What a great thread, thanks for all the pictures and memories.
I live in Yorkshire now but Nechells haunts my dreams.
My Nan lived on the corner of Johnson Street/Cattles Grove - over the road from The Woodman Pub - and I spent most of my playtime in this area. We lived in Aston Church Road but spent a lot of time at Nans 1960 to 1970 really before they were moved out and the area was redeveloped.
I knew that area like the back of my hand, went to school at St Josephs and then Duddeston Manor.
What a playground we had, the large wasteland on the corner of Mount Street/Cattles Grove, smaller pockets of waste ground nearby. Lots of old empty houses to explore (and get scared in!) Streets mostly devoid of cars, only the rag and bone man to worry about with his horse and cart.
That sounds terrible really, waste ground... but the kids were happy enough. Nothing better than digging a big hole (or a tunnel - dangerous), building a den (plenty of material about).. collecting for the bonfire...
And even though we were 6, 7, 8, 9 10 years old.. we roamed freely, no one thought anything of it really.
And the people were gold generally. The old story about doors not being locked was true. Nobody in Cattles Grove locked their door during the day.. what was there to steal??
My Grandad spent most of his life in the Woodman. He'd tell my Nan he was just going to the loo... (outside of course) and we wouldn't see him for 5 hours.
Outdoor toilets! SHARED outdoor toilets..!!!! .. up the yard.
Frozen in winter... hot water required...
What a nightmare.
Everything still had the feel of World War II about it even in the 60's. Street lighting like something out the lion the witch and the wardrobe.
I loved it.
No wonder I dream about it still.