Many congratulations on your 10,000 subscribers Lucy 👏 🙌 😀 I subscribed when you were around the 800 mark and I am chuffed to bits to see how well you are doing 😀 This is one of my favourite channels, and while I may not always comment I do always watch. I have ancestry on my mothers side in that area too, so who knows, maybe some of our ancestors knew each other! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge of this part of Birmingham's history 😊
Thanks so much, it's taken me long enough hasn't it? I can't wait to do a video about all the other information I have been researching ... they could well of known one another, my Nan knew EVERYONE for streets and streets around, I think she made it her business! Thanks for your congratulations, I am over the moon and honestly really flabbergasted!
@@throughlucyslens I think all the Nans knew everyone for streets around, that's what Nans did! Your milestone is well deserved, and more to come I'm sure 🥰
Thanks Pamela, I've been desperate to do another video about Birmingham and this one fell into my lap (I've never been so happy to see "2 minutes drive" on google maps!)
Loved your video for many reasons, made me cry for others of no fault of yours 🥰 we can only seek, discover or wait to find out about all our true hidden histories. Thank you ❤️
I lived in Great Barr Street, went to the nursery next door to the Garrison pub, Went to Tilton Road school ... Small Heath had a reputation that was known by many ... I remember going to Rhyl and had an argument with some lads from Liverpool... one knew we were from Small Heath and pulled his friend away saying he didn't want trouble from Brummies from small Heath... especially Birmingham City fans.... It was certainly an experience! We had family all over Palace road, Victoria Street, Greenway Street. The community was destroyed with the redevelopment of the area ...
Thanks Stan. This is great - your explanation of your trip to Rhyl. reminds me of the Willy Nelson film "our day out" - I believe it's on here if you have never seen it! My family were also in the streets around the pub for generations but all over the world now. Often think it would be lovely to have some to pop in and annoy just down the road.
@throughlucyslens I still go to the Birmingham City games .... Still a big Birmingham City fan ... I re live the memories of walking to school via Watery Lane used to see all the Birmingham City players in the High Stool Cafe eating a full English breakfast, MALCOLM PAGE was at an event recently he played for almost 20 years ... he'd been joking about eating there! Unaware of this when I came to tell of my memories of Trevor Francis, I mentioned this fact ,reinforcements what he said ... don't think they eat a full English now ... had lots of fun times playing in Kingston Hill Park and Garrison Lane Park.... and fishing after the dusk Bell rang in small Heath Park.... and dodging the Parki ( Park warden) ... Also remember the Blues Cafe opposite the Coventry road bus garage ... a real greasy spoon ... lol I'm probably going on a bit now... but if you need any questions answered I'll try to find out ...
Great content Lucy thanks. As you know the Peaky Blinders were more of a street urchin opportunistic type gang and they and they had plenty of rival groups who defended their turf all round the inner city. Growing up i remember hearing stories of the famous (infamous) Summer Lane in Aston and i remember the old boys singing songs about it. I believe this was Billy Kimbers territory as a young man and ive heard stories of pub licencees being "taxed" by Billy's boys in return for protection. Of course these stories are often embelished much like Steven Knight's take on the Peaky Blinders. I think there's a story to be told about old Billy Kimber and Summer Lane and i wondered if you knew anything about it? Maybe a story line for Steven Knight to look into?
Thank you! I'm fascinated by BK, my great(x3) grandad went over to America with him .. and got deported for criminal behaviour .. I'm going round in circles trying to find his deportation papers at the moment, we don't know for sure he was connected with billy kimber but went across to America at the same time and family folk law said he drove for him ... maybe I'll never know for sure but I'll keep looking!
The Peaky Blinders pub was the 'Greenway arms' on the corner of Coventry road and Cattell road facing the entrance to Birmingham City's ground it had an horse trough outside, they still put sawdust on the floor when I was a kid, another place frequented was the 'Old Time Boxers Club' a few doors up the Coventry road from the Greenway.
It's so odd why they chose the Garrison, when you are going through the newspapers it's barely mentioned - I found references to the greenway and the Rainbow in Digbeth. Maybe Garrison just sounded better? Love the fact it still had a trough for the police horses.. or orses as my family would say!
@@throughlucyslens It's probably because the Garrison is still standing when the program was being made, also many of the pubs in Small Heath would have been used, I had an older lady ask me to buy her a drink in the Malt Shovel when I was a 18-19 year old teen, it stands out in my mind because I distinctively remember buying her a pint of mild, happy days.
Hi Lucy - that was interesting, even though I've never seen Peaky Blinders - not my sort of prog. Anyway, whatever you do is always worth watching and informative - thank you. Take special care 🙂 X X
I watched the first two series as I felt it was my duty as a Brummie but nothing since .. it just got kind of ridiculous but people absolutely love it for the great story telling and drama and long may it continue bringing people to the city I say!
