I thought it was about time we revisited some of the lost shops and stores in Brownhills. I’ve heard lots of people – particularly commentators here – reminisce about Selwyn Smith’s shop, and Cooper’s seems somewhat legendary, too. Was this the same Cooper family that owned the shop now converted to flats at the junction of Chester Road and Freizland lane?
As ever, if you see any of the books mentioned here, do buy a copy. They’re as rare as hen’s teeth, and the work the authors put into them cannot be understated. I thank them all.
Edit: 16th April – I’m having trouble with this post and formatting. If it looks odd, my apologies. Something, somewhere, is broken and I’m not sure why. I’m working on it.
It’s incredible really, how little this scene has changed in subsequent years. Anyone remember the coal merchant that would be just out of shot on the right? From ‘Memories of Brownhills Past’ by Clarice Mayo & Geoff Harrington.
Ice cream seems another recurring theme – recently we mentioned the unfortunate wartime demise of the Pelari carthorse, Selwyn Smiths is also mentioned a great deal. For my generation, it was Joes, which had a fantastic selection of seemingly exotic flavours, including a face-curling lemon sorbet. Fro ‘Memories of Old Brownhills’ by Clarice Mayo & Geoff Harrington.
I don’t remember ice cream vans looking like this – in my childhood there were two distinct sorts – the Walls vans who sold wrapped ices, not cones – the vans were yellow and white, with a distinctive three-note chime, and the Mr. Whippy type that sold soft, aerated delights. Taken from ‘Memories of Old Brownhills’ by Clarice Mayo & Geoff Harrington.
I can’t really recognise this shop, it has changed so much. I love the old bubblegum machine and the shy-looking girl at the extreme right of the image. Did she sneak into shot or was her inclusion deliberate? From ‘Memories of Brownhills Past’ by Clarice Mayo & Geoff Harrington.
Coopers is a mytery to me. Loads of folk mention it, and the family seem to have been notable locally, but I know little of them. I would love to hear your recollections. From ‘Memories of Old Brownhills’ by Clarice Mayo & Geoff Harrington.
