Birmingham's history & heritage - 'Did you know' facts by people with passion

A catalogue of facts and photography of the 'go and see' Historic Gems across the City of Birmingham. Take the link for more from Birmingham's People with Passion


A community-led digital project filled with contributions about the City and its must 'go and see' historic gems 

Project dates

22 Oct 2017 - On-going

Passions

History & heritage, Modern Architecture

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Jonathan Bostock

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History & heritage
28 Apr 2020 - Elliott Brown
Did you know?

J. R. R. Tolkien in Sarehole from 1896 - 1900

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Did you know that J. R. R. Tolkien as a small boy moved to the Sarehole area in 1896, which at the time was a small hamlet outside of Birmingham. He would live here with his mother Mabel and his younger brother Hilary until 1900. They lived in a house on the Wake Green Road, which was close to Moseley Bog and Sarehole Mill. The area would later be the basis for the Shire in The Hobbit.

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J. R. R. Tolkien in Sarehole from 1896 - 1900





Did you know that J. R. R. Tolkien as a small boy moved to the Sarehole area in 1896, which at the time was a small hamlet outside of Birmingham. He would live here with his mother Mabel and his younger brother Hilary until 1900. They lived in a house on the Wake Green Road, which was close to Moseley Bog and Sarehole Mill. The area would later be the basis for the Shire in The Hobbit.


For my original Tolkien post follow this link: J.R.R. Tolkien's Birmingham (inspiration for The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings). This Did you know post will be an expansion of J. R. R. Tolkien's time in the Sarehole area (now in Moseley, Birmingham).

264 Wake Green Road / 5 Gracewell Cottages

The Tolkien family moved from South Africa to outside of Birmingham in 1896, after his father died. They moved to a house in Sarehole, which at the time was a hamlet in Worcestershire (it is now in Moseley, Birmingham and close to Hall Green). John Ronald Reuel Tolkien, known as Ronald, lived with his mother Mabel and younger brother Hilary at 264 Wake Green Road (also known as 5 Gracewell Cottages). Ronald's mother taught the children at home. He enjoyed exploring the nearby Moseley Bog and Sarehole Mill.

dndimg alt="Ronald and Hilary" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ronald and Hilary Tolkien c 1905.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The above photo taken from the BM & AG Sarehole Mill Guide Book published in 2002.

This view of the cottages on Wake Green Road during December 2012. They are now homes of retired people and are private residences.

dndimg alt="264 Wake Green Road" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Tolkiens Wake Green Rd Sarehole home.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

My dentist is around the corner of Swanshurst Lane, and I usually walk around the corner to the no 5 bus stop on Wake Green Road. This view was from about April 2013. Although it's closer to 260 Wake Green Road. No 264 would be further to the left of here.

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After another visit to the dentist, I got this view on my smartphone camera in early March 2020. So no 264 would be further down to the left of the no 5 bus stop. Sometimes the ladies that live here would use the bus stop to go to town.

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Gracewell Homes Foster Trust

Seen on a walk down Wake Green Road on lockdown (earlier in April 2020) is what is now the Gracewell Homes Foster Trust. It is possible that these brick homes could have been there in Tolkien's time. The first two views on the walk to Moseley Bog via Thirlmere Drive and Pensby Close.

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The house on the right looks a bit like a Mock Tudor house. Although I've not found any details about how old it actually is.

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Three cyclists socially distancing on the ride down Wake Green Road past the Gracewell Homes Foster Trust. The entrance to the Sarehole Mill Recreation Ground is a bit further down on the left. This was on the walk down from Moseley Bog (leaving it at the playing field at Windermere Road).

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The Chalet

One of the oldest houses in the Sarehole area, this cottage was called The Chalet, and is on Green Road. It is possible that the Tolkien boys could have walked past it as it would have been around there at the time. Just up from the Green Road ford (where the River Cole crosses it). It is a Grade II listed building dating to the early 19th century. Seen earlier in April 2020 on the lockdown walk from the Sarehole Mill Recreation Ground via the Green Road ford to Sarehole Mill and back.

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Sarehole Mill

One of my Sarehole Mill photos was in this post: Birmingham's architectural gems - we go back in time!. Always room for some expansion.

From the October 2013 free open day at Sarehole Mill which was after the 2012-13 restoration (the previous major restoration was in 1969). This open day was part of the Hall Green Arts Festival. The mill is a Grade II listed water mill on the River Cole. Originally the area was called Sarehole, but it is now on the Hall Green / Moseley border near Cole Bank Road (and close to Tolkien's childhood home on Wake Green Road). It is one of two working water mills in Birmingham (the other mill is at New Hall Mill). On the Open Day was various tables selling things. The Bakehouse is to the right (but wouldn't be fully restored until early 2020).

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Ronald and Hilary Tolkien would have sneaked into the mill like they always do while the miller was covered in white dust from grinding the bones for fertiliser. View of the north waterwheel mill gears, which drove three pairs of milestones on the first floor. They are only in working order on demonstration days now. Also called The Flour Bins.

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The children nicknamed him 'The White Ogre' and they would run away when he shouted at them to leave. More gears that drives the waterwheel.

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The back of Sarehole Mill near the Mill Pool. There is a gate from the main courtyard to the right of here that you have to close. Then there is another gate to the short walk around the mill pool that also needs to be closed behind you. Have been around here several times over the years.

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The view of Sarehole Mill from the Mill Pool, while it was clear. There is decking to stand on to the right. The mill made a nice reflection in the mill pool water. In later years it kept getting full of algae. Especially in the winter.

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Moseley Bog

My original Moseley Bog post is here: Moseley Bog from my December 2012 and September 2016 visits.

A walk around Moseley Bog earlier in April 2020 on lockdown. Getting in again via Thirlmere Road and Pensby Close again. Had hoped to make it to the Yardley Wood Road entrance / exit, but we ended up passing through the playing field near Windermere Road, so instead left via there and walked down Wake Green Road.

For Tolkien as a child, he treasured his memories of exploring it with his younger brother. It was the inspiration for 'the Forest' in The Lord of the Rings.

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The Bog is the site of two Bronze Age 'burnt mounds' which are a Scheduled Ancient Monument. These days there is a wooden planked path that you can walk around on. But you can still see how boggy the area was. It was dry and sunny on my last walk here.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (April 2020) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The wooden planks take you safely over the Bog. I expect the Tolkien brothers didn't have this in their day as children, so they probably got quite a bit muddy!

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (April 2020) (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

A body of water between the fallen tree branches. So much inspiration for the young Tolkien for his later Middle Earth novels.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (April 2020) (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

And look at the trees. This would have provided inspiration as well. In the books and the movies was giant talking walking trees (that could carry the small Hobbits).

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (April 2020) (5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Hungry Hobbit

There is a cafe / sandwich bar near the roundabout on Wake Green Road. It used to be called The Hungry Hobbit. Seen here in January 2011. But when the Tolkien estate found out about this name they were not happy. They were threatened with legal action.

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Second view from January 2011 when it was still called the Hungry Hobbit (at the time). The sign below says Sandwich Bar. Visitors to Moseley Bog and / or Sarehole Mill can go here (although Sarehole Mill has it's own small tea room).

dndimg alt="Hungry Hobbit" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hungry Hobbit cafe (Jan 2011) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

This view of the Hungry Hobbit Sandwich Bar during March 2011 (when it was closed).

dndimg alt="Hungry Hobbit" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hungry Hobbit cafe (March 2011).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

By the time I took a photo update in March 2017, they removed two letters "it" to rename the cafe as Hungry Hobb (closed when I saw it like this). Hopefully the issues with the Tolkien estate have been settled by now.

dndimg alt="Hungry Hobbit" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hungry Hobbit cafe (March 2017) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

One of the signs you would find around the island, either on Cole Bank Road, Wake Green Road or the bottom of Swanshurst Lane. For the Hungry Hobb Cafe. They have clearly changed the sign over the years (this view also from March 2017).

dndimg alt="Hungry Hobbit" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hungry Hobbit cafe (March 2017) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown. Now at more than 1,120 followers. Thank you.

Birmingham We Are People with Passion award winner 2020

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Art; Culture & creativity
03 Apr 2020 - Elliott Brown
Inspiration

A virtual tour of Cadbury World from my visit from November 2015

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Would you like to see what it is like inside of Cadbury World, and can't go now due to lockdown? Then have a look at my post with photos taken during a visit in early November 2015. It's like a Cadbury chocolate theme park right in the heart of Bournville. You have to get your tickets pre-booked online before you go. There is many different zones, and a few rides to go on as well.

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A virtual tour of Cadbury World from my visit from November 2015





Would you like to see what it is like inside of Cadbury World, and can't go now due to lockdown? Then have a look at my post with photos taken during a visit in early November 2015. It's like a Cadbury chocolate theme park right in the heart of Bournville. You have to get your tickets pre-booked online before you go. There is many different zones, and a few rides to go on as well.


Welcome to Cadbury World. It first opened in 1990. Cadbury World is located in Bournville, Birmingham within the Cadbury Chocolate Factory. There is 14 zones that tells the story of chocolate and the Cadbury business through  various static sets, animatronics, video presentations, multi-sensory cinema, interactive displays and activities, and staff demonstrations.

One of my earliest visits was probably in the early 1990s, but came back in November 2015 when some relatives from overseas wanted to go there.

When you first go in you see this Cadbury World sign.

dndimg alt="Cadbury World" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Cadbury World (Nov 2015) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Aztec Jungle

Take a trip back in time to Mexico where you walk through a tropical rainforest of the Mayan Indians. Discover the origins of the cocoa bean.

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Bull Street

What the shops on Bull Street used to be like that Richard and George Cadbury ran. Also shows St James' London.

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Manufacturing

Discover how popular Cadbury brands are made, including Creme Egg, Buttons and Roses with interactive video stations.

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Cadabra

Ride around in a Beanmobile on a magical journey full of surprises. Head past Beanville, full of those little Chuckle Beans!

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Advertising Avenue

Take a trip down memory lane. How many Cadbury adverts do you remember?

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dndimg alt="Cadbury World" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Cadbury World (Nov 2015) (25).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

4D Chocolate Adventure

We had to wear 3D glasses, and the seats we sat on moved (was a bit like a rollercoaster at one point). The following photos were taken after the 4D film.

dndimg alt="Cadbury World" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Cadbury World (Nov 2015) (26).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

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Portraits of the characters seen in the 4D "film".

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dndimg alt="Cadbury World" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Cadbury World (Nov 2015) (30).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Worlds Biggest Cadbury Shop

In this shop you can buy all the usual Cadbury chocolate including Curly Wurly's, Caramel etc. Also Bassett's Liquorice allsorts. They also had the usual fridge magnets, key rings and tea towels.

dndimg alt="Cadbury World" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Cadbury World (Nov 2015) (31).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

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The Bournville Experience

An exhibit about the Cadbury Brothers, George and Richard. About the factory in Bournville and the village. Also the shop they had established and some old Cadbury packaging and adverts.

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For more of my Cadbury posts please check out the following links:

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown. Now at 1,100 followers. Thank you.

Birmingham We Are People with Passion award winner 2020

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Transport
26 Mar 2020 - Elliott Brown
Did you know?

Reopening the Camp Hill Line at Moseley Station, Kings Heath Station and at Hazelwell Station

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Today the Camp Hill Line is Freight only and Cross Country through trains only. But hopefully new stations will be built at the sites of the old ones at Moseley, Kings Heath and Hazelwell (in Stirchley). The stations originally opened in 1867 but closed in 1941 during the Second World War and were never reopened. But now it is possible that new stations may open by 2022.

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Reopening the Camp Hill Line at Moseley Station, Kings Heath Station and at Hazelwell Station





Today the Camp Hill Line is Freight only and Cross Country through trains only. But hopefully new stations will be built at the sites of the old ones at Moseley, Kings Heath and Hazelwell (in Stirchley). The stations originally opened in 1867 but closed in 1941 during the Second World War and were never reopened. But now it is possible that new stations may open by 2022.


Moseley Station

Moseley Station was located at a site between Woodbridge Road and St Mary's Row in Moseley from 1867 until it closed in 1941 on the Camp Hill Line. A previous station named Moseley Station was later renamed to Kings Heath Station (it's near Highbury Park). This station is close to St Mary's Church in Moseley Village.

There has been many proposals for a new station here sine 2007, but they were revised in 2016 by the West Midlands Combined Authority. In 2019 plans for the new stations gained Government funding. Construction could start later in 2020, to open in time for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

 

My original photos of the old Moseley Station site were taken from the Woodbridge Road Bridge near the end of April 2009. Remains of the old platforms are visible towards the tunnel.

dndimg alt="Moseley Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Camp Hill Line Moseley (April 2009) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

I only had a compact camera at the time (having started taking photos around Birmingham in April 2009), so this was as far as I was able to zoom in to the tunnel. But you can see the overgrown platforms remains.

dndimg alt="Moseley Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Camp Hill Line Moseley (April 2009) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The other side of the Woodbridge Road Bridge. This direction towards Birmingham New Street. The Camp Hill Line goes through Balsall Heath, before joining other lines at Proof House Junction. Freight trains and Cross Country Trains operate non stop trains down here.

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A new March 2020 photo from the bridge on the Woodbridge Road. A zoom in to the Moseley Tunnel that goes under St Mary's Row. Recently West Midlands Railway had stopping trains at Moseley and at the other sites in Kings Heath and Hazelwell. Stopping for the first time in almost 80 years.

dndimg alt="Moseley Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Camp Hill Line Moseley (March 2020).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

This is the view of the Moseley Station site from St Mary's Row during February 2018 near St Mary's Church. The view was taken from the no 1 bus. This would be an ideal site to build the new station building and car park. Although I've noticed that their's land on Woodbridge Road for a car park as well.

dndimg alt="Moseley Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Camp Hill Line Moseley (Feb 2018)(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Kings Heath Station

Kings Heath Station on the Camp Hill Line was located near the High Street and Highbury Park. It was open from 1840 until it closed in 1941 during the Second World War. It was originally called Moseley Station, but when a new station opened in Moseley at the site between Woodbridge Road and St Mary's Row, that station was named Moseley Station, and this one renamed Kings Heath Station. The new station could be built later in 2020 to open in time for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

 

These views from December 2009. Now the Findlay Road Retail Park, down the bottom is Homebase. Building at the top used to have MFI and Allied Carpets. By 2009 Topp Tiles occupied some of the units. Easy Gym moved in to the upper units by 2014. That is now The Gym.

dndimg alt="Kings Heath Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Camp Hill Line Kings Heath Station (Dec 2009) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Walking towards Highbury Park is this car park, somewhere near the old Kings Heath Station site. Bit hard to see behind the trees.

dndimg alt="Kings Heath Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Camp Hill Line Kings Heath Station (Dec 2009) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

There is land here to build a new station, but wonder if they will have to knock down any of the retail units to the left?

dndimg alt="Kings Heath Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Camp Hill Line Kings Heath Station (Dec 2009) (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The bridge on the Kings Heath High Street is too high to look over, so got this view from the top deck of the no 50 bus during April 2015. Here you can clearly see where the old station used to be. They might have to take over some of the land in Highbury Park when they build the new station.

dndimg alt="Kings Heath Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Camp Hill Line Kings Heath Station (April 2015).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Another view from the no 50 bus on the Kings Heath High Street. Snow on the line. The line heads in this direction towards Moseley and onto Balsall Heath. This was during January 2018.

dndimg alt="Kings Heath Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Camp Hill Line Kings Heath Station (Jan 2018).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Hazelwell Station

Hazelwell Station opened in 1903 and closed during 1941 (World War 2). The station was located on a site between Vicarage Road and Cartland Road. Being near Kings Heath and Stirchley. Hopefully the new station will begin construction here later in 2020, to open in time for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.

These photos taken from the Vicarage Road Bridge between Kings Heath and Stirchley during December 2009.

dndimg alt="Hazelwell Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Camp Hill Line Hazelwell Station (Dec 2009) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

There was snow on the line at the time. Remains of the platforms were close to the Cartland Road Bridge.

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These views were taken from the Cartland Road Bridge in Stirchley during January 2015. This was the old Hazelwell Station building. It is currently Designer Bathrooms by Michael, but this building could be demolished when the new station is built here.

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There are several fenced off areas at the site, that used to lead to the platforms.

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One fence next to the Cartland Road Bridge. This could have been an old pedestrian footbridge. Now overgrown and with a large pipe to the right.

dndimg alt="Hazelwell Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Camp Hill Line Hazelwell Station (Jan 2015) (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Behind this gate was the old ramp down to one of the platforms. Now grassy and had a lot of litter down there at the time.

dndimg alt="Hazelwell Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Camp Hill Line Hazelwell Station (Jan 2015) (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Zooming further down to a gate. Currently no access to the public, only to Network Rail staff.

dndimg alt="Hazelwell Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Camp Hill Line Hazelwell Station (Jan 2015) (5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown. Now at 1,100 followers. Thank you.

Birmingham We Are People with Passion award winner 2020

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History & heritage
09 Mar 2020 - Elliott Brown
Inspiration

Moseley Road Baths: an Edwardian gem in Balsall Heath

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The Brumtography Facebook group had a guided tour and photo meet at the Moseley Road Baths in Balsall Heath on Sunday 8th March 2020. Thanks to Karl Newton for organising. We each gave a £2 donation at the end. It's been more than a quarter of a century since I last swam there with school, and many things have changed. Parts have been restored, but still a lot to do.

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Moseley Road Baths: an Edwardian gem in Balsall Heath





The Brumtography Facebook group had a guided tour and photo meet at the Moseley Road Baths in Balsall Heath on Sunday 8th March 2020. Thanks to Karl Newton for organising. We each gave a £2 donation at the end. It's been more than a quarter of a century since I last swam there with school, and many things have changed. Parts have been restored, but still a lot to do.


A guided tour around Moseley Road Baths with the Brumtography Facebook group members. Thanks once again to Karl Newton for organising it. I was last inside here before, probably in the early to mid 1990s with my Primary School for swimming classes, which was more than a quarter of a century ago. So it's been a long time since I've been here, other than passing it on the Moseley Road on the no 50 bus in Balsall Heath.

Some history from Wikipedia (link above).

Balsall Heath Library opened in 1895, and the baths followed in 1907. Built of red brick and terracotta in the Edwardian style. Jethro A. Cossins and F. B. Peacock was the architect of the library, while William Hale and Son were architects of the baths. The baths and library has several Birmingham Forward coat of arms, as it was built as an incentive for Balsall Heath to become a part of Birmingham (which happened in 1891).

Before people had their own bathroom at home, they would come here for a bath. There was a Ladies bath room, also a Mens First Class and Second Class bath room. There is also two pools. The building is Grade II* listed Balsall Heath Library and Balsall Heath Public Baths.

The Friends of Moseley Road Baths group was formed in 2006. Over the years there has been scaffolding in the baths. At the moment only one of the swimming baths has water in it (the smaller bath). The larger one has scaffolding around it, and a new temporary exhibition in the pool (no water).

 

Some exteriors I took as I arrived in Balsall Heath. Crossed to the other side of the Moseley Road as I got there early. The Public Library is on the right with the clock tower.

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From the left side with the chimney at the back. The doors for the old Men's Bath Second Class and Women's Baths have long since been closed (for a very long time). The main entrance is via the door labelled Men's Baths First Class.

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The main entrance foyer and what is now the reception desk. This used to be the entrance hall to the Men's Baths First Class. In the swimming baths with water, you have to put these blue bags over your outdoor shoes.

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The Deep End. The baths currently in use are to the left. While the larger pool with the exhibition was ahead and to the right. Another door beyond led to the boiler room and the pump room.

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Got this view of the foyer after leaving pool 1, and before we were taken upstairs to the laundry room. The door on the right leads to the women's baths, the door to the left to the main entrance and exit. The men's baths is to the far left of here.

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Men's Baths

To the right of the main entrance hall was the former men's baths. There was separate rooms in here with bath tubs. The room is now used for storage.

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At the far end was a window with the Birmingham Forward coat of arms. Some panels of glass were missing (years of wear and tare).

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One of the baths with a rope (probably used to pull yourself out). As you can see, boxes, papers etc are now in there. Before people had their own plumbed bathrooms, they had to come to places like this.

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Women's Baths

The women's baths was to the left of the main entrance. Saw this old door with a wall blocking it behind. It reads: "Notice: No money or tickets will be exchanged after leaving this window soap tablets 1d - each".

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One of the bath rooms and bath tubs. No doors on some of them that I could see. A bench to sit on and a hook to hang your clothes up.

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The corridor between the women's bath rooms, leading back out to the foyer. These are no longer used either.

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Boiler Rooms

We were given access by our guide to the boiler rooms to the back of Moseley Road Baths. Was very warm in there. Pipes all over with red wheels to turn (not us of course).

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Was another room with a big tank inside, we were taken outside to the back for some views of the chimney. Was a stream deep under the building which could be accessed from here.

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In the main room was these large tanks full of steam, more pipes and tubes all over the place.

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Pool 1

This swimming pool is still in use. This was the Second Class baths. Modern looking changing rooms on both sides. Now used for kids swimming lessons, and women's swimming group sessions.

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You could smell the smell of clorine in here, and my camera got quite steamed up. They let us walk all the way around the pool, as long as we had the blue bags on our shoes. Was bright sunshine coming through as well.

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Steps to climb down into the pool. A warning sign behind for No Diving. I did not see any diving boards in Moseley Road Baths. Probably isn't safe, or they never had one.

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Laundry Room

We were next taken up some stairs to the old Laundry Room. The drying racks was on the left. The next set of steps leads up to the header tank in the roof. This room had some good views of the City Skyline through the windows on the right.

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A close up look at the drying racks.

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Up those wooden steps, then up a wooden ladder for a view in the roof. Below is the header tank. Just a look up here, wasn't going to climb on the plank.

