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mollie cross
master brummie
Does anyone out there remember the Co Op on Witton Road? I recall as a kid being fascinated by the container for the money.THe cash was placed in the container,then the assistant would screw the lid on give the cord a yank it would go sailing across the shop to a cashier perched in a glass enclosed booth,who would place the change in the container,give the cord anther yank and it would come flying back down to the counter,
Also there was a lady on the counter who was a human computer,the speed that she could total a bill was amazing.
Happy New Year to all,
Mollie
Also there was a lady on the counter who was a human computer,the speed that she could total a bill was amazing.
Happy New Year to all,
Mollie
I lived at The Guild from 1963-67, when my father was the landlord.
christopher short
Birmingham Post
Mollie Cross,
The Co-op I think was on Witton Island and I think was once called "The Home and Colonial".
Does anyone recall the bakers on Witton Road run by the Austin family, the son John was at Yew Tree Junior with me.
I also remember a shop next to the model shop called Wigley's that sold ladies clothes.
The Co-op I think was on Witton Island and I think was once called "The Home and Colonial".
Does anyone recall the bakers on Witton Road run by the Austin family, the son John was at Yew Tree Junior with me.
I also remember a shop next to the model shop called Wigley's that sold ladies clothes.
christopher short
Birmingham Post
I returned to the UK a while ago and drove down Witton Road and I'm sorry, I was horrified. I recall walking from Brookvale Rd all the way to the library and back in the early evenings when it was dark when I was a lad. Wouldn't fancy it these days.
No one seems to have mentioned Jardine's Cycle Shop yet. My parents bought me my first bicycle from him on tick at 2/6d per week.
Paulx4's photo of the top of Witton Road showing the no. 5 bus stop on the left. What was the name of the road just before that on the left. ?
No one seems to have mentioned Jardine's Cycle Shop yet. My parents bought me my first bicycle from him on tick at 2/6d per week.
Paulx4's photo of the top of Witton Road showing the no. 5 bus stop on the left. What was the name of the road just before that on the left. ?
mollie cross
master brummie
I remember that chemists shop, it was taken over by a lady pharmacist some time in the fifties. Her name was Elizabeth Hudson, Her mother used to help her in the shop.
I also remember that the road just on the corner of Lodge road and Witton Road was where the bonfire was held to celebrate the end of the 1940/45 war. Rounded off with goodies and pop in the library.
I also remember very well the shoemender on the corner of Trinity Road and Witton road, I was friends with the daughter her name was Sally, I spent many an hour in there watching Mr Knight repairing shoes,
I also remember that the road just on the corner of Lodge road and Witton Road was where the bonfire was held to celebrate the end of the 1940/45 war. Rounded off with goodies and pop in the library.
I also remember very well the shoemender on the corner of Trinity Road and Witton road, I was friends with the daughter her name was Sally, I spent many an hour in there watching Mr Knight repairing shoes,
mollie cross
master brummie
I think it was Albert Road Christopher.
christopher short
Birmingham Post
Many Thanks Mollie, Albert Road, it was (is) indeed.
cookie273uk
master brummie
I remember going to art school to study commercial art (now graphic art) late 40's, cannot remember whether school was in Frederick Rd or Albert Rd - and is it still there ??, it was quite large. I live close by in Queens Rd, other side of Park Rd Eric
Phil
Gone, but not forgotten.
sheldontony
master brummie
That first pic brings back memories. My grandmother ran the outdoor in Holte Rd and bought ciggies from the shop in the pic. Maybe they didnt deliver in those days
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
The address of this shop was number 392 in Witton Road which would have put it opposite the Aston Hotel. The shop sign mentions 'Toys, Fancy Goods, Carpets, Rugs, etc' and I suppose the large display of spades, buckets, and kettles comes under 'etc'.
Looks quite an interesting shop, I wonder how long it lasted before it became something else. Streetview today shows a modern building there.
image only visible if logged in
Looks quite an interesting shop, I wonder how long it lasted before it became something else. Streetview today shows a modern building there.