Hi Lucy from New Zealand. I have just found your channel and I'm thrilled with your content. I enjoy history and story telling. You combine small vignettes that are so well researched and well documented. What I particularly enjoy is your lovely voice. It is clear and melodic - a pleasure to listen to. I plan to work my way through your videos from the beginning. I am staggered at your commitment to producing such rich information so frequently. I find them very calming while engrossing. Keep going, we love you!!
Oh thank you so so much!! I am sat in my car reading this having just gone through a bunch of less complimentary dialog (Aghr got to love the internet) and I'm really touched and flattered by your comment. I love doing this, it's a real passion project and although it's no where near perfect I'm so glad you appreciate my attempts - means an awful lot.. thank you!! ❤️
Great video, just subscribed. My maternal grandmother was born in the 1st courtyard behind the Garrison. Later in life when married, she lived in Watery Lane. My mom was born here and went to Tilton Road School. Looking forward to seeing more of your videos. 😊
Thank you so much! My Maternal Grandparents lived on a court on Bordesley Park Road - a bit further out but my Grandads grandad frequented to the Garrison (and was not a very nice fella to boot apparently!)
Thank you! Means a lot from someone wit your username :) you will love researching. Newspaper archives are really useful and usually free to access at your local library x
A lady I know grew up in Cooksey Road in Small Heath. As a child she was told not to go into the Bolton Pub, as, “the Peaky Blinders drink in there” she would have been a young child in the late 20’s/ 1930’s, I’m too polite to ask her exact age😂😂 The Bolton Pub, is physically still there but today trades, I think, as an Asian banquet venue. The building is on Bolton Road, it’s adjacent to Holy Trinity School (where I attended) and overlooks the railway marshalling yard that runs alongside todays Small Heath by-pass and also the location of the BSA factory that featured prominently in Peaky Blinders Series 1. I always thought the Bolton would have been a better inspiration for the Peaky Blinders HQ than the Garrison, as the latter isn’t strictly even in Small Heath. But the Garrison sounds far more thrilling than the Bolton 😂😂😂 Thanks for posting.
Thanks for your comment! Yes I've always wondered too and I think you are right - it just sounds better .. and as it's on Garrison Lane is easier to give context of place too. Thanks for sharing those memories too - brilliant!
Thanks Lucy :) I remember hearing that my grandfather had to avoid the gangs, early mornings while making his way to work in Ardwick, Manchester (mid 1890s). I was interested to hear you mention the Scuttlers in Manchester...
Imagine having to avoid people like this in broad daylight just to get to work .. honestly, sort of makes my blood boil, but also a sign of those times. The poor stealing from the poor .. I need to find more out about the Scuttlers!
I like the tv series but it seems more glamorous than what was going on in reality. Sad to see the real images of these gangs and a lot of young boys, children really, caught up in this behaviour. Thank you for another interesting video. X
Thank you, it always brings it home how YOUNG some of these lads were, really just boys caught up in a life they had no control over. I enjoyed the parts of the series I watched too, it tells a great story!
Really good vlog. As you say people need to remember that these really were not nice people and differentiate fact from fiction. Congratulations on 10,000 subscribers. Your back to backs vlog was the first one I saw and you only had a few hundred then. You fully deserve a wider audience.
Thank you! The Back to Backs video is the one that made me think ... YES this is what I want to do on You Tube - and the universe answered by making the video watched by so many people! Thanks for sticking with me and for your kind words x
The real history is more interesting to me anyway - although the series is quite good, particularly the first 2 seasons before it starts to get really ridiculous!
I presume Lucy , that you are aware of the Phyllis’s Nicklin archive of photographs once held by Birmingham Univerity ,now on line? Perhaps you use some of them to illustrate old Brum? It is an amazing record of the Birmingham I lived and worked in during the 1960’s -1980’s It is interesting to see the new housing now in the older areas like Bordersley Green thank you for the trip there .
I did not know they were online! I used to go and see them in the archives and at the central library - I'm thrilled they are online and I know what I'll be looking at this evening ...
Short or long? Your videos are always a pleasure to watch. 😊 And as you say, the times were harder but the violence and cruelty were out of proportion. But I admit, I also fell for the romanticised version that was brought to us by the series.
... and it's totally understandable why you would .. that's the power of the writing Stephen Knight has done with the series. I just think it's brilliant for Birmingham all round really.
What a nice surprise from you today Lucy, thanks so much! I too enjoyed Peaky Blinders immensely, and it was always at the back of my head…..it’s fiction, not reality, am certain in real life these gang members were quite brutal! 🫢🫣 ox Linda C.🇺🇸
I always think they are not the kind of people I would have wanted to be hanging around - I'm too soft! Members of my family were mixed up in it and even though way back they were blood I don't like them much either! x
Hi Lucy I was born in the old back to back in Henry street it was grans house I'm now 72 now living in Sheldon keep all the good work all best from ken
Lovely to hear from you Kenneth, my Dads family went from a back to back in Upper Highgate Street to Sheldon but eventually were rehoused in Billelsley.
