Here it is from Hutton's 1783 History of Birmingham. I think the spire was added in the 1820s. Oops just realised Mike posted a picture of it too in post #3, but his is a slightly different view. Viv.
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St Paul's Square Hockley
- Thread starter Vivienne14
- Start date
This article might be of interest - but might raise the blood pressure. Viv.
https://www.birminghampost.net/news...g-spaces-in-jewellery-quarter-65233-27368382/
Bernard67Arnold
master brummie
rosie
brummie
Ooooh!! Viv, I noticed the stones were cracked but I hadn't realised why!! There was nothing parked when I went. It's bad enough burying or moving these memorials without parking on them!!! I know at St. Nicola's in Kings Norton some of the stones were made into paths, but not for parking on!!
rosie.
rosie.
Bernard67Arnold
master brummie
I posted quite a number of photos before the hackers got in, however when I try and replace them they are blocked, so I have to
scan them again with a different name and number, this one was
taken in 1995 just after I retired, Bernard
scan them again with a different name and number, this one was
taken in 1995 just after I retired, Bernard
Thanks Bernard! I think it's interesting that there's an 'Industrial Chaplain' - echos its history. Lovely. Viv.
I think it's such a disappointment that people have been allowed to park on the stones in the first place. The article appeared in Sept 2010. I'm hoping there's been some progress since then, but sort of doubt it. Viv
Mick Linehan
proper brummie kid
I got my first job in a Printing company called Warwickshire Publishing on the corner of Mary Ann Street and St Pauls Square in 1972. I was a bookbinders apprentice and left in 1979. I had to run errands for the ` Journeymen` such as fetching food, cigarettes and putting bets on at the bookies in constitution Hill. It was a rights of passage until another apprentice started.
The square was quite run down then, a lot of the buildings were undergoing renovation, I believe.
The Rope Walk was a company that sold.... rope, and I used to get sent up there by the Bindery foreman for a ball od` Sisal` string to tie up the parcels which were collected and sent by British Rail all over the country. We specialised in Diaries and used to produce thousands of them.
The company was owned by a German man called ` Blacksmith` who I think escaped from the Nazis. I used to go and sit in St Pauls churchyard on sunny days to have my lunch.
There was a pub on Ludgate hill called St Pauls Tavern, long gone. Also a Barclays bank at the top of Ludgate Hill where I opened my first bank account.
The union man was called `The Father of the chapel `.
The square was quite run down then, a lot of the buildings were undergoing renovation, I believe.
The Rope Walk was a company that sold.... rope, and I used to get sent up there by the Bindery foreman for a ball od` Sisal` string to tie up the parcels which were collected and sent by British Rail all over the country. We specialised in Diaries and used to produce thousands of them.
The company was owned by a German man called ` Blacksmith` who I think escaped from the Nazis. I used to go and sit in St Pauls churchyard on sunny days to have my lunch.
There was a pub on Ludgate hill called St Pauls Tavern, long gone. Also a Barclays bank at the top of Ludgate Hill where I opened my first bank account.
The union man was called `The Father of the chapel `.
For what it's worth, from late 78 for a couple of years, I worked for S Rose wholesale clothing on the Lionel St and around the corner in Ludgate hill. The main building was on so many different levels that you could go up and down stairs several times and still stay on the same floor. That building burned down in March 79 - you couldn't have missed the fire. and they moved everything into one of the other buildings on Ludgate Hill. When that building got too small they moved to the old Typhoo building off Digbeth (Bordesley St not Bradford St). I found out later that my dad's first job in Birmingham was at the Typhoo as a Shop Steward for the T&G.
brummiemummy
knowlegable brummie
To Mick Linehan,
My Grand dad worked at a printers 11 St Paul's Square called Billing Brothers. it was there 1861 -about 1958. I think it was on the corner of Mary Ann Street and St Paul's square as it is listed in Kelly's directory in 1921 as being Mary Ann Street and in 1933 the address is 11 St paul's Square. There is photo in page 1 of this thread of 11 St Paul's square now called Grosvenor house. Perhaps the same building. I wonder if that is where you worked? Billing Bros moved to Lombard Street in 1958. My grandad Harold Ireland worked at Billing Bros from 1921 as an office boy aged 16 till his retirement at 65 when he was a wages clerk. My mom Beryl Ireland was a proof reader both at the St Paul's site and at Lombard Street till I was born 1964.
