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Union Street

Yes Rupert realised what I'd done, now on the proper thread and amended post#38 above with the correct info. Just checking you're all awake!!! Viv.
 
One advantage of bus travel - especially double deck vehicles - does give the opportunity to look at many interesting buildings and the features that they possess. I do travel more often into towns by bus nowadays; it allows far more freedom from finding parking spaces and the time watching where time limits might be over stayed. Usually I drive the greater distance by car then take a bus the short remainder of the journey. This area has many interesting small towns and villages: places like Plymouth and Exeter I usually avoid if possible.

Reading the thread reminded me of my childhood when I mostly traveled by bus - always upstairs and at the front (if possible) - which allowed good views of buildings, other structures and a good views of various traders and manufacturies which were to be seen en route. Travelling into the City from the countryside usually gave a most interesting journey: farms, animals and other agricultural events were to be seen and these subsequently gave way to suburbia and then inner cityscapes. Foggy days were dismal in more than one respect. lol

I guess the price we pay for car use, if we are always the driver, is a lack of intimate knowledge of our surroundings.
 
That's very true Radiorails. I rarely travel by bus but do remember how much more I used to see of a building from on top of a double decker. Much more interesting. The ground floor frontages of buildings, especially shops, can diguise so many good features and we often miss so much of interest. I'm often surprised when I look up above a shop front to find a lovely old building or feature up above. So nowadays I try to routinely 'look up'. It's surprising what you can discover about a place. Viv
 
I forgot to mention, in my previous post, a thought about the Birmingham & Midland Bank.

I remember Birmingham tramcars had a doors, with a designed glass panel in the top half of them and at each end of the passenger section of the car, which had an advertisement for a bank. The name Birmingham and Midland does seem to register with me and centrally placed within the pane was the design of a large key. The name and key was a typical style of sand treated glass quite fashionable in the earlier part of the 20th. century. The doors at the rear end of the car which allowed passengers to gain access to the platform in order to alight from the tram would be in the open position: that at the from of the car would be closed giving the driver a modicom of privacy and most likely free from draught *. lol Any former tram drivers may enlighten us mortals on this score.

I guess the car (395) which is preserved (somewhere?) might have these window panels. The last time I saw Car 395 was in 1962, during a visit to the Midlands, when it was in the Museum in Newhall Street.
 
Actually, travelling in to outskirts parking lots, maybe on the outer circle, and then using public transport in to the city centre is possibly a model that could have been adopted to advantage. The old style tram, modified (with a seat for the driver) would have made the city modern with old world charm.
 
Another Union Street building to add to the thread. This 1808 engraving shows an image of the Birmingham Fire Office (established in 1805) mounted on a plinth. Above the building are two cherubs. Two fire buckets are on either side of the plinth. On the front of the plinth is a fire-fighting scene. On the right, men are tackling a burning house. To the left a fire engine is rushing to attend the fire. A classically clothed woman is holding a shield with an image of a stationery fire engine with the legend "Birmingham". The building was fronted with stone and had an engine house and stables. Viv.

Birmingham_Fire_Office_1804.JPG
 
This sketch shows where the Fire Office stood around 1835 in Union Street. Stables must have been at the rear of the building. Viv.

Fire_Office___Library_Union_Street_1835.JPG
 
Great view Stitcher. This must be looking towards where the W.h.Smiths entrance is on Union Street. To the right is the City Arcade - the only thing recognisable today. Viv.
 
I know this 1960 photo is somewhere else on the forum, but I think it should also be on this thread. Looks like the time of the development of Martineau Square on the left. Viv.

ImageUploadedByTapatalk1337961175.955125.jpg
 
Not really history, but this week Argos have opened a new store on Union Street (where Poundland was before they moved to the old H & M store at Martineau Place, Corporation Street). Looks like the previous Argos store next door has closed. It's the store where Dixons used to be ages ago.

For me only WH Smith, Boots and BHS are worth going to on Union Street. Also the Sainsbury's Local in Martineau Place (and Super Drug on the corner of Corporation Street). And Gap is the only Martineau Place retailer to still be on the Union Street / Corporation Street corner (never been in myself).
 
So good that the Union Street library is remembered Ell. Was also wondering if the clock on the other side of the entrance is significant. Does anyone know. Viv.
 
