Hello

I have only just found out about your site and its great.

I am trying to find information on the name HALL living at 33 Browning Street and then moving to Morville Street. Would like the number, from memory it seemed like a converted shop front. Did they have a little shop there?

Also HAWKES living at 37 Stoke Street. My mother was named Lily - born in 1903 in Bishopsgate Street. She had brothers named Fred and Joe and a sister called Nell.

I think my grandmother was married previously and had two sons named Samuel and James. Would anyone know their surname?

Thanks for any help

Pat

My name is Christine Arnold
 
 I am researching my family history and know that my great grandmother and father lived at 5 Railway Terrace, Icknield Port Road.

Does anyone know where this terrace was and when it disappeared? I would really like to find out and possibly and hopefully get photos of this.

Thanks, Christine

I would dearly like to contact Rose Evans who I have not seen for nearly 40 years.

Can you please help?

Many thanks

Barbara Jones

Hi, I'm a Brummie now living in Canada. I have been researching our Family Tree together with one of my brothers, who still lives in Bromsgrove, then I came across this site and find the memories people have placed there fascinating and the pictures bring back so many memories of childhood.

We lived in Steward Street and went to Steward Street School. We lived in one of the back-to-back houses right next door to the old mission, which was next door to the blacksmiths, which was opposite Steward Street School.

I would love to hear from anyone who may have lived there and remember our family name - Humphreys.

Feel free to email me at babscol@eastlink.ca.

Babs nee Humphreys

I would like to hear about any of the Lediard family descendants, I believe they lived in Leslie Road. This would be my grandfather Fred Lediard, there were 4 brothers and 5 sisters, (Harry, Len, Norman, Fred, Alice, Millie, Lily & Elsie & Edna).

Their parents were Alice (Pratt) and William.  Elsie married Ivan Barnsley and I did see a wedding photo on your site and would be interested in knowing who the bridesmaids were.  I know Lily married Charlie Read and another sister married into the Norgrove family.
 
I would like to know if all the family were born in Ladywood and where their parents were born.
 
My dad is Barry Lediard.
 
I think this is a great site.
Thanks for your help.
 
Val Clarkson

I am researching my family history and have found out that the Moseley side of my family ran a sweet factory/shop in Ladywood (we think Camden Street), which later moved to Marston Green after a fire.

The son and daughter of the owner later sold the business. I have been unable to find out any more than this and would be grateful for any information.

My great grandfather, Charles Moseley, founded the factory with his sister, Florence (hence C&F Moseley Ltd). I understand that the business went into demise upon the death of my grandfather, Reginald Moseley in August 1970.

Amanda

Where are they now?

Picture taken Circa 1931, friends of Great Tindal Street and St Mary Street, Ladywood

Left to right - Mr. Gardner, Raymond Mason, Philip Gardner, Lewis Barrowcliffe, Ivan Barnsley, George Gardner, Mr Inett, Teddy Inett

I am researching my family tree name of BARNBROOK, they lived in the Ladywood area until about 1959 and their last address was in ST MARKS STREET.

My Mother's maiden name was LILY HILL, she owned a Hairdresser's shop next door to the Ice Rink I think this was in Summerhill Street, it was called KITTY'S, her Father's name was WALTER HILL and was known for his snooker playing around the Midlands clubs.

I would love to hear from anyone that remembers them or any information that could help.

Thank You

Regards

Ann Belcham (Nee Barnbrook)

I'm currently looking into my family tree and would be interested if you or any of the people who contribute to your site have any details of my family.

My great grandfather and great grandmother William & Louisa Lawrence owned the Laundry at 135 Monument Road from the late 1890's until the late 1920's or early 1930's. They had 3 sons, Thomas, Charles and my grandfather Arthur. Charles worked on the railways with GWR and died in the World War I. Arthur also served in the First world war and was a prisoner of war.

I know very little about the laundry only that they did all the cleaning for the theatres in Birmingham at that time.

