OLD WEST BROMWICH PHOTOS

Created by Paul Swift, Born in Vicarage Road, West Bromwich in 1962

This site is dedicated to showing West Bromwich of old and also showing how West Bromwich looks today

Donations of Photos & stories always welcome, you can scan them and email them on paulswift@blueyonder.co.uk or you can send them to me (details on request), they will be well looked after and returned back to you safe

Feel free to using our Forums where you can ask questions, or just give your memories of West Bromwich, you will have to register to use the Forums, it's very easy and free....Here is the "SIGN UP" link below, just click on it, fill it in and away you go !!

www.west-bromwich-photos.co.uk/apps/auth/signup?next=apps%2Fforums%2Ftopics%2Fnew%3Ff

Black Lake School Play c1955 (Thanks to Judith for the photo) 

Judy can remember a few of the names :-

Lynn James, Carol Cashmore, Jacqueline Jukes, Christopher Shakespeare, Robert Hibbs, John Hinkinson, Judith Cartwright, Lindsay Brown, three unknown girls, Tony -.  In front, Keith Hodgetts and ? Simmons.

West Bromwich Youth Orchestra at Wednesbury Town Hall 1968

(Thanks to Richard Perry for the photo)

Under the baton of principal conductor - and head of schools music for the Borough - Jack Fryer, performing at Wednesbury Town Hall in 1968. Richard was in the horn section which was unfortunately missed off to the right of this shot. His late brother Doug (15) is sat playing Tuba on his own bit of stage!

Richard can name quite a few, but for starters:

Top left, Trombones: Graham Byng, Susan Hughes & Tony Pritchard - Tony (a.k.a. 'Ditch') went on to play in "Shep's Banjo Boys" on tour with "The Comedians".After a spell teaching music in B'ham he became a milkman in Shifnal - but ended up managing the dairy!

In front of the trombones - Trumpets: Jane Wharton, Andrew Thorne, Jeff Baggott, Peter Sills, Glyn Barratt & Tony Adams. Richard still sees Glyn Barratt twice a week at Langley Band rehearsals - Glyn's a retired head teacher and has been with Langley Band for over 40 years!

Richards brother went to the Royal Academy of Music, played for a year with the Bergen Symphony Orchestra, various concerts & recordings with: CBSO, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, BBC Welsh Orchestra, Philip Jones Brass Ensemble, taught brass in the Kidderminster area before dying in a tragic accident at his home in Aug 1977 when just 24.

 

Sam Perry & his Boss

 This photo shows Richard Perry's Grandad, Sam Perry, the young chap on the left, with his boss  standing alongside a trap he's just finished c1908

 Sam served his apprenticeship with, and then worked for, a coach builder & and cabinet maker in Pleasant Street (off Sams Lane) before starting up his own Wheelwright & Blacksmith business off Bromford Lane c1910 till he died in 1960 (His yard & workshops are now the Coyne Road housing development.)

Richard spent many happy days there before starting school in 1956 and subsequently many hours watching him work learning how to use the many tools he had. 

Richard got to know many of the local horses when they came in for footwork too!

Amazingly Sam made nearly all his own tools, including chisels, spoke shaves, planes, mallets and even saws and drill bits!

 Often when Richards Dad came home from a full day as a maintenance engineer at Joseph Lucas, in Hockley, he would go straight to Sam's workshop to help carry red hot wheel tyres out into the yard where they would burn and shrink them onto the wheels made that day.

Richard can clearly remember the glow of the hot tyres lighting up the yard on dusky evenings, the smell of burning ash as the iron tyres where put on, the 'pong' released when cutting the elm wood used to make naffs (wheel hubs), warming himself by the forge and  turning a big wheel that drove the bellows to heat the coke to white hot - sparks flying everywhere!