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Pool 2

This pool is not currently in use, and has scaffolding all around it with no water in the swimming pool. I suspect that this was the pool I used with my primary school back in the early 1990s. Boys shared cubicles on the left, while girls in the cubicles on the right. Going past them now, they look cramped, doors missing and not lights. A new temporary exhibition has opened up in this space called Specular Reflecular. A hand painted animation for Moseley Road Baths by Juneau Projects and members of the local community.

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They let us through to the balcony on the top. But it was only safe to walk around the edges near the tiled walls. This pool would have been the First Class swimming baths.

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This was as far as I and others could go on this side, as I looked down at the pool with the temporary exhibition below. They installed wooden steps, and behind the screen was emergency scaffolding steps from the pool.

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Be sure to follow Moseley Road Baths on Twitter: Moseley Road Baths, on Facebook: Moseley Road Baths and on Instagram: Moseley Road Baths. Their website is at Moseley Road Baths.

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown. Now at 1,100 followers. Thank you.

Birmingham We Are People with Passion award winner 2020

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06 Mar 2020 - Elliott Brown
Did you know?

The houses of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust around Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire

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These photos mostly taken in the Warwickshire District of Stratford-on-Avon between 2009 and 2018. Most are in Stratford-upon-Avon including Shakespeare's Birthplace (on Henley Street), Nash's House & New Place (Chapel Street), and Hall's Croft (Old Town). Mary Arden's House is in Wilmcote. Anne Hathaway's Cottage in Shottery. 

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The houses of the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust around Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire





These photos mostly taken in the Warwickshire District of Stratford-on-Avon between 2009 and 2018. Most are in Stratford-upon-Avon including Shakespeare's Birthplace (on Henley Street), Nash's House & New Place (Chapel Street), and Hall's Croft (Old Town). Mary Arden's House is in Wilmcote. Anne Hathaway's Cottage in Shottery. 


Let's get the train down to Shakepeare's County, Warwickshire for a tour of the houses belonging now to the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. Mainly just the exteriors of photos I took between 2009 and 2018. Three properties to see in Stratford-upon-Avon, which includes Shakespeare's Birthplace on Henley Street, Nash's House & New Place on Chapel Street, and Hall's Croft in Old Town. Nearby in Shottery is Anne Hathaway's Cottage. While in the village of Wilmcote is Mary Arden's House.

 

Shakespeare's Birthplace - Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon

Shakespeare's Birthplace is a restored 16th century half timbered house located in Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire. It is believed that William Shakespeare was born here in 1564 and spent his childhood years. It's now a small museum, open to the public and ran and managed by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. The ownership of the house after Shakespeare's death fell to his eldest daughter Susanna. In 1649 it passed to her only daughter Elizabeth. By 1670 to John Hart. It remained in the ownership of the Hart's until 1806, when it was sold to a butcher, Thomas Court. There was interest in the property in the middle of the 19th century, which led to the formation of the Shakespeare Birthday Committee by a private Act of Parliament.

These views were from April 2009, when I began taking photos around Stratford-upon-Avon. The entrance to the museum would be further to the left in the Shakespeare Visitor Centre which opened in 1964 on Shakespeare's 400th birthday.

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The view of the house to the right. There was railings and flower pots outside at the time. There maybe plans to move these further onto Henley Street, to prevent visitors pinching tiles or bits of wood.

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The best view of the house. There is also a garden round the back. You would find many of the tourists in Stratford-upon-Avon up here on Henley Street, during the busy periods of the year. When I was last on this street it was a bit quieter than usual, but was also roadworks outside of the house.

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Nash's House & New Place - Chapel Street, Stratford-upon-Avon

Nash's House is on Chapel Street, and was the home of Thomas Nash. The house was built around 1600. The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust bought this and the site of New Place in 1876. Nash was married to Elizabeth Hall, who was the granddaughter of William Shakespeare.

This photo of Nash's House was taken in April 2009 from Chapel Street.

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Next to Nash's House was New Place. It was the final residence of William Shakespeare who died here in 1616. The house no longer exists but the site is managed by the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust. There had been a house on the corner site of Chapel Street and Chapel Lane since about 1483, having been built for Sir Hugh Clopton. The Clopton family owned it throughout most of the 16th century. It was sold to Shakespeare in 1597, but he only moved in around 1610. After his death, ownership was by his daughter Susanna, then to her daughter Elizabeth who had married Thomas Nash (he owned the house next door).

This view from April 2009, the site of the lost house (on the right is now gardens).

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This was the view of the New Place site during January 2013. There had been a Time Team archeological dig in the gardens here. This was shortly before the programme to renovate the gardens. This view from Chapel Street.

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This view of the hedges from Chapel Lane during April 2016. This visit to Stratford-upon-Avon was during the 400th anniversary celebrations of Shakespeare's death (and his 452nd birthday on the same day). After watching the parade, I had another look around the town. The gardens were more or less complete by this point. The site was reopened in the Spring of 2016.

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By the time of my next visit, in February 2018, Nash's House & New Place had been reopened for a few years. There was a new entrance to the gardens from Chapel Street. Tickets would be a bit pricey, unless you get a combo ticket for all Shakespeare properties, or an online discount.

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Hall's Croft - Old Town, Stratford-upon-Avon

Hall's Croft was the home of William Shakespeare's daughter Susanna Hall and her husband Dr John Hall whom she married in 1607. He was the General Practioner of the Town from 1600 until his death in 1635. The house dates from the early 16th century. John and Susanna later moved to New Place after the death of William Shakespeare (who was Susanna's father).

These views were taken during September 2010 in Old Town. First view was some people in the way of the house, probably visitors going to see the house. One lady having a look through a gap in the gate to the garden.

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I waited for a bit before taking another photo, this time without anyone in the way. The house is close to the River Avon and Holy Trinity Church (where members of the Shakespeare family are buried).

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A side view of the house, close to the entrance.

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Anne Hathaway's Cottage - Shottery, Stratford-upon-Avon

Anne Hathaway's Cottage is located in the village of Shottery, a short walk away from Stratford-upon-Avon. The farmhouse was where Anne Hathaway the wife of William Shakespeare, lived during her childhood. The earliest parts of the house dates to the 15th century, the higher part from the 17th century. The house was known as Hewlands Farm during Shakespeare's lifetime. When Anne's father passed away, the cottage was owned by her brother Bartholomew, which passed down the Hathaway family until 1846. The Shakespeare Birthplace Trust acquired it in 1892. A fire badly damaged it in 1969 but it was later restored by the Trust. It is now open to the public as a museum.

At the time during my September 2010 visit to Stratford-upon-Avon, I followed signs down a path towards Shottery where I found the house.

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Side view of the house with the garden to the left.

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The right side of the house from Cottage Lane.

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This view of the house a bit hard to see behind the trees, but you can see the thatched roof above. After this I followed the path back into Stratford-upon-Avon. The City Sightseeing bus for Stratford-upon-Avon also goes by here.

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Mary Arden's House & Farm - Wilmcote

Mary Arden's Farm is located in the Warwickshire village of Wilmcote. The farmhouse was the home of Mary Shakespeare, who was the mother of William Shakespeare. The property is also known as Mary Arden's House. But there is some confusion here as there is actually two houses. This building (seen on my visit of February 2013) was actually Palmer's Farmhouse. Which was owned by Adam Palmer in the 16th century. You can get the train here on the Shakespeare line from Birmingham, getting off at Wilmcote, and the houses are a short walk away.

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Another view of Palmer's House. When the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust bought it in 1930, they wrongly assumed that it was Mary Arden's House. It was restored to the Tudor style. It dates to the late 16th century. Although a timber-framed cross-wing section dates to about 1569. The house is located on what is now called Station Road. The Stratford-on-Avon Canal also passed these properties close by.

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This farmhouse is the actual Mary Arden's House. Also known as Glebe Farm. It dates to the early 16th century. Seen from Aston Cantlow Road.

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Mary Arden's Farm is now a "working Tudor farm". Although the property is closed over the Winter period. Many of the farm buildings date to the 18th and 19th centuries.

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One more view of Palmer's Farm, as I headed back to catch the train back to Birmingham from Wilmcote.

dndimg alt="Mary Arden's House" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Mary Ardens Farm Wilmcote (Feb 2013) (5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown. Now at 1,100 followers. Thank you.

Birmingham We Are People with Passion award winner 2020

 

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17 Feb 2020 - Elliott Brown
Did you know?

The Bakehouse reopened at Sarehole Mill during Storm Dennis

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Sarehole Mill have had the Bakehouse restored during the early part of 2020. And they scheduled a free open day on Saturday 15th February 2020. Storm Dennis didn't stop people visiting the mill or the Bakehouse despite the weather. This is the first time in almost 150 years that they have been able to bake loafs of bread and other things in the oven.

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The Bakehouse reopened at Sarehole Mill during Storm Dennis





Sarehole Mill have had the Bakehouse restored during the early part of 2020. And they scheduled a free open day on Saturday 15th February 2020. Storm Dennis didn't stop people visiting the mill or the Bakehouse despite the weather. This is the first time in almost 150 years that they have been able to bake loafs of bread and other things in the oven.


I've been to Sarehole Mill many times over the years, so wasn't going to stay around here too long during Storm Dennis. Saw something on their Twitter about the mill being open on Saturday 15th February 2020 from about 11am to 4pm, for free. As I didn't want to go too far in the storm, I headed down the 11 Outer Circle bus route and popped into the mill for a bit.

 

The Bakehouse has been out of use for almost 150 years. Early in 2020 it was fully refurbished and is baking for the people of Birmingham again. The last baker was William Anderton, who retired in 1872, after baking here for almost 20 years.

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One of the smaller baking ovens on the left. Last time I saw this, there was either a Big Hoot little owl up here (in 2015) or a Big Sleuth little bear (in 2017).

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Looking up to the ceiling, with the wooden roof supports.

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The Bakehouse was probably built in the 1840s. The oven was never allowed to go cold as it was too expensive to heat it back up from scratch.

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One of the Sarehole Mill Bakehouse volunteers places a loaf of bread in the oven, then quickly shuts the oven door.

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I didn't stick around too long to see the finished result, but they have also baked other things in here such as pizza and pastries. They have an Instagram account here Sarehole Bakehouse. It might just be the Sarehole Mill account renamed.

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The outside of the Bakehouse to the left, still stormy outside. I popped over the the Mill Pool and briefly into the mill again before leaving.

dndimg alt="Bakehouse Sarehole Mill" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bakehouse Sarehole Mill (Feb 20) (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown. Now at 1,100 followers. Thank you.

Birmingham We Are People with Passion award winner 2020

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22 Jan 2020 - Elliott Brown
Inspiration

The Electric Cinema: A Brumtography photo meet (January 2020)

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The Brumtography Facebook group had a photo meet on the 20th January 2020 at The Electric Cinema on Station Street (opposite Birmingham New Street Station). We were there for over an hour or so. Exploring screens 1 and 2, the remains of the old curtain of the Tatler News Theatre, old reels of film in the basement and the old projection room. Plenty to see in this small cinema. Opened 1909.

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The Electric Cinema: A Brumtography photo meet (January 2020)





The Brumtography Facebook group had a photo meet on the 20th January 2020 at The Electric Cinema on Station Street (opposite Birmingham New Street Station). We were there for over an hour or so. Exploring screens 1 and 2, the remains of the old curtain of the Tatler News Theatre, old reels of film in the basement and the old projection room. Plenty to see in this small cinema. Opened 1909.


On Monday 20th January 2020, about 10 members of the Brumtography Facebook group met at The Electric for a photo meet organised by Karl Newton (who contacted them and got permission from them). We did initially meet in the foyer thinking that a member of staff would take us around, but in the end, they let us go around on our own. Although Karl had been before so knew his way around.

The Electric Cinema

Some history. The Electric opened in 1909, and showed it's first silent film that year on the 27th December 1909. It is the oldest working cinema in the UK, predating it's namesake in Notting Hill, London (also called the Electric Cinema), by two months. Over the last century or so, the cinema has undergone several name changes, but reverted back t The Electric in October 1993.

In the 1920s the cinema was bought out and became known as The Select, showing silent movies. In the 1930s Joseph Cohen bought the cinema, and by the late 1930s it was renamed to the Tatler News Theatre, where they showed Pathe rolling news, along with short films and cartoons. Jacey Cinemas Ltd was the name of Joseph Cohen's company after his initials JC. 

Afte the War, TV started to become popular, and in the 1950s it's name was changed to The Jacey Cartoon Theatre. By the 1960s it was renamed to The Jacey Film Theatre. By the 1970s the cinema was in decline, showing adult films. In the 1980s it was taken over by Lord Grade's "Classic" chain and split into two screens. By the mid 1980s it was now known as the Tivoli.

It was only by 1993 when the new owners renamed it back to it's original name of The Electric. Restoration took place between 2003 and 2004. It's original Art Deco features were restored. The Electric celebrated it's Centenary in 2009. And received a history plate from the Birmingham Civic Society in 2016.


So a reminder of the cinemas names: The Electric Theatre, The Select, The Tatler News Theatre, The Jacey, The Classic and The Tivoli. Before reverting back to The Electric Cinema.

 

This view of The Electric, from near the taxi rank at Birmingham New Street Station. There is a glass balcony railing, and I headed right and down the Southside Steps.

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The Box Office. Buy your tickets here. There is also a bar to the left where you can buy drinks and food, no popcorn here.

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Screen 1 is downstairs. With red seats at the front, and black leather sofas at the back. Is a piano / organ on the stage.

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Behind screen 1 is the remains of the Tatler News Theatre of the 1930s and 1940s. The old screen used to be here. You can see the old curtains and various old posters. Including a poster for Xmas cartoons. Probably classic Disney cartoons.

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Back in screen 1 from the stage.

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Down to the basement, where they have a large collection of old film reels. Probably dating back decades.

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Ticket prices back in the day were quite cheap compared to today.  Some smaller films on these shelves.

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Into the old projection room, first thing I saw was BB8 from the Star Wars Sequel Trilogy, and a trophy.

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The old projector. To the right is the modern additions of the newer digital technology. So they don't need to use the old reels of film any more.

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Upstairs to screen 2. A bit darker in here, even after the lights were turned on.

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This screen has black leather sofas at the top and bottom.

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Outside screen 2 is a gallery of art, which is apparently for sale. Some of the prints were done by Milan Topalović, who you may recall also did art for The Big Hoot (at Birmingham New Street Station in 2015) and The Big Sleuth (at Resorts World Birmingham in 2017).

dndimg alt="The Electric" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Electric Brumtography (Jan 20) (12).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Back outside after the end of the meet, saw a reflection of The Electric in the shiny panels of Birmingham New Street Station. At the time the sign below said UNCUT GEMS.

dndimg alt="The Electric" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Electric Brumtography (Jan 20) (13).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

Birmingham We Are People with Passion award winner 2020

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60 passion points
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16 Jan 2020 - Elliott Brown
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The Eagle & Tun: HS2 calls it time to sadly knock this historic pub down

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The Eagle & Tun in the current building has been on the corner site of New Canal Street and Banbury Street for 120 years. Built to a design from James & Lister Lea in 1900. In 2020 the current licence comes to an end, as HS2 wants to knock this historic pub down to make way for the proposed station. Had a few hours there with the Brumtography Facebook group created by Karl Newton.

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The Eagle & Tun: HS2 calls it time to sadly knock this historic pub down





The Eagle & Tun in the current building has been on the corner site of New Canal Street and Banbury Street for 120 years. Built to a design from James & Lister Lea in 1900. In 2020 the current licence comes to an end, as HS2 wants to knock this historic pub down to make way for the proposed station. Had a few hours there with the Brumtography Facebook group created by Karl Newton.


Out of the blue, Birmingham We Are person with passion Karl Newton, over on Facebook set up a new group called Brumtography. And he invited members to go to The Eagle & Tun on Saturday 11th January 2020 from about 3pm to 6pm. I got there by 2:30pm, and we left by 5:30pm. We had plenty of time to take photos of the inside of this historic pub.

The pub was designed and built in 1900 (had been another pub on this site) by James & Lister Lea. The pub was made famous in the 1980s, as UB40 shot a music video here for their single Red Red Wine.  It was also used as the cover of the UB40 Best Of album. More recently Ed Sheeran popped by the pub.

It was closed and boarded up from about 2008 until the new landlords bought and reopened it in 2016. A nice Indian couple and their son.

 

I met up with Karl around here. Lots of old looking tables and chairs. Bar to the left. Window on the right was smashed and had a wooden board covering the damage.

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Near the entrance. The bar to the left. Lots of musical instruments were near the top of the walls but below the ceiling.

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I wonder where they got all of these musical instruments from?

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View of the bar from near where we were sitting / met up.

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Into the Pool Room. The pool table, the landlord later lit up the fire.

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Saw lots of old looking Roman or Greek pictures on the walls around here.

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A pair of gaming machines. The tiles looked quite interesting, they could be saved and go to an interested museum?

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Bottles behind the bar. Many drinks to be had here.

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Beer pumps from Red Fang, 3D Beer Cisco Steam, Twisted Wheel Brew Co and Pitchfork.

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Another look at the bar curving round close to the way in. Door to the back leads to the pool room.

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If you left the pool room from this side, this would be the view, near the bar.

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Mint Julep and Dixie Beer. Wine glasses and bottles, instruments all around.

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Behind the bar. The landlord had a box of really old cameras that he needed to sell.

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Another view of what was behind the bar.

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Back of the beer pumps. The landlord and landlady pour your beer or lager here.

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Was getting dark outside, final curtains on this historic bar. What can be saved?

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After we left, we took several photos of the exterior of The Eagle & Tun, after dark. It was also raining. This from Banbury Street. HS2 have put barriers up, so the opposite pavement was closed.

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They have coloured lights that change colours on the first floor. Was a lot of passing traffic on New Canal Street.

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Could see passing trains go past behind the pub. It will be sad to see this 120 year old pub knocked down. Is there no way to move it brick by brick to somewhere else in the city? Don't go the way of the doomed Fox & Grapes on Park Street. Only The Woodman will remain open, and probably survive the possible building of the HS2 Birmingham terminus station at Curzon Street.

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The pub sign of The Eagle & Tun is one thing that hasn't changed. Although at one point a previous landlord renamed the pub as The Cauliflower Ear! But thankfully it was later changed back.

dndimg alt="Eagle & Tun" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Eagle and Tun ext (Jan 20) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

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70 passion points
History & heritage
01 Oct 2019 - Elliott Brown
Did you know?

Heritage buildings around Handsworth

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Getting off the tram at Soho Benson Road, was so many Victorian buildings to see on the way towards Handsworth Park. Including pubs, schools, churches etc. I later walked to Winson Green Outer Circle. This area Boulton and Watt called home. 

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Heritage buildings around Handsworth





Getting off the tram at Soho Benson Road, was so many Victorian buildings to see on the way towards Handsworth Park. Including pubs, schools, churches etc. I later walked to Winson Green Outer Circle. This area Boulton and Watt called home. 


Find more of my Handsworth photos over on my Flickr. The first tram stop after the Jewellery Quarter is Soho Benson Road, other stops in the area are Winson Green Outer Circle and Handsworth Booth Street. On the day of my visit used Winson Green to return to the City Centre (not yet used Booth Street).

 

Getting off the West Midlands Metro tram at Soho Benson Road, first thing I saw was a primary school now called Benson Community School. A Grade II listed building, originally the Benson Junior School. Designed by HR Yeoville Thomason and Cooper Whitwell, it was opened by the Birmingham School Board in 1888. Built of red brick, laid in English bond, with yellow, terracotta dressings and a plain tile roof.

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It was originally known as the Soho Road School. It owes a debt to the designs of Martin and Chamberlain, but it was not designed by them. It was built to accommodate 962 pupils. Thomason (on his own) was also the architect of Singers Hill Synagogue (1854) and the Council House in Victoria Square (1874-9).

dndimg alt="Benson Community School" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Benson Community School Soho Benson Road (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Black Eagle pub on Factory Road, Soho (near Handsworth). A red brick building, don't think it is listed.

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The pub sign says the Black Eagle was rebuilt in circa 1895. So maybe there was pub on this site before that year?

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Heading up St Michael's Hill, saw this clock tower. Turns out it is part of Handsworth Library. Also home to South & City College Birmingham. It's on Soho Road in Handsworth. A Grade II listed building as Public Library, Handsworth Council House and Job Preparation Unit. Built in 1878-9 by Alexander and Henman as the Urban District Council Offices (this was before Handsworth became part of Birmingham in 1911). Built of red brick and terracotta with stone dressings, it has a slate roof. An impressive looking clock tower, the clocks are timbered.

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One of the first things to see when getting off the tram at Soho Benson Road (from Benson Road itself), is the spire of St Michael's Parish Church Handsworth. The church is a Grade II Listed Building as the Church of St Michael. Built in 1855 by W Bourne. It is a large sandstone church with ashlar dressings. Built on a hilltop site. The church is also visible from the Library of Birmingham on a clear view day of Handsworth.

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Heading up St Michael's Hill towards Soho Road. St Michael's Road is just before Soho Road. Also Soho Avenue near the church leads to Soho House (former home of Matthew Boulton and now a museum). I did see signs for that (my only actual visit was in the summer of 2010). Walking past this church, the gates were locked, so I think no access apart from when services on. Do they do heritage open days here?

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Crossing over between Soho Road and Soho Hill in Handsworth, I next saw the Villa Road Methodist Church. Not sure how old the building is, but it is now used by people of Caribbean and African heritage. Nearby on Rose Hill Road is King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls.

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The main reason for going to Handsworth, was to see the church where James Watt and Matthew Boulton are buried. St Mary's Church Handsworth is on Hamstead Road next to Handsworth Park. The 200th anniversary of the death of James Watt, and I wasn't expecting to find renovation works going on, so couldn't go in. It's Grade II* listed building as the Church of St Mary. Origins from the 12th or 13th centuries. Rebuilt in the 19th century.

