March 1981 - Amazing - Birmingham Hagley Road and Broad Street - from Car

Birmingham Hagley Road, Five Ways, Broad Street and Paradise Circus.
How Broad Street has changed..... No ICC !!! Filmed from my Ford Escort on Sony Betamax camera in March 1981 !!
Music by www.freeSFX.co.uk

[@peterhogben3304]

All those old cars

[@PaulDonovan]

Thanks for your comment... much appreciated. Regards Paul

[@beccam1159]

Wow. I lived there in the early 00's and while some of it looks the same, the area where all the clubs are now looks totally alien

[@DJ_Dopamine]

The Hagley Road looks like it's hardly changed... Broad Street is simply unrecognisable!

[@PaulDonovan]

agreed... thanks for your comment. Sorry for the late reply !! Regards Paul

[@brunster64]

I got caught in the average speed cameras on the Hagley Road last year - I think I was remembering the days I used to do 60 along there in the 80’s. Shocking how much quicker it was then, you could get out and walk faster now - “progress” I guess. Thanks for the good memories.

[@PaulDonovan]

Thanks for your comment..... much appreciated. I have to drive into Birmingham on a regular basis so know what its like !! regards Paul

[@asmrfoodieuk7965]

Glad you got done, no need to speed down a residential road.

[@brunster64]

asmrfoodie Uk fuck off

[@MrTwisted1977]

Wow love the old cars

[@PaulDonovan]

agreed !

[@midsaint776]

NOT A SPEED CAMER IN SIGHT LOL !

[@ampegboy6251]

This is the Birmingham I left behind so many years ago and still miss so very much. I remember this drive into town as if it were yesterday, I was ok until you came to where Musical exchanges and the Tow Rope used to be then a tear came into my eye.......Nights spent in the Greyhound/ Bogarts/Railway/Barrel Organ or Barbarellas, Great Gigs at the Town Hall, John Martyn/Rory Gallagher/Ten Years After...... Siigghh....if only we could.!!

[@PaulDonovan]

+Ampeg Boy Thanks for your excellent comment.... much appreciated. Regards Paul

[@ampegboy6251]

And thank you too Paul for the memories, really took me back.

[@garyhewitt489]

Bogart's and Barberellas lol, forgot all about them. Do remember locarno.and opposite lock tho.

[@nowhereman5119]

Just managed to catch a glimpse of my old 6th Form College - St. Philips - at 28 seconds on the left.

[@PaulDonovan]

Great 😎 well done.... regards Paul

[@richardsmith1737]

The Hagley rd section literally is almost identical. Only when he hit the bottom Broad Street parts were unrecognisable. Great Vid I would of been 1 at the time this was recorded lol

[@PaulDonovan]

Lol..... thanks for your comment. Regards Paul

[@brummiespike]

Fantastic bit of footage, priceless. Thanks for posting brought back some great memories

[@PaulDonovan]

Steve Foster you are very welcome.. 👍😎

[@brummiespike]

Paul Donovan 👍😀

[@leisureandlifestyle8400]

Great video, I remember driving down Hagley Road 1989 when I had my first job in Stourbridge. Great thank you for sharing

[@PaulDonovan]

Your welcome. Take care ... Regards Paul

[@ineverglid]

Excellent - my home town is Kidderminster but I've lived in Brum for many years now, and you've managed to capture some great images from both places! Thanks for sharing it - great memories.

[@PaulDonovan]

Thanks for your comment.... I've only just read it.! Lol cheers Paul

[@marclaw4511]

Wow love this,reminds me of my journey to work.Ford capri and to the hagley road then rotten park road,early 90s.

[@PaulDonovan]

lol... 👍😎 I'm so glad I filmed this all those years ago. Regards Paul

[@villarule]

Excellent, really enjoyed this!

[@redmilkfloat]

Fantastic. Cheers for uploading....

[@79narz]

Thanks paul keep up the good work!

[@bradsteele7762]

What a gem ! thanks for sharing 👍

[@PaulDonovan]

No Problem... regards paul

[@390h8er]

Lovely stuff. The speeds you could achieve in those days - the Strathallan Hotel to Paradise Circus in 3 minutes!! Unthinkable today. I notice the road goes 'up' from Broad St. onto P. Circus. I'm guessing it was around 1988 when they put it in a trench?