Sam Perry, (left), with a set of the largest wheels he'd made to that time c1908

(ready for the iron tyres to be fitted)

 

Finished Horse & Trap built by Richard Perry's Grandfather, Sam Perry c1910

(We believe this was taken in Sandwell Road but we are not sure exactly where)

Lodge Estate School Photo c1924

(Richard Perry's Dad, William Arthur Perry is standing 2nd row up 4th from right)

 

Cronehills girls indoor school photo 1924

(Freda Maynard, Richard's Aunt 1st Left Back Row and his Mom, Nora Maynard is 3rd from left Back Row)

West Bromwich Albion Amateurs c1930

(Richard's Dad is the Goalkeeper middle back row)

Lodge Estate School class photo 1927

(Richard Perry's Mom and her twin sister are standing at the back, thanks to Richard for the photo)

Coronation Day Party, Lodge Estate School, June 1953

(Richard is sitting on his Mom's lap on the left and his cousin, Maurice Edmonds, is sat behind with Richard's Mom's twin sister. They were all given a Bible and Mug to commemorate Coronation day and Richard still has the Bible, shown below....The photo was taken by Maurice's Father, Stan Edmonds. Thanks to Richard Perry for the photo)

Bible given to Richard Perry for Coronation Day, June 1953

This Bible went to Sunday school with Richard every week for about 10 years. (St John's church next to Lyng Junior school till they demolished it, then the old Wesley Chapel)

Dagger Lane c1912

(Sot's Hole to the left of the house, with Hill House to the right.  The path leading to the road where the boy is sitting on the fence is still a right of way from the hospital car park today, thanks to Richard Perry for the photo)

 

Airship LZ 127 "Graf Zeppelin" returning from America passing over West Bromwich 1935 © Richard Perry

(Many thanks to Richard Perry for this fantastic photo taken by his Father, William Arthur Perry. We have an idea this was taken in Margaret St area, but we need some help locating the house)

Cronehills Girls School Photo, Class 2B, 1932

(Richard Perry's Aunt, Freda Alice Maynard is 7th from the left 2nd row down)

Cronehills Girls School Photo, Class 2A, 1932 

(Richard Perry's Mom, Nora Winifred Maynard, twin sister to Freda in the previous photo, is 7th from left on 3rd row down)

West Bromwich ARP wardens c1942, Dartmouth Park

Richard Perry's Dad, William Arthur Perry - is 6th from the left on 2nd row up (always wore a collar & tie - even when digging the garden!)

A rare shot of Christ Church Interior c1910s

 

Wesley Chapel, High St, Church interior c1930s

 

Brockhouse Carnival Float c1969

(Thanks to Mark Nelson for the photo)

H. Beesley & Sons Leyland Tankers c1976

(thanks to Mark Nelson for the photos)

 Christ Church, High St c1900s (Where the Job Centre is now) 

 

SCM (Smith Corona) Typewriter Works, West Bromwich 

(Thanks to Lorraine Wheale for the next 6 photos)

Lorraine's Aunt & Uncle Mary & Howard Boilstone worked at Smith Corona for many years from Around the 1960s.

Lorraine's Mother remembers that Typewriter works used to operate on the High St, opposite Woolworths and they moved up to by the Albion Ground, around about where the Motorway M5 junction1 Island is, towards the Smethwick side.

Lorraine's Aunt Mary & Uncle Howard have passed on so Lorraine has no names for the people in the Photos, apart from Her Uncle Howard, Mary isn't in any of them and it would be great if anyone can come up with some more names and stories about Smith Corona 

SMC (Smith Corona Production Line (Howard Boilstone is 7th from the front, right hand line) 

Factory Group (Howard Boilstone 3rd from left)

Factory Group photo (Unknown)

Factory Group (Howard Boilstone on 5th from the left) 

Howard Boilstone on the left

 Works Outing at Stourport Severn Bridge

 

Great Bridge No 2 bus in Price Street, off St Michaels Street, The now Busbies Pub behind 1969

(Thanks to Harry for the photo)

West Bromwich Carnival, taken from outside the B&Q on the Ringway c1990

(Thanks to Joanne for the photo) 

West Bromwich Borough Band c1962

(Thanks to Lorraine Wheale for the photo, her Uncle Howard Boilstone is on the back row, second from right) 

 

Vicar Laurie Skilton at St Philips Church c1977

(Thanks to Keith Colley for the next 2 photos)

 St Philips Church interior c1985

1977 Queens Silver Jubilee celebrations in Stanley Road 

Many thanks to Trevor for the next 11 photos

Mayor, Dennis Booton and his Wife, with their Driver in Stanley Road, looking towards Walsall Road with Mr Wood (in Dickie bow)

Mayor Dennis Booton meeting the residents

Mayor Dennis Booton at a Garage in Stanley Road which was used for the kids party when the weather turned

Kids Silver Jubilee Party (We know most of the kids names on these next 5 photos but we won't embarass them by naming them...if you want your name included just give us a shout !)

