OLD WEST BROMWICH PHOTOS

One of my first memories is standing outside Beeches Road Infant School, listening to the grown-ups talking about the death of the King - Feb 1952.  Anyone remember the school ?  I remember Miss Dixon and Miss Butler, nature walks in the park and  being scared of the man on the sit-on lawnmower because he could not possibly be in control of it as his feet were not on the floor.  Also remember the Saturday afternoon shows in the bandstand where you paid 3d to sit on the green slated seats to watch the show.

My memories of the park include the wonderful War Memorial and the wide esplanade leading into the park from the top of Herbert Street - anyone remember Mrs Sheasby's sweet shop ?  Then there was the tea rooms, the duck pond where we used to go tadding, the swings and the paddling pool where I once fell in because I would not give over walking around that semi-circular rim !  Then there were the shows and the fairs and the fireworks.  How innocent our fun was in those days and how enjoyable.

My grandad had an allotment behind the houses on Beeches Road and does anyone remember that beautiful bungalow that was built half way along sometime in the late 50s.  There were some lovely old houses in Beeches Road.  I especially remember the house where the vicar of St Phillips, Rev Crowther  Green, used to live with his two daughters.  But I cannot remember the name of the vicar who replaced him.  Can anyone tell me ?  Anyone remember the smell from the SelaCough factory when they were boiling the mixture ?

Then there was the town itself.  Every other shop was a shoe shop - or so it seemed.  Quances, the butcher, George Masons, Timothy Whites and Taylors, M &S, Woolies, the Market (Carters China stall where they threw the tea sets around), Bell & Jones, Stanley Martins, Thompson and Rose, Bagnalls the Ironmongers, Bert Shinton with his peculiar mix of TVs, radios and bikes, Millerships the toy and model shop - the list goes on and on.  Three questions  :  Firstly, does anyone remember the two shops at the bottom of Jesson Street, Allen's the Post Office and Bissells the grocers, where they cut the cheese using a wire, patted the butter and measured out the sugar into blue bags.  Secondly, what was the name of the wool shop cum childrens' clothing shop in Paradise Street, just up from the Kings Cinema ?  Thirdly, what was the name of the general grocers right on the Square where they used to put your money in a canister and send it flying over the ceiling to the cashier and then back again with the change ?

I would love to come and see the town again but would a visit now destroy all the memories that have remained in tact this long.

You`d be alright if you were Multi lingual.

Sheasby's sweet shop !!  I remember that, OMG those sherbert dips we used to add water to thinking it would turn into fizzy pop !

You are absolutly correct Pamela about Shintons, he done Radios & Tv's also and a lot of people don't realise that in fact he had 2 shops at the same time, one in the High St and the one in Bull Street and I can remember the High St one as if it was yesterday, a bit down from where Woolies is now.

What on earth was the name of that wool & childrens clothes shop in Paradise St, this will be nagging away at me now until I get it .

I go back to West Brom quite often Pamela, and if you haven't been back for a while, then quite honestly, DON'T !

Hold onto those wonderful memories Pamela, don't spoil them

Thanks for the warning Chris and Michael.  Is it really that bad, even up my end in the Jesson Street area ?  A walk in the park is out of the question then !

Michael, that shop,  was it Harris and someone ?  Mrs Sheasby used to sell Old Betty Plants pink and white spearmint sweets which started off hard and then had a soft centre - I used to love them.  She also used to sell tadding nets but mainly we used grandad's homemade with bamboo canes, wire and the foot out of nan's old stocking !  Happy days.

Pamela Tranter at July 1, 2009 at 3:13 PM

One of my first memories is standing outside Beeches Road Infant School, listening to the grown-ups talking about the death of the King - Feb 1952.  Anyone remember the school ?  I remember Miss Dixon and Miss Butler, nature walks in the park and  being scared of the man on the sit-on lawnmower because he could not possibly be in control of it as his feet were not on the floor.  Also remember the Saturday afternoon shows in the bandstand where you paid 3d to sit on the green slated seats to watch the show.

 

My memories of the park include the wonderful War Memorial and the wide esplanade leading into the park from the top of Herbert Street - anyone remember Mrs Sheasby's sweet shop ?  Then there was the tea rooms, the duck pond where we used to go tadding, the swings and the paddling pool where I once fell in because I would not give over walking around that semi-circular rim !  Then there were the shows and the fairs and the fireworks.  How innocent our fun was in those days and how enjoyable.