I know the area well, being a Bluenose and a Brummie I should do, I loved the Peaky Blinders series, and in real life the Peaky Blinders were not nice people. I can remember when the Garrison was open and sold beer, its in a sorry state now! My dear old mother (r.i.p.) bless her used the phrase cheeky blinder quite often and shouted it at the children when they were naughty I wonder if there was a connection? although she was not born until 1914 she had a much older brother and sister, and her parents were Brummies too with a Irish name surname of Coleman. Thank you Lucy that was most interesting.
Hahahah my Nan called us all cheeky blinders a few times too I can tell you, that's so interesting and I've never thought about that before - real food for thought! Such a shame it is how it is now - I always think it could have attracted a lot of positive tourism for the area but I guess the student flats won!
@@throughlucyslens No, if that's the case, not for me either! Reminds me of Gangs of New York, and it's true what you say about History, crime has it's place there too, thanks Lucy.
The last part about the pub not being what folk's see on TV, is just like people in Boston stopping by the Bull and Finch, the pub used for the setting of Cheers, only to find the inside looks nothing like the TV show bar.
Was just settling down to watch a Brad Pitt and George Clooney film when I saw you'd dropped another video. Yes Lucy, I would rather look at one of your videos than at Brad and George....😊
Hahaha thank you for choosing me for a bit of Saturday down time! I'm about to watch a Catherine Cookson film .. the black candle, something nice and cheery eh 😂😂😂
I was born in birmingham, emigrated to south africa after the war, my grandfather told me stories of the peaky blinders and the other gangs of the day. now live in tasmania (below australia)
I remember a pub called Sailors Return, boarded up back in the mid 70s. It was on a corner of Watery Lane. Just round the corner on Watery Lane, my mates mom owned a cafe called High Stool cafe. Anyone remember these!. I'm assuming they are long gone now! Back in the day!
As much as I enjoyed watching "Peaky Blinders" series you do wonder what the historical facts really are. Where there's poverty sadly we will always get gang culture. People will do whatever to survive in an unfair system. Really interesting Lucy. 😃👍
My grandads family lived on Garrison lane and another street Billy Kimber lived on so I’m told, strangely I worked for a sign company on hockley fly over making pub signs for pubs like the Garrison knowing that my grandad and his family lived and worked in the area.
My great x3 grandad went off to America with Billy Kimber ... it didn't end well for him, he was deported ... I'm desperately trying to get the paperwork to piece it altogether! He wasn't a nice man at all but fascinating nevertheless,'being in that area just makes me think of all the local history before me, amazing (also chuckling as I used to ask my dad to drive us over the hockey fly over like it was some big day out 😂)
Brill ! A visit around a historical old pub and local culture. You’re onto an endless richness to share with us. Whatever next?!?!! Raising a cuppa to you 🫶🏼
I wonder if you might have just been used to living around people like this? But yes .. I would have been scared! I am way too sensitive for the street gangster life!
Ok, since you showed the Jacket Potatoes sign long enough for me to think, oh I haven't had one of those in awhile. Assuming you eat them, how? Are they served in various ways in the UK? Any Regional differences? (I like them with salt & pepper and butter.)
Hmmm never really thought much about them! Over here in the UK we have all kinds of fillings in them and they are usually a lunchtime meal (or dinner time) rather than a side, we have jacket potato vans that sell them with all the different toppings. Cheese and baked beans is popular .. as is tuna mayo .. chilli con carne with cheese ... coleslaw ... I like cheese, beans and coleslaw on mine which probably sounds revolting but I love it 😂
I remember having a pint in the Hen & Chickens which was the other end of Witton Street in 1978, a bit of a Barney started and all of a sudden one of the benches elevated on its own, underneath it was a German Shepherd the size of a Grizzly Bear, needless to say the Barney soon stopped 😂😂
Loads of pubs had big German shepherds didn't they? There was a pub in Quinton where the big fella used to parade the fire escape barking at everyone in the beer garden 😂
I'm wondering when the razor blade in the cap peak story started? My grandmother certainly believed it when she was young in the years before the first world war, and passed in on to me in the 1960s.
I'm honestly not sure to be honest, I imagine there probably were men that did it - maybe connected with other gangs? I'll have a look if I can find anything!
My late husband was born a Scouser and I recall him describing some of the sharply-dressed gang members around Liverpool who included razor blades in their suitcoat lapels!! In Oz history, we had the infamous Razor Gangs and Razor Wars, c.1920s (the 2 most famous in Sydney were female-led!!!!) Mind you, Sydney from its early beginnings, had a serious connection with crime and corruption - but I'm not talking of the Convicts - soldiers, police, politicians, judiciary, landed gentry were reputedly to the forefront - and some would say that not much has changed to this day!!!! 🤫🤐🤭😟 RjB
Gangs and hard people in society usually have a really money poor upbringing living hand to mouth. No wonder they get together and make a living from crime. When people are downtrodden they will fight back, whether it be a small 'gang' to countries who are pitted against for their beliefs. We will never have a peaceful existence as a species, imagine what could be if 'wealth' was equal and 'class and greed' didn't exist. Lol John Lennon is now singing.... Take care Lucy, loved this small extra. =-)
Absolutely! When you feel like you have nothing else why not try crime? I understand why it happens and I feel so so many young, vulnerable men (and women) got dragged in and continue to do so. My favourite John Lennon line is the one about Sir Walter Riley .. I used to think "yes he is a stupid g1t" when I was addicted to the ciggies!