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This view of the churchyard and St Mary's Church Handsworth from Handsworth Park. Boulton & Watt are buried inside. The churchyard has been closed off for years and is in need of urgent restoration (before anyone can walk around it). The church is built of red sandstone in the Decorated style. There are memorials to James Watt by Thomas Rickman in 1826, also a marble statue by Chantrey in 1825 (was unable to see these myself). J A Chatwin made changes from 1876-80. There is also monuments by William and Peter Hollins

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I had a look around Handsworth Park. This was from the Hamstead Road entrance. The lodge house or gate house dated 1897. I don't think it is listed.

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This view of the lodge / gate house from the other side of the boating lake. It has a distinctive clock tower with turreted roof. See more photos of Handsworth Park in my post on that park. I later exited this half of the park from the same entrance then walked up Holly Road into the other half (I was unaware of the bridges over the Soho railway line).

dndimg alt="Handsworth Park lodge house" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Handsworth Park lodge house (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

After I left Handsworth Park, I headed along Grove Lane, on my way to Winson Green Outer Circle. First saw this church (photo came out blurry and I've tried to fix it best I could). Now the Church of God 7th Day Birmingham. It was formerly St Peter's Church. A Grade II listed building as the Church of St Peter. Built in 1905, the architect was J A Chatwin (one of his last churches). Red brick with stone dressings and a tiled roof. It is also near Arthur Road.

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Also on Grove Lane is King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys, also known originally as Handsworth Grammar School. It only joined the Foundation of the Schools of King Edward VI in September 2017, being independent before that. It was founded in 1862. It's a Grade II Listed Building as Handsworth Grammar School. Built in 1862 by Mr Bidlake of Wolverhampton.

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In the middle of this building is this distinctive clock tower. The school admits pupils (boys) aged 11 to 18. While there is the nearby King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls (on Rose Hill Road), girls have been admited to the Sixth Form since September 1997).

dndimg alt="King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/King Edward VI Handsworth Grammar School for Boys (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

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Modern Architecture
25 Sep 2019 - Elliott Brown
Did you know?

Birmingham Oratory: a guided tour on the last day of Birmingham Heritage Week (September 2019)

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I've been meaning to visit the inside of the Birmingham Oratory on the Hagley Road in Edgbaston for quite some time now. And I noticed that the last 3 days had free open days there. I only had time to visit on the Sunday 22nd September 2019. Got there after 2pm for the 2:15pm guided tour. It lasted about an hour. Most of it was built in the first half of the 20th century.

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Birmingham Oratory: a guided tour on the last day of Birmingham Heritage Week (September 2019)





I've been meaning to visit the inside of the Birmingham Oratory on the Hagley Road in Edgbaston for quite some time now. And I noticed that the last 3 days had free open days there. I only had time to visit on the Sunday 22nd September 2019. Got there after 2pm for the 2:15pm guided tour. It lasted about an hour. Most of it was built in the first half of the 20th century.


In the middle of October 2019, Blessed John Henry Newman is to be created a Saint by Pope Francis I at the Vatican in Rome. His predecessor Pope Benedict XVI visited Birmingham in September 2010, beautifying Cardinal Newman at Cofton Park, and later visiting the Birmingham Oratory, unveiling a new blue plaque in Newman's honour.

During Birmingham Heritage Week, there was Heritage Open Days, free to visit at the Oratory during the last three days, in the afternoon. You could go on free guided tours of the Oratory Church.

Small bit of history first. The Oratory of St Philip Neri was established in 1849 by Cardinal Newman. At first based at the Church of St Anne on Alcester Street, they later found a more suitable site on the Hagley Road, the community relocated there in 1852. The current church began between 1907 and 1910 in the Baroque style to replace the original structure as a memorial to Newman. It was designed by Edward Doran Webb.

It is a Grade II* listed building, being listed as The Church of the Immaculate Conception (The Oratory), the Oratory Priests' House and the Former Oratory School Buildings.

Additions by G B Cox in 1927, including earlier work by John Hungerford Pollen of 1858, Henry Clutton of 1872-3. Also including the presbytery building by Terence Flanagan in 1851, plus the former Oratory School buildings designed by Henry Clutton in 1861-2 and 1872-3.

My full album on my Flickr including my earlier exterior photos is here Birmingham Oratory.

 

First up photos I took of the Oratory before and after the guided tour.

Exterior from the Private Oratory Car Park

The red brick building leads to the Cloisters and the main entrance. Used to be a school in this building known as the Oratory School. It was built betwen the 1860s and 1870s, designed by Henry Clutton.

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This building is the main church part of the Oratory. Now also known as the Cardinal Newman Memorial Church. This was mostly built from 1903 to 1909, designed by E Doran Webb.

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This small corner turreted building is the Shrine of St Philip Neri. During the guided tour, it was quite cramped being inside of it. It was built in 1927 and designed by G B Cox at the north west corner of the church.

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Looking at the brickwork outside, it doesn't quite match with the earlier church. Behind the Shrine you can see red brick filling in the two walls of the church.

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A close up look at the Shrine of St Philip Neri from the outside. It has a copper dome on top.

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Cloisters

I saw the cloisters before going on the guided tour. Slightly reminds me of cloisters I've seen in France or Spain (although those are centuries older).

After heading in the main entrance from Hagley Road, a first proper look at the Cloisters. There is a shop to the left (also tea room I think). The main church is to the right. The cloisters was formerly the Oratory School. Newman founed it in 1852. It later moved to Reading in 1922. St Philip's Grammar School was later here from 1887 until it closed in 1995.

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Facing the main church. Now known as the Cardinal Newman Memorial Church. Built from 1907 to 1910.

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On this side of the cloisters was loads of memorial stones, including one for Cardinal Newman. It was around here, that those who went on the first guided tour of the afternoon waited.

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This way towards the car park. We didn't have access to these buildings (I mean going up to the first floor), as it wasn't part of the tour.

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I think that's a fountain in the middle, but it wasn't flowing water. This side towards the shop / tea room (I didn't go in). Heading back to the left to wait for the start of the guided tour.

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Cardinal Newman Memorial Church

The guided tour started in here. I went on the 2:15pm tour, an it lasted around an hour, as the guide explained from her notepad facts about the church and it's history. She would take us all the way around, including into the Shrine of St Philip Neri.

The marble columns came from Italy, and they were shipped by a steamer ship 2 at a time. Then they headed up the canal network once in the UK, being unloaded at Monument Road. The same steamer headed back to Italy to collect more columns, again 2 at a time.

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The Organ Gallery is above the main entrance door to the church. Towards the south end.

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The main dome near the front of the church. Is close to the High Altar. It's close to the second organ in the church and the Our Lady’s altar. You expect something like this in Italy, not here in Birmingham!

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At the front is the High Altar. At the top is painting with a rainbow above it. It was designed in 1899 by Dunstan Powell and was for the old church. There is a raised step just before this area.

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The Our Lady’s altar seen to the left. It is second hand. It came from the Church of S Andrea della Valle in Rome in 1911. The pair of columns were originally meant for Westminster Cathedral in London, but they broke, so instead they came to the Birmingham Oratory instead!

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Shrines to St Philip Neri and Cardinal Newman

Side rooms in the Oratory. One dedicated to the founder of the Oratory movement, St Philip Neri. The other to Cardinal Newman, who was made Blessed in 2010, and soon to be a Saint.

Was a tight squeeze getting members of the tour group into the Shrine of St Philip Neri. A look up to the dome. The portrait of Philip Neri is a replica. The shrine was designed by G B Cox and built in 1927, added to the north west corner (see exteriors further up this post).

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The body is a wax facsimile, but resembles St Philip Neri. There might be some relics inside. Took this as the group started to come out of the Shrine, as wasn't possible while it was crowded in there. He was born in Florence in 1515 and died in Rome in 1579. Philip Neri was beatified by Paul V in 1615 and canonized by Pope Gregory XV in 1622.

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I think (although not sure) that this (below) might be the St Anne's Altar. Just quick look, I didn't go inside of this one. I thought the guide would take us in here. The nearby Shrine to Blessed Newman was closed for refurbishment ahead of his Sainthood being declared in October 2019. A temporary shine (it says on the door of Newman's Shrine) could be found at St Anne's Altar.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Oratory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Shrines Bham Oratory BHW (3) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This used to be the St Philip’s Chapel, but is now the Shrine of Blessed John Henry Newman. It was closed for refurbishment, so took these photos through the windows in the doors.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Oratory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Shrines Bham Oratory BHW (4) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Newman is due to be created a Saint after being Blessed since September 2010. It was probably part of the original church. It was last restored 9 years ago after Newman was beautified by Pope Benedict XVI. The canonisation is due to take place on the 13th October 2019 by Pope Francis I at the Vatican in Rome. The Prince of Wales will be travelling there, representing the Queen (as she no longer travels abroad).

dndimg alt="Birmingham Oratory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Shrines Bham Oratory BHW (5) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

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50 passion points
History & heritage
19 Sep 2019 - Elliott Brown
Did you know?

Birmingham Heritage Week (14th to 15th September 2019): Bournville - Selly Manor and the Serbian Orthodox Church. Edgbaston - Birmingham Botanical Gardens

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Three venues visited over the weekend of the 14th and 15th September 2019. Selly Manor (including Minworth Greaves) and the Serbian Orthodox Church in Bournville. Then the next day to Birmingham Botanical Gardens in Edgbaston (was really busy there).

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Birmingham Heritage Week (14th to 15th September 2019): Bournville - Selly Manor and the Serbian Orthodox Church. Edgbaston - Birmingham Botanical Gardens





Three venues visited over the weekend of the 14th and 15th September 2019. Selly Manor (including Minworth Greaves) and the Serbian Orthodox Church in Bournville. Then the next day to Birmingham Botanical Gardens in Edgbaston (was really busy there).


Selly Manor

The first of the two buildings at Selly Manor. George Cadbury, the founder of Bournville bought the building in 1907 and arranged for it to be moved from Selly Oak to where it stands today. Now at the corner of Sycamore Road and Maple Road. The heritage open day was on Saturday 14th September 2019 during Birmingham Heritage Week.

A look at the exterior.

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Selly Manor was moved to this site in 1916. It is now operated as Selly Manor Museum by Bournville Village Trust. It is a Grade II listed building. The exit steps from the top floor is seen to the left. The main entrance was around to the left.

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Interiors: a dining room table I think on the ground floor. The house contains the Laurence Cadbury furniture collection with objects dating from 1500 to 1900.

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Costumes on a table including hats. Kids could try them on and look in the mirror. On the first floor. There is about six rooms inside to see.

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The ceiling and one of the windows I think on the attic floor. So small in here I exited too quickly, as the steps near here led back outside! William Alexander Harvey the architect managed the restoration from 1909 to 1916.

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Minworth Greaves

The second of two buildings at Selly Manor. Near Maple Road in Bournville. I've seen it before back in 2009, but this was my first time inside. Thought to date to the 13th century, it was moved here in 1932 by Laurence Cadbury.

dndimg alt="Minworth Greaves" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Minworth Greaves at Selly Manor (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Walking round the back of Minworth Greaves. This site is quite small, compared to other places I've been to (Manor House wise).

dndimg alt="Minworth Greaves" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Minworth Greaves at Selly Manor (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A Grade II listed building. William Alexander Harvey supervised the re-build from 1929 to 1932. The interior looking up at the roof to the trio of coat of arms. The Birmingham Watercolour Society Exhibition was on from the 3rd to 14th September 2019.

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One of the three coat of arms at the back of Minworth Greaves. This one on the left.

dndimg alt="Minworth Greaves" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Minworth Greaves at Selly Manor (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

View of the timber framed ceiling from the back looking to the middle. A curtain divides the two sections. The exhibition was below.

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Serbian Orthodox Church of the Holy Prince Lazar

The Heritage Open Day was held in Bournville on Saturday 14th September 2019. Located on Griffins Brook Lane near Cob Lane. I had to use Google Maps directions to find it via the Merritts Brook Greenway. It's not far from the Bristol Road South.

dndimg alt="Serbian Orthodox Church" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Serbian Orthodox Church Bournville ext (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Built in 1968, it is also known as the Lazarica Church. It was built for political refugees from Yugoslavia after World War II.

dndimg alt="Serbian Orthodox Church" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Serbian Orthodox Church Bournville ext (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Serbs have been associate with Bournville since Dame Elizabeth Cadbury sponsored thirteen Serbian refugee children of World War I.

dndimg alt="Serbian Orthodox Church" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Serbian Orthodox Church Bournville ext (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A look at the colourful interior. Very impressive as you head into the main entrance. Looks likes something straight out of Serbia (I've never been).

dndimg alt="Serbian Orthodox Church" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Serbian Orthodox Church Bournville interior (1)(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Just before the exit, the group of visitors also admiring this building.

dndimg alt="Serbian Orthodox Church" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Serbian Orthodox Church Bournville interior (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Birmingham Botanical Gardens

It was free to enter the Botanical Gardens on Sunday 15th September 2019, the Heritage Open Day during Birmingham Heritage Week. And loads of people showed up, families with kids. Was a really busy day in Edgbaston! Located on Westbourne Road in Edgbaston, the gardens was designed in 1829 by J. C. Loudon and opened to the public in 1832. Near the entance is various tropical houses. Also on the site is bird houses and a bandstand.

The Subtropical House

It simulates climatic conditions found between the warm temperate and tropical regions of the world.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Botanical Gardens" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham Botanical Gdns (BHW Sept 19) (1) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Mediterranean House

The plants in this house grow in parts of the world that typically have hot, dry summers with mild, wet winters so the main growing season is late winter and spring.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Botanical Gardens" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham Botanical Gdns (BHW Sept 19) (2) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Bird Houses

Various birds in the four giant cages here. On the open day I saw the peacocks on the roof! When I got close to the cages, was able to get some decent photos through the cages of the birds.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Botanical Gardens" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham Botanical Gdns (BHW Sept 19) (3) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Bandstand

A band was there for the day performing songs during the afternoon. It is Grade II listed and was built in 1873.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Botanical Gardens" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham Botanical Gdns (BHW Sept 19) (4) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Near the entrance and exit was these pink and blue Heritage Open Days balloons on the spiral staircase. Was loads more people coming in as we exited. And also lots of cars coming around Westbourne Road (clogging up the traffic). We walked a distance away from the Botanical Gardens to get here. You could also get the no 23 or 24 buses (but they were also stuck in traffic). Also the no 1 bus was nearby.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Botanical Gardens" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham Botanical Gdns (BHW Sept 19) (5) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

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16 Sep 2019 - Elliott Brown
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Up the Belfry in St Paul's in the Jewellery Quarter: Birmingham Heritage Week (September 2016)

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It's now Birmingham Heritage Week again and time for another throw back post. Back in September 2016 I went to St Paul's Church in St Paul's Square in the Jewellery Quarter and went up the Belfry (bell tower). Sometime after 2pm on the 10th September 2016. The spiral staircase is nerve wrangling going up and down. The bell tower was free to go up. More heritage posts soon.

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Up the Belfry in St Paul's in the Jewellery Quarter: Birmingham Heritage Week (September 2016)





It's now Birmingham Heritage Week again and time for another throw back post. Back in September 2016 I went to St Paul's Church in St Paul's Square in the Jewellery Quarter and went up the Belfry (bell tower). Sometime after 2pm on the 10th September 2016. The spiral staircase is nerve wrangling going up and down. The bell tower was free to go up. More heritage posts soon.


For my St Paul's Church album on Flickr follow this link St Paul's Church for the Jewellery Quarter.

The Heritage Open Day was held during Birmingham Heritage Week on the 10th September 2016, shortly after 2pm. I arrived too early, so first went to the Pen Room for the free open day there, before coming back.

St Paul's Church was built in 1777, the tower was added around 1822 to 1823. New bells were installed in 2005 during the 250th anniversary of the St Martin's Guild.

Balloons were outside St Paul's Church in St Paul's Square.

dndimg alt="St Paul's JQ" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham Heritage Wk St Pauls JQ 2016 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Welcome to Saint Paul's. I was at the time hoping to get a photo of the main church hall area, but didn't, and was then later people in the way by the time I left.

dndimg alt="St Paul's JQ" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham Heritage Wk St Pauls JQ 2016 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Time to head up the spiral staircase. Last time I did this was at the former St Mary's Church in Lichfield, during a spire climb (with a guide). Every time I went up one of these church spiral staircases it felt so weird (this was 3 years ago).

dndimg alt="St Paul's JQ" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham Heritage Wk St Pauls JQ 2016 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The room with ropes which they use to ring the bells. They gave a talk and showed visitors how they pull the ropes.

dndimg alt="St Paul's JQ" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham Heritage Wk St Pauls JQ 2016 (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

One of three clock faces in the room. Only little windows, so not sure it's possible to get close to them to look out of them, or to take photos out of the windows.

dndimg alt="St Paul's JQ" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham Heritage Wk St Pauls JQ 2016 (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The members of St Paul's Church ring the bells pulling the ropes up and down. I have videos on my Flickr if you want to see them (link to album at the top).

dndimg alt="St Paul's JQ" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham Heritage Wk St Pauls JQ 2016 (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A bell model.

dndimg alt="St Paul's JQ" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham Heritage Wk St Pauls JQ 2016 (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Bell ropes in the training room, I think this was on the floor below.

dndimg alt="St Paul's JQ" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham Heritage Wk St Pauls JQ 2016 (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Another of the bell rope for training.

dndimg alt="St Paul's JQ" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham Heritage Wk St Pauls JQ 2016 (9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Back down the spiral staircase.

dndimg alt="St Paul's JQ" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham Heritage Wk St Pauls JQ 2016 (10).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Keep going down.

dndimg alt="St Paul's JQ" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham Heritage Wk St Pauls JQ 2016 (11).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

And down until you get to the bottom.

dndimg alt="St Paul's JQ" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham Heritage Wk St Pauls JQ 2016 (12).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

It's been years since I've been up or down spiral staircases in churches. But have been up and down the equivelant in castles (not in Birmingham). Last year went to a couple of castles in North Wales, and that didn't feel as nervous as going up a spiral staircase in a church!

 

Sunday 15th September 2019 update: For this weekend: on Saturday 14th September 2019, I went to Selly Manor In Bournville, then walked towards the Serbian Orthodox Church of the Holy Prince Lazar (directions via Google Maps). On Sunday afternoon, went back to the Birmingham Botanical Gardens in Edgbaston. It was quite packed. May do a post on these visits soon?

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

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02 Sep 2019 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

A tour (over the years) of the galleries at the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery

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Before 2012 I wasn't sure if you could take photos inside Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery so took some but not much. But when the Birmingham Museums Trust took over from the council, photo restrictions were relaxed and it was now ok to take photos in the galleries (unless you were told not to). Some of the permenant galleries have changed over the years.

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A tour (over the years) of the galleries at the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery





Before 2012 I wasn't sure if you could take photos inside Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery so took some but not much. But when the Birmingham Museums Trust took over from the council, photo restrictions were relaxed and it was now ok to take photos in the galleries (unless you were told not to). Some of the permenant galleries have changed over the years.


