Hope you enjoyed this short look around The High Street in Smethwick. 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!!
My Nan was born and bread in smethwich, it used to be ok for shopping in the 80s/90s and the some of the pubs was ok, but like a lot of places in the Black Country all gone down hill and they don’t always make the best decisions when I comes to renovating a area
..Mustafa Supermarket ( 6:06 mins) used to be Tescos Store and the building at the corner of South Rd (12:43 mins) was once Lloyds Bank..then a Car Dealership...!
Im Smethwick born and bred even though these days it's looking a little like the aftermath of a coup d'etat. Actually I think it just needs the business owners to invest back a little of the billions they have made over the years into upgrading the infrastructure as opposed to allowing it to decay so badly that council-tax payers end up having to pick up the bill. Thanks 4 the upload
Hi Phil love these videos of the history of the areas. Do you have any knowledge of Great Arthur St/Brasshouse Lane, Smethwick that you could share with us please?
I spend some time in Smethwick Archives if you' are interested in those streets then the archives will have some old maps covering the area. archives can be found at the smethwick library
I used to work in Smethwick at Dartmouth Auto Castings which was part of the Birmid Group. Dad was at A.E. Griffiths who were based in Booth St but had a second premises in Rolf St where he was assistant manager, they made all sorts of industrial plant equipment.
Hi Phil enjoyed the walk around Smethwick in the seventys I thought I would have a look around Smethwick and went for a drink near the Railway station as I entered the pub I fell over the stools and landed on the floor near the bar the gaffa said i was pissed and threw me out I've never been back and that's the first time I've looked around Smethwick thanks Phil all the best Paul
Phil sadly like so many places, I was born in the late 60s, in Wolverhampton, the shopping centre in the 70s and 80s, I used to go shopping with my late mum, people smiling, now you go to Wolverhampton, there is not much there, Phil all the best.
Smethwick always had bad press! In the 60’s, 70’s & 80’s it was a relatively safe place to live and wander around.. Everyone knew and looked out for each other. Neighbours knew each other and would know the kids in the area so if you misbehaved your parents were always told. NOW, all that has gone, it doesn’t feel safe anymore. That can be said of a lot of places now.
The 1960s council took the decision that there was more "civic pride" in building a bypass than in preserving the High Street. I suppose it was their "last hurrah" before the council was dissolved and the town became part of Sandwell, but the town centre was never the same. I never think of shopping there, I go to Bearwood or Cape Hill or Oldbury.
Apologies, in fact I did film the plaque of the statue but sadly i edited the content as i had overrun by quite a bit. Im going to return to Smethwick shortly and I will ensure the statue gets some profile, many thanks for your comment
Used to be Billingtons Shoe shop but he went years ago got my school shoes there. Old buildings are beautiful though! Heritage Centre is fantastic and library and archives. West Smethwick Park has been very well rennovated and Victoria Park is pleasant. It is more run down thean other centres
Sorry but a lot of us don't go there, even as kids with parents on the 74 bus, hated going through to get to b'ham for a trip to see saints at Lewis '😢
The Old Talbot is still open, and the nurses' home was derelict for ages and only recently it has been bought, and guess what? It's being converted into flats. 🙄
Brilliant, thanks for the info on the Old Talbot. The nurses home caught my eye as i'd never noticed the building before and flats does not surprise me. Many thanks for the comment
If the asian business leave .. Why haven't other people created business ! ? Rather then taken money . ! we have created business ! If haven't other created business ?
I grew up in 1980s it was safe friendly sweet shops still not now. Only decent place is library and Natwest lots of betting shops and run down. If yoi live on 87 and 80 you are fine but otherwise its limited travel wise without a car. Tesco was popular but went years ago there does need to be more High St shops as everybody has to travel. My mom is still alive 85 remembers it with all the knitting shops, butchers, Welches all sorts. There used to be butchers and chemist by me now very little.
I still live there but you need a car now. The buses are awful lack of services and shops so you have to travel to get anything everybody does of all communities which isnt grrat if you are old and disabled. Our neighbours are great still though very friendly
Subscribe to keep the channel alive www.youtube.com/@awalkwithphil?sub_confirmation=1
I can’t write what I want too about that area , but nice vlog of a once beautiful place
Many thanks
hello Phil drove the number 87 along the high street for 21 years thanks for all the info about that area
Hope you enjoyed this short look around The High Street in Smethwick. 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!!
My Nan was born and bread in smethwich, it used to be ok for shopping in the 80s/90s and the some of the pubs was ok, but like a lot of places in the Black Country all gone down hill and they don’t always make the best decisions when I comes to renovating a area
..Mustafa Supermarket ( 6:06 mins) used to be Tescos Store
and the building at the corner of South Rd (12:43 mins) was once Lloyds Bank..then a Car Dealership...!
