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Walford Road Sparkbrook
- Thread starter Ian FOFB
- Start date
Not sure what the original image was in post 1, but here's one from around the same period. Very nice row of local shops on the corner. It's at the junction with Medlicott Road. Modern Streetview image below for comparison. There was a Post Office within the row of shops, the letter box is still there but the PO has gone. And today there's a ghost sign above the corner shop entrance! But not a Hovis sign, the shop "Pearl"was once for ladies/children's wear and wools at one tme. Such a common local shop with that combination products. At a guess I'd say "Pearl's" must have been around 1930s-50s perhaps. Viv.
"Pearl's" ladies and children's wear shop
"Pearl's" ladies and children's wear shop
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This area, Walford, Barrows, Medlicott and Golden Hillock Road fascinated me. It was row after row of terrace houses built by the Barber Trust.
I don’t know anything about the trust, other than they were Quakers, and did not allow pubs on the estate, although there was an outdoor on the corner of Medlicott Road and Benton Avenue.
The houses were originally built to a very high standard, although without bathrooms and indoor toilets.
I don’t know anything about the trust, other than they were Quakers, and did not allow pubs on the estate, although there was an outdoor on the corner of Medlicott Road and Benton Avenue.
The houses were originally built to a very high standard, although without bathrooms and indoor toilets.
This must be a later image of the road with more mature trees. Possibly around 1910/20. Someone seems to own a motor car (or is it a motor bike and sidecar) to the right. Viv.
Radiorails
master brummie
Quite a few forms of transportation there: a horse, bicycle, early type pick up truck? (left had side) and yes, I believe it is a motor cycle with sidecar. By foot I guess is yet another one.
norfolk brummie
gone but not forgotten
Just browsing through this thread.
#2.
The modern Medlicott Road/Walford Road junction looks dismal, and much altered to my 1940/50's memories. The traffic junction markings, zig-zags, railings, building work ,and traffic does nothing to enhance the scene. The right hand corner in the first photograph was the home, and business of my old pal Basil Wainwright, where his father ran a very good electrical services for motor vehicles. Also on the opposite corner was a lovely grocery shop, that later, and after my departure from Birmingham, was run by arguably the finest drummer, but never the most famous, ever to come out of Birmingham. A drummer respected by everyone in the drum world. The great Tommy Webster.
Eddie
#2.
The modern Medlicott Road/Walford Road junction looks dismal, and much altered to my 1940/50's memories. The traffic junction markings, zig-zags, railings, building work ,and traffic does nothing to enhance the scene. The right hand corner in the first photograph was the home, and business of my old pal Basil Wainwright, where his father ran a very good electrical services for motor vehicles. Also on the opposite corner was a lovely grocery shop, that later, and after my departure from Birmingham, was run by arguably the finest drummer, but never the most famous, ever to come out of Birmingham. A drummer respected by everyone in the drum world. The great Tommy Webster.
Eddie
Hi Viv
that was a very well taken photo and very tranquel looking road with all those trees, lineing the road
It was a crying shame when you look back at photos of old brum in the early years with most of our roads tree lined roads
Especialy around the quarter of birmingham
stoney lane , ladypool road and surrounding street right up to moseley road and down around belgrave road
In fact most roads
what moron was in the council in the the thirtys to decide to cut down our lovely trees of great beauty
i said that bit i think it was in the fiftys when some one on the council must have hated trees
because from that year they went barmy and virtualy axed them all
best wishes Astonian,,,,,,
that was a very well taken photo and very tranquel looking road with all those trees, lineing the road
It was a crying shame when you look back at photos of old brum in the early years with most of our roads tree lined roads
Especialy around the quarter of birmingham
stoney lane , ladypool road and surrounding street right up to moseley road and down around belgrave road
In fact most roads
what moron was in the council in the the thirtys to decide to cut down our lovely trees of great beauty
i said that bit i think it was in the fiftys when some one on the council must have hated trees
because from that year they went barmy and virtualy axed them all
best wishes Astonian,,,,,,
devonjim
master brummie
Sadly trees grow too big and like us grow old. Unfortunately they haven't been replaced. I used to get taken round this way in 1940's to visit great grand parents who lived on the corner of Medlicott Rd and Abbotsford Rd a sturdy house but with a outside loo and a tiny garden. I knew of a couple of musicians who lived near here Paul and Martin Bliss, are they known by the BHF musical fraternity?
Eddie - Hopefully I've got the correct Walford Road corner. Looking on Streetview Wainwright's shop looks the worse for wear. A couple of positives about the shop; it still has a Twinnings sign above the entrance and a cigarette (?) machine in Medlicott Road. The shop must have once been a grocers (business run by Nolan). Or was this the shop opposite Wainwright's and Wainwright's was on the other corner of Medlicott ie to the right of the photo below? ?
Viv.
Viv.
Phil
Gone, but not forgotten.
It seems that the junction of Medlicott Road must have been a popular place for photographers as these four images demonstrate. In a couple of them The Embassy rink can be just made out in the distance.
Attachments
Phil
Gone, but not forgotten.
A few more images of Walford Road including the aforementioned Wainwright shop which I used in the course of business many times in the 60's & 70 because we found the owner very knowledgeable concerning all types of vehicle electrics.
Attachments
norfolk brummie
gone but not forgotten
Thanks for those Phil. What I find interesting is the tree growth almost determines the sequence of the photographs.
Eddie
Eddie
norfolk brummie
gone but not forgotten
Hi Viv, Looking at posting #2, and photograph #2, Wainwrights shop was on the corner where there now appears to be some type of building work in progress.
Eddie
Radiorails
master brummie
I notice a nice clock on Wainwrights shop wall, advertising spark plugs I believe.
norfolk brummie
gone but not forgotten
Absolutely correct Phil. I would cycle, or drive down Medlicott Road from the direction of Anderton Road, and the shop was on the right hand corner. The photograph shown in post #20, that clearly shows the shop, was almost like a second home to me. The garage, where a lot of the work was undertaken, can just be seen, inside Medlicott Road.
Eddie
Hi all. I've moved the posts about musicians to the thread below so that we keep this thread focused on Walford Road. Viv.
https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/for...ories-of-a-birmingham-musician-drummer.44787/
https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/for...ories-of-a-birmingham-musician-drummer.44787/
Brilliant photo - a relative used to have a laundry shop on the same side as Wainwrights but the opposite corner. Thank you for sharing