I scanned this newspaper article from 1961 about the centenary of the company but couldn't fit the whole thing into my scanner. There are several views but cutting and pasting them all into one accurate montage is beyond my IT skills I'm afraid. Hope it brings back memories.
My Grand dad worked at a printers 11 St Paul's Square called Billing Brothers. it was there 1861 -about 1958. I think it was on the corner of Mary Ann Street and St Paul's square as it is listed in Kelly's directory in 1921 as being Mary Ann Street and in 1933 the address is 11 St paul's Square. There is photo in page 1 of this thread of 11 St Paul's square now called Grosvenor house. Perhaps the same building. I wonder if that is where you worked? Billing Bros moved to Lombard Street in 1958. My grandad Harold Ireland worked at Billing Bros from 1921 as an office boy aged 16 till his retirement at 65 when he was a wages clerk. My mom Beryl Ireland was a proof reader both at the St Paul's site and at Lombard Street till I was born 1964.
I scanned this newspaper article from 1961 about the centenary of the company but couldn't fit the whole thing into my scanner. There are several views but cutting and pasting them all into one accurate montage is beyond my IT skills I'm afraid. Hope it brings back memories.
Although not a Brummie by birth I've here a long time. am surprised there has been no mention of Thomas Walkers Buckle factory.....it was where those new flats are and the frontage of the factory is the frontage of the flats exactly at it was when rebuilt after it was bombed during WW2
jennyann
Gone but not forgotten. R.I.P.
Hi cazap:
Thomas Walker's Buckle factory is mentioned in its own thread on BHF with recent postings. https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=41220
Thomas Walker's Buckle factory is mentioned in its own thread on BHF with recent postings. https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=41220
Not a destination for most Brummies I think and was only by the church once in 28 years there. Seem to remember that it seemed to be shuttered and un-used but must have been wrong. Yes a quiet place and probably a sought after residence now...the square I mean. Finding a place to park your carriage might be difficult on a permanent residence basis, still it might have a decent walk rating.
I seem to remember from past research that, as stated before, the church was in the country, so to speak, on it's own. Down from the New Hall and there was a river/stream running by it which seemed to feed a couple of fish ponds. The river/stream was incorporated into the Fazely Canal I think, that runs down the hill via a zillion locks for a long time now. Just north of the church is a way called Brook Street I think. At the bottom of the lock system there may be a run-off for surplus water fed by the river to the canal system. (Mikes Ref) The run-off possibly emptied into Hockley Brook at about Phillips Street ...half way up.
This is all from memory on here and I might have a point or two wrong.
I seem to remember from past research that, as stated before, the church was in the country, so to speak, on it's own. Down from the New Hall and there was a river/stream running by it which seemed to feed a couple of fish ponds. The river/stream was incorporated into the Fazely Canal I think, that runs down the hill via a zillion locks for a long time now. Just north of the church is a way called Brook Street I think. At the bottom of the lock system there may be a run-off for surplus water fed by the river to the canal system. (Mikes Ref) The run-off possibly emptied into Hockley Brook at about Phillips Street ...half way up.
This is all from memory on here and I might have a point or two wrong.
Mick Linehan
proper brummie kid
I think where I worked was 1 Mary Ann Street, I started in 1972, I believe that it was called Storr`s before my time. It`s now a hair dresser`s. There were lot`s of printer`s in the area. Allday, Green and Welburn were at the bottom of Newhall St. R.B. Boot`s were also off St.Pauls Square, they specialised in Gold Blocking Foil for book spines. I remember carrying a large tub of glue from a printers in Shadwell St and I dropped it in Water St, there was glue every where.
