Taken from by the houses which still stand on the other corner opposite National Tyres. Image kindly supplied by Mike Stackhouse.
Readers may remember that in my post ‘Small increments’ before Christmas, I found a map from the 1960s that proved to be rather interesting. One of the things about it that piqued my curiosity was the section covering Co-op corner.
In that post, I featured this map fragment (my post on map abbreviations could be useful with this one):
When did the junction change from this bizarre layout? Middleton House Club – now the site of the tyre depot and nearby industrial units – when did that go?
I was curious about Middleton House Club, as well as the odd junction layout. Reader Gabriel commented that he couldn’t recall the club, either.
A few days ago reader Mike Stackhouse emailed me these great images of Middleton House Club, now replaced by a tyre garage. I’m sure I remember it myself now, but that could be my mind tricking me. Anyone know when it was demolished?
The photo below shows the curious central island to the junction as well, also long since gone.
Mike wrote:
Hi Bob!
I was sorting through some old stuff this afternoon when I came across these pictures.
The pictures are of (Breezes Club) Middleton House which stood on the Co-op corner.
The indoor picture was taken in the new club which was built halfway between Suttons shop and coalyard and School Avenue. This picture contains a young me with my dad, the lady next to me was (if I remember rightly) was the blind wife of the Blind pianist who played in both the old club and the new one. The man at the front was called The Colonel, because of his attire and gait, but i cannot for the life of me remember his name.
The other photo (which is not brilliant) was taken early fifties at Watling Street, you never know there may be kids on there who actually can put names to us all.
I hope that tthis may be of interest,
Regards
Mike Stackhouse
My thanks to Mike for a wonderful contribution to our local history, this is something I was surprised and pleased to happen upon. Cheers for sharing.
If you have anything to add, please feel free to comment or mail me on BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.
Thanks.
Photo taken from front by the avenues. Image kindly supplied by Mike Stackhouse.
Mike seated with his father, right of the lady. The Colonel is in the foreground, centre right. Does anyone recognise the blind lady, left, or any of the other folk in the picture? Image kindly supplied by Mike Stackhouse.
A 1950s Watling Street school class photo – know anyone? Image kindly supplied by Mike Stackhouse.