You see? There was a Starbuck in Brownhills long before the Costa. Local butchers were a matter of great pride and no little skill. This image of Starbucks in Brownhills from 1961 shows the pride they took in window displays. Image from Richard Starbuck.
Recently, the question of butchers shops in Walsall Wood has been raised, and it’s a good one worth exploring – it was raised by the wonderful Ian Pell in the comments to Trevor Shakespeare’s remarkable diesel locomotive phot last week.
Ian Pell wrote:
To all the Walsall Wood followers I wonder if anyone remembers a butcher’s shop on the Walsall bound side of Lichfield Road just before the canal bridge.
I am especially interested if there are any photos of it, especially in the mid-fifties. I think it was later sold on to another butcher.
Kind regards
Ian
An interesting debate ensued, which you can peruse here, but to aid the discussion, David Evans has been busy on the subject, and assembled this gallery, for which I thank him profusely.
If you have anything to add – photos, memories, disagreement, clarification – please do. Comment here or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com.
Thanks to all for their contributions so far…
David Evans wrote:
On Walsall Wood High Street, just before the Canal bridge, the red double door leads up an entry to a yard… I think Cherrys butchers is now Trevors barbers, and the Undertakers office, adjacent to the red double doors, was formerly Feltons butchers… or at least, was known by that name. Imagery from Google Streetview.
This is the view from the red doors, looking up the drive to the former butchers yard. Image kindly supplied by David Evans.
Up this yard and on the right hand side is the former abattoir, now used as a monumental stonemasons workshop. Image kindly supplied by David Evans.
On the left hand side in this yard is this building, reportedly formerly a bakery, now a car upholstery business.Image kindly supplied by David Evans.
Other butchers in the village at one time, were Beakes/Batkins, in Lichfield Road (now Roadrunner car spares ) where a young girl, Audrey Proffitt once stood watching the slaughterman at work, Imagery from Google Streetview.
Audrey Profit has an unfortunate experience… click here
Bates butchers at Streets Corner where a fine bungalow now stands. Imagery from Google Streetview.
Jones butchers in Salters Road, by the gents barbers. Imagery from Google Streetview.
and another abattoir was in Brownhills Road, where a new cul-de sac called Old Acre Gardens now stand. Imagery from google Streetview.