Here’s yet another photo treat for folk who remember the 70s, 80s and 90s in Brownhills – David Evans met up with the wonderful Gerald Reece on his 80th birthday walk a couple of weeks ago and Gerald shared some rather wonderful photos for us to have a gander at.
I’m on reduced power this holiday having a rest so I thought this might make a good discussion point – there’s certainly much to get your teeth into here.
The church on Coppice Lane, Brownhills: I believe the clergyman was Jack Smith from Clayhanger. May 1983 – the building is now apartments. Image kindly donated by Gerald Reece via David Evans.
The church before conversion. Note that the smaller hall – the Sunday school – was demolished and is now a car park. May 1983. Image kindly donated by Gerald Reece via David Evans.
This is the shop that used to stand on the corner of Seeds Lane: You can see the bricked-up door and witness to a bigger shop window. I only knew it as a chip shop and I can remember sitting on the sill of the window inside as a little boy, waiting for chips. It’s now a garden. September 1986. Image kindly donated by Gerald Reece via David Evans.
The old Co-op stood where Farmfoods is today – the small shop added on was a butchers, I think. Upstairs were meeting rooms – battery the ‘Labour exchange’ – an early form of Job Centre. January 1987. Image kindly donated by Gerald Reece via David Evans.
The Tesco at the back of Ravens Court had previously been a Victor Value but changed around 1970 when Tesco bought the chain out. This store closed after Tesco bought Hillards and converted it into the store we have today. Tesco have never deliberately opened a store in Brownhills. February 1987/ Image kindly donated by Gerald Reece via David Evans.
Undated image showing what is now Tesco as Hillards, it’s original format. Note the ‘marina’ had walls then which was a really peculiar idea. Undated, 1987 or earlier. Image kindly donated by Gerald Reece via David Evans.
A good photo to prove Tesco took over Hillards, and also a good photo for period Ford lovers. Undated, but surely 1987. Image kindly donated by Gerald Reece via David Evans.
The old foundry and remains of Lindale House on Lindon Road where Chandlers Keep is today. Undated, but mid 1980s as the mound from landscaping Clayhanger Tip can be seen, left. Image kindly donated by Gerald Reece via David Evans.
See more about the foundry in this post.
Sadly undated image of St. Thomas Mission Church, which stood behind the short wall that still exists at the top of the parade opposite Watling Street School. It was demolished in the early 1970s. I think the Parade is off right so this shows the Parade/Watling Street junction without traffic lights. Undated. Image kindly donated by Gerald Reece via David Evans.
The ruins of Swingbridge Farm, Clayhanger – only just now being cleared of the rubble from the farm’s demolition. I’m guessing late 80s/early 90s for this undated one. Image kindly donated by Gerald Reece via David Evans.
The mid-80s removal of the remains of the railway bridge that crossed the Chester Road on the Common. The bridge deck had already long gone, but the foot tunnel and abutments remained. May 1983. Image kindly donated by Gerald Reece via David Evans.
You can see more of the above demolition here.
One of the Ogley Schools in Church Road. I shan’t invite derision by guessing which one. Undated. Image kindly donated by Gerald Reece via David Evans.
I’m fairly sure the demolition of this school is recorded here.
Demolition of the row including the Station Hotel – this would have been the taxi office. Undated. Image kindly donated by Gerald Reece via David Evans.
The full set of the demolition of the Station Hotel can be seen here.
A great shot of the legendary Taylors Cafe on the Pelsall Road. Never noticed the arch-topped door to the house, nor the huge upper front window before. Undated. Image kindly donated by Gerald Reece via David Evans.
It’s Savers today, but has been all kinds of things, including a Woolworths, Shoppers World and an indoor market. For a period early 90s Victor Value was a name revived for a chain of food discount stores. It failed as a chain. Also interesting is the sign advertising the BNRR enquiry on the lamp-post. Before computer typesetting, such posts from hand-lettered originals were common. Undated. Image kindly donated by Gerald Reece via David Evans.
The same store after the Shopping Mall (an indoor market) failed. Note Range Records left, and The Shoe Pricefighters, right. I’d say late 80s. Undated. Image kindly donated by Gerald Reece via David Evans.
What do you recall from this gallery? If you have any thoughts or questions, please do share them – comment here, find me on social media or mail me: BrownhillsBob at Googlemail dot com. Thanks.
I thank Gerald and David for this remarkable set – it really is most excellent and for me personally has stirred many memories.
The donor of these remarkable images, Gerald Reece is of course a talented and superlative local historian, indeed now resident in Devon, who wrote the seminal work ‘Brownhills – A walk into history’ upon which this blog stands.
