Hodge's Garage

Now Sainsburys. Hodge's Garage. Walter & William Hodge, both Birmingham Councillors and JP's, and their brother Alfred started the garage known as C.J. & A.E. Hodge around the turn of the nineteenth century. It stood on the corner of Cock Lane (now Frankley Beeches Road) with Bristol Road South. Arthur (known as Art. seen here on the right) and his cousin Christopher took over the garage, c. 1930. 

Prior to his marriage in 1935 Art left lo work as a public contractor for the council, and Christopher continued to run the garage. The photograph shows an electric petrol pump being fitted lo replace the old wind-up pump. Christopher's motorcar is in the background. Note the cinema in the background on the right of the photograph, which had been financed by Walter, William and Alfred Hodge. They also owned the shops adjoining the garage along Frankley Beeches Road, which have now been demolished. (A. Hodge)

Hodge's old garage building still stood on the same spot (before Sainsbury's was built) and a car and van hire company operates in the yard. The little Portakabin on the extreme left of the photograph is a chemist's shop. (J. Smith)