 

My grandad had an allotment behind the houses on Beeches Road and does anyone remember that beautiful bungalow that was built half way along sometime in the late 50s.  There were some lovely old houses in Beeches Road.  I especially remember the house where the vicar of St Phillips, Rev Crowther  Green, used to live with his two daughters.  But I cannot remember the name of the vicar who replaced him.  Can anyone tell me ?  Anyone remember the smell from the SelaCough factory when they were boiling the mixture ?

 

Then there was the town itself.  Every other shop was a shoe shop - or so it seemed.  Quances, the butcher, George Masons, Timothy Whites and Taylors, M &S, Woolies, the Market (Carters China stall where they threw the tea sets around), Bell & Jones, Stanley Martins, Thompson and Rose, Bagnalls the Ironmongers, Bert Shinton with his peculiar mix of TVs, radios and bikes, Millerships the toy and model shop - the list goes on and on.  Three questions  :  Firstly, does anyone remember the two shops at the bottom of Jesson Street, Allen's the Post Office and Bissells the grocers, where they cut the cheese using a wire, patted the butter and measured out the sugar into blue bags.  Secondly, what was the name of the wool shop cum childrens' clothing shop in Paradise Street, just up from the Kings Cinema ?  Thirdly, what was the name of the general grocers right on the Square where they used to put your money in a canister and send it flying over the ceiling to the cashier and then back again with the change ?

 

I would love to come and see the town again but would a visit now destroy all the memories that have remained in tact this long.

I think vicar Daniels replaced crowther green at st Phillips. After him was Vicar swann then Laurie skeleton(I'm in the picture showing him preaching) went to ST philips 2 years ago very sad about 20 people and very little passion. Everyone forgets west brom was very middle-class in 70s largest superstore in Europe(still quoted in tesco literature !) just think of the shops, m&s, Sainsbury, boots, chelsea girls etc etc I really don't like going home as it just depresses me without the football the town would be dead.

Pamela Tranter at July 1, 2009 at 3:13 PM

One of my first memories is standing outside Beeches Road Infant School, listening to the grown-ups talking about the death of the King - Feb 1952.  Anyone remember the school ?  I remember Miss Dixon and Miss Butler, nature walks in the park and  being scared of the man on the sit-on lawnmower because he could not possibly be in control of it as his feet were not on the floor.  Also remember the Saturday afternoon shows in the bandstand where you paid 3d to sit on the green slated seats to watch the show.

 

My memories of the park include the wonderful War Memorial and the wide esplanade leading into the park from the top of Herbert Street - anyone remember Mrs Sheasby's sweet shop ?  Then there was the tea rooms, the duck pond where we used to go tadding, the swings and the paddling pool where I once fell in because I would not give over walking around that semi-circular rim !  Then there were the shows and the fairs and the fireworks.  How innocent our fun was in those days and how enjoyable.

 

My grandad had an allotment behind the houses on Beeches Road and does anyone remember that beautiful bungalow that was built half way along sometime in the late 50s.  There were some lovely old houses in Beeches Road.  I especially remember the house where the vicar of St Phillips, Rev Crowther  Green, used to live with his two daughters.  But I cannot remember the name of the vicar who replaced him.  Can anyone tell me ?  Anyone remember the smell from the SelaCough factory when they were boiling the mixture ?

 

Then there was the town itself.  Every other shop was a shoe shop - or so it seemed.  Quances, the butcher, George Masons, Timothy Whites and Taylors, M &S, Woolies, the Market (Carters China stall where they threw the tea sets around), Bell & Jones, Stanley Martins, Thompson and Rose, Bagnalls the Ironmongers, Bert Shinton with his peculiar mix of TVs, radios and bikes, Millerships the toy and model shop - the list goes on and on.  Three questions  :  Firstly, does anyone remember the two shops at the bottom of Jesson Street, Allen's the Post Office and Bissells the grocers, where they cut the cheese using a wire, patted the butter and measured out the sugar into blue bags.  Secondly, what was the name of the wool shop cum childrens' clothing shop in Paradise Street, just up from the Kings Cinema ?  Thirdly, what was the name of the general grocers right on the Square where they used to put your money in a canister and send it flying over the ceiling to the cashier and then back again with the change ?

 

I would love to come and see the town again but would a visit now destroy all the memories that have remained in tact this long.

