Thanks for that Phil changing the subject....do you know anything about the large church at Digbeth on the hill? I think It may have been used as a shelter for homeless people at a later date?
as a child I lived in Kendal Road Sparkbrook opposite farm park (where I spent many happy days on my bike!)
our little gangs play areas at that time included ; The "bombpeck"
at the back of Thereasa Road down to the canal and then up to the derilict church at Digbeth which my friend said was haunted by vicar who had hung himself?!
I also played in derilict houses and shops (where we searched for "hidden treasure pennies under the floor boards of the old shops) and this is also where we used to jump into a big whole in the ground onto an old matress! and where we made dens in the alleyways at the top of Erasmus Road at the back of Hawleys bakery Factory and we played on the derilict Railway opposite the Bakery where we bought 1 penny bread rolls and cream cakes from the little shop at the side.
We still had a tin bath in 1972! and the tiny corner shop at the small heath bridge end of kendal road sold 1/4 bags of rainbow kaoli which gave you smokers fingers!
Oh what fun we had no health and safety in those days I know Ive got the scars to prove it!