Enter the museum at the Chamberlain Square entrance. And head up the stairs. You go around this ellaborate entrance hall. This view from April 2012. This quote from Pevsner "The upper landing with covered ceiling and square rooflight".

dndimg alt="Chamberlain Square entrance" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chamberlain Square entrance Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (April 2012).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Round Room seen in March 2012. There are paintings around the room. This view towards the Chamberlain Square exit / entrance. The shop and the Industrial Gallery are to the left. In the centre of the room is Jabob Epstein's Lucifer. This description from Pevsner "The impressive Round Room, with plain walls for hanging pictures and a low conical glass roof above a strapwork band of circles and hexagons".

dndimg alt="Round Room" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Round Room Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (March 2012).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

We now enter the Industrial Gallery. In this view below from March 2012 looking up to the ceiling. There is steps to the floor above where you can see Ruskin pottery. The following quote from Pevsner: "The Industrial Gallery is all in exposed ironwork: seven aisled bays with columns in two tiers, semicircular arcades and cross-arches in the aisles, larger semicircular trusses supporting the roof, all of them exposed I-beams with the rivets prominent. Like a classical version of the Oxford Museum; but the immediate inspiration must be J.H. Chamberlain's Board Schools. Huge pendant  gas burners. T-plan staircase of 1893, with a different design of railings".

dndimg alt="Industrial Gallery" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Industrial Gallery Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (March 2012).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Another view of the Industrial Gallery but from the floor with Ruskin Pottery during April 2012. The gift shop is just beyond the archway. They also have up here: Wedgwood pottery, English pottery, English Porcelain, De Morgan Pottery, Worcester Porcelain and others. The Soho House Sphinxes are now back at Soho House.

dndimg alt="Industrial Gallery" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Industrial Gallery Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (April 2012).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Now above the Edwardian Tea Room. This floor has metalworks such as gates and iron objects. Also steel plates, candlesticks and cups. This view from April 2012.

dndimg alt="Metalworks Gallery" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Metalworks Gallery Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (April 2012).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

A look at the Edwardian Tea Room as it was during April 2012. The room outside used to be the Buddha Gallery, but is now the Mini Museum for kids (there is a new Faith Gallery in another part of the museum now). Here's a quote from Pevsner: "The present Tea Room has a cantilevered iron gallery and impressive, slightly Romanesque, details e.g. blind arcading with paired colonnettes".

dndimg alt="Edwardian Tearoom" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edwardian Tearoom Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (April 2012).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Edwardian Tea Room was given a new look and I went up to the Metalworks Gallery during August 2014 for a look below. All new furniture, tables and chairs. It can get quite busy in here. But if you don't want to come in here, there is also a new cafe just on the other side of the link bridge.

dndimg alt="Edwardian Tearoom" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edwardian Tearoom Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (August 2014).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Link Bridge between the 1885 built museum and the Council House Extension completed in about 1911. I found it to be empty during January 2019. but there are normally pictures on the walls, but BM & AG staff rotate what they put in here quite a lot. Oh and that new cafe is at the far end of here, to the left, if you were wondering. Sit inside, or sit on the seats outside of it.

dndimg alt="Link Bridge" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Empty Link Bridge Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (Jan 2019).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

In November 2018, I found this gallery with blue walls to be completely empty. It was between temporary exhibitions. Modern British Art may have been in here before. By January 2019 they were decorating this gallery, and it opened for a short while in late January 2019 as "Too Cute! Sweet is about to get Sinister" Curated by Rachel Maclean. It opened on the 26th January and it ran until the 12th May 2019. Saw it myself during February 2019.

dndimg alt="Empty blue gallery" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Empty blue gallery Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (Nov 2018) ).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Now a look at some temporary exhibitions in the main galleries. This was called The Past is Now - Birmingham and the British Empire. I saw it during January 2018.

dndimg alt="Birmingham and the British Empire" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham and the British Empire BMAG (Jan 2018).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

New Art West Midlands seen in one of the galleries during April 2013. This sculpture is called: Man and his Sheep 1989 by Ana Maria Pacheco. Wood, paint, teeth. The artist is from Brazil. Seven figures huddle around an almost naked man holding a sheep's head on a pole. This sculpture is now back in one of the galleries at BM & AG after coming out of storage.

dndimg alt="New Art West Midlands" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Man and his Sheep New Art West Midlands - Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (April 2013).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

In the Modern British Art gallery during January 2013. This is the Rock Drill Reconstruction made in 1974, based on the original of 1913-15. It was designed by Sir Jacob Epstein (1880 - 1959). Made of Polyester resin, metals and wood. Epstein created his original in 1913. It was a life-size plaster figure of a visored robotic man seated upon an actual rock drill. It was shown briefly in 1915 before being dismantled. This is a reconstruction made in 1974 from Epstein's studio photographs. It was presented to the museum in 1982. Epstein destroyed his original Rock Drill, but there are still photos of the original Rock Drill by Jacob Epstein.

dndimg alt="Modern British Art" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Modern British Art BMAG (Jan 2013).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

This is the Ancient Egypt Gallery as seen during March 2012. There is a set of friezes around this room. At the time the gallery below featured artifacts from Ancient Greece & Rome, but BM & AG later turned that gallery into the new Staffordshire Hoard Gallery. So I'm not quite sure where those objects have gone (if they are still in the museum, or moved to the Birmingham Museums Collections Centre). These galleries are quite close to the Great Charles Street Queensway entrance (now no longer in use).

dndimg alt="Ancient Egypt" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ancient Egypt Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (March 2012).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The second Staffordshire Hoard Gallery as seen from above from the Ancient Egypt Gallery (the one with the friezes all around). Seen for the first time during October 2014. It opened on the 17th October 2014, and this photo was taken the following day on the 18th October 2014. I've not taken close up photos of the hoard pieces (not sure if you are allowed to do so). As when the old gallery was open, I don't think they allowed photos of the pieces of the hoard.

dndimg alt="Staffordshire Hoard" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Staffordshire Hoard Gallery Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (October 2014).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Going back to March 2012 and this gallery with historical objects relating to African History. Around the room is this  plaster cast of the Frieze of the Nereid Monument (original in the British Museum dated to 380 B.C.). Gallery 33 is below.

dndimg alt="African Gallery" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/African Gallery Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (March 2012).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

A look at Gallery 33 during March 2012. From the same gallery above with the African artifacts and the frieze. It was an exhibition about the way people live, beliefs, values, customs and art from around the world. In recent years this gallery has been closed off to the public. Seem to use it for storage, photo shoots and other things.

dndimg alt="Gallery 33" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Gallery 33 Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (March 2012).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

There used to be an entrance on Great Charles Street Queensway (the doors are still there), but when Paradise Birmingham started (the roadworks) that entrance was closed off. Since the roadworks were completed the entrance has remained closed (so Edmund Street or Chamberlain Square are the only other entrances still in use to this day). But I have used it in the past. One of my earliest photos of this Forward coat of arms stained glass window from the steps during July 2009.

dndimg alt="Forward" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Great Charles Street Queensway Forward window BMAG (July 2009).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

A zoom in of the Forward coat of arms from the staircase near the Great Charles Street Queensway entrance during April 2012.

dndimg alt="Forward" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Great Charles Street Queensway Forward window BMAG (April 2012) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Another window seen on the same day during April 2012. This one with the Forward shield of Birmingham.

dndimg alt="Forward" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Great Charles Street Queensway Forward window BMAG (April 2012) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

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27 Aug 2019 - Elliott Brown
Did you know?

Birmingham Municipal Bank: Birmingham's Hidden Spaces during Birmingham Heritage Week (September 2015)

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The only time I was able to go inside of the Birmingham Municipal Bank on Broad Street was back in September 2015. Birmingham's Hidden Spaces was hosting the free visit during Birmingham Heritage Week. You could look around, go down the vaults (the areas that were safe to go to). I've also got exteriors from years before / after as well. University of Birmingham taking it over.

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Birmingham Municipal Bank: Birmingham's Hidden Spaces during Birmingham Heritage Week (September 2015)





The only time I was able to go inside of the Birmingham Municipal Bank on Broad Street was back in September 2015. Birmingham's Hidden Spaces was hosting the free visit during Birmingham Heritage Week. You could look around, go down the vaults (the areas that were safe to go to). I've also got exteriors from years before / after as well. University of Birmingham taking it over.


Some history. Birmingham Municipal Bank headquarters. It was at 301 Broad Street in Birmingham. The building was by Thomas Cecil Howitt and was opened on the 27 November 1933 by Prince George. It was built as the headquarters for the Birmingham Municipal Bank. It ceased to be a department of the Council who sold it in 1976, becoming a Trustee Savings Bank. The TSB (later Lloyds TSB) left the building in 2006 selling it back to Birmingham City Council. It has been a Grade II listed building since 1996. The University of Birmingham completed the purchase of the former bank in November 2017, and it will become a venue to showcase it's display of it's research and host performances and exhibitions.

Full album on my Flickr here Birmingham Municipal Bank.

 

One of my first photos of the former Municipal Bank taken on Broad Street during December 2009. By this point the bank had been closed for about 3 years and still had a Lloyds Bank sign on it. The Arena Central development was stalled by the recession, so demolition works behind were left unfinished until around 2015.

dndimg alt="Municipal Bank" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Municipal Bank exterior (1)(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

A close up of the former bank from December 2009. Built in the early 1930s, it has several giant Ionic columns. The building was empty / vacant and would remain so for years to come.

dndimg alt="Municipal Bank" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Municipal Bank exterior (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

By 2013 they were opening up the Municipal Bank to arts venues. In June 2013 it was used by the Universe of Sound. Free, fun, interactive orchestra experience. Playing The Planets. I never did go inside at this point, and would go in until Birmingham's Hidden Spaces opened it up in 2015.

dndimg alt="Municipal Bank" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Municipal Bank exterior (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Library of Birmingham first opened in September 2013 when I got this view from the Discovery Terrace at the Library of Birmingham.  Would be a couple of years before Arena Central started to come to life again.

dndimg alt="Municipal Bank" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Municipal Bank exterior (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

In April 2016 it was being used by the International Dance Festival Birmingham as the Dance Hub from April to May 2016. This view as usual from the Discovery Terrace at the Library of Birmingham. Behind construction of Holiday Inn Express  (the TETRIS building) was well underway and HSBC UK to the left had just started too.

dndimg alt="Municipal Bank" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Municipal Bank exterior (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

By 2017 the Westside Metro extension had started and that side of Broad Street was closed. This view of the former Municipal Bank from the Discovery Terrace at the Library of Birmingham during November 2017.

dndimg alt="Municipal Bank" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Municipal Bank exterior (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Scaffolding going up the former Municipal Bank during March 2019 as seen from theDiscovery Terrace at the Library of Birmingham. By the summer it was completely wrapped as work started to turn it into a venue for the University of Birmingham.

dndimg alt="Municipal Bank" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Municipal Bank exterior (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The visit to the Birmingham Municipal Bank as hosted by Birmingham's Hidden Spaces was on the 12th September 2015 during Birmingham Heritage Week.

Seen on the ceiling of the main banking hall: "Thrift Radiates Happiness" and "Saving is the Mother of Riches".

dndimg alt="Municipal Bank" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham Hidden Spaces BMB (Sept 2015) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A pair of windows with the Birmingham Forward coat of arms. Left:  Commerce & Integrity. Right: Labour & Perseverance.

dndimg alt="Municipal Bank" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham Hidden Spaces BMB (Sept 2015) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Another pair of windows with the Birmingham Forward coat of arms. Left: Banking & Finance. Right: Industry & Progress.

dndimg alt="Municipal Bank" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham Hidden Spaces BMB (Sept 2015) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A side room. Probably where customers would hand over their valuables to go into the vaulted slots on the floor below.

dndimg alt="Municipal Bank" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham Hidden Spaces BMB (Sept 2015) (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

A desk in the basement. Not entirely sure of it's use though. Although it wasn't far from the vault.

dndimg alt="Municipal Bank" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham Hidden Spaces BMB (Sept 2015) (5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

A look around the vault. Customers valuables would be locked away in these small lockers.

dndimg alt="Municipal Bank" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham Hidden Spaces BMB (Sept 2015) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

At the top of one side it reads: "Prudent People Seek a Safe Place Where to Lodge Their Securities".

dndimg alt="Municipal Bank" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham Hidden Spaces BMB (Sept 2015) (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The thick steel door to the vault. Normally it would be locked. Probably with a wheel and a code only the banker who knew how to open the vault. You don't want to get locked in there!

dndimg alt="Municipal Bank" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham Hidden Spaces BMB (Sept 2015) (8).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Period 1930s lights seen on the banking floor.

dndimg alt="Municipal Bank" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham Hidden Spaces BMB (Sept 2015) (9).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Revolving doors. The main entrance from Broad Street. Normally you don't see this as the thick doors in front of them are closed.

dndimg alt="Municipal Bank" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham Hidden Spaces BMB (Sept 2015) (10).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Will be interesting to see what the University of Birmingham does with the building, and if members of the public will have access to all areas, including the vault.

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

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22 Aug 2019 - Elliott Brown
Inspiration

Aston Hall Civil War Siege 1643 - Birmingham Heritage Week (September 2017)

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The build up to the next Birmingham Heritage Week (in September 2019) continues with a look back at an event at Aston Hall during September 2017. A recreation of the Civil War Siege of 1643. Sir Thomas Holte awaited the arrival of Royalist troops. Would the hall fall? Nearby Birmingham was on Parliaments side. At Easter 1643 was the Battle of Camp Hill with Prince Rupert.

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Aston Hall Civil War Siege 1643 - Birmingham Heritage Week (September 2017)





The build up to the next Birmingham Heritage Week (in September 2019) continues with a look back at an event at Aston Hall during September 2017. A recreation of the Civil War Siege of 1643. Sir Thomas Holte awaited the arrival of Royalist troops. Would the hall fall? Nearby Birmingham was on Parliaments side. At Easter 1643 was the Battle of Camp Hill with Prince Rupert.


On Saturday 16th September 2017 I went to an event at Aston Hall, booking online for £8.00. The Civil War Siege of Aston Hall in 1643 (the web link from 2 years ago still works). For my full album on Flickr follow this link Aston Hall Civil War Siege.

Can the Hall hold or will it fall? See soldiers arrive to defend the Hall, and experience the story of the siege. Help the servants and soldiers as they prepare for battle, fortifying the Hall and learning to fight.

In the 1640s the country was at war with itself, King against Parliament, and in 1643 the tides of war brought battle to Aston Hall.

Can the Hall hold? Come early to follow events as they unfold!

The above text was from the Birmingham museums website for the Aston Hall (the first link above).

Inside The Great Hall at Aston Hall. Sir Thomas Holte is about to go outside to confront the soldiers that are turning up on his doorstep.

dndimg alt="Civil War Siege" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Aston Hall Civil War Siege 1645 (1) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Sir Thomas Holte and his advisor's are now outside, as the soldiers match up to confront him.

dndimg alt="Civil War Siege" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Aston Hall Civil War Siege 1645 (2) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Royalist troops in red match up to the hall.

dndimg alt="Civil War Siege" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Aston Hall Civil War Siege 1645 (3) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

They confront Sir Thomas Holte.

dndimg alt="Civil War Siege" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Aston Hall Civil War Siege 1645 (4) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A prisoner is held captive. Is he a spy? Is he on Parliaments side?

dndimg alt="Civil War Siege" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Aston Hall Civil War Siege 1645 (5) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

After the man was taken away for questionning, one of Sir Thomas's men signs a document.

dndimg alt="Civil War Siege" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Aston Hall Civil War Siege 1645 (6) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

What next for Aston Hall, has it fallen to the Royalists?

dndimg alt="Civil War Siege" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Aston Hall Civil War Siege 1645 (7) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A short time later, servants at Aston Hall were given rifle practice by the Royalist soldiers.

dndimg alt="Civil War Siege" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Aston Hall Civil War Siege 1645 (8) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Bang! As the servants fire their rifles.

dndimg alt="Civil War Siege" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Aston Hall Civil War Siege 1645 (9) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

After target practice had ended, had the servants joined the Royalist army to fight Parliament?

dndimg alt="Civil War Siege" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Aston Hall Civil War Siege 1645 (10) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

For Birmingham Heritage Week in September 2019, Aston Hall has the following events on:

Meet Sir Thomas Holte Tour on the 11th September 2019.

A Servant’s Life Guided Tour on the 12th September 2019.

Bookings for the above muse be made on their website.

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

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40 passion points
History & heritage
08 Aug 2019 - Elliott Brown
Did you know?

Moseley Hall Hospital and Moseley Park: Birmingham Heritage Week, September 2016

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Back during the Birmingham Heritage Week of September 2016, on the 11th September 2016 I went to Moseley Hall Hospital, starting off at the Dovecote and Cow House. Then walking towards Moseley Hall Hospital. On the open day Moseley Park was open, so didn't need a key (I'm not a resident). In the park I had a look in the Ice House.

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Moseley Hall Hospital and Moseley Park: Birmingham Heritage Week, September 2016





Back during the Birmingham Heritage Week of September 2016, on the 11th September 2016 I went to Moseley Hall Hospital, starting off at the Dovecote and Cow House. Then walking towards Moseley Hall Hospital. On the open day Moseley Park was open, so didn't need a key (I'm not a resident). In the park I had a look in the Ice House.


Walking down from Kings Heath along the Alcester Road, I entered via the service road to Moseley Hall Hospital, and sat on a bench until the Dovecote and Cow House were opened, sometime after 2pm on Sunday 11th September 2016.

The estate was farmland back in the 18th century surrounding Moseley Hall. Eventually the land was sold to the City of Birmingham and housing built around the estate.

After the Dissolution of the Monasteries the Moseley estate ended up with the Grevis family who rebuilt the hall in the early 1600s. In 1768 it was sold to the banker John Taylor, His son John built a new house in the plain classical style. In 1889 the estate was sold to Richard Cadbury of the chocolate making family. In 1891 Cadbury presented Moseley Hall to the City of Birmingham. It is now a NHS community hospital.

The Dovecote

The Dovecote is a Grade II listed building. Made of brick, tiled roof with wooden lantern and finial. It dates to the 18th century. I had a look around outside before it opened.

dndimg alt="Dovecote Moseley Hall Hospital" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Hall Hospital Dovecote (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

You head up some wooden steps and then you can have a look inside. This was the first building I went up shortly after 2pm when they unlocked the door. A look up to the wooden ceiling.

dndimg alt="Dovecote Moseley Hall Hospital" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Hall Hospital Dovecote (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Cow House

The next building I looked at was the Cow House, seen here before they unlocked the door. A Grade II listed building described as the Building to the North East of the Dovecote. Built in the 18th century, brick with a slate roof.

dndimg alt="Cow House Moseley Hall Hospital" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Hall Hospital Cow House (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Once the door was unlocked a look at the ground floor. There was also steps up to the area above. Like all places like this, you go up the steps, but have to reverse down them, a bit like in various old mills I've been too. Was various old bits and bobs upstairs.

dndimg alt="Cow House Moseley Hall Hospital" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Hall Hospital Cow House (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Moseley Hall Hospital

After the Dovecote and Cow House, I walked down to the old hall, now a hospital. Moseley Hall Hospital is a Grade II listed building. It was built in about 1790. It was Richard Cadbury's home until he gave it to the City to be Children's Home in 1890. Made of Ashlar with a slate roof. Has a porch with 4 pairs of Tuscan columns.

I previously posted the below photo in this post Cadbury Brothers: George and Richard Cadbury.

dndimg alt="Moseley Hall Hospital" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Hall.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

I did briefly pop inside, but decided there was nothing worth taking photos of, so I next set off for Moseley Park. Saw this side view of Moseley Hall Hospital on the way. Heading down the grass bank to the busy Salisbury Road, was tricky finding somewhere to safely cross the road, before heading through the open gate into the park.

dndimg alt="Moseley Hall Hospital" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Hall Hospital side view.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

For more photos taken at Moseley Old Hospital, check out my album on Flickr.

The Ice House in Moseley Park

First up a look a the Ice House, the main reason for going into Moseley Park. The Ice House was built in the 18th century to store blocks of ice for Moseley Hall. One of the volunteers said that even ice shipped over from America via the UK's canal system was stored here. Even now, if you put ice down here, it will stay frozen! The Ice House is a Grade II listed building. Dates to the late 18th century, built of brick.

dndimg alt="Ice House Moseley Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Park Birmingham Heritage Week Sept 2016 Ice House (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A look inside and down the Ice House. It has a ladder there, but don't think you can go down there. Worth a look though. Subterranean structure under slight earth mound. Domed brick chamber of about 16ft deep.The chamber is, at least partly, of cavity brick construction.

dndimg alt="Ice House Moseley Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Park Birmingham Heritage Week Sept 2016 Ice House (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Moseley Pool

At the time I also had a look around the park. One of the many paths and trees here. Leading to the Moseley Pool.

dndimg alt="Moseley Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Park Birmingham Heritage Week Sept 2016 path.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Usually only locals that live in the area with a key would get to see this pool of water. But on the Heritage Open Day, anyone could see it.

dndimg alt="Moseley Park pond" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Park Birmingham Heritage Week Sept 2016 pond (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Looks so tranquil and peaceful, hard to believe that this is in Moseley! Between Salisbury Road, Alcester Road and Chantry Road.

dndimg alt="Moseley Park pond" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Park Birmingham Heritage Week Sept 2016 pond (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A Boat House on the Moseley Pool. The gates are on Salisbury Road and Alcester Road. Both are normally locked. They also have music festivals in this park (I've never been).

dndimg alt="Moseley Park pond" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Park Birmingham Heritage Week Sept 2016 pond (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

For more photos taken at Moseley Park, check out my album on Flickr.

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

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60 passion points
People & community
26 Jun 2019 - Elliott Brown
Inspiration

Peaky Blinder Birmingham

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The BBC TV series Peaky Blinders has inspired a pub to be opened in Birmingham called The Peaky Blinder Pub. It opened on Dale End back in 2014, and has had several repaints outside since then. Was also a Thomas Shelby mural near St Paul's Square in the JQ. Also the owners of the Dale End pub wanted to open a Garrison Hotel in Digbeth, but don't think it's opened yet.

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Peaky Blinder Birmingham





The BBC TV series Peaky Blinders has inspired a pub to be opened in Birmingham called The Peaky Blinder Pub. It opened on Dale End back in 2014, and has had several repaints outside since then. Was also a Thomas Shelby mural near St Paul's Square in the JQ. Also the owners of the Dale End pub wanted to open a Garrison Hotel in Digbeth, but don't think it's opened yet.


The BBC TV series Peaky Blinders has since it started in 2013, inspired as pub to open in Dale End, as well as a mural in the Jewellery Quarter. 4 series have been broadcast to date, with a 5th coming sometime in 2019 (the last season was shown in 2017). The owners of The Peaky Blinder Pub were hoping to open another bar in Digbeth.

