Untitled Document

I have just found your excellent Ladywood website and thought you might like to add the attached photographs of Broad Street to those already uploaded.

The registration plates on the cars (plus my own memories of the address) tell me that my photographs date from the late 1960s - probably 1967 or 1968.

The premises at 174 Broad Street were occupied by my father's company. He was Albert Edward Pearson (1906-1994) - a director of W H Rhodes and associated companies. W H Rhodes was the parent company - they had a chain of retail china and glass shops throughout the Midlands. They also had a commercial catering equipment company called Rhodes (Wholesale Supplies) Ltd which occupied the premises at 174 Broad Street until approximately 1964 when they moved to Nechells. After that time the premises reverted to a china and glass retail outlet under the W H Rhodes sign.

The premises at 174 Broad Street are visible in the distance in the photo of Broad Street dated 1964 on your website. However, the signboard in your 1964 photo is still the one for Rhodes (Wholesale Supplies) Ltd - the writing isn't visible in your photo, but the position of the signboard itself enabled me to identify it - it must have been replaced with the W H Rhodes signboard very soon after your 1964 photograph was taken.

The two attached photos (see below) without any buildings were taken approximately opposite the premises at 174 Broad Street - very near the premises formerly occupied by Astley's the theatrical costumers which appear in your 1959 photographs. Incidentally, you have two photographs showing Astley's - they are both dated 1959 but one may be slightly earlier (or later than the other) as there are quite a few differences in the decoration of the outside of the buildings and the shop signs - take a look and see if you agree!

Anyway, I'll stop rambling at this point and wait to hear from you. Please feel free to use the photographs if you feel they would be a useful addition to your website.

Very best wishes,

Terry Pearson

90 Broad Street, 1959	Broad Street, 1955
118 Broad Street, 1953	Rowe Brothers, 257/8 Broad Street, 1952
Broad Street, 1969	Hangers Garage, 1955
Gas Main Fire in Broad Street, 1963	123 Broad Street, 1959
Broad Street/Bridge Street, 1984	Orthopaedic Hospital, 1964
Broad Street, corner of St. Martins Street, 1964	The Crown, 1984
Broad Street, 1959	Broad Street, 1964
Broad Street corner of Sheepcote Street	Wimbush's on Broad Street
Broad Street showing Beeny's	Hangers in Broad Street, 1965