I remember Handsworth, as a lovely peaceful suburb in the late 1940's. Rookery road Cinema, us kids dashing out the doors, late Saturday morning, from the kids Film Club. Pretending to be Batman or Roy Roger's etc. Handsworth Park, boating or sailing your own little yacht, you made from scrap wood and cloth, or fishing. Home made go-carts, with nicked planks from the local tip, and old pram wheels. St Francis School, with the Nuns and their scary big hats. when we got bikes, we'd cycle up to the Hamstead colliery, and watch those massive coal buckets travel on cables, high above, accross the road. Some times we'd take a long walk down Soho Road, with all it's shops, with their sun blinds down, on summer day's. We kids enjoyed our time there, then the family moved away..
I too remember Handsworth in the 50`s and it was paradise. Handsworth Park was the perfect place for family picnics and playing on the swings in the summer. I remember the Flower Show every year and what a treat it was to go, the Saturday matinee at the Villa Cross cinema....I could go on. I was born in Handsworth and spent 35 years there and never had a problem with black, white or other. By the way, Michael Michael is my brother.
A different time in so many ways, better days much more civilised united and peaceful is the impression I get of those times my mother was born in 51, I wasn't born until 83 so I've never known those times but it seems to me society took a big dive somewhere from the 70s / 80s onwards
Wowie, the Acapulco cafe, I had forgotten that place existed. I used to drop into The Beehive from time to time to check out the wares on offer. Good times, never ever had any problems in that place.
It brings back memories as when i see this footage i realise i know most of the characters. I used to run sound system up in akie tree accross the road.
@bobby ray lol funny guy..I have proof I lived in Thornhill rd for 21 years :), bills etc How about explaining that? I know you're messing with me but it's ok no harm done :)
I had a few pals around queen's head Rd and Booth St... And down by s&d, KFC etc waverhill Park, nineveh Rd, Tewkesbury Rd, Victoria Rd etc.... Mad times!
Used to have to occasionally go into the Acapulco Cafe to get access to the Ackee Tree. My colleague used to look like a copper so it used to go rather quiet when we walked in. This was in 1985. The Ackee Tree had a plank of wood nailed just inside the door. We once asked why the piece of wood was there, and the reply was that 'in case the Ackee Tree got raided, only one copper at a time could get in'.
I lived a stones throw from there for many years. It's easy to look back with 'rose tinted spectacles' but honestly the area is just as deprived now as it was back then. Having these poorer areas fits the model and keeps the status quo. After all it's human nature for people of a similar sociological background to pool together/ or when they have no choice.
Hi guys, I'm making student documentary on the Handsworth Riots and need a couple of people to talk about what life was like in Handsworth in the 80s, the riots themselves and the police handling of these riots. I am from Birmingham myself and wanted to represent the people of Handsworth and the failings of the police. If anyone is willing to speak, or has some interesting images or videos of this time please reply to this!
my god I used to deliver meat to that café I was 12 at the time and some chap got shot in the balls just after I left I also got memory's of the villa cross and the little sweet shop next door
I grew up in Handsworth and things were not to bad back in those days compared to these days, is much worse now, smoking draw as it was called back then or boozing compared to CRACK these days, the older dealers got the youngsters to sell the stuff for them and the young ones being nieve sold it - but not realising what they were getting into and what they were losing selling the stuff,
I grew up in this area, used to have the milk bar cafe across the road , that’s Chris brother mick talking in the acupulco , villa cross was no go area for cops , night spot cafe was also out of bounds.. the police force at the time was the most fkn racist force u could think of , Thornhill Road police station was awash with nazi cops , Barker st blues was rocking 🇬🇧👍👌
I was at the Chemist they drive past at no 113 Lozells Road following attendance at a harm reduction event in Birmingham two weeks ago. It is now an Al Shafa open to 11pm every day and though I have been served in their Dewsbury Road Leeds branch (pretty much Frontline in Leeds now with its adjoining maze of little streets Beeston/Holbeck, now Chapeltown Rd and Spencer Place is much quieter than pre ~2005) and the government inspectors Section 74D Ban only applies to their Smethwick branch, they would not serve me any Codeine Linctus. The guy behind the counter saw my activist T shirt and immediately jumped out saying "can I help you"? in the way that biased/suspicious shopkeepers of all kinds do when they see someone they think will be trouble in their shop. I got as far as the counter, noticed the area where they used to keep the better cough medicines was bare of stock, and walked out.
i grew up in newtown i rem some of the faces in the video lol ,, i used the night spot more than acapulco , and bets caf opposit the villa cross , good old days ,, and lozzy is not handsworth its lozzells ,, its changed so much now asians have pushed the black comunity out its not the same hub bub of various races just enjoying life ,, george road blues lmao
Asians are very racist in Birmingham may be because of the racism direct from whites as Birmingham is very racist and areas are segregated and divided even today nothing changes.
All the racist moved out of handsworth to rural areas of Birmingham nowadays clearly don't want to live in some areas of Birmingham. Hence why Birmingham is very racist and segregated in areas.