Thomas Shelby mural seen in a courtyard off St Paul's Square in the Jewellery Quarter during January 2017.

dndimg alt="Thomas Shelby" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Thomas Shelby St Pauls Square Jewellery Quarter.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Peaky Blinder Pub opened on Dale End during 2014. Seen here during October 2014. Looked a bit red back then.

dndimg alt="The Peaky Blinder Pub" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Peaky Blinder Pub Dale End (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The other side in October 2014. The pub sign of Thomas Shelby as played in the TV series by Cillian Murphy.

dndimg alt="The Peaky Blinder Pub" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Peaky Blinder Pub Dale End (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

By October 2016, I noticed that they had changed the art on the wall to the left. That was the year that series 3 had been on the BBC.

dndimg alt="The Peaky Blinder Pub" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Peaky Blinder Pub Dale End (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

In November 2016, noticed this sign walking past. "No Kids, No WiFi, No Food, Just good quality beer!"

dndimg alt="The Peaky Blinder Pub" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Peaky Blinder Pub Dale End (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

In January 2018, trying a black and white photo of The Peaky Blinder Pub from the bus. I think the art on the left had been repainted again.

dndimg alt="The Peaky Blinder Pub" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Peaky Blinder Pub Dale End (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

By April 2018, the graffiti street art had changed once more. Series 4 had long since finished by then.

dndimg alt="The Peaky Blinder Pub" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Peaky Blinder Pub Dale End (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

By June 2019, they were having yet another repaint of the street art at The Peaky Blinder Pub. I'm not sure it was finished as I passed it on my bus.

dndimg alt="The Peaky Blinder Pub" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Peaky Blinder Pub Dale End (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Graffiti street art seen on Coventry Street in Digbeth, not far from the Bordesley Viaduct during June 2018. The owners of The Peaky Blinder Pub of Dale End, wanted to open a new bar in Digbeth called Garrison Hotel and Bar. The Irish pub O'Rourke's had been on the corner of Oxford Street and Coventry Street until the Shelby's popped round and removed them!

dndimg alt="The Garrison" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Garrison Hotel and Bar Coventry Street Digbeth (June 2018) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Assume this part of the mural is supposed to resemble Thomas Shelby.

dndimg alt="The Garrison" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Garrison Hotel and Bar Coventry Street Digbeth (June 2018) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

By Order of Peaky Blinder Pub Dale End.

dndimg alt="The Garrison" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Garrison Hotel and Bar Coventry Street Digbeth (June 2018) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

An almost full look at the mural, as cars were in the way a year ago. I'm not sure what has happened to this pub, as I've not been past there recently, and whenever I did pass it since, they didn't seem to have refurbished the pub into the Garrison Hotel and Bar. Any news on it?

dndimg alt="The Garrison" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Garrison Hotel and Bar Coventry Street Digbeth (June 2018) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Creator Steven Knight was inspired by the real Garrison Tavern in Bordesley. The Garrison seen here during April 2018 on the corner of Garrison Lane and Witton Street. But the pub was run down, and it may have closed down by 2012. The pub is on the no 97 bus route, and is not to far from the Blues ground (St Andrew's). The Grand Union Canal is also a short distance walk away from here.

dndimg alt="The Garrison" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Garrison Bordesley (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A full look at the pub. The city centre in the distance, doors all boarded up. The Former Garrison Lane Junior and Infant Schools seen behind the old pub. The former Garrison Lane School consisting of junior and infant buildings, constructed in 1873 to the designs of Martin and Chamberlain.

dndimg alt="The Garrison" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Garrison Bordesley (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

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20 passion points
History & heritage
20 Jun 2019 - Elliott Brown
Did you know?

Metchley Roman Fort between the University of Birmingham and the QEHB

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I've seen many Roman ruins across France, Italy and Spain. Here in the UK there are ruins but not as easy to see. In Birmingham was a Roman Fort in the Edgbaston area. Now under the path between the University of Birmingham and the QEHB. Information signs gives you details on the site! 

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Metchley Roman Fort between the University of Birmingham and the QEHB





I've seen many Roman ruins across France, Italy and Spain. Here in the UK there are ruins but not as easy to see. In Birmingham was a Roman Fort in the Edgbaston area. Now under the path between the University of Birmingham and the QEHB. Information signs gives you details on the site! 


On my travels I've seen visible Roman ruins. Recently went to Tarragona in Spain and was many Roman ruins there. An Amphitheatre, Circus, Forum etc (a UNESCO World Heritage Site). I also saw Roman ruins in Barcelona under the History of Barcelona Museum. 

Last year (2018) saw a Roman Theatre, Cistern (went down a spiral staircase for that) and Acropolis (that was Etruscan) in Volterra, Italy. Went to the Roman Forum in Rome back in 2006. Was also a Roman Theatre in Vienne, France that I saw in 2017.

In the UK, I've seen Roman ruins in Dorchester, Dorset but ruins just visible above the ground. That visit in April 2012 to the Dorchester Roman Town House. More recently in Colchester, Essex was some Roman walls, and evidence of a Roman Theatre. Colchester was the 1st Roman City developed, although it's just a town now. 

Various museums around Europe have Roman artifacts / columns etc, including at the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. Also seen marble busts of Roman Emperors in museums. 

Here in Birmingham you don't have to travel far. Get buses to the QEHB or University Station. And between those was Metchley Roman Fort!

First 5 photos taken during February 2013. 

First up this sign about the Fort detailing the Roman street of Via Decumana. It was a significant place over 2000 years ago. 

dndimg alt="Metchley Roman Fort " dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Metchley Roman Fort (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This path along the line of what was Via Decumana.  The moder path between the University and hospital intersects the line of the historic road. 

dndimg alt="Metchley Roman Fort " dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Metchley Roman Fort (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

On this sign about the Fort being built in AD 48. But was only occupied for 10 years. Years later converted into a Fort on a smaller scale. 

dndimg alt="Metchley Roman Fort " dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Metchley Roman Fort (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Near the site of the North Gate of Metchley Roman Fort. The modern plaza had been designed to reflect Birmingham's heritage. 

dndimg alt="Metchley Roman Fort " dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Metchley Roman Fort (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This sign by the site of the Eastern defences of the Fort. There was an earth bank and ditches here. 

dndimg alt="Metchley Roman Fort " dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Metchley Roman Fort (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The next two photos taken in August 2015.

Over the years I keep walking between the QEHB and the University of Birmingham (or vice versa) and keep going past the Metchley Roman Fort site. This sign detailing it being one of the oldest archaeological sites in Birmingham! There was two forts on this site, but both were short lived. 

dndimg alt="Metchley Roman Fort " dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Metchley Roman Fort (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Sign taken before. But without my shadow. Sometimes forget what I've taken before, especially if taking signs like this again! Various finds on the site including pots. Also details of the Bronze Age and Post Medieval period. 

dndimg alt="Metchley Roman Fort " dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Metchley Roman Fort (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown (over 1000 followers!).

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40 passion points
Modern Architecture
15 Apr 2019 - Elliott Brown
Did you know?

A Tale of Two Hampton Courts (don't confuse them!)

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You've all heard of the world famous Hampton Court Palace in London, but have you heard of the other Hampton Court in Herefordshire! Hampton Court Castle is in the West Midlands Region, and is closer to Birmingham, than the former home of Henry VIII in the capital! Some people may even get sent to the wrong one on their SatNav! Both are well worth a visit. I visited both in 2016.

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A Tale of Two Hampton Courts (don't confuse them!)





You've all heard of the world famous Hampton Court Palace in London, but have you heard of the other Hampton Court in Herefordshire! Hampton Court Castle is in the West Midlands Region, and is closer to Birmingham, than the former home of Henry VIII in the capital! Some people may even get sent to the wrong one on their SatNav! Both are well worth a visit. I visited both in 2016.


Hampton Court Castle

A visit on the August Bank Holiday Weekend of 2016 to Hampton Court Castle in Herefordshire. This was only a month or so after my visit to the other more famous Hampton Court down in London! It is located in Hope under Dinmore, south of Leominster and is a Grade I listed building. It dates to 1427 and was built by Sir Rowland Lenthall, on land that was a gift of King Henry IV. It's been beside the River Lugg for 600 years. The Lenthall's stayed here for 300 years. In the 19th century it was bought by Richard Arkwright. His descendants lived here until 1912. In the 20th century it went through various owners until the American millionaire Robert Van Kampen bought it in the 1990s. It was sold again after his death. The postcode for your SatNav is . Distance from Birmingham around 58 to 61 miles, via the M5.

 

First up a look at the Gatehouse, this would be the first and last thing you would see if arriving by car (or coach if one would be able to fit through the archway). The gatehouse is a Grade I listed building, and it listed with the main castle building. Hampton Court, Hope under Dinmore. It dates to the 15th century, with 19th century remodelling. There is two small towers either side of the entranceway.

dndimg alt="Hampton Court Castle gatehouse" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hampton Court Castle Herefordshire (August 2016) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

First view of the castle itself at the end of the drive. This Hampton Court is a castellated country house built between 1427 and 1436. It was altered in the early 18th century by Colen Campbell for Lord Coningsby and remodelled and restored in the early 19th century by Sir Jeffrey Wyatville for Richard Arkwright.

dndimg alt="Hampton Court Castle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hampton Court Castle Herefordshire (August 2016) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

On this side was the Orangery Tearoom, where we had some lunch. Some picnic tables outside.

dndimg alt="Hampton Court Castle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hampton Court Castle Herefordshire (August 2016) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The view of the castle from the lawn. It was from near here that you could watch the falconry display on the Bank Holiday Weekend in late August 2016. The grounds are also used for various other special events, such as outdoor theatre productions, small concerts and family days out.

dndimg alt="Hampton Court Castle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hampton Court Castle Herefordshire (August 2016) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A look at the castle round to the right side from the lawn. The Orangery Tearoom was to the far left. The building itself is much smaller than the other Hampton Court. There has been many owners of the building over the centuries. It was owned by the noble Coningsby family from 1510 until 1781. John Arkwright grandson of Richard Arkwright purchased it in 1810. John Stanhope Arkwright sold it in 1910. It was the seat of the Viscount Hereford from 1924 and 1972. American businessman Robert Van Kampen bought it in 1994, but he died in 1999. The Van Kampen family sold the castle and grounds in 2008. The house was last for sale in January 2016.

dndimg alt="Hampton Court Castle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hampton Court Castle Herefordshire (August 2016) (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Now a look inside. There was not a problem with taking photos inside of the castle (as long as you don't use flash).

In this corridor was suits of armour and deer heads. Saw lots of suits of armour on the ground floor over various corridors / rooms.

dndimg alt="Hampton Court Castle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hampton Court Castle Herefordshire (August 2016) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Suits of armour and a chandelier in this room. Also on the wall was an armoured horse with a suit of armour (on the left). And half a deer on the right side!

dndimg alt="Hampton Court Castle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hampton Court Castle Herefordshire (August 2016) (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Another corridor with more suits of armour (on the left) and deer heads (on the right). A tapestry at the far end.

dndimg alt="Hampton Court Castle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hampton Court Castle Herefordshire (August 2016) (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Shields and more suits of armour around this staircase. Also heraldic flags. A chandelier hanging on the ceiling.

dndimg alt="Hampton Court Castle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hampton Court Castle Herefordshire (August 2016) (9)(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This dining room with a long dining table and chairs, looks like to be from the 19th century. Was a dress on a dummy to the far left. Paintings of flowers on the wall either side of the mirror.

dndimg alt="Hampton Court Castle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hampton Court Castle Herefordshire (August 2016) (10)(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

For more photos, please check out my album on Flickr: Hampton Court Castle - the castle.

Hampton Court Palace

This was a group visit during July 2016 (went on a mini coach). A nice day out, where you could see the Tudor palace of King Henry VIII and the late 17th century palace of King William III & Mary II. As well as watch jousting displays and explore the vast gardens. It's next to the River Thames, in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Postcode for your SatNav is . Distance from Birmingham approximately 130 miles, if you go via the M40 and M25.

The palace is a Grade I listed building Hampton Court Palace. This view from the main entrance looking up to the Tudor Palace. Built from 1514 onwards, originally by Cardinal Wolsey. King Henry VIII  took it over from the Cardinal, and became one of his main palaces. He made alterations from 1529 to 1540 including the building of the Great Hall. Lots of tourists about in a busy hot summer!

dndimg alt="Hampton Court Palace" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hampton Court Palace London (July 2016) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Entering into the next courtyard. This is The Base Court. It's the entrance to Henry VIII's Apartments. The palace is now managed by Historic Royal Palaces. No Monarch has lived here since George II. From here you can visit Henry VIII's Kitchens. There was busts of Roman Emperor's around this court.

dndimg alt="Hampton Court Palace" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hampton Court Palace London (July 2016) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Baroque palace was built from 1689 until about 1694 for King William III by the architect Sir Christopher Wren. This are is the Fountain Court. From here you can access The Georgian Story and William III's Apartments. But I think that you couldn't take photos inside of those galleries unfortunately. I think there was a tea room around here somewhere!

dndimg alt="Hampton Court Palace" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hampton Court Palace London (July 2016) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Heading out to the palace's gardens. This view was taken from The Wilderness (near the Rose Garden) and is a view of the Great Hall. That was rebuilt from 1532 and the Chapel was remodelled in 1536, including the building of the Chapel Court. We were heading to the River Thames.

dndimg alt="Hampton Court Palace" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hampton Court Palace London (July 2016) (9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

View of the palace from the River Thames. There is a park on the other side of the Thames called Cigarette Island Park, and it has nice views of the palace, the further you go down the path! The boat was called Connaught and was at Hampton Court Landing Stage, Pier No 3. Tudor Palace seen on the left. Baroque Palace to the right!

dndimg alt="Hampton Court Palace" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hampton Court Palace London (July 2016) (10).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Kitchen's - seving place. There wasn't many interiors where you could take photos, but it was ok in the Henry VIII's Kitchens

dndimg alt="Hampton Court Palace" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hampton Court Palace London (July 2016) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Queen's Staircase.  Decorated in 1734 for Queen Caroline by the architect and designer William Kent. Nice looking Royal ceiling! Taking photos in the King William III apartments was not allowed, so I had to respect that, so was not much that I could take up here! That led to the The Georgian Story, but wasn't much to take photo wise when I got there (at the time).

dndimg alt="Hampton Court Palace" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hampton Court Palace London (July 2016) (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Great Hall - stained glass window - Henry VIII. Not as much restrictions in King Henry VIII's Apartments though (for taking photos). This stained glass window has the Royal Tudor Coat of Arms, with an image of King Henry VIII in the middle of it.

dndimg alt="Hampton Court Palace" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hampton Court Palace London (July 2016) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Henry VIII and Katherine Parr married in her Privy Closet at Hampton Court on the morning of 12th July 1543. This was seen in a room off a corridor. Nearby was a portrait of Henry VIII on the wall.

dndimg alt="Hampton Court Palace" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hampton Court Palace London (July 2016) (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Clock Court. Part of the Tudor Palace. Some benches here for people to sit down. At this point we were on our way to have a quick look at the Young Henry VIII's Story exhibition. The entrance to the Henry VIII Apartments was further to the left. This was just after exiting those apartments (probably from the door behind me).

dndimg alt="Hampton Court Palace" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hampton Court Palace London (July 2016) (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

For more photos, please check out my album on Flickr: Hampton Court Palace.

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown (over 1000 followers!).

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70 passion points
Modern Architecture
15 Mar 2019 - Elliott Brown
Inspiration

Round towers in Birmingham, UK and Pisa, Italy

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I finally got to go to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa during a holiday to Florence and Tuscany in June 2018. While I didn't go up the tower (not worth paying for the short amount of time to go up). Was well worth seeing it and other landmarks in the area. A comparison with the Rotunda in Birmingham, UK. The Leaning Tower was stablised by 2008, while our Rotunda was renovated.

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Round towers in Birmingham, UK and Pisa, Italy





I finally got to go to Pisa to see the Leaning Tower of Pisa during a holiday to Florence and Tuscany in June 2018. While I didn't go up the tower (not worth paying for the short amount of time to go up). Was well worth seeing it and other landmarks in the area. A comparison with the Rotunda in Birmingham, UK. The Leaning Tower was stablised by 2008, while our Rotunda was renovated.


Birmingham has direct flights to Pisa, from Birmingham Airport to Pisa Airport. When I went it was with Jet2.com (organised via Riviera Travel) during June 2018. We had around 3 days in Florence, before setting off for Tuscany. On one of the touring days, after a wet morning in the city of Lucca, our coach took us to the city of Pisa in the afternoon. I remember being in Pisa, and seeing Ryanair or Jet2 planes flying over head!

 

First up a look at the Rotunda in Birmingham, seen over many years in the city centre, from different views.

The Rotunda, Birmingham

The Rotunda was built from 1961 to 1965, it was by the architect James A. Roberts, and was built with the original 1960s Bull Ring Shopping Centre. It was a 12 storey office block. It was revised to 25 storeys and had an abandoned rotating restaurant on the top floor (that was never built). In the 1980s and 1990s it was used to advertise Coca Cola (and resembled a giant can of Coke!).  It was given Grade II listed building status in 2000. The building was rebuilt between 2005 and 2008 by the architects Glenn Howells Architects and was renovated by Urban Splash. There is now apartments and a hotel in the building.

This view below was taken in August 2009 at the Bullring. Looking up from St Martin's Square on a very sunny day in Birmingham. This was around the time that I was getting photos of the Horatio Nelson statue with a blue sky.

dndimg alt="Rotunda" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Rotunda Bullring.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

This view of the Rotunda was taken during December 2009 from St Martin's Queensway. A no 63 bus waits not far from Birmingham New Street Station (the refurbishment of the station had yet to start, but was done from 2010 to 2015). One of the "bridges" links the Rotunda side to the 2003 Bullring. From here you can head up the ramp to Rotunda Square, or head under the dark part of St Martin's Queensway to Moor Street Queensway and Birmingham Moor Street Station. Some maps also show this as Swan Passage (probably one of the poorly designed part of the modern Bullring).

dndimg alt="Rotunda" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Rotunda St Martins Queensway.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

This view of the Rotunda was taken during August 2014 from Digbeth. Not far from Selfridges at the Bullring was a paint brush for the City of Colours Festival. They held a demonstation at the Bullring, and later had a day in Digbeth around the Custard Factory area painting street art on walls. Birmingham Coach Station and the BT Tower was also visible from here. Behind Digbeth Police Station is the Beorma Quarter. This was when the Adagio Aparthotel was under construction. St Martin's Church seen to the left.

dndimg alt="Rotunda" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Rotunda Selfridges Beorma Quarter.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

A view from the Library of Birmingham of the Rotunda and Ladywood House (either seen from the Discovery Terrace or the Secret Garden) during October 2015. Visible from up here also was the Premier Inn hotel near Birmingham New Street Station and the Charters Building.

dndimg alt="Rotunda" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Rotunda Ladywood House.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Rotunda seen from Bordesley Street in Digbeth, during a sunny day in January 2018. Seen with the Bordesley Viaduct (with scaffolding) and Selfridges. Moor Street Car Park is usually a good place for roof top views of the city. You can also see the Rotunda if you are standing at platforms 3 or 4 at Birmingham Moor Street Station.

dndimg alt="Rotunda" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Rotunda Bordesley Street.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

A Secret Garden view from the Library of Birmingham during January 2019. Seen to the left of the Rotunda was St Andrew's Stadium, the home of Birmingham City Football Club. It's also possible up there to see The Hawthorns (home of West Bromwich Albion) or Villa Park (home of Aston Villa) on a clear day.

dndimg alt="Rotunda" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Rotunda St Andrews BCFC.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Sit at the front of the no 50 bus on the top deck for this view of the Rotunda. Seen during February 2019 on Bradford Street in Digbeth. Heading up, you can see at the Bullring: St Martin's Church, Smithfield House and Selfridges. As well as the BT Tower. In Digbeth on the right is the Adagio Aparthotel (at the Beorma Quarter development) and Digbeth Police Station. I don't fancy going up that eyesore concrete car park on Moat Lane for views, so this bus view will do for now!

dndimg alt="Rotunda" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Rotunda Bradford Street.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Another bus view, this one from the no 63 bus at the top of the Bristol Road near the Belgrave Interchange. Looking up the Bristol Road to Southside. The Rotunda seen with the McLaren Building and the tower of Exchange Square phase 1. At Belgrave Interchange you can see the on going roadworks of the Birmingham Cycle Revolution for the cycleway being built down the Bristol Road in Edgbaston. It goes as far as the University of Birmingham along sections of the Dual Carriageway. It's all change on Bristol Street too. Bristol Street Motors stands alone, while the Monaco House site awaits development for New Monaco House. A church used to be down here too, but that was demolished for new housing being built on the St Luke's land (towards Sherlock Street).

dndimg alt="Rotunda" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Rotunda Bristol Street.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Now lets travel over 1000 miles to Italy. Fastest to fly from Birmingham Airport to Pisa Airport (the flight was around 3 hours with Jet2). As I said above we went to Florence first (where our first hotel was). The day after we went to Pisa. This was during late June 2018.

The Leaning Tower of Pisa

In Italian the tower is called the Torre pendente di Pisa. It is the campanile or the freestanding bell tower of Pisa Cathedral. Work on the tower started in 1173 and was completed 200 years later in 1372. The tower began to lean during the 12th century. The tower is 55.86 metres high made of marble and stone. The tower was stabilised in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. The tower has 294 or 296 steps. The tower lean has changed since the stabilisation work was completed by 2008.

It was well worth seeing, I was hoping to see it for years, before going on the Florence and Tuscany holiday. Could have paid in advance to go up, but for 30 minutes, the price wasn't worth it. So in the end, while there just explored the grounds of the Piazza dei Miracoli (Square of Miracles).

This first view with the Cathedral. One of my first views after entering the tourist heavy area!

dndimg alt="Leaning Tower of Pisa" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Leaning Tower of Pisa Italy (June 2018) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Slightly more close up and zoomed into the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Tourists try to do a selfie pose of "pushing" the tower over! I tried it myself, not that the photos of me got the desired affect! Being the summer, there was loads of tourists about.

dndimg alt="Leaning Tower of Pisa" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Leaning Tower of Pisa Italy (June 2018) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

It realy is leaning! This view with the lawn and the tourists at the bottom. Can you see the people on the upper level balconies? There was other monuments about such as statues and sculptures.

dndimg alt="Leaning Tower of Pisa" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Leaning Tower of Pisa Italy (June 2018) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This view of the Leaning Tower of Pisa seen with the Fontana dei putti. The monumental fountain that welcomes the entrance of the square from Via Santa Maria is by Giuseppe Vaccà (base and fountain) and by Giovanni Antonio Cybei (the marble group of putti holding the coats of arms of Pisa and the Opera).

dndimg alt="Leaning Tower of Pisa" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Leaning Tower of Pisa Italy (June 2018) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

I tried to head all the way around for different views. From this side to the right of the cathedral, it looks straight! Was also a Italian Army vehicle on site to keep tourists safe. I also saw them in Florence at different sites.

dndimg alt="Leaning Tower of Pisa" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Leaning Tower of Pisa Italy (June 2018) (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Even more closer looking up! I think this is near the entrance to the Leaning Tower of Pisa. Would guess that paying ticket holders would queue up around here?

dndimg alt="Leaning Tower of Pisa" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Leaning Tower of Pisa Italy (June 2018) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This view from the steps of Pisa Cathedral. We sat down here for a period. I also noticed planes flying overhead such as Ryanair and Jet2. It's really leaning from this view!

dndimg alt="Leaning Tower of Pisa" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Leaning Tower of Pisa Italy (June 2018) (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

It looks like here that the man on the left is leaning on the tower to push it over! While the man on the right is trying to push in left (for his own photo). Of course many tourists were trying the famous move for there holiday snaps! The tower also had a Republic of Pisa flag. That existed from the 10th to the 15th centuries. It was taken over by the Republic of Florence in 1402.

dndimg alt="Leaning Tower of Pisa" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Leaning Tower of Pisa Italy (June 2018) (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown. My Twitter ellrbrown and Flickr ell brown.

