STREETS

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" rowspan="2" width=215 BGCOLOR="#CC3366" TEXT="#080000" bgproperties="fixed" background="04106732dkcfyw.png"> <div> S</div> <div> T</div> <div> R</div> <div> E</div> <div> E</div> <div> T</div> <div> S</div> <bR> <div> <B>LATEST     UPDATES</B></div> <div> <B>MUSGRAVE ROAD </B>06/09/08</div> <div> <B>MUSGRAVE ROAD </B>21/08/08</div> <div> <B>C.W.CHENEY. . . FACTORY ROAD</B><B>THE FINAL GOODBYE</B> 20/08/08</div> <bR> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=95 style=" border-bottom: 1px solid #CC6699;" BGCOLOR="#CC99CC" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <I> Birmingham, England. </I><B> </B><B> </B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B>|  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Times New Roman" ><B> </B><A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" Birmingham, England. 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The photographs were taken upto WW2. </div> <div> Regards  Keith Acton (son of Alfred Acton: Aberdeen Street) <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >actonfamily@talktalk.net </FONT></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="998" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 256 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="9f2a5fa0.jpg" border=0 width="165" height="250" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">    <IMG SRC="9f4a5fa0.jpg" border=0 width="165" height="250" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="600"><div> <IMG SRC="9f655f60.jpg" border=0 width="341" height="246" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 256 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="9f876fa0.jpg" border=0 width="374" height="250" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="600"><div> <IMG SRC="9fa76fa0.jpg" border=0 width="374" height="250" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> ABERDEEN STREET <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >09/09/07</FONT></div> <div>    <IMG SRC="8b5dc2c0.jpg" border=0 width="220" height="300" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">                           </div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Photograph taken of my grandfather Herman W. Read and my mother, Marion (Twycross) Read outside his house <B>129 Aberdeen Street</B> during the celebrations of King George V's Silver Jubilee in 1935. </div> <div> In the background is a Mitchell' s and Butler's pub called the "Bird in Hand", the painted sign is not very clear on this photograph, but I can assure any reader that may be interested in "Back Street Pubs" that it is readable on the original when enlarged. </div> <div> I would be more than interested if any reader knows the history of this establishment. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Malcolm Read</FONT> Email:<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" > mk.read@btinternet.com</FONT></div> <bR> <div> Malcolm lived at 1/102 Aberdeen Street and went to Barford Road School</div> <bR> <bR> <div> Photograph's supplied by Malcolm Read. </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="8b72ce50.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="229" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Photograph of <B>Aberdeen Street</B> looking towards <B>Peel Street</B> on the left, with the <B>Childrens Welfare surgery</B> on the corner.</div> <bR> <div> Malcolm Read<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > Email:</FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" > mk.read@btinternet.com</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> 29/09/07</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Arial" ><IMG SRC="8db53c90.jpg" border=0 width="339" height="201" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></FONT>At the <B>"Tower Ballroom" Edgbaston reservoir 1955-60 </B></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#3300CC" FACE="Arial" >From left to right:</FONT> John ( Froggy) Freer, John Howes, John Morton, <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#CC0066" FACE="Arial" ><B>Malcolm Read (myself)</B></FONT>, David Longstaff and John Robinson. </div> <bR> <div> Back row kneeling:<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > first one see below, Tony Parkes (face part hidden) the lad standing is not identified see below. </FONT></div> <bR> <div> What is known<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >, the first lad kneeling was a painter and decorator, who lived on the opposite side of the road to the "Malt Shovel" pub in Tudor Street, I think his christian name was Allan. The lad standing worked with David Longstaff in the Jewelery Quarter. </FONT></div> <div> Photograph supplied by Malcolm Read.<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Email:</FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" > mk.read@btinternet.com</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> ABERDEEN STREET <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >06/04/07</FONT></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Photos of my mom and dad, <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Fred and Doris Hitchen</FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B> </B></FONT>my nan and my aunt and us kids. </div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="1464" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 634 ><NOBR><div> Mom and Dad</div> <div> Fred and Doris Hitchen </div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="83a2c230.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="291" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="840ca2c0.jpg" border=0 width="202" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div>   Jonnie</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *************************</div> <div> My aunt </div> <div> Jean Brookes and Steve Gracie </div> <div> <IMG SRC="838fcfa0.jpg" border=0 width="252" height="250" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="956"><div> <IMG SRC="83ec12c0.jpg" border=0 width="193" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Freddie</div> <div> Jackie and Pat<IMG SRC="83c252c0.jpg" border=0 width="293" height="300" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 294 WIDTH="241"><div> Maureen age ?<IMG SRC="8342cdb0.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="219" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="241"><div> Maureen in the middle age 14, dressed up to go to the Lacano with Pat my brother Johns girlfriend and Paddy picture  was taken in Aberdeen Street 1967</div> <div> <IMG SRC="8442cc30.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="195" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="956"><div> Our Nan Alice Temby who also lived in Aberdeen Street at no.127 the guy in the front  is Mr Dyer he lived at 136 Aberdeen Street. <IMG SRC="8362cdf0.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="223" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <div> Picture of my mom and dad Fred and Doris Hitchen who used to live at 132 Aberdeen Street as I was growing up in the sixties. Before they moved here they lived in Summerhill Street. </div> <bR> <div> My nan Alice Temby  also lived in Aberdeen Street at no.127 the guy in the front of the photo is Mr Dyer he lived at136 Aberdeen Street. </div> <bR> <div> My aunt Jean Brookes she lived at no 1 Lansdown Street on her wedding day to Steve Gracie in the sixties. </div> <bR> <div> Botttom left Maureen, named are my  bothers Jonnie, Freddie and my sister Pat and me Jackie.   We all have very fond memories of our life in Aberdeen Street.</div> <div> I hope who sees this will remember us, that would be great. </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B><U>If anyone does and wants to get in touch please do</U></B></FONT> Email <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>wonderwob@btinternet.com</U></FONT> </div> <bR> <bR> <div> ABERDEEN STREET <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >19/01/05</FONT></div> <div> We moved to Aberdeen St when I was about fourteen and lived at No26 a couple of doors away from Johnny Dunkley, I had a mate called Billy Wylman from round the corner in Peel St, we all used to knock about in the Route 66 Cafe across the road from the Smiths Arms, great days sadly missed.</div> <div> Chris price  Email: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>ampegboy@live.co.uk</U></FONT>. </div> <bR> <div> <U> </U></div> <div> <U><IMG SRC="67ac8960.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="150" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></div> <bR> <div> Chris Price [<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >ON THE RIGHT]  </FONT>recently reunited with his old mate Johhny Dunkley having a pint together in The Punch Bowl  Quinton.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >31/12/05</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> I was Maureen Hitchen before I got married, does anyone remember me from <B>Aberdeen St,</B> we used to live two doors away from Jones shop. I went to Barford Rd School, City Rd, Summerfield, Handsworth New Rd, I left the street in 1969.</div> <div> I remember Trevor Davis he lived in the Acorn Pub, Steven Benson.bottom of Aberdeen St, Susan Grincell, Pat Poole, lots more. it was the best years of my life living in Aberdeen Street </div> <div> Thank You .<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Maureen Perks</FONT>  Email: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>Peksi2004@Aol.com</U></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> I lived at 132,<B>Aberdeen St</B>  for 11 years my Nan lived a couple of doors away at 127 Aberdeen St. my mother's name was Doris Hitchen and father's name was Fred <B>Hitchen</B>. Dad had a bad lip. always in the pubs, my aunt lived at No 1 <B>Landsdown St</B>. I had then 2 brothers John and Freddie. myself <B>Maureen </B>Hitchen and Jackie. I knew all the streets as I used to hang around them in the sixties I used to go to the same school as Gary Smith. At this moment I can not find any photo's, I can remember Jones shop one door away from us. by the big opening. we used to have lots of bon-fire's.<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Them were the days</FONT>.</div> <div> Maureen Perks  Email: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>Perksi2004@aol.com</U></FONT></div> <bR> <div> ABERDEEN STREET <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >07/06/04</FONT></div> <div> My Sister has Put Her Story In About Aberdeen Street,132.</div> <div> Well As She Said Our Aunt Lived At 1 Lansdowne Street, And Our Nan Alice Tenby Lived At 127 Aberdeen Street,our father was a coal man, he liked to drink his name was fred hitchen, (freddie to his friends) Our Mom Doris Worked At Bulpits. Our Dad Suffered From Polio He Had A Limp. Our Father Kept Getting Into Trouble Off Our Mom Cause Of The State He Came Home In There Were Arguement.We All Ducked.</div> <div> Dad Had A New Lad Work With Him One Day He Would Turn Up In Pure White T Shirts, (To Deliver Coal) He Became Very Famous His Name Was Pat Roach.</div> <div> Because Of My Moms Temper He Nicked Named Her The Blonde Bombshell. We Didn't Have A Lot of Anything But I Always remember thing with fondest memories And always Will</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Email .</FONT>.<A HREF="mailto:wonderwob@btinternet.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:wonderwob@btinternet.com">wonderwob@btinternet.com</A></div> <bR> <div> ABERDEEN STREET <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >17/03/04</FONT></div> <div> <B>Aberdeen Street</B>. I have already made a comment in Bryant Street with regards to my mom, dad and sister. But my grandmother lived in 24 Aberdeen Street with two of her daughters. Her name was Florence Green Her daughters were Ena and Barbara. She also had 3 sons and 2 other daughters Florrie and Lily (my mom). Her sons names wee Geoff, Eric and Frank. Where they lived the gardens were in the front of the houses,and included a bomb shelter where Ena kept her gardening tools. I was nearly born in this shelter after and air raid. The toilets were down the back. and were shared with another family and you had to take the key with you it was a long trek in the winter. I now live in Australia and believe that these houses no longer exist. I remember a bomb site to the right of the houses as you faced them and this was our playground. My uncle Geoff, aunt Ruth, cousins Brian and Collin also lived in the same block. </div> <div> Frances Sheen Nee Mason<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >  Email: </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>Tfsheen@aol.com</U></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> ABERDEEN STREET</div> <div> My family lived in Aberdeen Street for over fifty years.</div> <div> My Grandparents used to keep the old Queens Head Pub which was opposite Stringers fruit and vegetable shop. The old pub was demolished in 1936 and the new Queens Head was built in 1937.</div> <div> What wonderful times we had as children we could play out in the street and the only danger was the horse and cart and neighbors who shouted at us to play down our own end. </div> <div> We would go on charanbanc trips and have song sheets to sing all the way to the seaside and sleep on the way back. I remember Mr.Jenns who kept the grocery shop and Mrs.Hill who lived next to my mother and father, and Mr&Mrs.Shorthouse who also kept a Grocery & sweetshop and their daughters Betty and June.</div> <div> Very happy days.  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >from Beryl Raine (Wilcox)</FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> 26/06/03</div> <div>  So glad we found this site. Both my parents are from Winson green dad (Raymond williams)was born in <B>Aberdeen St, </B>and mom ( june wood) was born in <B>Bellefield Rd</B>. If anyone remembers them please get in touch. Mom would love to hear from anyone with <U>new's of Dorothy Palmer </U>who's married name is Kane..</div> <div> MANDY SMITH    <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Email: </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>smthmarky@aol.com</U></FONT></div> <bR> <div> **************************************************************************************************************************</div> <div> ABBEY STREET <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >02/07/08</FONT></div> <div> What a fantastic site, I am Ann Nottle formerly Monaf. It is my class in the picture of the All Saints Christmas play. We lived in Abbey Street from around 1953 and were probably the first mixed race family in the area. Maureen Kemp and I who is also in the picture went on to George Dixon grammar school and then to live in Cornwall together and are still in touch. I am contacting my brother to see if he has any old pictures of the area. </div> <div> Kind regards, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Ann</FONT> Nottle nee <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Monaf</FONT> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >mail@nottle3167.fsnet.co.uk</FONT></div> <bR> <div> ABBEY STREET <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >30/09/03</FONT></div> <div> If anyone lived in <B>Abbey St</B>, Hockley l would love to hear from you.This is in respect of my family history project.  