Rednal memories
Here are memories of Rednal and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Rednal or a Rednal photo.
Rednal Hill School
From the age of about 4 years old to 10 years old we lived in Dowar Road and I went to Colmores Farm Infant School (near to Rubery). When I was 7 I went to the newly built Rednal Hill School and I started in the first year Juniors. Mr Donaldson was the headmaster and he was a Navy man and the school adopted a ship named the SS 'Teucer' which some of us were lucky to visit when it was docked in Birkenhead. I have very happy memories of the school and went to the 50th anniversary celebration in 2002, Miss Byers (now Mrs Adam) was there but I didn't see any other former teachers, but I did meet Roger Thompson, Dave Leach, Jackie Weaver and Jane Nicholas, which brought all of the happy memories of the school flooding back.
Memories of West Midlands
Old Northfield
The stretch of road we see is called Bell Lane. Bell Lane curves back to Bristol Rd. The big house partly seen in the distance is Bell House which has quite a history.To it's left goes Bell Holloway (still fairly unaltered) and to it's right Bell Hill where I was born in an old cottage in 1927. It is now a double twin carriageway through to Harborne. In a cluster were a farm, two cottages, and a bungalow, .This small area was then known as Paradise and our cottage Paradise Cottage.
Coming back to the photograph the shop was Hewitt's which had a bakery and sold sweets. Bell House 'partly seen ' had five false windows on the wall looking over Bell Holloway which were due to the 'window tax' that existed at some point in it's life. Our cottage and the one next door feature in photographs that appear in the Archive Photographs series of Birmingham compiled by Pauline Caswell.
COUNCIL TAX
I remember paying £968.00 in Council tax in 2002, then the Tory party upped it next year by 27.50\%..I have since tried to get elected to curtail this stupidity..I will add more as I continue to live the dream of becoming a District councilor in Romsley.
Selly Oak
My mother, Thelma Hill, and her brother Ken were born in Gleave Road, Selly Oak. They used to play down one end called (I think) "the pudding bag". My mum went to St Mary's School and her brother (at aged 11 years) to St Wulstuns. Mum used to speak fondly of her time at school but like a lot of others she left at 14 years of age and then her mum got her a job at Boxfoldia, she said that the staff were strict but kind.
My Memories of Selly Oak And Bournbrook
I was born in Bournbrook, Birmingham in 1950, daughter of Kenneth Clarke born 1924 and Joan Clarke (nee Price) born 1927.
My father was born at 21 North Road, Bournbrook, son of Edith Clarke and Jack Clarke. The family name was really Rone Clarke and this family began their trade as woodturners at Rose Cottage, Bristol Road, Bromsgrove.
My father worked at W H Ward in Dale Road, and as we lived at No 10 Dale Road, I remember as a child I used to wait for him at lunch time when he came out, I remember Mom used to tell him to "Take your boots off" because they used to bring swarf into the house. My father worked on a lathe at Wards and his brother Charlie Clarke also worked at Wards as did his mother Eva who was an engraver.
I remember early in the morning lying in bed and hearing all the men's boots going down Dale Road as they made their way to work at Wards.... Read more
Bristol Road Selly Oak
My mum and dad had a shop on Bristol Road until about 12 years ago. The first shop was opposite the big post office just up from Birmingham Battery. They had to give up this shop as compulsory purchase for the road widening scheme so they moved to another shop just opposite Sainsburys. I lived above the shop until i was 16 (approx 1981) so have lots of memories. I recently visited Selly Oak again after approx 15 years and was amazed by the changes. My brother and I went to St Mary's C of E School housed in the old annexe and the new building. What a shame the old annexe was flattened what a building that would be now and all the history. Would make a fantastic home now!
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