[@marclaw4511]

What a gem of a video this is.

[@PaulDonovan]

Thank you. Regards Paul

[@1Adjt]

Great memories of times past. I remember going to Bingley Hall for the Motor Show with my dad before it moved to the NEC - he worked for the Post and Mail so we got free tickets 😃 happy days

[@PaulDonovan]

1Adjt I also went to various shows at Bingley Hall. Thanks for your comment.... much appreciated.

[@bullyinspace]

Amazing throw back.

[@PaulDonovan]

Thanks.... I'm so glad I filmed it back then and also that I managed to keep it for so long... lol

[@nickwilkinson75]

Fantastic and fascinating stuff : ) Great foresight! Amazed at how quick you got up the Hagley Road and down Broad Street - seems like a breakneck speed compared to crawling up it today! Can you remember roughly at what time of day it was?!

[@crc778Hypnodoc]

My first ever job was on Hagley road, I delivered papers there. We called it Millionaires row then as the bottom part was mostly posh hotels and off the side roads were mostly very big posh houses, who rarely gave tip, probably why they were so rich! Happy days

[@PaulDonovan]

Thanks for your comment.... I've only just read it.! Lol cheers Paul

[@ajs41]

Cars were more friendly then. They didn't have the awful tinted windows that they all have today, which make cars look like they're being driven by mafia gangsters.

[@PaulDonovan]

LOL.... I prefer older... classic cars. Regards Paul

[@markovilla1]

Maxis, Marinas, Cortinas, Rover SD1s, Ford Capris :-P :-D

[@PaulDonovan]

I know... its amazing..... and very basic colours !

[@schiiirm]

Paul Donovan That is fantastic mate. Love it. Been wondering how Easy Row and the roads in Centenary Square looked like.

[@mattylamb9194]

@@PaulDonovan - nw virtually all you see is blacks, silvers and whites

[@nowhereman5119]

LOL! Yep - you know it! We had at least 2 Cortina Mark 3's and one mark 4 from about 1979-84

[@ladywoodboy]

Fantastic , thank you took me back , happy days

[@PaulDonovan]

Glad you enjoyed it... "Ladywood" Boy 😎👍 Regards Paul

[@adriankatsikides3390]

Blue Maxi indeed, it's a1800/2200 Land crab at the start. I think the old Bingley Hall is along there somewhere. Well I bought my Marina in Feb 81, ( 71' K reg) I was hoping to see us in there somewhere, although I was working at the Court Oak pub at the time. No can't see us, still have the car though. Amazing how much pleasure one can get from such a simple idea like this, makes You Tube so worthwhile. Well done you

[@PaulDonovan]

Thanks for taking the time to comment.... glad you like the video. I'm so thankful that I took the video and that the tape survived....!

[@kevkonk]

Great stuff

[@paulnewey8258]

Great to see !

[@rlk54]

I came to live in Birmingham on the 10th of April 1981.

[@michaelwalton-ii1ch]

sorry 4u now

[@LukesLiife]

Amazing video :)

[@wildSpiritboy857]

Wow, this shit out of our road didn’t change much in 30 years

[@MrTwisted1977]

Love the cars love the static of vhs at 1.38 so nice people just ain't gotta clue with these modern digital crap

[@PaulDonovan]

Lol... thanks for your comment. I love the very basic colours of cars back then. regards Paul

[@radicalhindu5089]

Nice one bod.

[@PaulDonovan]

thanks.... 😎👍

[@drone2u]

it was nice straight forward times nice video

[@PaulDonovan]

Thanks for your comment.... I've only just read it.! Lol cheers Paul

[@TomJohnson121]

Amazing - bit that confused is the 1 st tunnel is that heading towards the old fire station as thought the as expected to see aston expressway on left side ? very enjoyably -many thanks for uploading ..remember walking this in my teens

[@PaulDonovan]

Hi.... the first tunnel is under Five Ways island..... end of the Hagley road into Broad Street. regards Paul

[@TomJohnson121]

@@PaulDonovan Ohh I see thanks Paul amazing video to watch - to re live I used to walk that from five ways in those years

[@redmilkfloat]

You were quite wise to get past that Marina @ 1:11

[@mattylamb9194]

don' think the tyres were the same size across gthe rear axle. And the brake lightrs kept lighting up like a Christmas tree!

