Roderick Road Sparkhill

[BrianE]

I was born into this road in the upstairs front bedroom of 28 on 16 May 1944 to my mother Rosina Essery nee Timms. I lived there until 1963. My parents lived at 28 until 1973. My father and mother going out the front door, their rear garden, their car and my mini. Also the rear garden of 26 with residents Mr & Mrs Gardener who moved in after the Whitehouse family. The houses were painted two tone brown by the owners Barns & Hayles, the Council pershased them in about 1964 and offered the for sale to sitting tenants who painted their own homes to their liking those that remained with the council had white bays and yellow doors. Photos' dated 1961 to 1969.

 

[BrianE]

Roderick Road is a short street originally of 52 identical well built red brick terrace houses developed in about 1896 for the large property owners Barns & Hales (not sure of the spelling) they consisted of front parlor living kitchen and smaller scullery. The kitchen had a large black leaded coal fired cooking range, in the corner of the scullery was a copper for heating water for washing, this also was coal fired. I can remember as a small boy sitting by this fire keeping warm on a cold Monday washing day, the back door being open as Mum came in and out from the mangle in the small out house and washing line. Also outside was the coal house and the outside lavatory. The plumbing consisted of one cold water tap over a long low brown sink. Upstairs consisted of 2 double bedrooms and 1 single bed room. No bathroom. This was my home in 1947. My first car Austin A40 Somerset, purchased for £150 in 1962.

 

[BrianE]

My parents moved in No 28 in early 1940 and lived there until my Father retired to Herefordshire in 1973. His brother Jack and his wife Maud lived in No 38 all their married life from 01 August 1936 until their deaths on 31 October 1994 following the shock of an upstairs break in by thieves. This was not the first break in, the area had deteriorated considerably since the 1960's

In cold weather like this it was necessary to hang a paraffin lantern near the cistern to stop the pipes from freezing up, after dark
I would take a candle to the outside toilet.
My Mum on wasting day 1956.
Looking west over the gardens from 28 to the rear of Medlicott Road.
The houses were painted brown by Barns & Hales in the early1950's then around 1960 the City Council insisted that bathrooms be install, Barns & Hales declined so the council acquired the houses which were offered at a good price to the sitting Tenants, many including my parents purchased their homes on condition they applied for a grant and installed an indoor bathroom with toilet, which was installed in the small bedroom, given my sister had married and left home.

 

[BrianE]

VE Day party for children of Roderick Road June 1945
The people I remember.

1. First left standing Mr & Mrs Bill Mason of No34 far right Mrs Ross of No 44
Sitting at table back marked with X Janette Essery of No38.
Front: far right Rosie Whitehouse of No26 , me Brian Essery on her lap, next Sister Doreen Essery, next Diane Carr of No16

2. Ocupants in September 1939, my parent moved into No28 in late 1939 or early 1940.

3. Standing first left Mrs Arlington of No32 far left Mr & Mrs Birch of No30, far end right cnr my Mum Mrs R Essery of No28 above her Mrs Whitehouse of No26.

Photos taken by my Aunt Mrs M Essery of No38
Most fathers were still in the armed services.

 

[Vivienne14]

Wow, what can I say Brian. A wonderful set of photos and history. This thread is an excellent record. But terribly sad about your aunt and uncle. Thank you for posting.

 

[Astoness]

thank you brian for sharing your family and your memories with us...like viv said it was so sad the way your aunt and uncle died but the wonderful thing is that the houses are still there

lyn