The community at the canal end of Pier Street, shown top left – known as Pike Helve (and oddly marked of a few maps as ‘Pike Hill’) was poor, but well known. Image from Britain from Above/English Heritage.
I’ve had a lovely contribution in from reader Elizabeth Hampton, who found Reg ‘Aereg’ Fullelove’s poem about Brownhills High Street in the Rhyme and Season article here last week – this is a wonderful memoir which I’m sure readers will love.
I’ve actually split it into too, as there’s so much lovely material that it’s worth breaking into separate posts. In this one, Elizabeth remember Brownhills in her post-war childhood, and mentions some very familiar names.
Thanks so much to Elizabeth for a wonderful contribution – please do join in; comment here of mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Thanks!
Elizabeth Wrote:
I was born in 1938 in South Yardley but moved to Broownhills before I was one and my two brothers born 1940 and 1942 in Brownhills. We also had two elder brothers 10 and 12 years older than me. We lived in the infamous Pier Street just of the High Street, My mother and father doing their very best in the terrible rented terrace house for us to keep us clean, well fed and loved. Against all the problems of no water in the house, only a tap in the yard for all living in the terrace and outside toilets.
My brothers and I remember other shops . At the top of Pier street turn right there on the corner was Kingstons Shoe Shop. (He was also our Landlord) They was also Holmes the Green Grocers (in which the sisters worked) Starbucks the Butchers (son Tommy went to school at the same time as our Tom) I think Caters Electrical shop was there before they moved over the road to the bigger shop. There was also another shoe shop called Kingston One time there was a dentist, (which I had the pleasure of going to) and of course the Co-op, there used to be Smiths (who also sold homemade ice-cream) and I don’t know if it was taken over by the Co-op Butcher shop or whether it was side by side. Selwyn Smith was further down the High Street and I used to go to Junior school at the same time as Joyce Smith his daughter. (As well as Dena Webster, Betty Hampton (funny enough which is now my name).
Selwyn Smith and his competitor Mr. Pelari kept generations of kids happy with their local ice cream. Image from ‘Memories of Old Brownhills’ by Clarice Mayo and Geoff Harrington.
Across the road just near to Brickiln Street was my favourite Sweet Shop, run by I think Mrs. Shrigley and her husband. We would go in with our sweet coupon and she would make it stretch as best she could. An ounce of this from one jar and ounce of that from another. We had H. Brookes clothes shop which used to belong to the old Kent sisters. My Mom used to buy our clothes from there. Then there was Craddocks. I remember Joes, and of course Mrs. Daft’s fish and chip shop.
I cannot remember now if it was Mrs. Daft who fell into the Canal and my brother Matt got her out. He received a certificate from the Royal Humane Society for doing this. I know he had just had his wages and there were still in his pocket when he jumped in and my Mom hung his pound notes on the line to dry.
I think most of us of a certain age remember Joe’s in Brownhills High Street – not as the book says, a cafe, but a sweet shop and tobacconist. They had a fantastic range of ice cream in exotic flavours, and they sold fireworks around bonfire night. Lote’s, of course, was the rather dark jewellery shop, and just out of shot, next door, was I believe the Ash & Nephew off-license. From ‘Around Pelsall & Brownhills’ by David F. Vodden.
Going back to Pier Street, if you turned left there was the
Weslyan Chapel
and when I left School the Education Offices,( where I got my first job)
Mount Zion Chapel.
Shops Luckmans,
Tomlinsons Paper Shop, where my Dad would go every Saturday to pay for his papers and have a chat and pay on his card for our Christmas presents – books , toys etc.
Ann Seedhouse the Chemists.
The Corn and Seed Shop
The Regent Cinema where I spent many a happy Tuesday and Friday night downstairs could not afford to go upstairs. We use to have two films a week. Mr. Turner was always around and if we left anything like a hat or gloves he would nine times out ten have it there for you.
The audience at one of the last Saturday Matinee shows at the Regent Cinema, Brownhills, in 1962. Taken from ‘Around Pelsall & Brownhills in old photographs’ by David F. Vodden.
I remember going to see Victor Mature in Samson and Delilah and the film broke down and he gave us all our money back or we could go another night.
There was also another Fish and Chip Shop near to the Cinema going towards the Station and across the road by Church Road was the Post Office. [Saults? – Bob]
I also remember Princeps and Bradburys with their large windows.
We also had the fair every year on the ground by Silver Street.
