In my opinion, Cradley Heath was already dying before Tesco opened in '07. The high street had many abandoned shops and houses, and the big market was on it's last legs anyway. It's both the internet and big business that is killing Britain's high streets and local community culture (less industry, pubs, youth centres, etc).
I was born in Cradley Heath. Lovely people, and, a lovely, softer inflection in the Black Country dialect I find. Instantly recognisable. A by pass was the panacea for all declining towns. Quite how building a fast road passing a place “rejuvenates “it, seems not to have occurred to those in power. West Bromwich which boasted a mile of quite posh shops was cut in half by one, it’s centre died .Stourbridge wrecked by its ring road which circled the centre cutting it off- it died. Redditch was one of the first, maker of needles , pins and fish hooks, now, largely a ghost town- and one still cannot navigate the Gordian knot of its road structure . It goes on and on. On top of this calamity, gross shopping centres appeared which decline, rapidly, put up local rates and finish off the final traditional businesses. Why?. I suspect money. Large companies constructing civil engineering work provide governments with large amounts of tax funds. Small industry doesn’t and is costly to tax anyway. Of course, let us not forget stupidity here. I should add that I am a cynic, sadly cynicism tends to turn out to be accuracy. However that may be it is a tragedy
Worked for Richard Beddall at imprint on a YTS from 96-98 and we had a good laugh in Cradley. There were some great characters there. It’s all changed now.
Seeing the town now make me think of that song by The Specials singing about a ghost town. I used to live in Sydney Road, just below The Workers Institute where I signed documents to buy that house. Glad the Institute building was saved by the Black Country Museum. How wrong that councillor at the beginning was. A lot of fine old buildings wrecked and the heart ripped out of the town!
I should have thought an historian and local lad would know why Bank Street was called Bank Street. It’s nothing to do with being the way to the local bank! Much like quarry bank, or bonk as bank is oftentimes pronounced around here, it’s to do with mounds or banks of slag from the mining industry.
I was raised in Cradley Heath. Went to Lomey Town Infants School and lived in and around the area until I left for University in the 1970's. I went to the Royal Cinima as a young girl.Learned to dance at Audreys, have waited for my mother at the hairdressers. Went to Corngreaves Junior School. I went back to my aunts funeral and the undertaker went round the area and the by pass. Its a ruddy monstrosity . Nothing less. Progress it is not!! You have just tossed out all your history. You will live to regret it...... and editing to add, my aunt owned the old greengrocers you mentioned in Lomey Town ( the one opposite the Postal Sorting Office). You know nothing of the history really..... Call yourselves historians?
@@JulieWallis1963 For a man in his early 80's at the time, with no presenting experience, no historical qualification and only his free time spent documenting and recording the stories and local history for over 60 years, including published books (www.amazon.co.uk/Ron-Moss/e/B0034PWSMG?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_4&qid=1596239104&sr=1-4) , I don't think my Grandad did a bad job.
I hope the councillors responsible look at Cradely now with some kind of satisfaction that they took away the historical context o the place. The next generation will have a sodding Wetherspoons & not even a job centre
I was born and raised in Cradley Heath. Sadly the bypass and Tesco has ripped the heart out of the place.
In my opinion, Cradley Heath was already dying before Tesco opened in '07. The high street had many abandoned shops and houses, and the big market was on it's last legs anyway. It's both the internet and big business that is killing Britain's high streets and local community culture (less industry, pubs, youth centres, etc).
I was born in Cradley Heath. Lovely people, and, a lovely, softer inflection in the Black Country dialect I find. Instantly recognisable. A by pass was the panacea for all declining towns. Quite how building a fast road passing a place “rejuvenates “it, seems not to have occurred to those in power. West Bromwich which boasted a mile of quite posh shops was cut in half by one, it’s centre died .Stourbridge wrecked by its ring road which circled the centre cutting it off- it died. Redditch was one of the first, maker of needles , pins and fish hooks, now, largely a ghost town- and one still cannot navigate the Gordian knot of its road structure . It goes on and on. On top of this calamity, gross shopping centres appeared which decline, rapidly, put up local rates and finish off the final traditional businesses. Why?. I suspect money. Large companies constructing civil engineering work provide governments with large amounts of tax funds. Small industry doesn’t and is costly to tax anyway. Of course, let us not forget stupidity here.
I should add that I am a cynic, sadly cynicism tends to turn out to be accuracy. However that may be it is a tragedy
Worked for Richard Beddall at imprint on a YTS from 96-98 and we had a good laugh in Cradley. There were some great characters there.
It’s all changed now.
WORST THING THAT HAS HAPPENED TO CRADLEY, MANY SHOPS NOW GONE , NOW A GHOST TOWN , CRAZY
Seeing the town now make me think of that song by The Specials singing about a ghost town. I used to live in Sydney Road, just below The Workers Institute where I signed documents to buy that house. Glad the Institute building was saved by the Black Country Museum. How wrong that councillor at the beginning was. A lot of fine old buildings wrecked and the heart ripped out of the town!
went to school here in cradley,many moons ago
I miss Cradley Heath
Am I the only Cradley Heath resident who has never ever been in Tesco?
5 ways down to lomey town school that's where I went mr crump was the headmaster mr Hackett was deputy head after mr white
Yeah! Another Boomer.
Yes, I went their too in the 70s , remember crump and mr hacket, my brothers and sister went their too
I should have thought an historian and local lad would know why Bank Street was called Bank Street. It’s nothing to do with being the way to the local bank! Much like quarry bank, or bonk as bank is oftentimes pronounced around here, it’s to do with mounds or banks of slag from the mining industry.
I was raised in Cradley Heath. Went to Lomey Town Infants School and lived in and around the area until I left for University in the 1970's. I went to the Royal Cinima as a young girl.Learned to dance at Audreys, have waited for my mother at the hairdressers. Went to Corngreaves Junior School. I went back to my aunts funeral and the undertaker went round the area and the by pass. Its a ruddy monstrosity . Nothing less. Progress it is not!! You have just tossed out all your history. You will live to regret it...... and editing to add, my aunt owned the old greengrocers you mentioned in Lomey Town ( the one opposite the Postal Sorting Office). You know nothing of the history really..... Call yourselves historians?
Well said. They wrecked it & replaced it with an entity with no history one than name.
Anyone found out what Sylvia Heale and her cronies got out of the destruction of Cradley Heath? £££
got to be honest I hardly recognize the place
Totally ruined it a diabolical crime.
boy that bill Clinton gets everywhere
Wrecked it
I live in Netherton..Cradley Heath looks terrible now. Money talks unfortunately.
That's right yeah...
Ricki Round I know! How annoying was that
@@JulieWallis1963 For a man in his early 80's at the time, with no presenting experience, no historical qualification and only his free time spent documenting and recording the stories and local history for over 60 years, including published books (www.amazon.co.uk/Ron-Moss/e/B0034PWSMG?ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_4&qid=1596239104&sr=1-4) , I don't think my Grandad did a bad job.
@@philaston6291 Is he still with us? I thought he did a great job. I wish someone like him would do a walk around Tipton.
I hope the councillors responsible look at Cradely now with some kind of satisfaction that they took away the historical context o the place. The next generation will have a sodding Wetherspoons & not even a job centre
"All change is good", yea, ok..........
The lady at the start was so naive and lacked true foresight.
Any idea what year this was done?
ah Banks bitter