West Bromwich: People and Places

During the latter part of the eighteenth century West Bromwich was mainly rural and sparsely populated. The area currently occupied by the High Street from Dartmouth Square to Carters Green was then little more than open heathland, giving no indication of the premier shopping centre it was later to become. The famous ‘Golden Mile’ High Street that evolved around 150 years ago has changed in character quite dramatically within living memory, as indeed have many of the surrounding districts of the town. Most people will have treasured memories of long-gone delights such as Trow’s Ice-Cream parlour, Chad’s Fish & Chips, the Adelphi Ballroom and, of course, the luxurious Tower Cinema with its double seats – specially designed for courting couples. These changes and the social activities of local people in all parts of the borough during the last century are nostalgically recalled here in a collection of over 300 photographs compiled by West Bromwich-born author and historian Terry Price, with the majority of the material originating from his own and other private collections.