I do appreciate that it was a long time ago and that there are few people around who will remember this era, but any information would be a bonus.

Regards

Neil Lawrence

Does anyone remember a postmaster at Spring Hill, I think the family name was Clarke.

A few years ago, I met a Trevor Clarke, who was researching his family in the Ladywood area.

Unfortunately Trevor died recently and I was wondering if anyone remembered him or his family.

Heather Ackrill-Carron

I wonder if anyone remembers my Aunt Rose Timbrell, her husband was Jack and son Barry. She lived all her life in Ladywood and died just a few years ago.  She lived in Essington Street when she was first married.  Then went to live in Elizabeth Fry House, she left there just a few years before she died.  She worked at French's when she was young with my mum, her sister Iris.  I love looking at your site.  My husband and his family lived in Ledsam Street.  Their name was Nash and there were 11 children 4 girls and 7 lads, My Husband is Alan he went to Osler school.

Jenny Nash

Can you tell me when Warstone Lane disappeared please? My grandfather, Henry Weston SMITH was born there at the Back of 64 Warstone Lane on 20 June 1879. 

His father was a Chelsea Pensioner. By the 1881 census, the family had moved to 321 Bridge Street West (off Summer Lane)- which also seems to be a "lost" street.

I am hoping there may be some records still of Sunday Schools (Methodist) or schools in the area.

I also wondered why the family moved to Birmingham from Portsea Island in Hampshire- were there any reporting requirements for Chelsea Pensioners?

Thank you so much for your fine work on this site.

From a Cornish Aussie.

Lois

I have just finished exploring your website – fantastic!

I am hoping through you to help a friend of mine-who now lives in Wales, she is desperate to find out any information about her parents Edward William LAW and Ada Irene Nee Kenwick - they resided for some time in ANDERTON STREET and ran a shop, Mr. Law made tin soldiers to sell in the shop, they had four children Edward (Teddy),John, my friend Dorothy (Dolly) and Christine

If anyone can help, please contact me at deekspeg@aol.com

Regards

Peg

Hi, could you please tell me if anyone remembers the Wren and Hobley Families, the Wren family lived in Springhill and the eldest son Ted married Barbara Hobley, one of 4 sisters of 25 Shakespeare Road, who are my parents.

My Grandad Frank Wren, had Springhill taxis, and my moms gran ran a grocers shop at no 14 Shakespeare Road. My mom Barbara went to St. Marks and Osler School seniors. My moms parents Albert & Lil Hobley were good friends with Sid & Flo Butts, who ran a drapery shop at the

top of Shakespeare Road.

My grandad Albert is sitting in the front row outside the commercial Pub, which is on your website.

Also a major event in Springhill was when my dads sister June died following a bad fog that fell, as she was guiding the traffic with white sheets, she became ill and died just before she was to be married!!!

Please could you let me know if anyone remembers them?

Regards Debbie Wren

Hi, wow what a great read.  My mom and dad both came from Ladywood and I recognise some of the streets and peoples names.  My oldest brother was born at 83 Anderton Street.

Does anyone remember my mom Lily or Lynn Lily McCarthy nee Broughton and dad William (Billy) Mills.  Other names I am interested in are Thursfield/Lentle.

Please contact me at Objd@aol.com.   I will ask mom about some of names on site and give you update too...

I have asked mom today (Lynn Lily McCarthy nee Broughton) aged 75 this year; who she remembers from school and the list she recalled were

Beryl Shutts

Barbara Chick

Amy Matthews

Lily Day

Johnny Reed

Kenny Marton

Jeff or Geoff Statton

Reggie Steele

Cathy Chinn

Miss Stricknall

Miss Vernon

Does anyone remember these names?

I have been looking for my Grandmother-in-law for almost two years and have only just managed to find two sites for her based on her first two offspring. This woman who we knew as Grandma Charlotte we now find, had two christian names and three surnames, and as we only guessed at her birth year because we think she was 83 when she died in 1975 and celebrated her birthday on the 5 May each year, we assume she was born in 1892.

