I’ve got a bit of a local history puzzle going on, and I wonder if any of the readership can help? I received an email this afternoon asking the following question:
Hi bob
My nan and grandad owned starbucks buthchers on the high street circa 1950 for a couple of decades. I’m trying to locate pictures for my mother for Xmas as it was where she grew up. Don’t suppose you could direct me to books or something?
Dominic Jeffreys
I checked Clarice Mayo & Geoff Harrington’s wonderful ‘Memories of Brownhills Past’ photo book, and also ‘Brownhills and Walsall Wood on Old Picture Postcards’ by Jan Farrow, and whilst there are many interesting shots of the High Street in both books, none appear to show the shop in question. I sent out a Twatter cry for help to Stuart over at the excellent (and undervalued) Walsall Local History Centre, who also drew a blank… so readers, it’s over to you. I’d never heard of that particular butcher, so it’s all a learning experience for me, and I figure that there’s some very clued up readers out there who can help Dominic.
If you have anything to add, please comment here or send a meesage to me on BrowhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.
A seasonal 1910 Mills postcard of the High Street, from Jan Farrows 'Brownhills and Walsall Wood on Old Picture Postcards'