Old street pics..

[Phil]

Let us continue our journey along Washwood Heath rd (21) up the hill on which once stood the home of William Hutton historian, but that has little to do with our journey so lets carry on to the junction of Aston Church Rd (22). Passing by St Marks church (is it?) we find a row of Victorian houses (23). Next on our trip we find the Cross Guns public house (24) then travelling back down the hill on the other side we come to the Swan Hotel (25), which I stood outside many a night waiting for the bus when I worked at the Metropolitan Camel at the bottom of Common Lane.

 

[Alberta]

What beautiful photos Phil.
I lived in Washwood heath road in the 60s right next to the Railway bridge before St Marks close to where the two figures are crossing the road in photo 3.
My exhusband drove a 56 bus and I used it to go to work in the city.

The Cross Guns was frequented by quite a few drivers and conductors when they finished their shift including my sister who was a clippie, in fact she had her wedding reception there .

 

[Phil]

Alberta

Here is another photo taken from the same spot as you mention and a slightly better photo of the Crossed Guns.

 

[Phil]

Lets see what we can come up with today, We have reached the bottom of the hill passed Drews Lane and now going back uphill again past Ward End Park (26 & 27) once past the park we come to a busy shopping parade with shops on either side of the road. (28, 29 & 30)

 

[dek carr]

Thanks Phil only last Tuesday I travelled this Route it has changed very little over the years and you could stand in the photographers footsteps and retake anyone of the last 5 photos with the same picture.Dek

 

[Phil]

We are now heading into areas where I never ventured as a youngster as Common Lane and the Met was as far as I normally travelled on the 56. But continuing on toward the Bromford Lane - Stechford Lane junction we pass the end of Alum Rock Rd on our right and another shopping parade (31) before reaching the actual junction (32) where we find the Fox and Goose (33) & (34) a pub that I remember went for quite some time without beer due to industrial action. Across the road for many years stood another favourite entertainment of the working classes the cinema, in this case The Beaufort (35).

 

[Biddy]

Thank you so much for posting these pictures of Wheeler St. Would you happen to know the number of any of the houses? My granddparents lived here in the 1920's; they had an a la mode beef shop at No.229 Wheeler St, next door to Drinkwater's sweetshop.I'm not sure what numbers were opposite or near Clifford St. What year were these houses demolished?
Biddy

 

[Vivienne14]

I don't know this area at all, but I'm fascinated by Phil's photos because I've ancestors who worked at the Wolseley Factory at Drews Lane when it was turned over to ammunitions work in the First World War. Many of the views must have been so familiar to them. They travelled from Lozells and Handsworth to work there. I assume they were attracted by the good rates of pay. Viv.

 

[paul stacey]

#1056, I just love these old time photo's where every thing is so neat and tidy , "NO CARS", just great, but the poor bobby in No3, seems out of place directing traffic which dos't excist.
paul

 

[Phil]

Before we cross over the junction we can just catch site of the corner of Stechford Lane (36), then its off up Coleshiil Rd looking back toward the junction (37) and then passing the shops on either side of the road (38, 39, & 40)

 

[Phil]

Now on the left we pass by my old school playing fields visited once a week by bus along more or less the same route we have taken to get here (41) Then its downhill slightly passing through Hodge Hill Common(42) where just a little further on we can see The Hunters Moon public house (43) the last leg of our journey takes us to the Clock garage (44) on what I have always thought was Chester Rd, but I now know is Newport Rd. At the end of the journey our 56 bus does a quick circuit of the traffic island (45) for it's return journey.

 

[el-stano]

Phil, that journey has brought a lump to my throat. Thanks a million.
Stan

 

[wendyP]

Phil

Can you do the same all over now but go up Alum Rock from the Gate Saltley!! I'm not asking for much am I??

 

[el-stano]

Wendy, I'll second that ;-)

 

[Phil]

The reason I never chose Alum Rock rd was that there are so many photos on here already of that stretch of road, but I will see what I can do about Saltley to Washwood Heath trying to avoid photos that have been posted before.

 

[lindyloo]

Phil have you any idea whereabout Elmdon Village Farm is on the Coventry Road. Thanks

Hi Carolina, I believe Phil is right about Elmdon Farm being by Elmdon Lane, which is on the same side of the road as The Old Airport, but the photo in post #1027 labelled Elmdon Village Farm is of a building on the opposite side of the Coventry Road, (heading towards Sheldon) it is in between Old Damson Lane and Damson Parkway. I didnt know it was called Village Farm until now though, I've always called it The Barn, because as you approach the building it has The Barn painted on the side of its outbuilding, which I expect is or was a barn.



