Hi everyone I’m new to the forum and found this site by chance . I was born in Cathcart Street in 1952. Our house was number 4 back of 5 ,where I lived till 1952 . I was seven years old when we moved but still remember the area somewhat .
My grandmother lived round the corner in Dolman street and my uncle and aunt in Alma street .
Hornimans shop was on the top of Cathcart street , from where we used to buy sticks of real liquorice root .
We used to have the Winkle man come around on Saturday evening, selling tri-corner bags of winkles with a straight pin to ‘ winkle ‘ them out of the shell . Oh happy days ..
Along with my two elder sisters I attended St. Anne’s school in Devon street.
Sunday lunchtime myself and younger brother would be standing in the doorway of the Manor pub with a bottle of pop and a bag of nibbets
I could go on and on but just wonder if anyone else shares these memories ?
Hello John Perkins, welcome to the forum, enjoy.
I have some lovely memories of Brum in my early days. I was born a couple of years after you. My earliest memories are of Great Barr, Darley Dale Avenue and of Hall Green. I do remember the liquorice sticks. I think we called in Spanish Liquorice. Jamboree bags were always great, later called Lucky Bags. I think most of us were lucky to keep our teeth.
Sunday would be the day for a walk with dad. Sometimes ending up at theGospel Oak pub, Hall Green. Dad would bring his pint out and I would have a glass of dandelion and burdock (beer pop) as I called it. We’d sit on the wall outside the pub. I was always fascinated by the short stubbs of metal sticking up out of the wall, where the railings had been taken from to be melted down for the war effort. Depending how dad was feeling after his shift work, we would sometimes walk across Gospel Lane over some waste ground towards St Bernard’s Rd. This is where the Anti-aircraft guns and search light had been placed in the war. That area has now all been built on. I wonder if the newer residents know the history of where there semi-detached houses are built.
Gwlad