Yea as I loved the Peaky tv series I just had to buy Carl Chinns book to find out where they came from , good read tbh Shame pub not there for the tourists, you'd think Birmingham council would do something but on saying that, the council are broke 😂
I love Carl Chinns books, I used to get his magazine Brummagem for my Nan but would sneaky read it on the way to deliver it! I do feel frustrated for him though because he has put so much work and passion into researching the real stories yet the "hollywood" version is still what a lot of people glamourise and believe .. don't start me on the council .. our bin hasn't been emptied for WEEKS!
Do you have any sources for that info I could check out as I've found loads of articles and reports stating slogger gang activity in BG & Small Heath too? Love to read whatever I can get whatever my hands on.
Wootton family was peaky blinders romanys travllers from Birmingham im old man now my grandfather told me all about it as child now thears drama and films about it half fictional half true but iwas told all about it as a young child
Really good walk through history. Enjoyed your fact finding and story telling. Thank you. 😀
Thank you! I was so excited when I found that news article! I had been looking for it for ages! 😂
Many congratulations on your 10,000 subscribers Lucy 👏 🙌 😀 I subscribed when you were around the 800 mark and I am chuffed to bits to see how well you are doing 😀 This is one of my favourite channels, and while I may not always comment I do always watch.
I have ancestry on my mothers side in that area too, so who knows, maybe some of our ancestors knew each other! Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge of this part of Birmingham's history 😊
Thanks so much, it's taken me long enough hasn't it? I can't wait to do a video about all the other information I have been researching ... they could well of known one another, my Nan knew EVERYONE for streets and streets around, I think she made it her business! Thanks for your congratulations, I am over the moon and honestly really flabbergasted!
@@throughlucyslens I think all the Nans knew everyone for streets around, that's what Nans did! Your milestone is well deserved, and more to come I'm sure 🥰
@@MargaretUK Thank you!!! :)
You are such a great content creator. I love your videos!
That's so kind of you - thank you !!!
So interesting, thank you so much for sharing, love all your vlogs 😊
Thanks Pamela, I've been desperate to do another video about Birmingham and this one fell into my lap (I've never been so happy to see "2 minutes drive" on google maps!)
Keep them coming really enjoy your vlogs.
You're so lovely! Thank you x
Brilliant, you are wonderfully natural at this, I love it!
That's so kind of you, thank you! This vid was a really last minute thing so glad it was okay :)
Loved your video for many reasons, made me cry for others of no fault of yours 🥰 we can only seek, discover or wait to find out about all our true hidden histories. Thank you ❤️
Thank you for this lovely comment, you are absolutely right! (I get really emotional about history too!)
I lived in Great Barr Street, went to the nursery next door to the Garrison pub, Went to Tilton Road school ... Small Heath had a reputation that was known by many ... I remember going to Rhyl and had an argument with some lads from Liverpool... one knew we were from Small Heath and pulled his friend away saying he didn't want trouble from Brummies from small Heath... especially Birmingham City fans.... It was certainly an experience! We had family all over Palace road, Victoria Street, Greenway Street. The community was destroyed with the redevelopment of the area ...
Thanks Stan. This is great - your explanation of your trip to Rhyl. reminds me of the Willy Nelson film "our day out" - I believe it's on here if you have never seen it! My family were also in the streets around the pub for generations but all over the world now. Often think it would be lovely to have some to pop in and annoy just down the road.
@throughlucyslens I still go to the Birmingham City games .... Still a big Birmingham City fan ... I re live the memories of walking to school via Watery Lane used to see all the Birmingham City players in the High Stool Cafe eating a full English breakfast, MALCOLM PAGE was at an event recently he played for almost 20 years ... he'd been joking about eating there! Unaware of this when I came to tell of my memories of Trevor Francis, I mentioned this fact ,reinforcements what he said ... don't think they eat a full English now ... had lots of fun times playing in Kingston Hill Park and Garrison Lane Park.... and fishing after the dusk Bell rang in small Heath Park.... and dodging the Parki ( Park warden) ... Also remember the Blues Cafe opposite the Coventry road bus garage ... a real greasy spoon ... lol I'm probably going on a bit now... but if you need any questions answered I'll try to find out ...
