brummy-lad
master brummie
Just one of several images on this interesting website.
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Summer Lane
- Thread starter Astoness
- Start date
paul stacey
master brummie
Just read Toms story, of Court 15, very interesting, thanks for posting, and for the photo of the Vine, brummy-lad. Paul
My father was born at No. 38, Summer Lane on 22 November 1899. This came as a bit of a surprise to me when my elder brother unearthed the fact during family history researches. Dad's attitude to the area – of which I became aware during my childhood in the 1940s - was always that it wasn't, shall we say, the most upmarket residential area of Birmingham because of the existence, in his day, of ruffian gangs (presumably of the Peaky Blinder type). I remember he once said to me rather grimly, as we drove through it on the way home and passed the end of one of the side streets, that when he was a lad living in the area the police would only ever go down there in pairs. This shocked me more than somewhat at the time. Even in the middle of a dreadful war, the world seemed to me a much more law-abiding place than that.
My brother researched the circumstances and established that our grandfather and grandmother, Charles and Martha (formerly Bannister) Myers, previously lived in Highbury Road, Kings Heath. At some time in 1898 or 1899 and just before my father's birth they moved to 38 Summer Lane, which were rented premises.
Here they set up in business as antique dealers, stocking their shop with the contents of their home. Both worked very hard and built up a viable business which caused them to seek larger premises after a few years. Their success was largely due to the experience of Charles who had followed his father, Henry, as an auctioneer, valuer, connoisseur and dealer in fine arts, on which he was held in high regard and had written many published articles on the subject. (I'm not that all sure when Henry adopted that career – he certainly didn't have it as a young man in Gold Rush California and when he came back in 1859 he started off as an ironmonger).
My grandparents' business appears in the Kelly's of 1902 and 1903. Thereafter the entries for 1904, 1905 and 1906 show a move to 44 Snow Hill. One or two fragments of Charles and Martha's business interests remain, scattered throughout the family, although I don't think any stay in my possession. My own father was always an instinctive collector but was far too cautious to rely on that interest as a means of feeding us kids!
A few of the people in this little story. First, Henry, grandfather Charles's dad, in the mid 1870s with his second wife Rose:
Then Martha in about 1904, probably now in Snow Hill, with their daughter and Henry, their son (my father):
And finally "The Old 'Un", my grandfather Charles - now a widower (Martha having died at an early age in 1918) and I think "a bit of a lad" - photographed in the very early 1920s.
Chris
My brother researched the circumstances and established that our grandfather and grandmother, Charles and Martha (formerly Bannister) Myers, previously lived in Highbury Road, Kings Heath. At some time in 1898 or 1899 and just before my father's birth they moved to 38 Summer Lane, which were rented premises.
Here they set up in business as antique dealers, stocking their shop with the contents of their home. Both worked very hard and built up a viable business which caused them to seek larger premises after a few years. Their success was largely due to the experience of Charles who had followed his father, Henry, as an auctioneer, valuer, connoisseur and dealer in fine arts, on which he was held in high regard and had written many published articles on the subject. (I'm not that all sure when Henry adopted that career – he certainly didn't have it as a young man in Gold Rush California and when he came back in 1859 he started off as an ironmonger).
My grandparents' business appears in the Kelly's of 1902 and 1903. Thereafter the entries for 1904, 1905 and 1906 show a move to 44 Snow Hill. One or two fragments of Charles and Martha's business interests remain, scattered throughout the family, although I don't think any stay in my possession. My own father was always an instinctive collector but was far too cautious to rely on that interest as a means of feeding us kids!
A few of the people in this little story. First, Henry, grandfather Charles's dad, in the mid 1870s with his second wife Rose:
Then Martha in about 1904, probably now in Snow Hill, with their daughter and Henry, their son (my father):
And finally "The Old 'Un", my grandfather Charles - now a widower (Martha having died at an early age in 1918) and I think "a bit of a lad" - photographed in the very early 1920s.
Chris
thanks chris...great post and as i was born off summer lane always interested to hear what others know could be my imagination but have you posted about the shop before ... of course you are right about police usually going around in pairs down summer lane..its well documented...may also have had something to do with the fact that there was a pub on every corner lol..think i read that the birmingham arms was one of the worst for pub brawls...had at least 16 pubs during the 1960s...but i have to say that as in most deprived areas the people were the salt of the earth...never had much but if you had nothing would give you half of what they had as i found out as i was growing up
chris is the house your grandparents lived in in highbury road still there.. if as i suspect it is i find it quite extraordinary that they should move from an up market house to summer lane which was quite poverty stricken ...do you have any photos of 38 summer lane chris..i would be very surprised if many folk around there could afford to buy antiques which could explain why your grandparents moved to snow hill to try their luck there
lyn
chris is the house your grandparents lived in in highbury road still there.. if as i suspect it is i find it quite extraordinary that they should move from an up market house to summer lane which was quite poverty stricken ...do you have any photos of 38 summer lane chris..i would be very surprised if many folk around there could afford to buy antiques which could explain why your grandparents moved to snow hill to try their luck there
lyn
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Susan shaw
master brummie
Fantastic.
