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Then & Now
- Thread starter Phil
- Start date
Bob Davis
Bob Davis
Yes they regularly advertised as painters and decorators and glaziers. Going back in time who cannot remember distemper, not the disease of dogs???, but the wall cover. And remember when Magicote, one coat paint appeared?
Bob
Alf Rogers
master brummie
It's very unusual to see a set of traffic lights, in the old photograph, being replaced by a zebra crossing in the new scene. Usually its the other way round, which worsens traffic congestion!
Radiorails
master brummie
I believe that is the pleasing thing about Bournville, in that I could visit there and little would have changed in the last 60+ years. However, many parts of the city would be totally unrecognisable.
michaelwicks54
Aston bred & proud.
If only many of the area's around out beautiful city were not preserved like this, with such love & thought. All we are left with with much of the city are memories & photographs.
Richard Dye
master brummie
sospiri
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Ah, the Day Continuation School. It seemed a policy of the Council in 1954 to send us for one day a week to this school. Perhaps it was because they hadn't got enough to keep us occupied at work and that was certainly the case in 1957 - talk about overstaffed. That one day enabled me to retake and pass an 'O' Level that I had failed at grammar school, but what to do with us for the rest of the day, and many of us lads were in a similar position. At first they put us into the Art Class with the girls, but that was simply too disruptive and we certainly didn't have much interest in art! Then they put us into an empty classroom on our own and told us to "read or do something". But someone found a ball and a few started kicking it around until one of the teachers returned and told us off again. I think in the end they told us to go home early, and that became the routine until we took whatever exam they had us down for. It was certainly not a very well thought out program.
Maurice
Maurice
Radiorails
master brummie
Things were different there for the Post Office (Telephones) people. You had to knuckle down and learn - even if it became a struggle at times. You could not go home early that easily as the PO provided its own double deck bus to take you back to town or Bordesley Green. I got off at Digbeth and caught any bus heading towards the Shirley area. The bus, recorded elsewhere on BHF, was an ex-BCT 1935 Daimler COG5, AOP 753 (753) which was one of six that the GPO purchased in 1949. My recollections, in 1953 was the the food was good. 
Other company names I recall were Boxfoldia, which seemed a strange name and ever stranger was Kalamazoo. Both of these companies have threads about them. Boxfoldia is small and wold benefit from more posts about the company and its Northfield works, Kalamazoo has quite a few interesting posts.
Other company names I recall were Boxfoldia, which seemed a strange name and ever stranger was Kalamazoo. Both of these companies have threads about them. Boxfoldia is small and wold benefit from more posts about the company and its Northfield works, Kalamazoo has quite a few interesting posts.
Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
Litton Mill.
Not Birmingham, but in these troubled times, may be of interest for Then and Later.
We first passed Litton Mill in 1989 and I took the first picture. When we passed again two years later in 1991 there were several posters protesting against the site being developed into luxury apartments. The second picture is our third visit in 2006 when the site had been converted. They were very expensive.
“The mill is located by the side of the River Wye about 2 miles from Litton village. Litton Mill complex has a notorious history involving cruelty, torture and a high rate in apprentice and child labour mortality. In fact, it is reputed that burials were made at several locations in an attempt to cover up the number of deaths.
Ellis Needham was a millowner or factory master with the worst reputation. He established the mill back in 1782 and together with his partner Thomas Firth attempted to sell the premises in 1786. Their advertisement stated well supplied by hands from the neighbouring villages at low wages ! When the mill failed to sell, Needham took to apprenticing parish orphans and paupers, some of whom were brought from London or other large cities. They worked long hours with poor food, in bad conditions, and were beaten and abused. In 1815 Needham was declared bankrupt so ironically his cost-cutting measures did not pay off. The mill was taken over by a succession of owners, one of whom was the much kinder Henry Newton, and by 1857 there were 400 employees. As with many of the mills, fire struck at Litton and new buildings were constructed. In 1934 it was bought by Anglo-French Silk Mills Limited and produced artificial silk and man-made fibres. In 1963 Litton Mill changed hands and manufactured textured yarns until its closure in the 1970 s. For many years the mill lay empty and derelict before planning permission was approved for its conversion into living accommodation.”
Not Birmingham, but in these troubled times, may be of interest for Then and Later.
We first passed Litton Mill in 1989 and I took the first picture. When we passed again two years later in 1991 there were several posters protesting against the site being developed into luxury apartments. The second picture is our third visit in 2006 when the site had been converted. They were very expensive.
“The mill is located by the side of the River Wye about 2 miles from Litton village. Litton Mill complex has a notorious history involving cruelty, torture and a high rate in apprentice and child labour mortality. In fact, it is reputed that burials were made at several locations in an attempt to cover up the number of deaths.
Ellis Needham was a millowner or factory master with the worst reputation. He established the mill back in 1782 and together with his partner Thomas Firth attempted to sell the premises in 1786. Their advertisement stated well supplied by hands from the neighbouring villages at low wages ! When the mill failed to sell, Needham took to apprenticing parish orphans and paupers, some of whom were brought from London or other large cities. They worked long hours with poor food, in bad conditions, and were beaten and abused. In 1815 Needham was declared bankrupt so ironically his cost-cutting measures did not pay off. The mill was taken over by a succession of owners, one of whom was the much kinder Henry Newton, and by 1857 there were 400 employees. As with many of the mills, fire struck at Litton and new buildings were constructed. In 1934 it was bought by Anglo-French Silk Mills Limited and produced artificial silk and man-made fibres. In 1963 Litton Mill changed hands and manufactured textured yarns until its closure in the 1970 s. For many years the mill lay empty and derelict before planning permission was approved for its conversion into living accommodation.”
