Then & Now

[Eric Gibson]

What's that huge signpost in the middle of the 1913 photo?

 

[Radiorails]

Around the late 1960s/1970s Keith Berry took some photos around the City Centre. Here is one he took from Stephenson Place. I remember the baked potato seller's stand on the corner.
View attachment 137989

The view today looking very modern and neat.
View attachment 137990

Keith Berry's City Centre photos ... number 8 in the collection below

Keith Berry's Photo Legacy

Keith Berry's 'Old Birmingham & Surroundings' Photo Gallery Recovery of 600 approx photos is complete, 15 albums click on any to see. Keith Berry's titles and comments are in the albums ... 1 1950s /1960s Aston, Birchfield, Lozells, Handsworth. (48) 2 1950s/1960s Handsworth, Handsworth Park...

birminghamhistory.co.uk

I see he newer photo shown, apart from change of ownership of the premises, that above he bank is a clock and the hot chestnut guy has moved on.

 

[Phil]

What's that huge signpost in the middle of the 1913 photo?

Eric what is the number of the post to which you are referring?

 

[Eric Gibson]

Sorry Phill, and others I put 1913 in my post, should have been 2013, it was post 1018

 

[oldMohawk]

During a severe air raid on 20 April 1941 many bombs dropped on New Street. The photo shows the morning after with smoke still lingering in the air and one fireman still damping down. The Times Furnishing building on the left.


Now in New Street folks walk through trees. The old 'Times' building is still there but in this view is now a bookshop.

 

[Phil]

Sorry Phill, and others I put 1913 in my post, should have been 2013, it was post 1018

Sorry Eric , the only thing I can see is what looks like an advertisement attached to a lamppost on a central reservation in the middle of Bearwood Road.

 

[Eric Gibson]

This is what I was asking about.

 

[Radiorails]

Post 1025 appears to be the area later - for a few years anyway - known as the Big Top. The 29 and 29A bus stop was moved farther along to near the cinema and Woolworth store. The photo. shown on BHF a few times, with two young women looking out of an upper window, shows the location. This thread refers:

BigTop

That's interesting. It looks as though the Big Top site development was quite a major undertaking. I believe that a number of people have always regarded as a post-war development but it is now obvious that it wasn't. I'm not quite clear from earlier posts whether these plans were laid in March...

birminghamhistory.co.uk

 

[ellbrown]

This is what I was asking about.View attachment 138024

That was used by Birmingham City Council to advertise events. Removed when the first Metro Extension was built. It's not on Corporation Street now. As this is the site of Corporation Street Tram Stop.

 

[oldMohawk]

Post 1025 appears to be the area later - for a few years anyway - known as the Big Top. The 29 and 29A bus stop was mover farther along to near the cinema and Woolworth store. The photo. shown on BHF a few times, with two young women looking out of an upper window, shows the location. This thread refers:

BigTop

That's interesting. It looks as though the Big Top site development was quite a major undertaking. I believe that a number of people have always regarded as a post-war development but it is now obvious that it wasn't. I'm not quite clear from earlier posts whether these plans were laid in March...

birminghamhistory.co.uk

Carl Chinn: From the ashes rose the Big Top site in Birmingham

During Holy Week 1941, half way between Palm Sunday and Easter, the Luftwaffe pounded Birmingham once again.

www.birminghammail.co.uk

In April 1941, bombers came over and dropped many high explosive bombs on Brum. Some of them dropped on New Street causing severe damage but the Times Furnishing building was almost untouched. The debris seen on the street in post#1025 has been moved to the footpath.


Now everything obviously rebuilt but the old Times building is still there but in this view is a bookshop.

 

[Phil]

Standing in the Bull Ring looking down Spiceal Street from outside Woolworths, the times I have stood there taking in that view and not in my wildest dreams could I have imagined such a change in my lifetime.

 

[oldMohawk]

A military parade marches past the Council House in 1935 and some council employees climb out on to ledges for a better view.


