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Wheeler Street Lozells
- Thread starter lindev
- Start date
Radiorails
master brummie
Lyn, I have taken your advice here, much of interest to see - the pools winner for instance - may be he could afford the dentists now. Someone mentioned the lack of trams, but acknowledged they had run there. However the traction poles were still in evidence albeit housing street lights.
As you will recall I wan't a resident of the city but living close enough to find it a vibrant and interesting place. I don't think the city possesses many of the fascinating buildings and the industrial features and buildings that were so widespread in the past. I am, of course, referring to the late 1948 to early 1950's period.
In my early teens I used to wonder what some of the roads and streets depicted on BCT destination blinds actually looked like, so i made it my duty to go and see for myself what they actually looked like. Bus route 69 was one the many places I visited.
The longest journey I made was, of course, the 11 Outer Circle followed by the 29A Baldwins Lane to Pheasey Estate. I had some relations living on the 8 Inner Circle so I made a trip quite often in both directions to gain the Stratford Road.
As you will recall I wan't a resident of the city but living close enough to find it a vibrant and interesting place. I don't think the city possesses many of the fascinating buildings and the industrial features and buildings that were so widespread in the past. I am, of course, referring to the late 1948 to early 1950's period.
In my early teens I used to wonder what some of the roads and streets depicted on BCT destination blinds actually looked like, so i made it my duty to go and see for myself what they actually looked like. Bus route 69 was one the many places I visited.
The longest journey I made was, of course, the 11 Outer Circle followed by the 29A Baldwins Lane to Pheasey Estate. I had some relations living on the 8 Inner Circle so I made a trip quite often in both directions to gain the Stratford Road.
Radiorails
master brummie
No Lyn, it was a Mr.Charlie Lee. 
No Lyn, it was a Mr.Charlie Lee.
ahh thats him alan
brummy-lad
master brummie
Yes very sad Lyn but also intriguing, the Gunmakers Arms can be seen on Gerrard Street but at the point where Gerrard Street crosses Wheeler Street there is a white building.
This building must be the one shown on the left of the attached photo which was taken in 1968, so the question is why would they bother going to the trouble and expense of painting it white if they knew it was to be demolished imminently.
This building must be the one shown on the left of the attached photo which was taken in 1968, so the question is why would they bother going to the trouble and expense of painting it white if they knew it was to be demolished imminently.
Attachments
brummy-lad
master brummie
Just looked at Kelly's for 1967/68, I'm amazed that the street was still thriving then, no signs of any closures, so perhaps between 1968 and early 70s they were blissfully unaware of the devastation that was about to descend on them and decided to brighten up the exterior, such a shame.
Attachments
i agree its crabtrees john...also all the houses you see left of crabtrees went after that photo was taken..all that is there now is the gunmakers arms pub..we can also see st pauls church lozells road still there and of course we know the lucas factory has gone..i was still living in villa st when wheeler st was still intact then moved into newtown in 71/2 got married in 73 and went to live in gt barr so i did not see all this demo going on...while i know most of the houses were not fit to live in there were a lot of buildings that would have stood the test of time..oh well thats progress for you
lyn
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Key Hill Brian
Proud Brummie
That is how it looked in 1966 when we left Little KIng St (but further left of the picture). 2 Occupied and 2 unoccupied terraced Houses)
HHiroshima type landscape standing alone with the White House Pub alone across the way. Before they realised they were demolishing faster than rebuilding. All may houses needed was rewiring, replumbing, reroofing, Damppcoursing & bathroom those that were done are still there today!
hi bri that photo was taken after 1966...if you look back on this thread a lot of the photos are dated 67..68 and 69 and at this time quite a bit of the old wheeler st was still there mainly from the middle to the top...no doubt that demo had started by then but they started from the bottom end of wheeler st and worked up..agree with you that some of those houses could have been saved here is just one photo dated 1968 showing the top end of wheeler st still intact..from memory i think it was the belle vue pub on the corner opposite corner to crabtrees..hope you are keeping well bri
lyn
lyn
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Key Hill Brian
Proud Brummie
HI Lyn, hanging on - waiting for warmer weather. A lot of Wheeler st was still there when we left, but But to the left Guest St, Gt King St, New John St West, Bridge St, Little King St was devastated. The Peoples chapel stood alone, The White Horse pub similar, St Saviours had gone, Farm St School was the next "Island" left in that direction. Odd buildings standing alone in a sea of rubble... Very sad sight to come home to each evening. Luckily much to the North was saved and is still there today - Maintain & Refurbish works better than wholesale demolition - especially when a lot of the replacements have gone themselves already!
same here bri waiting for the better weather..yes i agree it was a sad sight to see..i was still living in villa st when the mass demo began and i agree again in that a lot of the replacement buildings are now due for demo...not a long shelf life these days...as you said the white house pub is still standing in new john st west and i am due another visit soon...not many pubs left now..at least we have our memories and photo bri..cant take them away from us 
lyn
lyn
Banjo
master brummie
It is indeed a sad sight Lyn, the streets I walked as a teenager are now obliterated. The Orient picture house to the right of the flats still resisting demolition for now.
of course its the orient banjo..i wrongly thought it was the aston hipp
orient gone now of course along with so much other historylyn
My Dad used to walk along Wheeler st on way home from work at Lucas i used to walk down Wheeler St to meet him in the fog all the shop windows were light up one was a junk shop full of bits of train sets/record players/radios/medals coins/dolls
you get the picture the owner used to come out and give me a lead soldier
maybe thats how i caught my hoarding bug
i met him in later years
RIP John
you get the picture the owner used to come out and give me a lead soldier
maybe thats how i caught my hoarding bug
i met him in later years
RIP John
brummy-lad
master brummie
This is what it says about the image on the Birmingham Live website. 18/2/1966
brummy-lad
master brummie
Third shop down from Farm Street is Cowdrills which was at 100 Wheeler Street. The Edgbaston threw me.
Mark Tooze
master brummie
Great photo - I can remember this from when I was a kid!!!!