Ley Hill Farm Estate

 

A view of the newly built estate from Hoggs Lane. Six tower blocks and maisonettes. Looks like gas street lighting still in use (or may have been converted to electric), possibly early 1960s. Image by Phyliss Nicklin, although has been edited. The estate was demolished in the 2000's having been there only since 1955. Nicklin was a student at Birmingham University that took 100s of vintage Birmingham images around then. The six towers were all 8 storeys high and contained 40 flats. Built by Wimpey. 

Windrush House	40	8
Standlake House	40	8
Saunderton House	40	8
Padbury House	40	8
Bradwell House	40	8
Appleton

The estate was accessed by The Holloway, a road that is parkland on one side and Council housing on the other. The newly built 2000 houses are part private and part rented with no tower blocks.

Christmas 1987

 

All these shops now gone. Bristol Road Northfield 1987 (opp Post Office)

Steel Road

 

Corner of Steel Road and Bristol Road South (A38) looking up Pigeon House hill c.1930s

By-pass casualties

 

When Northfield by-pass was built many houses were demolished including these old cottages  and Travelers Rest pub that were opposite shopping center on Bristol Road. Did you live here once?

Tessall Convenience Store

 1107 Bristol Road South, Northfield, Birmingham,  B31 2QP

The site was a Post Office until a few years back. The current lease holder has retired and the lease is up for grabs for around £1300 PCM. Competition in the area is quite strong for grocery stores and as you can see graffiti is still rife in area. More info at Right Move.

When it was a Post Office Mrs Rashwinder Minhaf was the Postmaster, she later moved to a PO in Merritts Brook Lane.

Northfield Street Party 1989

 

This was in calibration of Birmingham being a city for 100 years. 1889-1989. Camera man and editor was Michael Norton. Film takes place in Dockar Road, just off Tessal Lane. Zodiac Roadshow provided the music on the evening with DJ's Mickey Nold & Anthony Mc Creedy (Tony Mac). 

Children were entertained by a local magician and the Methodist brigade from the church provided live street music. Local photographer captured images for the local newspaper. The weather became damp late afternoon and evening. But we all had a great time. Thanks go out to the organizers. Many people in the footage are no longer with us and all the children are now adults.

Map shows Dockar road location (named after land owner Mrs. Dockar)

DJ: Tony Mac (RIP)

Northfield Methodist Church band

1989 style outfits	Magic show children

Herbert Austin Way

 A piece of local art on the Northfield by-pass, named Herbert Austin Way. Herbert Austin, 1st Baron Austin KBE (8 November 1866 – 23 May 1941) was an English automobile designer and builder who founded the Austin Motor Company. For the majority of his career he was known as Sir Herbert Austin, and the Northfield bypass is called "Sir Herbert Austin Way" after him. The fence railings have car springs. Black Horse pub has a monument in the grounds made from car parts.

Herbert Austin

Austin car parts at Black Horse pub