Pam,

You may find these of interest.  There are also some other Sets showing aspects of West Brom.  Some will depress you, however: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stevewilliams7/sets/72157622205684850/

Steve

Pamela Tranter at July 1, 2009 at 3:13 PM

One of my first memories is standing outside Beeches Road Infant School, listening to the grown-ups talking about the death of the King - Feb 1952.  Anyone remember the school ?  I remember Miss Dixon and Miss Butler, nature walks in the park and  being scared of the man on the sit-on lawnmower because he could not possibly be in control of it as his feet were not on the floor.  Also remember the Saturday afternoon shows in the bandstand where you paid 3d to sit on the green slated seats to watch the show.

 

My memories of the park include the wonderful War Memorial and the wide esplanade leading into the park from the top of Herbert Street - anyone remember Mrs Sheasby's sweet shop ?  Then there was the tea rooms, the duck pond where we used to go tadding, the swings and the paddling pool where I once fell in because I would not give over walking around that semi-circular rim !  Then there were the shows and the fairs and the fireworks.  How innocent our fun was in those days and how enjoyable.

 

My grandad had an allotment behind the houses on Beeches Road and does anyone remember that beautiful bungalow that was built half way along sometime in the late 50s.  There were some lovely old houses in Beeches Road.  I especially remember the house where the vicar of St Phillips, Rev Crowther  Green, used to live with his two daughters.  But I cannot remember the name of the vicar who replaced him.  Can anyone tell me ?  Anyone remember the smell from the SelaCough factory when they were boiling the mixture ?

 

Then there was the town itself.  Every other shop was a shoe shop - or so it seemed.  Quances, the butcher, George Masons, Timothy Whites and Taylors, M &S, Woolies, the Market (Carters China stall where they threw the tea sets around), Bell & Jones, Stanley Martins, Thompson and Rose, Bagnalls the Ironmongers, Bert Shinton with his peculiar mix of TVs, radios and bikes, Millerships the toy and model shop - the list goes on and on.  Three questions  :  Firstly, does anyone remember the two shops at the bottom of Jesson Street, Allen's the Post Office and Bissells the grocers, where they cut the cheese using a wire, patted the butter and measured out the sugar into blue bags.  Secondly, what was the name of the wool shop cum childrens' clothing shop in Paradise Street, just up from the Kings Cinema ?  Thirdly, what was the name of the general grocers right on the Square where they used to put your money in a canister and send it flying over the ceiling to the cashier and then back again with the change ?

 

I would love to come and see the town again but would a visit now destroy all the memories that have remained in tact this long.

Pam, when I started school at Lodge Estate Infants, my first teacher was Miss Crowther-Green; probably one of the daughters of the vicar that you remember..?

Pam

Not sure, but the the name of the shop in Paradise Street might have been Peacocks 

Pam,

Th shop at Dartmouth Square, that sent the money to the cashier via an overhead wire system was, I am pretty certain, the Co-op. It was on the same side as M&S but nearer the Square. I recall that it also had sawdust on the tiled floor which, whilst I was waiting for my Mother to be served, I would gather into a pile with my feet!

I think the Louvre had one of those money in a tube things as well, always wondered what the person on the other end looked like? Once worked with a lady who had worked there, Doris Main, but didn't like to ask her.

Can anyone explain why it is possible to remember your Moms Coop number from over 50 years ago, but not what you did yesterday!!

Our number...304820... was written in pencil on the front door frame, very handy for the milkman so Mom could get her 'Divi'

Yet another fond memory dragged from the back corners of my mind!        What a wonderful website..........

Essa at August 22, 2011 at 4:32 PM

Can anyone explain why it is possible to remember your Moms Coop number from over 50 years ago, but not what you did yesterday!!

Our number...304820... was written in pencil on the front door frame, very handy for the milkman so Mom could get her 'Divi'

Yet another fond memory dragged from the back corners of my mind!        What a wonderful website..........

275056.  Yes it is weird.  A bit like never forgetting your military service number.

Pamela Tranter at July 1, 2009 at 3:13 PM

One of my first memories is standing outside Beeches Road Infant School, listening to the grown-ups talking about the death of the King - Feb 1952.  Anyone remember the school ?  I remember Miss Dixon and Miss Butler, nature walks in the park and  being scared of the man on the sit-on lawnmower because he could not possibly be in control of it as his feet were not on the floor.  Also remember the Saturday afternoon shows in the bandstand where you paid 3d to sit on the green slated seats to watch the show.

 

My memories of the park include the wonderful War Memorial and the wide esplanade leading into the park from the top of Herbert Street - anyone remember Mrs Sheasby's sweet shop ?  Then there was the tea rooms, the duck pond where we used to go tadding, the swings and the paddling pool where I once fell in because I would not give over walking around that semi-circular rim !  Then there were the shows and the fairs and the fireworks.  How innocent our fun was in those days and how enjoyable.

