Chip shops, Horsefair, Kidderminster

[gubbins]

Treefan posted an earlier thread regarding information for chip shops in the Horsefair which I found by accident through Google.
 
The original thread is locked but this brought back lots of memories of old 'Kiddy' where I grew up in the 50' and 60's and thought I'd post a reply in case other readers remember these shops. (I moved away 45 years ago.)

Living then on Greenhill, I had to pass through the Horsefair on my way home after a night out in town. There were three shops as I recall:

Cooper's shop on the corner of Waterloo Street which was demolished when the ring road was built. It was at the top right hand side of Blackwell Street where the ring road roundabout is now

Firth's (which was later taken over by Mario) was attached to the old three storey cottages opposite Hurcott Road.

The best one though was Vic Cale's chip shop in Churchfields on the right hand side when walking towards the Horsefair. This was the one which was amongst a row of terraced houses.

I also remember going into the Roadhouse cafe run by Cyril and Frank on Stourbridge Road where the flats are now. It was a bit rough and ready - but it was always open when the chip shops had shut. Sausage, egg, chips and beans, two rounds of bread and butter, a big mug of tea, all for one and ninepence - that's less nine pence in todays money!   

[jim1212]

Hi Gubbins,
I also remember Cales chippy, I went to school with a son of theirs, I also remember the Roadhouse cafe, I was born in Eddy Road.

Jim.

[philheeks]

Hi Gubbins

I know how you feel as I replyed to the original topic.  My late Dad & I kept a grocers in Stourbridge Rd, Kiddy (on the opposite corner of the old Lark Hill to the Queens Head) the shop was opposite Foxholes lane that went up the back of the Sladen where I went to school. I lived in Wolverhampton Rd, Kiddy along with my parents & one set of grandparents(one of them pictured).  I still visit Kiddy once a week when on holiday at Crossway Green, Hartlebury & think the old town is making a very good recovery - long may it last - but its not the same without all the carpet factories.  I forgot to say that I have been living at weston-super-Mare since 1970 when we moved from Kiddy -  I have been on my own for some years as both my parents have passed away & Im an OAP now

Enough of my waffle

All the very best

Phil
Weston-super-Mare

[gubbins]

Hi Jim, Phil,

I'm an old git as well now, born in 1944.
 I remember the grocery shop and Pritchard's grocery shop next to Maggs cafe. I bet you both remember Alf Tabb's bike shop opposite the Roadhouse. I think Alf held the world record for making and riding the smallest bike in the world. He must've been getting on in years when I was a kid and yet he'd still ride the small red one which was only about 6 inches high. He had another silver one about 9 inches high that he'd let you have a go at riding. We always went there instead of Reddings in Blackwell Street for cycle parts because it was cheaper - and he'd let you have a go at riding that bike. Never managed it though. If we were really strapped for cash, we used to go down to Jake Stubley's scrapyard in Waterloo Street for bits and pieces. Always a handy place too for getting old pram wheels to make our soapbox carts. It's a shame that most kids today will never know the pleasure we got out of making or mending things ourselves in those days.

The last time I went through the Horsefair it'd changed a lot from how I remember it. The old coal yard in the triangle's now a car park and the Empire picture house has gone. We spent many a happy Saturday morning in there in the 'threepenny crush' on the temporary wooden benches on the front row. The threepence we saved on the normal sixpence admittance charge paid for a bag of chips on the way home. I remember there used to be Howell's bakery just up Hurcott Road from the Blue Bell and on the opposite side of the road there used to be a row of old houses which lay well back from the road with a sweet shop in one of the houses. Then there was the other row of old houses with a built-up path with steps and railings further up the hill. All gone since they built the flats.

Best regards,

Gubbins

[jim1212]

Hi Gubbins,

Do you remember the name Lennie Hall.

Jim.

[kjb40]

For anyone interested in old photos of Kidderminster there are loads on the Facebook page Kidderminster past . http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=114634001914575     

[kjb40]

For anyone interested in old photos of Kidderminster there are loads on the Facebook page Kidderminster past . http://www.facebook.com/#!/group.php?gid=114634001914575    

[philheeks]

Hi There

Altogrther now - MEMORIES MEMORIES etc you must remember the song.

Do any of you remember Silvester sons & Heeks ltd opposite what used to be the Queens Head - if you do Im the only surviving Heeks from that company & the only surviving Silvesters are Andy of the Chicken Shack & his sister Lyn I forget her married name,  all 3 of us went to the Sladen (when it was a school - god knows what it is now).

Sorry will have to sign off as my time on this library computer terminal is almost up

All the very best

Phil

[jim1212]

The Sladen as been flattened I think.