Artikelname: A Birmingham Backstreet Boyhood
Artikelbeschreibung:

A Birmingham Backstreet Boyhood is a fascinating recollection of the experience of growing up in the slums of Nechells and Aston. All the harshness of daily life is remembered here by local author Graham Twist. Despite hard living conditions and a distinct lack of money, a strong community spirit prevailed and families and neighbourhoods were close-knit. The womenfolk in particular took great pride in their homes, however humble, and scrubbed their front steps and swept the areas in front of their houses religiously. In these tough times you hoped nobody noticed you going to the 'pop shop' to pawn precious valuables to get enough money to pay the rent or buy food for the family.

Artikelname: Bilston, Bradley and Ladymoor: A Sixth Selection
Artikelbeschreibung: This is Ron Davies' sixth book about the Black Country townships of Bilston, Bradley & Ladymoor. The area has a rich industrial heritage, which forged a strong sense of community among its residents, many of who worked in the factories, foundries and workshops. In these tight-knit settlements, churches and chapels, sports clubs and societies grew and flourished, and the people who lived here - despite tough times and often poor living conditions - all stuck together. This collection of over 200 old photographs will provide a window onto the past for those who enjoy a nostalgic trip down memory lane.

Artikelname: Birmingham's Canalside Industries
Artikelbeschreibung: Coal mining and iron working prospered in the West Midlands in the nineteenth century, after the development of local industry, in particular metalworking and the use of coal, iron and limestone. Metalworking also stimulated the growth of a local chemical industry where acids and alkali was produced, which in turn led to the making of pure chemicals, assisting the local paint and varnish industry. Industries sprang up at the canal side. Other needs led to building of brickyards, flourmills, glassworks and timber yards beside the water's edge. This illustrated volume examines the canalside industries of Birmingham and the Black Country, looking at iron, coal, gas, electricity, bricks and firebricks, and railway interchange, plus some of the more modern trades.

Artikelname: Black Country Aviation
Artikelbeschreibung: The Black Country's place in aviation history is indisputable, ranging from the balloon that took off from Wolverhampton Gas Works in 1862 setting a world altitude record-to the manufacture of powered flight controls for the Eurofighter Typhoon.In over 200 well chosen photographs, Alec Brew builds up a vivid visual impression of the contribution that the Black Counrry has made to the history of aviation, from the creation of one of Great Britain's earliest airfields at Dunstall Park-where the first ever All-British Flying Meeting was held in 1910-to the major aircraft manufacturers of the region that produced not only complete aircraft but also parts for countless other aviation companies. Documenting the dominant role that this area of the West Midlands played this book provides a rich record of local heritage that will fascinate the Black Countryman and aviation enthusiast alike.

Artikelname: Blackheath
Artikelbeschreibung: This book contains an extensive collection of pictures of Blackheath, many previously unpublished, covering the town throughout the last century. it was not recognised as a separate entity until around 1830 and is best described as a working-class community, with many home-based industries and mining as the main sources of employment for its residents.The original buildings, which had a rugged charm and character steadily gave way to progressive development, and with the advent of the ring road even those which had survived slowly but surely disappeared. It is hoped that the images contained in this book will rekindle some of the memories of a close-knit community, which is still populated to a significant degree by descendants of the people pictured, and also that it may awaken an interest in an area which has been hitherto neglected.Blackheath in Old photographs contains over 200 black and white photographs chronicling the area's history and will appeal to long-established residents and newcomers a like.

Artikelname: Boats, Smoke, Steam and Folks: Exploring the Canals of the Midlands
Artikelbeschreibung: Narrow boats, coal, steam engines, tunnels, locks, bridges, aqueducts and the lives of thousands of men, women and children came to be wrapped up in the late eighteenth century with what was a whole new transport system. Over a period of fifty or so years a network of canals and inland waterways connected Britain's major towns and industrial centres. In the grand scheme of things, two hundred years is a relatively short period of time. But yet, within this timeframe, an amazing form of transport was developed, grew to a prosperous zenith, went into decline, virtually disappeared and is now being resurrected. Exploring the canals of the Midlands, this book, with maps and detailed walks, will encourage the reader to move from his armchair and into this living piece of history. It also answers some of the many questions asked today about our canal network: Who did all the work; when and why were they built; what was it like to work on canals, either repairing them or moving goods about. Also included are interviews and memories of those who worked on the canals, albeit in the twilight years of the fifties and sixties when road transport was taking over the role of moving bulky loads around the country.

