OLD WEST BROMWICH PHOTOS

Now, I set this site up to show and cling onto memories, photos & stories of West Brom and I do know that the future of West Brom is as important as its past

I have, this afternoon had an email off Roger and it has put me nose out a bit, my intention was not to run down West Brom but to promote it's history, a history which has got us where we are today but in history, mistakes are sometimes made and the loss of buildings, houses, schools, communities all edge towards the way West Brom is looking today and it's all of these changes which make it even more important to hold onto and promote those photos & memories.

For example, the demolition of the Gala Baths was a hugely important part of West Bromwich History, the demolition was as important to the Towns history as it's build, the same goes with Cronehills School, Alfred St, Chapman St etc

Here is Rogers email and I will welcome your comments

Paul

"Not help- just a comment- what an awful set of pictures- was someone trying to show off West Bromwich or make it look as bleak as possible. ??? I think the Latter !!!"

WHAT THE HELL ??

Take it from me Paul, Roger is talking out of the wrong hole !

I am sitting here, half way across the world from where I was bought up and I am immensley proud of West Bromwich and my roots.

I have spent hours & hours on here looking at all of those fantastic old photos, and I have been drifted back years with all of the memories of the places I was brought up with and I am a bit narked that buildings have gone but no way, NO WAY are they an "awful set of piccys"

My bet is that this 'Roger' is a Borough Councilor or someone who has a business in West Brom ?

Roger 0

Paul 1

Oh Dear !

Well, I for one think this site is just fantastic and the photos & stories are a great addition to any local history study.

West Brom today is, well, BLEAK, perhaps Roger would like you to get in touch with him before you take any more photos of the Town today so that he can smarten the place up.

The old photos are not awful, they are a fantastic insight into the past and they really are really, really important to keep to the front.

Ok, the demolition photos of Alfred St, cronehills and the Gala may be "bleak" looking but what on earth else could you do with them ?

Imagine, in 20 years time, trying to tell a teenager about the old town and where things were and I am 100 % behind your statement Paul about the demolition is as important as the build

NZ Baggies has hit the nail on the head I think, I put my money on Roger being a Councillor

You can't make a drab 'bleak' photo nothing else

Paul 2

Roger 0

Take no notice mate, he`s talking utter tripe, keep up the good work.

when we re born in a certain place i think we tend to treat it with a little disdain,i used to think west bromwich was dreary,perhaps i was influenced by movies..however,having lived in australia for 38 years i often cast my mind back to my youth and i realise it was a good place to live,6 or 7 cinemas,all within walking distance,numerous dance venues,excellent swimming facilities,the Baggies on a saturday afternoon,and a pub on every corner filled with laughter and,often music.I think Australia,s the best place in the world,but west bromwich was good to me and i remember it affectionately

I wish I could turn back time to the late Sixties early Seventies and Eighties

Chads Chip Shop, The Imperial, The Kings, The Dartmouth pub before the Baggies match, The Star and Garter with Frank the amazing Barman, The Western, The Sandwell, The Flask, Gala Baths Disco, The Legion Disco, The Town Hall Disco, Sounds Good record shop, Willie Holts, The old Con Club where you could drink all day if you were in the know. The Hornpipe under Woolys. the Three mile oak on the way to the Baggies, The old Marksman when it was a proper pub and Tony Hudson`s over the road the Hop Pole,most of these pubs were full all the time, how times change !

All the Banks`s pubs down the Lyng, and the Yew Tree my Grandads family used to keep and later my Grandad, my other Grandad was the Manager of Crowthers Funeral parlour in Paradise Street which I also remember very well, by the Fire Station.

 The Chip shop on the Green with the funny doors and tasty but very greasy chips and later on the Green the MFI where the Peugeot garage now stands, The old Fine Fare supermarket & countless proper shops which have all since gone.

