Small Heath memories
Here are memories of Small Heath and the local area. You can start now: Add your own Memory of Small Heath or a Small Heath photo.
My Early Years in Small Heath
My earliest memory of Small Heath was when we lived in Herbert Road at 3/97 and then I was evacuated to a small village near Ross-on-Wye during the war years. The Secondary Modern school I went to was in Oakley Road. My best teacher was Miss Mobbs. She was very strict but I learned a lot from her. At that time I was living in Cooksey Road in a terraced house with my parents. The house number was 5/333 and on a visit to Birmingham some years later I discovered that all those houses had been pulled down and a new scheme had been built, a very different sight to the ones I lived in. I have now moved to Scotland and live with my husband and family
Memories of West Midlands
When I Was Young
I was born in Cherrywood Road back in 1956. I was the youngest in the family that originally moved into the road in 1952. My brother still lives there, being a total of 57 years now. Places I remember in the road are the Why Not Inn, Gypsie's Tent (later known as Typsy Gent), Doreen's corner shop, Queenie's shop, Colmore Depot, Diamond screw, Forward Radiator, Ward's corner shop, Ted Rogers the bookmakers, Jones' Garage, Cherrywood Road school (housed between Cobham and Burbidge Roads). Names I remember are Pawley, Coldwell, Summerfield, King, Groves, Howell, Edwards, Bennett, Froggart, Bumford, Ward, Kirk, Wakefield, Neale, Craig.
Cherrywood Road
My Nan lived in Cherrywood Road, number 202, my dad was born there and his three brothers. We lived in Raymond Road until I was 10 years old (1956) then we left the area. I have fond memories of those days, and it makes me sad knowing that Raymond Road has been demolished.
My family name was Fisher, anyone remember us? My Dad was Bill and Mom was Ivy. I went to Anthony Road school, the Headmaster was Mr Brock, my last teacher before we left was Mr Phillips. Happy days!
Pelham Road
I was born in Pelham Road on August the 18th 1940. We lived with my grandparents. My grandad used to play the piano in the Pelham Arms for free beer and one of my earliest memories is seeing him playing and having three or four pints of beer stacked up on the end of the piano! We lived down on the left hand side with the railway line at the bottom of the garden. I can remember my uncle, who must have been about twelve, running in with shrapnel from the bombs that were dropped close to the railway line. We moved over to Perry Barr when I was about three but these are some of my very first memories.
The Pelham
I was raised in Pelham Road from 1960 until I left in about 1983. I have many happy memories,and some not so. The triple murder at no 134, about 1944, well spoken about but not well known, Pedleys paper shop, the Marvel comics(wish I had kept them), Joan's the grocer's, Tom's the butcher's, Mckay's the wool shop, F.P.Tool's chippy on the corner. Not forgetting East Birmingham Club, Cottrills Lane, and the Pelham Arms. Lots of good families, oh what joy. It was hard but happy most times...
Childhood in Sparkbrook
I grew up in Elm Grove, Sydenham Road and went to Montgomery Street School. Does anyone remember the Waldorf Road cinema ? It was near the junction of Stratford Road. We used to go on a Saturday morning to see 'The Lone Ranger' and 'Flash Gordon'. Many happy hours were also spent in the roller skating rink next door. We played in the BSA grounds and along the canal and took the train to the city centre from Small Heath train station on Golden Hillock Road and went swimming in Sparkhill Baths. My biggest treat was to be taken to meet my dad in Digbeth, where he worked, and going to a small sweet shop next to the Birds Custard Factory. The sweets were made by hand and I watched facinated as they went through the press. I can still picture the metal birds in the railings of the Birds Custard Factory. Happy days!
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I Remember When...
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