Great content Lucy thanks. As you know the Peaky Blinders were more of a street urchin opportunistic type gang and they and they had plenty of rival groups who defended their turf all round the inner city. Growing up i remember hearing stories of the famous (infamous) Summer Lane in Aston and i remember the old boys singing songs about it. I believe this was Billy Kimbers territory as a young man and ive heard stories of pub licencees being "taxed" by Billy's boys in return for protection. Of course these stories are often embelished much like Steven Knight's take on the Peaky Blinders. I think there's a story to be told about old Billy Kimber and Summer Lane and i wondered if you knew anything about it? Maybe a story line for Steven Knight to look into?
Thank you! I'm fascinated by BK, my great(x3) grandad went over to America with him .. and got deported for criminal behaviour .. I'm going round in circles trying to find his deportation papers at the moment, we don't know for sure he was connected with billy kimber but went across to America at the same time and family folk law said he drove for him ... maybe I'll never know for sure but I'll keep looking!
The Peaky Blinders pub was the 'Greenway arms' on the corner of Coventry road and Cattell road facing the entrance to Birmingham City's ground it had an horse trough outside, they still put sawdust on the floor when I was a kid, another place frequented was the 'Old Time Boxers Club' a few doors up the Coventry road from the Greenway.
It's so odd why they chose the Garrison, when you are going through the newspapers it's barely mentioned - I found references to the greenway and the Rainbow in Digbeth.
Maybe Garrison just sounded better? Love the fact it still had a trough for the police horses.. or orses as my family would say!
@@throughlucyslens It's probably because the Garrison is still standing when the program was being made, also many of the pubs in Small Heath would have been used, I had an older lady ask me to buy her a drink in the Malt Shovel when I was a 18-19 year old teen, it stands out in my mind because I distinctively remember buying her a pint of mild, happy days.
Bet you made her day!
This was a great watch, and history lesson for me. Thankyou so much xxx
You are very welcome! Got totally lost in research for this one - an absolute pleasure!
Well done Lucy spot on as usual take care. 🎥👍
Thanks Paul, really appreciate it, loved making this one!
Hi Lucy - that was interesting, even though I've never seen Peaky Blinders - not my sort of prog. Anyway, whatever you do is always worth watching and informative - thank you. Take special care 🙂 X X
I watched the first two series as I felt it was my duty as a Brummie but nothing since .. it just got kind of ridiculous but people absolutely love it for the great story telling and drama and long may it continue bringing people to the city I say!
As a coach driver my very first football run was from the Garrison Tavern where I picked up the Blues fans.
This is awesome, I did wonder if it used to be packed with Blues fans on match days!
@@throughlucyslens Before and after games.
Another blinder of a video Lucy! Congratulations on 100K. It's very well deserved.
Thank you! Never thought I would get to 100 let alone 10k .. thanks for sticking with me Richard.
Hi Lucy from New Zealand. I have just found your channel and I'm thrilled with your content. I enjoy history and story telling. You combine small vignettes that are so well researched and well documented. What I particularly enjoy is your lovely voice. It is clear and melodic - a pleasure to listen to. I plan to work my way through your videos from the beginning. I am staggered at your commitment to producing such rich information so frequently. I find them very calming while engrossing. Keep going, we love you!!
Oh thank you so so much!! I am sat in my car reading this having just gone through a bunch of less complimentary dialog (Aghr got to love the internet) and I'm really touched and flattered by your comment. I love doing this, it's a real passion project and although it's no where near perfect I'm so glad you appreciate my attempts - means an awful lot.. thank you!! ❤️
Love love love! Nice surprise video on a Saturday night Lucy 😊 X
I was just so excited about this subject it had to be DONE .. NOW in my head.. glad you enjoyed it :)
Great video, just subscribed. My maternal grandmother was born in the 1st courtyard behind the Garrison. Later in life when married, she lived in Watery Lane. My mom was born here and went to Tilton Road School. Looking forward to seeing more of your videos. 😊
Thank you so much! My Maternal Grandparents lived on a court on Bordesley Park Road - a bit further out but my Grandads grandad frequented to the Garrison (and was not a very nice fella to boot apparently!)
Nice work Lucy I really enjoyed the history lesson 👏🏼
Oh thank you! Really appreciated :) x
Great coverage about the gangs back then . I enjoyed this . And you've inspired me to research more history .
Thank you 🙏
Thank you! Means a lot from someone wit your username :) you will love researching. Newspaper archives are really useful and usually free to access at your local library x
Loved this Lucy. Never watched the Peaky blinders but this has made me look into what happened. Thank you xxx
It's a really fascinating piece of local history that has gone global .. hope you enjoy their stories x
A lady I know grew up in Cooksey Road in Small Heath. As a child she was told not to go into the Bolton Pub, as, “the Peaky Blinders drink in there” she would have been a young child in the late 20’s/ 1930’s, I’m too polite to ask her exact age😂😂
The Bolton Pub, is physically still there but today trades, I think, as an Asian banquet venue. The building is on Bolton Road, it’s adjacent to Holy Trinity School (where I attended) and overlooks the railway marshalling yard that runs alongside todays Small Heath by-pass and also the location of the BSA factory that featured prominently in Peaky Blinders Series 1.
