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Stevens/Stephens store

L

Lizzie Drippin

New Member
Wondered if anyone remembers Stevens/Stephens store.Think it was near the fire station, town centre.Remember going there for new shoes and it seemed a big store, but as a 5or 6 year old, I suppose it would.Would I be correct, that goods could be paid for weekly. Thanks Karen
 
The stevens store was on the far right hand of the the big island coming up from Aston and Costa green
As you was coming past the front of the fire station on the approach to the island in the middle of the road
You would have gone straight on to Henrys where all the termis for the old tram and 39 bus along with the old main busses
You all have to get off it later became a large shop for uniforms for brownies and scouts life bouts uniforms
It was there for decades from moving over to the other corner where they came from originally
And many years later it changed to trades uniforms work wear for years and later it became a wine bar
Best wishes Astonian,,,,,
 
Alan

It sounds to me as if you are describing the Scout Shop at 105 Dale End, although this shop had several uses before it became The Scout Shop such as Provision Merchants, Dining Rooms and Upholsterers none of them were named Stevens or Stephens, besides it was quite a way from the Fire Station on Lancaster Circus. Perhaps Lizzie could give us a year for her visits to the store, which might help simplify matters. Also was it just a shoe shop or did it sell other item of children's clothing as well?
 
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Lizzie

I think your store could possibly be G Stephens (Birmingham) Ltd. Ladies & Gents Outfitters Drapers & Furnishers 2 - 7 Aston Street B-ham 4. which was just over the road from the fire station.

This photo shows the store in 1968 shortly before demolition I would think as it looks boarded up to me, It's the building on the right that is running out of the image.
 

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I remember the shop very well. It was a large dark red brick building with big display windows. It sold Girl Guides supplies too. I remember when we came into town on the 33 bus, the bus used to swing oast the shop. Always fascinated me. Sometimes they'd have a camping scene in the window with models wearing scout uniforms. Don't recall ever having been inside as it was a bit out of the way from the main shopping area. And my membership of the Girl Guides lasted precisely one week. Viv.
 
No Phil
It was not dale end I am describing if you can find an old photo that some one put on here last year
You would see the original island and regarding dale end I do not ever recall see in a scouts shop in dale end
There used to be an old gents out fitters there at the corner of old dale end just on the corner right by the Bee hive building
Below it it later change to a slightly up market suits afterwards during the early fifty,s and was taken over then by nelsons
Whom had that particular postion then they set up another one down the steps and subway to the bull ring
If you get the old picture of the original little island out side of the fire station which was postioned
Right by the central fire station in and out where they still have a white clock in postion on there arched entrance
That's where the little island was giving traffic right of way from the steel house lane now
You have put on with today's subway and that's not the one , as you come around the island from Aston you had to swing right around the island to your right you could not miss there was a special school as you swing around the fire station
Laying back I think it was gem street I believe I also travelled on the public transport to the city with my mother and grand mother
Bertha Victoria Hinton whom brought us into the city to buy new clothes for us all her mother kitted every body out
My mom, and my brother she alwaysshoped at marks and spencers when I seen the shop with its name I thought
She had connections but No it was not to be we went into marks and sparks bought loads of stuff
Then we came out and walked a little way along the shops then we walked down crooked alley it the top
Of bordesly street and down the hill to her home and business number one new canal digbeth coffee shop
And transport to long distance drivers Bed And Breakfast best wishes Phil Alan,,Astonian,,,
 
Alan

The photo I posted was from 1968 and there was not subway in view at that time in fact they were just about to start building the flyovers and underpasses. There is no doubt that it is the Stephens shop in the photo that I posted. As I never went in the shop I do not know if they sold Brownies & Guides uniforms because it doesn't state that in Kelly's Directory. Though it seems from what other posters say that they did, as for the scout shop in Dale End it was there for over 50 years and I used it myself in the 50's.

Nelson House was another place that I used in the 60's and I believe before they took over the premises it was Wake's Greengrocers which I remember, before that it was Wimbushes which I have no memory of. Yes next door to Nelson House was Platts Tailors a very old established firm which I think was probably still there when the building was demolished but it was there all the time Nelson House was.

I've found another earlier photo showing the store from another angle which looks as if it was taken from outside the fire station with Stafford Street straight ahead Corporation Street to the right and Stephens Store on the left.
 

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That doesn't look the same as the Guides shop I remember.
Was there another block of shops nearer to the Fire Station that it might have been on?
 
A Sparks said:
That doesn't look the same as the Guides shop I remember.
Was there another block of shops nearer to the Fire Station that it might have been on?
Click to expand...

I'm sorry but I haven't a clue as I was looking for a shop called Stevens or Stephens near to the fire station and this one was within yards of the main entrance. I've looked through Kelly's Directory's for the most likely years and the only possible alternative that I can find is the one I mentioned before The Scout Shop on Dale End. I have no memory of a guide uniform shop in Birmingham as my daughter was never in the Brownies or the Guides anyway we were living in Solihull by then.
 
Sorry Phil
The shop was closer than you think to the fire station on the left hand side of the earliest island
And that ain't the orinigal island that you put on there was no wide turning on the island in the fortys
And I am fully aware when they started to build and and redesign brum
I only lived down the road from there and always walked up to the town even at the age of eight Alan Astonian
 
The only Guide shop I knew was in Ryder Street at the top end of Corporation Street. You could see the fire station from there.

Janice
 
Alan

I lived a ten minute walk away from Gosta Green myself for about ten years and walked past the college and fire station many times on the way to town and I had no recollection of the Stephens store on Aston Street but apparently it was there and the original enquirer agrees that it's the right store. In my latest post I mention it was only yards from the fire station, as you look at the station with your back to Corporation Street it was on the right. On the left was Corporation Street and there were no shops opposite the fire station there only Halfords until it burnt down.
 
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