Horsefair Shops in 1979
The top floor frontages are the same as today giving away their Victorian origins. The shops themselves though have changed since but at the time they were: Horsefair Fish and Chips, Ted Rodgers Bookmakers, ...
House Front, Handsworth
This photograph was taken by Vanley because it was intriguing what people will do in an area where all the buildings look the same to make their home look a little bit different. The owner of this house ...
Housing Conditions
Cannon Hill Place, Balsall Heath which ran between Hallam Street and Jakeman Road. This is typical of the environment in parts of Balsall Heath in the 1970's as large swathes of decrepit housing was boarded ...
Housing conditions
November 1975. Residents of two streets, George Street and Homer Street in Balsall Heath went to court to force the council to re-house them. This was the cover story in the November 1975 edition of The ...
Housing Conditions
Housing conditions were so bad that a number of tenants were forced to take legal action against the Council.
This was the cover story in the November 1975 edition of The Heathan which can be accessed ...
Housing Conditions
Here we see the interior of one of the tenant's houses before they were forced to take legal action.
This was the cover story in the November 1975 edition of The Heathan which can be accessed at this ...
Housing Conditions
Several families in George Street and Homer Street forced the council to re-house them. These are the conditions of their original homes.
This was the cover story in the November 1975 edition of The ...
Housing Conditions
One toilet shared between several households in a shed at the back. And there's no door! Several families in George Street and Homer Street forced the council to re-house them. These are the conditions ...
Housing Conditions
Another variation on internal plumbing. Toilet and tin bath that would have to be filled from jugs and, if there was no heated water, kettles. Several families in George Street and Homer Street forced ...
I love a parade
The Balsall Heath Carnival has been running since 1977 and the parade has always been a major part of it. The parade winds it way around the local streets and finishes at the carnival show ground. It ...
'I Ran The World' Marathon
"The 1986 'I Ran The World' charity marathon in Lozells. Following the worldwide success of 'Live Aid' in 1985, a number of events were organised around Great Britain, mainly to raise funds for Third ...
Ikon Gallery Display
Mrs McGhie-Belgrave's personal portable history display at the Ikon Gallery in 1999.
In the Stocks at the 1980 Carnival
"Tony (Stokes) and I thought we would have a cool-off because it was a nice hot day and so we went in the stocks. Not known to us was someone has gone in The Railway (Clifton Road) and told people we ...
Inside the Colwyn?
An image from the Lewis Green collection. We believe this is the lounge of the Colwyn Pub on Great Colmore Street, but we don't know who the people are. If you know please drop us a line at cs@optima.org.uk...
Inside The Woodman
Two customers enjoying a drink at The Woodman in Cregoe Street. The pub has since been demolished as part of the urban renewal of the area. Helen White notes that: "The lady, who is my aunt, is Mrs Barbara ...
International Convention Centre, Birmingham
The International Convention Centre, Birmingham, seen here at dusk. The ICC was intended to attract business, both national and international, to the city and was erected on land on the north side of ...
James Hunte Poster in shop window
James Hunte, who ran the Mohammed Ali Centre in Hockley stood as an independent councillor in the late 1970's