I always thought the Bolton would have been a better inspiration for the Peaky Blinders HQ than the Garrison, as the latter isn’t strictly even in Small Heath. But the Garrison sounds far more thrilling than the Bolton 😂😂😂
Thanks for posting.
Thanks for your comment! Yes I've always wondered too and I think you are right - it just sounds better .. and as it's on Garrison Lane is easier to give context of place too. Thanks for sharing those memories too - brilliant!
Hey there. Just found your channel. I’m from small heath too. Great video. It was nice seeing familiar places. 👍
Hey Antony! Nice to "meet" you - glad I could take you back there :)
Enjoyed the video very much. Well done.
Many thanks for watching - appreciated :) x
Real hard men of England 🇬🇧 great vlogg lucy 😊❤ great humble kind lady and a happy smiling dog 🐕 wish you both a happy year always 😊😊🎉😂😂😊
They certainly were a terrifying bunch! Thanks so much Stephen, always lovely to hear from you .. and Rupert sends you a woof and a paw shake xx
Thanks Lucy :) I remember hearing that my grandfather had to avoid the gangs, early mornings while making his way to work in Ardwick, Manchester (mid 1890s). I was interested to hear you mention the Scuttlers in Manchester...
Imagine having to avoid people like this in broad daylight just to get to work .. honestly, sort of makes my blood boil, but also a sign of those times. The poor stealing from the poor .. I need to find more out about the Scuttlers!
@@throughlucyslens Thank you! 🌺
Billy Kimber was from Summer lane in Aston !
A fantastic presentation. Thank you for sharing Lucy ❤
Thank you! I love a last minute explore on a lunch break .. what did I ever do before You Tube!
I like the tv series but it seems more glamorous than what was going on in reality. Sad to see the real images of these gangs and a lot of young boys, children really, caught up in this behaviour. Thank you for another interesting video. X
Thank you, it always brings it home how YOUNG some of these lads were, really just boys caught up in a life they had no control over. I enjoyed the parts of the series I watched too, it tells a great story!
💜 Congrats on the subs! Thanks for another fab vid filled with beaut history😍
Thanks Jayne, loved making this one and never have I been so excited to realise I was so close to somewhere of a lunch break!
Really good vlog. As you say people need to remember that these really were not nice people and differentiate fact from fiction. Congratulations on 10,000 subscribers. Your back to backs vlog was the first one I saw and you only had a few hundred then. You fully deserve a wider audience.
Thank you! The Back to Backs video is the one that made me think ... YES this is what I want to do on You Tube - and the universe answered by making the video watched by so many people! Thanks for sticking with me and for your kind words x
That was very interesting, Lucy, thank you - even for someone like me, who has never watched any Peaky Blinders episodes!
The real history is more interesting to me anyway - although the series is quite good, particularly the first 2 seasons before it starts to get really ridiculous!
I presume Lucy , that you are aware of the Phyllis’s Nicklin archive of photographs once held by Birmingham Univerity ,now on line? Perhaps you use some of them to illustrate old Brum? It is an amazing record of the Birmingham I lived and worked in during the 1960’s -1980’s
It is interesting to see the new housing now in the older areas like Bordersley Green thank you for the trip there .
Her photographs say so much. Phyllis Nicklin taught geography and took the photographs for her students, I believe.
I did not know they were online! I used to go and see them in the archives and at the central library - I'm thrilled they are online and I know what I'll be looking at this evening ...
Short or long? Your videos are always a pleasure to watch. 😊 And as you say, the times were harder but the violence and cruelty were out of proportion. But I admit, I also fell for the romanticised version that was brought to us by the series.
... and it's totally understandable why you would .. that's the power of the writing Stephen Knight has done with the series. I just think it's brilliant for Birmingham all round really.
The Garrison was my local before walking up to St. Andrews on match day through the 1980s
Good times I hope!
What a nice surprise from you today Lucy, thanks so much! I too enjoyed Peaky Blinders immensely, and it was always at the back of my head…..it’s fiction, not reality, am certain in real life these gang members were quite brutal! 🫢🫣 ox Linda C.🇺🇸
I always think they are not the kind of people I would have wanted to be hanging around - I'm too soft! Members of my family were mixed up in it and even though way back they were blood I don't like them much either! x
Hi Lucy I was born in the old back to back in Henry street it was grans house I'm now 72 now living in Sheldon keep all the good work all best from ken
Lovely to hear from you Kenneth, my Dads family went from a back to back in Upper Highgate Street to Sheldon but eventually were rehoused in Billelsley.