@WhatHappenedToSociety learn to accept there is problems in Birmingham and the west midlands and stop living in denial , Birmingham has a lot of segregation and racism and divisions and bigoted people who are not progressive, crime is out of control and areas are going down hill yet you bigots will condemn London and don't see the state of your own city and region is a mess ,go and find something better to do than troll people no life .
I remember Handsworth, as a lovely peaceful suburb in the late 1940's. Rookery road Cinema, us kids dashing out the doors, late Saturday morning, from the kids Film Club. Pretending to be Batman or Roy Roger's etc. Handsworth Park, boating or sailing your own little yacht, you made from scrap wood and cloth, or fishing. Home made go-carts, with nicked planks from the local tip, and old pram wheels. St Francis School, with the Nuns and their scary big hats. when we got bikes, we'd cycle up to the Hamstead colliery, and watch those massive coal buckets travel on cables, high above, accross the road. Some times we'd take a long walk down Soho Road, with all it's shops, with their sun blinds down, on summer day's. We kids enjoyed our time there, then the family moved away..
I too remember Handsworth in the 50`s and it was paradise. Handsworth Park was the perfect place for family picnics and playing on the swings in the summer. I remember the Flower Show every year and what a treat it was to go, the Saturday matinee at the Villa Cross cinema....I could go on. I was born in Handsworth and spent 35 years there and never had a problem with black, white or other. By the way, Michael Michael is my brother.
A different time in so many ways, better days much more civilised united and peaceful is the impression I get of those times my mother was born in 51, I wasn't born until 83 so I've never known those times but it seems to me society took a big dive somewhere from the 70s / 80s onwards
Wowie, the Acapulco cafe, I had forgotten that place existed. I used to drop into The Beehive from time to time to check out the wares on offer. Good times, never ever had any problems in that place.
I used to go there and it was not problematic at all. The black cat across the street was also a known venue
I used to hang around Hunters Road not far from there in 1984. It was deprived then and probably not much better now...
It brings back memories as when i see this footage i realise i know most of the characters. I used to run sound system up in akie tree accross the road.
I have fond memories of Ackee Tree with the floor that used to bounce with the heaviness of a bassline. Lol
Were you a fan of Fashion? I love that band. Love Shadow in particular.
What was the sound called?
Right there, Villa Cross. the birthplace of Aston Villa FC.
I loved Handsworth spent 21 years on Thornhill Rd, fond memories.
@bobby ray What do you mean?
@bobby ray lol funny guy..I have proof I lived in Thornhill rd for 21 years :), bills etc
How about explaining that?
I know you're messing with me but it's ok no harm done :)
@bobby ray ;)
The cop shop on Thornhill Rd!!! 😜
I had a few pals around queen's head Rd and Booth St... And down by s&d, KFC etc waverhill Park, nineveh Rd, Tewkesbury Rd, Victoria Rd etc.... Mad times!
Back when there was no power steering
Newtown was The Best for fun, and chasing girls, smoking The double zero and squidgy Black in the crossguns pub, around the mid 80s
The crossguns is still there last time I was there
cross guns got knocked dwn years ago,grew up next to it in rodway close which also gone@@Z_sara
wow i miss the old place but i dont get home too often now
@@DarrenFenton
Used to have to occasionally go into the Acapulco Cafe to get access to the Ackee Tree. My colleague used to look like a copper so it used to go rather quiet when we walked in. This was in 1985. The Ackee Tree had a plank of wood nailed just inside the door. We once asked why the piece of wood was there, and the reply was that 'in case the Ackee Tree got raided, only one copper at a time could get in'.
And the area of Villa Road/Lozells road remains just as identical as its shown here #NotMuchHasChanged.
Yes
Anyone else see the date on the film? I'm sure it was 10th of July 1985. But the car they're travelling in is a MkIV Ford Escort, released March 1986?
The oldest part of this film (inside the cafe) is 1986 - the first half (outside the cafe) is from 1988
@@saffronsaffron4848what was the name of the pub 3.48 sure it was on soho rd just after the traffic lights past Nineveh rd
I lived a stones throw from there for many years. It's easy to look back with 'rose tinted spectacles' but honestly the area is just as deprived now as it was back then.
Having these poorer areas fits the model and keeps the status quo. After all it's human nature for people of a similar sociological background to pool together/ or when they have no choice.
I loved the way the Black community dressed back then compared the JD Sports look of the past 20 years.
"Micheal Micheal" classic name
And a classic Birmingham accent with it.
