RE: Topography - 2

Thank you Mike

Mike

Do you remember some time back that we tried to place this gasometer. The best that I was able to offer was Aston Church Rd as a possibility.

Well I had a thought today, did you ever get around the Bordesley Area of Birmingham with your camera. Specifically Upper Trinity St, Bowyer St or Adderley St. Because there was a small gas works there alongside the canal that might fit the bill.

Phil

Phil

I had an uncle that worked at the gas works in Nechells is that any help?

June

kind of you to offer your help, but would your Uncle be able to confirm that the photo is of Nechells Gas works.

Phil

It might well be Phil. I can't find the gas works on the 1912 map, but maybee it was built after that. there is certainly an area (blank on the map) where it could be. Do I understand from what you said to june that this was called Nechells Gas Works?

Mike

I think Nechells gas works were the ones down Aston Church Rd. But thinking back they were quite substantial. The one in the photo looks quite small.

It all depends on if you did any camera work in Bordesey. I would have thought it would have been the sort of place you would have liked.

This 1950's street plan shows the position of the gas works.

Phil

I took a number around bradford st, which isn't that far away. but these pictures were taken between some of a wedding outside Brum and some of the jewellery quarter.
Mike

Looking at your map, that is where I thought the gas works might be from the 1912 map. then bowyer St apaprently ran through to Adderley St
Mike

Well Mike it's still got me stumped then because I can't think of a gasometer around Bradford st or the Jewellery Quarter. Still you know me I'll keep trying.

Phil

I didn't mean that i thought it was near bradford st, just that i have no idea where and the other brum pictures on the film give no indication. The pictures were almost certainly taken on a different day

Seeing that shop,Richards in the pic of pre Rackhams reminded me of this,used to love the tune

Richard Shops are filled with all the pretty things
Soft and lovely pretty things to wear
Come now, pretty things, make the world a prettier place
Come prettier, come buy your clothes at Richard Shops

Phil, Mike you've got me at it now.
The two photographs were taken only a few yards apart, the house on the left in the 2nd photo is the house in the first one.
Looks like they were taken from a canal towpath or similar with the low wall in the foreground, also in the process of being dismantled.
I've got the same map as Mike and nothing shown on it , Saltley gasworks at the time of the map were known as City gas works.
I am now on a mission, did you go all over Brum Mike or stick to one area.

Been looking at the maps again, bearing in mind that most gasometers were grouped, it could have been the last of a bunch, there is one that could fit the bill, it's on the canal behind the rolling mills in Adderley Road.

I must speak, having noticed that the lattice work doesn't match many or even any of the others I found photo's of around Birmingham, I searched the web and found a photo of one in Manchester that was of that design.
I also wonder if the radio aerials on the top are of any significance.
VM

I went to a lot of areas in birmingham. I did also take some of the black country, but I can't see, at that time, it being there. I think the most likely ones are the Adderley road ones. It definitely wasn't Manchester.
Mike