Wonder if any one knows enough of Balck Country dialect of the 19th century I am currently doing a level 3 course and need to know what the modern day equivelant is. It is taken from "Song of the Nightingales by Virginia Poole The word is in the following sentence: Four men, their faces bright, morning-clean oases in their coal-dust covered working clothes, were gathered round the Hooper door. Any help will be greatly appreciated Regards Dave

Hi All, I must be a lot older than all of you! I was visiting Santa at Lewis's back in the 1950's! It was the "event" of the year for me at that time! Also, wasn't their one at C & A's too? I seem to recall visiting him as well, in later years. Also, it was the time to buy wintercoats - someone else mentioned that - I do recall that was the time for the big Sale on coats back then. All the best, Marion

Hi David, In the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary the word "Oases" is given as the plural of "Oasis" which makes sense as there are four men. The word therefore is not just of the Black Country. John ----- Original Message ----- From: "David Allen" <allen_d@ntlworld.com> To: <ENG-BLACK-COUNTRY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, June 05, 2006 12:08 PM Subject: [B.C.] Meaning of oases > Wonder if any one knows enough of Balck Country dialect of the 19th > century I am currently doing a level 3 course and need to know what the > modern day equivelant is. It is taken from "Song of the Nightingales by > Virginia Poole > > The word is in the following sentence: > > Four men, their faces bright, morning-clean oases in their coal-dust > covered working clothes, were gathered round the Hooper door. > > Any help will be greatly appreciated > > > > Regards > > Dave > > > ==== ENG-BLACK-COUNTRY Mailing List ==== > The Assistant List Admins are Jean Morgan and Jan Ross > (Couldn't do it without those two great ladies) >

On 05 Jun, <VAGarvey@aol.com> wrote: > I am just looking at a piccy of them sitting on his lap - oh dear, 45 > years ago That's just reminded me that I have a photo of a cousin I've never met, taken at Lewis's Grotto with Santa, in 1958 (before I was born). Her name was Catherine Barratt, and her father's name was Fred Barratt. He would be in his 90s if he was still alive! I believe they used to live around the Halesowen area, if anyone has any leads on them I'd be grateful. Cheers -- Chris Ramsbottom researching: BARRATT, DANCER, FELLOWS, GOODES, ROBINSON, TUCKLEY, WHEWAY MAHER all in and around Birmingham/Smethwick, 1850 to present day

Pat and each, I can't remember going to Lewis's before WW2, but I do remember the shops in Newtown Row (Blacks The House That Jack Built) Aston, having grottos with Santa resplendent in them. Later, after my little family left Stourbridge to live in Perry Barr/Great Barr, we took our two boys to queue to see him in Lewis's. I am just looking at a piccy of them sitting on his lap - oh dear, 45 years ago. And the queue went round the corner in the street. Best regards to all, Vic Kent, UK

I used to go to Lewis' to see Santa, he was the real one. I remember standing up the long stairwell at the back and it being so hot that I often felt quite faint at times. Always worth it though. This would have been the early 1970's as I was only born in 1970. Jaquie ----- Original Message ----- From: "Ged" <gerardabh@yahoo.co.uk> To: <ENG-BLACK-COUNTRY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Sunday, June 04, 2006 7:46 PM Subject: [B.C.] Re: Lewis's of Brum > Hi Marion, > > Thanks for the reminder of visiting Santa's grotto in > Lewis's Brum. I was visiting Santa in the early > 1960s. > > Not sure if it was Lewis's or at the the Co-op in High > Street, but I do remember very vividly the scene where > kids had to get on a 'spaceship' to travel to see > Santa in his grotto. > > I was thoroughly taken in by it all, looking out of > the spaceship 'porthole' and seeing all the stars in > space outside. I thought I was a real space cadet. > > Cheers, > > Ged > > Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com > > > ==== ENG-BLACK-COUNTRY Mailing List ==== > Wherever possible (except for personal messages) > please post replies to the list.Other people can learn from them! >

Hi Marion, Thanks for the reminder of visiting Santa's grotto in Lewis's Brum. I was visiting Santa in the early 1960s. Not sure if it was Lewis's or at the the Co-op in High Street, but I do remember very vividly the scene where kids had to get on a 'spaceship' to travel to see Santa in his grotto. I was thoroughly taken in by it all, looking out of the spaceship 'porthole' and seeing all the stars in space outside. I thought I was a real space cadet. Cheers, Ged Send instant messages to your online friends http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com

Hi all Makes you realise how old Santa REALLY is. Used to queue up the stairs in Lewis's in the 1950's. Anyone remember when it first started? The grottos used to be beautiful, I agree. Best wishes Pat in Loughborough.

As well as Christmas does anyone remember at Easter when they used to have the Chicks and Lambs? Pauline F.

If a child was born in Saltwells Coppice, Quarry Bank in 1883 which would be the most likely Church/Chapel for the baptism? Velda

Hi All, I used to go and see Santa and Mr. Holly at Lewis's when I was a child! Usually they were in a wonderful "grotto" that we had to walk through to get to see Santa! It had all kinds of animated "eleves", etc. in it - and I thought it was just wonderful! I still recall the mounds of debris from WW2, still piled high here and there throughout the City, too! It seems to have taken years to get the center of Brumm cleared-up after the bombings! All the best, Marion

Hi Dave & All, I recall walking around Brumm as a child, munching on hot chestnuts, cooked on coke burning braziers. It was wonderful on those chilly shopping days right before Christmas! I haven't seen a single chestnut since arriving in the USA! Where have all the chestnuts gone? Marion

If any of you have access to the 1841 or 1861 Census for Lower Mitton (Stourport) Worcestershire please could you look for Thomas ANSON (or HANSON) aged 28 (and 48) a tanner born at Lower Mitton, Stourport, Worcestershire. I found Thomas on the 1881 Census at Kidderminster Workhouse a widower, aged 70, tanner, born Stourport. In 1851his family were at Worcester Street, Lower Mitton, WOR. Thomas 38 a tanner's labourer, wife Mary 38 with children Eliza 11, Ann 3 and William 1. This family have bugged me for years. I am descended from Eliza born 1840 but I cannot find her birth registration. I found an un-named child listed December Q 1839 so sent for the birth certificate. It was for an un-named daughter of a Richard & Harriot Anson (a cooper) Not mine. My only conclusion is that Eliza was born before her parents were married and she was registered in her mother's maiden name. If I could find her on the 1841 census it might help? Any help will be greatly appreciated. Regards Pat.

Not the real Santa!! What do you mean? Jan :-))) ----- Original Message ----- From: <snape@cix.co.uk> To: <ENG-BLACK-COUNTRY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, June 02, 2006 11:51 AM Subject: Re: [B.C.] Selling Matches >I remember very well going to see Santa at Lewis's. > > But I think it might have been a scam. My (older) sister told me once that > it wasn't the real Santa. > > Ron S >

What I want to know is, how did Father Christmas get around to all those stores in order to meet and greet the kids? Perhaps that's why I got so bored standing and waiting on those stairs in Lewis's (the only place to see him as far as we were concerned) if he had to do the rounds of C&A, Greys etc. After all, we do know there's only ONE Father Christmas don't we? And yes, the smell of that coffee coming from The Kardoma, it was great. Does anyone recall The Metro Club, a dark, dank place under the railway arches of Snow Hill Station, down in Livery Street? If I'm not mistaken, I think I saw The Spencer Davis Group there back in the 60s, Fond memories of a childhood and youth long since past! Rob G Halesowen

anyone remember alex the pie man in corporation street with his big mobile trailer, met loads of stars from the hipadrome after there gigs getting a pie, also the kardoma cafe wonderfull coffee, can still smell that lovely aroma even now sue

Hi all Yes I can also remember queueing all up the stairs in Lewis's, to see Father Chritsmas. Also, If we needed a new coat, we used to have a trip to C & A's. Then it was a treat to have some Jacket spuds with just salt on. Didn't they taste just great, with all the charred bits of skin as well. Somehow they just don't seem the same done in the oven. Best wishes Pat in Loughborough.

Yes indeed - I saw Santa a few times and stood in line for hours and years later went with my nephews. Ros ----- Original Message ----- From: <Petchey432@aol.com> To: <ENG-BLACK-COUNTRY-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, June 02, 2006 11:41 AM Subject: Re: [B.C.] Selling Matches > Yes, Dave, I remember the hot chestnut man he stood outside Snow Hill > Station, every year my Dad took me to see Santa at Lewis's store and Hot chestnuts > or roast spuds was my treat. Anyone else stood for hours to see Santa in > Brum? Doreen > > > ==== ENG-BLACK-COUNTRY Mailing List ==== > The Assistant List Admins are Jean Morgan and Jan Ross > (Couldn't do it without those two great ladies) >

The Kardomah at the Great Western Arcade with their memorable mixed grill and the trains rattling underneath on their way into Snow Hill. Bryan Slim Vancouver

Well, Phil, there was a Santa at the Beehive and at Greys, and there was a lovely one at Beatties in Wolves. I saw them all, and still thought they were the only ones. Children are not so innocent these days I guess. Doreen