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Thanks, Lyn. No, unfortunately no information whatsoever about 38 Summer Lane. Wish I had.
As you say, the move itself seems a very strange one. Charles is mentioned in the 1899 Kelly's as occupant of "The Cedars", Highbury Road (this mention appearing in the "Court Pages" of the Directory but whether at the instigation of Charles who, as my brother wrote, fancied himself as a bit of a "man about town", I don't know). I imagine that house still exists but whether under the same name, I've no idea. So the move to Summer Lane is surprising indeed. But Charles was a bit of a chancer, financially, and it sounds as though their initial stock for the antiques business came from what they owned within that earlier property. The prospect of cheap premises for a new business? Who knows. As you say, not much of a market for objets d'art in the immediate area, so probably their customer base was geographically broader. And perhaps they had plans to develop the online side of things?
(A bit off topic: Charles had been born at 3 Monmouth Street in 1866. By 1881 he was still living with his parents but at 75 Soho Hill and then again in 1891 at 42 York Road, Edgbaston at the age of 25, unmarried and described as a "Dealer in the Fine Arts". He had attended King Edward's in New Street leaving in 1882/83. At some stage he, like his father, had a spell the USA. At the time of his marriage in 1897 at the age of 32 his address was still that of his family, now at 83 Stirling Road. So even before his move to Summer Lane, he had got about a bit!)
Because of Martha's ill-health there was a move from Snow Hill in the 1910s, out of the smoky inner-city to the fresh air of Chessett's Wood. But she only lasted there for three or four years and died in January 1918 from pulmonary t.b. and asthma at the age of 44 by which time my father was away in the Army. Charles sold absolutely everything up almost immediately from under everyone's feet. "Even my precious stamp album", Dad told me once. And then embarked on his next ventures. As we see from the photograph above he looked pretty happy with life by the early 1920s.
Chris
As you say, the move itself seems a very strange one. Charles is mentioned in the 1899 Kelly's as occupant of "The Cedars", Highbury Road (this mention appearing in the "Court Pages" of the Directory but whether at the instigation of Charles who, as my brother wrote, fancied himself as a bit of a "man about town", I don't know). I imagine that house still exists but whether under the same name, I've no idea. So the move to Summer Lane is surprising indeed. But Charles was a bit of a chancer, financially, and it sounds as though their initial stock for the antiques business came from what they owned within that earlier property. The prospect of cheap premises for a new business? Who knows. As you say, not much of a market for objets d'art in the immediate area, so probably their customer base was geographically broader. And perhaps they had plans to develop the online side of things?
(A bit off topic: Charles had been born at 3 Monmouth Street in 1866. By 1881 he was still living with his parents but at 75 Soho Hill and then again in 1891 at 42 York Road, Edgbaston at the age of 25, unmarried and described as a "Dealer in the Fine Arts". He had attended King Edward's in New Street leaving in 1882/83. At some stage he, like his father, had a spell the USA. At the time of his marriage in 1897 at the age of 32 his address was still that of his family, now at 83 Stirling Road. So even before his move to Summer Lane, he had got about a bit!)
Because of Martha's ill-health there was a move from Snow Hill in the 1910s, out of the smoky inner-city to the fresh air of Chessett's Wood. But she only lasted there for three or four years and died in January 1918 from pulmonary t.b. and asthma at the age of 44 by which time my father was away in the Army. Charles sold absolutely everything up almost immediately from under everyone's feet. "Even my precious stamp album", Dad told me once. And then embarked on his next ventures. As we see from the photograph above he looked pretty happy with life by the early 1920s.
Chris
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brummy-lad
master brummie
It must be so frustrating Chris that we have these 2 images of the Unity Club and No. 38 is not shown.
At least on the 1 picture the children must be almost standing in front of it, certainly gives you a feel for the area, apparently this picture is from 1949 (date edited) when there was a fire at the Unity Club.
I have the same problem with 143 Park Lane, the image I have of Park Lane is just 2 houses away.
It's a lovely story and you're so lucky to have those pictures and the names to go with them.