Many thanks for the update. Much appreciated
20:00 that road is also the high street. cape hill starts at the junction of waterloo road
Im Smethwick born and bred even though these days it's looking a little like the aftermath of a coup d'etat.
Actually I think it just needs the business owners to invest back a little of the billions they have made over the years into upgrading the infrastructure as opposed to allowing it to decay so badly that council-tax payers end up having to pick up the bill.
Thanks 4 the upload
Thanks Simon, well made points
Hi Phil love these videos of the history of the areas. Do you have any knowledge of Great Arthur St/Brasshouse Lane, Smethwick that you could share with us please?
I spend some time in Smethwick Archives if you' are interested in those streets then the archives will have some old maps covering the area. archives can be found at the smethwick library
@@awalkwithphil thank you, I'll take a look
I used to work in Smethwick at Dartmouth Auto Castings which was part of the Birmid Group. Dad was at A.E. Griffiths who were based in Booth St but had a second premises in Rolf St where he was assistant manager, they made all sorts of industrial plant equipment.
Many thanks for the comment, hopefully will film around Rolfe St soon
Hi Phil enjoyed the walk around Smethwick in the seventys I thought I would have a look around Smethwick and went for a drink near the Railway station as I entered the pub I fell over the stools and landed on the floor near the bar the gaffa said i was pissed and threw me out I've never been back and that's the first time I've looked around Smethwick thanks Phil all the best Paul
Great recollection, many thanks
Love the Red Cow pubs collection of warning signs 😂
Phil sadly like so many places, I was born in the late 60s, in Wolverhampton, the shopping centre in the 70s and 80s, I used to go shopping with my late mum, people smiling, now you go to Wolverhampton, there is not much there, Phil all the best.
Many thanks for your comment
Smethwick always had bad press! In the 60’s, 70’s & 80’s it was a relatively safe place to live and wander around.. Everyone knew and looked out for each other. Neighbours knew each other and would know the kids in the area so if you misbehaved your parents were always told. NOW, all that has gone, it doesn’t feel safe anymore. That can be said of a lot of places now.
This says a lot as to how this once great area has deteriorated
Its changed from ten years ago when I used to live there.
The 1960s council took the decision that there was more "civic pride" in building a bypass than in preserving the High Street. I suppose it was their "last hurrah" before the council was dissolved and the town became part of Sandwell, but the town centre was never the same. I never think of shopping there, I go to Bearwood or Cape Hill or Oldbury.
Very well said, many thanks
I enjoy your walks Phil .
Disappointed we didnt get a look at the tribute to the Indian Soldier of the Great War in this one tho .
Apologies, in fact I did film the plaque of the statue but sadly i edited the content as i had overrun by quite a bit. Im going to return to Smethwick shortly and I will ensure the statue gets some profile, many thanks for your comment
@@awalkwithphil great stuff ! ...and keep up the walks 👍
West Bromwich Staffordshire then!
Used to be Billingtons Shoe shop but he went years ago got my school shoes there. Old buildings are beautiful though! Heritage Centre is fantastic and library and archives. West Smethwick Park has been very well rennovated and Victoria Park is pleasant. It is more run down thean other centres
KARACHI HIGH STREET NOW.😮
Very few shops with English names.
You can say that again.
Sorry but a lot of us don't go there, even as kids with parents on the 74 bus, hated going through to get to b'ham for a trip to see saints at Lewis '😢
The Old Talbot is still open, and the nurses' home was derelict for ages and only recently it has been bought, and guess what? It's being converted into flats. 🙄
Brilliant, thanks for the info on the Old Talbot. The nurses home caught my eye as i'd never noticed the building before and flats does not surprise me. Many thanks for the comment
11:30 2008 not 2001
Express of India
Jesus its like Pakistan
I agree.
lol.. there from india not pakistan. sikhs not muslims:)
Sorry that should say santa but it changes when you post
If the asian business leave .. Why haven't other people created business ! ?
Rather then taken money . ! we have created business !
If haven't other created business ?
Tbh i live by there I never shop there I have to travel to Cape Hill Bearwood or Oldbury
I grew up in 1980s it was safe friendly sweet shops still not now. Only decent place is library and Natwest lots of betting shops and run down. If yoi live on 87 and 80 you are fine but otherwise its limited travel wise without a car. Tesco was popular but went years ago there does need to be more High St shops as everybody has to travel. My mom is still alive 85 remembers it with all the knitting shops, butchers, Welches all sorts. There used to be butchers and chemist by me now very little.
I share your sentiments, my elderly mother in law talks often of those shops you mentioned, many thanks for your comment
I still live there but you need a car now. The buses are awful lack of services and shops so you have to travel to get anything everybody does of all communities which isnt grrat if you are old and disabled. Our neighbours are great still though very friendly