C & G window upstairs, an advert for Old Holborn on the end wall on the left and a lovely Cast iron street sign. A drapers on the left - do they have those any more , and on the right judging by the blinds down the boxes and the van its a green grocers. In the Middle Cheltenham and Gloucester Building society , not a full office but a desk in the estate agents I believe.

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Is this a drapers shop? The signwriting above suggests it maybe a tobacconists and draper the owner.
 
SteveBhx said:
91 Rookery Road Handsworth taken on a Sunday as we presume the lady is going to church. A proper bike shop and I love the sign outside both on the pavement and on the wall, tyres hanging up and bicycles and tricycles - all you could need. Next door Eadie's Stores with all the cans neatly stacked in the window and some nice sash windows upstairs

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Regularly bought my bike wheel inner tubes and brake blocks here during the 70s and early 80s.
The owner was a lovely lady with a calm demeanour but was always very willing to help us when it come to fixing chains, removing tyres !!
 
As I said yesterday I am going to run through the pictures in list order - easier than picking out interesting ones!

An aerial shot giving Snow Hill Station at the bottom, tracks in place and the roofs look intact. Above that is the island with the Kennedy memorial which was shown yesterday and gives a good idea of the layout of the paths . Further up is St Chads slowly been enveloped with development - new roads to the right and the Salvation Army to the left. We just get a glimpse of the canal. Any spare space is given over to car parking

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'Another link to one of yesterdays pictures, this time the location of Hebe on the roundabout - she is not in place yet and gives an idea of the vast amount of redevelopment that went on in the late sixties. In this view Bristol street is only one lane - the underpass is still to be constructed and the Night club and car park have not been started - moving round the island there is no tower block, and there is a lot of green areas - would those have been war bomb sites or the councils own making?
Even further round we see that the Alexandra Theatre has its original frontage there been no shop front or bridge, moving along to the Albany Hotel there is an empty space next to it - another site for a temporary car park. A look a little wider and the Chinese quarter seems to be all factories and there isn't an apartment to be seen.

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This time we are south of the city looking north over the markets area, I think pretty much how it looks today with many areas cleared to get ready for redevelopment, and some sites started - the markets area in Moat Street seems to be one. the viaduct approach to Snow Hill station stretches across the right hand corner and top left there is a building been constructed on that space on Smallbrook Ringway. Not so many site set aside for car parking - industry is still very much in place - I don't know much of this area not as famous as the jewelry or gun quarters, but still a hive of activity.

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Back to proper view now and help needed as usual - an anonymous location of H. Causer - General Smith, a fine building long lost I assume - and a scene you could not imagine today, large sliding gates to the building with a smaller door inset all looking a bit tired - building next door has given up with bricked up windows, but the building to the right seems to be in use with its " north light" windows and a rather large telephone pole. Only a couple of cars to complete the scene - a wonderful vignette of the industrial area.

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Very much an old and the new here with the modern factory building newly constructed, but take that away and the rest is a massive time warp of many years - location escapes me but there is a similar building in the second picture just up from the roundabout, a few old cars and a van set the scene, the old building to the left look residential those coming towards us more industrial in nature with what looks like goods doors

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SteveBhx said:
'Another link to one of yesterdays pictures, this time the location of Hebe on the roundabout - she is not in place yet and gives an idea of the vast amount of redevelopment that went on in the late sixties. In this view Bristol street is only one lane - the underpass is still to be constructed and the Night club and car park have not been started - moving round the island there is no tower block, and there is a lot of green areas - would those have been war bomb sites or the councils own making?
Even further round we see that the Alexandra Theatre has its original frontage there been no shop front or bridge, moving along to the Albany Hotel there is an empty space next to it - another site for a temporary car park. A look a little wider and the Chinese quarter seems to be all factories and there isn't an apartment to be seen.

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I was trying to think what the name of the hotel building next to the AEU Trades Union office yesterday. It was the Albany Hotel with it’s terrace at the front. There were a row of shops underneath and one was called High and Mighty.
 
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SteveBhx said:
Back to proper view now and help needed as usual - an anonymous location of H. Causer - General Smith, a fine building long lost I assume - and a scene you could not imagine today, large sliding gates to the building with a smaller door inset all looking a bit tired - building next door has given up with bricked up windows, but the building to the right seems to be in use with its " north light" windows and a rather large telephone pole. Only a couple of cars to complete the scene - a wonderful vignette of the industrial area.

