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Old Birmingham

rowan

rowan

Born a Brummie
Going through my late Mothers photographs I came acroos this picture of Birmingham. I don't know where but it's looking towards the church in the Bull ring I think and is that New Street station? I can't get my bearing from the photo.
 

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Yes Rowan. That is the New Street Station below on the left. Below the church in the Bull Ring in perspective is the old Market Hall. Immediately below you on the right is Navigation Street, and i am sure others on here will have a tram picture showing "Birmingham Garages" in its proper frontage.

I expect the photo was taken from a not-too-high vantage point from the rear of the Technical College (that was) in Suffolk Street (which only now sort of still is)

Interesting contrast of architecture styles particularly with the "modern" type building dead centre, the front of which (still is anyone?) in John Bright Street.

Richie.
 
p.s Rowan.

Are there any more in the collection? It looks as though you might have a real find there!

Richie.
 
I don't think there will be any tram pictures. Appears to be a bus turning out of Navigation St. on to John Bright St. Also one going down Hill St. They both appear to be "new" fronts, so I suspect the picture was taken after the tram demise of the Bristol Road/Pershore Road routes in 1952.
 
Apart from the usual coloured Birmingham postcards this is the only photograph I have. It could do with a sharpening up as it doesn't seem to be as good on here as the actual photo.

My Mother worked for a solicitor during the war so I don't know if there were any solicitors offices around that area for a photo to be taken. She left Birmingham for Sutton Coldfield in 1952/3. How the photo came to be in her possesion I don't know.
 
I would agree that it is mid 50s, taken from the rear of the Matthew Boulton college. As tardebigge says, a couple of 'New look' front buses of the 50s can be seen and the few cars visible support that date.
Here's a couple of improved versions, one with a few landmarks named.
 

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Lloyd said:
I would agree that it is mid 50s, taken from the rear of the Matthew Boulton college. As tardebigge says, a couple of 'New look' front buses of the 50s can be seen and the few cars visible support that date.
Here's a couple of improved versions, one with a few landmarks named.
Click to expand...

Lloyd,

Here's one from my collection showing what appears to be the EXACT reverse direction, although probably a bit too high to be from the top of St.Martin's steeple.

The caption is 1933, which is a little early for an exact date-especially because of the destruction which happened in the War-but at least it doesn't include all the modern mumbo-jumbo we have now!

Richie.
 
That's a nice one Ritchie, and again I'd agree the date. (There's an open staircase bus just turning onto New Street from High Street!)
The huge roof on New Street station is there, Bull Ring Woolworths and St Martins spire in the bottom left corner, the Town Hall and Hall of Memory near top right. How little on that view now remains!
 
Richie said:
Yes Rowan. That is the New Street Station below on the left. Below the church in the Bull Ring in perspective is the old Market Hall. Immediately below you on the right is Navigation Street, and i am sure others on here will have a tram picture showing "Birmingham Garages" in its proper frontage.

I expect the photo was taken from a not-too-high vantage point from the rear of the Technical College (that was) in Suffolk Street (which only now sort of still is)

Interesting contrast of architecture styles particularly with the "modern" type building dead centre, the front of which (still is anyone?) in John Bright Street.

Richie.
Click to expand...

The building on the bottom left is the gable end of my favorite night club. would you believe its the Whiskey a go go or the Chetwynes Shop below!! What's unusual is that is only the 3rd photo I have ever seen of the old building that was knocked down and redeveloped in the last 5 years on the corner of Navigation St and John Bright Street. great photo any more?
 
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