Author Topic: Steelhouse Lane Police Station  (Read 11421 times)

Mark85

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Steelhouse Lane Police Station
« on: April 03, 2013, 10:26:44 AM »
I read in the last few days that Steelhouse Lane Police station is to be closed down. In the article it said that 'Its Victorian era custody block, a Grade 2 listed building - once described as being like a mini-prison - is one of the oldest still in operation in the country"
I remember growing up being threatened with being brought there if I wasn't good. Just wondering if anybody has any meomories or stories about the place and why they say it's more like a mini prison than a regular police station? Lucky enough not to have seen the inside of the cells there!


roy one

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Re: Steelhouse Lane Police Station
« Reply #1 on: April 03, 2013, 11:20:39 AM »
hi Fred
in my youth we did some work in steelhouse lane nick putting in a firealarm it would be in the 60s from what i can remember there was a stairway that took you up to the court (dock)  every tool that we took in the place a list was made and we had to show the tools on the way out  when we moved about the place we had to have an escort(policeman) to open doors some of the walls was three foot thick
each day is a blessing and I bless each day when it comes

Steve

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Re: Steelhouse Lane Police Station
« Reply #2 on: April 04, 2013, 11:48:30 AM »
Having been a resident at Steelhouse Lane, picked up for D&D, fined £2.
 There is virtually a mini prison there, 3 stories of cells. The lower floor is below ground level.  There is a spiral iron staircase in the middle going up to the courts, many a bruised accused "fell on the stairs" if you believe the tales.
 I'd say it is the size of a prison wing, recalling Winson Green nick where I was sentenced to 19 days for failing to pay £20 traffic fines. Fortunately I was released after 2 days & nights having got a tax rebate of £25, Mum came and bought me out.
Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.

Mark85

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Re: Steelhouse Lane Police Station
« Reply #3 on: April 04, 2013, 07:16:28 PM »

Thanks for the info - it does sound more like a mini prison than a police station from the description

£2 for Drunk and Disorderly - gone up a bit now. I got fined £80 for it last month - was my first time I had been arrested and kept in the cells overnight - wasn't in Birmingham though.

Phil

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Re: Steelhouse Lane Police Station
« Reply #4 on: April 04, 2013, 09:26:42 PM »
A recent photo of the central custody suite on Steelhouse Lane under the courts.
Phil died in 2020. RIP.

krnell

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Re: Steelhouse Lane Police Station
« Reply #5 on: April 05, 2013, 07:23:02 PM »
Hi Phill


I have never posted anything on this site but I do read most the posts especially about sparkhill and Ladypool road. I love the photos you have of this area. Im interested as my relatives lived there from the early 1800s. I think you knew some of them. My grandfather was Henry Francis Guest (Frank) he was married to Elizabeth Savage. They had a flower stall or barrow on ladypool rd I think.Ive seen the photo you put on way back in 2009 outside a pub and you spoke of Ernie Guest I think that was his son.I wasnt aware he had a fruit and veg barrow was it his dads, or did they both have one. Henry Francis Guest had  8 children Eva Lewis Lydia Florence Francis Ernest Ivy and MAY. Ernie was realy Ernest.  Francis (Frank)  was my granddad., he married Florence Corbett and they had five children Twins Frances and Florence, Patricia, Ronald and Christine.My mom is Frances (fran) she was the naughty one and Floss her twin was the well behaved one..They lived in Queen st.I remember the house and there was Guests in the  next 3 or 4 houses.One had a monkey in a cage under the crock sink. Do you remember them, I  would be gratefull for as much info as possible. Kind Regards Karen.

Phil

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Re: Steelhouse Lane Police Station
« Reply #6 on: April 05, 2013, 07:31:02 PM »
Hi Karen
 
I knew Ernie well but I'm afraid I didn't know the rest of the Guest family well at all. Ernie was well known around Sparkbrook and I think his barrow when he had it was on the corner of Studley St and Ladypool rd it being about the only junction without a Greengrocer on it.
 
My mate Alf who came from the Studley St, Queen St, Alfred St, Ladypool Rd square would have known all the Guest family well.
Phil died in 2020. RIP.

krnell

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Re: Steelhouse Lane Police Station
« Reply #7 on: April 05, 2013, 07:41:01 PM »
Thankyou for replying so quickly, can you tell me about Ernies family for my tree, am I correct in his wife was Irene and he had a son Henry Francis and daughters Pauline and Irene.Is Ernie still alive or his wife, do you know where any of the children live.? Do you know who they married?. I was wondering do you have a picture of the ice cream shop. I loved that shop,the smell still lives with me.If I didnt have any money to buy one I would stand outside the shop hoping someone would take pity on me. Karen

Phil

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Re: Steelhouse Lane Police Station
« Reply #8 on: April 05, 2013, 07:58:51 PM »
Karen
 
As I said I hardly knew Ernies family, so I can't answer any of your questions, but if you want to continue this chat please move to sparkhill, sparkbrook & highgate thread before someone complains we are on the wrong thread.
Phil died in 2020. RIP.

Bannion

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Re: Steelhouse Lane Police Station
« Reply #9 on: April 05, 2013, 08:51:52 PM »
In 1955 I was posted as a Police Cadet to the central lockup. The view Phil has posted is of the basement floor area.  I recall one man in custody in the cell next to the one now marked as 83.  He was charged, I was told, with manslaughter having killed a man who had firstly attacked him.  In sympathy with his plight the cell door was not locked up on him but kept open and an officer sat on a chair just outside.
Later, in about 1960, as a young detective we had to attend the lock-up on a Saturday morning, before the courts opened and all the prisoners were lined up with their backs to the cells numbered 23 in the photograph.  We all stood opposite them and the gaoler would, if they were in for a crime, read out their antecedence and we were supposed to make  a mental note of them.  Later we would all attend one of  the Assize/Quarter Session courts, above, where the Chief Superintendent C.I.D. would hold court and all the details of all the major crimes in the city for that and, if on going, on subsequent Saturdays  were gone over.  Heaven help if you did not have a good reason not to attend
From the lock up there was a long passage to more cells situated under the courts where prisoners were kept until they climbed the various steps into the respective court docks.  Memories..............         

trapio

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Re: Steelhouse Lane Police Station
« Reply #10 on: April 06, 2013, 04:17:34 AM »
Hello Bannion,

It is a welcome surprise to see your post - I hope that your health has improved and is more stable - I recall you saying that you were going for treatment a couple of times.....including immediately before we last heard from you. 

So now is a good time to make up for lost time O0
Integrity is non negotiable


 

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