From the mid 1850s till circa 1880 my g/grandparents raised a family of ten children in No <B>36 Abbey St</B>, by coincidence in the mid 60s l worked for G/G/Lloyd in Park Rd as a driver,  they owned a house in Abbey St about a third up on the left from Park Rd which l often went into.This was long before l began genealogy so l had no idea of its prominence, l can't recall the internal layout and l just wish l had been into photography then. Basically l would like to imagine the conditions a family of twelve would have living in a smallish terraced house Even better if anyone has photographs of these houses or Street pre-redevelopement l would love to see them.           Many thanks,  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Pete Ellis </FONT>              .Email: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>p4ellis@blueyonder.co.uk</U></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> ABBEY STREET <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >05/02/03 and 10/02/04</FONT></div> <div> <U><IMG SRC="407141c0.png" border=0 width="276" height="284" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></U></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> I was born at <B>4/35</B> Western Grove, <B>Abbey Street</B>  in 1947, </div> <div> My brothers and sisters all attended </div> <div> All Saints School, Handsworth New Road (Girls), and Icknield Street Schools.</div> <div> We were one of the lucky families we had our own loo (outside), but it was ours! </div> <div> <B>DOES ANYONE</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > remember the Outdoor run by Marge Lackey ???</FONT></div> <div> <B>WHAT ABOUT</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > the Pawn Shop and the Cobblers?</FONT></div> <div> <B>REMEMBER </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >knock door run?, skipping?, British bulldog? </FONT></div> <div> and playing cricket in the `Horse Road`? </div> <div> We used to play for hours in the street, safely.  OH what times we had! </div> <div> Jacqueline Perry (CARNELL) <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >   Email: </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>dotmay2003@yahoo.co.uk</U></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> This photo was taken in the early 60`s, its my Mom Dot Carnell, sitting in the front garden of 4/35 Abbey Street.</div> <div> We lived up a grove in <B>ABBEY STREET</B>, there were 5 houses, we all had 3rooms down and 3 rooms up, and our own seperate toilets! But a lot of the houses were back to back,with just <B>one room and a scullery and 2 rooms up stairs</B> and had to <B>share toilets</B> with other families.I had a friend whose family lived at the back of the cobblers shop and they had four children! <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Jackie(carnell)Perry</FONT>  Email: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>dotmay2003@yahoo.co.uk</U></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>ABBEY STREET     </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Arial" >19/07/02</FONT></div> <div> Just a few names to stir memories Steven Earl, Paul Sale, Paul Tierney, Keith Higgins (his Dad had the greengrocers in Crabtree Rd)</div> <div> An old lady I loved who had a dog called Jack,I used to call her Granny Brookes, I was told she would have a drink at the pub ( or offlicence I'm not sure) every day like clockwork until she died when she was well over 100 years old.</div> <div> My grandfather Bill Thomas had the pet shop on Lodge Road, Near the prison.</div> <div> I was born in Dudley Road Hospital in 1948.</div> <div> I also lived in Abbey Street just off Lodge Road, Not far from Scribbans Bakery.</div> <div> Now I live in South Australia a seaside town called Christies Beach.</div> <div> I was elated when I stumbled on your web site.</div> <div> P.S. I used to go to a youth club called the <B>Stonehouse Gang that met in Camden St school.</B></div> <div>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >from </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Ian Thorpe</FONT> Email: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>jeanian@senet.com.au</U></FONT></div> <div> <B>(does anybody else remember this club meeting there?)</B></div> <div> David Roberts used to be a member of the gang see Coralie Street on the stories page.</div> <bR> <div> **********************************************************************************************</div> <div> <B>ALLENS ROAD  (</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Avon Place) </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" >06/05/08</FONT></div> <div> Avon Place was a cul-de-sac, situated off Allens Road, only had four houses, occupied during the war by the Jakemans, Sheppard, and Haywoods. On the corner was Vickers Grocery shop (later Parkers). At the far end, near the railway was the local A.R.P 'Command Post', which was taboo to us kids!! inside was a bench, shelf or table, a telephone, buckets of sand and stirrup pumps, to be used with the buckets of water which hung on brackets between the bay windows in Allens Rd. A row of houses, LIME GROVE, which I think belonged to Great Western Railway, ran alongside the embankment and the families that lived there were mainly employed by the railway....Davies, Potter, Williams, Bache, Bates etc. These houses had a reasonable front garden, where most grew vegetables, and also a backyard that overlooked the main Birmingham to Wolverhampton line.(now the metro). An excellent place to view the trains and as kids each year we would get our new 'reference book' from the Scout shop in Dale End with all GWR train names and numbers in...King , Manor, Duke Classes Tankers and even 'Dudley Dashers', we would carefully underline each train 'spotted'. These were our treasured possessions. Opposite Lime Grove was a narrow passage that led into the 'Big Yard' and from there up the steps onto Benson Rd. Yes, Avon Place was an ideal place to play cricket, football, learn to cycle and at the end of the war to hold our parties and Street Bonfires.</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Derek Weston </FONT> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >derek@dweston1.wanadoo.co.uk</FONT> </div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="9cd41e60.jpg" border=0 width="321" height="230" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">  <IMG SRC="9d051ea0.jpg" border=0 width="337" height="234" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Photos taken in 1948 in Avon Place , Brian Jeffries and Derek Weston, in the background, Nos.22 & 24 Allens Rd. where Pat and Maureen Hodgson and their grandfather Alfred Bird lived.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>ALLENS ROAD </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" >25/12/07</FONT></div> <div> My Grandfather <B>Albert Ernest Bird</B> lived in <B>Allens Road </B>most of his life and my Auntie lived next door for most of her life. I remember as a child travelling on the train from Snow Hill to Soho & Winson Green train station, 3 stops, with my Mom and Dad to visit them. In more resent years I had a partner whose parents lived in the same area so we used to visit various 'Clubs' at Christmas etc.</div> <div> I would love to know more about him and where he lived.</div> <div> Therese Hobson  EMAIL: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>hobboterry@hotmail.com</U></FONT></div> <div> .</div> <bR> <div> <B>ALLENS ROAD </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>17/05/07</B></FONT></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> I was <B>born in Allens Rd. in 1937</B>, I remember the war years, in particular Big Nellie Riley, who manned the Soho & Winson Green Railway Stn. on her own. She was the one everyone called upon to do the 'mans jobs', like moving furniture or replacing blown out windows etc. My aunt (Haywoods) lived in Avon Place, next to the railway line. They had a 'Morrison' shelter in the front r<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#00FFFF" FACE="Arial" ><IMG SRC="85458aa0.jpg" border=0 width="600" height="426" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></FONT>oom, and my mother and I would run down the back entry (Lime Grove) when the 'siren' went. I remember 'Garfitts' the little corner newsagents, Yeomans the butchers, Clarks or Jeffries the greengrocers, where we queued for our first banana. In 1945, we had a party at the methodist hall, Benson Road. <B><U>See Photo</U></B>. In the photo, are most of the 'kids' from the Benson Rd area....The Corbets, Lees, Tompkins, Winkles,Cooper, Cox, Gaffney, Jeffries, Adams, Spillers, Whittle, Ball, Steeles, Perfect, Law, and many I can't recall the names of. My Gran (Williams) also lived in Benson Rd. opposite Harding St. I remember Greasleys the sweet shop and a shop we referred to as 'up the steps'. When I got married my Best Man was Joe Clark, lived at the old cafe, next to railway bridge. During the war, my mother worked at Setten & Durwards, making cartridge cases, later at Cheneys in Factory Rd. </div> <div> I am now retired, after serving in the Fire Service for 30 yrs. covering the Handsworth, Aston, and other Birmingham areas.</div> <div> <B> Best Wishes to all old Winson Greeners.</B> </div> <div> Derek Weston<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >, </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" >E-mail : derek@dweston1.wanadoo.co.uk</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B><U>Allens Road...The 'old' end</U></B>, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >06/06/07</FONT></div> <div> Now completely disappeared, had 'Fords' the bakers on the corner with Bacchus Rd.(before they moved to Benson Rd. near Park Rd.). As I lived opposite the bakery, as a child I would wake up to the smell of newly baked bread, and when purchasing a loaf, we always selected the 'burnt' one and would have picked off most of the crust before getting it home!.</div> <div> Halfway down the road (opposite Avon Place) was Thorntons the 'outdoor' and from 6 oclock onwards, people would be seen entering and emerging with large jugs covered with a 'teatowel', and a bottle of stout for the 'missus'! to settle in for the night before the siren went..........<B>Avon Place</B> (a small cul-de-sac) had the A.R.P. wardens hut at the far end, but was where you could play cricket and football and still keep a look-out for the local bobby! It was a safe place because one could<B> 'escape' </B>either up Lime Grove or through the gully into the <B>'Big Yard' </B>and out into Benson Road. The waste paper box or the 'pig bin' were convenient goal posts or wickets.</div> <div> <B><U>Allens Rd.(the 'new' end)</U></B> was a cul-de-sac with the houses at the end known as <B>'The Triangle'</B> and if you were careful you could sneak down the 'entry' to the back of the houses. It was an ideal place to 'catch train numbers' as GWR and LMS both converged at this point. </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> At the end of the war, a large bonfire was 'lit' in 'Old Allens' in the middle of the road to celebrate, it was so fierce that all the paintwork was burned or blistered on the doors and windows of adjacent houses, but no-one seemed to care. Many names spring to mind from that era...Desmond Woolridge, Norman Bickley,Brian & Barry Jeffries, Joan Pitt, Sheila Corcoran, Pat Hodson, Silvia Beddall and many more - a time when both sexes seemed to intergrate at play more than they do now. Many memories from the area during the 40s and 50s. <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>Sadly the old roads gone now, they call it progress.</B></FONT></div> <div>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Derek Weston</FONT>, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000099" FACE="Arial" >E-mail : derek@dweston1.wanadoo.co.uk</FONT></div> <bR> <div> ***********************************************************************************************************************</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>AVERY ROAD  </B></FONT><B>(</B> this road is just inside Smetwick but Alan deserves a mention on our site) <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >10/02/07</FONT></div> <div> I used to live in Avery Road I used to play with my brother in Black Patch Park.</div> <div> My mother used to work at Avery's as a cleaner. </div> <div> I went to Foundry Lane Infant and Junior schools and later Handworth Girls School.</div> <div>  Email: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#3333CC" FACE="Arial" >ca.atkins@virgin.net</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>AVERY ROAD</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >10/03/03</FONT></div> <div> I left HNR school 1949 we lived in Avery Rd. I delivered papers all round the Green 7 days a week night & morning for 7/6d  from little shop opposite prison.</div> <div> A lot of good times & some not so good.  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Alan Aston</FONT> Email: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>alan@aston2002.fsnet.co.uk</U></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>AVERY ROAD</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Arial" > and the Merry Hill area.  </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >22/09/03</FONT></div> <div> <IMG SRC="32c5f070.png" border=0 width="351" height="263" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> My mom (Lydia Coley from Rowley Regis born in 1921) lived in Murdock Road with my Aunt, sister and where I grew up as a child in the 1960's up to 1978 when Murdock Road was eventually knocked down. </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Mom remembers this photo, the pub was the Soho Tavern and Hawkers were the original owners of the Cafe next door when mom was a little girl in the 20's. Next to the cafe was a house and next to that was St. Johns Mission, followed by six more houses. Avery's the scale making company was opposite the Soho Tavern. On the opposite side of Avery Road was the row of shops between Avery Road and Murdock Road. There was a Grocery shop, Tobacconist next door, then a dress shop, next to that was the greengrocers,followed by a shop that sold books and cards, then a cooked meat shop, next to that was a butchers  on the corner of Murdock Road and Foundry Lane. </div> <div> At the top of Murdock Road there was a farm (it was like a farm, he had pigs, chickens and all sorts) that farm ran along from Murdock Road to Avery Road. Mr Brooks was the tenant of the farm and he was the only one in Murdock Road who had a car 1930's. All the houses in Murdock and Avery Road were tenanted some by the gypsies (Smiths, Claytons - Murdock Road Avery Road - Loveridges, Shepherds, Pettifers who were the gypsy families) The land lord was Mr Taylor who owned the whole of Murdock Road, except the farm. The rent at the time for mom's house was about 4/6d. One side of Avery Road was owned by Avery's themselves, mainly they were for their workers and the later they were just let out. </div> <div> Mom could go on and on, but would it be of interest to you? The sort of things she remembers are what school was like, War time work, Murdock Road being bombed the end of Murdock Road etc etc. </div> <div>  Regards  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Andrew Leigh</FONT>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>ab.leigh@virgin.net</U></FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> **************************************************************************************************************************</div> <div> ABBERLEY STREET <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >17/03/07</FONT></div> <div> I spotted a letter on your site from <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#330099" FACE="Arial" ><B>Ian Thorpe</B></FONT> in Ausraliia regarding a <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#330099" FACE="Arial" ><B>Bill Thomas</B></FONT> who owned a pet shop on Lodge Road. I used to work for Bill Thomas and his son who was also known as Bill even though his name was Robert. I used to be a truck driver for them for about 15 years at the firm which was called Thomas and Guest and was in Abberley Street, Winson Green.At the time I also lived in Abberley Street but am originally from Talbot Street.The reason I'm writing is because the letter from Ian Thorpe dates from 2002 and I cannot get a reply from him on his e-mail number. I suppose over the years he may have changed it so I was hoping you could put this on your site in the hope that he might see it. I also wrote to you a couple of weeks ago regarding Wal Bannister who used to live at my old address in Talbot Street and you put a note on your site for me but as yet have still had no reply. Still, I can but hope.