I see in the poem he mentions hairdresser Tommy the Black, does he mean the coloured Barber who had his shop further on than the Cinema and was named Mr. Brown. I think his wife was also a ladies hair dresser. My father used to go there for his hair cut for years and when my Dad retired due to ill health this Barber would not take another penny for cutting my Dads hair.
[Bob – I believe Tommy Brown was Tommy the Back as he was then known, he used to work from a shed behind his wife’s shop about where Wilkinson is today. If I’m wrong, please do correct me – Bob]
In the 60s, Brownhills was home to several Emporia, including Prrinceps and Bradbury’s. Image form ‘Memories of Brownhills Past’ by Clarice Mayo and Geoff Harrington.
My two brothers and I when we meet will often go over old times (maybe to the boredom of our families) and wonder whatever happened to some people. For instance there used to be a family called Cresswell who lived in Pier Street, who really were much poorer than us, a lovely family and very intelligent, we can recall Freddie and Winnie. I remember their father dying and their poor Mother being left to brig them up.
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Definitely Saults chip shop and fishmongers next door to the old cinema. I lived in church road and watched as the old site was demolished and the new shopping centre was built. Unfortunately now look at it!
Mr Brown the barber was my preference as my mom Beryl Margeret Cresswell (then remarried when my dad died to become a Matthews) always took me there. Mr Brown always put me at ease and as far as I recall he never accepted the full amount of money my mom sent me with even though she said it was exact change.
With regards to the Cresswells in Pier street I believe they were related but due to step dad family circumstances never seem to visit them.
I lived in Pier Street for my first eleven years from 1954. The Seedhouse family lived opposite and Melvyn and I spent hours playing cowboys and Indians together. I remember there was a small farm at the bottom of the road on the left ( lived in by Mrs Penn?). I also played with children from the canal cottages but I can’t remember their names. I loved the field where the clinic was built and remember hot sunny days playing in there.
ss lovely memory trip I remember the row in pier street and the people who lived in there poor but proud As i recall lot cresswell in hs younger days could play the piano quite well .Another lovely memory was MRS SHRIGLEYS sweet shop there are many little jewels dowmn our memory lane that dont shine like others but are precious like EHTEL POINTONS little grocery shop mrs jones frouit mrs birches these were by joss hardings then down catshill was MR DEAN I can still see him behind his litlle wooden counter maidlins up church hill beaty biggins up lichfield road open all hours for a natter and chat all little jewels in old brownhills crown god bless and thanks
.
What a great write up and a bostin trip down memory lane. Born 1954 and always a Brownhills lad i can remember the best ever chips from Sault’s and after a custard cream eclair from Taylors cake shop. I also remember when i was young helping me grandad in his shop at the bottom of the High Street by the Warreners. I was also a regular at the Saturday matinee, can remember the first time me Dad took me to Jack Shirley’s for a hair cut, wanted a beatles style ended with short back and sides.
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Hi Bob
This brings back such fabulous memories for me and my sister.
We lived in Shannon Drive Brownhills West and went to Watling Street School first whilst the Brownhills West County Primary School was being built on the estate where we lived.From there we
went Brownhills Comp (as it was known then)
I now live in Surrey and my sister in France, but today we are travelling to the Midlands on a ‘nostalgic tour’
We are going to walk everywhere for the next 2 days. We should reach Briwnhills by lunch time today so will stop off at The Crown on the A5 close to where we lived for a spot of lunch.
Does anyone remember Foy’s grocers and off license shop on Brownhills 83 High Street ??
may nan and grandad used to own joes it closed in 1986 due to the 80s ressesion
Hi Chris, I grew up in Joes sweet shop until I left to do my training to become a Riding Instructer.
Mom, Ros, ran the shop and a cafe further on down by the chip shop. Your parents probably bought the shop of mom before she moved to Brighto .Mom passed in Jan 2020. And I have no pictures of my youth in Brownhills.
I found it very emotional when I found information about Brownhills, Ogley Hay infant and junior school. I too went to Brownhills comprehensive. Was in the first year of its opening.
I moved eventually, via Belgium, to live in Germany where I have been since 1982.
Great to see the post. Many memories of Brownhills and with Uncle Lote next door with his bantum chickens.
Will keep on eye on the website from now on.
Jo Cleghorn
I lived in Pier St during world war 2 evacuated from Birmingham 1940 lived in canal cottages so poor, we swam in the canal, played on the ice when it was frozen. Ours was the first house, think there were either 10 or 12 but I remember there was a pub at the end by the canal bridge, we kids just ran wild – it was my Auntie Lil’s house, she got TB fetched her husband back from the middle east but she died. I remember the Cresswells, Bessie who had some teeth out but died in the process.
