Knowle, West Midlands, 1963 - UK

An 8mm movie showing Knowle and Dorridge as they were in 1963, when the villages were in Warwickshire. Includes shots of my parents business. Also visit www.knowlehistory.org.uk

[@QuoVadistis]

Mobile phones, globalism and TV have destroyed society. I wish I lived in times of humanity. Many thanks for sharing.

[@QuoVadistis]

@Amelia G Absolutley wrong. Society has been dumbed down. NOTHING has improved. The people of yesteryear are less intelligent and creative than predecessors and spiritually more corrupt. You have beliebed the bullshit your teachers, parents, society and sysyem has taught you. If you look back 200 years, you will see races mxinig with freedom. Pre-Victoruan Britain was full of people of all colours. THe ancient kings and queens of England (which includes Scotland and Wales) are ALL black races. History is a lie, put out by those in power to FOOL YOU.

[@jonesroberts3640]

​@QuoVadistis if Britain had mixes back then so you sat how comes in the UK all over the UK racism and segregation is growing and hate crime is on the rise, multiculturalism doesnt work.

[@topquark6919]

Wish I had access to a time machine, I'd go back in a heartbeat.

[@rollcagehiggings3991]

Lovely it reminds me of when England was england

[@jonesroberts3640]

Still is England nothing changed in this area.

[@stephenchaplin7381]

I still live in the village and have done since 1970s, amazing to see what a difference time has made...Bring back the good old day's life was much simpler back then and people were nice !!! Great footage thanks for sharing!!!!

[@cwwiss1]

My grandmother managed the Forest Hotel for Mrs Monkpath in 1963. The wolsley car at the front was hers. I used to drive it round the car park when she went for an afternoon nap. Never thought I would ever see it again. Summer holidays there with my cousin Amanda..my first love..happy days. Thank you for posting.

[@paulcarter2907]

I live near here and it's fascinating to see what has changed, and indeed what has not changed over the years..Thanks for posting, more please...

[@Biigfish559]

6000 feet to the west of the setting of this breathtaking film, a youngish Irish single mother to be made the trip from Wolverhampton to Four Ashes Rd on a presumably cold, drab day in December 1963, filled with many confusing emotions, mainly fear and possibly deep shame in those days. She gave birth to an illegitimate son in Francis Way, No. 124 which I was to learn only 5 years ago was a nursing home for women in the same plight as this poor woman, my dear Mom. Sadly she died 1n 1981.

[@ef1265]

We lived by four ashes road from 1981

[@MrCuriocat]

Lived in Knowle from 1981 to 2003. Some of my family still live there. I now live in Wisconsin in the US. Still miss the village terribly and am sure I will end up back there eventually!

[@garrywilliams9513]

A lovely bit of nostalgia from an England lost forever. I lived in Lodge Road in 1983, opposite the park. Happy times! Thank you for sharing.

[@sal.salvador202]

What a lovely place ❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@mikaelabowen5781]

This is absolutely glorious! It completely brings back the whole feel of that time. Thank you so much for both making the film in the first place and also for sharing it here.

[@juno8919]

ant smith 2013 what a fabulous film , brings back such happy memories of when knowle really was a village,. i lived in hampton road and went to both the old school; and then Arden.What a surprise to see john alcock working away.once again thanks for the memories

[@merrolmichael3370]

A great video!!! Brings back memories of a better time.

[@charlottecarpenter8047]

Many thanks for uploading this. My dad, John Alcock, features towards the end, my sister and I have never seen what he looked like at this age. We watched it with my dad a few days ago and he loved reminiscing about his time as a mechanic, thanks again, Charlotte and Evette

[@Barryjohnleech]

I was 17 when this was shot, lived in Bentley Heath , but my father was the local milkman in Knowle. Sure that the shot of the young mechanic in Hollands Garage was John Alcock, my brothers best friend.

[@Biigfish559]

Can't imagine how she'd have felt had she lived to see this given her circumstances; we endured surprising prejudice and resentment considering how people live nowadays. Thank you for this lovely piece of history; almost expected PC Rowan to show up...

[@Kniferest]

I was born at home in Bentley Heath in 1963. I have a vague recollection of both Dorridge and Knowle. We moved to Northfield in 1969 and two years later to Pembrokeshire..

