Hope you enjoyed this short look around Swan Village in West Bromwich. Consider subscribing to this channel by hitting the SUBSCRIBE BUTTON in order for me to continue making films in and around West Bromwich and it will also ensure you are alerted to new video content. As always, all comments, questions, and feedback are welcome. Thanks for watching!!
Thanks phil i grew up in pemberton road in the 70s, that aerier was my play ground as a kid such fond memories .I can remember walking down gas street with my dad to get to the barbers in swan village A few weeks later high winds brought the old wall down killing a lady in gas street.
Yes I also remember the wall killing someone as the wind was very strong around that huge gas tower, it happened by the car showroom in todays location, many thanks for your support
Hi Phil.When we would go to Sue's parents on leave,a couple of times we went from Birmingham to Swan village.At the top of the steps ,there was a little shop on the corner of I think Bilhay street.I would pick up sweets for Mike,her younger brother ,Senior service cigarettes for her dad and a box of Weekend chocs for her mom.Then make our way "home " They had a big living room and in one corner they had a wooden bar ,that was well stocked.I don't think I am imagining it,but they had wooden crates containing bitter,lager and pale ale and they would be delivered.I do hope I didn't dream it ! Also,her brother would have Dandelion and Burdock,Cream soda and a really horrid pretend cider drink called Cidrax ? Cydrax ? He loved it .They were delivered by Corner ? I think that was the name.Coming from Skye and seeing all this lively way of living was an eye opener.Happy days,happy times, happy memories all made in the lovely town of West Bromwich.
As kids we would have Corona or Alpine fizzy pop delivered whilst Granddad would have his beer delivered by Davenports. I also remember taking beer bottles back to the off licence and getting some money back for them. Many thanks
@@awalkwithphil Corona and Davenports .I couldn't remember the names.I remember the pop bottles had dimples around the neck.I wish I could go back to those carefree days.Also,am I right in thinking the opposite side of Firkins there was a big notice from an electricity firm stating underground fires.Mike was caught playing up the bank and he got a good "lamping" off his dad.A word that meant a hiding.They called the bank "bonk" and the canal the "cut".A language all of it's own.I was called the Scotch wench by the neighbours and found that a lot of the older people called girls, wenches and the lads either kid or chap.
@@CalWiggins-i8x The Black Country dialect has nothing like it. Indeed as kids we always played by the cut. Yes, they were carefree days and I remember them well, days, that kids of today, will never know. Many thanks
This was an area I knew well at one time - but haven't been around there for many, many years. In the 1960s I used to go to the Swan pub - the son of the elderly lady who owned it then was a good friend of mine. His name was Norman, and his wife Rene - but I can't remember his surname for the life of me. A lovely chap who had been in the navy during the war. Another pub I used to visit around then was the George in Phoenix St. It was a pub with a stage which always had some good entertainment - great days filled with simple pleasures and good solid people. The owner of the pub in those days was the brother of famous wrestler - Tibor Zakash (probably not spelled correctly) - who used to be in there quite regularly. I can still visualise the old road up from Great Bridge to Carters Green with the 74 bus passing the gas works. I live a long way from there now, thank goodness, and wouldn't want to go back - too many ghosts of the past!
Thanks for sharing. I cannot trace the surname either for the Swan The George also had an excellent darts team during the 50s and it was a popular entertainment venue during the 1950’s and 1960’s and Yes the 74 bus still runs
@@awalkwithphil Thanks for that, Phil. My friend's surname will come to me in time no doubt. You also mentioned Robinson Bros chemical works in your video. A friend of mine worked there in the 1970s and he was injured in an explosion there around that time. I wonder if anyone remembers that?
@@salopian4037 I think some of the building was gutted by the fire and the explosion injured 7 which no doubt would have included your friend. This happened in November 1977.
I can see number 25 at the 15:39 mark, and then the video commences at number 29, thank you so much for a look back in history, keep up the good work. I will search for Cardwell St and also Stanley Road.
Many thanks for your comments and support. I probably filmed all of Phoenix Street but I had to edit to keep the length of the film down so sadly this can happen. But no doubt I will probably be around that area again and I will ensure that house is featured. If there is anywhere you wish me to take a look at then let me know and I will see what I can do.
@@awalkwithphil thank you, we also lived in 4 Cardwell St up near Heath Lane cemetery before we immigrated in 1967. Had family in Stanley Road, my Dads pub was the Jinglers, thank you so much. Neal in Australia
Miss seeing those gas towers, and the big pub was it the Swan, do you now if the bee hive is still up by, where the Walsall conduits, used to be, roads all changed now, not the same anywhere this days, all our old pubs are shutting sad times
Considering how long ago the gas towers was flattened, I'm amazed that remnants of them are still there. Even down to the wall that runs down Swan Lane.
I wonder if the new housing estate will have any reference to the gas towers or the fact that town gas was produced there. Let’s wait and see. Historic landmarks need to be remembered.
Hope you enjoyed this short look around Swan Village in West Bromwich. Consider subscribing to this channel by hitting the SUBSCRIBE BUTTON in order for me to continue making films in and around West Bromwich and it will also ensure you are alerted to new video content.
As always, all comments, questions, and feedback are welcome. Thanks for watching!!
Thanks phil i grew up in pemberton road in the 70s, that aerier was my play ground as a kid such fond memories .I can remember walking down gas street with my dad to get to the barbers in swan village A few weeks later high winds brought the old wall down killing a lady in gas street.
