Old street pics..

[stars]

Hi Astonian
Good to hear from you, as always. Yes there were a group of us in our re-enactment
uniform, ( American Civil War) Confederate. We were pulling a cannon around with us, man it was heavy
it was one we used on our battles. We went around the country re-enacting ACWS battles and raising
a few quid for charity at the same time. Very loud but happy days. Regarding the Stevens Family, I am stuck on the isle of Wight.
By the way you did not drive for Neely transport did you. All the best to you and yours Alan.

Stars (Eric)

 

[Radiorails]

I always understood the Outer Circle 11 route once it had been established in 1926 was, in fact, 26 miles in length.
Others may know differently.

A quick reference to the book 'Outer Circle' (David Harvey, Margaret Hanson & Peter Drake) does confirm this. Maybe the extra mileage is accounted for by more recent route alterations made by the PTE and successor. Either way I am not contemplating walking the route to prove its length! :friendly_wink:

 

[Key Hill Brian]

The Outer circle varies by 1 1/4 miles depending on if it is Clockwise or not. I understand the 'outer' outer circle clockwoise is that much greater than the 'inner' anticlockwise journey!

Also I was always under the impression the old 15/16 bus route - Whittington Oval (at lea hall) to Hamstead via town, and return was the 2nd longest route.
It was certainly a journey and a half from one end to the other!

Brian

 

[Big Gee]

Interestingly enough I was completely unaware of the history surrounding Sarehole Mill. I knew there was a mill there but at the time it was quite concealed with trees and bushes.

And of course Sarehole Mill and the surrounding land was (supposedly) J R R Tolkien's inspiration for Hobbiton and The Shire in The Hobbit and Lord Of The Rings. Just thought I'd mention that!

G

 

[ellbrown]

The current 49 route from Solihull to Weoley Castle seems pretty long (via Maypole, Kings Norton, Cotteridge, Longbridge etc).

In May there was the Free Radio Walkathon (this year Walk for Harry - previously for BRMB). It went all around the Outer Circle. Not sure if the walkers went all the way around, but they walked sections to the parks such as Kings Heath Park (some got the 11A or 11C home afterwards).

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Birmingham_Outer_Circle - says it's currently 27 miles long. (43 km). 2-3 hours to complete (on the bus).

 

[Phil]

Back on the 29a we are just turning into Wake Green Rd and heading up the hill (1) Upon reaching Springfield Rd we take a right (2) and after crossing College Rd (3) we come to Stratford Rd (4). We now continue our journey through Sparkhill on Stratford Rd (5).

 

[Phil]

After Sparkhill comes Sparkbrook and at the moment we are approaching the junction of Warwick Rd (1) After passing Warwick Rd and The Mermaid public house (2) we pass by the Church of St Agatha on the corner of Mole Street (3). Now we find ourself at the bottom of Main Street looking toward Camp Hill (4) Now we will just pass under the Railway bridge by Henley St and the Shakespeare public house.(5)

 

[Radiorails]

Interesting pics Phil. The Sparkhill/Camp Hill ones I recognise easily. The others are either before my birth or after 1954. The tram that has passed beneath the railroad bridge will, as many will know, be on its way to the depot in Kyotts Lake Road.

 

[BazzM]

What a fabulous picture in post #1136. Thanks for that John70.

 

[Phil]

As we now head through Camp Hill we pass on the right just under the bridge King Edwards Grammar School (1). Then over the traffic island where on the right site the Ship Hotel (2) and on the left the café (3) that used to be next to the Brewer & Baker on Ravenhurst St. As we continue on past a row of shops (4) we come to the Holy Trinity church & School (5).

 

[Phil]

Now on the other side of Camp Hill we are heading downhill once more (1) Passing on the right as we go Downing & Mills and the shop where I had one of my tattoos in the 60's (2). Over the other side of the traffic island we see Fisher & Ludlow (later Haddon & Stokes)(3). As we carry on now toward Deritend leaving these views behind (4) It wouldn't be fair for us to do so without a quick peek at the flyover. (5)

 

[caggyken]

HI
Great pictures of CAMP HILL.
Would the date on the MURPHY tv shop be correct. It states 1940, but it has a tv in the window.
WOULD THIS HAVE BEEN A BIT EARLY???
KEN

 

[mikejee]

Yes you are right. Sweeneys, radio engineers were there in 1940, but no 52 was not Days until sometime between the 1949 & 1950 directories

 

[Phil]

Ken

It probably means 1940's rather than 1940.

