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Salutation Arms

B

Big Gee

master brummie
This distinguished establishment was located at the corner of Summer Lane and Snow Hill, and for many years until it fell down in about 1970 was the trad-jazz place in Brum. I'd go every Friday night, a quick pint in the bar, then upstairs to argue the entry-fee with the delightful maniac who ran the jazz club; all I can remember of him is that he was thin as a rake, wore NHS specs and was called John. Most nights it was 2/6 to get in, but if there was a 'big name' band on, then it could go as high as five bob, and that's when the bartering began. It was a matter of honour to negotiate at least a tanner off the demanded entry-fee.

The resident band for many years was The Artesian Hall Stompers led by the late lamented Danny Pawson, cornet-player extraordinaire and quaffer par excellence. The gaffer of the Sally was a splendid warm-hearted Irish bloke called Jerry, and I remember the night the Sally closed he was weeping like a baby, even though he'd been given a much 'better' pub elsewhere in Brum (The Warwick Castle, I think). As far as I recall, the Sally had to close because its foundations where being eaten away by seepage from the nearby canal. Wonderful pub, wonderful people, all part of an old Brum that sadly appears to have gone for ever.

I also remember a tramp who haunted Summer Lane at that time - he'd suddenly appear out of nowhere and say, "Hey, gis five bob for a cuppa tea!" "Five bob for a tea?" "Aye, I'm a big tipper, see!"

And the weird thing is, I hated trad jazz!

Big Gee.
 
Was this the Salutation referred to in the old song "You can see the Palm Trees swaying, way down Summer Lane"? Reason I ask 'cause there was also a Salutation Inn down off Summer Lane on Alma Street; my Dad reckons it was the one on the corner of Snow Hill that the song refers to though....


Any ideas anyone?!
 
Cutmonster welcome:)

Bee Gee

Take a look at this on the Main site top right of your page

https://www.the-summerlane-kid.co.uk/

If anything comes to mind just put it in the Search Box also at the top of your page you will be surprised what you will find.;)
 
Cutmonster said:
Was this the Salutation referred to in the old song "You can see the Palm Trees swaying, way down Summer Lane"? Reason I ask 'cause there was also a Salutation Inn down off Summer Lane on Alma Street; my Dad reckons it was the one on the corner of Snow Hill that the song refers to though....


Any ideas anyone?!
Click to expand...

Cutmonster,

As I recall, the words to the song are:

"You can see the palm-trees swaying,
"Down old Summer Lane.
"Every Saturday there's jubilation,
"They're bustin' all the winders at The Salutation.
"There ain't no snow in Snow Hill,
"It's too late to catch a train.
" 'Cos when it's winter-time in the Argentine
"It's summer down Summer Lane!"

Get orf me barrer...

The above learned at me dad's knee, and he was positive it was The Salutation on the corner of Snow Hill. I never knew there was another Salutation up near Alma Street (but that was the posh end, and I never went there...)

Big Gee
 
Alf said:
Cutmonster welcome:)

Bee Gee

Take a look at this on the Main site top right of your page

https://www.the-summerlane-kid.co.uk/

If anything comes to mind just put it in the Search Box also at the top of your page you will be surprised what you will find.;)
Click to expand...

Alf,

Not sure what you mean, mate. I looked at your link but couldn't find the words to the Summer Lane Song, unless I didn't look hard enough.

Big Gee
 
I was only pointing you in the right direction Bee Gee, somebody posted the words of the song on the Forum before and also I believe the man who recorded it, who had recently passed on. I kept it for ages but this week I had a clear out of my computer.

I sure you and I will get a reply soon knowing our fellow members and a rollicking if I'm wrong:Aah: .:D
 
Alf,

I never knew anyone had actually recorded it! Do you have any more information? I'm sure there were more words to that song than I just noted in a previous post.

Big Gee
 
Big Gee said:
Alf,

I never knew anyone had actually recorded it! Do you have any more information? I'm sure there were more words to that song than I just noted in a previous post.

Big Gee
Click to expand...
Hi Big Gee, Dan Pawson and us did a tape recording of "Summer Lane" back in 1980 ish, you have some of the lyrics right.
 
heres a pic of the salutation...apologies if its been posted before..

astoness
 

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Thanks Astoness, This photo was taken by Dan Pawson which he gave to me and I subquently posted It on the Forum ! Never mind I was hoping to get a shot more front on of the Salutation.
Would you know of a photo of The Birmingham Arms,opposite the Drovers at the bottom end of Bradford street area ?
 
We used to live in Alma street, and my dad used to use the 'Sally' at the top of the street, would not have called it the posh end tho.
 
Try these.
 

