Solihull1980

[@sollyolly9547]

This really is like totes amazeballs. Such a long time ago, but so recognisable! We moved to Solihull back in 2000. This is SO interesting! Thank you for posting.

[@nicolasmiley7181]

Summer 2021 - who would of thought that M&S would close down and move out of Solihull town centre and move to the retail park in Shirley. Crazy times!!!!!!

[@marcusmarkou]

As a kid who grew up in Solihull in the 1970s - that was some trip. I had forgotten about Dolcis - where I used to get my shoes as a kid. And the MEB store. I think there was a toy shop just off Mel Sq called Barny's or Barnaby's. This must be a Sunday - before they relaxed trading laws. I always remember Mel Sq packed on a Saturday and there was always a group of lads that hung around by the fountain. For a special treat my Mum would take us into Beatties and I'd have an egg and cress sandwich - the cafe on the top floor was next to the toy department. It had two parts - the posh bit with a view and then the cafe bit. When I was about 4 I walked off with one of those figures you put on the end of a pencil. Technically it was theft but I was 4. I just wanted it. My mother quizzed me and then took me back to Beatties and I was made to apologise to the sales lady at the till and hand it over. I then got the lecture that if I continued to steal I would end up trying to do something like the Brinks Mat and would end up in Alcatraz. So - yes, I never stole again after that nightmare in Beatties. Solihull in the 70s was a strangely comforting place.

[@chrisf1600]

Beatties, ha! I'd forgotten that place. The toy department was fab. I used to love Tandy too, the staff let us mess around and play games on the old computers :)

[@Dolphination]

that trip around mell square is bizarre.

[@alexanderjames6328]

Thank you for taking the time to post this interesting footage, I was 9.

[@kibrok]

Wow! does that bring back some memories! I was 20 in 1980 so was driving around in my mini cooper in the exact same places. Loved seeing all the old cars and pretty much all British back them. Happy Days!! Thanks for sharing.

[@wendysimpson6395]

Ford Capri caught my eye too. But Ford is American.

[@kibrok]

@@wendysimpson6395you are right, Ford is American, but UK and Europe had their own divisions and built completely different cars for the European market, including the Capri which was built at Halewood in the UK. So to me, it was a British Ford. It was intended as our equivalent to the US Mustang. The Capri did make it to the USA but under the Mercury brand.

[@wendysimpson6395]

@@kibrok everyone has a Capri memory! Such a great car.

[@nononono-qo4vc]

Looks just like today beautiful and clean

[@CancerGaming56]

Fantastic footage you got there mate. It’s strange viewing this, as I was born in 2000 and have been a resident from 2009-present day.

[@nicolasmiley7181]

Watching the traffic lights at Warwick Rd/ Lode Lane is hilarious. Now it’s a great big roundabout where you have to hold you’re breath and a) hope you get on it and b) get round it safely 🤣🤣🤣

[@Marie-21-]

🤣🤣🤣🤣 they should of left the lights

[@ColonelBandit]

I worked in Solihull from the mid-80s until early 90s and the town centre, Mell Square etc all look pretty much as they did then - some great memories - thanks for posting

[@garymwalton]

I worked at Chadwick House from 1979 to 1985 and this really takes me back ( I wish it would, actually).

[@Biggee111]

I was at Chadwick House with the Inland Revenue 1978-1979 and again 1984-1987

[@lesleybates2413]

Look at all the lovely shops, ah Woolies. I worked there for 6 years.

[@benlongstaff5536]

Marks & Spencer soon to close and more to Marshal lake road, Woollies long gone, MEB doesn't exist any more and even the Post Office has now closed and is upstairs in WH Smiths, who would ever think that would happen ? Not all change is good.....

[@clareturner5788]

Has M&S closed. I thought they were still on that corner of Mell Square

[@KryptonitetoallBS]

@@clareturner5788 Yep, gone to Marshall Lake Road.

[@cliveblackshaw]

Takes me back, my In Laws lived in Solihull and we used to visit in the 70's & 80's. Had coffee and cake in Beatties.

[@stephen3511]

Much nicer back then

[@jonhart7630]

Back in the 80s you could walk round Mell Square or down Solihull high street without 10 people asking you to sign something or pay for something 😀👍

[@nicolasmiley7181]

O happy days around the fountains in Mell Square. I park around them one Friday evening and went for a drink with my sister. Drank to much and forgot that Mell Sq was closed off Saturday for pedestrians. My sister and I found a policeman who kindly drove it to my mums house at the bottom of church hill 🤣🤣🤣 happy memory’s

[@MrCoopso]

Hey, that's fantastic, thanks so much. I lived on Naseby Road from birth until 1983 so this is great for me!