Hills travel run by old man Lew Lloyd & Anne Aston his daughter later to be a TV star, also the old ABC, later Bingo

Also when you could buy a Ford or Austin car from a family business, Guests or Hadlingtons

If you really thought about ot this list woluld be endless and they say there was nothing to do in West Brom years back

I always managed to keep myself occupied in one way or another.

Sorry to bore you all i`ll go away and think of some more.

I,d be interested to know  the mans  profession. If hed been in the forces abroad he,d  realise there  is no place like home and for a lot of people the old pics are  a reminder of the heritage we are losing to make way for monstrosities like the Public. Ever since the High St was pedestrianised the town has lost its soul but there is still no place like home.

   " Its not as we knew it captain kirk but its still our home "

  Paul  A unanimous vote of confidence to you mate.

                                                                                                  john mason

blooming eck fester, a few raves from the graves there !

we never used to be in and after a days work we used to have tea, get changed and go to sandies or was it sparkles till god knows what time.

You forgot Hill & Long, the anchor, the grapes, the steering wheel club !

To demolish a town for car parks is yampi, to demolish a town to build a supermarket is immoral!! and that is what has happened to West Bromwich.

The 'powers that be' should be doing the job of this website in keeping alive in memory what a great place to live and work this town once was.

Where is the place in West Bromwich that lists and demonstrates to future generations just what West Bromwich was world renown for?  why has it been left to other towns to hold our heritage instead of us.

Yes i do know what i'm talking about, I did my dissertation for my History Honours degree on West Bromwich. 

Keep up the good work we need you. 

The town used to have heart,my memories in the early fifties of walking with my Gran along the high street were that she seemed to know every second person.She went out mooching every day and loved her smoky town and i loved an ice cream from Trows.

Ignore criticisms such as Rogers,we all like the site just as it is.

Michael at September 9, 2010 at 5:21 PM

blooming eck fester, a few raves from the graves there !

we never used to be in and after a days work we used to have tea, get changed and go to sandies or was it sparkles till god knows what time.

 

You forgot Hill & Long, the anchor, the grapes, the steering wheel club !

How could I forget the Steeering Wheel, Big Cliff & Big Pete on the door and Oscar the Chef upstairs

I had a night in West Brom cells transported in an Austin Allegro Panda car one Xmas Eve / Xmas morning after a good blast out in there, picked up for my own safety on the High Street when I was 17, my old man went potty to the extreme to say the least..

Ended up in the court with a £ 15 fine & a lecture from the Bench.............Happy Days

The burning question for me is Who is Roger ???????????????

As he ever lived in West Brom

How old his he

Would he know Scotland Passage from his own back passage???????????

The Golden Mile, The Arcade, The Louvre ,The indoor market.

Please Roger make your point on the forum not in a personel email.

Then when you have stated your point sit back and let us make our point and maybe you might learn something of West Bromwich as it used to be and how disapointed myself and others on this site are over the sad state of a once proud and vibrant town and maybe just maybe you might understand.

Uncle John at September 10, 2010 at 3:24 PM

The burning question for me is Who is Roger ???????????????

As he ever lived in West Brom

How old his he

Would he know Scotland Passage from his own back passage???????????

The Golden Mile, The Arcade, The Louvre ,The indoor market.

 

Please Roger make your point on the forum not in a personel email.

Then when you have stated your point sit back and let us make our point and maybe you might learn something of West Bromwich as it used to be and how disapointed myself and others on this site are over the sad state of a once proud and vibrant town and maybe just maybe you might understand.

The Louvre, my Mom used to go there in Victoria St, I think it was a clothes shop of some kind, could be kids and the Arcade with the Cafe half way down on the right with the fixed stools, the Kardoma I think it was called.

How lucky we are to be born in a democratic country...!

Although we may not agree with what he says he has the right to express his opinions without the fear of getting thrown into jail or being sent to a salt mine, or even worse!

It just goes to show what fascinating people we are,  'we' moan about West Brom'.. then defend it with pride.....

I am very proud to have been born in and to have grown up in West Brom',  but,  I wouldn't like to live there now..This is only my opinion and I am sure others have their own thoughts...