I have her on the 18 July 1914 living at 3 back of 18 Moreton Street, and on 21 august 1920 at 54 Edward Street, a stones throw away. in 1914 she signed herself Charlotte Mason and 1920 Lottie Huband, late Mason formerly Shepherd.

We are stymied at the moment and don't know where to go next, so hope you can shed some light, by the way she is down on her first child’s birth certificate as a Brass founders Lathe Hand, and no fathers name shown.

Please help us if you can Mac

Yours Joyce Daniels

I am trying to compile information about a gentleman called Watty Green who ran a pub called the Cross Keys in Steward Street off Springhill, have you any information on this person.

Kind Regards

Christine Stokes

I wonder if anyone remembers Billy Smith, or John Beaumont, who both lived in Anderton street in the 40s, if my memory serves me right John went into the Navy, and I think that when Billy got married he lived in Anderton Street.  I remember Billy working at the Loco sheds at Monument Road, he went on to become a fireman on the railway, they were both mates of mine when we were young, we lived in Shakespeare Road, then moved to Quinton around 1948-9 by that time I was in the services myself, so if anyone can help, I'd love to hear from them..

Have recently found your wonderful site as I'm starting to look at my Birmingham family history.

On the 1891 census Samuel and Betsy Usherwood (great grandparents) are listed as living at 2 Back 59, Garbett Street.  I understand that the street has gone but would love to hear from anyone who remembers it or the family when they lived there.

In 1881 they were living at 4 Back 55, Freeth Street,  I realise all this is a long time ago, but I live in hope. 

Also my father, Alan Usherwood, worked as a driver at Bellis and Morcom from about 1960 to his retirement and it would be great to hear from anyone who worked with him there.

Again thanks for such a wonderful site.

I need help looking for Bernard "ticker" Yeomans of 43 Barker Street, Ladywood.

He was a  family friend and I am looking for information for my mom, Rachel Palmer, it was 1957-58 when he knew her.

many thanks

Hello

Just found the website and found a name that stood out - Alan Wolton. I believe that this same gent is one that I worked with during the 70's and 80's for a company called Rentair of Atherstone, Warks.

If so I would be pleased to hear from him and catch up on the past twenty odd years.

Mike Geraghty

I'm really interested in finding out more about the area - I was born in the Great Western pub, Camden St/George St West in 1960 when my Dad managed the pub.  I'd love to find out more about the area & see old photos.

Also, is it likely that you - or any of your contacts – will remember my Dad?  His name was Stan Sharred & he was married to Jean. They had 2 sons (one also born at the pub in 1958) before having me in 1960.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Best wishes,

What an excellent site! I'm not sure why I haven't come across it before now, but I am delighted that I have discovered it now. Great work.

I would greatly appreciate any help that your readership might be able to provide wrt my HASTINGS family who lived at Back 153 Saint Vincent Street, Ladywood in 1895-1897.

My Great Grandfather, Thomas HASTINGS and Louisa Ann Hastings nee NERNEY lived at Back 153 Saint Vincent Street, Ladywood between 1895 and 1897. They were married 22 Dec 1893 at the Parish Church , Bishop Ryder, Birmingham .

Whilst at this address, Thomas William HASTINGS was born 4^th April 1895 and another sibling, Alfred Howard HASTINGS was born 29 Sept 1897.

Some time around 1898-1900 they moved to Sheffield where my Grandfather, William Henry HASTINGS was born 8 Oct 1900, followed by five other siblings.

Over the past 18 months I have made good progress in most other areas of research and have both the marriage certificate of Thomas HASTINGS and his death certificate, but have been unsuccessful in tracing a birth or baptism record.

Whilst at Back 153 Saint Vincent Street, Thomas HASTINGS was a Brass Caster and later, an Iron Moulder. From the 1901 census (Sheffield) and marriage/death certs, I believe that he was born 1872-1874 in Birmingham .