[@scheerbart23]

What fabulous quality footage! Many thanks.

[@mick5296]

Great footage,brings back lovely memories. As school kids my and mates and i would jump on a bus and go anywhere we fancied around brum, and even futher afield, so long as we came home at a reasonable time, mum was o.k with it . Can't see that happening today the way kids are nannied. Was it safer back then,? or was it that The News didn't scare people every night

[@essaw]

Fantastic film and so interesting for me, who moved to Dorridge in 1986 from London, to see what Knowle and Dorridge was like in 1963. Very good quality of film. Thanks very much for sharing the film with everyone. Simon Bousfield

[@mikeyb37]

Fantastic film! I've lived in Knowle almost all my life (since '66, now living on Station Road) and this takes me right back!

[@MrDaveLikesToRave]

1:45 I live literally 3 houses to the right of the ones you see next to that shop! This is amazing1 Thank you for posting this!

[@marclaw4511]

Great place,used to go in the wilsons arms and the railway in dorridge.Still nice pubs now.

[@stephenfox966]

My parents had a house built on Dorridge Road where this film starts out.It was built to their vdesign by a Mr. Crabbe in 1953/54.He died before it was completed and a relative of his finished it.It was no.153 which has since been extended and added to.The soil was full of clay as there used to be a lake on the site.(Blue lake stores was close by.)

[@rocknrolla1874]

This is a treat. Barry, thank you so much for sharing. I love the garage connection as I still have 4 British cars from 1957 to 1978 Ford, vauxhall, triumph. Fantastic ❤

[@LostsTVandRadio]

I've never been a fan of the 1974 imposition of the so-called 'county' of West Midlands. I don't mind local services being organised and administered on a wider basis but, dear bureaucrats, please keep our historic county boundaries. These towns definitely belong in Warwickshire!

[@Pietersen158]

Amazing video, thank you for sharing. I've lived in Knowle all my life & have often wondered what it looked like before I was born.

[@tfranklin1234]

amazing video. im 24 years old. i would love in 30 odd years to look back at 2013 and how knowle has changed even more. thank you for making that video

[@succubilover69]

Great to see Knowle as it was - I notice a lot of the gravestones shown in the churchyard have now been cleared. It would have been great to see nearby Grimshaw Hall and Grimshaw Castle.

[@eveeludbrook]

Absolutely amazing! It's fascinating to see how things were so many years ago! So many familiar places!

[@33Crazydude]

I really enjoyed watching this, thank you for the upload

[@MrStugriff]

Great to see where I grew up.

[@simonscott7417]

Brilliant, loved seeing how these areas that I know were in the past.

[@stevenwatson3963]

FANTASTIC! Love the old footage of areas that im familiar with. CHEERS,for the upload.

[@cwwiss1]

Ps, got a feeling that annoying child on the platform of Dorrridge station at the start of the film was me..! gulp..lol

[@terryowen5437]

I knew it was John as soon as I saw his cheeky smile. Brings back loads of memories for me. Give my regards to your Dad for me. He would know my brother John Owen better. Your Grandad Charlie and my Uncle were always at war at the local produce shows to see who had the best Onions, potatoes, Beans etc. My dad also taught Graham to ride a Motorbike. Good old days eh.

[@jonha666able]

This is soo good. I lived in Poplar Road, Dorridge from 1970 for many years, such happy times,and really not a lot has changed, (except the pace of life and the cars!!). More please, from a ex pat now living in Italy.

[@daleduerden1185]

Weren’t the shops super then lovely to watch thankyou

[@Jamesfeb2011]

just keeps on getting better

[@eddiebrown883]

Was told to watch this by a friend because he is in it right at the end working in the garage. His name is John Alcock, i hope you remember him.

[@thetwofootninja]

Darn u missed my house I wish there was a Dorridge verision

[@Thylacine1949]

Wonderful film ... thanks for sharing :)

[@thebrummierailenthusiasts5329]

today the station is now called dorridge

[@stephenfox966]

My godmother's shop 'Tots to Teens' is shown in the film.I used to cycle from Ashleigh Road Solihull to Arden High School in the summer and take the Midland Red bus no. 154 or 155 in the winter.Nice film,thanks,brings back lots of memories.