Yes I also remember the wall killing someone as the wind was very strong around that huge gas tower, it happened by the car showroom in todays location, many thanks for your support
Hi Phil.When we would go to Sue's parents on leave,a couple of times we went from Birmingham to Swan village.At the top of the steps ,there was a little shop on the corner of I think Bilhay street.I would pick up sweets for Mike,her younger brother ,Senior service cigarettes for her dad and a box of Weekend chocs for her mom.Then make our way "home "
They had a big living room and in one corner they had a wooden bar ,that was well stocked.I don't think I am imagining it,but they had wooden crates containing bitter,lager and pale ale and they would be delivered.I do hope I didn't dream it ! Also,her brother would have Dandelion and Burdock,Cream soda and a really horrid pretend cider drink called Cidrax ? Cydrax ? He loved it .They were delivered by Corner ? I think that was the name.Coming from Skye and seeing all this lively way of living was an eye opener.Happy days,happy times, happy memories all made in the lovely town of West Bromwich.
As kids we would have Corona or Alpine fizzy pop delivered whilst Granddad would have his beer delivered by Davenports. I also remember taking beer bottles back to the off licence and getting some money back for them. Many thanks
@@awalkwithphil Corona and Davenports .I couldn't remember the names.I remember the pop bottles had dimples around the neck.I wish I could go back to those carefree days.Also,am I right in thinking the opposite side of Firkins there was a big notice from an electricity firm stating underground fires.Mike was caught playing up the bank and he got a good "lamping" off his dad.A word that meant a hiding.They called the bank "bonk" and the canal the "cut".A language all of it's own.I was called the Scotch wench by the neighbours and found that a lot of the older people called girls, wenches and the lads either kid or chap.
@@CalWiggins-i8x The Black Country dialect has nothing like it. Indeed as kids we always played by the cut. Yes, they were carefree days and I remember them well, days, that kids of today, will never know. Many thanks
This was an area I knew well at one time - but haven't been around there for many, many years. In the 1960s I used to go to the Swan pub - the son of the elderly lady who owned it then was a good friend of mine. His name was Norman, and his wife Rene - but I can't remember his surname for the life of me. A lovely chap who had been in the navy during the war. Another pub I used to visit around then was the George in Phoenix St. It was a pub with a stage which always had some good entertainment - great days filled with simple pleasures and good solid people. The owner of the pub in those days was the brother of famous wrestler - Tibor Zakash (probably not spelled correctly) - who used to be in there quite regularly. I can still visualise the old road up from Great Bridge to Carters Green with the 74 bus passing the gas works. I live a long way from there now, thank goodness, and wouldn't want to go back - too many ghosts of the past!
Thanks for sharing. I cannot trace the surname either for the Swan The George also had an excellent darts team during the 50s and it was a popular entertainment venue during the 1950’s and 1960’s and Yes the 74 bus still runs
@@awalkwithphil Thanks for that, Phil. My friend's surname will come to me in time no doubt. You also mentioned Robinson Bros chemical works in your video. A friend of mine worked there in the 1970s and he was injured in an explosion there around that time. I wonder if anyone remembers that?
@@salopian4037 I think some of the building was gutted by the fire and the explosion injured 7 which no doubt would have included your friend. This happened in November 1977.
I can see number 25 at the 15:39 mark, and then the video commences at number 29, thank you so much for a look back in history, keep up the good work. I will search for Cardwell St and also Stanley Road.
Many thanks for your comments and support. I probably filmed all of Phoenix Street but I had to edit to keep the length of the film down so sadly this can happen. But no doubt I will probably be around that area again and I will ensure that house is featured. If there is anywhere you wish me to take a look at then let me know and I will see what I can do.
@@awalkwithphil thank you, we also lived in 4 Cardwell St up near Heath Lane cemetery before we immigrated in 1967. Had family in Stanley Road, my Dads pub was the Jinglers, thank you so much. Neal in Australia
Thanks for this Phil I moved out of West Brom in 2022 ( still go back to see mom) the times I went on my bike to work down swan lane to Phoenix street
Thanks for the comment. I also used to cycle down Phoenix Street on my way to work at JB & S Lees back in the 70s when I lived briefly in Wednesbury
I worked at the Phoenix tube factory you showed that’s now houses, such a shame it’s all changed and gone. Keep up the videos 👍🏻
@@wildcat5904 Thanks for your support
Miss seeing those gas towers, and the big pub was it the Swan, do you now if the bee hive is still up by, where the Walsall conduits, used to be, roads all changed now, not the same anywhere this days, all our old pubs are shutting sad times
Thanks for your comment, Yes, The Beehive is still alive!! in Brickhouse Lane
Considering how long ago the gas towers was flattened, I'm amazed that remnants of them are still there. Even down to the wall that runs down Swan Lane.
I too was equally surprised but sadly it will soon be no more and nothing whatsoever will remain of what was once the biggest gas works in the country
I wonder if the new housing estate will have any reference to the gas towers or the fact that town gas was produced there. Let’s wait and see. Historic landmarks need to be remembered.
Thanks for your support
Them good old days were much happier
Swan....Signet...Phoenix !
Bird in Hand...all in Beggars Bush
People used their new metric currency....to buy win loyalty Switch...Creating Shuttered Doorways !!??