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Soho Road Handsworth

Redevelopment was as a result of substantial WW2 bombing on that section of Soho Road. So it dates the B&W photo in post #691 to pre-1942. Source: Library of Birmingham:


Description:Bomb damaged shops during the air-raids of 1942. The photograph covers the buildings between numbers 216 down to 192. At that time left to right they were: Pearks Dairies, The National Provincial Bank (managed by C S Parker), Woolworths, Freeman Hardy Willis, Michael Wynn Ltd (gowns), Pearl Assurance Co Ltd, Burton Montague Tailors, Peacock's Stores, and England's Smart Shoes. Also of interest in the photograph is the sign on the lamp-post pointing to the nearest shelter.

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It looks rather like the bank was built with more substantial materials. It also suggests that the photograph was taken fairly soon after the bombing. The S sign was to found in well populated areas and of course in well known shopping areas. I recall being taken to a shelter on more than one occasion.
 
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