I know the area well, being a Bluenose and a Brummie I should do, I loved the Peaky Blinders series, and in real life the Peaky Blinders were not nice people. I can remember when the Garrison was open and sold beer, its in a sorry state now! My dear old mother (r.i.p.) bless her used the phrase cheeky blinder quite often and shouted it at the children when they were naughty I wonder if there was a connection? although she was not born until 1914 she had a much older brother and sister, and her parents were Brummies too with a Irish name surname of Coleman. Thank you Lucy that was most interesting.
Hahahah my Nan called us all cheeky blinders a few times too I can tell you, that's so interesting and I've never thought about that before - real food for thought! Such a shame it is how it is now - I always think it could have attracted a lot of positive tourism for the area but I guess the student flats won!
Very interesting Lucy, thank you.
Loved making this one .. just watched your poem about bananas .. really lovely :)
@@throughlucyslens thank you so much Lucy. Have you subscribed? I've been subscribed to your channel for some time now.
Very interesting history Lucy , they looked a rough gang and definitely no one looked like Cillian Murphy ! 😂❤
god no, I doubt they had many teeth between them in real life! haha
Hi Lucy, bit late to the show I'm afraid and I've never seen Peaky Blinders, so this should be interesting!
It's not for everyone, it's quiet violent (too violent in my opinion but I'm a bit soft) I think the real history is more interesting anyway ;)
@@throughlucyslens No, if that's the case, not for me either! Reminds me of Gangs of New York, and it's true what you say about History, crime has it's place there too, thanks Lucy.
@@annereidy7981 Yes, I would love to watch that film, but also know it would upset me because of the violence so I just read about it instead! haha
So excited
Hope you enjoyed :)
The last part about the pub not being what folk's see on TV, is just like people in Boston stopping by the Bull and Finch, the pub used for the setting of Cheers, only to find the inside looks nothing like the TV show bar.
Oh yes! My Mom visited there and was disappointed - what I do remember her saying though is that the Bull and Finch does do lovely food and beer! haha
Was just settling down to watch a Brad Pitt and George Clooney film when I saw you'd dropped another video.
Yes Lucy, I would rather look at one of your videos than at Brad and George....😊
Hahaha thank you for choosing me for a bit of Saturday down time! I'm about to watch a Catherine Cookson film .. the black candle, something nice and cheery eh 😂😂😂
I was born in birmingham, emigrated to south africa after the war, my grandfather told me stories of the peaky blinders and the other gangs of the day. now live in tasmania (below australia)
Hello to Tasmania! It blows my mind people watch from so far away! Birmingham sends her love xx
I remember a pub called Sailors Return, boarded up back in the mid 70s. It was on a corner of Watery Lane. Just round the corner on Watery Lane, my mates mom owned a cafe called High Stool cafe. Anyone remember these!. I'm assuming they are long gone now! Back in the day!
Hope someone comes back to you remembering them Neil!
As much as I enjoyed watching "Peaky Blinders" series you do wonder what the historical facts really are.
Where there's poverty sadly we will always get gang culture. People will do whatever to survive in an unfair system.
Really interesting Lucy. 😃👍
So sad isn't it - but also makes complete sense .. when you feel like you have nothing to lose why not do what you can to make things better?
My grandads family lived on Garrison lane and another street Billy Kimber lived on so I’m told, strangely I worked for a sign company on hockley fly over making pub signs for pubs like the Garrison knowing that my grandad and his family lived and worked in the area.
My great x3 grandad went off to America with Billy Kimber ... it didn't end well for him, he was deported ... I'm desperately trying to get the paperwork to piece it altogether! He wasn't a nice man at all but fascinating nevertheless,'being in that area just makes me think of all the local history before me, amazing (also chuckling as I used to ask my dad to drive us over the hockey fly over like it was some big day out 😂)
I was born in Aston. Peaky land. The police had to go around in twos. It was too rough to be solo. As a kid, I loved it.
I've always liked Aston too, I have a friend who still lives there and loves it!
Brill ! A visit around a historical old pub and local culture. You’re onto an endless richness to share with us. Whatever next?!?!! Raising a cuppa to you 🫶🏼
Thank you! I am just about to have a nice cup of tea myself too ... cheers! x
Thanks Lucy 🥰 They must have been incredibly intimidating 😰 😰
I wonder if you might have just been used to living around people like this? But yes .. I would have been scared! I am way too sensitive for the street gangster life!
2 Lucy videos in one week! ❤❤❤
I know, don't get too used to it .. haha, I don't know what came over me!
Thank you Lucy
Very welcome x
Drank in there in 84 to 86 whilst working for carrs paints happy days ❤❤
Happy days indeed :) x
Ok, since you showed the Jacket Potatoes sign long enough for me to think, oh I haven't had one of those in awhile. Assuming you eat them, how? Are they served in various ways in the UK? Any Regional differences? (I like them with salt & pepper and butter.)