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H Causer was 15 Henry St in 1962 Kellys
 
809 -811 Washwood Heath Road in 1971 - 51 years ago, - Enochs mini mart - fairly sure I've posted this one before , car out the front and a pile of "junk" down the side - would be considered antiques these days. Seems to be missing a chimney for some reason , I seem to recall that the sign on stilts was a planning loophole , if it was not attached to the building you could class it as a temporary advert and so permission was not needed - but I could be wrong !!

809-811 Washwood Heath Road-71.jpg
 
1217 - 1219 Stratford Road in 1975, start with the cars Hillman Imp on the left, nice Renault in the middle and a Ford Escort Estate in front of the restaurant. Turning to the shop - not to sure of the DIY central heating - seen the mess the professional can make so it is not the sort of thing to play at, can all get a bit wet. Pile it high in the window - loft insulation and they also do water tanks and guttering, but thats where you went.
Turning to the takeaway - Coca Cola signs, extractor fan in the window, and a Fleur de le pie sign on the door and the classic take away neon in the window.





1217 -1219 Stratford Road HG - 75.jpg
 
Next is 1429 -31 Pershore Road 1971, a classic LLoyds Bank balanced proportions, downpipe in the middle , then windows equally spread as you move down the building. I like the writing on the ground floor windows, gold I presume, never understood why, your not going to walk down the High Street and suddenly decide you want to make a foreign investment. Next door C.J.F .... with a window display full of bikes toys etc, a proper window. On the road we have a Ford Cortina and a Rover.

1429 -31 Pershore Road - 71.jpg
 
SteveBhx said:
1217 - 1219 Stratford Road in 1975, start with the cars Hillman Imp on the left, nice Renault in the middle and a Ford Escort Estate in front of the restaurant. Turning to the shop - not to sure of the DIY central heating - seen the mess the professional can make so it is not the sort of thing to play at, can all get a bit wet. Pile it high in the window - loft insulation and they also do water tanks and guttering, but thats where you went.
Turning to the takeaway - Coca Cola signs, extractor fan in the window, and a Fleur de le pie sign on the door and the classic take away neon in the window.





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Will post some "now" photos later but this is instantly recognisable as the building on the left is Hall Green Library
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To close I will post a couple of the street photos I found - may have skipped these or just missed them altogether.
First up is 66 Dora Road May 1975, the street sign, looking a bit worse for wear, the front wall looks like one made of large rocks cemented together. I like the leaded portion of the windows, although I am not sure of the side extension a little tired and the large advert doesn't look official.

66 Dora Road0575.jpg
 
66 Walford Road November 1974, love the little attic eaves along the front, and a traditional street with privet hedge, gate to the path and bay windows, interesting board to the end wall, and a fine selection of chimney pots.
Ford Cortina and a ( Morris) van in Conway Road.


66 Walford Road1174.jpg
 
SteveBhx said:
1217 - 1219 Stratford Road in 1975, start with the cars Hillman Imp on the left, nice Renault in the middle and a Ford Escort Estate in front of the restaurant. Turning to the shop - not to sure of the DIY central heating - seen the mess the professional can make so it is not the sort of thing to play at, can all get a bit wet. Pile it high in the window - loft insulation and they also do water tanks and guttering, but thats where you went.
Turning to the takeaway - Coca Cola signs, extractor fan in the window, and a Fleur de le pie sign on the door and the classic take away neon in the window.





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About that date we did a diy central heating supplied by this shop. Gave them a detailed spec, house blue print etc, and they provided the full kit of parts, kept me out of mischief for ages!
 
Eric Gibson said:
Had me scratching my head Steve thought my memory was on the wane. ;)
I think in general the motors previously named have been correct.
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A lot of the older cars have a specific "look" but sometimes you have a car in mind when you look at the shape and a closer look would have helped - I try not to guess - if there are cars and I have not mentioned it means I have a doubt!!
 
Hi Steve,

I worked in a bank in the 60's, and one of the main use of the Foreign Business Dept
was the supply of foreign currency and travellers cheques for holidays abroad.

A relative of mine worked for many years at Enoch's repairing second hand TVs for resale.
It looks very bright and new in the photo, - it appeared very run down 20 years later!

Kind regards
Dave
 
SteveBhx said:
So a few shops now ,312 Tile Cross Road, 1969, seem to recall the location but not the lorry in front, fine selection of street furniture, Barbers pole , cigarette machines, post box, telephone box and a stamp machine. A fine selection of pushchairs in front of the Post Office. Bedford Lorry on the road and a few adverts for the hairdressers around the building


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Still a Post Office but phone box gone (some time between 2018 and 2020 views)
 

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