[@andybennett1026]

Fantastic, love this !

[@virtualgaz]

Superb presentation - quality right through from the original footage to the editing - one of the best social history 8mm videos I've seen. Please tell me you have more! Thanks.

[@djjake]

its just crazy to see what has changed since then...and whats NOT changed one bit lol. Thanks for uploading this, its great :)

[@denniseyre6969]

Brilliant . Love it

[@edgaralan9917]

Super , so good to see.

[@geraldhutchins1023]

I used to live in kings heath in the sixtys and the carriages use to come down the track with the windows missing where foot ball surporters add kick them threw no respect

[@grahamedwards9920]

Fantastic!

[@davidnarbett]

Wonderful film - an insight into an area I knew quite well some 30 years ago when I owned the Bakery in neighbouring Hampton ( did you ever venture there? ) I love 'visiting' places in times before I was even born and marvel at how the quality of life seemed so much more genteel than today - ( also you have a wonderful voice ) - Thank You again

[@Lottie.Bronte]

Love it!!

[@nigelwilliams7403]

When life was good ! Can we bring it back ?

[@salaf4609]

very nice

[@johnnicholls3518]

DJN, are you referring to the Bakery by the canal bridge, near the Boot Pub?

[@andrewhills6535]

Good footage , can't remember much , born in 64 and moved to north Wales in 71 , went to cederhurst I think , Parents rented a house called little blakes ! Fair house from what I remember , I think it was grange Rd ? Wonder if you could tell me where , I think it's been flattened now for a housing estate , thanks again

[@jonbacon6664]

Andrew Hills I go past grange road a fair bit. If you ever receive this message then perhaps I could get a video for you ? Or some updates

[@melgrant7404]

When you got served petrol

[@bertiewooster3326]

Great I used to be a pump lad new all the tricks !!

[@ElliesLittleMay]

Hya, a brilliant film! We live in gravel pit cottages used to be cunnafay? cottages in temple balsall..lady katherine leveson estate - have you ever recorded anything down the kenilworth road?:)

[@djjake]

just wow

[@geraldhutchins1023]

my first job leaving school was at wrensons moseley

[@sylviabaxter265]

I worked at Wrensons in Moseley I was seventeen, I used to cut the cooked meats,recently I worked at Sainsbury’s in Dorridge on the deli counter and left in 2018.

[@Bluelady777]

wonder if those pubs are still open these days

[@TheTaff224]

bit late for a reply but yes both the Red Lion and the Wilsons are open - red lion hasn't changed much but the Wilsons has expanded.

[@danielphillips2892]

Was the lido still open then ?

[@kiuta9415]

I went to the Wilson arms

[@NeverKnowinglyUndersouled]

And it's still there!

[@anna-if8fi]

omg i live in dorridge lmao

[@colbycatton8130]

Music?

[@Jamesfeb2011]

fucking love this

[@quicksilver238]

Valuable social history. I would have been 13!

[@davidhailstone1519]

Hollands For your MOT and the Forest to grab a Granny.

[@reynardbizzar5461]

Midland Red D7 @ 5.07 Cracking film , thanks🎉 Midland Red LD8 @ 7.20 We made a few ugly looking cars in those times; good to see the French are carrying on where we left off🎉😂😂

[@Jamesfeb2011]

Oh and i'm only 23

[@bertiewooster3326]

Great because????? There were 15million fewer people !!

[@bertiewooster3326]

@Shlomo Golnenbaum Lampshadeberg Shekelstein No the countryside is also rammed the ideal population for the UK is 50m not 70+m and increasing.

[@askelvis4302]

@@bertiewooster3326 Go away

[@bertiewooster3326]

@@askelvis4302 You are one of the 15m we don't need then !

[@askelvis4302]

@@bertiewooster3326 Well, my income tax pays for you to sit around watching daytime TV all day, so I beg to differ.

[@proudpro-vaxxer2154]

@@bertiewooster3326 And why exactly do we need you, mate?

[@THELukus]

It looks mostly the same, but with cooler cars...

[@paulph12002]

Really excellent and historic footage, but ruined by the awful music which sounds like something out of the 1930s rather than the 1960s.