Above Photo..Karen Bratby, now Swift (My wife !) 4th from the right

Tram lines on West bromwich High Street c1910s

 

 West Bromwich District Hospital, Edward Street, West Bromwich c1910s

 

Crowther Brothers Undertakers in Paradise Street c1920s

 

Dartmouth Square c1900s

 

The next 4 photos were sent to me by Glenn Skeldon, who lives in Canada and his Grandfather was Fred Skeldon, who was born in West Bromwich in 1891

Fred Skeldon emmigrated to Canada in 1910 but he had a very colourful childhood.

He lived above the family butcher shop on the corner of Whitehall Road & Whitgreave Street, Greets Green

Fred told Glenn that the shop was across the street from the Greets Green School to one side and the 2 churches on the other side....a Wesleylan Chapel and a Methodist  Chapel.

Fred used to reel off many, many memories to Glenn about West Bromwich and kept a picture, and hung it in his house of what he thought was the Old Church on All saints Way (4th photo down), but we need a bit of help with this one as, to me, it isn't the Old Church, it just isn't sitting right with the building to the right of the tower and also the top of the tower isnt "castle" like, like it is now, but perhaps this is a really early portrait before any renovation work ??

Glenns Great Grandfather also emigrated to Canada in 1912, his name was Edward (Teddy) Skeldon

Glenn has written a biography of his Grandfather, Fred, hoping to get it published but Glenn is looking for a few photos to enhance the first few chapters and I have given some to Glenn to use but Glenn is looking for some more, so if you have any of the following please let me know

(1890s-1910s) of the Greets Green School, Lavender's Wharf  (a branch of the Birmingham Canal), football matches with the West 
Bromwich Albion or any of the following businesses: Carnuck's  Ammunition Works, Hudson's Soap Factory, Wright's Jam Factory or 
Palethorpes. Any photos of police constables of that era (as a young  boy, Fred was often in trouble with the law !!) would also be  great.

Being a butcher's son, he and his father made frequent trips to the  Bull Ring in Birmingham to purchase at the Dead Meat Market. Would anyone know how Glenn could access photos of the Bull Ring from that era? Also,  the Birmingham train station would be another valuable photo.

This Photo is looking down Whitehall Road.  The building with the Fry's Pure Cocoa sign was a dry good's store 
named "Teddy's" (Glenns Great-Grandfather) and it was attached to Skeldon  Butcher Shop.

 

The photo is of the Skeldon Butcher Shop on Whitehall Road  (right side) and the building with the smokestack on the left is a  brewery (Harry Darby's?). This would be about 1905.

 This photo is Glenns Great-Grandfather, Edward (Teddy) Skeldon who  owned the aforementioned businesses and who emigrated to Canada in 1912.

Now, this is the one we are stuck on !

This Picture hung on Freds wall at his house in Canada for years....is it the Old Church ??

LODGE ESTATE SCHOOLS, OAK LANE 1908 (STILL LOOKS THE SAME TODAY) 

ALL SAINTS CHURCH (OLD CHURCH) INTERIOR 1916 

St PHILLIPS CHURCH, BEECHES ROAD c1910s 

St PHILLIPS CHURCH, BEECHES Rd,  INTERIOR c1910s 

FARLEY CLOCK TOWER POSTCARD 1903

MULTI-VIEW POSTCARD, SENT TO NEW JERSEY U.S.A IN 1905

TRAMS BY THE HAWTHORNS, WEST BROMWICH ALBION c1930

CHILDREN BY THE OLD CHURCH, ALL SAINTS WAY c1930s

TOWN HALL & LIBRARY 1912

TOWN HALL FROM OUTSIDE CHRIST CHURCH c1910s

CHRIST CHURCH & HEADSTONES c1900s

c1960s View from the Brummie Road End looking towards the Smethwick End at the Albion (Thanks to Phil for the photos)

c1960s view of the Brummie Road End from the Smethwick Corner, showing the Scoreboard in the Woodman Corner

HOUSES IN NEWTON ROAD c1950 (Thanks to Phil Watkin, who's Uncle Jack is on the bike !)