Artikelname: Heart of England Fairs _1
Artikelbeschreibung: Heart of England Fairs is a unique collection of nearly 200 photographs taken by Midlands engineer and fairground enthusiast Jack Leeson. Jack photographed his first images at Rugby Fair in June 1949 and continued taking pictures that covered all aspects of the fairground - arrival in town, building up, rides, food, leaving town - for the next forty years. During this time he took almost 8,000 photographs, many of which have never been seen befdre, all of which show his love not only of the fair but of the fairground people and way of life.The images in this book cover fairs in Warwickshire, Northamptonshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire, Leicestershire, Coventry and Birmingham and illustrate an important part of our cultural and social history. The photographs form part of the National Fairground Archive which was founded in 1994 and is housed in the Main Library of the University of Sheffield.

Artikelname: Midget Car Speedway
Artikelbeschreibung: In its early days motor racing was the preserve of the rich and glamorous. Drivers were likely to come from professional and wealthy backgrounds and spectators often liked to think of themselves as 'a cut above the rest'. During the 1920s and 1930s however; there was a gradual awakening of the fact that many people, not able to go to Brooklands or the other racecourses, were still interested in motor racing. For many, midget car racing was their first introduction to the sport.Originating in America, midget car racing soon took off in the UK with racetracks at Wembley, Southampton, Glasgow and Edinburgh and many points in between. In 1938, the sport came to Hanley and later Corbridge and from then on, the Potteries were to be at the forefront of Midget Car Speedway in Britain.Midget Car Speedway is a branch of motorsport that has been overlooked by many motor racing historians. Derek Bridgett's brilliantly illustrated history of the sport looks at the development of Midget Car Speedway before the Second World War; and in particular; the racing that took place in Staffordshire and Coventry.

Artikelname: Midlands Canals: History of the Canal Carriers
Artikelbeschreibung: This illustrated volume is exceptionally researched. Robert Davies has compiled interviews with boat people and the people who worked the inland waterways during the final decades of commercial canal carrying, capturing the flavour of this era. Often whole families worked on the great boats and lived in the tiny cabins at the back. Among the people interviewed are those who worked the narrow canals from London through the Midlands, to Stoke on Trent and Middlewich, and people who worked for big companies such as Grand Union Canal Carrying Co., as well as for the little George and Mathews. The book spans the 1930s-'60s, a time when transport technology saw huge changes, and looks issues such as the operating of ice boats and the use of horse power as well as the experiences of the people themselves.

Artikelname: Old Aston, Erdington, Kingstanding & Great Barr
Artikelbeschreibung: One of the most surprising photographs in Old Aston. is of a herd of sheep being taken down Gravelly Hill; unthinkable in today's traffic congestion. Histories or photographs appear of many Birmingham industries such as the Midland Vinegar Company (the home of HP sauce), the Dunlop factory and Hamstead Colliery. Streets featured include Walsall Road, Victoria Road, Trinity Road, Frederick Road, Kingsbury Road and Handsworth Wood Road. Other photographs of Birmingham landmarks include the Golden Cross Hotel, the Zig Zag bridge, Brook Vale Park and Aston Cross. Erdington residents will also get to see the district's first tram!

Artikelname: Old Birmingham - The City Centre
Artikelbeschreibung: Old Birmingham City Centre is filled with many delights including a spectacular decorated tram, a homage to George V's coronation. Both New Street Station and Snow Hill Station appear, along with several of the surrounding city centre streets and arcades. Corporation Street, one of the main shopping drags, is photographed several times. The old Market Hall appears in its full glory as does the bull ring. The new Fire Station is photographed in the 1930s with other important buildings such as the Law Courts, the General Hospital and the General Post Office being photographed over the 1900 to 1950 period. A 1909 photographs shows the Royal visit at the opening of Birmingham University. The city's entertainers are represented by Gladys Cooper and the Birmingham Repertory with Joseph Chamberlain, the 'gas and water socialist', standing as an example of the city's historic politicians.

