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Hi Pedrocut,
if you stand by Aston Library and look up Witton Road towards Six Ways, The Albert Hall was I think the last large building on the left of Witton Road before the church. It was quite an impressive building as I recall, with a grand staircase leading up to the door, and at one time a large picture of a couple dancing. My parents used to go there before the War. I thought it was still standing, but maybe not (I've not yet plucked up sufficient courage to make a return visit to the area after all these years). I think it became some kind of Spiritualist church, something like that. Almost opposite the Albert Hall on Witton Road was a glazier's shop, and while waiting for the bus back home to The Broadway I'd watch the men cutting glass, something which always had a weird fascination for me.....
In your poster for the Albert Hall, the ENOTS Annual Dance refers to a company called Benton & Stone Ltd (get the Enots?) which I think was somewhere on or around Aston Lane , but not sure. If anyone knows just where they were, I'd be grateful. I believe they made valves. An old school-friend of mine got a job there, way back. Long gone now, I suspect.
G
if you stand by Aston Library and look up Witton Road towards Six Ways, The Albert Hall was I think the last large building on the left of Witton Road before the church. It was quite an impressive building as I recall, with a grand staircase leading up to the door, and at one time a large picture of a couple dancing. My parents used to go there before the War. I thought it was still standing, but maybe not (I've not yet plucked up sufficient courage to make a return visit to the area after all these years). I think it became some kind of Spiritualist church, something like that. Almost opposite the Albert Hall on Witton Road was a glazier's shop, and while waiting for the bus back home to The Broadway I'd watch the men cutting glass, something which always had a weird fascination for me.....
In your poster for the Albert Hall, the ENOTS Annual Dance refers to a company called Benton & Stone Ltd (get the Enots?) which I think was somewhere on or around Aston Lane , but not sure. If anyone knows just where they were, I'd be grateful. I believe they made valves. An old school-friend of mine got a job there, way back. Long gone now, I suspect.
G
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
Lady Penelope
master brummie
Benton & Stone was in several streets but if I remember rightly the main buildings were in Aston Brook Street. There used to be a funny little metal man who advertised Enots. Anyone remember him?
oldMohawk
gone but not forgotten
Hi Lyn, I often use the 'Windows Snipping Tool' which works with Win 7 and Win 10 and saves a pic wherever you want it.
Phil
Hi Mohawk,
that's the place! I'm surprised it's still there. Even more surprised that the original sign is still there! I can't make out the word under the sign, though. One of these fine says I'll pluck up some courage and have a drive around the area where I grew up. As Bob Dylan sang, "Everything passes, everything changes".
G
Pedrocut
Master Barmmie
Thanks for the info, I must have passed hundreds of times but not noticed the true extent of the building. I must never have looked upwards!
There is a thread for the very place, and some confusion as to the use. I think we can say that it was built in 1899, and for 1900 was used regularly by the Conservative Association.
There is a thread for the very place, and some confusion as to the use. I think we can say that it was built in 1899, and for 1900 was used regularly by the Conservative Association.
sylviasayers
master brummie
I believe Enots - Benton & Stone moved to the Lichfield area when the redevelopment took place.
Hi Lyn,
wow, love your pics of old Witton Road! I lived in The Broadway until 1971, and nearly all our shopping was done in Witton Road. I remember nearly all the shops in your photos, but who's the suited gent standing opposite The Albert Hall? His face is strangely familiar....
Would you happen to have any pics of the shops near to where the former Empress Cinema stood? I'd be particularly interested in a photo of S Bevan's general store, which IIRC was to the right of the cinema. Sam Bevan was a real character, and we knew him and Ethel his wife very well as they lived opposite us on The Broadway. Their daughter Lynne married former Villa player Bruce Rioch.
The other shop I'd love to see a photo of, if you have one, is the Model Mecca, higher up Witton Road and on the right looking towards Six Ways. It was in a little row of shops close to the corner of Lodge Road, near to a newsagent and a ladies' outfitter. I spent a big chunk of my life (!) in the Model Mecca until it closed in the early 1980's following the death of its owner George Rowand.
Thanks again, Lyn.
G
wow, love your pics of old Witton Road! I lived in The Broadway until 1971, and nearly all our shopping was done in Witton Road. I remember nearly all the shops in your photos, but who's the suited gent standing opposite The Albert Hall? His face is strangely familiar....
Would you happen to have any pics of the shops near to where the former Empress Cinema stood? I'd be particularly interested in a photo of S Bevan's general store, which IIRC was to the right of the cinema. Sam Bevan was a real character, and we knew him and Ethel his wife very well as they lived opposite us on The Broadway. Their daughter Lynne married former Villa player Bruce Rioch.
The other shop I'd love to see a photo of, if you have one, is the Model Mecca, higher up Witton Road and on the right looking towards Six Ways. It was in a little row of shops close to the corner of Lodge Road, near to a newsagent and a ladies' outfitter. I spent a big chunk of my life (!) in the Model Mecca until it closed in the early 1980's following the death of its owner George Rowand.
Thanks again, Lyn.
G
sorry G these are all i have so far of witton road glad you like them...as said if you hover over the photos the date etc will come up...the gent in question is harry phillips could be a coinsidence but ive just noticed an advert on the hall with the name phillips on it...not sure if there is a connection? just posted some photos of aston lane...
lyn
lyn
Radiorails
master brummie
Great period photos Lyn. Not a familiar area for me, in fact the north west side of the city was only occasional bus and tram rides.
