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Selly Park memories

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Memories of West Midlands

The Rone Clarke Family, Rose Cottage, Bristol Road, Bournbrook, Birmingham

My great-great-grandfather was CHARLES RONE CLARKE born 6 March 1837 at 13 Court, Smallbrook Street, Birmingham. He was a master woodturner and sixth great-grandson of Henry Clarke. He married my great-great-grandmother EMMA SOPHIA BABBINGTON, born 11th September 1841 at 100 Lancaster Street in the district of St Mary, Birmingham. She married CHARLES RONE CLARKE at St Philip's Church, Birmingham on December 12 1859. It is said she was a very dominant woman who ruled both her family and the wood-turning business at Rose Cottage, Bristol Road, Bournbrook with an iron hand after the death of her husband Charles in 1893. She travelled everywhere in her pony and trap driven by one of her sons. EMMA SOPHIA RONE CLARKE (nee BABBINGTON) died on March 12 1912. The History of Rose Cottage goes as follows. In 1865 Charles set up his wood-turning business on land behind the cottage and there he taught his sons the trade. The workshop with all its wonderful machinery also had several glass houses and a breakers yard, and... Read more

Rednal, Lickey Hills

Mum said she was 2 weeks overdue and it was the worst winter, and all she could think of was to go for a walk up the steps of the Lickey Hills hoping that would bring me into the world! Don't blame me for wanting to keep warm in her womb as long as I could! Re: Selly Oak village, Burton's snooker hall - I will ask my dad what he knows of it as I know the Higgins lads, including my Grandad Albert Higgins, was a noted Snooker champ in his day.

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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