Now just a distant memory. Steelhouse Lane Circa 1960s

We start in the mid 1960′s. The northern end of Steelhouse Lane looking from Gordon Street on the left across to Jenner Street on the right and through to the Cleveland Road / Bilston Road island.

At that time this 200 yard stretch of rented late Victorian Villa properties similar in style were mixed between family accommodation and business properties of which there were a variety including two Newsagents, Cobblers, Butchers Greengrocers Bakery, Fish shop, and a Public House with the quaint name of “Why Not”.

There was even a Refrigeration Service shop on the corner of Gordon Street but I doubt if many households in Steelhouse Lane owned a Fridge at that time.

The place looks the same but for the terrace say Trees. Steelhouse Lane 2006.

The now redundant and derelict Royal Hospital Cleveland Street car-park now occupies the entire left side of Steelhouse Lane between Gordon Street and Sutherland Place, pictured here in 2006

In the background built on land which at one time was Portland Place towers the tall stack of the hospital waste disposal unit.

On the East side of the lane opposite is the Renault Garage / with its frontage being on the Bilston Road were across from “The Royal”  Metro stop on the line to Bilston.

Nothing left but memories now, from the likes of Rogers bakery the ‘Why Not Inn’, just two of the long gone occupants of the many businesses seen here in 1960.

It's a case of Spot the Difference. Steelhouse Lane 2011.

Fast forward just four years The now redundant and derelict Royal Hospital Cleveland Street car-park still looks the same although the foliage is slightly more dense.

On the corner of Jenner Street “Renault” have extended the car showrooms and workshops.

Off course the main change has been to the background with the subtraction of the Disposal plant on the corner of Cleveland Road still a cul-de-sac, and the addition of the large tower block of the student accommodation, on Wednesfield Road.

But today they say the transformation is about to commence "But don't hold your breath". The Plan - June 2011.

This is a copy of the plan submitted by a certain Supermarket chain, whom one or two may have heard are finally about to embark on the transformation and do wonderous things, with our former Royal Hospital site.

To help you get your bearings on this plan. To take the earlier three pictures I was standing close to the proposed Island sited in the bottom right corner of the plan.