Vauxhall Road Nechells Shop

[Luluco]

This is a photo of Phil Nash (Great Grandfather) outside the shop owned by my Great Grandmother Louisa Nash formerly Reynolds, Louisa was born Haddon and related to the family of Thomas Haddon of Thomas Haddon & Stokes. Taken in Vauxhall Road approx 1937 to 1940.

 

[mikejee]

This was 15 Vauxhall road
mike

 

[dek carr]

Mike which end was no.15 i can,t remember this shop. Dek

 

[mikejee]

Louisa was there till 1940 , first as just a fruiterer, then , by 1940, as fruiterer & tripe dresser. By 1944 the shop had been taken over by Richard Edward I'Anson . Never come accross that surname before. The shop was on the south side near Lawleyt st. I think it was hte red building below
mike

 

[Luluco]

Mike
I too had this info from Kellys Directory. The story goes that Louisa was left some money by the Haddon family and she used it to start the shops which were next door to each other. She was a widow at the time with 4 young children and ran the shops single handedly, going to the market most mornings for stock. She was often given a ride back on a horse and cart down Curzon St by locals who admired her independency.

 

[dek carr]

This section of Vauxhall rd was first to come under the demolition hammer from a child in the 50s i remember it to be waste ground to play on next to the park. Dek

 

[Luluco]

Dek
I understood that my grandmothers shops were bombed or damaged during the war???? Bham council moved her with her family (Now married to Phil Nash) to Dyott Road Moseley during the war yrs. Sadly she didn't open a new shop post war and was given a council house in Acocks Green. A sad ending to a very entrepeneurial woman! She lived till 1979 83 yrs old!

 

[dek carr]

Ah so it was a bomb peck there were so many in that area that,s why i remember it as waste ground.There were only 2 shops , 2 pubs and an outdoor on the Vauxhall Rd in the time i was there. Dek

 

[Luluco]

A shame she lost everything the Haddon family left her. Insurance was not so prolific back then!

 

[dek carr]

Lulu if you type" Lawford St" into the search box( top r/h corner0 there,s a couple of photos of that area sadly it was a poor area with very little wealth.Dek

 

[Luluco]

Thanks Dek, i am proud of Louisa and what she did with the money from the Haddons which she should have recieved much earlier..... shame such strong women arn't still around, though I'm sure we still live in her shadow?
Coincidently my fathers buiness 'Man For A Van' was located on the island of Watery Lane and Garrison Lane until he sold out to Halfords. Our family has always centered around the same area through the years and I'm proud to be a Brummie!

 

[Luluco]

mikegee, just looking back over old posts and noticed that you recorded my gt grandmothers shops on Vauxhall Rd were 'taken over' by
Richard Edward I'Anson. We always believed Louisas shops were bombed???? Can you look further into when Richard Edward I'Anson became owner???

 

[mikejee]

My information concerning I'Anson was from the 1944 directory. He is also listed as the owner in 1943, so the change was between 1940 and 1943. This would not contradict the shop being bombed. Possibly I'Anson took it over after it had been repaired.