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Where Is This 124

  • Thread starter Thread starter BernardR
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BernardR

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Help needed. I saw this photo hung on the wall at my Doctor's and took a shot of it with the Camera on my Mobile Phone. Pretty sure it is of Brum from the Drovers Arms but when and where?

This is my second attempt at loading a photograph (the first failed) so please if too large or not correct please feel free to sort it or delete it.

Thanks
 

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The Drovers Arms is correct. According to a google search, located at 140 Garrison Lane. No idea as to date of the picture.
 
Its Moat Lane looking towards The Drovers Arms at the bottom of Bradford St. Here is the same view a little later.

Phil
 

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Many thanks Phil - it was an area I had considered but had never seen a picture with the horse drawn carts and such.
 
Thanks Judy - I was not sure how it would turn out as I did not want to use flash. The camera side of the phone is a pretty impressive 3.2 Mega Pixel Sony Cybershot but given the light conditions it really did do well. I did tweak it in Paint Shop Pro after loading it to the computer as it was a dull sepia and I was fearful it may not show well.
 
Well Bernie, I think you did a great job. And what a lot to see in that old photo - I love it.

Judy
 
Hi Bernie
The Photo is of Moat Row c 1881 the area on the right was where the Smithfield Wholesale Fruit and Vegetable was built in 1881 and thats the Falcan steam train on the way to Small Heath
Regards MALTA
 
Malta
I think you'll find the smithfield market was later built on the left hand side of moat Row as viewed. On the far end of the buildings on the right, just before the Drovers Arms, is the Birmingham Arms (which was later rebuilt, and then finally demolished in the 1970s)
mike
 
Hi Mikejee
Yes you are right it was the left side, and that was a steam tram not a train, but according to How does your Birmingham grow the market was built in 1881, perhaps that was when it was first laidout, and the foundations had to be taken down to a depth of 14 ft to get below the mud of the old moat. in the book there's an enlargement of that photo which is quite brilliant, the photo,s are from the John Whybrow collection Regards
 
Hi Malta
In all the directories I've access to before 1880, there are always buildings only on the one side of the street, and the 1839 map shows just an open piece of ground marked Smithfield Market, so it looks as if, after the filling in of the moat, it was always open ground till the the covered market was built
I agree about the picture in the book, as i have it as well. here were advantages of the old plate cameras - they got in a lot of detail for the technology of the time.
Mike
 
Just for interest another photo of Moat Row only a little later and facing the other way.

Phil
 

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Isn't that Moat lane Phil, with St martins church at the end ?
mike. ts a good photo i haven't seen before though
mike
 
Bernie, The picture shows Moat Row in the 1890's. Smithfield Market was built on the patch of ground on the left. If you go past the steam tram, the road drops down and crosses the bottom of the Bull Ring, go straight over and you are in Meriden St. My father was born a few doors on the left. On the corner of Meriden St. was a pub and then Morgans Pork butchers and then the police station. I remember my Dad telling me that they never got any sleep on Saturday night due to the shouts and screams comming the drunks in the cells at the back, after the Paddy Wagons had done their rounds. Who knows, my Grand parents may be in the picture.
 
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