Birmingham Town Centre, 1964 - UK

[@GeoffAstle]

Somebody had great foresight to record some of this. The images must have been mundane at the time but now it is a fantastic record.

[@chrafimohammed4536]

Lll

[@misslaurap]

indeed its interesting to see what Brum used to be like before i was born too

[@colinmelling6369]

The younger Brummie generation will never know how brilliant and friendly the city centre once was.

[@ahambrahmasmi-qk9ui]

My mom used to take my brother and I "up town" on a Saturday and it was really something to look forward to. We'd go round the markets and shops, have lunch and go home laden with shopping..Havent visited Brum in decades . Depressing to see it now. Not the happy go lucky city I used to know

[@GaryGeezer-l2s]

No it wasn't: the community was not vibrant or diverse in 1964

[@toyne38]

Birmingham was once a beautiful city. I was born and raised there in the 40's, and lived there all through the 50's, and I have wonderful memories of my growing years there, and I always felt safe. None, or very little crime.Ah, those were the days, my friend!

[@peterwilliamallen1063]

Sorry as a Brummie of Sixty plus years, the City now is more modern now than then when it was full of slums.

[@that_gibbo_gamer9924]

@@peterwilliamallen1063 toyne38 is probably dead……

[@mac-yo2xs]

@@that_gibbo_gamer9924 😂😂😂😂

[@olcotttheosophy]

School days in our life is unforgettable. Mee too. (from the USA)

[@The3CrafterZz]

@@peterwilliamallen1063 why do people bring up slums. We went through two world wars what do you expect pretty palaces? Family have lived in Birmingham over a thousand years, modernisation killed the city.

[@johncraske]

Excellent. Whoever took this film knew what they were doing. A good historical record of a changing city.

[@benbow7]

It hasn't changed for the better.

[@jackrichard8351]

My grandad was 35 years old whilst this was being filmed. He's still with us today and strong. He sometimes tells us stories from days gone by. He's lived in Birmingham his whole life. great video.

[@peachyskies5158]

your granddad is 99 now is he still alive

[@gospelman7222]

I was 18 years old in 1964, a native of Smethwick, but worked in Birmingham city centre. This film brought back many happy memories for me. Remarkably, in the crowd scenes in the Bull Ring market I even saw an image, of a few seconds. of a young man who was in the same class at secondary school as me. Been exiled to the South Coast for 50 years now, hate to admit it, but living by the sea is much nicer!

[@nickmullerITFC78]

you just answer my thought has anyone seen someone they know in this

@@nickmullerITFC78 Birmingham is a huge city so very unlikely.

[@brunster64]

The year I was born and grew up in Birmingham - gave me a warm feeling watching this as it brought back so many memories. It was really clean and tidy back then and people were dressed smartly. Where did it all go wrong????

[@arrielradja5522]

The empire fell

[@golden.lights.twinkle2329]

You have to ask?

[@andysintome7827]

Wonderful footage of my early days in Birmingham. I was a 19 year old at the time.Memories are so precious.

[@jake9854]

Andy Sintome incredible!! u were young once!

[@EM-eh9fx]

Are you alive still?

[@hassanmazza1831]

hey bro the people in this video are like 55 now so yes most likely alive.

[@bighas96]

@@EM-eh9fx hahahaha

[@inverterville]

I grew up in rural Ireland and as a young boy went to Birmingham in 1972 for a family wedding. It was a fab city and I never forgot it. I returned again for the first time 6 years ago, oh my God what has happened, it is so sad to see. I understand nothing ever stays the same but it is such a pity that it has lost so much

[@peterwilliamallen1063]

The City has lost anything except the old slums, take it from a Brummie.

[@peterwilliamallen1063]

@Middle Class English Doomer Sorry mate, I do not know where you get this information from but I am a Brummie and I have lived in Birmingham for 67 years and I can tell you from experience that there is no Muslim take over, there are over 1,5 million citizens living in Birmingham, the UK's second Largest City and Muslims are but one religion of people that live in Birmingham and only make up a small amount of the population of Birmingham. Birmingham is no different to any large City in this world and Birmingham is a non racial, integrated and diverse City, even Fox News made the same stupid comment and had to apologise.