At least on the 1 picture the children must be almost standing in front of it, certainly gives you a feel for the area, apparently this picture is from 1949 (date edited) when there was a fire at the Unity Club.
I have the same problem with 143 Park Lane, the image I have of Park Lane is just 2 houses away.
It's a lovely story and you're so lucky to have those pictures and the names to go with them.
Attachments
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Highbury road is first listed in Kellys in the 1897 edition, an the Cedars are not listed. (The c1884 OS ap does not show the road at all). TheCedars appear between the 1897 and 1899 editions and, as can be seen, seems to encompass several households.
The Streetview view today agrees with this and below can be seen the plaque labelled Cedars in the row of houses
https://goo.gl/maps/doAcm7j8Aq87k8Rs8
The Streetview view today agrees with this and below can be seen the plaque labelled Cedars in the row of houses
https://goo.gl/maps/doAcm7j8Aq87k8Rs8
i have to agree with that chris...does the property look big enough to have a front and back room...live in the back and shop at the front..difficult to tell...looks like a bit of mystery to me..i noted that it was opposite the bulls head pub corner of new summer st and summer lane..i have a cracking photo of this pub but alas it does not show the other side of the road
lyn
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brummy-lad
master brummie
I saw this online today, I know the photos have been shown before but I dont think the attachment has.
uncletomstales.com
A (Sleep) Walk down Summer Lane – 1
Uncle Tom (Thomas Mitchel) was just 11 years old in 1852 when he wrote this poem about a walk from his home in…
uncletomstales.com
bryan summers
ASTON LAD
Hi Wendy. I'm new to this forum so have only just seen your message. I lived in Newtown Row at no 258 and the Pursehouse family lived two doors below us. in fact Ken Pursehouse, the son of the family was my best friend during the 40s. He had an older sister whose name I can't remember. Kenny and I used to play cowboys and Indians in our back yard. He always had to be Ken Maynard (a cowboy star of the time) though he wanted to be Roy Rogers.
Are you still a member of the Birmingham History forum?. Some years back you posted a photo which included my dads uncle Harry Dossiter. Would it be possible if I could get a copy please.
Nick Phillips
N S P
For some reason unable to open your two photos, would be interested to see them.
Nick S Phillips
Annette Gee
New Member
I am with someone called Bob Chinn who is 91 years old his father owned the undertakers on the corner of Summer Lane and Brass Street, he thinks this was a funeral and that his dad's undertakers Harman and sons had 14 horses. He loved seeing the photo... thank you
RobT
Acemeccanoman
Thank you very much for giving us this information, and of course Bob Chinn
From 1930 Kelly's
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Yes I remember these very well , passed them on way to school daily, at the end of this block was public toilets one old penny for the ladies lol
this is for our new member villafanman...
here is a map showing where you was born at 10/331 summer lane no 10 highlighted in blue...if you look at the map you will see no 330 is marked out as thats where you thought you lived until looking at your birth cert
if you look at the map you will see a pub on the corner which is the barrel pub and is still there...everything else in the photo has gone however if you count about 9 down from the pub this is where 331 was of course you would have had to go up an entry to get to your house which you can also see on the map...its only a rough guess but if you look at the back of the van on the wall is a tall pasted on advert...i think 331 roughly next to that there but maybe if mike our map expert spots this post he may work it out exactly for you
lyn
here is a map showing where you was born at 10/331 summer lane no 10 highlighted in blue...if you look at the map you will see no 330 is marked out as thats where you thought you lived until looking at your birth cert
if you look at the map you will see a pub on the corner which is the barrel pub and is still there...everything else in the photo has gone however if you count about 9 down from the pub this is where 331 was of course you would have had to go up an entry to get to your house which you can also see on the map...its only a rough guess but if you look at the back of the van on the wall is a tall pasted on advert...i think 331 roughly next to that there but maybe if mike our map expert spots this post he may work it out exactly for youlyn
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villafanman
proper brummie kid
oh wait till i show my kids this,it has made my day
thank you lyn
thank you lyn
thanks mike that is just where i thought the entry was...not bad for me lol....also i forgot to say thanks for sending me the map mike..
hi villafanman it is comments like yours that make this forum what it is...i can fully understand your excitement....happy to help please feel free to save the map and the photo to show your children
lyn
hi villafanman it is comments like yours that make this forum what it is...i can fully understand your excitement....happy to help please feel free to save the map and the photo to show your children
lyn
adap2it
master brummie
So I gather that this view shown is towards town? I was never that familiar with Summer Lane past New John St West. I believe there were hills in both directions.
Dave A