Lancaster Street, Birmingham and surrounds, c1968
The 1960's witnessed the City of Birmingham go through an enormous amount of change. Great swathes of the old city were pulled down to make way for brutalist concrete structures and major road reconstruction that would redefine the City.
This image dates from circa 1968, and shows the reconstruction of the area that was the confluence of Lancaster Street, Steelhouse and Aston Street. The '60s reconstruction into a major road interchange, became Lancaster Circus with the 1930s Central Fire Station (behind the photographer) being retained in the rebuild. That stands to this day, but is now part of the Aston University complex.
The Birmingham City Transport, Daimler Fleetline bus (3607) is about to pass the newly built, concrete Halford's office block that was to later become the head office for the West Midlands County Council in 1974. Today, that office block is used by Birmingham City Council, and is the only building still standing in this '60s view.
Behind the Fleetline bus is 'Brown, Hopwood and Gilbert Ltd', once a well known wholesale grocery business that served the city's shops and markets for many years. The warehouse building and its offices have long since gone.
At the time of this photograph, the area's road system was in chaos, as the ground was being prepared for the building of St Chads Queensway/Aston Expressway and the huge concrete flyover and traffic roundabout that would come to dominate this view. As a consequence, buses were diverted around the frequently changing 'temporary road systems', as the construction advanced.
In the backdrop, a Midland Red D9 motorbus is descending Lench Street, which was lost under the redevelopment. ...Please see the comments below, and kind thanks to Mikey and Fred in identifying it as Lench Street.
As for Birmingham CT bus, 3607 (FOC607D). That had been new in December 1966. In October 1969, 3607 became the property of West Midlands PTE, along with the rest of the former Birmingham CT fleet. Always a Birmingham allocated vehicle, 3607 remained in service until its withdrawal in August 1980. A scrapyard fate awaited it beyond that.
Lancaster Street, Birmingham and surrounds, c1968
The 1960's witnessed the City of Birmingham go through an enormous amount of change. Great swathes of the old city were pulled down to make way for brutalist concrete structures and major road reconstruction that would redefine the City.
This image dates from circa 1968, and shows the reconstruction of the area that was the confluence of Lancaster Street, Steelhouse and Aston Street. The '60s reconstruction into a major road interchange, became Lancaster Circus with the 1930s Central Fire Station (behind the photographer) being retained in the rebuild. That stands to this day, but is now part of the Aston University complex.
The Birmingham City Transport, Daimler Fleetline bus (3607) is about to pass the newly built, concrete Halford's office block that was to later become the head office for the West Midlands County Council in 1974. Today, that office block is used by Birmingham City Council, and is the only building still standing in this '60s view.
Behind the Fleetline bus is 'Brown, Hopwood and Gilbert Ltd', once a well known wholesale grocery business that served the city's shops and markets for many years. The warehouse building and its offices have long since gone.
At the time of this photograph, the area's road system was in chaos, as the ground was being prepared for the building of St Chads Queensway/Aston Expressway and the huge concrete flyover and traffic roundabout that would come to dominate this view. As a consequence, buses were diverted around the frequently changing 'temporary road systems', as the construction advanced.
In the backdrop, a Midland Red D9 motorbus is descending Lench Street, which was lost under the redevelopment. ...Please see the comments below, and kind thanks to Mikey and Fred in identifying it as Lench Street.
As for Birmingham CT bus, 3607 (FOC607D). That had been new in December 1966. In October 1969, 3607 became the property of West Midlands PTE, along with the rest of the former Birmingham CT fleet. Always a Birmingham allocated vehicle, 3607 remained in service until its withdrawal in August 1980. A scrapyard fate awaited it beyond that.