Artikelname: Old Handsworth, Lozells, Birchfield & Perry Barr
Artikelbeschreibung: This book takes the reader on a journey through period views of Wellington Road, Sandwell Road, Soho Road, Oxhill Road and Church Lane. Local industry is featured in the form of George Baines bakery and the Mitchell and Butler's Brewery. James Watt's workshop appears alongside more common images such as the 1928 photograph of school-children around a Maypole. Birmingham cinemas are strongly featured with those present including the Birchfield Picture House, the Regal, the Albion, Lozell's Picture House and the first Odeon in Britain. The postcards which provided the photographs for the book often had interesting messages - look out for the postcard of Westminster Road (posted in 1940) which describes how the sender had to flee with his mother from a nearby bombing attack during the second World War.

Artikelname: Old Small Heath
Artikelbeschreibung: The bustling suburb of Small Heath is shown here during Edwardian times with shops such as the giant Small Heath Drapery Warehouse lining its busy streets. Several pictures show the local tram services, with two taken when the new electrified tramway was being installed in 1904/05. One of the most remarkable events that Small Heath experienced was the tornado of June 1931, and four photographs illustrate some of the damage this caused. There's also a view of bomb-damaged houses in Oldknow Road. Other pictures cover the length and breadth of Coventry Road and Green Lane, with many more minor streets included, among them Cyril Road, Langley Road, St Oswald's Road, Dora Road, Mansell Road and Armoury Road.

Artikelname: Quarry Bank and The Delph
Artikelbeschreibung: This is Ned Williams and the Mount Pleasant Local History Group's third book about Quarry Bank and this time they take a fresh look at this little Black Country township, plus the even smaller place next door - simply known as The Delph. The area covered is part of the modern Metropolitan Borough of Dudley - the capital of the Black Country. All human life was to be found in these communities of colliers, brickyard workers and bucket-bashers before the days when motorists roared by on their way to the Merry Hill Shopping Centre. This collection of old photographs will make you pause awhile and explore some of the old shops, chapels, canals, vanished industrial enterprises, workshops and byways you never knew existed.

Artikelname: Tunstall in Old Photographs
Artikelbeschreibung: Tunstall is the northernmost of the six  towns which make up Stoke-on- Trent, but like the others retains a distinct sense of local identity. Reference is made to Tunstall as early as 1086 but it was the growth of the pottery industry in the nineteenth century which transformed the village into a thriving town. This fascinating collection of over 180 archive photographs depicts the history of Tunstall, exploring the people, places, industry and leisure of the area over the past 150 years.The result is a volume which will awaken nostalgic memories in all who have lived or worked in Tunstall, as well as providing a valuable resource for anyone interested in the history of the area.

Artikelname: Winson Green and Brookfields
Artikelbeschreibung: Through the medium of old photographs this book provides a fascinating look at the recent history of Winson Green and  Brookfields. This is an area that only became established as a tesidential community following the opening of Matthew Boulton great Soho manufactory nearby in 1765.Despite this early expansion the area remained relatively rural until the mid-nineteenth century when Birmingham Town Council found sites here for the building of a new Borough prison and workhouse.The arrival of main trunk lines for the Great Western and North Western Railways completed the impetus for a spate of building that created the look of Winson Green and Brookfields - wherever one looked there was a long brick wall. For much of its short history the area suffered from the consequences of the industrial development that brought it into existence: poor, back-to-back housing built too close to the factory buildings their residents worked in. Litle changed to the appearance of this area until the 1960s when the inevitable redevelopment started. This photographic record pays tribute to the people who grew up and lived in this tough but close community. Most of the photographs used have been selected from the archives of The Birmingham Library Service.