MEMORIAL GARDENS, HIGH STREET c1950s

CARTERS GREEN LOOKING TOWARDS THE TOWER CLOCK c1950s 

NUMBER 10 (TANTANY) BUS IN HIGH STREET c1950/60s

NUMBER 74 (BIRMINGHAM / DUDLEY) BUS OUTSIDE BURTONS ON THE HIGH STREET

NUMBER 11 BUS ON HOLYHEDGE ROAD BY THE JINGLERS c1960s

THE SAME SPOT TODAY !

BUSES IN LITTLE QUEENS STREET WITH KINGS CINEMA BEHIND

FLOWER BED IN RED HOUSE PARK FOR THE 1968 ALBION CUP WIN

Number 16, Oldbury Bus, Moor Street, St Michaels Church in distance c1960

1944/45 Daimler CWA6 with it's original wartime utility bodywork in Moor St. This is one of a batch of wartime buses which would be later re-bodied to prolong their sevice life with modified roof so that it could go under the bridge

Below are some excellent photographs donated to the site by Graham Banks who's family lived in Poplar Avenue.

Graham stumbled across this site and found his Uncle Maurice in a previous Photo on here showing a group of children in Poplar Avenue (see further down this page) His Uncle, Maurice is the Boy second from right and he is still alive aged 84

Grahams Father, Stanley Banks and his Uncle Leslie all lived in Poplar Avenue with their Parents James W Banks and Alice, who run the shop in number 14 Poplar Avenue

James Banks was Mayor of West Bromwich  in 1956/7 and received an MBE in the 1960's. He lived in Poplar  Avenue until it was demolished in the 70's?

Many thanks to Graham for donating these wonderful Photos

Here is Graham's site about his family, he would be delighted to hear from anyone who can help him with his research into his family History

http://web.mac.com/imagegb/iWeb/Family/Welcome.html
All photos are covered by copyright to Graham Banks

Wedding in the 'Big Freeze' of 1947, St Philip's Church, Beeches Road

Graham Banks Mother trying to get through the snow 5th March 1947

Photo at the rear of 4 Pleasant Street, showing the GWR lines and Turners

Showing L to R Graham Banks's  Grand Father William Courtnell, Thomas  Courtnell (Great Grand Father) and Williams son Lawson Courtnell (Uncle)

Another shot of the rear of Pleasant Street showing the main G.W.R Liverpool/London line in background - goods line in foreground 1947

Stanley Banks at the rear of Poplar Avenue

WEST BROMWICH SWIMMING CLUB AT THE OLD GALA BATHS C1938

CRONEHILLS GIRLS SCHOOL PHOTO 1932

 POPLAR AVENUE c1960

Alice Banks outside her shop she ran with her Husband James W Banks who was the Mayor of West Bromwich 1956/57

All photos © Graham Banks

Spencers Wine Merchant at the High Street & Sandwell Road Junction during demolition c1970s

Thanks to Barrie Elton from Paignton for the photo

Tower Cinema as the ABC Bingo Hall in winter c1960/70s

This photo shows an excellent shot of Paradise Street just before the redevelopment of West Bromwich and to be quite honest  I was struggling to work out exactly where this was taken from but it has been confirmed that the photographer was standing with his back towards where the Busby's Pub is now, looking right up Paradise Street (Now, more or less where the Ringway is now).

The Bus was built in 1959 by Daimler type CVG6.30DD

Showing Broadhead's and the clock on the left, Timothy Whites and Burton's tailors on the right. Broadhead's has long gone and Pizza Hut now takes it's place

Trams at Carters Green c1940s

Christ Church, & Gardens of Rembrance, High Street c1950s

The impressive Christ Church was demolished after a fire and the local Job Centre is now in it's place and the building to the left is now the Births, Deaths and Marriages Registery

Recognise anyone ??...Thanks to Alan for the Photo (Alan is the one right in the middle...to the right of the Woman holding the child)

Children & Houses in Poplar Avenue c1920s

Poplar Avenue is situated between Beeches Road and the High street off Nicholls Street, close to where Trinity Way Expressway is now. Alan reckons that the land these children are standing on was used, during the war, as a man built pond holding water to help the Fire Brigade hold water to help with dousing the fires during a bombing raid

EMB Football Team Photo c1900

EMB was situated at the top of Oak Road, more or less opposite where Millers was (Thanks to Alan for the Photo)

Guns Village Boys School Festival Of Britain Class Photo 1951

Recognise anyone ?...Alan is the Boy on the back row 6th from the right with all the badges on !