[@peterwilliamallen1063]

@Middle Class English Doomer Oh grow up, it is a few stupid Muslim twits who say this, we have an Asian Prime minister do you see shariah Law No, if that was the case then Brits would have to get out of other foreign lands

[@peterwilliamallen1063]

@Middle Class English Doomer what an utter load of crap

[@paksallion]

Mad that the Irish are so racist considering what they had to face in England 😂 guess you deserved it yourselves

[@Kiss_My_Art]

I'm a Brummie born in 1960, as a child my Mom would take me 'into town' every Saturday for shopping and by that i mean a bus trip into the city centre for meat from the indoor meat market & fruit & veg from the outdoor market and if I'd been good I'd get a Knickerbocker Glory from the little cafe just inside the indoor Bull Ring market.....Brum was a lovely city back in the day it was friendly it was safe and it was vibrant .... Lovely memories ❤

[@worldtraveltrekker5671]

Pure memories...bullring was much better back then it is now...used to go every Saturdays with my parents shop at the fruit and fish market then used to go at the top for fish and chips and sit on the benches to eat it with so many birds sitting close by wanting the chips. The best time ever ❤️

[@wistypoo1]

I was 19 when that film was made. I lived in Rubery about 9 miles from the city centre and used to come in to town on the 144 Midland Red bus, or the Corporation bus number 63. All the places are so familiar, and it's a real blast to see them again. Thanks for a great vid and some wonderful memories.

[@aleishasimon4254]

I live in Rubery right now and trust me it's changed a lot . But I still drive the 144 but to the bullring and sometimes I catch the 63 😂 #throwback

[@wistypoo1]

+Aleisha Simon I don't suppose you remember when trams used to run back in the days before corporation buses ?? :-)

[@wistypoo1]

+Aleisha Simon I don't suppose you remember when trams used to run back in the days before corporation buses ??

[@tuffgong9951]

Fabulous Brum! Great memories!!! Every one took pride in their looks and dressed so well!!! Excellent!! The best times of my life!!

[@terencehennegan1439]

The year the Beatles popularity kicked in and changed the face of music. Yes it was all happening then folks, great strides were being made. The wonderful 60’s. Great video 👍

[@Slayyyer84]

people dressed much better back then. and everything was cleaner

[@stevenmcguinness4751]

Shuggah84 Apart from the Air which was filthy from leaded Fuel and Coal Fires in every building.

[@sarahstrong7174]

Fashions were more formal then. People tend to dress more casual now.

[@sarahstrong7174]

@Tediuki Suzuki Quite correct Thankyou.

[@msz_g663]

Your absolutely correct !😎

[@keithnewton8981]

Totally agree the lady pushing the pram is very well turned out. No one in there pjs and slippers, no track suits people looked respectable and decent not scruffy they cared about how they looked because they they looked after what they had they respected what they had people get things to easily today and are not thankful for what they get.

[@crc778Hypnodoc]

I have such vivid memories of Brum as a youth in those days, this was pain in the stomach nostalgic. I half expected to spot Ghosts of family and long gone friends on each corner. Went to school down in Digbeth and often played truant around the bull ring aah memories!

[@zcharged8294]

did you meet tommy shelby too?

[@jonathanwalker8730]

I was born in 1970, but this is the Birmingham I remember from my childhood. What an elegant, characterful city it was, compared to it's current boring, homogenised incarnation. Thank you for posting this beautiful film.

[@oc4026]

You seem to fail to see what's changed. Brummies do not inhabit this place anymore. With it, the soul has vanished.

@@oc4026 We see it but we aren't allowed to say it.

[@ChrisLawtonorganist]

This is fascinating - I love watching things like this. What also strikes me as well as look at all the cars - Ford Anglias, Mini', Rovers, Austins etc.

[@mikegray8776]

What a superbly evocative and nostalgic piece of film !! I remember the Birmingham of that era so well. I also remember the average quality of home-movies in those days - and this was outstanding for its time !! Thank you so much for posting! 👍🏼👏🏼

[@TheMarkEH]

Thank you for uploading these home movies of Brum, it is exactly how I remember it as a 10 year old kid.

[@marksmith4783]

If only we could roll-back the years, people had better values in those days, more respect and time for people..They even dressed better. Love it!

[@MrTSK27]

If better is woman not working racism and homophobia...

[@ishtiaq968]

Totally agree. They're all dressed very smartly. Also the place looks much cleaner than nowadays.

[@trippy2johno280]

@@MrTSK27 oh shut the fuck up for God's sake!!!!!

[@DavidBensonActor]

@Alice Rabbit bloody hell...

[@DavidBensonActor]

@Alice Rabbit I can see that it must be awful for you living in modern Britain. You would probably fit in better somewhere like Saudi Arabia where your views are official government policy ('homosexuals were kept in mental institutions where they belong and women carried out their natural role of caring for their children')

[@Steve_Green]

Terrific footage. The city actually looks bigger and more vibrant than it is today.

[@sarahsouthgate7082]

Probably looks bigger because of less people and cars...

