Gas Mask
Gas mask of type issued to the residents of Handsworth in World War Two. The threat of bombs exploding containing poison gas, or even a bomb exploding near gas piping were major concerns for Civil Defence. ...
Gas Mask Distribution
Policemen loading vans with gas masks at Birmingham ARP headquarters. There was a widespread perception that the German luftwaffe would drop poison gas on Britain during the Blitz, and so masks were given ...
George Road
This view is from the exit of the George Road ARP shelter. The shelter was used during the Second World War but has not been in use since. Above the shelter are flats which can be seen in this view looking ...
George Road ARP Shelter
The fuse box inside the underground shelter. The shelter has not been used since World War II but is still there underneath the George Road flats and retains some of the fixtures and fittings. The fuse ...
George Road ARP Shelter
The urinals in the underground public ARP shelter at George Road. Still there today but unused for 60 years, though it was probably earmarked for use at other post-war times such as the Cuban Missile ...
Gillott Road during the Blitz
Although German bonbing targetted factories and the like during the Blitz, many houses were also hit. Raids were usually at night and each morning after meant dealing with scenes like this.
Grant Street, Lee Bank
Destruction in Grant Street, Lee Bank, caused by enemy action on 19th November 1940. 80 houses were demolished and 200 others badly damaged. Five people were killed and A.R.P. Warden Henry Pickering was ...
Hampton Loade Station
End of the line for Woodview Primary School was at this station on the Severn Valley Railway. From here they had to leave the train and travel by ferry and coach to their "Dig For Victory" WW2 evacuation ...
Harbury Road Air Raid Wardens
Harbury Road Civil Defence Air Raid Wardens.'E' division of the local wardens. There were several divisions for each area of the city. All would have an auxiliary fire station attached as well. The Balsall ...
House of the Baskervilles by Chris Upton
A riot, a back garden burial,the deepest canal in Birmingham, a giant dog with luminous eyes. The company that has just bought Baskerville House has also taken over an awful lot of history. The dog we ...
How to take care of your respirator.
Leaflet producet by Birmingham City Council advising on how to look after
a gas mask.
Hunters Road Blitz Damage
The back of this house in Hunters Road has been reduced to rubble. Upstairs a metal bed frame has been used to help prop up the wooden planking. Down to the left of the photograph the family's tin bath ...
Hunter's Road blitz damage
This photograph was taken on August 13th 1942. The building to the left has been nearly demolished during the air-raid although two vans appear to have survived to some degree.
Hunters Road during the blitz
The aftermath of another air-raid during 1942. This picture was taken on 13th August following another night raid by the luftwaffe.
Hunters Vale Blitz damage
This photo shows the aftermath of an air-raid during the blitz. There are several photographs of damage in Hunters Vale. This undated photograph is likely to date from the Summer of 1942 when the other ...
Hunters Vale Blitz damage
German air-raids targetted the industrial buildings of Handsworth in WW2. Most of the photographs taken by the Public Works Department are of damage to domestic buildings so this is a rare example of ...
Hunters Vale in the Blitz
Work in progress clearing the rubble from the air-raid. In the foreground is a small pile of belongings someone has salvaged including the ever resilient tin bath.
Irving Street - Another view of the VE Day Party
One of the two photographs we have of the party which took place on Irving Street to celebrate the end of the war in Europe. Nobody on this photograph has been named as yet.