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Shops Photographed: 79 New Street - Moore's Oyster Shop (Victoria Square As It Was, c. 1880s)

Moore's Oyster Rooms at 79 New Street, undated (c. 1880s-1890s).
Held at Birmingham Archive.

Moore's Oyster Rooms, were set into the wall of Christ Church on, what is now, Victoria Square. This little row of four shops was built with the church in 1805. For some reason, some of those posing for the photograph are in barrows! Oysters were relatively inexpensive at this time and oyster rooms or oyster bars were popular urban venues.*1*