Hope this helps

Phil, thank you so much for the trip down "The Cov Road" I thoroughly enjoyed it

 

[BazzM]

Phil. Never mind trying not to duplicate photos that have been shown before. The journeys you are making are fabulous.

 

[Phil]

Lindyloo

I have no doubt you are correct about Elmdon Village Farm as that definitely look like the same building as in the photo. What I did was look at an old map that had Elmdon Farm marked on it, but no Elmdon Village Farm I assumed that both farms were the same place.

Phil

 

[Phil]

Bazz,

I think I have enough photos to skirt around most of the photos of Alum Rock Rd that we have seen before. with perhaps the exception of the odd one or two. I just need a little time to sort them out and sequence them.

 

[Ray Griffiths]

Hi Folks.

Has anybody got any pictures or any details about St Mathews Friday Street, I believe it by Gt Lister Street?

Reason for asking is a relative and his children lodged there in 1800's.

Thanks Ray

 

[carolina]

Phil thanks for that. I have a relative who was classed on the census as a farmer/malster and they were Lyndon End Bickenhill, but now with the map you have given me it would appear that they perhaps lived further up towards the modern day airport and not the Elmdon one. Again thanks. Carol

 

[carolina]

Sorry Lindyloo, it should be you who I was thanking. Obviously still thanking Phil for all his hard work. Carol,

 

[Phil]

Ray

There is a St Mathews Church on Great Lister Street in Nechells that I believe was in the Duddeston Ward around the time you are talking about. I suppose it is just possible that it might be the St Mathews you ate talking about. I never knew a Friday Street or heard mention of one, but that doesn't mean to say that there wasn't one. Here are a couple of images of the church in the 60's.

 

[lindyloo]

Hi Carolina, No worries

I did a bit of research for The Clock Pub recently and I believe Lyndon End was part of Bickenhill at one time, as far as I can remember, but it is actually in the opposite direction to the Airports, it is roughly where I live, just up past The Three Horseshoes heading towards Yardley. .

View attachment 79714View attachment 79714

 

[carolina]

Lindyloo that would be great. The person concerned is my gt gt grandfather Abel Taylor born 1809 - Yardley - so that makes sense its more around that area. I have his father Thomas B1785 and mother Sarah Stringer and it would help if I knew where these were born, but unfortunately Thomas Taylor is a very popular name.

 

[lindyloo]

Carolina, Ive added the map to my previous post, Have we spoken of our Abel Taylor's before ? I will PM you to save going off topic.

 

[lindyloo]

Lindyloo

I have no doubt you are correct about Elmdon Village Farm as that definitely look like the same building as in the photo. What I did was look at an old map that had Elmdon Farm marked on it, but no Elmdon Village Farm I assumed that both farms were the same place.

Phil

Hi Phil, Yes, I have seen a map where it is'nt marked too and although I know the location of the building well, I never knew the name of it as I mentioned before. It was only when I was looking at your photo that I thought I recognised the shape of the building and then I compared it with what I call "The Barn", on Google Maps and found they were virtually the same and was then able to give the location. Thats what I call teamwork

 

[Ray Griffiths]

Hi Phil.

Thanks for the information, its a strange one I've been into it and all the Census entries also state that the accomadation was at the back 106.

The other thing I've found out in London there was an institution called St Mathews in Friday Street.

Many thanks again Phil

 

[Phil]

Right, especially for BazzM & WendyP I will do my best to trace the route of the No 55 bus along it's journey up the Alum Rock Rd. Though it's not a route I often took, I think I remember most of it with the exception of where it terminated. As the Capitol cinema would be the farthest I ever travelled on the No 55 I never got to find out.

The route I believe started in Old Square, and then run the same route more or less as the 56 bus until it reached the Alum Rock Rd at the end of Saltley High St. So I will start with of photo of the bus in Old Square and then jump to the bottom of Alum Rock Rd.

 

[Phil]

Now as we move off uphill we pass the many shops of this lively shopping centre, where I remember travelling by bus every week to one of the first supermarkets that I can ever remember on the corner of George Arthur Rd. With paper handy carrier bags it was not an ideal trip especially if it was raining. Of course on the way uphill we pass the Rock cinema that most of us who lived anywhere near it will remember.