[@jasonw3652]

Amazing stuff mate. I miss this. I do remember on the left on broad street it was bingley hall, correct me if I'm wrong next to the now Rep theatre. Just takes me back. Lived in Chadbury road in Halesowen (just on your left as in your other vid going up Manor Way just before the sandvik building) at the time so I know the area very well.

[@PaulDonovan]

Cheers Jason..... I remember Bingley Hall. As a teenager we visited a couple of events there. For the last 15 years I've worked as a Chauffeur for Sandvik !! lol Regards Paul

[@yardelli]

Great to see - you were ahead of the time with your 80's Go-Pro!

[@PaulDonovan]

Cheers.... Thanks for your comment..Paul

[@highdownmartin]

yardelli you had to be wearing the special helmet though! Great to see some empty roads. Did two trips into central London last year after 30 years moved away. NEVER AGAIN!

[@beastman.330]

Hagley rd was a very high class building's.

[@PaulDonovan]

👍

[@raymond942]

Aaah, good times....

[@dragonofthewest8305]

It hurts how Britian has been changed so drastically

[@PaulDonovan]

Thats progress ! 😒

[@fastertrackcreative]

The world was blurrier back then

[@PaulDonovan]

lol...

[@ammarali9011]

9 years before I was born and still recnize the routs

[@akumar7366]

Great memories, all along Board was the clothing wholesale business, I rember going as a teen when helping on a market stall. Belive or not some of the traders are still around.

[@PaulDonovan]

Thanks for your comment... much appreciated. Regards Paul

[@alanprice7681]

Great .Year and month I got married. I keep watching video and have got hooked on the music.. Could you please let me know what it is? Cheers

[@79narz]

Wow some really good images from before when i was born! Recognise the sites. I was wondering if you ever managed to capture moseley, sparkhill,sparkbrook,hall green on your travels back then??

[@PaulDonovan]

Hi... Thanks for your comments. Unfortunately all the video I took is now on KZbin... just the centre of Brum and Kidderminster. Cheers Paul

[@hugoskucek]

Remember Faulkes Furriers 1st on Islington Row ,Then moved to Calthorpe road,I think it was The Old Donne shop ,Selling School uniforms.But how could the Council demolish the beautiful old Tudor House Faulkes shop site . Like Demolishing the Church of The Redeemer , Hagley roadand many other old Churches..in Broad street.Very sad the awful buildings replaced so many lovely old places and houses.

[@PaulDonovan]

Totally Agree. Regards Paul

[@hugoskucek]

@@PaulDonovan Thank you Paul,- I was born in Birmingham many moons ago and loved the city I still miss it .I worked at Grosvenor House Hotel at Five ways before it was demolished in the late 60's. Happy Happy, simple memories

[@deseanbarrett1975]

great

[@MickAngelhere]

Hagley Road virtually looks the same as for Broad Street it’s very different I hardly recognised it at all very different now from when I lived in Birmingham in the nineties.

[@PaulDonovan]

Agreed... massive changes in Broad Street. 👍😎

[@johnling2919]

Many thanks for this-happy days-I ‘worked’ the Edg area for telecom early 80s so knew this patch like the back of my hand.. have to say…looking at the colour of the bonnet..could that be a BT yellow van? :-)

[@PaulDonovan]

Hi John..... thanks for your comment. The vehicle...... unfortunately... was MK2 Ford Escort 1600 sport !! Regards Paul

[@johnling2919]

@@PaulDonovan ha! well that is the only other vehicle that could be that colour and get away with it! :-)

[@PaulDonovan]

@@johnling2919 lol... Cheers Paul

[@derekmason7002]

As below breakneck speed, well over the speed limit at five ways !

