The Crescent, Hockley

[brummy-lad]

I was just reading Lyn's post on the Park Road thread

Post in thread 'Park Road Hockley'

Jul 1, 2025

great photo mike...just a couple of things ..i think it should be ford st not road and also should it be ernest jelf not jeff..the only reason i asked that is because i know there used to be quite a few coffee houses in birmingham run by the jelfs...thanks mike

map here...for those that do not know just move the blue dot to show what is there now...no 73 is on a green space

Georeferenced Maps viewer - Map images - National Library of Scotland

lyn

• Astoness

• 

Thought it was a useful tool for finding buildings that are still standing (well it was in 2024). A lot of character in this building.

 

[Vivienne14]

Agree brummy-lad. There's a ghost sign on the end of that row of industrial units. See the image attached.

That row of buildings was once known as The Crescent Works and was occupied by John Webb & Co, plumbers and brassfounders. They made taps and had contracts to supply the Council.

The company was around from at least 1904 ( I don't know if that was when they occupied the building, but the building could easily be that date). They were there until at least the 1960s.

They actively encouraged former workers to return to the company after WW2.

Found an intriguing press notice for JW & Co. Why did they have to apply for holiday credits ?

They also had a factory at Brynmawr, Breconshire (called Monusk Works). The Cresent Works was its Head Office.

 

[pjmburns]

The holiday credits seem to be owed to ex employees. So presumably if they didn't apply they didn't get what was owed them.