Hi guys, I'm making student documentary on the Handsworth Riots and need a couple of people to talk about what life was like in Handsworth in the 80s, the riots themselves and the police handling of these riots. I am from Birmingham myself and wanted to represent the people of Handsworth and the failings of the police. If anyone is willing to speak, or has some interesting images or videos of this time please reply to this!
my god I used to deliver meat to that café I was 12 at the time and some chap got shot in the balls just after I left I also got memory's of the villa cross and the little sweet shop next door
I grew up in Handsworth and things were not to bad back in those days compared to these days, is much worse now, smoking draw as it was called back then or boozing compared to CRACK these days, the older dealers got the youngsters to sell the stuff for them and the young ones being nieve sold it - but not realising what they were getting into and what they were losing selling the stuff,
Did Acapulco cafe transition into Burger bar? There don’t seem to be any photos whatsoever of either burger bar or Johnson’s cafe.
dont believe everything you read in the bollo--s media
Does anyone remember The Plaza club
Frontline? I thought that was more opposite the beehive
Frontline was underneath montys
@@72ghettoboywhat’s the name of the pub 3.48 sure it was on soho rd just past the traffic lights at the junction of Nineveh rd
The good old times
Lol this is comic 😂😂😂 love this hahaha
i used to live in a hostel down there, finch road.
Can you tell me what Crompton road was like? If you remember anything
I grew up in this area, used to have the milk bar cafe across the road , that’s Chris brother mick talking in the acupulco , villa cross was no go area for cops , night spot cafe was also out of bounds.. the police force at the time was the most fkn racist force u could think of , Thornhill Road police station was awash with nazi cops , Barker st blues was rocking 🇬🇧👍👌
the night spot, Lowes place
The Acapulco.and buying "bush" at the villa cross over 50yrs ago!..there
Are names from b'hams past!!
Holy cow memories..
I remember the old pub , not the Alcapol(sic). Memories lol @ Uk🇿🇼 🏴
Not a place to be in after dark.Like most of Birmingham today.
Birmingham is a segregated shithole full of chavs and racist in denial.
I was at the Chemist they drive past at no 113 Lozells Road following attendance at a harm reduction event in Birmingham two weeks ago. It is now an Al Shafa open to 11pm every day and though I have been served in their Dewsbury Road Leeds branch (pretty much Frontline in Leeds now with its adjoining maze of little streets Beeston/Holbeck, now Chapeltown Rd and Spencer Place is much quieter than pre ~2005) and the government inspectors Section 74D Ban only applies to their Smethwick branch, they would not serve me any Codeine Linctus. The guy behind the counter saw my activist T shirt and immediately jumped out saying "can I help you"? in the way that biased/suspicious shopkeepers of all kinds do when they see someone they think will be trouble in their shop. I got as far as the counter, noticed the area where they used to keep the better cough medicines was bare of stock, and walked out.
Fucking hell, ain't that major lazer? @ 1.00
Nightspot had two floors' :)
Would have loved to see what it looked like inside - any photos?
Man like legsy diamond😂😂
i grew up in newtown i rem some of the faces in the video lol ,, i used the night spot more than acapulco , and bets caf opposit the villa cross , good old days ,, and lozzy is not handsworth its lozzells ,, its changed so much now asians have pushed the black comunity out its not the same hub bub of various races just enjoying life ,, george road blues lmao
You racist bastard
Asians are very racist in Birmingham may be because of the racism direct from whites as Birmingham is very racist and areas are segregated and divided even today nothing changes.
And you all love whites dont ya
@@nadeemh00 saddam
Correct Lozzells, is not handsworth. My barber shop was on Barker St.
And I don't blame them if they call you a coconut
All the racist moved out of handsworth to rural areas of Birmingham nowadays clearly don't want to live in some areas of Birmingham. Hence why Birmingham is very racist and segregated in areas.
@WhatHappenedToSociety Get a life and deal with the truth it's in your face .
@WhatHappenedToSociety learn to accept there is problems in Birmingham and the west midlands and stop living in denial , Birmingham has a lot of segregation and racism and divisions and bigoted people who are not progressive, crime is out of control and areas are going down hill yet you bigots will condemn London and don't see the state of your own city and region is a mess ,go and find something better to do than troll people no life .
Birmingham isn’t racist now these lies are spun by the actual white racists.
Apacci Indian
Shere Punjab
The Black Panthers
Their haydays
wasn't there a Pakistani gang in Aston? I cant remember the name.
@@caraudiosolutions black Panthers?
@@faz.. yes that's the 1, my bad you already mentioned "black panters".
Lynx crew
@@caraudiosolutions Aston Panthers
Ah we rule here 👌👌😂
Birmingham is one of the most segregated cities in the UK see how areas are divided.
People live in their own communities due to sharing a common culture and heritage. Also away from the fear of racism.
Dirtyyyy coconut !!!
till shes saving one of your family members
lol and look at most Jamaicans today are coconuts lol.
@bobby ray Jamaicans are lost people
@bobby ray ahhh shut f..k up Jamaicans chat sh.t handsworth is a different place now. Jamaicans are all washed of with the whites
@@thechickenman2289 you fool ya
I remember blacks with blocks of black 😁
What was the name of the pub 3.48
Black Cat?
@@halobegsnog8321 that was name of the cafe on villa rd
@@Murf-cz1iv Yep, I just remembered. Oh well; if the real name turns up, I'll drop a line...
@@halobegsnog8321 👍🏻