Warwickshire publishing was owned by a German, all the employees were elderly and had been in the Printing trade all their lives, the building was I think Victorian or possibly Georgian.
I left in 1979 and went to James Upton printers in Digbeth and worked there until 2007, so the print trade was good for me and my apprenticeship helped me such a lot in my working life. I now work for West Midlands Police and I patrol around St Pauls Square sometimes. Funny isn`t it ....
Warwickshire publishing was owned by a German, all the employees were elderly and had been in the Printing trade all their lives, the building was I think Victorian or possibly Georgian.
I left in 1979 and went to James Upton printers in Digbeth and worked there until 2007, so the print trade was good for me and my apprenticeship helped me such a lot in my working life. I now work for West Midlands Police and I patrol around St Pauls Square sometimes. Funny isn`t it ....
cookie273uk
Gone but not forgotten
I was a member of the BWS (Birmingham Watercolour Society) who where based in New Street, but about 10 Years ago they moved to Brook St with the RBSA who bought some old commercial 3 storey building and converted into a gallery and meeting place, complete with café. RBSA being the owners and BWS renting it for their meetings and twice annual exhibitions. That was my first experience of Saint Pauls Square and I thought what a lovely place it is, so quiet yet so close to City centre. Eric
A conservation success story, the legacy of the intervention of 3 architects is visible nearly 50 years later. And todays frequent fires and demolition of buildings in serious decay are nothing new. 
Source : British Newspaper Archive
Source : British Newspaper Archive
quite right viv..these so call accidental fires etc have been around for many years...to be honest i have not had a look around st pauls square for ages so its on my list of places to revisit this year..my gt grandparents married at st pauls church in 1910 must try and have a look at the inside of it
lyn
St Paul's area might almost once have been the Belgravia of Birmingham. It's church when first built, stood in the middle of fields. Today, the square surrounding the church still retains some of its early character.
Source: British Newspaper Archive
Source: British Newspaper Archive
brummy-lad
master brummie
Looks like the damage was near here off Mary Ann Street, behind the white van, and not far from Vaughtons building on Livery Street. There's a building (shown left) on Mary Ann Street with the date 1950 on the facade. So perhaps the buildings were redeveloped because of and soon after the damage shown in the aeriel photo.
Dionysius//88
master brummie
I used to work in George St and I walked to the Sta Paul's Tavern most days , I was shocked one day in the 70's to see the headstones being moved . I know the place was a little run down but I thought it had it's own beauty and character, when I saw the finished result I cant say I was that enamoured .
The lovely Georgian townhouse building that housed the St Paul’s Club at 34 St Paul's Square is now occupied by Kangs Solicitors.
The club sold the building several years ago and relocated to Edgbaston Hall (within Edgbaston Golf Club) and the ground floor was converted to offices.
The club sold the building several years ago and relocated to Edgbaston Hall (within Edgbaston Golf Club) and the ground floor was converted to offices.
35 St Paul's Square (which is on the corner with Caroline St) was the "official" site for David Blair & Co , gunmakers, form the mid 1780s to 1816. Whether this house was used as a store/showroom and office or whether there was also some gun assembly carried out there too, I don't know. He also had commercial premises in Brook Street (off the west corner of the square) and at the top of James Street in Harpers Hill (just north/north west of the square). After Blair's previous partners, Richard and Ramsay Sutherland, went bankrupt in 1818, they set up a gunmaking business at 1-2 Caroline Street which leads off St Pauls Square just on the corner with no 35. (Blair had died in 1814). Later, Ramsay Sutherland was an agent for the French Brandy Co, at the same address. He must have foreseen the future commercial possibilities of the area today!!
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