It was a lot safer and more enjoyable being surrounded by people of the same culture speaking the same language.

[@johnpayne6196]

Thanks for posting it. Many fond memories growing up in Birmingham. Old and new corporation buses - wow. Driving very slowly, and courteously with less crashes.

[@lillianflorence6056]

Clock still there

[@mikegray8776]

Funny that …… Until you mentioned about the buses, I hadn’t realised that I hadn’t seen a single ‘Midland Red’ on the entire reel !! I used to take the 114 from New St every day for 6 years.

[@johnpayne6196]

@@mikegray8776 Okay. I always used the Corporation busses - get on at the back, and then get on at the front. The ticket collector bit the dust when the new busses were introduced. Also, the Midland Red busses were more expensive for the same journey length. When my wages went up, I occasionally used Midland Red bus. I used the number 64, 65, 66 with the 64 more direct to Erdington high street; the other busses meant a walk from the Navigation pub, or the Stockland Green pub. Young and fit then! Take care.

[@mikegray8776]

@@johnpayne6196 Aha! Fond memories of Erdington too. We lived in Walmley when I was young - but my mum always used to prefer to shop on Erdington High St on Saturday mornings (Taylors? Department Store, Erdington Market, and later the ‘huge’ brand new Tesco opposite the Record Shop). As I remember it, there was also a kiddies play park somewhere along the main drag …. But that may be time playing tricks with my 70 y/o memory !! 😂 Also, one of my very first girlfriends lived in Holly Lane ! Happy Days. I now live in Thailand, and sadly haven’t been back to Brum in 15 years since my mum died. But I still miss it in many ways - and still follow the Villa from afar. PS - That was some trudge from Stockland Green, with all the hills against you, from memory !!

[@johnpayne6196]

@@mikegray8776 Mike, yes good memories from my early days. I am 69 and an half! I bought records - 45rpm, and 33rpm from that shop opposite Tesco. Tesco was victor value prior to Tesco. I remember Erdington market and Wilton road market. Wilton road market named after Wilton road - Original location of the police station over the New Sutton road. New, I think, police station on the the Sutton New road. Yes, up the Villa. Remember the Mothers music club? Near the milk bar, above a furniture shop? Take care.

[@Laurence83r]

A rare and wonderful glimpse into Brum's history. My dad remembers the 60s well and whilst not without its problems, it certainly seemed a happier time. Sadly Britain generally seems a more hostile and less friendly place these days. Towns and cities up and down the land are plagued by scruffy, ill-mannered and self-important people, obsessed with mobiles and the latest gadgetry, and fighting over tat in the Boxing Day sales. Give me the past any day!

[@biggusdickus5986]

Because they've been socially engineered, they knocked down all the city street houses where people all lived side by side, so they could make bigger roads and commercial building s then put people in different parts of the city they came from in blocks of flats where no one knew anyone, the kids grew up knowing each other forming gangs out of boredom then hooliganism breaks out meanwhile large in fluxes of immigrants arrive to do the menial jobs no English person wanted to do keeping themselves to themselves then jobs started vanishing as cheaper imports were shipped in and no government had the gumption to either raise the duties on them to keep our goods competitive or they were taking back handers to let them flow in probably the latter, they tried to late with buy British branding but people didn't want expensive goods so cut each others throats basically because buying cheap put their own jobs on the chopping block and hey presto we have what we have now, whole city's with mass unemployment, Brum was once a mighty producer of many kinds of goods, and cars, then nothing, service industry's, part time jobs in hospitality, its the same all over the North of England, in my North Eastern Town, we had a Shirt Factory that made Shirts, Suits, Clothes of varying types, we had a Steel Foundry and 3 miles away ICI petrochemical plant a massive employer as well as the other major steel plants in the area, all gone now except for a small steel works near the coast at a place called carling how. There were other clothes factories I Redcar they've all gone, shoe factory's gone, gasket makers gone, Nothing big here now at all, there used to be building sites everywhere, gone now. Now it's all one big suburbia for those who have to travel 60 miles there and 60 back to work. Middlesbrough highest unemployment rate going highest drug related offences going and highest poverty, with a police force named the worst in the country and same with the council. I could weep thinking vack to how it was and how we took it ll for granted the stupid part is people still need clothes and steel and petrochemicals but successive governments were quite willing to let us be beaten by imports and now we're a 3rd world country in this part of it anyway. Bah.

[@annekenna2768]

This brought a tear to my eye, it looked the same in the seventies when I was a teenager, I miss the old Birmingham, it’s a hell hole now full of people who have no respect for Birmingham 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿🇨🇮

[@idesireit31]

Like who exactly? Don't hold back be specific ?