image only visible if logged in
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Thomas Danks was at 380 Witton road in the 1908 Kellys, but at 392 in the 1910 edition, and by the 1912 edition it was 390,392. The shop on the left looks as if it is an ironmongers, not fancy goods, so presumably this picture was taken while he was just at 392. the business was still there in 1940, but gone by 1943
Hi old mowhawk. And mike
I do believe there was two iron mongers ,or hardware shops on within rd , there was one passed the Aston Hotel
Which was on the same side as Aston hotel going towards the train station , and the other one which was a huge one
Going back towards Trinity road on the oppersite. Side of the road as I recall going back passing the Aston hotel
And walking up witton rd , then cross over when you reached what I think it was jarndean rd which was the first corner you came to
And on that side of the road when crossed over it was a huge shop and all along the out side wall of the shop frontage
Was heavingly Chico block of variety of tools and machines a huge frontage
And this shop was there through to the early fifties,before closing down and it was taken over by a firm to do with fred waklin
Motor cyclist champion and there was a huge boarding and it was his picture of him on his Blake
And may I also had mike about nine years ago we did a thread on it and there was a picture of it with all there wares hanging out side
And along the walls of the shop the one that is showing is going towards the train station
Once you walked passed the Aston hotel there was an old large shoe shop just before you reach the old ICI main gates at within
Well that was facing that meaning the one you are showing , best wishes Astonian,,,,,
I do believe there was two iron mongers ,or hardware shops on within rd , there was one passed the Aston Hotel
Which was on the same side as Aston hotel going towards the train station , and the other one which was a huge one
Going back towards Trinity road on the oppersite. Side of the road as I recall going back passing the Aston hotel
And walking up witton rd , then cross over when you reached what I think it was jarndean rd which was the first corner you came to
And on that side of the road when crossed over it was a huge shop and all along the out side wall of the shop frontage
Was heavingly Chico block of variety of tools and machines a huge frontage
And this shop was there through to the early fifties,before closing down and it was taken over by a firm to do with fred waklin
Motor cyclist champion and there was a huge boarding and it was his picture of him on his Blake
And may I also had mike about nine years ago we did a thread on it and there was a picture of it with all there wares hanging out side
And along the walls of the shop the one that is showing is going towards the train station
Once you walked passed the Aston hotel there was an old large shoe shop just before you reach the old ICI main gates at within
Well that was facing that meaning the one you are showing , best wishes Astonian,,,,,
Aston Library looking down Witton Road. Quite a few features in the old 1910 view still remain today . Viv.
Di.Poppitt
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Great photo Viv, thank you. I spent a good few hours in the Library in my youth.
The houses on the righthand side are still there, many of those on the left are gone, replaced by new ones.
Lovely to see the tram too, I remember watching when they took the tram lines
up.
Di.Poppitt
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Hi Jean, I lived in Woodall Road, first left off The Broadway, lovely to see the photo's on here. I spend a couple of days in Birmingham every year, together with my sister, we stay in town. One year we walked from our old school, Canterbury Road, down The Broadway and into our old road. Strange to see the house looking the same as when we lived there. Mom sold it and went to live in Gloucester with my sister in the early 80's. We moved into it in 1938, very different then to now.
Di.Poppitt
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Phil's photo's on 61, the first one shows a Witton landmark, the first white building on the right behind the van was known to us kids as The Bug and Flee,
the local picture house. I should know the name of it but time and tide!! During school holidays there were always a few children outside waiting to pounce on adults going in to 'Take one in please' My mother would have been so cross if she ever found out I had done it. The other ploy was on Saturday afternoon, in the football season, we would cheekily say to car owners parking in Woodall Road, 'Mind your car mister.'
the local picture house. I should know the name of it but time and tide!! During school holidays there were always a few children outside waiting to pounce on adults going in to 'Take one in please' My mother would have been so cross if she ever found out I had done it. The other ploy was on Saturday afternoon, in the football season, we would cheekily say to car owners parking in Woodall Road, 'Mind your car mister.'
Not used to the 'new' forum layout yet....made a hash of previous post. Not to worry!
Phil's Photo No 42 includes Tandy's fashion shop, were my Mom shopped for clothes from time to time, and Di, the old cinema on the right of the photo was called The Empress, and eventually became a small factory. My dad also remembered it as a real flea-pit. Photo No 40 shows Oliver's Newsagent, where I worked as a paper-boy for a (short) time. They were real slave-drivers, and I could hardly lift my bag when I set off on my round. Didn't last long - not fit enough.
We lived in The Broadway (and knew Di's family in Woodall Road). Strange how sometimes we hardly had two ha'pennies to rub together, but Mom always shopped at the 'better' local shops, usually at Bevan's Grocery which was very close to The Empress. Sam Bevan was a real character, a natural-born comedian who would get the whole shop laughing. He called me 'Beanpole' (amongst other names...). His daughter Lynne married former Villa player Bruce Rioch.
