We take a look back to 1959
It was a very different world in Birmingham 65 years ago. Here, we take a look back through the archives at 1959.
By looking at the pictures it seems a very different world. The Bull Ring was a very different place with even the last demolished buildings not opened until 1964. Broad Street was a vastly different with Easy Row and Five Ways Island looking very different with fine grand Victorian buildings standing over it.
Picture houses we on every corner and the Bristol cinema on Bristol Road had just upgraded to new projectors and the largest screen in the UK. The site is used today as the drive through McDonald’s on the corner.
Sir Alec Issigonis created the Mini and the Morris Minor cars. With fuel rationing due to the Suez Crisis, smaller cars were favourable so in August 1959 the Mini was launched as the Morris Mini Minor and the Austin Seven, which soon became known as the Austin Mini. The Mini went on to become the best selling British car in history with a production run of 5.3 million cars. Revolutionary in its time, the Mini is still loved today as it was 65 years ago.
Housing estates were popping up all over Birmingham with modern flats housing hundreds of residents. The Lyndhurst Estate in Erdington was nearing completion and a new section of Ridgacre Road in Quinton was also soon to be opened.
What is only a generation ago with your Grandparents, looks like another world.