[@Strawberrygoldd]

Said the Irish

[@Shane-zx4ps]

Alice Rabbit if the whites go so does the economy, and if the whites go they will be followed by people who can’t look after themselves...

[@Shane-zx4ps]

Ecculss. We wanted our country back, the war was brought to us, we are friends now though, just don,t mess with us, we are a friendly and welcoming people, and when we move to another country we respect and live by their laws and most importantly we integrate...

[@lunalea1250]

@King Bob ini U should have told GB and other European Countries who invaded Africa/Asia raping and plundering their prople and natural resources, Yorkshire Tea isn't from Yorkshire!👀😡

[@AJ-qn6gd]

Birmingham 1964 city of a thousand trades, Birmingham 2020 city of a thousand blades !

[@rmg5111]

22AJ55 decades of the 21st century for ya

[@christopherhill9741]

awful now dont even hear english spoken

[@mrbigarms]

I was completely transported back in time with these wonderful images, thank you!

[@BrianDamaged23]

Looks like it might be 1965, not 1964. I spotted a C-plated Mk1 Cortina amongst the traffic. [/anorak] Lovely to see, though. I was born in '64 and this takes me back to the numerous shopping trips we went on in the early 70's when Birmingham still looked the same as it did in the film. Thanks for sharing it!

[@peterevans5851]

I'm 71 now and remember finishing work at 5'30 me and my mate straight to Oxford tea room for some tea in New street and then down the Villa for the evening kick off's was 7'15 in them days.... magic memories

[@VickersV]

That was really cool, sent it to friend who was there at time, happy friend now.

[@hannahinwales]

Loooove how everybody dressed in suits and long coats

[@westernshipway3115]

Yes class nice.

[@LostsTVandRadio]

Absolutely brilliant!! The vision of modernity - new cityscapes, skyscrapers, rear-engined buses, smart clothes .... where did it all go wrong??

[@LHRTW]

When East European Untermensh got in

[@LostsTVandRadio]

If the alternative vision for Britain comprises jackboots, thugs and concentration camps then I'll gladly opt for a less than perfect cityscape every time.@@LHRTW

[@beverleyking]

Happy memories indeed! Thanks for that.

[@georgetempest2469]

Bloody hell - all those classic cars! And no twats in hoodies - people used to dress a lot better back then. Man, I was one year old when this was filmed...

[@karter9219]

George Tempest this whole comment is just ‘I’m scared of people that aren’t white’

[@karter9219]

Bengt Handlebars how pathetic. People can dress however they want, people can have tattoos and show them off if they want. Not everyone has to wear a smart suit and shoes everyday. Ever heard of fashion. Go back to the 1908

[@stephenroche5107]

George Tempest "What is wrong with a hoodie you silly arse no everyone in this film are wearing very ill fitting under size and over sized clothe's again you silly arse."

[@azman6568]

@@stephenroche5107 silky arse !!! You got a thing for this guy.

[@ia4822]

You can understand the feelings now when smartly dressed lighter idiots who loved ropes headed towards east india disguised as traders...

[@chrisjohnson6876]

Fabulous footage there of life in the early sixties, loved the clothes and the cars/busses. Thanks for the upload

[@carolgriffin8290]

Loved this video took me back in time it all looks so clean thanks for the memories

[@marygillespie4212]

It's the Birmingham I remember growing up as a child. Miss those days.

[@peterstaples1]

I don't know B/ham, but when l see these old videos (of any town in the UK), l am always struck by the same things: 1. everyone looks smart 2. everywhere looks clean 3. people are busy, nobody is just hanging about 4. the driving is civilized and considerate of others 5. all the shops and businesses have a pride and order about them 6. everyone is white

[@marklittler784]

Yeah I think Thatcher selling affordable housing off cheap to those that had already had their families made it all the more difficult for many UK citizens to afford to have a stable family life, now we're importing foreign kids, kids UK citizens couldn't afford to bring up in a stable family environment.

[@happys6057]

shut up .. its much better .. all those baby boomers awful.

[@An-lv9vw]

Last point was awful

[@marklittler784]

@@An-lv9vw It's a true observation.

[@peterstaples1]

@@An-lv9vw but true, A n

[@F1OCU]

Thanks for posting the footage. Nice to see how it was back in the good old days..

[@johnmscott4556]

I've lived in Birmingham all my life, l look back on this, it really does look like a simple life, everyone talking to each other, no mobile phones, it's good.

[@jamilakhtar6118]

Beautiful old memory of birmingham

[@marywestwood1637]

A lot of smart stylish shoppers around x

And smart stylish shops to take your money.