I also used Aston Library from time to time, but found it dark and oppressive compared with Birchfield Library. I used to spend my pocket-money at The Model Mecca (George and Nancy Rowand) next door but one to Wigley's Fashions, and after 60-odd years I'm still very active in model flying. My mother's cousin Bill Sims had the green-grocer's on the corner of Witton and Trinity, twice the price of anywhere else (!) my mother used to complain, which I guess is how when he retired he and his wife could move to Rosemary Hill Road in Streetly.
I hope you're keeping well, Di - very nice to run into you again!
Big G
Phil's Photo No 42 includes Tandy's fashion shop, were my Mom shopped for clothes from time to time, and Di, the old cinema on the right of the photo was called The Empress, and eventually became a small factory. My dad also remembered it as a real flea-pit. Photo No 40 shows Oliver's Newsagent, where I worked as a paper-boy for a (short) time. They were real slave-drivers, and I could hardly lift my bag when I set off on my round. Didn't last long - not fit enough.
We lived in The Broadway (and knew Di's family in Woodall Road). Strange how sometimes we hardly had two ha'pennies to rub together, but Mom always shopped at the 'better' local shops, usually at Bevan's Grocery which was very close to The Empress. Sam Bevan was a real character, a natural-born comedian who would get the whole shop laughing. He called me 'Beanpole' (amongst other names...). His daughter Lynne married former Villa player Bruce Rioch.
I also used Aston Library from time to time, but found it dark and oppressive compared with Birchfield Library. I used to spend my pocket-money at The Model Mecca (George and Nancy Rowand) next door but one to Wigley's Fashions, and after 60-odd years I'm still very active in model flying. My mother's cousin Bill Sims had the green-grocer's on the corner of Witton and Trinity, twice the price of anywhere else (!) my mother used to complain, which I guess is how when he retired he and his wife could move to Rosemary Hill Road in Streetly.
I hope you're keeping well, Di - very nice to run into you again!
Big G
Di.Poppitt
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Hi Graham, yes I'm in the pink thanks.
It's nice to see Witton on the Forum, it is such a small part of the city isn't it.
The Empress came to me after I wrote about it. I once pulled a tooth out when I was at the Saturday afternoon matinee. I dropped it on the floor and spent the rest of the time in there trying to find it. I don't think the floor had
ever been cleaned, yuk...... It was worth it though I found the tooth and it went under my pillow that night for the six pence the Fairies left!!!
Do you remember 'Toffee Apple Joe's', opposite the Empress? His window was always full of lovely toffee, he always had a snake, a couple of twirls and trays of toffee apples which I wasn't keen on but I loved the troach. It has disappeared, I haven't seen any for years.
jennyann
Gone but not forgotten. R.I.P.
Hi Di: Nice to hear that you are keeping well. My parents both grew up in Witton and Dad attended Albert Road School and Mom attended Deykin Avenue School. We didn't live very far away and went through Witton all the time to get to Town. I attended secondary school in Corporation Street and took the 5a or 39 into Town and also worked in Town. I remember my Mother telling about her going dancing at the Albert Hall in Witton Road and at Madam Amies also. Everything has changed so much around Witton these days. Even the Aston Hotel is closed and has become a Youth Hostel. I always visit Aston Hall and Park when I visit and also have a look around Aston Villa area. My son, Duncan is a huge AstonVilla fan and my nephew Justin, who lives in Hong Kong is one also.I have a few more photos. This one was taken by Keith Berry, who lived in Brantley Road, Witton for many years and photographed many Birmingham places over the years as many people know. 
Di.Poppitt
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Hi Jennyann, I do remember that you still have your parents house not far from my husbands family home in Amberly Grove.
We have had a couple of meals in The Holt, Randy Lerner did a good job when he rescued it. The other pub across the road from the Holt must be finished now, I can't recall the name, but I have it on my list of places to go, when time permits, when we are in Birmingham.
Nice to catch up with you again.
We have had a couple of meals in The Holt, Randy Lerner did a good job when he rescued it. The other pub across the road from the Holt must be finished now, I can't recall the name, but I have it on my list of places to go, when time permits, when we are in Birmingham.
Nice to catch up with you again.
The wife and I were talking about those proper toffee apples we got as kids, that nice flat base of toffee that was where it had slipped off the apples and we didn't have those paddle things but a proper piece of wood.
I'm sure our little lady used to use wood out of those bundles of firewood and you could get splinters in your tongue if you weren't careful.
I'm sure our little lady used to use wood out of those bundles of firewood and you could get splinters in your tongue if you weren't careful.