Hmmm never really thought much about them! Over here in the UK we have all kinds of fillings in them and they are usually a lunchtime meal (or dinner time) rather than a side, we have jacket potato vans that sell them with all the different toppings. Cheese and baked beans is popular .. as is tuna mayo .. chilli con carne with cheese ... coleslaw ... I like cheese, beans and coleslaw on mine which probably sounds revolting but I love it 😂
@@throughlucyslens I was going to say that I would not go full on revolting, but coleslaw put that over for me. tuna mayo is shocking!
Sour Cream is also a very popular addition Down Under :) RjB
Listen to professor Carl chin about peaky blinders and well done lucy loved it
I love Carl Chinn, he is my history hero, thank you x
I remember having a pint in the Hen & Chickens which was the other end of Witton Street in 1978, a bit of a Barney started and all of a sudden one of the benches elevated on its own, underneath it was a German Shepherd the size of a Grizzly Bear, needless to say the Barney soon stopped 😂😂
Hahaha, I would have loved to see that! I bet there were some wet patches from not spilt pints 😂
@@throughlucyslens the Landlord never even moved, just said the dog will sort it, classic.
Loads of pubs had big German shepherds didn't they? There was a pub in Quinton where the big fella used to parade the fire escape barking at everyone in the beer garden 😂
Geordie racer on your top. We watched that a few times in school.
I loved it!!!! I got that tshirt a few years ago for Christmas and I was absolutely thrilled!!!
I'm wondering when the razor blade in the cap peak story started? My grandmother certainly believed it when she was young in the years before the first world war, and passed in on to me in the 1960s.
I'm honestly not sure to be honest, I imagine there probably were men that did it - maybe connected with other gangs? I'll have a look if I can find anything!
My late husband was born a Scouser and I recall him describing some of the sharply-dressed gang members around Liverpool who included razor blades in their suitcoat lapels!! In Oz history, we had the infamous Razor Gangs and Razor Wars, c.1920s (the 2 most famous in Sydney were female-led!!!!) Mind you, Sydney from its early beginnings, had a serious connection with crime and corruption - but I'm not talking of the Convicts - soldiers, police, politicians, judiciary, landed gentry were reputedly to the forefront - and some would say that not much has changed to this day!!!! 🤫🤐🤭😟 RjB
Watch Carl Chinn's video about the Peaky Blinders. The razor myth is explained there.
Where my Dad came from Garrison Lane! Born very early 1900s
We could well be distantly related! Same :)
this vid was blinding 😊
Bostin bab .. thank you :)
Gangs and hard people in society usually have a really money poor upbringing living hand to mouth. No wonder they get together and make a living from crime. When people are downtrodden they will fight back, whether it be a small 'gang' to countries who are pitted against for their beliefs. We will never have a peaceful existence as a species, imagine what could be if 'wealth' was equal and 'class and greed' didn't exist. Lol John Lennon is now singing.... Take care Lucy, loved this small extra. =-)
Absolutely! When you feel like you have nothing else why not try crime? I understand why it happens and I feel so so many young, vulnerable men (and women) got dragged in and continue to do so. My favourite John Lennon line is the one about Sir Walter Riley .. I used to think "yes he is a stupid g1t" when I was addicted to the ciggies!
Yea as I loved the Peaky tv series I just had to buy Carl Chinns book to find out where they came from , good read tbh
Shame pub not there for the tourists, you'd think Birmingham council would do something but on saying that, the council are broke 😂
I love Carl Chinns books, I used to get his magazine Brummagem for my Nan but would sneaky read it on the way to deliver it! I do feel frustrated for him though because he has put so much work and passion into researching the real stories yet the "hollywood" version is still what a lot of people glamourise and believe .. don't start me on the council .. our bin hasn't been emptied for WEEKS!
Summer Lane was the hardest part of Brum
Where my Dads Mom's family were from .. Dad said he can't remember much but will always remember the poverty.
That was great. Thank You.
Thanks for coming along :)
@@throughlucyslens There are so many interesting facts about Birmingham, love some content on the Cadbury family if you get a chance :)
Deritend and Digbeth were their area ......... Not Bordesley Green . 🏴
Do you have any sources for that info I could check out as I've found loads of articles and reports stating slogger gang activity in BG & Small Heath too? Love to read whatever I can get whatever my hands on.
Aston Sloggers !
The Brummie Bashers!
Have you been to the hovel house.
Please tell me more as I have actually never heard of that!
Yes, strong and milky! That's how I like mine, too
... it's the only way bab :)
Wootton family was peaky blinders romanys travllers from Birmingham im old man now my grandfather told me all about it as child now thears drama and films about it half fictional half true but iwas told all about it as a young child
Thanks William, that's really fascinating - interesting about the Romany connection as they do show a bit of that in the series don't they? X
It's pronounced Killian
Thank you ❤️
Really enjoy your videos 😊
I'm so pleased! I absolutely love making them!
Cillian is pronounced Killian. The C is hard, not soft.
Thanks Anita, I am not one to know much about actors and film stars so I had no idea - appreciated.
@@throughlucyslens I lived in Ireland for a while 😊