Hi, sh, I am new but saw your original query about Gerrard St. I was raised in Aston/ Lozells in the 1950s and 60s. Gerrard St was in Lozells but before Aston Manor (the area) was incorporated into the Birmingham Conurbation, places like Lozells came under the jurisdiction of Aston. Strangely, as I look up my ancestors on various Censuses it seems places like Balsall Heath/ Kings Norton also came under Aston Manor, it kind of wrapped itself around the suburbs then!
As a child, I lived in Public Houses because Dad was a manager for Ansells Brewery. We lived in The Shareholders Arms, Potters Hill; The Stork Inn, Newtown Row and The Porchester Arms on the Aston/ Lozells border. The houses in Gerrard St were small and the front door opened from the street right into the sitting room. There would be a scullery at the top of the cellar steps and stairs leading from the sitting room up into the bedroom above. Atop that was an attic room.
I do remember people being very friendly and neighbourly, looking out for each other. Hope this helps.