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History & heritage
05 Mar 2019 - Elliott Brown
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Stirchley Village up and down the Pershore Road and Hazelwell Street

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There is plenty of history in the Stirchley area of Birmingham. A big chunk of it is called Stirchley Village. Here we will be looking at buildings up and down the Pershore Road and Hazelwell Street. There was a big Co-operative Society presence in the village, and the Cadbury's were nearby in Bournville. Buildings include the Stirchley Baths, the British Oak pub and many more!

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Stirchley Village up and down the Pershore Road and Hazelwell Street





There is plenty of history in the Stirchley area of Birmingham. A big chunk of it is called Stirchley Village. Here we will be looking at buildings up and down the Pershore Road and Hazelwell Street. There was a big Co-operative Society presence in the village, and the Cadbury's were nearby in Bournville. Buildings include the Stirchley Baths, the British Oak pub and many more!


While there might be a lot of derelict shops on the Pershore Road in Stirchley, there are many historic buildings up and down the road in good condition. Some like the old swimming baths and the Friends Meeting House have been restored. Stirchley goes from Selly Park towards Cotteridge along the Pershore Road, and the road is used during the Great Birmingham Run every October and the Great Birmingham 10K in April or May. The village also has boundaries with Bournville and Kings Heath.

 

First up a look at the Sea Cadets building. It is not far from Cottteridge but it is in Stirchley. The Sea Cadet Corps Birmingham Sherbourne is located a 1667 Pershore Road. They were established in 1942. They help people learn the skills  to become a Sea Cadet and one day join the Royal Navy!

dndimg alt="Sea Cadets - Pershore Road, Stirchley" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Sea Cadets Pershore Road Stirchley.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Stirchley Community Primary School shares their building with the Selly Oak Constituency Office on the Pershore Road. There may have been a school here since the late 19th century. The building was built in 1879 by William Hale, on what was Stirchley Street. It had room for 215 pupils. Extensions built in 1883 and 1893, both by Hale, and in 1896 by Edward Holmes. (these details taken from a book called Victorian Buildings of Birmingham by Roy Thornton, published in 2006 - very useful for details of Victorian buildings).

dndimg alt="Stirchley Primary School - Pershore Road, Stirchley" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly Oak Constituency Office Pershore Road Stirchley.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The British Oak is a public house on the Pershore Road in Stirchley. It is now near all that Seven Capital land awaiting development. The pub is a Grade II listed building. It was built from 1923 to 1924 by James and Lister Lea for the Mitchells and Butlers brewery. Red brick in Flemish bond, with diaperwork, brick mullion-transom windows and tile arches. It is a large public house in 17th century Domestic Revival Style. The pub also includes a garden loggia of the same date.

dndimg alt="The British Oak - Pershore Road, Stirchley" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/British Oak Pershore Road Stirchley.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Dog Pool Hotel, also known as The New Dog Pool Hotel & Restaurant. On the Pershore Road in Stirchley, close to Selly Park. The pub has been closed down for years. Built in the 1920s, it was formerly the Hibernan. It replaced another Dog Pool Inn that used to be opposite. A wedged building at the corner of St Stephen's Road and the Pershore Road. The nearby road opposite is called Dogpool Lane. That leads to Dads Lane and onto Kings Heath. Some people (as a joke) vandalise the road sign to read "Dogpoo Lane"!

dndimg alt="Dog Pool Hotel - Pershore Road, Stirchley" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Dog Pool Hotel Pershore Road Stirchley.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Stirchley Public Baths was restored in 2015 and reopened in January 2016 as a Community Centre. It's on the corner of Bournville Lane and Hazelwell Street in Stirchley. It is a Grade II listed building. The swimming baths was built in 1910 by John P. Osborne. Red brick in Flemish bond and diaper pattern blue brick, and with stone dressings. Slate roofs. Built in the Edwardian Baroque style. For many years the building was closed before it was restored. Seen here a few days after it reopened to the public in January 2016.

dndimg alt="Stirchley Public Baths - Hazelwell Street, Stirchley" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Stirchley Baths Hazelwell Street Stirchley.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Stirchley Library is on the Bournville Lane in Stirchley. A short walk away from Bournville Station. It was built in 1905 for the Kings Norton & Northfield Urban District Council (years before the area became part of the City of Birmingham). A Grade II listed building. The Public Library was built in 1905 by John P. Osborne. Red brick in Flemish bond, with stone dressings and a slate roof. Built in the Freestyle. It is next door to the former swimming baths (now community centre).

dndimg alt="Stirchley Library - Bournville Lane, Stirchley" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Stirchley Library Bournville Lane Stirchley.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Birmingham Civic Society had unveiled a blue plaque for Mary Cottrell (1868 - 1969) at the Stirchley Community Centre (the former public baths) during February 2019 - Mary Cottrell Blue Plaque unveiled. When I got off the no 47 bus early in the rain near the British Oak, I thought the plaque would be at the baths, but walking along in the torrential rain, saw it at this building, which was the former Central Bakery dated 1891. The building is now home to Em's Pet Food Store at 1395 Pershore Road and Isherwood & Co. at 1393 Pershore Road. DJF Bathrooms and Kitchens is to the right near the archway. It was formerly the site of a Ten Acres and Stirchley Co-operative Society Bakery. Mary Cottrell was the first woman Birmingham City Councillor for the Labour & Co-operative Party in 1917. She was also a board member of the Ten Acres and Stirchley Co-operative Society from 1909, and the Co-operative Wholesales Society in 1922.

dndimg alt="The Central Bakery - Pershore Road, Stirchley" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Central Bakery Pershore Road Stirchley.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Fun runners on the Birmingham International Marathon which was held on Sunday 15th October 2017. It was the 1st new marathon in Birmingham (26.2 miles) since the 1980s. Held on the same day as the Great Birmingham Run (which started a little bit later). There was no marathon in 2018  (due to roadworks along the route) but the normal Great Birmingham Run and Great Birmingham 10K were still held in the city.

Views below of the fun runners running past the Pershore Road in Stirchley towards Bournville. Between the community centre and the former bakery.

dndimg alt="Birmingham International Marathon - Pershore Road, Stirchley" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Great Birmingham Run Pershore Road Stirchley (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

As usual the roads were closed to allow the run to take place.

dndimg alt="Birmingham International Marathon - Pershore Road, Stirchley" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Great Birmingham Run Pershore Road Stirchley (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

I got the train to Bournville that day to check out the Birmingham International Marathon in the Bournville and Stirchley areas. Bus routes would have been diverted while it was on.

dndimg alt="Birmingham International Marathon - Pershore Road, Stirchley" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Great Birmingham Run Pershore Road Stirchley (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

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Civic pride
24 Feb 2019 - Daniel Sturley
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Nelson at the Bullring in Birmingham - Did you know?

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The statue of Horatio Lord Nelson in the Bullring, by Royal Academy of the Arts member Richard Westmacott Jr. was erected in 1809 as part of the Golden Jubilee of George III. The statue originally stood on a marble base that was replaced when the monument was moved out of the way of the new inner ring road in 1958. It now stands closer to where it was from 1809-1958 on a Portland stone plinth and is once again a main feature of the shopping centre.

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24 Feb 2019 - Daniel Sturley
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Old Joe at University of Birmingham - Did you know?

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DID YOU KNOW? ... The Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower at University of Birmingham is the tallest free-standing clock tower in the world at 100 metres and can be seen from miles away around the city. It is known locally as ‘Old Joe’. Students can walk through the base when moving around the campus but are superstitious to do so when the bell is chiming on the hour. The fear, it is said, is that this could result in them failing their degree.

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24 Feb 2019 - Daniel Sturley
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Tolkien and Two Towers, Ladywood, Birmingham - Did you know?

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DID YOU KNOW? ... J. R. R. Tolkien lived in Edgbaston in his later childhood and it is thought that his inspiration for the 'Two Towers' was from being able to see both Perrot's Folly and the Waterworks Tower in Ladywood nearby. This is still contested andit is also believed that 'Old Joe' at Birmingham University was influential as he lived in Hall Green during his early childhood. Tolkien liked to explore his local area including Sarehole Mill, Moseley Bog and Lickey Hills, maybe also inspiring his tales of ‘Middle-earth’.

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24 Feb 2019 - Elliott Brown
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Birmingham Town Hall - Did you know?

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The Town Hall was built in 1834 by Joseph Hansom. When installed the Town Hall's 6,000-pipe William Hill concert organ was largest and most technologically advanced in the world. Between 1784 - 1912 the city hosted the Birmingham Triennial Music Festival and the Town Hall was built to cope with its popularity with greats like Felix Mendelssohn and Edward Elgar performing there.

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30 passion points
History & heritage
24 Feb 2019 - Daniel Sturley
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Queen Victoria statue, Victoria Sq, Birmingham - Did you know?

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DID YOU KNOW? ... The original Victoria statue by Thomas Brock was erected in 1901 as part of the opening of Victoria Square, and was made of marble. Queen Victoria died 12 days later. The statue was recast in 1951 by William Bloye in bronze. The latest square, opened in 1994 by Diana, Princess of Wales has as its main feature an amazing water feature ‘The River’ by Dhruva Mistry which includes the famous ‘Floozie in the Jacuzzi’.

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Rivers, lakes & canals
24 Feb 2019 - Daniel Sturley
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Elan Valley project at Cannon Hill Park - Did you know?

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DID YOU KNOW ... there is a scale model of the Elan Valley Project in Cannon Hill Park? It is in a sorry state of repair and in need of renovation. Wales supplies Birmingham with water and the Elan Valley Project was built to facilitate this.

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23 Feb 2019 - Daniel Sturley
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International Convention Centre, Birmingham & Prince Albert - Did you know?

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DID YOU KNOW? ...The International Convention Centre stands on the site of Bingley House, built in 1760. In 1849 it’s grounds were used as a temporary exhibition of the city’s manufacturing and its wares. One of the visitors was Prince Albert. He was so impressed, it is said that the experience inspired his creation of the Great Exhibition of 1851. A permanent exhibition facility, Bingley Hall, was built in 1850 and stood on the site until 1984 when it burnt down.

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23 Feb 2019 - Daniel Sturley
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The history of Canal building in Birmingham - Did you know?

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DID YOU KNOW? ... James Brindley, the king of canal building, died just days after the completion of his last project. His first in Birmingham, the Newhall Branch, was built in the late 1760s and ended in a wharf behind Great Charles Street. It was drained and built over in the late 1930s. Cambrian Wharf (right) is where this branch connected with the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal and is now used for residential and commercial mooring.

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23 Feb 2019 - Your Place Your Space
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Did you Know? Birmingham's hallmark for jewellery & precious goods named after a Pub

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DID YOU KNOW? The anchor, Birmingham's hallmark for jewellery and precious goods, was chosen at a meeting held at the Crown and Anchor Tavern in the Strand in London.

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Did you Know? Birmingham's hallmark for jewellery & precious goods named after a Pub





DID YOU KNOW? The anchor, Birmingham's hallmark for jewellery and precious goods, was chosen at a meeting held at the Crown and Anchor Tavern in the Strand in London.


In 1773, there was a need for more Assay offices other than London and Sheffield and Birmingham were chosen. The story goes that the hallmarks were decided on by giving the crown to Sheffield (later changed to a rose), and the anchor to Birmingham from the pub's name.

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History & heritage
23 Feb 2019 - Elliott Brown
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Birmingham City status - Did you know?

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DID YOU KNOW?... Birmingham was one of the last major cities in England to receive city status, only being fully incorporated in 1889. The city has had a long history of seeking devolution from Westminster, most notably by Thomas Attwood and his founding of the Birmingham Political Union.

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Birmingham City status - Did you know?





DID YOU KNOW?... Birmingham was one of the last major cities in England to receive city status, only being fully incorporated in 1889. The city has had a long history of seeking devolution from Westminster, most notably by Thomas Attwood and his founding of the Birmingham Political Union.


 

 

 

By Daniel Sturley.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Modern Architecture
22 Feb 2019 - Elliott Brown
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The Brasshouse, The Brewmasters House and The Malt House - historic canal buildings around the BCN and Brindleyplace

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There are three buildings around the Birmingham Canal Navigations near Brindleyplace that are historic. The first is The Brasshouse (now a pub) on Broad Street. The Brewmasters House is near The ICC. And a bit further down is The Malt House (also a pub) close to Arena Birmingham (was the NIA / Barclaycard Arena) and the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal at Old Turn Junction.

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The Brasshouse, The Brewmasters House and The Malt House - historic canal buildings around the BCN and Brindleyplace





There are three buildings around the Birmingham Canal Navigations near Brindleyplace that are historic. The first is The Brasshouse (now a pub) on Broad Street. The Brewmasters House is near The ICC. And a bit further down is The Malt House (also a pub) close to Arena Birmingham (was the NIA / Barclaycard Arena) and the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal at Old Turn Junction.


The Brasshouse

Now a pub and restaurant at Brindleyplace, this building was first built as the Birmingham Brasshouse in 1781 with alterations in 1870. Now a Grade II listed building a 44 Broad Street, Birmingham. The Brasshouse is a Traditional Free House and is also home to the Celebrity Restaurant (also known as the Celebrity Indian Restaurant). This view from Broad Street seen during late December 2009. Built of brick with stucco dressings and a slate roof.

dndimg alt="The Brasshouse on Broad Street" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Brasshouse Broad Street (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

This view also from December 2009. Now a service road for Brindleyplace, going off Broad Street is what used to be known as the Brasshouse Passage. There is an entrance to the bar and restaurant from this side. The Birmingham Metal Company founded the Brass House in 1781. Here they heated zinc and copper to produce brass. To make toys, buckles, buttons and badges. More information here Brass Founders and the Brass House.

dndimg alt="The Brasshouse between Brasshouse Passage and Broad Street" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Brasshouse Broad Street (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

I found a route from Brindleyplace along Brasshouse Passage leading back to Broad Street during early January 2019. And saw this view of the pub. It's amazing to think that this Georgian building has survived the centuries and has been restored in recent decades into the pub it is now (probably around the time that Brindleyplace was built in the 1990s).

dndimg alt="The Brasshouse from Brasshouse Passage" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Brasshouse from Brasshouse Passage.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

One of my earliest photos of The Brasshouse taken in April 2009 when I started going around Birmingham with my fist digital camera. This view from the Canalside on the Birmingham Canal Navigations Main Line, not far from the Broad Street Tunnel. The tower block behind is the Quayside Tower on Broad Street.

dndimg alt="The Brasshouse from the Canalside" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Brasshouse from the Canalside.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

This February 2019 view of The Brasshouse from Brindleyplace. The view you would see if you leave Broad Street and are walking towards Central Square at Brindleyplace. Walked past this side before, but this is the first time I have got a close up view of it (not counting my canal view from 10 years earlier - see above photo). They are now calling the Celebrity Restaurant, the Celebrity Indian Restaurant! Quayside Tower again is visible even from up here! There is a stepped wall near the fence above the Broad Street Tunnel (the tunnel is closed for the Midland Metro Alliance works as of early 2019).

dndimg alt="The Brasshouse from Brindleyplace" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Brasshouse from Brindleyplace.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Brewmasters House

A Grade II listed building, there are different dates from the early 19th century suggesting from when it was built. The 1978 listing, as 7 St Peter's Place, says it dates to circa 1800. The brown Birmingham Conservation Trust plaque says c. 1805. While Pevsner says 1816! The house is made of brick with a hipped slate roof with deep flat eaves. This view from April 2009 from Brindleyplace opposite (round about when I started taking photos around Birmingham).

dndimg alt="The Brewmasters House" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Brewmasters House near The ICC (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

This view also from April 2009 looking towards The Brewmasters House and The ICC Birmingham. The Birmingham Conservation Trust undertook a programme of restoration during 1983 to 1984 (this was well before the construction of The ICC or even Brindleyplace!). The building was glazed by the City Architect in 1989.

dndimg alt="The Brewmasters House" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Brewmasters House near The ICC (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

I went back in February 2010 for some more close up photos of The Brewmasters House. There is also a nearby bridge called the Brewmasters Bridge, which links behind the house and Brindleyplace (near the Sealife Centre). There is a brown plaque from the Birmingham Conservation Trust, dating the buildings erection to 1805 and it's restoration to 1984!

dndimg alt="The Brewmasters House" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Brewmasters House near The ICC (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Another February 2010 view from Brindleyplace near the Waters Edge looking towards The Brewmasters House. It is now just offices. Could make a nice little canal museum about what the Brew Master did here in the 19th century! The steps behind up from The ICC go past the ICC Energy Centre and you can walk to Cambridge Street from here.

dndimg alt="The Brewmasters House" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Brewmasters House near The ICC (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

This February 2010 view I think from the Brindleyplace / ICC footbridge (it has steps down the canal side). The Brewmasters Bridge is seen on the left, and behind The NIA Birmingham (refurbished and renamed in 2014 as the Barclaycard Arena and in 2017 Arena Birmingham). Three Brindleyplace, a Venetian style office building is on the left.

dndimg alt="The Brewmasters House" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Brewmasters House near The ICC (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The Malt House

This building was originally the Kingston Building, built in 1803. It is near Old Turn Junction where the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal (Cambrian Wharf and Farmers Bridge Locks) meets the Birmingham Canal Navigations Main Line (the Oozells Loop is also nearby). It was built as a nail warehouse. This view from April 2009 when I started to take photos around Birmingham. The Malt House is remembered for those photos / videos of US President Bill Clinton drinking a pint of beer on the outdoor balcony in 1998 during the 19G8 summit held that summer in Birmingham.

dndimg alt="The Malt House at Old Turn Junction" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Malthouse at Old Turn Junction (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

This view in June 2009, by this point I had changed cameras. The NIA is seen to the left. The footbridge on the right leads to a Canal Garden that was installed in the summer of 2012 with a model narrowboat (I think it is still there). A remnant of the annual City Centre Floral Trail. Behind the pub is a Grade II listed warehouse at 79 Cambridge Street dated to 1820. The remains of the loading bays can be seen, there is still doors there, but there is now grills in the way, and some have been bricked up.

dndimg alt="The Malt House at Old Turn Junction" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Malthouse at Old Turn Junction (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

This view below was taken during May 2014. Behind The Malt House, the National Indoor Arena was been transformed into what was to be known as the Barclaycard Arena. It reopened in late 2014. And kept that name to sometime in 2017, when it was renamed again to just Arena Birmingham. In the years since my earlier photos, the pub had some new pub signs installed around the building.

dndimg alt="The Malt House at Old Turn Junction" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Malthouse at Old Turn Junction (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

In March 2016, the flags of the Six Nations were flying outside of The Malt House. Italy, Ireland, Scotland, Wales, France and England. The Barclaycard Arena is seen (now completed) behind the pub. The bridge visible in this photo is the Brewmasters Bridge. The tourists that were around the city centre canals (at the time), were probably there also for the Badminton at the Barclaycard Arena. The view was taken from Brindleyplace.

dndimg alt="The Malt House at Old Turn Junction" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Malthouse at Old Turn Junction (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

It is now July 2018 at The Malt House, and the bunting was out for the World Cup 2018, being held that summer in Russia. A nice blue sky, and it was probably hot! Arena Birmingham seen to the left. The trees and flowers in full bloom! For the first time in 28 years England made it to the Semi Final, but they lost (again). In the 3rd Place Play-off they ended up in 4th, like in 1990. France won that years World Cup for the first time in 20 years (since they last won it in home in France in 1998).

dndimg alt="The Malt House at Old Turn Junction" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Malthouse at Old Turn Junction (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

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15 Feb 2019 - Elliott Brown
Did you know?

Steelhouse Conservation Area: From Corporation Street to Steelhouse Lane

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The Steelhouse Conservation Area is between Corporation Street and Steelhouse Lane. Starting approximately from Old Square towards James Watt Queensway. Buildings include the Victoria Law Courts, Methodist Central Hall, the former Steelhouse Lane Police Station and Birmingham Children's Hospital. The Old Fire Station near Aston University is part of the area too!

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Steelhouse Conservation Area: From Corporation Street to Steelhouse Lane





The Steelhouse Conservation Area is between Corporation Street and Steelhouse Lane. Starting approximately from Old Square towards James Watt Queensway. Buildings include the Victoria Law Courts, Methodist Central Hall, the former Steelhouse Lane Police Station and Birmingham Children's Hospital. The Old Fire Station near Aston University is part of the area too!


