In the nineteenth century, the area around Inge Street and Hurst Street became known as 'Little Jerusalem' because of the number of Jewish people living there.

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We found out about Harry Cohen, who had a shop in Inge Street, and who used to press the suits for the stars who appeared at the Hippodrome Theatre.

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The photo, above, shows Harry outside his shop, with Barney Sharpe, who had a boarding house in Hurst Street, catering for theatre people. 

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Rose Harris, Harry Cohen's granddaughter, used to go to his shop nearly every Saturday. This is how she remembered it: 'People would come into Harry's shop, go upstairs, throw down the trousers for a new zip, shortening, narrowing etc, then get it back. He had five big steam irons, two Singer tread sewing machine. He did not like electric machines. He hardly ever used a tape measure . . . I had to take many freshly pressed suits to the stage door of the Hippodrome in Inge Street and met many stars - Ken Dodd, Morecambe and Wise, Tom Jones, the Beatles. Best of all in his star dressing room was my pop idol, Sir Cliff Richard. Had a coke with him and the Shadows.'

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We met Lionel Singer and Anthony Joseph and talked to them about their memories of growing up in Birmingham.

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To return to the main 'Lost Communities' webpage, click here.

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With thanks to Carl Chinn