[@alansmyth3121]

Just an opinion but the women look like they have more class than those today.

[@keithbate9405]

sigh. You are correct. But it is just as much as how they spoke and acted not just the way they dressed. It is sad that many "feminists" seem to think that being able to echo the worst behaviour of male culture (swearing, getting drunk etc) is a good thing. !

[@alansmyth3121]

I agree with you.

[@margaretsmith8141]

Alan Smyth x

[@prestcoldandy910]

No tattoos no green hair no fake boobs or lips and no zombies on their phones , what a better time !

[@shakespeare_hall4788]

@@prestcoldandy910 Gotta agree with you all it was a better time for sure !

[@buffetuk]

I miss the old birmingham so much 😢

[@sarahstrong7174]

The Bull Ring Centre must have been regarded as absolutely the most up to date modern & trendy thing possible at the time. Enjoyed the music. Thankyou for sharing.

It was but that didn't last long.

[@Nuttybott]

Anyone else get the impression that England was a cleaner, safer, happier society back then?

[@jennychiltoon7130]

+Nuttybott Safer and happier than 20 years before for sure.

[@pokedude-pokemongocontent4976]

+Alice Rabbit Oh please, shut up, people are people.

[@markapreston1974]

no it looks grim as hell

[@Nuttybott]

If you think that, you should see the way it looks NOW... :-/

[@keithmartin1328]

yes it looks so clean

[@sammullett17]

Can't believe this is 64" the quality looks HD, definitely better than VHS haha

[@milford8485]

Wow! It still looks like an English city then. Everyone looks slim and healthy too and awake.

[@LittleKitty22]

Yup, that was before everybody was doped up on antidepressants. Hence people still looked awake.

[@mikeymike1001]

And WHITE!

[@michaelcrump1288]

remember driving those streets in 1964 my first year driving from Redditch home. Now in South Pacific so great to reminisce

[@funkyparrotdotcom]

Fabulous, takes you back to when people were friendly and polite to one another.

[@donlloyd1436]

Best days ever safe and nice to walk round shops

[@FYCH45]

Thanks for this. I studied at Birmingham University 1964-8, and again in the '70s. Still my favourite city outside London. This video brought back good memories.

[@peterhaynes8258]

It was a LOVELY COUNTRY in 1964, I was there with a mate.

[@MukeshKumar-jo3jl]

A lot of roads are one way now.

[@Zenajs]

Made me very nostalgic for my youth - I was sweet 16

[@TheEpicAB]

Zena Schtyk Okay boomer

[@Frank-tz2ki]

Notice how everyone looked like they had a healthy BMI, and there was no world wide fast food outlets to be seen.

[@thehoneyeffect]

and no one concern trolled or fatshamed online back then either. FYI Fish n chips existed and thats fast food.

[@Frank-tz2ki]

@@thehoneyeffect Whatever you say, you will believe in it, and then we always have the "But ...... but .... " people who do not believe in anything, the strangest thing out they believe that we all live on a giant sphere.! How strange?

[@martinheath5947]

There was Wimpy!

[@rmg5111]

Martin Heath & maccies kfc

[@markwilson4052]

A lot of them smoked though and paid the price in later life.

[@crc778Hypnodoc]

That was so nostalgic it hurt! Digbeth has barely changed at all! Saw so many things I remember, pipe shop in New St where me and two other 17yr old mates bought pipes because it seemed 'cool man' and promptly got sick first time I tried ;) The Bus stop in Corporation st where I used to walk my first Girl friend to, sigh. Birmingham I remember you well

[@raymondbeasley9615]

I was 12 years old then that's how I remember Birmingham its funny my granddad used to drive the cream and blue double deckers he might have been in this film

[@eileendelapp6695]

+Raymond Beasley I was also 12 years old and my dad drove double deckers too! :)

[@geraldwalsh6489]

Double deckers had the same colours in Dublin.....cream and navy!!

[@gunton21]

So was I, my mother used to work for thompson newspapers, office above bus station, I used to go and meet her there from school.

[@TheEpicAB]

Raymond Beasley Okay boomer

[@sahram335]

AB that is the comment we need England is shit like boris Johnson

[@Redreynard]

Thanks for the video. Delightful. The good old day, when Brum was still an English city.

[@atlantic1952]

Brilliant! Brings back the good old days of less traffic and great shops!

[@golden.lights.twinkle2329]

I lived in Coventry till 1979 and a trip to Birmingham (usually by train) was always an adventure. This video is pretty much how I remember it. It's nothing like that today, and not in a good way.