[@safarieten]

Do you remember Sue Middleton, 34 Naseby Road ??

[@irisstirling6119]

Gosh! Happy memories.

[@acquiesce100]

4.14 at the traffic lights; would that be turning right into Hermitage Lane where Tesco Express is now on the corner?

[@reynardbizzar5461]

Oh what a beautiful and inviting town centre😂

[@Alasdaird2004]

Thankyou for sharing this

[@chrisf1600]

Great video :) What's the shop on the NW corner @0:59 - Perring's or something ? I can only remember a Burton in that spot. I remember WH Smith was on the north side, but I didn't spot it in the video - is it behind the hoardings maybe ?

[@Biggee111]

Good to see Solihull Motors on Warwick Road opposite what was Beatties, now House of Fraser. Some people don't believe me when I say there used to be a car showroom there!

[@erickate6969]

Interesting to see the old mell square

[@barberdj23th]

No leaves on the trees that summer.

[@Hillcrest54]

+David Barber you're probably right- my memory was that it was that summer as I spent a lot of weekends with my Dad doing videos with his new video camera immediately after my O levels, but it could well have been later in the year

[@pault0910]

I'm guessing this is in the April?

[@dentedkev100]

The main notable difference is the lack of cars and people compared to today.

[@lifechooser]

+dentedkev100 It might be sunday. I don't remember it like that on Saturdays!

[@Hillcrest54]

+l1fechooser It was a Sunday

[@helenloughton2418]

Used to ride my motorcycles around solihull .olton 1981 onwards.roads are probably ruined by cars now moved to inverness so I can ride free.

[@KryptonitetoallBS]

Good decision. Solihull/Knowle has gone down hill tremendously in the last 25 years. The main culprits are Solihull Council Planning Dept who will do whatever is asked, IF you grease their palms. There are empty offices, charity shops, new apartment blocks and old peoples homes absolutely everywhere in Solihull, Shirley, Knowle etc. The town planners have retired to the Bahamas 😉

[@VDPEFi]

Where did the underpass at 2:00 used to go?

[@nigelbagley4848]

love it! where is everyone??

[@marcusqueensborough7078]

A great look around Solihull which we would love to use in the Birmingham Mail with a credit if that would be ok.

[@Hillcrest54]

+Marcus Queensborough Yes- go ahead

[@claytonfrag]

awesome

[@mattcartwright7417]

This video takes me back to childhood, I can remember WHSmith being on the other side of Mell Square as seen here and if you look at the side where boots is you can see the current WHSmith store being built, happy memories, many thanks uploading this, do you have any more footage to upload

[@chrisf1600]

Ah you must be a little bit older than me, i remember Smiths always being on the north side of the square next to Boots. Well spotted !

[@Biggee111]

There was a J Sainsbury's there before WH Smith's wasn't there?

[@clareturner5788]

@@Biggee111 Yes Sainsbury's was originally in the place of WH Smith's new location. There was a Halfords on the corner.

[@deanstanley5799]

Home of the Rover sd1 !

[@wesstarmedia]

Since then, the anti-car, padestrianisation policies are very clear to see. I cannot see what they achieved by losing all of that parking? Is it just a control thing?

[@Graciecanedit]

POV it’s 2023 and yu live in Solihull 💀

[@MrAbstraxsax]

That could be me coming towards the camera car at a 6 seconds in.....

[@damiencrowley5546]

In the Simca?

[@damiencrowley5546]

In a Simca?

[@MrAbstraxsax]

@@damiencrowley5546 yep.

[@peterholder4643]

Looks earlier than 1980.

[@lifechooser]

+Peter Holder The Capri at 50s is a V-reg, which is 1st Aug 1979- 31st July 1980.

[@peterholder4643]

You're right. Very well spotted.

[@lifechooser]

Any idea what car it's filmed from?

[@Hillcrest54]

+l1fechooser 1979 Citroen CX Prestige

[@lifechooser]

+Hillcrest54 Very nice :)

[@melgrant7404]

Makes me dizzy

[@Paratus7]

Boy, has the U.K. declined. Third world immigration and controlling and interfering governments. I wish I had a Time Machine.

[@RedBullAddict-_-]

Where's all the immigrants?

[@stephenfox966]

The camera work is way too wobbly for me to enjoy the video !

[@DuncanSmart]

Stephen Fox Absolutely, he should go back and redo it. 😉

[@chrisf1600]

I don't think it's even HD, must have been shot on a really old iphone :)

[@clareturner5788]

Can't blame the camera work ...this was new tech then. I had a Sony Walkman which even though I thought this was the coolest thing ever still distorted all sound when moving making the 'Walkman' part a bit redundant!

[@MarsOatom-oy8ze]

Must have been rich to have a car and a video camera back then 👍