I would dearly love to hear from anyone who can shed any light on:

Ø       What did Back 153 Saint Vincent Street look like in 1895-1897.

Ø       Are there are records of where Thomas Hastings worked as a Brass Caster.

Ø       Neither 1881 or 1891 census shows son Thomas b1872-1874 with a father, also a Thomas Hastings, (source marriage cert) who was  an Ostler (some form of stablehand). Where were they?

Ø       Are there any school records/photos for Thomas Hastings c1880-1890?

Ø       Any other snippet that may help overcome this impenetrable brickwall !

Please email me at kevinhastings@fsmail.net.

Kindest regards

Kevin Hastings

Does anyone have any photographs of The Oratory School, either the grounds, class photographs, former pupils, teachers or even memories for the website, if so please send them in, as so many people are asking for information or photographs.

I wish to thank anyone who has given me so much pleasure, and many others like me, with all of their news, photographs etc for the oldladywood site.

Thank you all so much.   Will hope to see you in 2008 too.

Wishing everyone, at Home and Abroad, a Happy Healthy and Peaceful 2008

Heather Carron (nee Ackrill/Goode/Smith all oldladywoodians)

Hello,

I found your site whilst trying to get some pictures of the old Icknield Port Road for my partner, Colin Woolf.

I wonder if anyone remembers them from the early 50s.  There was Gordon and Gladys, and children Brian, Bert, Barbara and Colin.

It would be great to see if anyone does.

Thanks,

I am trying to trace the marriage of the following:

Doris Gibberson b. 1903 Ladywood d. 1987 who married Edund Boteler Chalmer, receptionist clerk, living at 47 Worlds End Avenue, Birmingham 32. I would appreciate any information.

Laura McDuff, Melbourne, Australia

I was a Belliss & Morcom Engineering apprentice from 1949 to 1954 and worked for them in Iraq, the Bahamas and elsewhere after finishing national service in 1956 and until 1960.

I have been surfing through your website and wallowing in nostalgia - thanks for the opportunity to do so!

I came across, in the February 2006 up-date, a request from Gerald Willis for information about Belliss & Morcom and or their one time subsidiary; Sisson.

If you have contact with any other ex Belliss people of my era, I should be delighted to hear from them.

I am trying to trace details of my grandfather Joseph Henry Hill. He was a widower and opened a cafe in Ledsam Street, Ladywood in 1939 but it didn't do very well as the war had just started and food was being rationed but he did get work in supplying food for a factory up the road, Joseph had a car which he used as an ambulance which he drove in the war.

This is all of the information that I have about his Ladywood days. He allegedly came from Bury in Lancashire, he was a professional soldier who married Lizzie Clay in Selly Oak 1915 aged 24 and was widowed in 1936 and he remarried to a lady named Grace.

Any information gratefully received

Sheila

I live in Luxembourg, but my family are from Brum, I am fascinated by the history, but I just found something that has interested me greatly.

There was a motorcycle manufacturer called LMC, situated in Monument Road in the 20s, this is where my great grandfather comes from (William Breeden) and I would love to find something out?

All the best 

Andrew Breeden

I am currently doing my Family Tree and got records of a Lilian, living at  8 Ryland Terrace, but I have no details of who she married when and how long for, but I do know she had at least 3 children called June, Phillip and Kenny (Ken).

Her siblings were  Violet who is meant to be Lilians twin, her other siblings are Edith, James Fred and Florence, which is meant to be my Grand-ma.
 
If you have any further information please contact me,

 
Paul Carter

Hi what a great web site.

My name is Pip and I live in Australia.  I am currently trying to track down any relatives of my mother.  Her name is Barbara A Longhurst, formerly King.  She grew up Ladywood and lived at 99 Great Tindal Street.

