Hi from Ontario Canada, Well I'm surprised , it looks 100% better than it did in the 1970s i drove a hgv out of great barr delivering garden supplies and i was around that area on a regular basis . I left the uk in 1981 , and boy has the Birmingham area changed . thanks for the video
Are you joking it was a lot better in the 70s it had the brewery the old windmill market which was great the new one hasn`t done anything, a lot better? you obviously haven`t seen the fly tipping rubbish everywhere in the area in the 70s it was cleaner.
Hi Bernard, I did have a lovely month away, thank you 🥰I enjoyed this video of Smethwick, never been myself, thanks for showing us around. Just watching some videos I missed 😃
I have not been to Smethwick since I retired in 2008, it looks a lot tidy than it used to be. Did you know that Smethwick has one of the largest photographic societies in the UK and Europe it's well known all over the world. Thank you for showing us around some of those restaurants look good! Dont forget to take your shoes off when you go in that Mosque! Take care.
its def not tidy...i live in oldbury now but lived smethwick 40 yrs until 2016..i often go thorugh there either drive or walk...when i walked thorugh there other week it was filthy and rubbish everywhere....beds outside, fridges, wood, clothes....its gone downhill big time...has done the last 20 yrs.
Hubby and I are so glad we found your channel. Thank you for another informative video. Smethwick looks interesting and we love the diversity of the place. By the way, how do we pay for public transport? In London, we used the oyster card when we were there for the buses and train. Is there similar system in Birmingham?Thank you again for taking the time to show your viewers around your lovely city. Fantastic work!
Thank you for your comment. I love filming it is something I’ve done for over 50 years, with the new technology we have now one must embrace it. A Gimbal and a phone and that is all one needs. The train service is great. You can get a monthly or yearly pass. Although the bus service is very good, I try not to use them I would walk, use the train or the tram or you can always hire a bicycle £3 for one hour £1 to unlock or an electric bicycle £6 for one hour, £1.50 to unlock they are scattered around the whole of the city centre.
@@birminghamcloseup thank you for the info. Will let hubby know. I do agree with embracing technology. It now encompasses most if not all areas of our lives and best we do know how to use it.
As someone that's grown up in Smethwick I can tell u that it's not that interesting but it is diverse. The best bit of history I can give u is that Malcolm X came here to visit Marshall Street to see how bad racism was at that time (mid 60's), then was assassinated about a week later.
@@lexico8165 Thank you for the information it is always very much appreciated. It could have been worse, you could have grown up in Croydon, like I did. 😁
Asda complex used to be one big bakery , I lived on Corbett st in the 80s and grew up playing on the bomb sites ,,the bakery was bombed in the war ,my grandad was a fireman who took a bomb out of next doors wardrobe…he buried it in the garden …1985 it was dug up by the bomb squad and removed….smethwick has lots of history
I agree with you it is a magnificent building and I am sure it is protected or will be treated with the utmost respect. It always breaks my heart when I see buildings left like this. I always think if I were a multimillionaire I would travel around the world and refurbish them and protect them.
I'm 44 years old and the Waterloo Pub on Shireland Road has been left like that since my early teens, a crying shame they won't do anything with it buddy
lived smethwick 40 yrs up until me oldman passed in 2016.(2mins from high st, by stony lane park) u should of gone down towards high st, anyways now live in oldbury... anyways smethwick has gone downhill sooo bad the last 10 to 15 yrs...especialy with the foreigners livin there leavin rubbish everywhere...i see it all time when i walk thorugh it..used to be a cool area bk in the day..especialy the 80s 90s...its now been completly taken over...anyways the pub opp seven stars over the rd (think it may be restaurant now) anyways theres bullet holes still to this day allover it from the war....
I've lived in Smethwick over 60 years and it's true that it has a litter problem, as do other places. But what is your evidence to say that it is 'foreigners' as you call them causing it? And when was WW2 fought on the streets of Cape Hill?
Thank you, Next time I will take your advice and wear my suit of armour.😂 I do get confused where I am. I need a map to get round my one -bedroom apartment.😂
@@birminghamcloseupstab vest will do you well mate. I drove buses in the area for years. Where you are is slap bang between Smethwick and Winson Green. I really can’t stress enough to you to be careful around this area with a phone/camera on display.
Hi from Ontario Canada, Well I'm surprised , it looks 100% better than it did in the 1970s i drove a hgv out of great barr delivering garden supplies and i was around that area on a regular basis . I left the uk in 1981 , and boy has the Birmingham area changed . thanks for the video
My pleasure.
Are you joking it was a lot better in the 70s it had the brewery the old windmill market which was great the new one hasn`t done anything, a lot better? you obviously haven`t seen the fly tipping rubbish everywhere in the area in the 70s it was cleaner.