</div> <div> Thanking you again, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Bob Shale</FONT> Email: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0066FF" FACE="Arial" >rwshale@hotmail.co.uk</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *************************************************************************************************************************</div> <div> BACCHUS ROAD <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >01/04/08</FONT></div> <div> I was very interested in Colins recollections of Bacchus Road, especially the 'penny pick' shop on the corner of Leanard Street, 'The Grapes' public house, known locally as 'The Jolly Bacchus'. But there were more shops further down towards Nineveh Rd., a newsagents, a woman that sold everything connected with sewing and knitting, a greengrocers and ironmongers etc. Opposite,on the corner of Park Rd. was a building that was privately occupied but looked like it could have been an old public house, can anyone remember it?? Also , why was the road called 'Bacchus', I can't find any reference to a vineyard or winemaking!!! but maybe with its close vicinity to Hockley Brook, this may have happened in the past.! Finally, who were, Benson, Allen, Talbot, Harding, Willis, Preston, Musgrave etc....where they prominent men from the 19th. century, or perhaps reputable employees of Matthew Bolton.?? Somebody may know. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Derek Weston</FONT>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >derekjohnweston@hotmail.co.uk</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> BACCHUS ROAD <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >26/03/08</FONT></div> <div> Bacchus Road should be recognized in History, for the contribution it played in the formation of Winson Green Community offering all shopping facilites & Services to residents north of the" Flat "</div> <div> Starting with Ronnie Swain & Wife running the only Motor garage petrol station Pre 1940 with pump handles, recalling from self experince,ocasionally doing odd jobs to earn pocket money,sweeping up and help using the pump handle. Next door the Co-oP the future of Stores to come, families from a wide area of the district became members, children would earn their pocket money, fetching the family weekly grocery.</div> <div> Having to take the Rations Card have it stamped brings back the futilely of the era.</div> <div> Next door was Old Mother Jones Cafe, were you could spend your pocket money,purchasing a Bottle pop and a slice of home Bread Pudding. If you had any money left, the temptation was to enter Daddy Eagles Newsagents & Tobacco shop, and purchase a packet of cigs and say "for my dad". Ada Windbush bread & cakes shop followed then Richardson Butchers, were my brother worked partime Johnny the Pawnbrokers.to Rosie Browns Fish & Chip Shop,1d of chips & some batters, always gave two scupps and when wrapping them up knocked some off. Drapers Ladies & childrens clothes next the childrens favourite a shop full of pop & sweets. Mr Priest Electrical shop where local residents had the Radio repairs and replacement parts and accumulator recharged. Post Office & Telephone box. Across the opposite side of road Shufflebottoms Fruit & veg shop, next Billy Brannian Barbers shop follow by the Public Washing Baths many a story attached to that building.</div> <div> The Following premises was two fold the local known boxer Carl Barton owned the local Coal Merchants which deliverd to houses via a wheel barrow delivery,this service was carried out with the help of team of local lads that earned their pocket money for a 1d per delivery. Another Pop & Sweet shop, plus a row of shops of Grocery, Butchers, Bread & Cake shop, Chemist and Fish & Chips shop.</div> <div> Then a large section of Buildings owned by the Birmingham City council,used as City Laundry for items from schools and offices. Mrs.Lees Ladies Hairdresser. Birch Family Greengrocers. Shoe repairs shop. Newsagents. Chemist shop. Fords home Breads and quaility Confectionary. Penny Pick Sweet shop, you choose your Favourite for 1d. The Local so called Tin Chapel, later converted to the British Legion Club</div> <div>  "The Grapes Public house was  last building and the only pub  in the road.</div> <div> Regards <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Colin Mills</FONT>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0033CC" FACE="Arial" >cmills9@blueyonder.co.uk </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Additional memories </B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >31/05/08</FONT> I have about the shops Colin Mills recalls are the butchers was called Richards. A few years ago I used to see Grayson Richards in the wholesale meat market in Birmingham. The drapers was called Pardoes and the sweet shop next door was Beaumonts. The greengrocers opposite was run by the Binnells for part of the 1950's. The sweet shop just past the public baths and opposite the end of Preston Road was run by sisters named Hartill. Going towards Benson Road was Luke Smith the chemist and Albert Yeomans the butcher, his brother Frank had a butchers shop in Benson Road. There was also a lady who ran library from a shop.  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > JAMES HOLLOWAY </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >james@gwr4111.freeserve.co.uk</FONT></div> <bR> <div> BACCHUS ROAD <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >22/02/08</FONT></div> <div> Reading a heart rendering story of a youth in Markby Road losing his life. This made a sad recall of my mate 11year old Reg Essex, he and I  were out roller skating in Bacchus Road and as young lads do, showing off how clever we could perform on them, when Reg race down the road and hit the pavement, and hit his head on the adjoining wall and collapsing. I returned to his house and fetched his mother, the local shop keeper phoned for a ambulance, and he was taken to Dudley Road Hospital were he never recovered and passed away, and at that age did not understand the end of life. His mother always acknowledge our friendship and at later date adoptive two brother aged 12years old and asked myself to befriend them. This I did for Mrs Essex in my memory of my mate Reg. I introduced them both in the 14th Boys Brigade at The Institute Lodge Road where they both stayed from their youthful years into manhood, both becoming officers of the Brigade. Out of adversity,sometimes brings happiness. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Colin Mills</FONT>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0033CC" FACE="Arial" >cmills9@blueyonder.co.uk </FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> BACCHUS ROAD <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >04/08/07</FONT></div> <div> Your site brought tears to my eyes. I live in Surrey and have all my life, but my mother sometimes was not able to look after us (in hospital) so we lived with my grandmother at <B>49 Bacchus Road.</B> We also went to the local school for a while in the early sixties. Did they make fun of us! we had Surrey accents so we were easy targets. However, they are my fondest memories. As I had only just started  school, I can't place the geography. Bacchus Road was a terrace and I remember the last house in the row was right next to the railway line and we used to peer through the fence.</div> <div> My sister and I were sent to a shop with a big mug and some money and came back with Faggots and peas, but I can't remember the shop, it may have been near Allen Road. I remember going to the public baths, because my grandmother only had a pantry, it was a cupboard with a big square sink. I remember a sweet shop across the road on a corner. My grandmother was MrsFenton, and my auntie and uncle lived a few doors up the Shrimptons.</div> <div> There was a pub I think called the Railway and my nan would take us she would drink a pale ale and we would be with a soft drink and a packet of crisps watching the trains.</div> <div> I don't know how accurate my memories are but I love the site.</div> <div> Best regards, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Valerie </FONT> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0033FF" FACE="Arial" >val@valmushroom.plus.com</FONT></div> <bR> <div> BACCHUS ROAD <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >26/04/07</FONT></div> <div> The year 1939.a group of six boys were walking along Bacchus Road eating chips,nearby the local Post Office,had a telephone Kiosk and post box infront of it. when one of these lads looked into the phone box</div> <div> and said to us other lads,their is a parcel on the shelf.So being inquisitive someone decided to find out the contents inside,when picking the parcel up he said,that it was ticking away,so the thoughts were a bomb.so the</div> <div> decision was to take to the Police station at Dudley Rd/summerfield park. so we all walked up to Winson Green Rd to the Police Station,all six lads went inside thinking we may recive a reward. The desk sargent took the parcel and unwrapped the so called bomb,and to our amazment,it was</div> <div> a alarm clock ticking away.the police officer was about to give us all a thick ear,for wasting his time,when we all turned around an ran. On the way home we found out who the joker was we all gave him a kick up the rear end,and ran home laughing.</div> <div> I hope that the lads involved read this on the website.</div> <div> Regards <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Colin Mills</FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#330099" FACE="Arial" > cmills9@blueyonder.co.uk</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> BACCHUS ROAD <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >06/03/07</FONT></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="992e5f40.jpg" border=0 width="229" height="500" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> BACCHUS ROAD <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFBF0" FACE="Arial" >22/08/06</FONT></div> <div> I Have just found your fantastic site which brought back many memories. My father was born at the <B>greengrocers in Bacchus Road</B> in 1916 and when her parents died he was adopted by his aunt and uncle Lily and Harry Blocksidge who had the newsagents and fishing tackle shop in Icknield Street. After they died in the early 1950s we lived there for a while with Uncle Percy Dawes. He wasn't a real uncle but came to live there during the war and stayed thereafter! I remember playing with the girl next door Christine Hands who I believe now lives in Great Barr. The shop was demolished in the 1960s and Dad moved his business to the Soho Road until 1977 when he retired due to ill health. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFBF0" FACE="Arial" >Judy nee Blocksidge</FONT>   <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>bab90@hotmail.co.uk</U></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> BACCHUS ROAD<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >05/11/03</FONT></div> <div> I lived at 132 <B>Bacchus Rd.</B> for 19 years. 1948 to 1967 then emigrated to Canada, and still here.</div> <div> Daughter Linda went to <B>Benson Road School</B> from 1955 to 61, then King Edwards Grammar School for Girls ,son Stephen went to Benson Rd.also but came to Canada with us when he was 10. </div> <div> Names I remember, Mr and Mrs Fred Lewis in corner store <B>Bacchus Rd</B> and <B>Leonard St</B>. Mrs. Moore, corner of Bacchus and <B>Allens Rd</B>. Gord Latham on Bacchus, Charlie Millington on Bacchus.</div> <div> I am now 77 years old so my memory is a little dimmer, would anyone who knows me or my family please drop me a line. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Len Holland</FONT>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>holland_leonard@hotmail.co</U></FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I>********************************************************************************************************************************</I></div> <div> BARFORD ROAD<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" > is just over the borders in Rotton Park.</FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > 26/03/03</FONT></div> <div> I grew up in <B>Barford Rd</B> at 8/55 ( Bertha Buildings) from 1955 for 29 yrs loved it, I used to go to all the picture houses. My aunt (prices) used to have tobbaco shop on the Parade by the Lyric picture house </div> <div> I was trying to find some information  when I came across this site. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Sandra Cooke nee (George)</FONT></div> <div> Email: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>sandra_cooke@bun.com</U></FONT></div> <bR> <div> *************************************************************************************************************************</div> <div> BEETON ROAD <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" >2</FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >8/12/06</FONT></div> <div> I would also like to say that I enjoy looking at this site and find some of the comments very interesting and enlightening on how people used to live. I grew up in the Winson Green <B>(Beeton Rd) </B>area during the 60's and 70's and can remember how the area used to be. It is sad to see that back then society was a lot safer than it is today, which I thing is a shame as we have not really progressed. I have lived in <B>Grand Rapids, MI (USA) </B>for the last 4.5 years and can say that although the British media portrays the US as a violent society nothing could be farther from the truth. With the exception of a few bad rough areas of the bigger cities street crime and car crime is virtually non existent, which reminds me of my own childhood in Winson Green. Hopefully something will happen to improve the changes that have happened in England.