Union Street in the early 1960s with the Tax Office looming over it. Seeing that building reminds of an interview I had there with a tax inspector in 1968. They tried to hit me with capital gains tax on some employee shares I had sold. I had kept all my old tax records and proved that during previous years they had deducted too much tax and they owed me more than I owed them. I walked out of the building with a victory smile on my face.
Union Street early 1960s.jpg
 
Union Street in the 1970s. Looks like work was going on at the City Arcade (right). I felt sure that the C&A entrance (behind the workers lorry) was still in use at that time, but it looks all boarded up. There’s also a ‘To Let’ board on the building. Image must be about late1970s. Think W.H Smith took over the site. Used that entrance many, many times. In fact I rarely used the C&A main entrance on Corporation Street. Viv.

FC634575-5E14-466A-A4E7-AED8624122A6.jpeg
 
Just read OldMohawk's post from last year, I used to work for the Inland Revenue in City Centre House in Union Street :-D
 
mikejee said:
Rupert
Have just realised I have a better copy of that picture (see below). It is 25 on the building after the library, not 20, and there is some text also, which confirms things (as long as it is cvorrect. Picture is c 1870. incidently the dorway on the far left of the picture , showing "Fire" is the Lancashire Fire & Life Insurrance Co. the directories of 1868 and 1872 do not list the building this side of the library as the Borough Treasurers Office, but the Birmingham Gas & Coke Co
Mike

union_st_c_1870.jpg
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Morning Mike. Edgbaston Archery Society held its second meeting at the Old Library back in 1860 and I'm looking for a high resolution image to include in the history which I am producing. Woud you be able to provide or point me in the direction of where the above was published and I'll purchase a copy and work from there.
 
Good morning Robert
The photograph is used on the back cover of "Lost Buildings of Birmingham" by Roy Thornton. He states in his acknowledgments that all the photographs other than 5 of Sutton Coldfield, are held (with copyright) by the Central Library Archive and Heritage section . Do not know how long it will take for you to receive a reply though !
 
mikejee said:
Good morning Robert
The photograph is used on the back cover of "Lost Buildings of Birmingham" by Roy Thornton. He states in his acknowledgments that all the photographs other than 5 of Sutton Coldfield, are held (with copyright) by the Central Library Archive and Heritage section . Do not know how long it will take for you to receive a reply though !
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Many thanks Mike. I'm in touch with them on several maters including the history of Edgbaston Archery & LTS in particular and lawn tennis in general. I'll see what can be done. May have to wait until they reopen and I can visit in person.
 
Susan shaw said:
I know I am very late but I just love this photo. Thank you. I remember it so well.
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Is my memory playing tricks. I left Birmingham in 1973, but previously lived in Hodge Hill & I'm sure we caught the 56 bus to the Fox & Goose from outside Henry's in Union Street. Please would someone confirm or deny this.( Incidentally I remember the entrance to C&A in Union Passage.)
 
senoraruz said:
Is my memory playing tricks. I left Birmingham in 1973, but previously lived in Hodge Hill & I'm sure we caught the 56 bus to the Fox & Goose from outside Henry's in Union Street. Please would someone confirm or deny this.( Incidentally I remember the entrance to C&A in Union Passage.)
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Hi Senoraruz, Yes, that is correct. You can see the 56 bus stop on the right there. It used to stop in Coleshill Street, which was just a little up the road from where I used to live in Gopsal Street. There was the 55 bus too but I don’t think that stopped in Union Street. That went to Shard End, not too far from the Fox and Goose.... the entrance to C&A was in Union Passage too. Sue
 
Susan shaw said:
Hi Senoraruz, Yes, that is correct. You can see the 56 bus stop on the right there. It used to stop in Coleshill Street, which was just a little up the road from where I used to live in Gopsal Street. There was the 55 bus too but I don’t think that stopped in Union Street. That went to Shard End, not too far from the Fox and Goose.... the entrance to C&A was in Union Passage too. Sue
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Pretty sure the 55 stopped in Old Square in my day. Used to catch it when going to my grandmother's house in Stechford lane.
 
I remember the C&A entrance in Union Passage. Always used that entrance (you had to go down a few steps inside the doorway to the sales floor). There were lots of those circular display carousels near the doorway in the 1970s. I rarely used the Corporation Street entrance as the Union Passage entrance always seemed to me much more central and easily accessible from the other main shops (M&S, Co-op, BHS etc) on High Street and New Street. Viv.
 
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