Acocks Green memories
Here are memories of Acocks Green and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Acocks Green or a Acocks Green photo.
Hobmoor Croft Yardley
I was born in 1940 and lived at 27? (it might be another number) Hobmoor Croft. We lived next door to the Lewis family and the other side was the Bessie family. We lived there between 1940 and 1945 when we moved to Erdington. As I was so very young I don't have many memories of the place except that there was some sort of space at the back where they had huge tank shelters and where we kids used to play (illegally I'm sure). In the garden we had an air raid shelter built of corrugated iron and half buried in the ground. I used to love having to go down there at night with my playmates. It all seemed such fun! Little did we know what was going on at the time! My dad used the pub at the bottom of the road. My name is now Jayne Gilbert but I was born Jayne Watson. I went to a nursery in Yardley when I was 2 as my... Read more
The Shops on Yardley Road
I remember when all shopping was done by visiting independant local shops. The shops I remember going to with my mother on Yardley Road were Alldays butchers, Timms greengrocers, The Bargain Shop, Terry Lovetts Sports, The Iceberg (drinks store), The Chocolate Box, Washland and many more I can picture but cannot remember the names of. This was well before people had heard of supermarkets!
Rag & Bone Man
We lived at 1, Northanger Road, which was at right angles to Olton Boulevard East and we have had views down both directions of the Boulevard. I remember the regular visits of the rag and bone man. Cars were becoming common-place, but a horse and cart seemed very old fashioned. The horse manure was soon collected up by the keen gardeners in the area. It was a good way of getting rid of the unwanted articles, as the rag and bone man seemed to take all we gave him.
Family of William Churchill
I live in Hertfordshire but once lived in Acocks Green. By chance I have met a local elderly lady called Coral (also a Brummie) who tells me that her late grandfather, William Churchill, lived just off Lincoln Road in Acocks Green, near the Olton border. Due to family break up she lost touch with him as a child but in her later years she discovered that he died around 1960/61. She would love to know if there are any of William Churchill's family who would be interested in getting in touch with her.
276 Shirley Road
During the WW2, my twin brother and I were born at this house on 2 Nov 1943 to Evelyn and Tom Williams. Dad built an Anderson bomb shelter in the back garden which was finally removed around 1986. My siblings and I visited the house in 1988 after our parents had passed on, and the then owners said it was over constructed and very difficult to remove.
Shops
I was born in Douglas Road in 1941 and remember many local shops as they were then important parts of our life and we often visited daily. On the Yardley Road I recall Greenwoods the baker, their son, Malcolm, and I went to the same school, Wrensons the grocers, C King Bowdler the chemist (we would now say pharmacist) and a firm of solicitors, Morgan Lugsdin. There was also a rather Victorian jeweller's shop, the name of which, unfortunately, escapes me. Further along towards Acocks Green station and before the Great Western public house was my favourite establishment, Gordons Fish and Chip shop. In those far-off days chips came in 3d, 4d and 6d bags, the latter being more than enough for even the greediest schoolboy. Old Mr Gordon was a decent man and would willingly give a bag of chips if you took him a large supply of old newspapers for wrapping purposes. Wonderful far-off days in an England which no longer exists.
Memories of West Midlands
Growing up on Tyseley Lane
In 1960 I was 5 years old and lived in Tyseley Lane with my older brother, mom and dad and also gran and great-gran. My grandad had died the previous year and I often wonder if his shed still stands at the bottom of the garden! Around this time I recall sitting in the bay window, helping my mom with her rag-rug making, when 2 fire engines arrived outside and the firemen jumped out and ran down the side of our house to the back garden. We rushed out and discovered that a hoax call had been made to say our shed was on fire! I also remember... Read more
Schooldays
I have fond memories of marching up to St. Margarets Church from St. Margarets Junior and infant school, Richmond Rd. in the sixties and early seventies. We had to hold hands, and the operation of crossing the Warwick Road safely was a major one involving the best efforts of all the staff of the school.
I have lived away for the best part of a quarter of a century now and in fact reside in Madrid; however I had to return for a while on family business earlier this year. I am sad to say Solihull no longer seems the golden place of memory. I was shocked by the impersonality and consumerism of the town.
Bakeman House And Our Experience - Dec 2006
We (Myself and my Wife) lived there for a months time in Dec 2006. It was a greatful and romantic experience... The excellent view towards the coventry road, unusual sun light during the late afternoon and the buses and vehicles through the coventry road gave us a great feel. The lovely chillness and the cold through the window would create an amazing feeling. The streetlights and the Car headlights would make us feel lonely as the nights appear to steal us. Never ever forgettable moments was shared by us with this lovely and lively NO 4, Bakeman House.
Yew Tree And Stoney Lane
I lived in Stoney Lane with my parents between about 1959 and 1968. In 1961 I started at Hobmoor Primary School on Hobmoor Road. I was under 5 years old and terrified of the thought of going to school. To get to school from our house we had to pass the front of the Yew Tree pub (pictured) and in a desperate attempt to avoid the dreaded first day I grabbed hold of one of the concrete bollards and wouldn't let go! My Mom was so embarrassed! In the end I let go and subsequently went to Hobmoor School until 1968, when I went up to Big School, Waverley Grammar further along Hobmoor Road.
At Hobmoor Primary School I remember the fearsome Mrs Wilcox and Mr Brooks and the wonderful Mr Hughes. Mr Drew was the headmaster at that time, he was a good man too.
Yardley, West Midlands
Hi, my name is Milly and I am 10 years old. I have lived in Yardley for 9 years and I have lots good friends where I live and I go to Hobmoor Primary School and I have lots of lovely friends and where I live is okay.
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