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Hi Postie,

Wow, both your pix bring back fond, fond memories of an extremely mis-spent youth!

In your pic of the Sally, the RH door led to the stairs and the jazz club, every Friday night since the dawn of time. At the top of the stairs stood the legendary John Minnion (Mini-Man) who asked for the outrageous sum of 2/6 to see The Artesian Hall Stompers featuring Dan Pawson. If there was a guest-band on, it could cost as much as 3/6 to get in, and you would not believe the bartering that went on! 2/6 - half a dollar - 12 pence! Another world, almost. If Jerry the gaffer was in a good mood, you could stop behind locked doors until about midnight, knocking back pints of mild at 1/9 a pint - you needed about 12 pints before you took in sufficient alcohol to feel even mildly sozzled, so weak it was.

The Birmingham Arms was also a refuge for jazz and The Artesians, and it was a really rough pub, too. The (Irish) gaffer - I forget his name - always kept the leg off a bar-stool handy in case of trouble, and he'd lean over the bar swinging it left, right and centre if there was any rowdiness. He chucked us all out one night in the pouring rain after a fight in the bar - nothing to do with us jazz afficianados, who were upstairs, but he'd decided enough was enough. The very first date I had with my dear wife of 38 years was to take her to the jazz at The Brum Arms - she loved it, I'm glad to say!

Great photos, Postie, many thanks!

Big Gee
 
An interesting anecdote to the Salutation from the History of Birmingham by Chris Upton…

In 1798 the Chapel Wake, a celebration of the foundation of St. Bartholomew’s Chapel, was due to include a bull baiting behind the Salutation Inn on Snow Hill, but was stopped by the intervention by the volunteer militia. The organisers changed venues to the Heath, but were caught again. Curiously, the one innocent party, the bull, was arrested and imprisoned.

Regards Peter.

(Just noticed that it is called the Salutation Inn as opposed to Arms)
 
The Salutation, in darker times:
In 1798 "the bull was baited in a field behind the Salutation Inn, Snow Hill & in conformity with the respectable inhabitants (who desired to put down the nuisance) the Birmingham Association, a body of militia voluntarily formed by the trading class, undertook the formidable task of capturing the bull & dispersing it's tormentors. The Association assembled in the Bull Ring & marchhed, with colours flying, & drums beating to the baiting place in Snow Hill. On arriving they found that the mob, having notice of the attack, had transferred themselves & the bull to Birmingham Heath. Although the day was intolerably hot the Assn gallantly resumed their weary march after a due amount of toil reached the scene of action. The bull baiters scampered off in all directions, taking their dogs with them but leaving the bull tied to the stake & the Assn leisurely claimedc their formidable prize. A strong cord was made gfast to the bull's horns & tied around his fore legs, the chain was loosened from the stake, guards were told off who with fixed bayonets reconducted the poor animal in triumph into the town a vast crowd "assisting" at the novel ceremony. The procession passed through the principal streets & at last the bull was safely lodged in the yard of the old prison at Peck Lane.
During the night an attempt at rescue was made but it failed & for years afterwards the street boys revenged themselves for the disturbance of the sport by singing
They spolied the waake
And Pulled up the staake
And put the bull in the dunghill."
Subsequently bull baitings were carried on at Handsworth, which was a little behind Birmingham in terms of banning the sport.
 
It was a strange old place, Paul, but for many years the absolute No 1 pub in Brum for trad jazz. I understand that its foundations were badly affected by leakage from the nearby canal, which brought about its closure (before it actually fell down).

G
 
Hi Lyn,

when I knew The Sally in the late 1960's, the buildings to the right of the pub in your photo had long gone, presumably due to subsidence.

G
 
Thank you very much, Lyn. I was hoping someone would repost a picture of the Salutation off Snow Hill. That was a large building to fill with drinkers.
 
it was a big building shirl but i bet in those days they had no trouble filling it...hi bg this is why i like this pic so much as it shows the buildings to the right of the pub..think i have another shot of it somewhere..will look it out..
 
The ground floor was two large bars and an outdoor; the second floor was two function rooms; the third floor was private accommodation. Or so I recall.

G
 
as promised another pic of the sally..you can just see it on the right

lyn

SnowHillConstitutionHill1000.jpg
 
I know this is an old thread but I thought I ought to answer the question about the song Way down on Summer Lane. I have a recording of it somewhere but that will take a search of my vinyl, audio cassettes but I doubt if it is on any of my CDs. However I have found it on this YouTube video

The song starts about 1 m 25 sec in.
 
thanks for posting that video david...will make a lot of members very happy to have all the words of this famous song...i also have it on CD:)

lyn
 
These may spark some memories for jazz enthusiasts. Viv.

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