[@davecrook4458]

No rubbish no graffiti on all the walls tidy and happy people that was the real British way

[@yggdrasilltree7782]

@truth seeker No, our corrupt Governments did.. We wanted our country to stay the same, we were happy and content at what we built ourselves.

[@BenLovee]

@@nicksiddaway2594 well said man, all these people in their 60s complaining about 'real british values' is really infuriating.

[@christopherlayton1420]

I was Two Year's Old Then But I Remember Them Buses When I Was A Kid. Loved Them Wish I Could Go Back In Time.

[@adamlawton3093]

Now they get blown up

[@SNAKEPIT359]

Christopher Layton I was 4 years old when this was filmed. Although much has changed in the city centre. The basic look is still there. I loved those old open backed buses because if you had just missed it you had the chance of running after it and hopping on before it before it gained too much speed. Jumping on moving buses! That wouldn't go down too well today.

[@cheriegoodwin6819]

My husband used to drive buses in brum and retired couple years ago, anyway in the garage where he worked was one of the old 60s buses that was used for parades etc so went on it a couple of times...it really took me back and when it was started up, well the memories came flooding back, even the sound and smell of the engine was the same...I felt 15 again and it was so emotional for me...still see it today from time to time...

[@ENSBRIDGET]

So sad watching this, Birmingham has changed so dramatically and it's changed for the worse.

[@sarahjohns5277]

Em Riley Yes I felt sad too, back then we certainly didn’t have the worries we have today. The worlds gone mad. End times for sure.

[@kamsingh3260]

Now looks more like Birmingabad.

[@sarahjohns5277]

The Journey I know he is my friend. ❤️

[@kamsingh3260]

@The Journey Nanak was the reincarnation of Christ. The second coming has already come and gone .

[@kamsingh3260]

@@sarahjohns5277 Nanak was the second coming of Christ. As Nanak was the reincarnation of Christ. Second coming come and gone, you missed the boat.

[@johnbowkett80]

I was born in Lower Essex St and raised in Highgate . This is how I remember my once great City of Birmingham . 👍🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿

[@PDH17]

Love these old films....great quality thanx for uploading !...******

[@luthfurrahmanchowdhury5070]

Used to be so clean back then now it's just trash everywhere

[@MrReeealist]

You know the people that watch this video think people that look like you are the reason it’s trash now.

[@TravelandAudio]

@@MrReeealist Wrong,it's because all of the people like you that has migrated to ruin the place, not to improve it!

[@MrReeealist]

@@TravelandAudio and people like me are? I'll wait till you say something without offending both me and the original commenter.

[@Aqib2]

@@TravelandAudio stfu dumbass

[@chansrroom]

@@TravelandAudio so my great grandparents, who are Muslim, that served in the wars of this country simply came to ruin it? All those years of horror they endured to have proper healthcare because Pakistan was still a poor country back then? Are you saying my existence is from people who wanted to ruin the country? Do us a favour and fuck off, will ya?

[@garymwalton]

Ah, the Birmingham I know and love. Just look at the people - or so happy. Look at the people now. Spot the difference? I got quite dewy-eyed looking at that. Thank you for posting. It was wonderful.

[@bensims7501]

He is spot on.

[@benbow7]

Make England English Again.

[@dannya6362]

Benbow7 make America native again.. Make Australia aberigonese again make new Zealand mauri again make Argentina indigenous again... At least your still the majority in your own country all the ones above are full of Europeans

[@sirvikalcrusader3668]

Ignore the haters Michael most of us are with you on this one..I wouldn't go near Birmingham city today.

[@fardinahmed313]

@@sirvikalcrusader3668 u aint wanted here either

[@MGB]

This was the year I was born, and very much how I remember Brum from my childhood. A wonderful piece of film also showing how smartly dressed people were back then, even the streets look clean.

[@guy3555]

The golden years Birmingham at its best, thanks for sharing

[@VOGELBIRD123]

You hit the nail on the head. I remember it being like this so well, and as you say, the country wasn't without it's problems, but today I feel like an alien in the city centre when I am compelled to go there.

[@samibenz2737]

Ok move on, nothing ever remains the same.

[@gerardk51]

@@samibenz2737 You're missing the point.

[@ANDREWFITZGERALD100]

Its amazing to see that film and wonder how many of those folks are still alive & kicking now..most of the youngest kids seen on there must be in their fifties now...scary really when you think about it..time marches on relentlessly and waits for no one... great to see the old double decker buses I went to senior school on one of these in the seventies...the fare was 2p (new pence)...wow amazing as if...

