Charlemont Avenue

A Memory of West Bromwich.

I lived in Charlemont Avenue as a child for several years until 1966. I remember Charlemont Farm Estate being built, a group of us spent many hours investigating half built houses and flats - no health and safety in those days! I used to attend Sunday school at the Methodist church at the top of Charlemont Avenue.
There was a small shop which is now a bungalow opposite the end of Charlemont Road that used to sell general things, and one of my memories is going there on pocket money day and buying a bag of peanuts for 2d and some black jacks. If we walked a little further along Holyhedge Road, there were several shops, particularly a wool shop, a hairdressers and Mr Grimes's grocers shop.
I also remember Hall Green Road where my aunt lived near to the Red Lion pub, which is no longer there. There was a particularly good chip shop which had really long queues on Friday evenings.
I spent the first two years of my life in Dagger Lane and later on spent many hours with my step-Grandmother walking the dog behind the farm (which is now a school).