 

My grandad had an allotment behind the houses on Beeches Road and does anyone remember that beautiful bungalow that was built half way along sometime in the late 50s.  There were some lovely old houses in Beeches Road.  I especially remember the house where the vicar of St Phillips, Rev Crowther  Green, used to live with his two daughters.  But I cannot remember the name of the vicar who replaced him.  Can anyone tell me ?  Anyone remember the smell from the SelaCough factory when they were boiling the mixture ?

 

Then there was the town itself.  Every other shop was a shoe shop - or so it seemed.  Quances, the butcher, George Masons, Timothy Whites and Taylors, M &S, Woolies, the Market (Carters China stall where they threw the tea sets around), Bell & Jones, Stanley Martins, Thompson and Rose, Bagnalls the Ironmongers, Bert Shinton with his peculiar mix of TVs, radios and bikes, Millerships the toy and model shop - the list goes on and on.  Three questions  :  Firstly, does anyone remember the two shops at the bottom of Jesson Street, Allen's the Post Office and Bissells the grocers, where they cut the cheese using a wire, patted the butter and measured out the sugar into blue bags.  Secondly, what was the name of the wool shop cum childrens' clothing shop in Paradise Street, just up from the Kings Cinema ?  Thirdly, what was the name of the general grocers right on the Square where they used to put your money in a canister and send it flying over the ceiling to the cashier and then back again with the change ?

 

I would love to come and see the town again but would a visit now destroy all the memories that have remained in tact this long.

surely the grocers was george masons pamela,i was born in roebuck st. in 1925 so spent my chilhood in that area,when i was a kid you couldn,t walk down beeches road if your shoes squeaked,i was last home 21 years ago but,sadly,i have no desire to go again,but i have some good memories.

Janet Reeve ( nee Jones) at August 20, 2011 at 1:11 AM

Pam

Not sure, but the the name of the shop in Paradise Street might have been Peacocks 

my wife (before i met her),worked at peacocks janet,it was destroyed by bombs around 1942,she was sent to a factory in handsworth to make pyjamas

bill phillips at August 24, 2011 at 8:20 PM

Janet Reeve ( nee Jones) at August 20, 2011 at 1:11 AM

Pam

Not sure, but the the name of the shop in Paradise Street might have been Peacocks 

my wife (before i met her),worked at peacocks janet,it was destroyed by bombs around 1942,she was sent to a factory in handsworth to make pyjamas

There was definitely a Peacock's in Paradise Street in the 50s and 60s, so it must have been rebuilt.  I recall that although it was on one level, the floor dropped down several inches about half-way along the store.

barbara at August 21, 2011 at 9:30 AM

I think the Louvre had one of those money in a tube things as well, always wondered what the person on the other end looked like? Once worked with a lady who had worked there, Doris Main, but didn't like to ask her.

Barbara, I don't think it was the Louvre - but Halls bookshop above Dartmouth Square had those wonderful polished brass tubes that went 'whooosh' when the money was put into them and they were put into the pipe leading to the cashier. I would have sworn that it was George Mason's that had the wooden balls on wires going to the glass booth in the corner where the cashier sat...

I had forgotten about that lovely Hall's Stationers I used to go in just to look at the lovely new books

Hi Pam 

i went to beeches road school i lived in Roebuck Street at the bottom of beeches road.I remember some good times there. and Dartmouth Park well i had some cracking times in there i loved that park . do you remember the Pirate Ship that ran along Birmingham Road i think it collected money for the poor good god we were all poor then but happy .i have great memories of West Brom in them days what about the. Adelphe and the Gala Baths.I live in Warley now and go to West Brom very often it is just a dump sorry it;s the only way i can discribe it now .

I have been trying to find info on the Farley Fountain that used to be in Datmouth Park which is on Darmouth Square now but no one seems to now anything

please dont go back you will cry believe me  

Peacocks in Paradise Street was quite a big shop I remember, right opposite the market. I'm sure there was a small shop that sold knitting wool, needles and this type of stuff. My mother used to go there and I'm sure it was by the Kings cinema. There was the cinema, then I think the chip shop next, then I think a sweet shop and then this small shop selling the wool if my memory serves. By the way (198448) !!!

I remember by the Kings cinema was Turners the record shop, you could go in and ask them to play any record and they would always oblidge, i think one of the girls who worked there was named Chrissy Anderson.