Thanks to Geoff (Ivy's Husband) for the photo

Sandra Lester (Geoff's Daughter) at the farm

Taken from just outside Webs the Funeral Directors, shop next door is Atkins the grocers, this spot is now the car park for the Police station (Thanks to Geoff & John for the photo)

Ebenezer Chapel was built in Old Meeting Street, Carters Green in 1839 and is still there but with a change of religion. Don't know when this was taken. Thanks to Carol for the photo

Showing, on the left, the Ruskin Hall Billiards club above the sweet shop, the Anchor Pub and The Westminster Bank with K&J in the distance and St Michaels spire on the right. Published by Tucks, Number WB2

Owned by Edward Trow and situated at 26 Bull Street, famous locally for it's home made Ice Cream

The Tower Cinema close to it's Grand Opening showing Madeleine Carroll in the 39 Steps 9th December 1935. Madeleine Carroll was born in 32 Herbert Street (Now 44) West Bromwich

Unused Postcard, Published by Farmer's Series, Darlaston

Published by Valentines, taken from near to where the Y.M.C.A is now

Houses at the top of Dagger Lane, Photo taken right outside the Dagger Lane Park gates

Taken from more or less the same spot on 23/10/2008

A unused West Bromwich multi-View Postcard showing scenes from around West Bromwich c1950s (Thanks to Jim in Hobart, Tasmania for the scan)

Many thanks to Geoff Lester for this photo showing the 1937 King George VI Coronation Street party held in Thomas Street, Geoff is the Little Fellow in the middle row towards the right, in front of the big man on the back row with the suit & tie on

Geoff !

Taken from about where the junction between Arlington Road and All Saints Way is now

Sent from Elwell Street, West bromwich to Aberystwyth and postmarked 1913. Postcard showing the Horse Pound from the Ring Of Bells Pub, with the Church in the distance

Unused Postcard of the famous Pub which "Sold the beer by the Pound" The Ring Of Bells....The Pound being the Horse Pound in front of the pub which also used to house the stocks where people used to be held in. The pub has long gone but part of the wall can still be seen today to the left of the now really busy All Saints Way

This scene has not changed much, taken from right in the middle of Vicarage Road. The Spire in the middle of the Cemetery went in, I believe, the 1970s

Heath Lane Cemetery Gates Postcard sent to Balsall Heath 1908

Photo taken for a Bus Study Survey on 25th February 1965 in Paradise Street outside the Employment Exchange with Caxton Printers behind the buses

Photo taken for a Bus Study Survey on 25th February 1965 close to Proffit & Westwood the seed merchants, behind them was the Salter Works

Photo taken for a Bus Study Survey on 25th February 1965 with the Old Indoor Market on the right

Photo taken for a Bus Study Survey on 25th February 1965

Photo taken for a Bus Study Survey on 25th February 1965 showing the Employment Exchange on the left

Taken on the High Street near to K&J with the Midland Electricity Board on the right along with Martin's Bank and the spire of St Michaels Roman Catholic Church....The Ladybird Shop (where, as a kid, Mom used to buy my clothes from) was on the right down towards the church (Thanks to Christian in Berlin, Germany for the photo)

This is a realy early scene of The High Street, taken from around about where Woolworths is now. If you compare this scene with the next scene below this one, you will notice that St Michaels church spire is not built and all you can see in the distance is the Town Hall spire

Taken from the Dartmouth Square end of the Town, with St Michaels Church spire on the left with the Town Hall spire behind that. Shops on the right include Weldons Fashions and J. W. Haylock Ltd

Unused Postcard Published by Valentines taken from Dartmouth Square. Perry's shop behind the fountain later become Broadheads

Unused Postcard from around the1930s at the junction af High Street and Paradise Street