Reader and top local history operative [Howmuch?] is desperately looking for information about The Ivy House, on Lichfield Road, in Walsall Wood. Not the new block of flats on Streets Corner, but the old offllicense the block took it’s name from.
The off license – before it was Jaz’s – was a dingy, dark wood paneled shop, run by a rather deaf elderly lady and her husband, and it’s torturing [Howmuch?] that he just can’t remember the couple’s name, or much else about this old building. Do you have any recollections or pictures? Since the building was demolished somewhere around 2001, it would be a nice addition to the historical record.
Please comment here, or mail me on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Cheers!
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I used to go in there all the time when i was younger, the couple that ran it were so friendly. I was so sad when they left, just cant remember their names though x
x
I remember going there for fags and beer on occasion. I always remember the counter – I seem to recall the space you stood in was quite small.
Cheers
Bob
Before Jaz owned the off licence, I believe it was run by Mr and Mrs Tomlinson who previously had a paper shop in Brownhills High Street Regards Godfrey (oakparkrunner)
Crikey, that was a quick response.Thanks Godfrey – I knew you’d know. Trust you’re OK?
Best wishes
Bob
The Edwards were the last owners of the shop if I remember right but in the early 80S it was always known as Def Doras’ the name plate of the shop is now built into the front gable of the flats
Thanks, Simon. Deaf Dora! Of course.
Cheers,
Bob
Opposite the offlicence stood Les jackson’s grocers, a double-fronted shop. His bungalow stood on the corner where the new Ivy House flats stand.On the other corner stood Bates butchers, which was replaced by the bungalow which is still in the process of being re-modelled.
The offlicence used to have a large car parked down the side driveway..a Jaguar or some such..
Between Jackson’s grocers and Bates butchers one of the houses was a newsagents and shop.
On the other corner stood a large shop..before the car sales opened.
There was a cycle repair shop( where you had your accumulator recharged!), and a wool shop.. and a fish and chip shop nearby…
In Brownhills Road Warrington’s ran one small shop, opposite the school entrance, and Polly Dixon ran the other very old shop!
With regards. D Evans
The Newsagents across the road was called Chaplins.
The Warrington’s shop on Brownhills Road was run by my Auntie Ethel – she lived behind the shop with her husband Sam Warrington. I was born next door (iattached – on the right if you stood with your back to the school) and lived there until I was 5 when we emigrated to Australia. My mother Margery Moseley nee Ensor and my father moved in with her father William David (Bill) Ensor when he became ill. Grand dad Ensor used to have the milk float which he took over from his father-in-law John Whitehouse.
Regards
Alison Rothery (nee Moseley)
Yes, the owner in the 60s and 70s was Cyril Tomlinson, I can´t remember the name of his wife, but they had a daughter caled Pat.
Cyril was a member of Brownhills Rotary Club and used to run an old Daimler Majestic, which he kept up the entry at the side of the premises.
Withnalls owned the shop by the entrance to Oak Park, on Lichfield Road, I think the barbers opposite..in the row of houses about where the derelict library building is, was owned by Wollaston, Riggs owned the fish and chip shop, Edwards owned the glass business, but who owned the Wool shop? The big shop which stood on the corner, which became a car sales, was Hardwicks. I think this site will become a convenience store again soon. The bungalow being remodelled looks to be very near to its completion.
With regards D Evans
My wife believes that the off licence was run by an elderly lady called Bates in the late 50’s, early 60’s. She had a daughter called Dagmar. The newsagent was run by Aubrey Benton before the Chaplins.
Mrs Alice Bates, I think
my apologies. Corrections;- Abe Holyman was the gents’ barber near Streets Corner, Alan Beamond was the cobbler, and..finally found out that Baileys ran the wool shop..probably connected to the Ladies Hairdressers Baileys …again, my apologies for incorrect info. Kind regards, D.Evans
The Ivy House ‘licence’ was listed as belonging to John Bates in 1919. In 1944, the licence went to one Frederick Bates and in March, 1956, to Alice Bates. She held it until 1965, when Lily Peake took it on for a year, then in April 1966, Mary M Tomlinson took the licence until 1974, when the register runs out. Sarah Nutting was listed as the owner of the place in 191, but she sold it to Ind Coope in 1936, who sold it to Ansells in 1960. I assume they still owned it in 1974.
Hope that helps in some way.
Hi Paul….
Sorry I missed your mail yesterday. It got buried in a tide of crap, and in my desire to juggle I missed it.
Thanks for yet another top contribution from yourself and Walsall Local History Centre; you guys are stars and I’m always glad of your help.
This does indeed help, and both I and Howmuch (who’s posted below) are in your debt, as we are to all the wonderful contributors to this thread.
For latecomers to the party (!) You can read about Paul, his work, his excellent contributions to this blog and the work of Walsall Local History Centre in this post:
http://brownhillsbob.com/2011/03/04/a-body-of-evidence/
In return, if there’s anything that I or the readers of the Brownhills Blog can help you out with at the WLHC, please do get in touch. The readership are keen and ready to crowdsource if required…
Best wishes
Bob
Hello Bob, I would like to thank all the reader that have contributed info on the old Ivy House, it has cleared up a lot of questions for me, and for other readers I bet.
great site you have Bob.
many thanks
Howmuch
Couldn’t do it without you.
Best wishes
Bob
I always remember the Off Licence as Bates. But what’s puzzling me is the wool shop opposite Whittnals. In the early 60’s my Mum used to send me to get her wool, that she had ‘Put By’ But I cannot remember if the elderly lady who ran it, was Mrs Blakemore or a Mrs Bladon. Also, does anyone know who a Mr & Mrs Bampton were?
I was born in 1954 on Shire Oak Hill. I remember my Grandfather saying that when I was first born I looked like one of Edgar Bedworth rabbits hanging outside his shop. I was only 3lb 1oz born and a Midwife named Gladys Paddock helped looked after me.
Love this site, keep up the good work.
Hi Jenny,
I was born in 64 my brother Paul in 51. Gladys Paddock was the midwife at both our births, I think she was about a fair while. Dr Roberts was our GP. Mum’s maiden name was Ensor.
Ali