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > Martin Thomas</FONT></div> <div> Email: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0033CC" FACE="Arial" >martinwthomas@sbcglobal.net</FONT></div> <bR> <div> **********************************************************************************************************************</div> <div> BENSON ROAD</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="8ddf0740.jpg" border=0 width="496" height="372" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>BENSON ROAD </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" >30/10/07</FONT></div> <div> What a brilliantly nostalgic site. </div> <div> I used to live at 18 Benson Rd (up the steps next door to Maisies shop ) from 1952 to 1963. Mom and dad were Fred and Clarice Lowe, sister Susan. Grandad Albert Pike used to hire the hand carts from the "big yard " on the corner of Nineveh Rd. Pals I remember were Roger Denelly, Fred Deeley, Bert Peden, John Nurrish, Michael Clayton, Jeffrey Ince ( who was tragically killed in Aden ) and a lot of lads I played soccer and cricket with most nights down the rec. Remember one occasion when we were caught by the parkie playing soccer on the bowling green, everyone ran off but I left my jacket behind and of course he recognised it and took it to my house where it was waiting for me when I got home....ouch, that hurt!! Does anyone remember the Coopers who lived by the Wonder Vaults. Barbara and I have remained good friends all these years, she lives in Bournemouth now. I myself hve been married 37yrs and live in Coleshill. I have some great pics of the old days. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" >John Lowe </FONT>Email: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>jon.lowe29@tiscali.co.uk</U></FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U>JOHN LOWE'S PHOTOS </U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" >03/11/07</FONT></div> <div> <U> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="1484" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 209 WIDTH="395"><div> <IMG SRC="914fdc20.jpg" border=0 width="253" height="194" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Fred and Clarice Lowe, moved from Beaton Rd to Nineveh Rd and finally to 18 Benson Rd ( 1952-1974 ). </div> <bR> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="1070"><div> <IMG SRC="91686c20.jpg" border=0 width="134" height="194" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> My aunt Joyce ( Pike )</div> <div>  and Fred Wakeman </div> <div> on their wedding day. </div> <div> They lived on the</div> <div> corner of Nineveh Rd</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 262 WIDTH="395"><div> <IMG SRC="918ccc20.jpg" border=0 width="204" height="194" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Probably members of the British Legion fishing club. My dad Fred Lowe is on the left at the back and I think the man on the right at the back is George Westwood of Talbot St. Anybody recognise the others?</div> <bR> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="1070"><div> <IMG SRC="91cc8c70.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="199" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">Possibly the </div> <div> Legion bowls team</div> <div> taken at the rear </div> <div> of the Grapes in </div> <div> Bacchus Rd Fred Lowe</div> <div>  is second from the left</div> <div> and my grandad Albert Pike </div> <div> is second from the right.  </div> <div> Extreme left is Joe Hale </div> <div> and the man in the middle </div> <div> with the trilby is Arthur Hale </div> <div> ( no relation ) who used</div> <div>  to take the Boys Brigade. the man on the far right is George ?</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 253 WIDTH="395"><div> <IMG SRC="91e15c80.jpg" border=0 width="277" height="200" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The Cooper family ...41 ? Benson Rd. Harry,Gran,Emily and Barbara, they also had a son Trevor</div> <bR> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="1070"><div> <IMG SRC="920bdee0.jpg" border=0 width="189" height="238" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> My sister Sue Lowe </div> <div> and a friend,</div> <div> is it Joy Whittle? </div> <bR> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 365 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="965c7ee0.jpg" border=0 width="199" height="238" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Sue Lowe</div> <bR> <div>  and</div> <div>  </div> <div> Jane Rodgers </div> <bR> <div> at the top of </div> <bR> <div> the garden 18 </div> <bR> <div> Benson Rd. </div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="1070"><div> <IMG SRC="967ec5e0.jpg" border=0 width="236" height="350" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> A weekend </div> <div> in Backpool</div> <div> 1955?</div> <div> some names </div> <div> I can recall</div> <bR> <div> Barbara Cooper</div> <div> Emily Cooper</div> <div> Harry Bartlam</div> <div> Athur Lowe</div> <bR> <div> Anyone know </div> <div> the others?</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></U></div> <div> <U>  </U></div> <bR> <bR> <div> WILLIAMS' family of <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#330000" FACE="Arial" >(19?)Benson Road</FONT>. circa 1922.    <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >[</FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >25/08/07]</FONT></div> <div> <IMG SRC="89ff4620.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="354" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Back Row</div> <div> ..Len..</div> <div> .Harry...Albert...</div> <div> .Howard</div> <bR> <div> Middle Row....Jack..</div> <div> Cissie...Mabel</div> <bR> <div> Front Row.....Grace...Emily</div> <div> ...Doll(Doris)...Arthur...Edna</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>BENSON ROAD</B> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >05/10/06</FONT></div> <div> My mom Janet (still with us) grew up during the 1940s and 50s in <B>Benson Rd.</B> Her mother was Violet and her dad Eric <B>Whittle</B>- both long gone now I'm afraid but my mom has an older sister called <B>Maureen</B> and younger one called <B>Joy </B>who readers may remember. They all lived at the house right next to the <B>Wondervaults pub </B>(the end nearer the railway line) - in fact when I used to stay over I remember the sound of the voices and piano music coming through the walls at night. Unfortunately I can't remember the house number (44, 45 or 46?) as I was very young (4yrs old) when they moved out (to a posh council house in Harborne in 1965). On the recently-posted photographs of the railway station at Benson Rd on your site, if you look at the one at the top right taken at rail level I think you can see the upper stories of the houses and then the white front of the Wondervaults pub in the distant background, behind the railway lines and buildings. </div> <div> That block of houses in the triangle formed by Benson Rd, between the railway line and the pub were demolished and made way for a scrap yard and the Wondervaults (I think) temporarily became a DIY store. On a recent trip back (2005) I notice that the land (including the Wondervaults itself) is now occupied by a care home. </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>This photograph of 45 Benson Rd next to The Wonder Vaults pub </B></div> <div> <B>was taken by my dad </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B><U>John Rowe</U></B></FONT><B> in 1966/7 just before its demolition.</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="72fc82c0.jpg" border=0 width="200" height="300" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> We always had to approach the house through its back door by going up the entry (Grandad Whittle wouldn't allow us to use the front door!). The houses had deep cellars and a huge coal-fired range in the back kitchen. The front room was kept "for best". Some of my nan Violet's relatives (I think they were called Spillers) lived further up Benson Rd in much older houses the other side of the pub that seemed more like cottages and you had to approach them by going up through an alley. <I>I think </I>my great grandma lived further up on the opposite side of Benson Rd (or the next street down) for a while - they definitely were called <B>Spiller.</B> </div> <div> In the early 1960's I frequently visited my nan and grandad Whittle - from our flat in Lozells Rd we walked up past the Villa Cross and over the Soho Rd to descend down St Michael's Hill. I'll always remember the feeling of excitement of going to see Nan and Grandad - of course the highlight was the railway - a grand-stand view was to be had from the wall of the triangular communal back yard. I was held up by some friendly soul to peer forever at the shunters chugging about but also the expresses hurtling through. As mentioned I was only 4 when they moved out but I have such vivid and particularly fond memories of that time and the area. My nan (Violet Whittle) worked at a factory called Toogoods  which wasn't far (in toddler walking terms) from Benson Rd and she took me there now and again - as far as I remember it was actually built on wooden "stilts" on the railway embankment right next to the line into Birmingham. You had to get to it by climbing a set of stairs from street level. However, I'm sure a reader will correct me if my then toddler brain has confused matters. I also frequented the "Black Patch" with my nan. </div> <div> Finally I would be <B><U>genuinely interested to hear if anyone remembers the Whittles</U></B> or even me - a frequent visitor. </div> <div> Keep up the excellent work.  Mike Rowe <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>mikerowe44@ntlworld.com</U></FONT></div> <div> <B>PS</B> I now live in the North East (Hartlepool) but I was born in Dudley Rd <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFCC33" FACE="Arial" ><B>(City)</B> </FONT> Hospital and immediately became a resident of Lozells Rd until we moved onwards and upwards to Great Barr in the late 1960s.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> 03/03/06</div> <div> Hi again I am looking for any one who knows the Bull family from 22 Lees St also my mate Macca who lived in <B>Benson Road </B>and a girl we called "TEAPOT" also from <B>Benson Rd</B>.   Best wishes <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Dave Bull </FONT>Isle of Wight. </div> <div> Email: <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>watchet@hotmail.co.uk</U></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> BENSON ROAD  (Soho and Winson Green station)</div> <div>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0033FF" FACE="Arial" >CLICK HERE for other stations.</FONT></div> <div>  <A HREF="http://www.railaroundbirmingham.co.uk/Stations/soho_gwr.php" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.railaroundbirmingham.co.uk/St">http://www.railaroundbirmingham.co.uk/Stations/soho_gwr.php</A></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="721f4420.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="322" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Photo thanks to McJoseph 26/09/06 <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >The caption reads:</FONT></div> <div> <I><B>"A photograph of the Great Western Railway station at Soho & Winson Green. A train approaches on the line from Birmingham to Handsworth & Smethwick".</B></I><B> </B></div> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="1239" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 335 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="5a7fb400.jpg" border=0 width="507" height="320" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="867"><div> <IMG SRC="5b0f4400.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="320" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 395 WIDTH="353"><div> <IMG SRC="5ba5e110.jpg" border=0 width="350" height="273" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Ex GWR 2-6-0 No 7321 on a passenger at Soho and Winson Green in 1957</div> <div> Photo Copyright <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" > "D K.JONES collection" </FONT></div> <div> with thanks..</div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.cresselleyphotos.co.uk" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.cresselleyphotos.co.uk"><U>http://www.cresselleyphotos.co.uk</U></A></div> <bR> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="867"><div> 05/03/05</div> <div> <IMG SRC="5bc81f20.jpg" border=0 width="385" height="242" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Ex GWR 4-6-0 No 7900 "St Peters Hall" passing </div> <div> Soho and Winson Green signal</div> <div> box in 1956</div> <div> Photo Copyright <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" > "D K.JONES collection" </FONT></div> <div> with thanks.</div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.cresselleyphotos.co.uk" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.cresselleyphotos.co.uk"><U>http://www.cresselleyphotos.co.uk</U></A></div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <div> The photos are  of <B>Soho & Winson Green Station</B> of the G.W.R. The station buildings and signals are of pure G.W.R. type. The bridge in the distance carries Benson Road over the railway with the station entrance also there. Does anyone remember Nellie & Gladys who worked in the booking office there in the 1950's? I lived in Lodge Road from 1945 until 1961. </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> James Holloway   </div> <div> Email: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>james@gwr4111.freeserve.co.uk</U></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>BENSON ROAD  </B><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >15/01/03</FONT></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="1a2617b0.jpg" border=0 width="97" height="123" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <div> My mom lived at 42 <B>Benson Road </B>with my great gran, my grans name was Mrs Gilbert.  Then mom had me in 1955 and moved over the road to 1/37 Benson Road. My mothers name is Annie Gregory nee (Gilbert) my dads name was Harry Gregory.  I was born in   Dudley Road Hospital and I went to Benson Road School in 1960.</div> <div>  I can remember playing all kinds of games in the street it was safe in those days, you used to be able to stay out of a night and play without being afraid as all the moms used to sit on their doorsteps watching you as you played. I remember having a very long piece of thick elastic where their would be a girl at each end and you would have to twist around and jump trying not to fall over.</div> <div> .</div> <div> My dad used to drive the Lodge Road 96 bus, I can  remember mom taking me to go and meet him, we used to get on the bus and mom would get her money out, the conducter would say "put that back" then we would make our way home getting fish and chips on the way.  We used to live next door to the "Wonder Vault" pub and used the pub quite often living next door to it. I  remember standing outside the pub on bonfire night shouting (penny for the guy) with my friends Mandy and the twins Maxine andJulia I think their last name was Sadler.</div> <bR> <div> My dads aunt and uncle through adoption used to own Jacksons the greengrocers and mom used to work at the Black Eagle pub on Factory Road I would so dearly like to get in contact with any of the above people as now  my father is no longer with us it would be nice to see if anyone would remembers us.