A few things in the photos remind us of how it was. For instance in photo 1, the chemist is a member of the Pharmaceutical Society, I believe those initials were always proudly painted on the smaller privately owned chemist shops. In 1988 H.M. The Queen granted them the Title Royal. Another things about chemists shops in the past was that they sold cameras and either did printing and developing or were agents for those who did.
The other notable things is the shops who sole outdoor advertising signs mention
cigarettes! Some irony there I guess.
Photo 4. I have no idea who Mr. Phillips was - and what he did - but he does seem to be about to boards a vehicle, which could be a Bedford OB type bus.
Photo 6. All ciggy ads again.
Those type of ads are of course consigned to history now. But we have them recorded here on BHF and the thread about those brands we used to smoke).
A few things in the photos remind us of how it was. For instance in photo 1, the chemist is a member of the Pharmaceutical Society, I believe those initials were always proudly painted on the smaller privately owned chemist shops. In 1988 H.M. The Queen granted them the Title Royal. Another things about chemists shops in the past was that they sold cameras and either did printing and developing or were agents for those who did.
The other notable things is the shops who sole outdoor advertising signs mention
cigarettes! Some irony there I guess.
Photo 4. I have no idea who Mr. Phillips was - and what he did - but he does seem to be about to boards a vehicle, which could be a Bedford OB type bus.
Photo 6. All ciggy ads again.
Those type of ads are of course consigned to history now. But we have them recorded here on BHF and the thread about those brands we used to smoke).
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It certainly illustrates how prolific smoking once was and in all places. Viv.
I found a Harry Phillips who was a Jaguar distributor in the 1960's, but seeing the name Phillips on the poster,
like Lyn I wonder if the gent at the bus-stop is something to do with the Albert Hall. The caption doesn't give a date, but I'd guess the late 40's or early 50's?
G
like Lyn I wonder if the gent at the bus-stop is something to do with the Albert Hall. The caption doesn't give a date, but I'd guess the late 40's or early 50's?
G
I moved to trinity rd in 1972 and yes all our shopping was done on witton rd or newtown.there use to be 2 launderettes on witton rd one on the corner of bevington rd witton rd and the other opposite the post office on the corner of trinity rd it was a very small one though also down from the post office there was a co op butchers and next to it was a co op grocery shop I know there was a lot of small shops all the way down the road but they have all gone or been demolished it's a right dump now but that's progress !
Richard Dye
master brummie
Lyn, wonderful pictures!
It’s Eastertime at the Candy Box (last photo in the first post) there’re Easter eggs in the window. And there was a pork butchers directly across the road (reflected in The Candy Box window).
The 6th photo shows a bus stop on the corner of a junction. Hope it wasn’t a busy junction.
The detail in these photos is excellent. Viv.
The 6th photo shows a bus stop on the corner of a junction. Hope it wasn’t a busy junction.
The detail in these photos is excellent. Viv.
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Bob Davis
Bob Davis
Excellent photo and what memories, travelled up and down that road many, many times on either a 5a or a 7. That was a very busy junction, the pub is the Witton Arms ( I think that is what it was called), the bus stop is for the 5a/7 going to town. The road to the right led to Villa Park and the 39 terminus (Old 3x tram route) and the outer circle 11 would come up, overtake any bus at the bus stop and turn left on its way to Perry Barr, just below te bus stop and out of view was the railway bridge in picture 5. The bus stop at Witton was red, because it was a stage, but the one in Picture 5 was one of the older blue ones and also an anomaly as it eas there for Kynochs over the road and the bus stop in picture 6 was 200 to 300 yards further up beyond the bridge. To the right of the bridge was Witton station.
Bob
In the photo of Witton Square (Circle?) can just be seen the name on its open gate part of the name The Clifton Case Co Ltd. This was run by the Shorthouse family, and my dad was a friend of Mr Charles Shorthouse, who very occasionally visited our house. The company moved to Shady Lane (in the 1980's, I believe) and is still in business.
In another photo is the front of Oliver's Newsagents, where I had a part-time job as paper-boy, when I was still at school. It was only two days a week (Friday and Saturday), but I hated the early morning starts and soon packed it in. The manager was Mr Allen, who didn't like me...the feeling was mutual!
Great memories!
G
In another photo is the front of Oliver's Newsagents, where I had a part-time job as paper-boy, when I was still at school. It was only two days a week (Friday and Saturday), but I hated the early morning starts and soon packed it in. The manager was Mr Allen, who didn't like me...the feeling was mutual!
Great memories!
G
Richard Dye
master brummie
Viv, exactly what I thought!
Yes Lyn I love to see picture of Model Mecca I lived across the rd from this great shop
The News Agents was called Pats
The Ladies shop was called Wigleys
Don,
A couple of houses down from Wigleys lived the Bates family, who were close friends of my parents. Did you know them by any chance? Walter, Mary and daughter Sue.
We kept in touch for a few years with Nancy Rowand after she sold the Model Mecca and moved into a flat near Brookvale Park. She passed away in the late 1980's if I recall. Nice lady.
G
A couple of houses down from Wigleys lived the Bates family, who were close friends of my parents. Did you know them by any chance? Walter, Mary and daughter Sue.
We kept in touch for a few years with Nancy Rowand after she sold the Model Mecca and moved into a flat near Brookvale Park. She passed away in the late 1980's if I recall. Nice lady.
G