I now live in Western Australia, a very old lady now, but my memories of Pier St will always be with me.
i
Hello, Just seen your write up on Bobs Blog. I wrote the article on Pier Street. Perhaps we met years ago. I too am an old lady now.
Can anyone remember the big round Gasometer that stood on he waste land bottom of Silver Street and the canal – they used to have a fair there once a year – is the Gasometer still there? my memories are in the 40’s
See here – fill your boots! The gasometer went long ago, in the early 60s.
https://brownhillsbob.com/2014/04/02/classical-gas/
Cheers
Bob
Can anyone remember the big round Gasometer that stood on he waste land bottom of Silver Street and the canal – they used to have a fair there once a year – is the Gasometer still there? my memories are in the 40’s
Hi, I lived in Brownhills from when i was about 2/3, my dad, Larry Doherty moved us there with his job. I remember the old GP surgery on the High Street, it was up a little path with lots of trees surrounding it? Well that’s how I remember it? Does anyone know what happened to it?
how come we didn’t hear about the them getting rid of the Gasometer in Australia????ha ha
Can anyone remember the big round Gasometer that stood on he waste land bottom of Silver Street and the canal – they used to have a fair there once a year – is the Gasometer still there? my memories are in the 40’s c
’cause we didn’t have one….
I loved this article my gran lived in pier st by the pub by the canal my mom used to take me there on a Sunday afternoon i remember calling at a Joes for sweets The folks were poor but friendly. My mom is ninety now but still talks about how poor they were.
Thank you Sandra for your kind comments. I bet I knew your Nan as I am eighty now.
Regards Elizabeth Hampton
Hi Elizabeth thanks for your reply don’t know if this information is any use to you I am Seventy my mom who is still with us is ninety her mom my gran would be long gone before your time. It’s lovely to here about the street even though the folks that lived there had very little but they pulled together X
Sorry Sandra I did mean you Mom – not your Nan. Regards Elizabeth Hampton
my pal jimmy robinson lived in the house opposite the pier inn he was agood boxer used to work at the wood pit as a black smiths stricker arther luke lived there too he used to play for ogley villa
I remember the dentist and a big family that lived on the end by the canal I think it was the last house standing
Hello Stephen I can remember having fillings done at that dentist that kept falling out, i think it was run by the heath authority , I can also recall the old houses but did not know who lived in them,
I did not know when I submitted my memories of POier Street and Brownhills it would also trigger a lot in others. I have loved reading them all. I wish my two younger brothers Tom and Joe Spedding were still here to read them. They would have had a lot to say. My only other brother who is left is Matt Spedding and he is 92 years so I dont expect there is a lot in his generation still living. He has lived in America for years and is going strong. I hope Reg Fullelove is also going strong. He appears to be nearer our Matt’s age.
Elizabeth Hampton (nee Spedding)
Hello Elisabeth.
Thankyou for the memories. You may have known my mom from Joe’s, Ros. She died 2020 aged 82.
I remeber The shops I had a Saturday job at the chemists opposite our shop, Provost or something. The fruut n veg next door to that. The off license and Brooks’ where we got
our scjool uniforms. At the top of the road, by the traffic light where you turned left towards Pelsall, I remember a chinese take away and on the left annex to the comp.
The ols boys school. Opposite the entrance to Holland Park.
I do hope I am not getting things muddled up with other towns.
But have actually only lived in Brownhills, Tong and Brighton in the U.K.
If anyone seeing this post has any photos of the 70’s high street.
I would love to have copies.
jocleghorn@web.de
hi elizabeth reg fullelove calling what a load of memoureis we have of the oll pier street and old brownhills lovely to reminis excuse bad spelling from a 90 year old one figer printer
Hello Reg. I did think of a trip down memory lane but I dont think I will, might be disappointed, just keep my memories in my head. Elizabeth (Bette really)
hi elizabeth reg fullelove calling what a load of memoureis we have of the oll pier street and old brownhills lovely to reminis excuse bad spelling from a 90 year old one figer printer
I remember Elizabeth as Betty Spedding. We were good friends and I spent a lot of time with her and her brothers. Lovely to find about her and her memories of the places we both knew growing up in brownhills. When I first knew them th
Spedding family lived in Walsall Wood.. I Wonder if she remembers me. I was
Pearl Princep.