</div> <div> From <B>Anita</B> Cunniffe  nee <B>Gregory</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > Email: </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>mc012b3353@blueyonder.co.uk</U></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="1dbb9150.jpg" border=0 width="185" height="277" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Arial" ><B>BENSON  ROAD</B></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> This  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Arial" >PHOTOGRAPH </FONT>was<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>taken in Benson Road<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> sometime in the 1960s</div> <div> Does anyone recognise the little girl?</div> <bR> <div> <B>EMAIL ted.rudge@btinternet.com</B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> BENSON ROAD</div> <div> I was 5 when I arrived at Benson Road to live and was 13 when I left, I attended Benson Road and Handsworth New Road Schools between 1952 and 1961 before moving to the other side of town (Posh new council house for me Mom) </div> <div> We lived in one of the back-to-back houses. Our address was 1 back of 38 Benson Road, on a letter the address would have been interpreted as: 1/38 <B>Benson Road</B>. To the best of my knowledge there were 7 b-to-b houses in our part of Benson Road. Two either side of, and adjoining the Wonder Vaults with a central entry to reach the back and three forming part of a terrace block across the road opposite the Vaults. One having a central entry and ours the entry to the side on the adjoining wall to a small shop owned by a lady named Doris. The Wonder Vaults is remembered only as a large White pub on the flat bit of Benson Road between Bacchus Road and the railway bridge. The facade and interior is loosely remember but the Outdoor, frequented very regular for a little packet of cheese and biscuits, is remembered well. I also played with the children of the pub. </div> <div> I remember the Soap Hole well this is where you spotted your LMS locos<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF33" FACE="Arial" >(Vittoria Street Smethwick)</FONT> however I was a GWR man so it was a little yard opposite Soho and Winson Green railway station <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF33" FACE="Arial" >(in Benson Road)</FONT> that I frequented called <B>"Allens Yard".</B> Does anybody remember that ruddy great dog that used to put the fear of god in us when we went passed the back gate. O Happy days. </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Soho and Winson Green Railway Station was tended by a lady called Bessy. </FONT>By <B>Ged Rutter</B> 25/04/02</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> ****************************************</div> <div> To the left of the school past Allens Road was an odd triangular shaped court yard with a passageway leading to Allen's Road. This courtyard had open railings on one side the other side of the railings was the Great Western Railway (GWR).</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >It was a great treat and a spectacle to see the great King Class locos come thundering past billowing stream everywhere.</FONT>By <B>Stuart Waldron </B>25/04/02</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>***************************************</B></div> <div> BENSON ROAD SCHOOL</div> <div> Head mistress in the early 1950's was Miss Dumealow.</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT>(Miss Dumealow was the senior teacher when I was there1945-50 and Miss Legge was the Head.(<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Ted Rudge</FONT>)</div> <div> Toilets were outside the main building, a lean to affair against the boundary wall to the left of the school.</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >There were no playing fields so any sports activity entailed a long walk to a park somewhere near Rookery Road (approx 1.5miles each way).</FONT>by <B>Stuart Waldron </B>25/04/02</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *****************************************</div> <div> Benson Road School.  Miss Dumealow  as far as I know, was never head mistress during the early 1950s , she used to take topclass in the juniors, I know that for a fact as I was in her class during my last year. Miss Legge was head mistress when I started and still head mistress when I left in 1955<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000080" FACE="Arial" >. </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >by Keith Bird 11/05/02</FONT></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> ******************************************</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Benson Road School had an annex in Musgrave Road (church hall next to the church) </FONT>by <B>Ged Rutter</B> 25/04/02</div> <bR> <div> <I>*********************************************************************************************************</I></div> <div> <I>BELLFIELD ROAD</I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><I>  </I></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >26/06/03</FONT></div> <bR> <div> So glad we found this site. Both my parents are from Winson green dad (Raymond Williams) was born in <B>Aberdeen St, </B>and mom ( june wood) was born in <B>Bellefield Rd. </B>If anyone remembers them please get in touch. Mom would love to hear from anyone with <U>new's of Dorothy Palmer</U> who's married name is Kane..</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>MANDY GOT LOST </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >(03/07/03)</FONT></div> <div> Even though I was born and bred in Solihull, I spent most of my childhood in  Winson green. My parents where both born and raised their, Dad Raymond Williams lived in Aberdeen st, and Mom June Wood lived in Bellefield road. We would often visit my grandparents and great grandparents they lived in Bellefield Ave. 1964 we were moving house, my parents dropped me off at my nanny williams so they could shop for furniture, I told my nan I wanted the toilet, and as it was outside I decided instead of the back yard, I would try to find my mom and dad, I walked on to <B>Dudley Road,</B> into Winson green road, where two boys found me, They took me a little way but got fed up with me so passed me onto a lady in <B>Black Patch Park</B>. Instead of taking me to the police station, she took me home to feed me and then took me to <B>Thornhill Road police station.</B> My parents had by this time returned to my nan's and raised the alarm that I was missing. 6 hrs later I was reunited with them. The way they left me to how I returned was a little diffrent. I had wet myself, my hair was matted and I HAD DONE NOTHING BUT CRY. When I was asked for my address I kept saying Solihull. I think the Police thought I had walked a very long way or I was mad. I often think about how lucky I was, can you imagin in this day and age a 3 year old child going missing and being found just hungry and tired....</div> <div> MANDY SMITH <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >  Email: </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>smthmarky@aol.com</U></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I>**********************************************************************************************************************</I></div> <bR> <div> <B>BLACKFORD STREET </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >05/01/06</FONT></div> <div> I grew up in Winson Green with my freinds 'The Bennies' of <B>Blackford Street</B>, we are still in touch, but have moved. </div> <div> We have many stories of Black Patch Park and many more. </div> <div> KAYLA REES BANGA<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > Email: </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>kaylarees@hotmail.com</U></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I>**********************************************************************************************************************</I></div> <div> <B>BRYANT STREET </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >12/08/08</FONT></div> <div> I have been looking at the website and it brought back memories. My family lived in Bryant Street from 1932 until approx. 1969.   I left there in 1951.  My family were the Higgins family at 11 Bryant Street. I had five sisters and two brothers. </div> <div> I would very much like to leave a message on the website to see if anyone remembers us. </div> <div> F.J. Higgins (Frank) <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >   </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >f2higgins@btinternet.com</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>BRYANT STREET </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" >02/02/08</FONT></div> <div>  I noticed an entry about someone living in <B>44 Bryant Street</B> , I was born in that house on the <B>18/02/1962</B> and I lived there until I was about 9 years old, I used to go to Foundry Road school. I have very happy memories of this house my mom and dad where the best they made me and my two sister's Susan and Jackie very happy. I remember that house like I left if yesterday. I remember the cafe at the top of the road he was a black man and he used to have a boxer dog that used to sit on the step. Does anyone remember the toy shop on the opposite corner, and the chemist further along by the entry it was a old chemist like something from the Victorian age with its high counter there are lots of shop I can remember like the butchers over the road nearer to the pub the man in there had ginger hair and a lump on his forehead and the sawdust on the floor. Also the haberdashery further along with the bell under the floor that used to go off when you walked in. My mom used to buy our ribbo</div> <div> Sandra Coates<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >   Email: </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>sandramariacoates@yahoo.co.uk</U></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>BRYANT STREET</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#003300" FACE="Arial" ><B>   </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >18/03/04</FONT></div> <div> I used to live in <B>44 Bryant St  </B>I believe that some of the houses in <B>Bryant Street</B> were originally built for the prison warders who for some reason didn't want them and they were handed over to the council. John Stamp lived with his parents in  No2 and the Peter Higgins lived just down the road on the opposite side to us. The gardens at the back of our houses came about because of a storm, apparently the fences were blown down and permission given for anyone that wanted to cultivate a garden, that is why there was a path between the back yards and the gard<IMG SRC="4265ec80.jpg" border=0 width="350" height="200" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0">ens except ours  44 because we were the end of the block. The railway run at the bottom of the garden with a high wall and a long drop down. A neighbour a few doors away (I can't remember her name) had a husband who was killed on the railway line, he was a signal box operator and was walking home when hit by a train</div> <div> One set of grandparents lived in <B>Little Peel Street</B> and my Grandmoher and 2 aunts lived in <B>Aberdeen Street</B>. They were the <B>Masons and the Greens.</B> All my family were known down the Green as we called it. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Frances Sheen ( Nee Mason) </FONT>Email: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>Tfshen@aol.com</U></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>BRYANT STREET </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#003300" FACE="Arial" ><B>  </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >28/07/03</FONT></div> <div> My name is Alan Sorrell and I was born at number 64 in October 1935 I remember my days there with affection it seemed to me there was always something happening (or was that my imagination). I lived there until I married Janet Blackwell in 1956 when we moved to<B> Marroway Street </B>and then to Tamworth. </div> <div> <B>Bryant St</B> ran from <B>Winson Green Rd</B> to <B>Clinton St</B> that joined <B>Magdala St </B>and that went to Winson Green Road forming a large square, this was bisected by<B> Blackford St</B> .  We kids worked out (rightly or wrongly) that the distance round this small square was 250yards and if we ran round this 8 times we did a mile.  Does anyone remember a very bad accident that happened on Winson Green Road at the junction with Aberdeen St  when old Mrs Cook was hit by a Jeep driven by an American soldier (who was later charged with manslaughter) and killed this would have been sometime during 1942 or 1943 during the blackout. I can still remember the funeral when we all had to pay our last respects. At the corner of Bryant St. and Winson Green Rd. was <B>Bradley's Coffee House</B> at the bottom of the street was <B>Bryant Bedsteads</B> and that ran the full length of ClintonStreet. There where 2 policemen (Mr. Allen & Mr. Bullock) who lived in the street and a couple of prison warders. I remember on occasions going outside the prison when an execution was to take place to see the death notice pinned on the gates, I remember a large car (a Rolls I think) arriving and as the Bell began tolling 9.am a lady dressed in a fur coat would get out, drop to her knees and pray I think her name was Mrs Van ?????? something, my dad said she went to every execution in the country to pray.</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Alan Sorrell  </FONT>E:mail <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>alan@sorrell.fslife.co.uk</U></FONT> </div> <bR> <bR> <div> BRYANT STREET <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >26/10/04</FONT></div> <div> I have been looking for information about a <B>Charles Bryant who owned Bryant Bedsteads</B> about a possible family history link and was delighted to find it mentioned on your very informative website. </div> <div> <B><U>Any information about the family would be appreciated.</U></B></div> <div> Monica Couchman<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >  Email: </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>monicacouchman@btopenworld.com</U></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I>*****************************************************************************************************************************</I></div> <div> CAPE STREET <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >18/04/08</FONT></div> <div> Hi all. My Greatgrand parents, George and Alice Edinborough and their family lived at 4 Arley Villas, Cape Street, Winson Green from the 1920's to the late 1950's and I was wondering if anybody might remember them. Many thanks.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Ian Edinborough</FONT>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>ianedinborough@btinternet.com</U></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#262626" FACE="Arial" >CAPE STREET </FONT> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >06/03/08                  </FONT>1950s OUTING</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="99dc2490.jpg" border=0 width="450" height="329" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <bR> <div> Photo of a local outing on a coach about 40 men women and children of all ages and it looks like the mid 1950's. I don't know more than it was a local outing and my dad Jeff Mossop (who used to live Cape Street)</div> <div>  is in the first row bottom left in a dark suit and I think his best frined (George? hall) is directly behind him.  