Corporation Street

The Victoria Law Courts on Corporation Street. Designed by Aston Webb & Ingress Bell who won a competition in 1886. It was built from 1887 to 1891. It is now the Birmingham Magistrates' Court. A Grade I listed building made of Red brick and terracotta. There is a statue of Queen Victoria by Harry Bates above the main entrance of the building. This view below seen in May 2009. You would see it if you walk between Aston University and the city centre shops. Queen Victoria laid the foundation stone during her Golden Jubilee year of 1887 and it was opened in 1891 by the Prince and Princess of Wales.

dndimg alt="Victoria Law Courts" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Victoria Law Courts Corporation Street.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The County Court on Corporation Street seen with a brilliant blue sky in May 2009. On the corner of Newton Street (which leads to Steelhouse Lane). A Grade II listed building built in 1882, by James Williamson Stone. It is in Italiante palazzo style  It has a Roman Doric porch on the left.

dndimg alt="County Court - Corporation Street" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/County Court Corporation Street.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

One of Birmingham's derelict terracotta buildings is near the bottom of Corporation Street. The Methodist Central Hall runs down to Ryder Street (a pedestrianised cul-de-sac to James Watt Queensway). And the back is on Dalton Street. It is a Grade II* listed building. From 196 to 224 Corporation Street including 1, 3 and 5 Ryder Street. Built from 1903 to 1904 by E and J A Harper (Ewan Harper & James A. Harper) of Red brick and terracotta. There is many empty shop units down here, some have been let, and some of the units have been closed down by the landlord. The buildings future may include getting converted into a hotel. See this 2017 article on he Methodist Central Hall in the Birmingham Mail. This view from May 2009.

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The Pitman Building also known as the Murdoch Chambers and Pitman Chambers. Was originally a Vegetarian Restaurant. There is a plaque here for James Henry Cook who opened the very first Health Food Store in the UK on this site in 1898! A Grade II* Listed Building built from 1896 to 1897 by J Crouch and E Butler, partly for A.R Dean. Purple bricks and buff terracotta; tile roof. In an Arts and Crafts style.  Today there is lawyer or solicitor offices on the upper floors and fast food take away places on the ground floor including Dixy Chicken and Pepe's Piri Piri. Previous places here include Min Zu until 2008 / 2009. Angel's Cafe from 2011, and Zaytuna'z Diner from a period from 2015 to 2016. This view from August 2017.

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Today Boston Tea Party is in the Court Restaurant building at 184 Corporation Street (from at least 2014 onwards). On the corner with James Watt Street. The architect was G. H. Rayner and was built after 1882. For many years it was vacant. Was previously Yate's Wine Lodge. Made of brick and stone. Boston Tea Party are also in part of The Citadel building to the left at 190 Corporation Street. That was by W. H. Ward and built in 1891. A short lived period as a Vietnamese Restaurant called Viet An Restaurant from 2010 to 2011. This view from June 2016. Pizza Express is to the left at 4 The Citadel (not in this photo).

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Steelhouse Lane

Steelhouse Lane Police Station was to the far left of the rear side of the Victoria Law Courts. This building opened in 1933 as the Central Police Station, replacing a Victorian police station that was on the same site. West Midlands Police used it until it closed down for good in 2017. This view was from November 2009 when the police station was still in use. It was built in the neo-Georgian style but is not a listed building. The only part that is Grade II listed is the corner building on Coleridge Passage which dates to the late 19th century. That was the Cell Block built of Brick and terracotta.

dndimg alt="Steelhouse Lane Police Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Steelhouse Lane Police Station.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Birmingham Children's Hospital opened here in 1998 in the building that was formerly the Birmingham General Hospital which had closed down in 1995. It was opened as the Diana, Princess of Wales Children's Hospital after the late Princess Diana who had died the year before in 1997. The General Hospital was built from 1894 to 1897 by William Henman. Was built in the Romanesque style of th Natural History Museum in London.  The rebuilt central entrance porch was built from 1995 to 1998. Various modern extensions have been built in the year since it became the Children's Hospitall. The building has never been listed. This view also from November 2009.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Children's Hospital" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Childrens Hospital Steelhouse Lane.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This building also seen in November 2009 is a bit more recent than the others in this post as it dates to the 1960s. Fountain Court on Steelhouse Lane, has the four badges of the Inns of Court on the front above the entrance. They represent: Lincoln's Inn, Inner Temple, Middle Temple and Gray's Inn. The Fountain Court barristers' chambers was built between 1963 and 1964 by Holland W Hobbiss & Partners. A conservative brick classical block, with a majestic Bath stone cornice. It's between Printing House Street and Whittall Street on Steelhouse Lane.

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Seen on the corner of Newton Street and Steelhouse Lane is the Juvenile Court. As with photos above this view taken in November 2009. Following the Children's Court Act of 1908, it led to children's courts being established across the country. Dame Geraline Cadbury campaigned for such a court to be built in Birmingham, which her family donated to the city. This court was established by 1928 and opened in 1930. It was by Peacock & Bewlay, built of brick with stone dressings.

dndimg alt="Juvenile Court - Newton Street and Steelhouse Lane" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Juvenile Court Steelhouse Lane.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Next door to the Juvenile Court is The Jekyll & Hyde pub at 28 Steelhouse Lane. The building was built in the 1960s. Was the site of The Queen's Head pub, which used to be ran by Mitchells & Butlers. A plain, tall four storey building. The pub was renamed from The Queen's Head to The Jekyll & Hyde in 2009, and it remains with that name today.  Island Bar group who owns the pub also owns The Victoria on Station Street near the Alexandra Theatre. This view was from February 2010.

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Corporation Street and Steelhouse Lane leads to the helipad built for the Birmingham Children's Hospital. On the other side of James Watt Queensway, running between Lancaster Circus and Aston Street is The Old Fire Station. Corporation Street continues beyond Lancaster Circus and the Lancaster Flyover, but that is now considered part of the Aston Expressway. The Old Fire Station is a Grade II listed building. Originally built in 1935 by Herbert Humphries and Herbert J. Manzoni. Red Flemish bond with Portland stone and concrete dressings with a pantile roof. After the Fire Station HQ closed in the 2000s, in lay empty for a few years before being converted into student accommodation. It opened in 2015. This view from April 2014 when the crane went up.

dndimg alt="The Old Fire Station from the Helipad near James Watt Queensway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Old Fire Station from the Helipad on James Watt Queensway.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown

 

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04 Feb 2019 - Elliott Brown
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Snow on Birmingham statues in previous years

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Well, there has been no snow in Birmingham, while the rest of the country has had a dusting of the white stuff. Somehow Birmingham stayed mostly dry with blue skies! Looking back to previous years when it did snow in Birmingham. To our wonderful statues covered in snow! For instance see Victoria Square covered in snow in January 2013!

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Snow on Birmingham statues in previous years





Well, there has been no snow in Birmingham, while the rest of the country has had a dusting of the white stuff. Somehow Birmingham stayed mostly dry with blue skies! Looking back to previous years when it did snow in Birmingham. To our wonderful statues covered in snow! For instance see Victoria Square covered in snow in January 2013!


Iron: Man by Antony Gormley (now in storage). To the right was the Town Hall and can you see the Alpha Tower? This was on the 18th January 2013. A very snowy day in the city! The statue was moved into storage in 2017 for the West Midlands Metro extension to Centenary Square. The extension from Victoria Square onto Paradise Street is far from finished! Gormley made it in 1993.

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The Floozie in the Jacuzzi is looking freezing on that snowy day in January 2013. The fountain was still working at the time. The sculptures here made by Dhruva Mistry in 1993. This area is now full of plants like a landscaped garden as the council was finding it difficult to repair the fountain all the time! Victoria Square House behind.

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One of the Sphinx Guardians in Victoria Square facing the Council House. Covered in snow during January 2013. Also by Dhruva Mistry in 1993.

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The other Sphinx Guardian in Victoria Square facing Christ Church Passage, also seen during that same snowy day in January 2013! Also by Dhruva Mistry in 1993.

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The last major snow event in Birmingham was during the Beast from the East during early March 2018. It was freezing back then! It was snowing at the Bullring and you can see a light dusting on St Martin's Church and the statue of Horatio Nelson. There was more proper snow a few days after this, and a couple weeks later during the second Beast from the East event. Statue by Richard Westmacott in 1809. Probably one of the oldest statues in Birmingham! St Martin's Church seen behind.

dndimg alt="Beast from the East - Nelson during a March 2018 snow shower" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Beast from the East Nelson statue snow Bullring March 2018.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The bronze statue of William McGregor in the snow of January 2010 at Villa Park. Statue made in 2009 by Sam Holland. See my post on him here William McGregor: Director of Aston Villa and Founder of the Football League.

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One of my earliest visits to the University of Birmingham was in December 2009 to see the statue of King George I outside the Barber Institute of Fine Arts. Made in 1722 by John van Nost the Elder it was in Dublin, Ireland until it was moved to Birmingham in 1937.

dndimg alt="George I outside the Barber Institute - snow of December 2009" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/George I statue University of Birmingham snow Dec 2009.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

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Modern Architecture
23 Jan 2019 - Elliott Brown
Did you know?

From Midland Bank to HSBC UK

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HSBC UK have recently opened up their UK HQ right here in Birmingham at 1 Centenary Square at Arena Central, but did you know the bank originated as the Midland Bank founded right here in Birmingham! Former City Centre banks including one on New Street (used to later be Waterstone's is now Apple) and another one on Bennetts Hill (now the Cosy Club). HSBC bought the Midland in 1992.

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From Midland Bank to HSBC UK





HSBC UK have recently opened up their UK HQ right here in Birmingham at 1 Centenary Square at Arena Central, but did you know the bank originated as the Midland Bank founded right here in Birmingham! Former City Centre banks including one on New Street (used to later be Waterstone's is now Apple) and another one on Bennetts Hill (now the Cosy Club). HSBC bought the Midland in 1992.


The Midland Bank was founded in Birmingham in 1836 by Charles Geach, who used to have a branch on Union Street. Early international holdings included an early deal with the  The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation in 1907 (there future owners). HSBC Holdings plc took over the bank in 1992, and phased the Midland Bank name out by 1999 in favour of HSBC Bank. Branches are now branded as HSBC UK.

For many years, this building on the corner of New Street and Stephenson Place was a Waterstone's store, it is now an Apple store. Photo below from 2009. The first Midland Metro extension was built round the back of this former bank building, finally opening in 2016. The building was built in 1868 - 69 and it was originally the Head Offices of the Midland Bank. It was designed in the classical style by Edward Holmes and an extension was built in 1875. It's now a Grade II listed building. When it was listed in 1970 it was known as the Midland Bank International Division. The rear entrance was altered when the Midland Metro extension was built, but that is now closed since Apple took over the building.

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While HSBC are not in the classical building that is now used by Apple, they are still at the other corner of New Street and Stephenson Place, close to the ramp up to Grand Central (previously the Pallasades). This branch seen in 2014, is now branded HSBC UK, like other HSBC banks around the country. Above it is a former office block, the Exchange Buildings, that was owned by Aviva. There is now a Premier Inn hotel up there, so not that far from Birmingham New Street Station. "Welcome to Birmingham New Street a branch of the world's local bank".

dndimg alt="HSBC New Street Birmingham" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/HSBC Birmingham New Street.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Another former Midland Bank located in Birmingham City Centre is on the corner of Bennetts Hill and Waterloo Street in the Colmore Business District. It is now the Cosy Club. In 2009 (photo below) the building was occupied by Webb Gray & Partners Ltd (an architectural practice). This building is also a Grade II listed building and is even older than the former bank on New Street! Built in 1830 by Rickman and Eutchinson, it was altered in 1868 by H R Yeoville Thomason. Made of stone. It has giant Giant Corinthian columns. It was fully restored and the stone cleaned when it was converted into the Cosy Club in 2015.

dndimg alt="Midland Bank Bennetts Hill" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Midland Bank Bennetts Hill.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

HSBC UK recently moved into their new UK HQ in late 2018. Construction of One Centenary Square began in 2015 and was completed in late 2018. Part of the Arena Central redevelopment opposite Centenary Square and on part of what was Broad Street. Historically, the site was previously where Central TV (ATV before that) had their studios in a former Masonic Hall. The hall was demolished in 2006, and the site lay empty until the mid 2010's. It's next to the Alpha Tower and the Municipal Bank (which is soon to be taken over by the University of Birmingham). This view from near the Amphitheatre of the Library of Birmingham. The redevelopment of the square might be completed by Spring or Summer 2019 (or later?).

dndimg alt="HSBC UK - 1 Centenary Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/HSBC UK 1 Centenary Square UK HQ.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

A view zoomed down from the Secret Garden at the Library of Birmingham. The view is up Newhall Hill and Frederick Street towards the Chamberlain Clock Tower. On the left is the Jewellery Quarter branch of HSBC UK. The 101 bus heads left onto Warstone Lane past the bank. There is a branch of Barclays Bank at the opposite corner.

dndimg alt="HSBC UK in the Jewellery Quarter" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/HSBC UK in the Jewellery Quarter on Warstone Lane.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Recently been seeing other peoples photos on social media of this new painted advert for HSBC UK, so had to check it out myself. HSBC UK currently have an advertising campaign, where they are using four cities as well as a general advert. Including Birmingham, London, Manchester and Leeds. This of course is the Birmingham variant. Behind the Rose Villa Tavern on Warstone Lane, it is close to Vyse Street in what is now called Golden Square.

Not just home of the Brummie.
You're home to Heavy Metal, Mr Egg, Bostin Cobs, The Shire and the First Stamp.

You are Birmingham.

You're not an island. You're a Workshop of the World that's part of something far, far bigger. And you're our home.

HSBC UK Together we thrive

dndimg alt="HSBC UK painted advert on the Rose Villa Tavern" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/HSBC UK Rose Villa Tavern Jewellery Quarter.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown

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16 Jan 2019 - Elliott Brown
Did you know?

Old Northfield Village around St Laurence's Church and the Great Stone Inn

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Another set of historic buildings, this time in Northfield. The old village centre is a short walk away from the Great Stone Road, heading down Church Road to St Laurence's Church and the Great Stone Inn, around Church Hill. The Great Stone can be found here as well as a former Village Pound (a small 17th century jail).

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Old Northfield Village around St Laurence's Church and the Great Stone Inn





Another set of historic buildings, this time in Northfield. The old village centre is a short walk away from the Great Stone Road, heading down Church Road to St Laurence's Church and the Great Stone Inn, around Church Hill. The Great Stone can be found here as well as a former Village Pound (a small 17th century jail).


Northfield

I first headed down to this part of Northfield in June 2010. So most of my photos of the church and the pub were taken back then. More recently, I returned in May 2018 when I was told about a pair of blue plaques for The Great Stone and the Village Pound.

 

St Laurence's Church, Northfield

This is the parish church of Northfield. Located around Church Hill, and near Church Road. The heart of the old village centre of Northfield. The church dates to the 12th century, and is one of the oldest buildings in Birmingham. It is a Grade I listed building. If you don't know where this is, if getting off the bus in Northfield Town Centre, or off the train at Northfield Station, then it is close to the Great Stone Road. You can either get there by walking down Church Road or Rectory Road. From Northfield Station, Church Hill is nearby, and you could walk up there.

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The tower of St Laurence's Church. It also dates to the 12th century. Most of the church dates from the 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th centuries. The north aisle was built in 1900 by G F Bodley in the 14th century style.

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There is a churchyard around the Church of St Laurence with many gravestones. There was a War Grave extension, containing the graves of service personnel from World War I and World War II.

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This view is from close to Rectory Road with the tower behind close to Church Hill. There is a public footpath that starts from Rectory Road where you can see this view over the churchyard.

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A more recent view of St Laurence's Church from May 2018, when I was heading to check out the Village Pound. This is the view from round the bend on Church Hill. The Lych gate is seen on the left. And the Village Pound itself is to be found nearby on Church Road (look out for an old gate, more on that below).

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The Great Stone Inn

The pub seen in the old Northfield Village that is opposite of St Laurence's Church is The Great Stone Inn. A Grade II listed building dating to the 18th century. It is on the corner of Church Hill and Church Road in Northfield. The white paint stood out on this blue sky day back in June 2010.

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Full on view of The Great Stone public house. Takes you back 200 years if it wasn't for the car! At the time I wasn't aware of the Village Pound being so nearby (on Church Road to the right). The pub is at 158 Church Road and is now owned by the Stonegate Pub Company. They won an award in 2010 for the 'best managed house' and in 2011 for the 'best community pub in the East and West Midlands', in the Great British Pub Awards.

dndimg alt="Great Stone Inn Northfield" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Great Stone Inn Northfield (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Village Pound and the Great Stone

I was looking for a pair of blue plaques I was made aware of in Northfield. The Village Pound and the Great Stone. Thought I almost missed them when I saw this gate and looked in, during May 2018. It is on Church Road, and is to the right of the Great Stone Inn. Beyond are houses. Stop here to look inside of the gate. A pink sandstone wall near the road.

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The Village Pound is a Grade II listed building and dates to the 17th century. A pound was for keeping stray animals, although I thought it was like a small jail. But just for animals if not people then! At the back is a wall to an outhouse of the Great Stone public house.

dndimg alt="Village Pound Northfield" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Village Pound Northfield (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

In the middle of small courtyard is the Great Stone. The listing describes it as a "central monolithic stone". The boulder was moved by Birmingham City Council to this site in 1954 for road safety reasons. A glacial erratic boulder formed in an explosive volcanic eruption during the Ordovician period, 450-460 million years ago. During the ice age possibly up to 400,000 years ago, it was carried by an ice sheet from the Snowdon area of North Wales and deposited with many others around Northfield when the area was a frozen wasteland. For generations it lay at the corner of Church Road and Church Hill where it protected the Inn wall.

dndimg alt="Village Pound Northfield" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Village Pound Northfield (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

In May 2018 and heading up Church Hill in Northfield. That day I got the train to Northfield Station, for the short walk up the hill to find the Village Pound, and it's pair of blue plaques. This is no 3 to 13 Church Hill. Not sure of the details, or how old these buildings are, but they look Victorian. A salon called Headways was on the right.

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Off Church Hill in Northfield for this building on Norton Close. It was St Laurence Church of England Infant School. A Grade II listed building. Built in 1837, with 1870 exteriors. Red brick with a slate roof. This was the original school, it also had a Master's house. The school is now on a different site in Northfield, now near Heath Road South. The former school building has been converted into flats.

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This is the back alley or path behind St Laurence's Church in Northfield. At the time in June 2010, I only went half way before turning back towards Rectory Road as I didn't want to get lost! Near the top of this path is that view of the church from near Rectory Road (see further up the post for that photo).

dndimg alt="Back alley behind St Laurence's Church Northfield" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Back alley behind St Laurences Church Northfield.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown

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14 Jan 2019 - Elliott Brown
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Kings Norton around The Green including Saint Nicholas Place

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A look around the old village centre of Kings Norton. Including The Green and Saint Nicholas Place (which includes St Nicholas Church, the Tudor Merchants House and the Old Grammar School). This collection of buildings won TV's Restoration programme back in 2004 and are now fully restored. There is also occasionally a Farmers Market on the green.

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Kings Norton around The Green including Saint Nicholas Place





A look around the old village centre of Kings Norton. Including The Green and Saint Nicholas Place (which includes St Nicholas Church, the Tudor Merchants House and the Old Grammar School). This collection of buildings won TV's Restoration programme back in 2004 and are now fully restored. There is also occasionally a Farmers Market on the green.


Kings Norton

First off, a look at the buildings at Saint Nicholas Place.

This is St Nicholas Church in Kings Norton. It is the Anglican Parish Church of Kings Norton. There has been a church on this site since at least the 11th century, although most of the current building dates to the early 13th century. The spire was built between 1446 and 1475. The church was restored in 1863 by Ewan Christian and again in 1871 by W J Hopkins. It is a Grade I listed building. This view from April 2009, with a bit of blossom on some of the trees.

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The spire of St Nicholas seen during April 2009. In this view is a Monument with an urn that is Grade II listed. Made of stone it dates to about 1770. The only inscriptions that are readable are that of Ann Middlemore (died in 1873) and Martha Middlemore (died in 1876). It is close to the entrance of the churchyard from The Green.

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I've been back to Kings Norton several times over the years. Got some more photos of the church during March 2012. This one of the spire. Kings Norton has railway links with the Rev W. V. Awdry who was the author of the Thomas the Tank Engine series. He was a curate here from 1940 to 1946. Kings Norton Station is up the hill in Cotteridge on the Pershore Road South (now part of the modern Cross City line).

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One more view of St Nicholas Church from March 2012. There is a churchyard all around the church that you can walk through on the paths, and it leads to the Old Grammar School. The Saracen's Head is nearby on The Green, and when it was restored was given the name of Saint Nicholas Place, probably after the church.

dndimg alt="St Nicholas Church Kings Norton" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/St Nicholas Church Kings Norton (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

I previously posted my photos of the Old Grammar School in Kings Norton in this post. The Old Grammar Schools of Kings Norton and Yardley.

I will add a bit more detail here, compared to my earlier post. Along with the Saracen's Head (the Tudor Merchants House), it won the BBC TV programme Restoration in 2004, and it was fully restored in the years that followed. A Grade II* listed building, it was probably built as a priest's house to St Nicholas Church. This view from April 2009. The spire of St Nicholas can be seen from behind.

dndimg alt="The Old Grammar School Kings Norton" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Grammar School Kings Norton (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

You can see the Old Grammar School from the Pershore Road South in Kings Norton. It looks pretty with blossom on the trees and daffodils on the lawn during spring. Seen here on St George's Day 2009. It became a school by the 16th and 17th centuries.

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The Birmingham Civic Society unveiled a rectangular green plaque here in 1982. It was for Thomas Hall B.D. Who was a Schoolmaster, Preacher and Biblophile. He taught here from 1629 to 1662. It was last used as a school in the early 1950s. Until the restoration was complete, it was on the Buildings at Risk Register. This view was from March 2012.

dndimg alt="The Old Grammar School Kings Norton" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Grammar School Kings Norton (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

There was an amendment to the listing text in 2018 during the Centenary of the 1918 Representation of the People Act. Two women (suffragettes) in 1913, who were members of the Women’s Social and Political Union (WSPU), entered the school while it was empty. They forced opened a pair of windows in April 1913, but no fires was set. A message on the blackboard read ‘Two Suffragists have entered here, but charmed with this old-world room, have refrained from their design of destruction.’

dndimg alt="The Old Grammar School Kings Norton" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Grammar School Kings Norton (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Next up is the Saracen's Head. Also known as the Tudor Merchant's House. Along with the Old Grammar School (see above) it won the 2004 BBC Restoration programme. It is now where the Saint Nicholas Place offices are located. It is at 81 and 83 The Green, and is close to the churchyard of St Nicholas Church. A Grade II* listed building. It has been a pub, a grocer's shop and a community meeting place. Dates to the late 15th century. These views from April 2009 unless stated.