[@PaulDonovan]

😎

[@nedkabinder]

Great to see how much better things were back then .no cameras or traffic calming and half the traffic of today .oh for a time machine

[@PaulDonovan]

agreed !! Regards Paul

[@falkerhard]

Interesting to see they had Phillips ma50 lanterns on the broad street side as well. I spoke too soon! What are those funky lanterns they had after the phillips ma50s. They are in a lot of old (1980s, 70s) Birmingham videos and pictures. We need more of these from current times to compare in the future. I do not have a dashcam though.

[@PaulDonovan]

Hey.... thanks for taking the time to comment. Cheers Paul

[@PaulDonovan]

[@Stevejag]

Great video. Interesting that until you get to Sheepcote street it hasn't really changed.

[@mikehudson8884]

This is great to see, was it super 8? I was filming around the same time too.

[@PaulDonovan]

Mike.... It was a Sony Betamax video system... Big camera and an even bigger separate recorder. Regards Paul

[@tommyfh1036]

Also 8 myself. Lived in brum at the time

[@mikehudson8884]

@@PaulDonovan Oh yes I know exactly the system you describe. I used that too in 1982 the recorder unit itself was very heavy and you had it on a strap around your neck. All in all filming was not a very pleasant experience!

[@LeonEdwardsAstonVilla]

hi what’s the song :)

[@PaulDonovan]

"The Wire" by Dan-o.. Regards Paul

[@bonkeydollocks1879]

So people couldn't decide what lane they were supposed to be in back then either , interesting

[@changethings5249]

There wasnt that much of a restriction back then no car seats either didnt have to wear belts and people sitting on each other in the back seat

[@bonkeydollocks1879]

@@changethings5249 what's your reply got to do with what I said ? Have you replied to the correct person ?

[@PaulDonovan]

😎👍

[@michaelwalton-ii1ch]

we all love the past cos the present is shite and the future is uncertain

[@victoriareece2811]

The del is near the st Phillips college that end To Tina Turner and Neil Diamond

[@MrDaiseymay]

wtf, this is too exciting, I'll have to go--

[@PaulDonovan]

you must !!

[@mistofoles]

Phil - you sarky bastard :D

[@wesstarmedia]

Poor old broad street. Just look at what the council has done to you 😢

[@Djjimmyshrs]

That dude in the blue maxi at the start was hammering, i mean he wasnt stoppin for shit! You could have rammed that apricot orange morris ital if you fancied, just as the driver overtook. I thought the video band would rip at 01,40 was alrite though. Also, that goddamn faded green capri that pulled out onya from the left at the end, hed been partaking of the alcoholic refreshments so i would say

[@PaulDonovan]

Great comments... Thanks Paul

[@biroldjoshan3745]

Thats the Birmingham i know

[@PaulDonovan]

😎👍

[@MrGranfield]

Good pictures of the cars in front. Not so good of each side of the road.

[@PaulDonovan]

That's probably because the camera is facing forwards .... ?

[@madcarew5168]

Saw "manhattan" was that the old "tow rope"??

[@PaulDonovan]

?

[@madcarew5168]

​@@PaulDonovanLegendary Heavy bikers cafe.

[@loribee9950]

a lot of change and not for the good.

[@PaulDonovan]

Agreed ! Cheers Paul

[@angelsone-five7912]

Doesn`t loook much like that now.

[@PaulDonovan]

no it doesn't ! Regards Paul

[@colinmelling6369]

The great days when car drivers wasn’t government cash cows.

[@PaulDonovan]

agreed !! regards Paul

[@simeonselmon8318]

This is before mass imigration happened

[@PaulDonovan]

👍😎

[@brainsmith3931]

Immigration whatever London is far more diverse than Birmingham and people integrate in london in Birmingham its racist and very segregated in areas.

[@SpeedTriple59]

Still looks the same in places,except for the millions of immigrants,,

[@mrjohn784]

karl Tempest including yourself

[@drone2u]

Naveed Jameel true say

[@ABC-td7zm]

karl Tempest Yeah its all the Germans Here

[@THELEXIS1983]

and all the fat scruffy white single moms.