Six Ways Alum Rock

[Vivienne14]

An interesting view . Does 'Six Ways' still exist today? Think the corner shop name is 'Jester's Store'.

 

[Astoness]

it is an interesting photo viv...a bit of research is needed the first thing finding out the name of the road /st where jesters stores was..maybe we could look at the alum rock road thread for any clues...that spire on top of the shop looks almost church like.. most unusual

lyn...

 

[pjmburns]

1940 Kelly's directory has this entry

Is this the same place?

 

[pjmburns]

This is it today although the pointed roof section has gone and the road to the left is pedestrianised.

 

[MWS]

Gowan Road to the left, Alum Rock Road straight on.

 

[pjmburns]

1962 phone book

 

[Astoness]

great..thanks jan and mark..although i am still intrigued with that church like spire..

lyn

 

[MWS]

It seems a bit of a stretch to call it six ways. The top of the Rock is five ways, the sixth probably College Road a little further along.

 

[pjmburns]

Still listed as Jester's stores in 1980 phone book. Can't access later editions.

 

[MWS]

Pigeon Post, 1913 lists that property as a Post Office.

 

[Astoness]

looking at this map i see what you mean mark about it being a stretch calling it 6 ways

Georeferenced Maps viewer - Map images - National Library of Scotland

 

[MWS]

Still listed as Jester's stores in 1980 phone book. Can't access later editions.

It was still Jester's for some years after that, can remember my mom saying she was going there to get something or other. Late 80s, possibly even the 90s.

 

[Vivienne14]

Wow, that's great ! Jesters seem to have been in business then for some time. Wonder if the family originally ran the post office ? Photo #1 looks to be about late 1920s/early 1930s to me.

 

[Vivienne14]

Actually on closer inspection of the photo, it says 'Post Office' above the shop doorway !! So the Jesters did run it.

 

[MWS]

As per Janice's post #3, John George Jester appears to be listed there on the 1921 census and 1922 ER and was possibly there on the 1911 census.

 

[devonjim]

Has anyone suggested when/how Alum Rock got it's name. Can't find any mention of Alum being processed there.

 

[mikejee]

In itself not real evidence, but have you seen this from "The Streets of Brum Pt.1" by Carl Chinn?

 

[devonjim]

In itself not real evidence, but have you seen this from "The Streets of Brum Pt.1" by Carl Chinn?

I suppose the one doesn't exclude the other. My only contact with alum was that my grand dad always had a stick to hand when he was shaving. I do have a copy of that Carl Chinn book.

 

[Astoness]

In itself not real evidence, but have you seen this from "The Streets of Brum Pt.1" by Carl Chinn?

View attachment 200277

hi mike i think there are 5 parts to that book which can be very useful..i have all of them..

lyn

 

[mikejee]

I very much agree Lyn