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Jacqueline Jensen formerly Pillar</FONT>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>jacpillar@hotmail.com</U></FONT></div> <div> This photo may have been taken at Trentham Gardens see Eva Road for a similar photo. Ted<FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#262626" FACE="Arial" >CAPE STREET </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >07/09/07           </FONT>Photos thanks to<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > Betty Dale nee Brotherton </FONT> Email<FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" > </FONT><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#330099" FACE="Arial" >betty.dale@tiscali.co.uk</FONT></div> <div> <I> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="1158" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 379 WIDTH="300"><bR> <div> <IMG SRC="8ad8dd70.jpg" border=0 width="141" height="215" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="8af96d90.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="217" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> My Parents getting engaged accompanied by the aspidistra at 32 Cape Street </div> <div> They were Married @ ST Johns Church  Ladywood in 1922</div> <bR> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="839"><div> <IMG SRC="8ab90170.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="279" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> My Granddad & family, My Mom 2nd left.</div> <div> Taken in Carlisle Street Winson Green about 1907.</div> <div> Their Mother died in1906.Granddad brought them all up</div> <div> on his own. They moved to 32 Cape Street & my parents</div> <div> took over the tenancy  when they married in 1922</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 366 WIDTH="300"><div> <IMG SRC="8a32c1c0.jpg" border=0 width="300" height="284" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Taken at 32 Cape Street, Rex the dog with the gang</div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="839"><bR> <div> Betty and June the shelter was built on the bomb crater. </div> <div> The bomb fell immediately behind our house 32 Cape Street.</div> <div> If it had hit a few yards on I would not be writing this. </div> <div> Thomas Buildings, my first little house is among the the ones</div> <div> you can see behind us. What a place to have our photo taken EH?</div> <div> <IMG SRC="8a5edfa0.jpg" border=0 width="493" height="250" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 373 WIDTH="300"><div> Victory parade in Cape Street<IMG SRC="8a94d5e0.jpg" border=0 width="333" height="350" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="839"><div> <IMG SRC="8a8a7190.jpg" border=0 width="423" height="281" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> 1950 BETTY-----with Betty's niece JOY</div> <div> and Betty's brother Raymond</div> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></I></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>CAPE STREET </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >15/08/05</FONT></div> <div> Stumbled on your site by chance,I lived in Cape St - 1947/1965.Could you make any use of old photographs of the place, mostly family shots? Keep up the work,it was a pleasure to scroll through the pages.</div> <div> Stevan Ryall - once of 1 Arley Villas ,Cape Street,Birmingham 18 - a very long time ago.</div> <div> Email: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>stevan.ryall@ntlworld.com</U></FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U>CORONATION DAY 1953 IN CAPE STREET   </U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >09/10/07</FONT></div> <div> <U> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="943" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 226 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="8df66dc0.jpg" border=0 width="358" height="220" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="8e189dc0.jpg" border=0 width="393" height="220" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 230 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="8e366d40.jpg" border=0 width="358" height="212" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="572"><div> <IMG SRC="8e566e00.jpg" border=0 width="358" height="224" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 226 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="8e766d60.jpg" border=0 width="358" height="214" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="8ebbadc0.jpg" border=0 width="442" height="220" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></U></div> <div> Photographs of the Coronation Day fancy dress parade Cape Street and the party in the Co-op hut Dudley Rd, I can recognise a few faces but have no names, I was just 6 at the time. I've got more if you want them but they all very simular.</div> <div> Strange to look back at the birth of the Elizabethan Age which held such hope after the years of war, rebuilding and rationing<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#333333" FACE="Courier New" >.</FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >6 Photos with thanks to </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>stevan.ryall@ntlworld.com</U></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I>*****************************************************************************************************************************</I></div> <div> CARLISLE STREET <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >27/04/08</FONT></div> <div> I went into the 'Streets' section looking for Carlisle Street (where I was born and lived for 24 years) and was disappointed to see no entries at all, so here is the first one.</div> <div> Carlisle Street ran from Norman Street finishing at the wall of Dudley Road Hospital. Just before this it was crossed by Lansdowne Street, forming little Carlisle Street at the top end.</div> <div> My Mom, Dad and 4 kids lived at No. 6 (the poor end), 6 of us living in a 2 bedroom, one living room, back-to-back house with the loo up the backyard which you had to walk through the street, and up the entry to access. These toilets were located in a block of 8, which all the families in the 8 back to back houses and the houses up the yard (sheer luxury-they had small gardens) all had to share. We had no kitchen, just a Belfast sink (cold water only) at the top of the cellar steps where we had to wash. Friday night was bath night, in a tin bath in front of the fire. Later on, we went to the public washing baths in Bacchus Road, and then Heath Street.</div> <div> My Mom and Dad were called Lily and Fred Bishop, and my two sisters' names are Lily and Brenda, my brother's name was Fred or Freddie and my name is Dorothy or Dot.</div> <div> My grandparents lived at No. 9 and they were called Lily and Bill Pickering. My grandfather was a good piano player and kids in the late 1940's, early 1950's would often stand outside his house just to listen to him play. We had great Christmas parties when we would roll back the rugs, push the furniture out of the way and sing songs round the piano and, later on, play records and jive to the early rock and roll music.</div> <div> In the 1930's my grandmother was well known in the road for being called on to 'lay out the dead'.</div> <div> During the 2nd World War, the house that we lived in had the cellar reinforced so it could be used as an air raid shelter. I have very early memories of sitting on my mother's knee on a chair down the cellar during air raids, with other families from the street. During one raid, some houses at the bottom end of Norman Street, (close to the hospital wall and behind houses in Carlisle Street) were hit, breaking windows in many of the houses close by. My mother said, after that raid, my brother, who was only young at the time, suffered from nervous asthma for a number of years.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="9c6f45e0.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="350" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> There was a pub on the corner </div> <div> "<B>The Cottage of</B> <B>Content</B> " with a shop next to it run by a lady called something like Clara or Clarice Rose. Over the road was another small shop (which was actually in Norman Street) called Beamans run by a wonderful old lady, Mrs. Beaman, whose only child, apparently, was killed at 11 a.m. on Armistice Day right at the end of the 1st World War. There were two other shops in the street, one run by the Houghtons family and the other by (last owner that I know of ) Mrs Fieldhouse. At the side of this shop was a passageway which led to a garage. </div> <bR> <div> "THE COTTAGE OF CONTENT"looking down Norman Street towards Winson Green Road<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> We had great fun, playing in the street (very little traffic in those days), on the bomb site at the bottom of Norman Street, playing tracking in the alley ways that ran behind the shops on Winson Green Road or, at weekends and school holidays, in Summerfield Park. Like many other contributors to your site, I remember the boy being struck by lightning whilst sheltering with his bike in the park. </div> <div> We had unbelievable freedom to roam!</div> <div> In Carlisle Street, about half way up, on the left hand side as you face the hospital wall, were some, for then, modern semi-detached houses, which we called the new houses. My father, who was a bricklayer, helped to build those houses and, the last time I went round the 'old area' , although it has changed out of all recognition, they were still there. </div> <div> I went to City Road Infants School, then Dudley Road Junior School, back to City Road Secondary Modern School and finally, Aston Commercial School.</div> <div> My first job was in the jewellery quarter and I remember walking down Winson Green Road, past the warders' houses and the prison to catch the bus in Lodge Road.</div> <div> For a time, in the early 60's, I worked at Bryants, furniture makers, in Bryant Street, off Winson Green Road. By that time the company had been taken over by Slumberland Bedding but one of the Bryant family's sons (Graham) was still involved in the company.</div> <div> I remember lots of people who lived in the road, to name but a few, the Kirkoffs, two Morris families (one of whose mother's maiden name was Edna Rook and she was very good to my grandfather when he was widowed), the Rudges, the Harpers, the Parkers, the Allens, the Lissimores, the Barlows, the Peaces.</div> <div> Very few of us had any money but we were mostly happy, people were honest and neighbourly and, although I wouldn't want to live in the conditions we did then, I have lots of wonderful memories.</div> <div> Dot Lane nee Bishop <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >dotlane@hotmail.com</FONT></div> <div> <I>+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++</I></div> <bR> <div> <B>CHISWELL ROAD </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >21/01/08</FONT></div> <div> I am looking for the relatives of my late mother <B>Florence Lillian Gill </B>who married my father William <B>Green</B> in 1941, she died in 1949 when I was two. I believe she had one brother called Alf who lived in <B>Chiswell Street</B> and a sister called Betty who lived on Unett Street, there is one further sister who's name we don't have. </div> <div> I believe my mother worked at GKN Nettlefolds.</div> <div> I would be really grateful if <B>anyone knows the whereabouts</B> of the descendents of any of the above.</div> <div> Many thanks for your help,</div> <div> Les Green EMAIL:<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>landpgreenies@btinternet.com</U></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>CHISWELL ROAD </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >17/08/04</FONT></div> <div> I was born in Winson Green - <B>Chiswell Road </B>(parents - Stanley & Hilda Greaves) but lived 20 years in <B>Coplow Street - Ladywood.</B> When I got married I lived at 46 <B>Tudor Street</B> Winson Green and I married Valerie Benson ( parents - George & Emma Benson) who lived in Tudor Street next to the <B>Malt Shovel Pub</B> and take it from me it was '<B>The Best' Pub in Winson Green</B>. My wife and I still say the early 60's was a great time.</div> <div> The Malt Shovel had the best football team run by Lenny Ward. We did the tote Sunday night at the Peel Pub and Horace Timbrull and Eric Hatfield both played for the Malt Shovel Pub</div> <div> We use to go to The Tower Ball Room with Pat Roach.</div> <bR> <div> All the best to Old Mates.</div> <div> Dennis George Greaves   E:mail   <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >deborahg@calm.wa.gov.au</FONT></div> <div> Left Winson Green May 1974 for  WESTERN AUSTRALIA</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I>**********************************************************************</I></div> <div> <B>CHISWELL ROAD  </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >23/12/04</FONT></div> <div> I was born in Chiswell Road in 1932, but moved to Selly Oak about 1935. I was there a few months ago but find I do not remember a thing.  John Adderley   Email: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>johnadderley@btinternet.com</U></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <I>*************************************************************************************************************************</I></div> <div> <B>CUTHBERT ROAD</B></div> <div> My family lived on the corner of <B>Cuthbert Road</B> and <B>Winson Green Road</B>, my parents moving there from <B>Heath Street</B> in 1922 and bringing up 8 children, the first born in 1923 and the last in 1940. My Father was the last to move out when the houses were demolished.All children attended <B>Dudley Road School</B> as Infants and then on to George Dixon's Grammar (3) Barford Road (3)City Road Girls (2). The family is now scattered to New Zealand, Wirral, Devon, Essex, Leicestershire, and three still in Birmingham. When we meet we remember Winson Green, a Site such as yours is a boon. </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>Does anyone have a photograph of St Cuthbert's Church</B></div> <div> <B>From</B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><B>: </B></FONT><B>John Brown </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Arial" ><B>Email</B></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >: </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>johnsbrown@onetel.net.uk</U></FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <I>****************************************</I></div> <div> <I>CUTHBERT ROAD </I><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><I>10/08/08</I></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="a408bbc0.jpg" border=0 width="395" height="700" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> I was born in No. <B>24 Cuthbert Rd</B>. in 1943, to Norris Samuel Francis OWEN & Irene May Jeffery. My grandparents being James Henry Owen & Frances Elizabeth (nee Alcock). </div> <div> <B>Does anyone know where "7 Rosina Place", Cuthbert Rd was</B>, as my father (01/06/1913 - 24/12/1975); late uncle, Reginald Harold Oughton (08/02/1911 - 01/12/1926) & late aunt, Elsie Louisa Oughton Owen (04/03/1901 - 1986 in Canada), were all born there.</div> <div> Aunt Elsie married an Ernest Haycox, (Parish Church Bishop Latimer, B'ham in 1922) & had a daughter Joan, (17/01/1923 - present day, in Canada, with her extended family of 30+).