I also fully support the aims of your website in preserving documents, memories and photo's for future generations, also for making 'old' people remember things they had forgotten!

Well done, "av a suck outa the bag" an keep gooin..   

So many memories on here it brings it all back to me eating ice cream in trows they were friends of my mom i remember visiting them when they moved to Devon, has Carters the china shop been mentioned i remember standing in the old market on many a saturday when he was shouting his wares, we had all our china off him!..before he moved into the new square think it was the queens square always get them mixed up.

The stationary shop by preedys Halls i think it was so small from the front and like a tardis inside, and Burtons I stood many a day waiting for the bus doing Harry Worth impresssions one arm and one leg out with the two big windows, and little man in the wheel chair selling the papers! yes it's good to keep memories going well done for  setting the site up

does anyone remember Tillys fish & chips in Bromford lane the best around and don' t forget to ask for a 6pennorth of batters rang out as i was sent for them !! and just below was the Royal exchange, on the corner of exchange street..formerly known as pudding bag lane. or so i was told cos my family lived there for many years Oh those years i roamed and roamed  all round, all on foot  happy times

Chris Hill at September 9, 2010 at 4:07 AM

I wish I could turn back time to the late Sixties early Seventies and Eighties

Chads Chip Shop, The Imperial, The Kings, The Dartmouth pub before the Baggies match, The Star and Garter with Frank the amazing Barman, The Western, The Sandwell, The Flask, Gala Baths Disco, The Legion Disco, The Town Hall Disco, Sounds Good record shop, Willie Holts, The old Con Club where you could drink all day if you were in the know. The Hornpipe under Woolys. the Three mile oak on the way to the Baggies, The old Marksman when it was a proper pub and Tony Hudson`s over the road the Hop Pole,most of these pubs were full all the time, how times change !

All the Banks`s pubs down the Lyng, and the Yew Tree my Grandads family used to keep and later my Grandad, my other Grandad was the Manager of Crowthers Funeral parlour in Paradise Street which I also remember very well, by the Fire Station.

 The Chip shop on the Green with the funny doors and tasty but very greasy chips and later on the Green the MFI where the Peugeot garage now stands, The old Fine Fare supermarket & countless proper shops which have all since gone.

Hills travel run by old man Lew Lloyd & Anne Aston his daughter later to be a TV star, also the old ABC, later Bingo

 

Also when you could buy a Ford or Austin car from a family business, Guests or Hadlingtons

 

If you really thought about ot this list woluld be endless and they say there was nothing to do in West Brom years back

I always managed to keep myself occupied in one way or another.

 

Sorry to bore you all i`ll go away and think of some more.

 

 

I'm interested about your grandfather  being Manager of Crowthers Chris, as in later years doing the family history i was told that family on my mothers side had some connection with it i.e either married into it or owned it but it's all very scetchy,  !!

Yvonne, 

I certainly remember Tilly's chip shop.  If I recall correctly you had to go down a couple of steps into, what was, a converted front room.  Her surname was Woodhall.  Living in Margaret St. and Emily Street, she was our nearest 'chippy'.  However, you never seemed to get that many chips compared to some of the others.  My favourite was Wooley's which was in Izons Road.  Her son was in the same scout group as me, which, originally, met behind the Unitarian church in lodge Road before moving to new headquarters in Westbourne Road.  On the way home we would have 4d worth of chips and some free batters.  Never had 6d worth as there were just too many to eat!  There ws also another chip shop in Oak Road not far from the junction with Izons road which we would go to if wooley's wasn't open.  Can't recall the name of the lady who ran it, but she was very pleasant.  I had quite a crush on her as a teenager, even though she was old enough to be my Mother!

yvonne at November 18, 2010 at 5:20 PM

Chris Hill at September 9, 2010 at 4:07 AM

I wish I could turn back time to the late Sixties early Seventies and Eighties

Chads Chip Shop, The Imperial, The Kings, The Dartmouth pub before the Baggies match, The Star and Garter with Frank the amazing Barman, The Western, The Sandwell, The Flask, Gala Baths Disco, The Legion Disco, The Town Hall Disco, Sounds Good record shop, Willie Holts, The old Con Club where you could drink all day if you were in the know. The Hornpipe under Woolys. the Three mile oak on the way to the Baggies, The old Marksman when it was a proper pub and Tony Hudson`s over the road the Hop Pole,most of these pubs were full all the time, how times change !