These days the Council House is probably air conditioned with double glazed fixed windows ... so no ledge climbing !

 

[Radiorails]

and traffic wardens!!!

 

[Robert Ensor (bob)]

I wonder what inspired a military parade in 1935 ?

 

[MWS]

Says on the photo, Silver Jubilee (George V).

 

[Robert Ensor (bob)]

Says on the photo, Silver Jubilee (George V).

For some reason it does not show well on my phone.

 

[sospiri]

They used outline lettering, Bob.

Maurice

 

[Richard Dye]

Standing in the Bull Ring looking down Spiceal Street from outside Woolworths, the times I have stood there taking in that view and not in my wildest dreams could I have imagined such a change in my lifetime.

View attachment 138047

WOW, Phil, I'm with you...………..Where di all the magic go!

 

[Phil]

The junction of Aston Hall Road and Sutherland Street with the local chippy, one I never used. Was it any good?

 

[Radiorails]

The old photo is full of the usual interest of corner shops, but does show the pillar fire alarm to good advantage.

 

[Banjo]

Looking up Snow Hill from Summer Lane junction late 50s.

Such a difference in 2019. Only the two buildings on the right, although modernised, still remain.

 

[oldMohawk]

I passed the Aston Hippodrome hundreds of times but never went in and also never noticed that Woolworths. I seem to remember that Burlingtons as the Elbow Room but maybe later than this pic.


Now I could not even recognise the Aston Hippodrome.

 

[Radiorails]

It says a date of 1923 but the Woolworth building looks far newer than that date, so I guess it got a new front. As it still has some wooden shuttering maybe that is when it was altered?

Birmingham Aston Woolworths – Store 137

95 Aston Road North, Birmingham B6 4DA Woolworths opened a third Birmingham store on Aston Road North, on the corner of Burlington Street, in 1923. It was near the Aston Hippodrome. The other store…

wooliesbuildings.wordpress.com

 

[Phil]

I have the same photo as the one under discussion and it is dated 1957, the photo attached is of sewer works on the High Street in 1943. If you look up the High street toward the Hippodrome you can see neither the Elbow Room or Woolworths are there a that date.

 

[oldMohawk]

The photo I used came from the post below although I selectively altered light levels before I uploaded into this thread.

Can,t make out if the two little boys are having a wee or looking at something.

 

[Sugar]

What a photo how them men worked in those conditions no hard hats or vis jackets and one man with a brush with all that rubble about ,their jackets all hanging on the fences with probably their squashed sandwiches in their pockets and what a mess they would of made on the seats of the pubs they would have gone straight to after their shift .Now that's what I call men at work!

 

[Robert Ensor (bob)]

The junction of Aston Hall Road and Sutherland Street with the local chippy, one I never used. Was it any good?

View attachment 138063

I wonder if you could get a pack of fags in the shop next to the chippy ?.

 

[mw0njm.]

I passed the Aston Hippodrome hundreds of times but never went in and also never noticed that Woolworths. I seem to remember that Burlingtons as the Elbow Room but maybe later than this pic.
View attachment 138069

Now I could not even recognise the Aston Hippodrome.
View attachment 138070

at least woolies old building is still there. yes

I have the same photo as the one under discussion and it is dated 1957, the photo attached is of sewer works on the High Street in 1943. If you look up the High street toward the Hippodrome you can see neither the Elbow Room or Woolworths are there a that date.

View attachment 138077

phil. that sewer work went right along and down aston brook st.along side the h/brook. work done by jj.gallagher,and c bryant & son.

 

[Smudger]

I passed the Aston Hippodrome hundreds of times but never went in and also never noticed that Woolworths. I seem to remember that Burlingtons as the Elbow Room but maybe later than this pic.
View attachment 138069

Now I could not even recognise the Aston Hippodrome.
View attachment 138070

What are those 2 little boys (to the left of Woolies ) up to?

 

[mw0njm.]

What are those 2 little boys (to the left of Woolies ) up to?

you dont want to know that