</div> <div> There were also family (Alcock's) living in Bellfield Rd. </div> <div> A number of my family also have links with ABERDEEN ST., namely :- </div> <div> No. 101: - my GG'dad James Alcock died there (25/8/1898); </div> <div> No. 103: - 1881 census, my G'father James Henry Owen lived there; </div> <div> No. 112: - in 1900 when James married, he had moved to this address & </div> <div> No. 139: - Bernard George Owen lived there then he married Minnie Howell on 22/3/1913 @ St. Cuthbert's Church. Minnie Howell (who married Bernard George Owen), was from 91 Winson Green Rd.                Sometime pre 1947, mom, dad & myself had moved to 74 Lozells St. Lozells, (mom's home, pre marriage). I now live in Burntwood, Staffordshire.</div> <div> One story I can recall that dad told us, was when he moved the "Greenhouse" from Cuthbert Rd. to Lozells St. "<I><B>BY HAND</B></I>, on a cart" without any of the glass being broken.The greenhouse still stood in 1975 when dad died. </div> <div> I would welcome any info any reader may have on the OWEN, ALCOCK or HOWELL families. </div> <div> Regards & many thanks, <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Brian Owen  </FONT> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >brian.owen@cdcc.org.uk </FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> <I>CUTHBERT ROAD</I></div> <div> I have many fond memories of Winson Green. My wife Carol was born in Barford Road and attended Barford Road school. As for myself I lived in Cuthbert Road an can remember going shopping on the flat and going to the "Grove Cinema" one week and the "ABC Edgbaston" the next or if we felt like a change we would go to "The Lyric" (Ladywood).Going back to the shops do you remember the bacon shop that used to be just passed the park on the opposite side of Dudley Road.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >by Patrick Garland</FONT></div> <div> I do not recall the shop Patrick, does anyboy else remember it??</div> <div> <B>**************************************************************************************************************************</B></div> <div> CLAREMONT ROAD  <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >25/11/04  </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF00" FACE="Arial" >(just over the border but near enough)</FONT></div> <div> I WAS BORN AT 30 CLAREMONT ROAD (A ROOMING HOUSE) OWNED FUNNILY ENOUGH BY A MRS CLAIRMONT WHOSE SON WENT ON TO BE MY STEP FATHER.</div> <div> WE LEASED THE HOUSE FROM MR BROUGH FROM BROUGHS ON THE CORNER OF SOUTH ROAD AND I REMEBER THAT IT HAD 39 ROOMS. HE HAD A VERY LARGE FAMILY APPARENTLY. I REMEMBER THAT MY DAD USED DRINK IN THE WATT PUB AND WORKED AT RABONES</div> <div> TIM MCALLISTER  Email: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>TIM-MCAL.T21@BTINTERNET.COM</U></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>************************************************************************************************************************</B></div> <div> DON STREET<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >18/05/07</FONT></div> <div> Remembering the days of the Bookies,I recall the first one,he was the local milkman,name Mr Clackett from Peel St,he drove a pony & trap cart,delivering milk from a churn on one side a pint or quart,and placed your Bets in the other.In later years became licenced and opened betting shop in foundry rd/</div> <div> james turner st corner.</div> <div> The bookies in those days had lookouts,watching for the police,and I remember the day that they raid the bookies in our Don St,I heard the lookout Wally Bright shout to the old lady the cops are coming. The police arrived in a open top car,and one of them was carrying a bucket,they called Mrs Peck open the doors,but she would not let them in, they smashed the door open to enter,with the old lady screaming leave me alone.</div> <div> Later I found out the reason for the bucket,it was cement to seal up a letter box in the entry were people used to drop their bets in. The Bookmaker was named Ernie Hunter from Devonshire St.</div> <div> Looking back it reminded me of the {The KeystoneCops} at the Saturday Morning Flicks</div> <bR> <div> Once again happy times Best wishes to all on your Website</div> <div> Colin Mills<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > E-mail </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#3333FF" FACE="Arial" >cmills9@blueyonder.co.uk</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> DON STREET</div> <div> I was born in <B>Don Street</B>  we lived right opposite a scrap yard, and on the corner was a pub called <B>"The Don"</B>.The local sweet shop was just on <B>Lodge Road</B> called Goodacres any one remember it?  </div> <div> I also remember All Saints Hospital and recall the patients would at times jump over the wall to escape.</div> <div> The Recreation Ground (Rec) in Musgrave Road and the gully that lead to Talbot Street were places we played for many an hour. </div> <div> I would love to here from anyone who knew me <B>Janet Diane</B> Hunt (nee <B>Cantell</B>) please Email me on: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>david@diehunt.fsnet</U></FONT></div> <bR> <div> 15/09/03</div> <div> Does any one remember any McNallys that lived at 39 <B>Don Street</B> in the 50s they are relations and that was the last known adress we had, they are uncles of my mother who needs to make contact any info would be great  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Siobhan </FONT>Email: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>siobhan61v@hotmail.com</U></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> ***********************</div> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="1fe2ccd0.png" border=0 width="300" height="205" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="20090f10.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="241" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> <B>The DON</B> public house corner <B>Don Street and Lodge Road</B> and group of the Don's customers</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >man on extreme right of the group is Mr Alf Cratmail, he used to live with my mother, me and my sister Sheila at 16 Devonshire Street, he was known in the area as a tail biter, people used to bring their dog's to have the tail's nipped. </FONT>(The Don photo from Mc Joseph) </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Story and group photo from </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Roderick Scott   </FONT><U>Email</U><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><U> </U></FONT><U>roderick@scott3650.fsnet.co.uk </U>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >04/03/03</FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *****************************</div> <div> My name is Hazel Nunn (nee Clarke) I went to All Saints School and then onto Handworth New Road we lived at 22 <B>Don Street</B>. My mother (Ethel Cantell) opened a cafe in Bacchus Road 1957 - 1958. I have a brother Kenneth Cantell & sister Diane Cantell. I was friends with Ronald Smith "smudge" & Raymond Smith whose parents owned the pub on the corner of Don Street [THE DON].  Also, June Savory, Vera Tapp, Jean Whitehouse and Patricia Bailey. Would love to hear from any of them please Email: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="mailto:julie.nunn@ntlworld.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:julie.nunn@ntlworld.com"><U>julie.nunn@ntlworld.com</U></A></FONT></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> ****************************</div> <div> The pub opposite the asylum was called the "Don" it was on the corner of Don Street and Lodge Road near</div> <div>  Chris Featherstones the butcher --<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >by Danny Clawley</FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> *****************************</div> <div> <B>DON STREET   </B> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >19/01/04</FONT></div> <div> I'd be very interested in anyone with any recollections of <B>Harriet Heath</B> who lived in <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Arial" ><B>Don Street</B>. </FONT></div> <div> I'm researching her husband <B>John Joseph Heath</B> who died in the Battle of the Somme in 1916, while serving with the Birmingham Pals. </div> <div> She went on to remarry, becoming <B>Harriet WHITEHOUSE.  </B>Her son, my grandad <B>Charlie Heath</B> wrote this letter to my Mom before he died which triggered my interest. He had just read Kathleen Dayus' famous book 'All My Days':</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <U>Grandads letter </U></div> <div> "I was born in 1911, and my father was killed in that war, in the Battle of the Somme in 1916. My mother was left with 5 children: Auntie Kay, Uncle George, Uncle Bill, Uncle Tommy, and of course myself (age 5). (She re-married later as you know) So you can imagine the hard times being with us the same as Kathleen Dayus the author depicts - they certainly were! We as a family never went Hop-picking - thank God! But we knew of it and many families in our area were quite familiar with the proceedings related to it. I do remember, bread and lard, and bread and dripping and fish and chips for 3d. We used to get a penny on a Monday and 2d on a Saturday from our Mother's pension, and run anyone's errands for a few coppers. With the 2d on a Saturday we used to go to the afternoon matinee at Winson Green Picture Palace and we used to think it wonderful and terrifically exciting as kids, but if we spent any of the 2d we'd had it, couldn't go in. I remember crying on one occasion, because I'd bought a pennyworth of shrimps, and one of my DAD'S army mates gave me 2d to go in." </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Simon Fielding</FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >  Email: </FONT><U>simonharveyfielding@yahoo.co.uk</U>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >19/01/04</FONT></div> <div> see story Page for <B>John Joseph Heath WW1 record</B></div> <div> <B>********************************************************************************************************************************</B></div> <div> <B>DOVER STREET</B></div> <div> I used to live in Hockley on Dover Street but I believe from what my Aunt says that it is all gone now, I know that St. Chrysastums Church ( I don't know if that is spelt correctly)<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF33" FACE="Arial" >( St. Chrysostom) </FONT>has gone and I remember Bates and Goodes right on the corner could it still be there? and the little sweetshop run by Miss Webb a funny little old dear and then there was Miles fish and chip shop <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFF33" FACE="Arial" >(Park Road).</FONT> I must tell you that since having found this web site I have remembered so much.</div> <div> My Husband and I and our daughter have been back to England 3 times my Husband thinks its absolutely great and wants to know so much about everything. While looking at your pictures of the Winson Green area I</div> <div> was showing him the main entrance to the prison he couldn't imagine living that close to a prison I was very familiar with it because my Dad used to work for the Great Wester Railway very close to All Saint's</div> <div> Church and he used to make deliveries to the prison and sometimes I would travel with him on these journeys. Well I mustn't ramble on, I don't know if you knew Dorothy Marshall and remember Miss Hogarth a</div> <div> teacher from Handsworth New Road School. </div> <div> by Rita and Ken Moor</div> <div> ******************************************************************************************************************************</div> <div> <B>DEVONSHIRE AVENUE </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#EEEEEE" FACE="Arial" >09/08/07</FONT></div> <div> My name is Glenn Burford and used to live at 19 Devonshire Avenue from 1960 to 1967, and on reading about the train crash which took the life of my cousin Wayne Dandy decided to contact you to see if you have any contacts who went to Benson Road School from 1965 . I am now 47 and live in north wales. My father is Alan Burford and my mother is Pauline Burford nee Farnell of Lees Street. Email:<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0033FF" FACE="Arial" >glenn.burford1@btinternet.com</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>DEVONSHIRE AVENUE,</B> contained the best houses in the area (in my childhood thoughts) with gardens at the front on the railway side, a short distance in length that lead down a short steep hill to Musgrave Road.</div> <div> by Ted Rudge</div> <bR> <div> DEVONSHIRE AVENUE</div> <div> I used to live in Devonshire Avenue and my Nan (Lottie Farnell) lived round the corner 8/113 or something like that -  my mom will be thrilled when she sees some of the photos. I attended Benson Road school until we moved to North Wales in 1966 when I was 8. I remember going up the gulley to school and playing in the rec. Thanks once again for a great site.<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Adrian Burford     </FONT>Email: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>adrian@aaburford.fsnet.co.uk</U></FONT></div> <bR> <div> *********************************************************************************************************************</div> <div> <B>DEVONSHIRE STREET </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >14/07/07</FONT></div> <div> I was born on 13 Sep 1959 Martin K Sankey at <B>189 Devonshire Street.</B></div> <div> My Mother is Florence M Venables (<B>Mary</B> Venables she didn't use her first name much).</div> <div> My father is George W K Sankey.</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>MY Dads FAMILY</B>.</div> <div> Born 11th June 1931 George W K Sankey, parents Wilfred George Sankey married to Florence May Sankey (Bradnock). They lived at 1 back of 7 Norton Street, with brothers Ray and Les (Les married Margaret Venables my moms sister).</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>MY Mothers FAMILY.</B></div> <div> Her father (my Grandfather) was Fred Venables, married to Florrie Emily Venables (Robinson). they had 6 children, Francise / Fred / Rone / Florence (Mary) / Margaret (Married Les Sankey) and Vera (worked at the R.E.A.L.). They lived at 189 Devonshire Street.</div> <bR> <div> When my mother Florence (Mary) Venables parents past away, my mother  looked after her brothers and sisters, then married my father on 31 March 1956 at ST Chrysostoms Church,</div> <div> They lived at 189 Devonshire Street, for 6 more years Then came me Martin Kenneth Sankey 1959, then my sister Tina Sankey 1960, Soon after they moved to Lichfield Staffordshire,1962</div> <bR> <div> I have seen some old photos so I will try and get them to send to this site,</div> <div> Martin K Sankey  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#262626" FACE="Arial" >Email:</FONT> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#333399" FACE="Arial" >mart@ks1309.fsnet.co.uk</FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>DEVONSHIRE STREET </B>01/06/07</div> <div> I have just come across your remarkable web site.