From Stephen Birch Private Collection SUTTON/CHESTER ROAD JUNCTION 1937-1968 1. Sutton/Chester Road traffic Island, built to help easy flow of traffic, with an opening in the middle to allow the number 2 Erdington tram to pass through to the terminus just past the Yenton Public House at the Boundary with Erdington & Sutton Coldfield. This image from 1937 looks across from the Sales side of the Yenton Garage, where MacDonalds stands today. 2. 1950 and Tram car 586 working the Number 2 Erdington route just entering the gap crossing Chester Road toward the terminus seen in the background, where another tram car can be seen leaving the stop and heading toward the camera enroute to Erdington and on to Steelhouse Lane. 3. Just after midday on Saturday 4th July 1953, Birminghams last public tramcar passed through the gap in the roundabout for the very last time. By the 7th January all overhead wires and track from the terminus along Sutton Road was removed. Now nothing needed to pass through the middle of the traffic island so within a few months it was filled in creating a full circle for traffic to pass around. At each of the four entances of Chester Road & Sutton Road zebra crossings allowed the public safe conduct across the roads. This view taken in 1958 looking from the top of Sutton Road toward the roundabout with Wylde Green shops in the bckground. Different shaded bricks at the base of the roundabout shows where the island was filled in and the stones replaced. On the right where the Tesco Express stands today is the mechanic side of the Yenton Garages. The Yenton Public house just behind, with the 1926 shops built next to the tram shelter on the right in the background. 4. A view from the Chester Road Side looking West toward Chester Road Railway Station (not in view). The Shops on left had replaced Victorian terraces some of the demolition in the back ground. The shops were built as part of the Lyndhurst housing estate which replaced large Georgian & Victorian residences until early 1950s. 5. Standing on the roundabout with the shops of Wylde Green at the Erdington/Sutton Coldfield boundary in the background. Many cars on the front of the garage on the corner filling also part of the car park of the Yenton Public House next door. Number 64 bus approaches the bus stop on the right before negotiating this island and continuing behind us to Erdington and on to town. 6. This lorry seems to want to recreate the opening in the centre of the round about again. The accident happened on the morning of 22nd March 1960, thankfully no persons were injured except for the flowers in the flower bed under the lorry. 7. Opposite view from Sutton Road on the Yenton side looking across Chester Road to Sutton Road South. The tall flats of the recent Lyndhurst Estate dominate the skyline along Sutton Road on the right. The other part of Yenton Garage can be seen on the opposite corner of Chester Road on the left. 8. Same view looking South toward Erdington, looking across to the shops on Chester Road. The Corner premises are owned by Star Taxi who have their call centre and office here today. A name from the past the larger building of Ozalid Systems on the right. As traffic increased the roundabout was demolished and a traffic light system adapted which still carries on today.
Posted on: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 18:30:00 +0000