[@keithbate9405]

I am still around (b55) and am still pretty fit in body and heart for my age. I still go to live gigs (over 1000 since 1973). But I sometimes would like to travel back in time for a day or so. Now where is that Tardis when you need it ? preferred the way that women dressed then to now eg Stockings (seamed ones eesp) etc.

[@Not_Yandere_Im_Ayano]

you were robbed it should have been a farthing lol

[@annweston2326]

I would love to see people I know or knew walking about in the film. I remember the cream buses the market stalls and merry go round and the big King Kong statue that scared me a bit but I still liked to have a look at it. I was born in 1966.

[@ryshed4365]

They’re mostly in this comment section crying about the fact they can’t hire kids to die in chimneys anymore

[@AneesaHa]

They use to dress so well unlike now days fashion

[@robertcomer2767]

Possibly because there was no primark and poundland and full of 14 year old chavs with two kids, another on the way and there's 27 possibilities of who the father could be. And in those days you felt safe in it now it's become Mumbai 2.

[@karter9219]

Robert Comer lol what? Mumbai 2? There are much more Pakistanis in Birmingham that Indians. But brown people are probably all the same to you

[@r.2696]

@@robertcomer2767 racist shithead

[@azman6568]

@Bengt Handlebars agreed

[@michaeladaly9971]

@@robertcomer2767 hello, 14 year old girl from Birmingham here, here to say that not every girl now a days are like that. Some of us actually hate chavs too and pride ourselves in how we dress and act.

[@pauldodd5076]

What a great time to be alive. England were about to win the World Cup, the weather was great, not a CCTV camera in sight and people walked around without staring down at their phones every few seconds.

[@sallycurry9003]

Thank you for posting this. I was born the year this was filmed. In 1964 many of Birmingham’s buildings weren’t as clean as the film makes them look. It took till the 1980s before the Council began to have them sandblasted clean. To see our famous Crown Court building was actually made of Victorian red brick was astonishing. It always looked black before. Lovely!

[@sarkersreerup4674]

I wish I could visit the city Birmingham which is one of the brightest and Iconic masterpieces to others.

[@Liamwalrus]

Great footage but at the same time its sad to see Birmingham's decline into the hell on earth place it has become.

[@fujivillan]

not true at all!

[@davidm3135]

@@pawpatrol55 why?

[@davidm3135]

@@pawpatrol55 from what I saw it's not really like that. I'm interested in studying at University of Birmingham and I even received a place there so that's why I'm trying to know what's wrong with it, can you give any details

[@Trevski2001]

David M - as someone who has lived in Birmingham for 60 years, I have witnessed the long slow decline. I'll try to be brief as others have identified various aspects of what has gone wrong. Basically, during the 60's.70's and 80's the Council was true to its motto of 'Forward' (in a positive sense) and did many good things. This all began to fall apart in the 90's when the Council markedly changed direction and began to adopt a Thatcherite ethos. The notion of 'Civic pride' fell by the wayside, to be replaced with the gaudiness of the revamped Broad Street. Of course, it was the 80's which was the Thatcher decade and the immediate casualties of her poisoned ideology were felt elsewhere, such as mining communities. It took to the early 90's for the corrosive effect to (ahem) 'trickle down' to Birmingham in my experience (although I had fortunately gained secure employment in the fateful year of 1979 so may have been somewhat protected). But by the 90's things were obviously deteriorating. Things at local level are influenced by our leaders and, as others have noted, a change in attitude generally took place. People used to have more pride in themselves and their communities. Self respect and respect for others. The modern version of 'respect' is what some hoodlum expects when pointing a gun at you. Birmingham was never, as a whole, a 'picture postcard' town due to its industrial heritage but brick walls do not a utopia make and the sense of community and hope (expectation) for a better tomorrow counts for a lot. One of the biggest problems these days is the rise in serious crime (regardless as to what fiddled statistics may say). I'll set you a project (should you choose to accept it) … go to the library and research the local newspapers for a period say June-August for this year 2018 and the same period 40 or 50 (1978 or 68) years ago. Back then, violent crime was very rare whereas today it is almost a daily occurrence. The same applies to lower level crime and 'anti social' behaviour. I hope this has been of some use to you.

[@FLOPSY1951]

Totally agree with Liam. It's not the Birmingham I loved growing up as a young Brummie.

[@mohennarayen7158]

A fantastic view of the past years..

[@anthonybutler6365]

I was fifteen then and used to go to Birmingham every Saturday only go there if I have to nowadays, such a shame whats happened to a great city and country as a whole

[@secretsymphony]

This looks better than it is now. It's taken me this long to realise the former Bull Ring Shopping Centre was better in nearly everywhere than the new one. It just got neglected for some reason. I remember those gardens by the Bull Ring but never saw it looking that pristine...

