Visit to Armoury Road

[A10Boy]

Today I had to go into Birmingham City on business, so on the way back I took a detour to the sacred grounds of Armoury Road Small heath.

I thought you might like to see some pics I took on my phone.



Below the three story bit is a car body repairers work shops, I went inside and chatted to the Guy in there for about 20 minutes. I didnt take photos inside cuz he might have thought I was casing the joint.








Finally some of my Flash.

Sorry about the size / quality, I'm no expert in this trickery.

[LJ.]

Great pictures... Boy, I'd love a rummage around that old place!

[Brian]

That was interesting. I was under the impression from what I have read that there was nothing left of the original buildings. Is the three story part one of the original buildings that look like three buildings in old photos that had the letters BSA on them.

Also interesting to see that BSA guns still have some connection with the site.

As LJ says, wouldnt it be great to have a wander around the place. Living in AUS I will probably never get to see it so thanks for the photos.

[A10Boy]

Apparently, the three story building was part of the wartime gun, then motorcycle works, the three story bit once stretched right down Armoury Rd. The single story area now occupied by BSA Guns was where they made sidecars.

Although I was born and raised only about 35 miles away, it felt strange to walk down the road and go inside and imagine all those people making guns and bikes..

http://www.madeinbirmingham.org/bsamem.htm

http://www.smallheathcircle.com/6.html

[Pim]

Wow this sould be one of my stops when I show the bike where it was born. I came upon a video some time ago displaying the bsa factory while following the build of a motorcyle, unfortunately i forgot to safe te link and now i can't find it anymore.

very nice pictures! thanks!
Pim

[RichardL]

This seemed the place for this post.

Looking at Small Heath on Google Earth, it appears the roof of the old fatory has hundreds of tires thrown up there. I know roofers will use tires to hold down roofing paper in the wind while preparing to tar and gravel, but this seems like an extreme quantity. Too far away to see if they say "Dunlop."

Richard L.

[RichardL]

OK, I have a theory. The building is occupied by a dealer in used Mercedes parts (that's fact, not theory) and they are using the roof to dispose of old tires rather than pay disposal fees. The tires are tossed around the perimeter to avoid extra weight load toward the center, and more tossed closer to the elevator/stair because it's easier. Seem right?

Richard L.

[muskrat]

G'day Richard.
That seems about right. Down here it's very pricey to take tyres to the tip and burning them is a dead giveaway.
Cheers

[RichardL]

Just discovered the TV series Peaky Blinders. Some here will already know it's about a gang in Small Heath after WWI. A lot of BSA Co. in the story, at least in the first couple of episodes. I figure you couldn't base a story in Small Heath without BSA in it.

Richard L.