</div> <div> I was born 27 September 1938 to George and Emily Hoare at <B>4 back 21 Devonshire Street</B>; my father was a Jewellers Porter. I would very much <B>welcome any information</B> on this area of the street and its residents .Your site extracts from Kellys Directories indicate that 40 years or so earlier there were shops at 13, 22,23, and 24 so the chances are they were still shops up to the 1940’s?</div> <div> Brian Hoare<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >   Email </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0033FF" FACE="Arial" >brianandmavis@btinternet.com</FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>DEVONSHIRE STREET </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" ><B>21/03/07</B></FONT></div> <div> I'm Doing my family tree and believe that a Robinson family lived at <B>1</B><B>73</B><B> Devonshire street</B> and possibly <B>169 Devonshire Street</B> from mid 1800's to early 1900s.The family is John Robinson and his wife was Amelia Robinson with several kids.</div> <div> Does anyone have any information about them at all?</div> <div> I would be very grateful if they have.</div> <div> Regards <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Gary Robinson</FONT>.  Email: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>therobinsons7@btinternet.com</U></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>DEVONSHIRE STREET corner of DEVONSHIRE AVENUE  </B> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >27/01/05</FONT></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>A TOMMY HARPER COACH  PARTY From?</B></div> <div> <B>GOING TO?</B></div> <div> <B><IMG SRC="92b58630.jpg" border=0 width="600" height="355" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> LET US KNOW IF YOU  RECOGNISE ANYONE</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Tommy Harpers Betting Shop 1960s   Devonshire Street</B></div> <div>                <IMG SRC="57165900.jpg" border=0 width="613" height="400" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="57269900.jpg" border=0 width="361" height="400" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> Same  Address  1901 ????</div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> We believe the photo shows Richard and</div> <div> Isabella Barratt, with their son Richard.</div> <div>  Richard's parents, Charles and Maria, kept a grocer's shop at 140 Devonshire St</div> <div> (Later this would have been Jacksons on the corner of Devonshire Street and Kent Street North)<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <div> <B>The shop in the picture we think is at 131 Devonshire Street.</B> </div> <div> Richard's occupation in the 1901 Census is given as (Sergeant) Greengrocer,and we believe the photo to date from <B>1901</B>. We don't really know what the</div> <div> (sergeant) means, but we do know that Isabella and Richard junior were born in Gibraltar, which may suggest that Richard senior was in the Army.</div> <bR> <div> Richard and his family emigrated back to Gibraltar in the early 1900s: someof his children, however, came back to Britain.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="5a6c21a0.png" border=0 width="194" height="538" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Obviously if anyone has any further information on this please let us know!</div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Chris Ramsbottom</FONT> E-mail   <U>pandora.is@argonet.co.uk</U></div> <div> Ann Lawson           <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" > Email  </FONT>  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>happyannie7@aol.com</U></FONT> </div> <div> Thank you very much </div> <div> ***<FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><IMG SRC="5b7f39d0.png" border=0 width="243" height="413" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></FONT></div> <bR> <div>  <IMG SRC="5b8eb9c0.png" border=0 width="235" height="412" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <U>Kellys 1897</U><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >            </FONT><U>Kellys1903</U><FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" >                        </FONT><U>Kellys 1903</U></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div>  Extracts from the <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Arial" >1897</FONT> and <FONT SIZE="5" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Arial" >1903</FONT> Kellys Directory </div> <div> for Devonshire Street </div> <bR> <div> It shows 131 was a shop with Wm J S Dyer as the occupier in 1897. and The Barratt's were at 131 and 140 in the 1903 version </div> <div> Sent to us by John Houghton</div> <div> <A HREF="http://astonbrook-through-astonmanor.co.uk" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://astonbrook-through-astonmanor.co."><B>ASTON BROOK THROUGH ASTON MANOR</B></A></div> <bR> <bR> <div> DEVONSHIRE STREET <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >10/02/07</FONT></div> <div> Does anyone remember All Saints primary school, i think was just off Lodge Road? We lived at 199 Devonshire Street until 1972. The houses were being demolished for new ones at the time</div> <div> Christine Atkinson  <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Email: </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>biddybong@hotmail.com</U></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> DEVONSHIRE STREET <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >28/05/06</FONT></div> <div> Thanks Ted, can any one remember the Cotons at Devonshire St, my G/parents lived at 138 and 142 in the 1920s up to 1947 names would be William George and Fanny Jane Coton, Frank Henry, Lionel Victor Coton Edna May and John Thomas..</div> <div> MAC..Email: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>phatmaximus@hotmail.com</U></FONT></div> <bR> <div> Thanks Ted, can any one remember the Cotons at Devonshire St, my G/parents lived at 138 and 142 in the 1920s up to 1947 names would be William George and Fanny Jane Coton, Frank Henry, Lionel Victor Coton Edna May and John Thomas..</div> <div> MAC..Email: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>phatmaximus@hotmail.com</U></FONT></div> <bR> <div>    <FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Arial" >"MURDER" </FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >06/03/06</FONT></div> <div> In <B>Devonshire Street</B>,a muffin man was murdered and my grandmother Mrs Clara Hill of no.9, was a witness at the forthcoming trial. </div> <div> Unfortunately, I cannot give  a date (I would guess 1920s 0r 1930s). It would have appeared in the local paper(s) at the time. </div> <div> I don't whether my grandmother ever did attend court. Does anyone out there have any information.</div> <div> Ray Norton    Email: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>ray.norton@btinternet.co</U></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> DEVONSHIRE STREET <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >24/02/05</FONT></div> <div>  I used to live in Devonshire Street untill we had a fire & was moved to Hingeston Street & then back to Devonshire Street. I was the one who used to play a lot of loud music. So does anybody remember the Brooks, Hopcroft, Memory, Ikins and the Hurdmans. If so please post messages and we can share our memories. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Dave Brown</FONT>  Email: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>throstles54@hotmail.com</U></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> DEVONSHIRE STREET <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >14/01/05</FONT></div> <div> Looking at old photos of Devonshire street was fantastic. I lived there as a small child for a couple of years not sure of the number around 1960 to 1962. My moms name is Ruby Benton her mom lived next door with son Bill and daughter Naomi and my dad was called Thommy.I have a sister called Sharon and Delia, we then exchanged the house with my dads brother and wife called Billy and Barbra Nicholl to live in Sparkhill does any one remember the family. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >Ruth Devaney nee Nicholl  </FONT>Email: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>rdevaney1@mmm.com</U></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> DEVONSHIRE STREET <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >30/12/04</FONT></div> <div> I use to play on the <B>REC</B>reation ground in <B>Musgrave Road</B>  when I was a young girl, we used to come from school (Benson Road) down the gully and onto the swings in  the Rec, we had great fun.</div> <div> <IMG SRC="54f96720.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="114" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >   </FONT><IMG SRC="550966f0.jpg" border=0 width="150" height="111" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> The gully and the Rec minus the railings.  (photograph taken in 2002)</div> <div> I then moved away, and some years later got married and guess what I couldn't believe it the council gave us our first home in <B>Radnor Street </B>  next one down from <B>Devonshire Street</B> (where I was born). I then had my sons and move to <B>Handsworth New Road</B> and both my sons played football on the <B>Black Patch park.</B> </div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <B>We  have vivid memories of the happy times at the park and Rec, we would hate anyone or anything to alter it.</B></div> <div> Kath Dowell (nee Greensall)    Email: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>hwinthepark@aol.com</U></FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Arial" > </FONT></div> <bR> <div> DEVONSHIRE STREET <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >06/08/04</FONT></div> <div> Hello ! I was born Cynthia Pritchard daughter of George Pritchard (postman) and Rose Pritchard (nee Godwin) at <B>171 Devonshire Street</B> on 13th July 1933. Would love to share any memories.</div> <div> Please call 01543 268424 </div> <div> Thank You cynthia gebhard (nee Pritchard) Email: <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>cynthiagebhard@amserve.com</U></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> DEVONSHIRE STREET <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >29/09/03</FONT></div> <div> I used to live at <B>33 Devonshire St</B> until 1957 then moved on . People I remember Maurice Wright the Fieldhouses , Alfred Darby who I think lived in Lees St or Musgrave Rd the Masons I went to St Patricks on Dudley Rd I remember most of the shops on Lodge Rd but there was also the wool shop I used to play with the girl who lived their can't recall her name . Would like to hear from any body who knew me.</div> <div> Michael Windsor<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >  Email: </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>sybilwindsor@aol.com</U></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <div> DEVONSHIRE STREET   <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#FFFFFF" FACE="Arial" >27/02/05</FONT></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <IMG SRC="5a9f4010.jpg" border=0 width="500" height="257" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Avertisment for the BARNET  WORKS </div> <div> (thanks to John Houghton)</div> <div> when we  knew the factory   it was called </div> <div> ROWLANDS ELECTRICAL ASSESORIES Ltd  (THE  R.E.A.L.)</div> <div> ****************************************</div> <div> 26/06/05</div> <div> I worked in the toolroom at R.E.A.L after it moved there from Hockley Hill.</div> <div> Director: Charlie Sothers, Works Manager: John Sothers,</div> <div> Toolroom Foreman: Frank Wilkes.</div> <div> Great times.  </div> <div> Raymond Derbyshire<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >   Email: </FONT><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>ray.derbyshire@tesco.net</U></FONT></div> <div> ***********************************</div> <bR> <div> <TABLE BORDER="2" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="779" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="BOX" RULES="ALL" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 332 WIDTH="350"><div> <IMG SRC="21e44fa0.jpg" border=0 width="324" height="250" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Group of workers from Rowlands Electrical Assesories Ltd ( <B>THE R.E.A.L</B>.) Devonshire Sreeet 1958.</div> <bR> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="37644fb0.jpg" border=0 width="324" height="251" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> <B>THE R.E.A.L.</B> on left with <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Anscombes</FONT></div> <div> grocery shop<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#111111" FACE="Arial" > on the corner of Lees Street </FONT></div> <div> and Tommy Harpers Bookies shop with </div> <div> two ladies talking on the other corner.  </div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 421 ><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="2755ee60.jpg" border=0 width="350" height="230" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> Ladies from the R.E.A.L  </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Back Row: L-R  Laura Leighton</FONT> (nee Walker).</div> <div>  ?,  ?, Vera Casey. </div> <div> Middle Row: L-R  Annie Barnes, Ida Hands, </div> <div> Pem Dunkey </div> <div> Bottom Row: L-R Vera Venables, Nell Garland, </div> <div> Laura Blakemore, Beattie Wallis.</div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG SRC="5ad90d10.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="209" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> More <B>R.E.A.L  LADIES</B> going to work.</div> <bR> <div> L to R ?, ?, ?,<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" >Laura Leighton (nee Walker), </FONT></div> <div> a local beauty queen (no overall),    ?</div> <bR> <div> Crossing Devonshire Street at the junction of </div> <div> Devonshire Avenue Tommy Harpers bookies shop behind </div> <div> them with Mr Hall standing outside waiting to take the bets</div> <div> sometime during the 1950's.</div> <bR> </NOBR></tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 464 WIDTH="350"><div> <IMG SRC="9545c0d0.jpg" border=0 width="348" height="269" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <div> 04/01/08</div> <div> Some More <B>R.E.A.L  LADIES</B> going to work. </div> <div> Ida Hands ? left and Laura Leighton on the right, crossing Devonshire Street near the house where she lived (next door to a Mrs Tooth) </div> <div> If anyone has any memories of the Walkers or Leightons who lived in Devonshire St, I would be?grateful?to hear from you. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0066CC" FACE="Segoe UI" ><A HREF="mailto:aj.jenkins@virgin.net " TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:aj.jenkins@virgin.net "><U>aj.jenkins@virgin.net</U></A></FONT></div> <div> Amanda Jenkins</div> <bR> </tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="410"><div> <IMG SRC="95590150.jpg" border=0 width="400" height="277" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> View looking down Devonshire Avenue towards Musgrave Road  with Tommy Harpers shop on left</div> </tD> </tR> <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 294 ><NOBR><bR> <div> <IMG SRC="22440ea0.jpg" border=0 width="320" height="234" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> Samuel Groves Ltd corner of </div> <div> Devonshire Avenue and.Musgrave Road  </div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="410"><bR> <bR> <div> .</div> <bR> </tD> </tR> </TABLE></div> <bR> <bR> <div> DEVONSHIRE STR