TheWilliamsCollection

The following photographs are taken from a portfolio given to Halesowenroots.com by Mr. Ken Williams of Halesowen.

In his book Halesowen in Photographs, A Second Selection, David Eades calls the demolition of

the Police Station and Magistrates Court in 1973, an act of sheer wanton vandalism. I can only agree

The Old Lock up was in Church Street (now High Street) on the site of Midland House

Looking towards Hagley Street from approx Old Library Site. NIP-A-KOFS is now Miss Fish

Another View of Hagley Road, Hasbury Opposite the Nursery ( formerly Hardware Stores)

Another View of Hagley Road, Hasbury Opposite the Nursery ( formerly Hardware Stores

Martin Grainger writes:- 'Where did you get these photos of Quarry Lane from ? In the third one, the one with the Mini on the right hand side, I lived there at No 16, with my Mother, Dad and older sister. It was the house on the right of the entry. I lived there until I was about 18, when we moved out to Leebank Road in March 1975, we were one of the last families to leave as far as I can remember !!! These houses were demolished for the road to be widened soon after, along with all the others in the rest of the photos. My Father and Uncles Haulage yard was at the top end of the houses, just out of sight, unfortunately.

The haulage yard was connected to Graingers fruit merchants, this was my Grandfather, Fred Grainger. I never met him as sadly he passed away before I was born, but apparently, he was a bit of a character from the stories my Dad told us about him, as was my Dad, Howard. The haulage company, was I think, started after he died and was eventually named after him.... F Grainger (Haulage) Ltd.

Just to make sure, this was not the Graingers from Mount Street, this was in Quarry Lane. In fact, the double fronted house you see on the photo I mentioned was the fruit shop, so I was told. Again, all this was before I was born, so I obviously don't remember it, but my Dad used to tell us about it, unfortunately, both he and my mother passed away several years 'ago, but there are family members still living who would remember it. I would imagine my older sister would, although she wouldn't be very old herself then!!'