• Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.

    We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team

Unknown street

Vivienne14

Vivienne14

Kentish Brummie Moderator
Staff member
Spotted this for sale on eBay. The cart is advertising a Birmingham parcel delivery service, three times a day. So I presume it's a view of a Birmingham street, or at least a Birmingham suburb. Can't read the street name on the wall. The building itself looks like a row of terrace houses, quite tall with, probably, rooms for servants at the top. Did wonder if it was Harborne. Does it look familiar to anyone? Viv.
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    131.4 KB · Views: 73
There's a street name on the corner wall, Viv. Sandon Road? In which case we're just off the Hagley Road with the front of the building on it. Remember, deliveries round the back in those days.

Can we run a caption competition for what the 'orse is saying while the driver is taking the parcel in? My choice is "hope the sender didn't miss out Alabama on the address. We might have to go on there with it instead".
 
The Birmingham Parcel Delivery Co is listed in Kellys in 1899 and 1900, but not in 1897 or 1903
 
It looks like some 'official' building in it's own walled grounds. There appears to be a gatekeepers lodge which must have a fireplace because there is a chimney. The walls and substantial gate seem designed to keep people in or to prevent people getting in. I had a feeling I had seen it on the Shoothill site but trying to find an image on there it not easy.
 
It is an interesting building: reminiscent of private school, hospital or other institution. Unless a property developer has since purchased the building and grounds there is a possibility that it still exists.
The Gatemans Lodge suggests somewhere where security was important.

I have no idea of the thoughts of the horse at present: my disadvantage being that I don't speak 'horse'.
o055.gif
 
Are you sure it is Sandon road, Richie?. I've tried magnifying it and it looks like it begins with a T. Also Sandon Road joins Hagley road at a very low angle, and the junction on the picture looks more like approximating a right angle
 
Did a tour this morning around Sandon Road but couldn't spot anything. And of course, this is the rear of the building, so we're not sure what the front looks like.

Richie, the 'orse is saying 'I'll just hang around here for a while 'cos there's a bloke over the road with a camera. When this picture of me turns up in many years to come, everyone'll be very confused because I'm standing outside ........... aye up, off we go again to deliver MORE parcels"
 
viv its the birmingham settlement (no longer there) although the old front wall is.. thats tower st running up and summer lane running along

lyn
 
Last edited:
Excellent! Well done Lyn. And thanks for the link Phil. The photo on the link makes it very clear it's the same building. Shall post it for posterity here. Also another photo of a group of Settlement teenagers in 1930 setting off for a trip. What valuable work they did for communities. Viv.
image.jpgimage.jpg
 
Last edited:
viv ive got that photo but forgot to post it on the summer lane thread...will go and do that now

lyn
 
Viv

Another photo of the front of your mystery building, which you now know is the Settlement which was opened in 1899 in the district of St Mary's which is now known as Newtown. It was opened mainly at that time for destitute women and their family but over the years has moved into all sorts of charitable works.
 

Attachments

  • Newtown Birmingham Settlement 1949 .jpg
    Newtown Birmingham Settlement 1949 .jpg
    210.3 KB · Views: 15
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top