[@townsgate168]

Many thanks for uploading a very precious piece of home movie! I am from Hong Kong, and I was in Birmingham doing my first degree at a time when Aston Villa was a household name in the professional soccer scene, nationally and internationally as well. I have only made one return visit in the 80's when much of the City has changed in appearance, for the better, if you like.

[@pantouflerocco8674]

Excellent video. I was five at this time. Would love to see the Sixties again.

[@andrewmoore5628]

different world

[@JCT-]

i've been linving here for only 2 months but seeing this is really awesome...!

[@mitchellbray5963]

Wonderful footage. My father had an hearing aid shop opposite St.Martins Church(Ardente). Very popular kind man. Anybody remember him? Ronnie Bray.

[@quinbenson]

0:35: C reg vehicle. That makes it at least 1965 for some of this footage. Thanks James O Horton of Facebook for pointing that one out 👍

[@founderofself]

I would have loved to live in this time. Everything is one way and so confusing now. Looks how everything is so straight forward. Even the people . I love it

[@marc21091]

Very good film of 1964. The Inner Ring Road was being built then and only the part by the Bull Ring was complete (and in the film). There is traffic in New Street and Corporation which formed part of the city's traffic system then; so the centre was noisy and could not be part-pedestrianised for some years yet. New Street station was being rebuilt in 1964 (completed 1967 with shopping centre on top) and was a construction site then. The film-maker captures the city's character very well, but note that the construction sites of the Inner Ring Road and New Street station were not filmed. Nearly all public transport was bus in 1964 - the railway services were limited (and some still steam). This only started to change in the early 1970s when West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive (WMPTE) (later Centro, now Transport for West Midlands) started to fund expanded rail services by contract with British Rail.

[@hassaanahsan6698]

Birmingham the pearl of black country. Jewel of West Midlands. Rightly called big heart of England. I spent days of my burning youth in Edgbaston.love you Brittany.

[@thescottishcrusader2781]

Yeah it's cool but Birmingham is not in the Black Country

[@jean-pierresharp8050]

Great video. I was only 13 at the time of the films making. I lived in Birmingham from the age of four 'till I was twenty eight and have great memories of my time there. Two years after this film was made I started my first job in the Jewellery Quarter as an apprentice die-stamp engraver and walked to work Monday to Friday (and the occasional Saturdays) from Carrs Lane to Legge Lane in Hockley. I had occasion to visit Brum awhile ago and was appalled with what I saw and experienced; it has not changed for the better, in my opinion. Mind you, the same can be said for most British cities.

[@paulwalsh9680]

Fabulous quality from half a century ago. Great seeing the old Midland Red buses!

[@TR3CK1E]

I agree with mike pike this country will never be the same again no matter how hard anyone tries it will never be the same

[@nthglasScotland]

Bless. *tears*. Me mam was a Brummie lass. The sights would have been well known to her. She saw Cila Black, & many others in the Hippodrome. I am so jealous. As a child in the 1970s & early 1980s, I can remember the buses being by the mouth of the Bull Ring Centre. lol. Birmingham, used to be a civilized city. I shall end there. x

[@raahgeer7840]

Have a look at Birmingham today !!!

No, thanks.

[@oddviews]

I lived and worked in Birmingham then as a 19 year old, on the railways wearing a suit and a tie - even the Beatles wore suits and ties on stage. You want to know a contrast? From the cold and windy and rainy times when there were 9 months of winter and 3 months of bad weather, I have been living in Northern Thailand for nearly 20 years, with my lovely Thai wife where I am never cold and in a months time I am going South for week by the sea in the warm sunshine of Phi Phi island. Hope any of you currently still living in Birmingham, or indeed anywhere in the UK as I write in October 2020, hope you can stay free of Covid. Very nice video that brought back memories,

[@peggs1]

Amazing Many thanks for posting.

[@debragranett5123]

Just noticed the 16 bus caught that for years lovely to see how I remember it

[@Davetheravepow]

cheers for the upload! Very interesting to see how much the city has changed over the years.

[@inregionecaecorum]

Used to go into Brum with me mum and dad back then, remember it all well.

[@Alex-zi6ym]

My Grandad was an Irish immigrant to Birmingham who arrived in 1949 age 19 (still alive today). He used to drive the buses, definitly must show him this video

[@MickAngelhere]

I lived in Birmingham during the 90s loved the old bull ring markets used to buy a weeks food for the three of us went back to visit in August this year and the city centre has changed for the better in some ways but worse in some ways