Small Heath Tram Depot Coventry Road

[Vivienne14]

The view across the Coventry Road from Small Heath Park. The same buildings are still standing there but I wonder if that simple, low-level, arched building between the tall ones is still there behind the modern-day Fresh Fish and Vegetables store ? Hope so.

Viv.

Viv

 

[Pedro42]

View through the gap 2022.

I believe that the gap between the buildings was the old steam tram depot, before the electric trams arrived on the scene.

 

[Tinpot]

[......... I wonder if that simple, low-level, arched building between the tall ones is still there behind the modern-day Fresh Fish and Vegetables store ? Hope so. Viv] QUOTE


The 3 arched building had been covered over. I thought it looked set back but found an older photo .

 

[Vivienne14]

Here's an early view which shows the arched building. Also attaching the same modern view.

Viv.

 

[Vivienne14]

Trams on the Coventry Road c1915 and the modern day view.

Viv

 

[Pedro42]

In c1915 and the modern day view.

Viv

View attachment 181137View attachment 181136

More photos of same spot on the Coventry Road. The first photo shows the tram lines entering the old steam tram depot

 

[Vivienne14]

That's a great couple of photos Pedro. Thanks. Viv

 

[podgery]

Brilliant Photo's made my day.

 

[Tinpot]

More photos of same spot on the Coventry Road. The first photo shows the tram lines entering the old steam tram depot

If you look at photo 2/2 the tramlines turn at a point further along from the single storey building with 3 arches. That would be where St Oswald's Rd is.

 

[Pedro42]

Yep. Picture 1 shows the later electric trams route. They were introduced after the steam trams which used the depot opposite the park entrance in picture 1 Having said that, the trams on picture 1 are also electric .

 

[Vivienne14]

The low-level building in Tinpot's post #2 was the tram depot's waiting room according to the Small Heath Circle site.

So how was the tram depot accessed by trams ? Via St Oswalds Road ? Viv.

 

[pjmburns]

The low-level building in Tinpot's post #2 was the tram depot's waiting room according to the Small Heath Circle site.

So how was the tram depot accessed by trams ? Via St Oswalds Road ? Viv.

1889 map but assume it continued the same - I will check but other maps not such a good scale

 

[pjmburns]

1916 map shows how built up round the depot it had become.

 

[Vivienne14]

This thread has been created from a discussion on the Small Heath Park Shops thread. I have edited some of the posts so that they correctly refer to earlier posts in the context of this thread. Please let me know if there are any inaccuracies. Many thanks. Viv.

 

[Tinpot]

The building at front of tram shed site was built in 1907.

 

[mikejee]

Here you can see Coventry road from the old tram depot looking towards the city while trams were still running



And the depot after it became a bus depot

 

[oldbrit]

I remember that it was huge, there was a picture house across the road, down a bit

 

[Lloyd]

The first photo in post #16 is not the depot, in fact the photographer is standing outside it looking towards the City.

 

[mikejee]

I have corrected caption

 

[1299]

I remember that it was huge, there was a picture house across the road, down a bit

That was The Kingston.

 

[Radiorails]

Two items in the second photo in post 16 show an earlier type phone box and the trolleybus stop sign (octagonal) fixed to to the catenary pole, there appears to be a bus stop sign on a separate pole which is adjacent.

 

[Pedro42]

Some more photos of the Arthur Street/Coventry Road bus/tram depot and its environs

 

[Brummie a long time ago]

That was The Kingston.

Fond memories. Lone Ranger and the like. There was a little shop at the top of the hill, near the junction of Kingston Road and St Andrews Road. Had a lot of sweeties from there over time. Run by a couple called Shutt, although that may be my memory inventing something to fill a gap.
Looked in awe inside the big doors into the bus depot. So many busses, all together.
Was McGauleys toy shop just up the Cov Road from the bus depot on the same side?
Andrew.

 

[AnnS]

McGauleys toy shop was just a few yards further up Coventry Road.

 

[oldbrit]

That was The Kingston.

Didnt a lot of people in WW2 die there during an air raid?

 

[Astoness]

hi oldbrit...i think you maybe thinking of the carlton cinema balsall heath...so many young people died in that dreadful air raid...see post 1 on below thread

lyn

Thread 'carlton cinema taunton road balsall heath'

Apr 7, 2025

demo of the cinema 1985...so many young lives lost here during the bombings of 1940..all died at the cinema except for edward byrne aged 15 who died at selly oak hospital

Name Aged Injured on Injured at Died On Died At
Byrne, Edward 15 25/10/1940 Carlton Picture House, Taunton Road, Sparkbrook 26/10/1940 Selly Oak Hospital



Name Aged Injured on Injured at Died On Died At
Bayley, Vidah Blanche 31 25/10/1940 Carlton Picture House, Taunton Road, Sparkbrook 25/10/1940 Carlton Picture House...

• Astoness
• Replies: 1
• Forum: Cinemas, Theatres & Rinks

• 
• 

 

[Lloyd]

Two items in the second photo in post 16 show an earlier type phone box and the trolleybus stop sign (octagonal) fixed to to the catenary pole, there appears to be a bus stop sign on a separate pole which is adjacent.

The bus stop pole is there because this view must be in 1951, when the trolleybuses finished and the overhead wires and most of the traction wire poles would be taken down. As you say. trolleybus signs were octagonal, whilst tram ones were oblong, and bus stops were round.

 

[Vivienne14]

Small Heath trams came in for some criticism over the years: