Weston Super Mare has always been a popular resort for Brummies to visit too! even today (although I can't imagine why!) the Charabang would have been a large vehicle open with no roof- probably a 6 cylinder engine- like a small bus with the "Cruella De Ville" wings over the wheels that you see on the old films- uncomfortable to ride in but they were common around this time, probably had solid rubber tyres and little suspension to think of unless they had pneumatic tyres by this time- I've a photo of my relatives packed in a Charabang off for a day trip from Victoria Park Bakeries (60, Corbett Street Smethwick) with all the staff in their best outfits off for an annual day trip (treat from the boss!) - Wales was also popular at the time so to the Lakes and Peak District but these diestinations would have been chosen for weekend or weekly visits- you could probably narrow the destinations down to closer resorts since they were uncomfortable, and for a day trip, and the speed they went, you wouldn't want to go too far....not to mention our unpredictable weather!! Don't forget in the days when these vehicles were around, we didn't have any motorways so the day trip would have been labourious & they wouldn't have driven too far.... Mike -------------------------------------------------- From: "David Carr" <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 8:11 AM To: <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [B'ham] Days Out from B'ham 1814 > Hi Chris > > I can only speak for our family in the 50s but it was always Rhyl! > > Dave > > On 14 Jul 2008, at 17:55, Graham Cole wrote: > > > > Hi All, > > I wonder if anyone can narrow my search. > > I have a small pottery house bought by my grandmother for her mother. > The > house itself I don't think has a monetary value but it was purchased > while > on a day trip to the seaside on the day WW1 broke out. The house has > been > kept in memory of her elder brother because he helped to choose the gift > and > this was the last day the family saw him. Being a soldier he had to > leave > immediately for the front > > My question is; Does anyone know which seaside places were popular and in > reach for a day trip from Birmingham in 1914? I am trying to work out > where > my grandmother and her brother were that day. I seem to recall her > saying > that they went on a "charabanc" but can't be sure about that. > > Thanks in advance, > Chris > > > _____________________________________________ > _____________________________________________ > > Have you considered adding "postems" to "your" events on > www.freebmd.org.uk , giving your contact details? Other researchers will > then be able to make contact. Click on the info button to add your > postem. > > Any problems, please contact the List Admin: ENG-WARKS-BIRMINGHAM- > [email protected] > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to ENG-WARKS- > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > >

I agree about Weston being a possible candidate. Or Barry Island in South Wales, which is a similar distance away - it's also a favourite on mine, so I had to mention it LOL Kate Find me on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=690801684 My personal blog http://myportfolio.exofire.net/itisiagain My family history blog http://katesfamilytree.wordpress.com

Thanks to all who replied. It looks as though Weston Super Mare is the favoured place, I'll start some investigations there. Those Charabancs seem a pretty uncomfortable way to travel 100 plus miles. Would they really have gone that far in such transport? My grandmother remembered a very happy day at the seaside, the first time she had ever been there. I'm wondering if she really did travel by charabanc. I suppose too that I have to remember her memories may be coloured as they are tied in with the last time she saw her favourite big brother Thanks again, Chris -----Original Message----- Weston Super Mare has always been a popular resort for Brummies to visit too! even today (although I can't imagine why!) the Charabang would have been a large vehicle open with no roof- probably a 6 cylinder engine- like a small bus ... uncomfortable to ride in but they were common around this time, probably had solid rubber tyres and little suspension to think of unless they had pneumatic tyres by this time- ... Don't forget in the days when these vehicles were around, we didn't have any motorways so the day trip would have been labourious & they wouldn't have driven too far.... Mike