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This comes from Jennifer Venville Nicol (Venville being her maiden name), now living in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, who lived in Hidson Road very close to Stockland Green, Erdington in the years following World War II.
Further along Slade Road from the cobbler's was Hiron's Fruit and Flower Store. This company is still in operation with nurseries at Perry Barr. It was the most interesting store to go into. Almost everything in the shop was stored in sacks all around the wall.
There were dog bones and biscuits, all kinds of seeds and animal food, and also some fruit and veg. There were also on occasion pets such as tortoises and goldfish for sale.
It was also a Florist and, therefore, was available for all the obvious occasions of the residents: births, weddings, and funerals. It had a very earthy smell inside. A lovely lady called Carman, who was a relative, ran it. I used to send them my floral orders from Canada in the mail and they always gave excellent service.
Next door was Lucas's, the hardware store. My father did decorating in his spare time and so this place was often visited. It sold turpentine from barrels and all kinds of other chemicals for cleaning, as well as string, candles, clothes lines and clothes pins, etc.
There was a good library of wallpaper books and colour charts for choosing paint. Much in use after the war was over; everyone wanted to lighten up everything around their homes.
They also sold kitchenware in small amounts and things like wooden ironing boards and clothes horses.
Next door to Lucas's was Strode's the Butchers. This was a family business also and I can remember the store having fresh sawdust on the floor every day.
Mr. Reg Strode was a jolly man who used to try and get the women to buy as much as they could. No one had fridges in those days so it was a bit of a stretch at times.
During rationing times the amount allowed was very little. I remember sausage links hanging up and also black puddings. They also sold boxes of Paxo stuffing!!!
There were huge wooden chopping blocks and very large cleavers and sharp knives in this shop and, of course, the butchers were always hacking away at some huge carcass or trimming up a pig's head or trotters!!!! The smell was always quite fresh from the sawdust.
Quite a startling place for a young child until you became used to going in there.
Crossing over the road we now come to Algees. This was barber shop if I remember correctly.
There was a dress shop next to Algee's but I am not sure of the name. They catered mainly to the older lady and when we were younger we were quite amused at some of the styles. Not our tastes, of course.
They were also a Spirella corset agent. These agents would visit ladies in their homes and measure them for the awful encasing corsets that were the fashion in those days.
Next to that was Trappett's the newsagents. This was the rival shop of Patterson's. It was presided over by old Mrs. Trappett, George Trappett, grocers mother and her family. It was a very nice shop inside.
They sold newspapers, pop, sweets and chocolate and also some stationery and toys. At Christmas one year in the late 1940's they had a Father Christmas. You could pay one shilling and walk down the entry into the grotto in the shop's back yard.
I remember some very snowy weather in the late 1940's and the yard was full of snow. The grotto was very realistic. It was very exciting. I expect Mr. Trappett, the elder, was Father Christmas!!!!!
They had a Christmas Club here also. It was the thing to do in those days and it worked very well.
Next to Trappett's was Currie's radio and, later on, TV shop. Over the years there appeared several new entertainment items: radiograms, record players, radios and TV's. Hire purchase was always available!!!!
Jennifer Nicol, British Columbia, Canada, 2001
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