Radiorails
master brummie
This thread has comments about The Moat House and maps showing location.
birminghamhistory.co.uk
Alum Rock Road
Does anyone remember the old farmhouse that used to be right in the middle of the Barracks on Alum Rock Road. I think it was demolished many years ago but when I was a child I remember going into the house where a family was living who I think were connected with the barracks. Does anyone...
birminghamhistory.co.uk
sospiri
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Phil,
A little way past the ford that I spent many an hour paddling in as a kid in the 1940s. And Green Lane is now Green Road - just not the same as it was. A concrete bridge instead of a wooden one, all the lovely green water weed that felt so soft under your feet has gone, no doubt killed off by all the traffic. All the bushes on the opposite side to the bridge have gone, and no longer does that side of the river look mysterious. Sometimes it's just best to forget that you ever saw the "now" picture.
Maurice
A little way past the ford that I spent many an hour paddling in as a kid in the 1940s. And Green Lane is now Green Road - just not the same as it was. A concrete bridge instead of a wooden one, all the lovely green water weed that felt so soft under your feet has gone, no doubt killed off by all the traffic. All the bushes on the opposite side to the bridge have gone, and no longer does that side of the river look mysterious. Sometimes it's just best to forget that you ever saw the "now" picture.
Maurice
Phil,
A little way past the ford that I spent many an hour paddling in as a kid in the 1940s. And Green Lane is now Green Road - just not the same as it was. A concrete bridge instead of a wooden one, all the lovely green water weed that felt so soft under your feet has gone, no doubt killed off by all the traffic. All the bushes on the opposite side to the bridge have gone, and no longer does that side of the river look mysterious. Sometimes it's just best to forget that you ever saw the "now" picture.
Maurice
how wonderful that the cottage is still there phil....great news....must be some age to it
lyn
Eric Gibson
master brummie
Is not the now picture taken from a different aspect of the building?
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
The old photo could have been taken from the East. The west view seems unlikely. I like the old photo ...
Bill Dargue gives some information about it. Apparently it is Grade II listed.
Hall Green
William Dargue A History of BIRMINGHAM Places & Placenames from A to Y
billdargue.jimdofree.com
ellbrown
ell brown on Flickr
I took this photo of that cottage on Green Road on my daily walk last week.
Oh it's Grade II listed under the Springfield ward.
Oh it's Grade II listed under the Springfield ward.
The Chalet, Springfield, Birmingham
The Chalet is a Grade II listed building in Springfield, Birmingham, England. See why it was listed, view it on a map, see visitor comments and photos and share your own comments and photos of this building.
britishlistedbuildings.co.uk
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
Maypole versus Chelmsley Wood with a Mini trying an unusual overtake. The Maypole driver appears to be driving one-handed waving at the camera as they drive out of town in Deritend.
My laptop and Gimp added colour to an existing B&W forum pic.
And these days nothing exciting apart from they are changing the road layout.
My laptop and Gimp added colour to an existing B&W forum pic.
And these days nothing exciting apart from they are changing the road layout.
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Bob Davis
Bob Davis
ROC5900R was an oddity in that it was a Foden. Was it a one off or were there more, I know like me this is beyond Alan's interests so can anyone fill in the details and how, what route, did the Chemsley Wood bus take?
Bob
Radiorails
master brummie
As for the Foden bus, see post 1515 of this thread:
birminghamhistory.co.uk
Regarding the route, well I have no idea. I had never heard of Chelmsley Wood when I lived in the Solihull area. It was only when it often made news on tv that I became aware of it. Even so I always thought it south of Solihull, whereas it is NE of it I gather.
Birmingham buses
I had a drive of a Daimler Scout car on one of those 'experience' days, preselect box and the steering wheel facing down so you sat under it. peculiar to say the least. Weird machines.
birminghamhistory.co.uk
Lumpammer
master brummie
97 used to load in Carrs Lane, then round Masshouse Circus, Moor Street, Digbeth, Meriden Street, Fazeley Street, Great Barr Street, Garrison Lane, past St Andrews, Bordesley Green past East Birmingham Hospital (now Heartlands Hospital) then Bordesley Green East, The Meadway, East Meadway, Tile Cross Road and Bosworth Drive and into Chelmsley Wood.
Bob Davis
Bob Davis
Thank you
Bob
Radiorails
master brummie
A previous 97 route was peak periods and limited stop. The PTE introduced this in mid 1972 and was operated to Castle Vale using Ford 192 saloon buses. Couple of demonstrators were also to be seen on the route. The 97 - 101 route numbers were used by the newly formed PTE for limited stop services at the time.
Lumpammer
master brummie
I don’t recall the 97 was ever a limited stop service. That was the old Midland Red 195 Cooks Lane service. This became 99 when PTE took over. The 98 went down Chelmsley Road and on to Marston Green and the 97 went down Bosworth Drive. 97, 98 and 99 replaced Midland Red 163, 169 and 195.
Radiorails
master brummie
Well it was, there are photos to support it. I suggest the 97, in the post showing the Foden bus, was a later PTE route which would have presumably taken over from the limited stop single deck route.
BazzM
master brummie
That's the route i remember from when i lived in Chelmsley. Thanks Lumpammer.
Radiorails
master brummie
If you read my posts 1584 and 1586 you will see I suggest that the earlier 97 I refer to was probably before the 97 you speak about. There re photos of the 97 limited stop Ford buses in Malcolm Keeley's book, Birmingham Buses - route by routs 1925 to 1975. Photographic evidence - before photoshopping is certainly evidence. That 97 route, as I pointed out, went to Castle Vale.
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