 

[ellbrown]

The Mermaid / President Palace in Sparkhill has just been repaired again (after the second fire from a few years ago). Not sure if or when it will open again. The Bloye Mermaid sculpture seems to have been removed (in storage?).

Further up in Sparkbrook - The Angel is now a stakehouse! (the old pub sign was removed before the stakehouse was completed - including an extension).

 

[A Sparks]

I think Holy Trinity Church (picture number 5 in post 1150) is where my maternal grandparents were married.

Not been down that way for quite a time but I think it was used as a Hostel/ Night Centre for down and outs in more recent years.

 

[Radiorails]

Thanks for the pics. Some are within my memory others seem 1960+.

The small island at Camp Hill was curious. Not only did it have tram tracks running through it there was also a railway line (don't think it was a tram line) which crossed them. The was a railroad depot (LMS I think) at Camp Hill.

 

[Phil]

Heading along Deritend High St (1) we can see some familiar sights and try to imagine as others would have looked like St Johns Church (2) or perhaps the Old Tripe Shop or even a farmer taking his pigs to market. We even might try to imagine The Golden Lion in situ before it was moved so it could rot somewhere else.

 

[mw0njm.]

nice pics phil,thanks

 

[Charlotte1988]

I love looking at old pics! They're really interesting - you can't believe that places used to look like that!

 

[Vivienne14]

Heading along Deritend High St (1) we can see some familiar sights and try to imagine as others would have looked like St Johns Church (2) or perhaps the Old Tripe Shop or even a farmer taking his pigs to market. We even might try to imagine The Golden Lion in situ before it was moved so it could rot somewhere else.

Superb photos of this tour Phil! Gives a very good idea of some of the earlier history of Birmingham. I've seen a painting of sheep herding in Deritend, but afraid I can't remember where this came from.
Viv.

 

[berniew]

Cattle and pig market Montague Street , never knew there was one

 

[Key Hill Brian]

Hi Viv,
Warren Blackham did many paintings of old brum with sheep and cattle around - could be one of his.

Presumable the Montaque St market was replaced by the salvage Dept Refuse yard?
or was it on the other side of the road where the railway took over most of the land?

Brian

 

[mikejee]

Have looked in directories and cannot find any markets in Montague St. The Birmingham coffee house Co in 1880 was:

Birmingham Coffee House Co. Limited ​

(Samuel Short,general man.), 38 Exeter row ; (Frederick Webb, man.),Dartmouth street; (Charles Cox Smith, sec), registered​

office, 44 Ann street

and in 1890:

(Charles Cox Smith, sec), registered office, 138 Colmore row (Samuel Short, general man.), 38 Exeter row; branches, 1

Stafford St.; 13 Bullring; 91 Digbeth; 50 High St.; 7 Jamaica row; 27 Bell st. ; 204 Broad st.; 21 Summer row; 03 Snow hill; Horse fair;
Stephenson st. ; Easy row; 51 Bull s t . ; 11 Gt. Hampton St.; Duddeston Row; Dartmouth ST & 70 New St​

 

[paul stacey]

Some mix up then!!, but what a great photo, and I never realised that they had coffee bars in those days?
paul

 

[berniew]

As I have said before Mike never trust a caption , I think there wasa cattle station around Adderley Street but I have not heard of a cattle market
Bernie

 

[James_the_3rd]

When I was a young lad I used to go with my uncle to Montague Street. His job was to suck out the blood from a tank and dispose of it. The smell of the whole area was awful.
Jim

 

[Phil]

It says here that the pig market moved to Montague St in 1897 from Smithfield followed a couple of years later by the cattle market.

https://billdargue.jimdo.com/placenames-gazetteer-a-to-y/places-s/smithfield/

 

[Vivienne14]

When I was a young lad I used to go with my uncle to Montague Street. His job was to suck out the blood from a tank and dispose of it. The smell of the whole area was awful.
Jim

Even into the 1970s there was still evidence of this cattle/livestock history. When I worked for a short while in Bradford Street the smell coming from the abbatoir on a warm sunny morning could be so bad we couldn't even open the office windows. Truly disgusting. It all looks so quaint on pictures, but just imagine the smell and mess left on the streets by those herds of pigs and sheep trotting through them. Viv.

 

[Astoness]

wonderful pic berniew...thank you

lyn