I would love to know if any one out there remembers her family, she was the youngest of 8 children.  Her eldest brother was Albert, there was Bernard, Peggy, Mary, William (Bill), Dorothy and I believe, one child passed away quite young and was a twin and another sibling passed away in her 19th year but unsure of her name.

Her mother was Aida Beatrice and her fathers name was William Edward King, my mother was born 26th January, 1938.

If anyone could help me with any information It would be greatly appreciated, even if you were a neighbour.

With anticipation of a response,

Yours truly,

Pip Candrick

pipcandrick@optusnet.com.au

Harold Watkins

I don't know if you can help me but I am trying to trace the above or his sister Lilian (possibly married now) for my in-laws.

Harold and Lilian Watkins lived in Ladywood with their parents of the same names and would have been born in the 1930's or thereabouts.

Harold Watkins (father) died in June 1949 (I think) aged just 42 and after that contact was lost was his wife Lilian and the children Harold and Lilian.  Harold senior was one of a large Watkins family - some of the brothers and sisters being Polly, Joseph (Joe), Tom, Billy, Bert (Married to Louisa) - and possibly more than this.  Polly and Tom never married and lived together.  Ideally I would like to contact the children - Harold and Lilian, as it is their cousin - Elizabeth Watkins (Betty - now Betty Ward) - my mother in law - that is keen to make contact again, for her golden wedding in March 2008, and all previous attempts to trace them have been unsuccessful.

If anyone has any information it would be much appreciated

Jenny 

Does anyone remember the Coleman family who lived at 81, Shakespeare Road, where they ran a Hardware shop? The couple were Fred and Rhoda and they had sons Fred, Harold, Bert and a daughter called Rhoda.  Bert was my father and I would be very pleased to hear from anyone that remembers him or the family.

If anyone remembers them or has any old pictures I would be very grateful if you could contact me at this email address          bolton_52@ntlworld.com

Hope you can help me

Jill

It’s nice to see you have been up dating your site and it was nice to see some one remembering my old school Piggott Street.

I have photo of 3 of my old school friends, June Hill, Vera Radd, Pat ?????,and would love to know if any body still remembers them. I have some happy memories of my school days from 1938 to 1947, some of the boys where Donald Howard, Ken Hill, sister June M. Hill, we all lived in Irving Street.

Best wishes

I am trying to locate any information about Jimmy Jackson, who worked at a bakery in Ladywood or Sparkhill, may be Wimbush’s.

He was Scottish and lodging at Avon Street around 1938/9, also anyone who knew my Mother Edna May Morgan and her sister Winifred, brother William (Bill) and Mother Mabel they lived in Ladywood in the 1930s, at 4/23 Edward Street, Parade, Ladywood.

Pauline in Spain

My father died recently and I was sent his death certificate.  He was born Albert Edward Jackson  - 29 December 1926. His mother was a housekeeper at 8 Ryland Street, Birmingham.

Mothers name Jackson.   Father unknown?  The address where he was born is given as 8 Ryland Street, Birmingham.

Given that he had always told me that he was orphaned when he was twelve, after his parents died in a car accident, I am curious if anyone can shed light on this matter.

My email address is equil.films@bigpond.com

THANK YOU

Michelle Purves - Australia

I would like to know just where my mother was born along Monument Road.  Her birth certificate says 3 back of 321, and at 322 was Tuckers the butcher, and at 321 was Tromans, the greengrocer, according to the back of the map (1914 map of Birmingham (West), including Ladywood).

Mum remembers Tuckers, but I thought she remembered that as the greengrocer - easy mistake, she was only five when she left there.  I can only find one court along that section of Monument Road, although there are plenty in Ladywood Square and Beach Street.

If you can assist, I would be most grateful.

Cheers

I have just read your site and was wondering if anyone out there knew my mother, Olive Smith, I believe she lived at 57/59 Northbrook Street, back in the 50's.

She had a brother, Fred, her parents were Kathleen & Joseph Smith, I can just remember going to the house which faced on to the canal, I would love to see any pictures of the houses along that