All the Banks`s pubs down the Lyng, and the Yew Tree my Grandads family used to keep and later my Grandad, my other Grandad was the Manager of Crowthers Funeral parlour in Paradise Street which I also remember very well, by the Fire Station.

 The Chip shop on the Green with the funny doors and tasty but very greasy chips and later on the Green the MFI where the Peugeot garage now stands, The old Fine Fare supermarket & countless proper shops which have all since gone.

Hills travel run by old man Lew Lloyd & Anne Aston his daughter later to be a TV star, also the old ABC, later Bingo

 

Also when you could buy a Ford or Austin car from a family business, Guests or Hadlingtons

 

If you really thought about ot this list woluld be endless and they say there was nothing to do in West Brom years back

I always managed to keep myself occupied in one way or another.

 

Sorry to bore you all i`ll go away and think of some more.

 

 

I'm interested about your grandfather  being Manager of Crowthers Chris, as in later years doing the family history i was told that family on my mothers side had some connection with it i.e either married into it or owned it but it's all very scetchy,  !!

My Grandad was named Harry Gadd that managed Crowthers in Paradise St the original Crowthers that is, it changed hands and moved to Carters Green in later years. I think the original womans name that owned it was Dorothy.

Chris Hill at November 23, 2010 at 4:47 AM

yvonne at November 18, 2010 at 5:20 PM

Chris Hill at September 9, 2010 at 4:07 AM

I wish I could turn back time to the late Sixties early Seventies and Eighties

Chads Chip Shop, The Imperial, The Kings, The Dartmouth pub before the Baggies match, The Star and Garter with Frank the amazing Barman, The Western, The Sandwell, The Flask, Gala Baths Disco, The Legion Disco, The Town Hall Disco, Sounds Good record shop, Willie Holts, The old Con Club where you could drink all day if you were in the know. The Hornpipe under Woolys. the Three mile oak on the way to the Baggies, The old Marksman when it was a proper pub and Tony Hudson`s over the road the Hop Pole,most of these pubs were full all the time, how times change !

All the Banks`s pubs down the Lyng, and the Yew Tree my Grandads family used to keep and later my Grandad, my other Grandad was the Manager of Crowthers Funeral parlour in Paradise Street which I also remember very well, by the Fire Station.

 The Chip shop on the Green with the funny doors and tasty but very greasy chips and later on the Green the MFI where the Peugeot garage now stands, The old Fine Fare supermarket & countless proper shops which have all since gone.

Hills travel run by old man Lew Lloyd & Anne Aston his daughter later to be a TV star, also the old ABC, later Bingo

 

Also when you could buy a Ford or Austin car from a family business, Guests or Hadlingtons

 

If you really thought about ot this list woluld be endless and they say there was nothing to do in West Brom years back

I always managed to keep myself occupied in one way or another.

 

Sorry to bore you all i`ll go away and think of some more.

 

 

I'm interested about your grandfather  being Manager of Crowthers Chris, as in later years doing the family history i was told that family on my mothers side had some connection with it i.e either married into it or owned it but it's all very scetchy,  !!

My Grandad was named Harry Gadd that managed Crowthers in Paradise St the original Crowthers that is, it changed hands and moved to Carters Green in later years. I think the original womans name that owned it was Dorothy.

My Mom says the company was started by a man named Walter Crowther many moons ago and on his death passed it on to his Daughter Dorothy who never married, the Lady my Grandad worked for many years in Paradise St by the old Fire Station.