Hi Bernard, I did have a lovely month away, thank you 🥰I enjoyed this video of Smethwick, never been myself, thanks for showing us around. Just watching some videos I missed 😃
I have not been to Smethwick since I retired in 2008, it looks a lot tidy than it used to be. Did you know that Smethwick has one of the largest photographic societies in the UK and Europe it's well known all over the world. Thank you for showing us around some of those restaurants look good! Dont forget to take your shoes off when you go in that Mosque! Take care.
Thank you, Des. I did not know about the photographic studio. Thank you for the tip about taking my shoes off.
its def not tidy...i live in oldbury now but lived smethwick 40 yrs until 2016..i often go thorugh there either drive or walk...when i walked thorugh there other week it was filthy and rubbish everywhere....beds outside, fridges, wood, clothes....its gone downhill big time...has done the last 20 yrs.
A. Not Birmingham - sandwell / black country B. Not smethwick high street, cape hill to dudley road
Danny G's stomping ground
Hubby and I are so glad we found your channel. Thank you for another informative video. Smethwick looks interesting and we love the diversity of the place. By the way, how do we pay for public transport? In London, we used the oyster card when we were there for the buses and train. Is there similar system in Birmingham?Thank you again for taking the time to show your viewers around your lovely city. Fantastic work!
Thank you for your comment. I love filming it is something I’ve done for over 50 years, with the new technology we have now one must embrace it. A Gimbal and a phone and that is all one needs. The train service is great. You can get a monthly or yearly pass. Although the bus service is very good, I try not to use them I would walk, use the train or the tram or you can always hire a bicycle £3 for one hour £1 to unlock or an electric bicycle £6 for one hour, £1.50 to unlock they are scattered around the whole of the city centre.
@@birminghamcloseup thank you for the info. Will let hubby know. I do agree with embracing technology. It now encompasses most if not all areas of our lives and best we do know how to use it.
As someone that's grown up in Smethwick I can tell u that it's not that interesting but it is diverse. The best bit of history I can give u is that Malcolm X came here to visit Marshall Street to see how bad racism was at that time (mid 60's), then was assassinated about a week later.
@@lexico8165 Thank you for the information it is always very much appreciated. It could have been worse, you could have grown up in Croydon, like I did. 😁
Lol I grew up in the aftermath of race riots, remember Smethwick borders Handsworth & I grew up in the 80's. Much respect!@@birminghamcloseup
Asda complex used to be one big bakery , I lived on Corbett st in the 80s and grew up playing on the bomb sites ,,the bakery was bombed in the war ,my grandad was a fireman who took a bomb out of next doors wardrobe…he buried it in the garden …1985 it was dug up by the bomb squad and removed….smethwick has lots of history
At 2:57, what a shame that beautiful pub building on the corner has been left to fall into rack & ruin!
I agree with you it is a magnificent building and I am sure it is protected or will be treated with the utmost respect. It always breaks my heart when I see buildings left like this. I always think if I were a multimillionaire I would travel around the world and refurbish them and protect them.
@@birminghamcloseup Yes very true, especially with what happened to The Crooked house it makes you feel like that even more!
I'm 44 years old and the Waterloo Pub on Shireland Road has been left like that since my early teens, a crying shame they won't do anything with it buddy
Go in taxi if you are too snobby for the bus
lived smethwick 40 yrs up until me oldman passed in 2016.(2mins from high st, by stony lane park) u should of gone down towards high st, anyways now live in oldbury... anyways smethwick has gone downhill sooo bad the last 10 to 15 yrs...especialy with the foreigners livin there leavin rubbish everywhere...i see it all time when i walk thorugh it..used to be a cool area bk in the day..especialy the 80s 90s...its now been completly taken over...anyways the pub opp seven stars over the rd (think it may be restaurant now) anyways theres bullet holes still to this day allover it from the war....
I've lived in Smethwick over 60 years and it's true that it has a litter problem, as do other places. But what is your evidence to say that it is 'foreigners' as you call them causing it?
And when was WW2 fought on the streets of Cape Hill?
Not even Smethwick high street 😂 it’s Cape Hill. Fair play to you though you got some guts wondering around there with your phone on show 😂
Thank you, Next time I will take your advice and wear my suit of armour.😂
I do get confused where I am. I need a map to get round my one -bedroom apartment.😂
@@birminghamcloseupstab vest will do you well mate. I drove buses in the area for years. Where you are is slap bang between Smethwick and Winson Green.
I really can’t stress enough to you to be careful around this area with a phone/camera on display.
It's safe dont be cowards
I grew up in the area, out and about ur ok. But yes on the buses, avoid top floor.