The Streets of the City

I do this topic on another forum so some of you will know it from that forum, but for those that don't belong to that forum I will repeat it here. It's my version of a walk around the city centre that moves backward and forward through time. I will start at a different point that I have on the other forum to give a little more interest to those who have seen it before.

It is not a very verbose topic and I stick mainly to the photos with very little comment. If anybody wants to add to the thread please do so, but try to do so when we are in the street that you comment or photos relate to or we shall all get into a mix up. I will allow 24 hours for each street before I move on.

I will make a start with the Bull Ring.

Phil

Vivid memories of the guy that used to swallow a chain,he used to let you feel it in his stomach, he also used to balance a cart wheel on his chin,
as well as being tied up in chains and freeing himself, he used to draw quite a crowd just below the Nelson statue.
In the 2nd photo you can see a circle of people, perhaps they were watching him.

Are these the chaps John?

Phil

That's him Phil, the other guy is from the audience asked to hit the slab with the hammer, never knew if he had an accomplice, but he must have had a lot of mates,it was a different person every time.
There's the chain on the floor.

Just a few more photos of the Bull Ring before I reach the top of the hill and turn left into New Street.

Phil

Nice pictures Phil, You will know though, I hated the 60s Bull Ring, it was a concrete toilet. Although the new one is very modern I really like it. It's easy on the eye, functional and there is plenty of room. ( Until lunch time then it can really fill up) but then so does the rest of the town.
The colour picture of the modern city is very good. SB

Phil, don't know why, but when I click on the first pic I get the 3rd one come up.

John

So do I, but I had some strange occurrences whilst trying to load them and they wouldn't load at first. I will try to correct them later, but I am a little busy right now.

Phil

Phil, Thanks for the pictures. Looking forward to seeing any colour pics of the new Bull Ring which I haven't yet viewed.

Sorry Dave,

I don't have any of the new Bull Ring, as I only collect photos that are at least 20 to 30 years old. I was about to wander off up New Street next.

Phil

Right after reaching the top of the Bull Ring, officialy High St we turn left into New St passing Stevens Bar (photo 01) before the war at various times we would have seen

Photo 1 the junction of High St & New St with Christchurch in the distance and King Edwards Grammar School to the left.
Photo 2 the Gothic Style Victorian facades of New St including the entrance to the Midland Arcade
Photo 3 the Arden Hotel, the cinema (the Paramount then) and King Edward House.
Photo 4 King Edwards Grammar School (before King Edward House).

Posted by phil

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Sorry Dave,

I don't have any of the new Bull Ring, as I only collect photos that are at least 20 to 30 years old. I was about to wander off up New Street next.

Phil

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Phil if you wish I will send you pictures of The new Bully

The war changed the face of Birmingham, especially at this end of New Street. The corner of High St and New st was heavily damaged by bombing raids and was flattened in one such raid. The site was later used as a site for visiting circuses and thereafter the site became known as the Big Top.

Phil

1. Aftermath of a bomb raid
2. A visiting circus
3. A view down New St
4. The Big Top Site
5. The Big Top Car Park

A couple of views of the replacement buidings on the Big Top Site, we have a lot not to thank Hitler for.

Phil

Thanks for this thread Phil, it's a great way of putting all these pictures into some sort of order.

I always thought the Times Furniture building was part of some great scheme and then got orphaned and left standing on it's own.
Now I see it was always a bit of an oddity.