RE: Alleys & Passageways of Birmingham - 3

Posted by Voltman

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Perhaps I had better go and see it before they knock it down.
Or perhaps not.

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You would enjoy the Wellington more. SB

Are they knocking that down as well?

Whilst we are around New Street Station how about Burlington Passage. Lovely memories of nice model shops in my teeny years, and some good pubs and eating houses when I grew up a bit. The last shot is the current back passage view (can I say that here?).

And another old favourite, down the side (to the right as you look at the front) of Marks & Spencer in High Street, CASTLE STREET. Some impressive history as I believe it harboured Birmingham's First Music Hall or Theatre in the mid 1700s. Had a few interesting pubs also, that sadly I'd never heard of or sampled...

Did anybody ever eat at the Burlington Restaurant just inside Burlington Arcade. It was once a very posh restaurant, but by the 60's it was getting a bit threadbare. Even so if I wanted to impress a new girlfriend I took her to the Burlington. If not it was over road in either Lyons or Wimpy's.

Phil

Posted by winkle

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Whilst we are around New Street Station how about Burlington Passage. Lovely memories of nice model shops in my teeny years, and some good pubs and eating houses when I grew up a bit. The last shot is the current back passage view (can I say that here?).

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I remember the model railway shop, I don't think I ever went in but I loved the window display.
Non of my memories match anything in the photo's. I am thinking mid sixties to early seventies.
VM

I could never afford any model planes, boats or trains as a child. Though I often admired them in the shop windows. I often would spend ten minutes or so staring at the local cycle shop window on the corner of Ombersley Rd & Moseley Rd where that had a train & model dept. Years later when I could afford one I bought a Mamod Steam Engine with the little spirit burner. I think I fired it up once and wondered what all the fuss was about and never touched it again.

Phil

I agree entirely Phil. Did the same with one of those smelly meths spirit steam engine thingys and wondered so what? It goes round and round? Get over it. No wonder I'm hopeless with technical stuff.

Here's one of those little Squares from the Gun Quarter. Andertons Square in 1932. Phyllis Nicklin also featured some pictures of this site later in the 60s just before they demolished it.

Here's one I saw on Wednesday, not much to look at now, I think it turned left at the bottom and went up to Colmore Row.

Is this the same one John?

Almost certainly Dennis.

I am not sure. Left hand wall doesn't look right, and neither does the floor... and I've got this as WATERLOO PASSAGE, not Wellington Passage. But good show John, now I must go check it out! Unless mikejee or Phil can shed light on it? Can't see it on Google like I can your lovely photo. I am flummokerknockerated.

I've never heard of a Waterloo passage, but there again, Mike where are you, here's the two side by side and converted to B/W to remove any distracting colour, could be that it was all re-vamped at some point there's certainly a number of years between the photos, (that's if it is the same alley.)

Solved it John. It is different. This is from David Harvey's Birmingham City Centre Past & Present (Volume 1) and shows the Passage is up that snicket in the photo. The photo I originally posted is also on the next accompanying page of this book. Still there. So your Wellington Passage is a brand new one for me. Brilliant find. Cheers. I owe you a pint in your own family pub sometime? Have I got that right? Wonderful Site this..

Posted by Voltman

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Are they knocking that down as well?

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Over my dead body Voltman!! This is a belter of a pub. Lunch is well worth the effort, just for the ambience alone. If they attempt it I may have to buy a large gun...