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Side view of the Tudor Merchant's House / The Saracen's Head. Both this building and the Old Grammar School re-opened to the public in June 2008. It was built in 1492 by a wealthy merchant called Humphrey Rotsey and is now known as the north range. The building was expanded in the early 16th century and that is now known as the east range.

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In 1643 Queen Henrietta Maria of France stopped in Kings Norton with an army. It is assumed that she spent the night here in the house. But there is no evidence for this. She was on her way to rejoin King Charles I at his headquarters in York. During the English Civil War. There is a green plaque on the green that mentions her stay in Kings Norton. Saint Nicholas Place is also spelled Saint Nicolas Place. I assume either spelling is correct.

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This view of the Saracen's Head / Tudor Merchant's House from March 2012. Seen from the churchyard of St Nicholas Church. The building has become a pub by the 18th century. In the 19th century a further wing was added known as the south wing. By the 20th century, Mitchells & Butlers had owned the Saracen's Head public house. But in 1930 they donated it to Kings Norton Parish to used as a Parish Hall.

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Now a look around at some of the buildings around The Green.

The Bull's Head public house is to the left of the Sarcen's Head / Tudor Merchant's House. The first view during April 2009. Can you spot the cherry blossom on a tree? The pub is now run by Milton Pubs.

dndimg alt="Bulls Head Kings Norton" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bulls Head Kings Norton (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The next view of the Bull's Head, from another angle, taken in March 2012. Back then it was run by Sizzling Pubs.

dndimg alt="Bulls Head Kings Norton" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bulls Head Kings Norton (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

One more view of the Bull's Head seen during December 2012 from The Green. The pub is at 77 The Green.

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A look at The Green in Kings Norton during April 2009. Many trees, and shops around. This is from the Saracen's Head end of The Green.

dndimg alt="The Green Kings Norton" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Green Kings Norton (April 2009).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Green plaque seen in Kings Norton during June 2011. Mentions that it has been part of the public centre of Kings Norton for over 500 years. For centuries it has been used for fairs, meetings and markets. The area around Kings Norton Parish is much smaller now than in the Middle Ages.

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The Village Barbers Shop seen on The Green during April 2009. As of 2019, it is still there / open.

dndimg alt="The Village Barbershop - The Green Kings Norton" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Village Barber Shop The Green Kings Norton.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Molly's Cafe at the other end of The Green in April 2009. It was still open in 2017, but sadly seemed to have closed down in 2018, and is now for sale or to let.

dndimg alt="Molly's Cafe - The Green Kings Norton" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Mollys Cafe The Green Kings Norton.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Farmers Market on the Kings Norton Green on 8th December 2018. I wasn't expecting to see it on this visit to Kings Norton, but there it was during the build up to Christmas.

dndimg alt="Kings Norton Farmers Market on The Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Kings Norton Farmers Market on the Green.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Unexpectedly spotted an impersonator in the Co-operative Food car park as Kings Charles I! I don't think the real Charles ever visited Kings Norton during the Civil War, but as stated above, his Queen Henrietta Maria did in 1643. He was probably there for the Farmers Market.

dndimg alt="King Charles I in Kings Norton" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/King Charles I in a Kings Norton car park.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown

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Old Yardley Village: a hidden gem not far from Blakesley Hall

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It's not just Blakesley Hall that you can visit in Yardley. If you get the 11A or 11C to Stoney Lane, get off the bus, and take the short walk to Old Yardley Village. Here you will find St Edburgha's Church, the Parish Church of Yardley, as well as The Trust School, a timber framed building, with the school dating to medieval times. Various period houses surround the churchyard.

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Old Yardley Village: a hidden gem not far from Blakesley Hall





It's not just Blakesley Hall that you can visit in Yardley. If you get the 11A or 11C to Stoney Lane, get off the bus, and take the short walk to Old Yardley Village. Here you will find St Edburgha's Church, the Parish Church of Yardley, as well as The Trust School, a timber framed building, with the school dating to medieval times. Various period houses surround the churchyard.


Old Yardley Village is located in the east of Birmingham. It is to the north east of South Yardley and the Coventry Road. Stechford is to the north beyond the village. The heart of the village is St Edburgha's Church. These photos were taken in the winter of 2009 / 2010, and were taken in January 2010. I have been back to the area since, popping into Old Yardley Park. Just my snowy photos back then were so perfect, didn't feel the need to retake photos of the buildings in other seasons or without the snow.

The first view of St Edburgha's Church is usually from the walk up Church Road. It is a Grade I listed building and is part of the Old Yardley conservation area. One of the oldest churches in Birmingham, it dates back to at least the 13th century. Originally part of the Diocese of Lichfield it was built by Aston Church. It was named after King Alfred's granddaughter Edburgha. The majority of the building was built during the 14th and 15th centuries.

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The church was made of sandstone. It has a nave, aisles, transepts and chancel. The pulpit dates to the 17th century. The west window was made by John Hardman and Company in 1892. Various monuments from the 15th to 19th centuries.

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The church did look nice surrounded by snow, but it's not like that every winter, depending on if it snows or not. Would say it last got a covering of snow in March 2018 during the Beast from the East. There is a monument to Rev Dr Henry Greswolde from after 1700 in the chancel that is apparently unusual (not seen it myself).

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Trees surround the church in the churchyard. The landscaped grounds of the church are grassed, I don't think that there is any graves around the church building. In spring / summer there are flower beds. Is also a selection of benches around to sit down on.

dndimg alt="St Edburgha's Church Old Yardley Village" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/St Edburghas Church Old Yardley Village (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

I originally did a post about the old Grammar Schools in Yardley and Kings Norton. Link to that post is here The Old Grammar Schools of Kings Norton and Yardley. But will repost those photos here with more details below.

I will expand the part about the Old Grammar School in Old Yardley here. Seen during the snow of January 2010. There is evidence of their being a school on this site since about 1260. The building probably dates to the 15th century. Originally built as a Guild Hall. The last school master was W Sutherns. The school closed in 1908 and it's now used as parish rooms. It belongs to the Yardley Parish Church.

dndimg alt="Old Grammar School Yardley" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Grammar School Yardley (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

It is a Grade II* listed building also known as The Trust School. It was formerly listed as The Old Grammar School. It is a timber-framed building with close studding. It has two storeys. Other sections have red bricks and the building has a tiled roof. As well as the Trust School, it also included no's 422 and 424 Church Road in Yardley.

dndimg alt="Old Grammar School Yardley" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Grammar School Yardley (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This front view of the former school with a black plaque. You can also call it the Old Trust School now. Old Yardley Park has an entrance to the right of the building. The entrance to the churchyard of St Edburgha's Church is to the left.

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The side view of the Trust School / Old Grammar School. Snow was covering the roof at the time. There is at least four chimneys on the roof. This view from the snow covered churchyard of St Edburgha's Church.

dndimg alt="Old Grammar School Yardley" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Grammar School Yardley (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Seen from the churchyard of St Edburgha's Church is no's 422 and 424 Church Road. They are part of the same building as The Trust School (The Old Grammar School). No. 422 is on the far right. It's upper floors is timber framed and that was part of the school. The ground floor is painted brick. The rest of the house is to the left and dates to the 19th century, also painted brick.

dndimg alt="422 and 424 Church Road, Old Yardley Village" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Yardley Village 422 and 424 Church Road (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

No 424 is to the far left of the building. It has red brick and a tiled roof and dates to the 19th century. Two storeys. It is not as wide as no 422 to the right of it. Both 422 and 424 were the Schoolmasters House of the late 19th century. Yardley's churchyard was cleared of upright gravestones in 1959, only one remains. That of the schoolmaster James Chell in the south-east corner. Both houses are part of the same Grade II* listing as The Trust School.

dndimg alt="422 and 424 Church Road, Old Yardley Village" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Yardley Village 422 and 424 Church Road (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The following information is taken from the Yardley Conservation Society.

First up is 390 Church Road. It was formerly a pub called The Talbot. The building is Grade II listed and dates to the 18th century. Behind the former pub is Old Yardley Park. It has painted brick with a tiled roof. Was probably used as a pub during the 19th century. It is now a private house.Since I took this in January 2010, the house has been repainted white all over. And it appears that the current owners have changed the front door. The Yardley Conservation Society (link above) says that the Trustees of the Charity Estates visited the pub to distribute dole money.

dndimg alt="Former Talbot pub Old Yardley Village" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Yardley Village former Talbot pub.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The former General Store was at 431 Church Road in Old Yardley Village until sometime during the 1960s. It's now just a private home. A Grade II listed building dating to the 18th century. Pebbledashed with an all tile roof. It is to the left of The Cottagers Institute.

dndimg alt="431 Church Road - Old Yardley Village" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Yardley Village 431 Church Road.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Next up is a building dated to 1882. The Cottagers Institute is at 433 Church Road. It was set up by Ebenezer Hoskins of The Grange to teach gardening and industrial skills to local people. It was a meeting hall to encourage gardening and industrial work for the villagers. It was previously the site of The Ring of Bells public house. Now I think it is just a private home. When it was available to let back in 2010 it was described as Commercial Premises.

 

dndimg alt="The Cottagers Institute - Old Yardley Village" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Yardley Village The Cottagers Institute.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Penny Cottage is at 435 Church Road. Built in 1826 by the Yardley Charity Trust for a local blacksmith, John Leake. It was restored in 1980. It is a Grade II listed building. Red brick with a tiled roof. Two storeys.

dndimg alt="Penny Cottage - Old Yardley Village" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Yardley Village Penny Cottage.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Houses from 437 to 443 Church Road. These brick built houses were built in 1895 to replace six early 19th century cottages, which themselves had replaced an earlier farmhouse. Construction of them may have begun after 1894. Church Terrace is nearby.

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A pair of white painted brick houses at 445 and 447 Church Road. Just beyond Church Terrace. They began life in the late 18th century as a malthouse but was converted into cottages by the 1850s. Also Grade II listed buildings. Painted brick with a tiled roof.

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This barn is to the east of 451 Church Road. A Grade II listed building from the early 19th century. A reminder that this used to be a rural village surrounded by farms. It was the third barn. Red brick with a tiled roof. No 453 Church Road is phyically attached to this barn. The windows are boarded up, so I'm not sure if it's being used in a long time. All these buildings belong to the Old Yardley Village Conservation Area, so they are protected.

dndimg alt="Barn east of 451 Church Road - Old Yardley Village" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Barn east of 451 Church Road Old Yardley Village.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Photos taken in January 2010 by Elliott Brown.

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Acocks Green Village on the Warwick Road, Shirley Road and Westley Road

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Another village centre. This time Acocks Green Village. With the junction of the Warwick Road, Shirley Road and Westley Road. On the bus routes 11A and 11C. Also on the 1, 1A, 4 and 4A (the 4 used to be the 37). Acocks Green has a church called St Mary the Virgin. There is also Acocks Green Primary School, Acocks Green Bowl and Acocks Green Library.

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Acocks Green Village on the Warwick Road, Shirley Road and Westley Road





Another village centre. This time Acocks Green Village. With the junction of the Warwick Road, Shirley Road and Westley Road. On the bus routes 11A and 11C. Also on the 1, 1A, 4 and 4A (the 4 used to be the 37). Acocks Green has a church called St Mary the Virgin. There is also Acocks Green Primary School, Acocks Green Bowl and Acocks Green Library.


Starting with the Westley Road in Acocks Green. One one side is the Acocks Green Bowl next to the 11C bus stop. Opposite is Acocks Green Primary School (it is also on the Warwick Road).

A look at Acocks Green Bowl on the Westley Road. Now a bowling alley with a laser quest called Quasar Elite. Originally built as a cinema, it opened in 1929 as the Warwick Cinema, also known as the Warwick Super Cinema. It was operated by the Victoria Playhouse Group . The Warwick Cinema was closed in 1962 and it was converted into a 10-pin bowling alley, although the cinema remained and it reopened in 1964 as the Warwick Cinema. The cinema part closed in 1991 and was converted into a laser tag centre.

dndimg alt="Acocks Green Bowl" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Acocks Green Bowl.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

For many years they had Qusar Elite upstairs above the bowling alley, at least until 2017. As of 2018 it is now Laserquest. Laser Game & Escape Rooms. I spotted this while waiting on the 11C bus on the Westley Road (the driver usually has a 5 to 10 minute break here). Laserquest is "ultimtate sci-fi action adventure for all". It is suitable for children or adults of all ages. They have birthday packages. I think in my life I've only tried laserquest once or twice, but it was a very long time ago and I wasn't any good at it (was better at bowling - but I've not been bowling in years either!). In fact I've not bowled at Acocks Green since the late 1990s.

dndimg alt="Laserquest Acocks Green Bowl" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Laserquest Acocks Green Bowl.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Acocks Green Primary School seen on the Westley Road in Acocks Green. I think this side was originally the Infants School.

The school was created in 2004 by the merger of Acocks Green Junior School with Acocks Green Infant School. The buildings date back to 1908 by the architect A.B. Rowe. It is locally listed Grade B.  Was opened in 1909 by Worcestershire County Council, transferring to Birmingham City Council in 1911. The school consisted of Boys, Girls and Infants departments, but in 1932 it was reorganised into Senior Mixed and Junior Mixed departments. The Senior Mixed department became a separate school in 1945 and the Junior Mixed department became a primary school at the same time. It currently has approximately 480 pupils.

dndimg alt="Acocks Green Primary School" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Acocks Green Primary School (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The side of Acocks Green Primary School seen on the Warwick Road in Acocks Green. I believe that this part was probably the Junior School. This view from Dudley Park Road. The no 37 bus route used to be on the Warwick Road before it was renumbered by National Express West Midlands in 2018 to the 4 (the new 4A route also follows the same route apart from starting in Gospel Oak).

dndimg alt="Acocks Green Primary School" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Acocks Green Primary School (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

St Mary the Virgin Acocks Green is the Parish Church of Acocks Green and is on the Warwick Road opposite the primary school. It's been a Grade II listed building since 2009. It's an Anglican parish church designed by J G Bland dating to 1864-1882 in the 13th century style. Later extensions by J A Chatwin date to 1891-4. The church was made from local sandstone apart from red brick walls to the exterior of the transept arches marking the impact of WWII bombing. There is a churchyard around with gravestones and memorials.

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It was originally built as a chapel of ease to St Edburgha's in Yardley, when Acocks Green was part of the same parish as Yardley. A stained glass window by Morris and Co to designs by Burne-Jones was added in 1895, in memory of Reverend Frederick Thomas Swinburn, late Vicar of Acock's Green. This view as you walk close up past the churchyard on the Warwick Road. Quite of a lot of crosses in the churchyard. Also the odd statue above graves as well.

dndimg alt="St Mary the Virgin Acocks Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/St Mary the Virgin Church Acocks Green (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Acocks Green Library is on the Shirley Road in Acocks Green. Locally listed Grade A, it was built in 1932. Architects Messrs. J.P. Osborne and Sons, builder Mr. J. Emlyn Williams of Aston, masonry work by Wragg Bros of Kings Heath, terrazzo by Lyne and Sons of Birmingham, and hand-made facing bricks by J.W.D. Pratt of Oldbury. Refurbished in 1994-95. On the left is a small war memorial garden (Garden of Remembrance), where each Remembrance Sunday, they hold a wreath laying ceremony at the war memorial. Above the main entrance is Birmingham's coat of arms, also known as Forward.

dndimg alt="Acocks Green Library" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Acocks Green Library.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This Subway is at 1101 Warwick Road in Acocks Green. The building was formerly a Midland Bank. HSBC was probably there until they moved to the other side of the road. HSBC vacated their last Acocks Green premises between 2014 and 2015. A former Woolwich Bank used to be at 1105 Warwick Road (to the left of here). It is has been Exchange 4 Pounds for many years, but the shutter is always down for some reason?

dndimg alt="Subway - Warwick Road, Acocks Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Acocks Green Village Subway.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Inn on the Green is a pub at the corner of Shirley Road and Westley Road in Acocks Green. It is locally listed Grade B. Built in 1930 for Mitchells and Butlers by James and Lister Lea. Art Deco style. On the Shirley Road side is Birmingham Route 44 - The Road Inn. Birmingham's Premier Rock Venue. James and Lister Lea were known for doing Birmingham pubs at the turn of the century (19th to the 20th). The company existed from 1846 to 2001 when they merged with Bruton Knowles.

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Christmas lights seen on Jeffries Hardware on the Shirley Road in Acocks Green. Seen during December 2012. I think they use the same Christmas lights above the store each year. The one in the middle says "Merry Christmas".

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Christmas lights seen down Westley Road towards the village green in Acocks Green Village from the 11C bus stop outside of Acocks Green Bowl. The bus stop for the 11A is on the other side of the road. This view was seen in late November 2015. The Christmas lights here are usually green and yellow.

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This more recent view of Christmas lights in Acocks Green Village was seen on the Warwick Road near Wilko looking towards Burton. This was during early December 2018. To the right of Burton used to be a Woolworths store until they went bust in 2009. The store was empty during 2010, until it was turned into a Furniture & Electrical  charity shop for the British Heart Foundation.

dndimg alt="Warwick Road, Acocks Green Christmas lights" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Acocks Green Village Christmas lights (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Bouncy castles and other stalls on the Warwick Road in Acocks Green, seen during Acocks Green Village Fun Day. It was held on Saturday 12th April 2014, and was held by the Acocks Green Village BID (one of many events they have had in the village). There was an entertainer there that day (a clown), who would blow up balloons and fold them into shapes / objects for families. The Post Office used to be on that side of the Warwick Road (next to Lloyds Bank), until 2014 or 2015. When the later moved into WH Smith Local which opened in 2015 (where Bon Marché used to be until about 2012) on the other side of the road (to the right of Iceland).

dndimg alt="Acocks Green Fun Day April 2014" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Acocks Green Village bouncy castle.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The new Acocks Green Village in Bloom sculpture was unveiled on the village green during 2017. It was unveiled on Thursday 4th May 2017. The designer was Veronica Treadwell. Made by the manufacturer Collins. Installed with the help of Fran Lee and the Bloom volunteers. The design was based on a tree as it was thought that the Acocks Green area has more trees than any other area in Birmingham. It's design is based on the transport links to and from the village. A canal built in the 18th century (what is now the Grand Union Canal). A railway built in the 19th century (later becoming part of the Chiltern Mainline) which was later surrounded by Victorian and Edwardian properties. The sculpture shows a horse-drawn narrowboat and a Great Western Railway locomotive. It is basically a "Welcome to Acocks Green" sign on the island. The shop seen behind was the Card Factory.

dndimg alt="Acocks Green Village in Bloom sculpture" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Acocks Green Village Bloom sculpture.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

During the spring and summer each year, the Acocks Green Village in Bloom team plant colourful flowers on the green. Seen from near the Warwick Road zebra crossing during April 2014. At the time there was also daffodils in bloom. Shops seen behind going up the Shirley Road including Consol Walk-in-Spa, Shaw's Amusements, Kingman House (Cantonese & Chinese takeaway) and Cash Fall Amusements.

dndimg alt="Acocks Green Village flowers on the green April 2014" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Acocks Green Village flowers on the green (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Seen in May 2015 was this wonderful flower display of yellow coloured flowers (I'm not very good on flower names so is easier for me to say what colour they are). This view to the Westley Road / Warwick Road corner. At the time there was also tulips on the village green. There is a Barclays Bank on that corner (to the right of a solicitors office).

dndimg alt="Acocks Green Village flowers on the green May 2015" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Acocks Green Village flowers on the green (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

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Moseley Village around St Mary's Row and Alcester Road

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A look around Moseley Village. Heading down St Mary's Row on the no 1 bus route. And up / down Alcester Road on the no 50 bus route (the no 35 turns down Salisbury Road). From St Mary's Church to The Fighting Cocks (a pub on the Alcester Road). Here you would find pubs and cafes. There is also a village green and the occasional Farmers Market on the last Saturday of each month.

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Moseley Village around St Mary's Row and Alcester Road





A look around Moseley Village. Heading down St Mary's Row on the no 1 bus route. And up / down Alcester Road on the no 50 bus route (the no 35 turns down Salisbury Road). From St Mary's Church to The Fighting Cocks (a pub on the Alcester Road). Here you would find pubs and cafes. There is also a village green and the occasional Farmers Market on the last Saturday of each month.


For me I can get the no 1, 35 or 50 bus routes to or through Moseley Village. The 1 goes up and down St Mary's Row then down Salisbury Road. The 35 goes from Alcester Road down Salisbury Road. The 50 heads up and down the Alcester Road between Kings Heath and Balsall Heath. One day in the future it will be possible once again to get a train to or from Moseley (the land is next to St Mary's Church between St Mary's Row and Woodbridge Road on the site of the original station). The original station closed in the early years of WW2.

 

In something that doesn't normally happen on the 50, my bus was about to turn down Salisbury Road, while the other 50 (in the photo below) was turning from Salisbury Road onto Alcester Road towards Kings Heath. This was during April 2018 (as Moseley Road in Balsall Heath was closed at the time for a street market).

The row of shops on St Mary's Row is where on the last Saturday of each month is a Farmers Market (they also have stalls on Alcester Road up from Boots). There is a small green with benches a that triangle near the no 1 bus stop.

dndimg alt="Alcester Road Moseley bus diversion" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Village bus diversion Alcester Road (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Seen just as my bus turned onto Salisbury Road was The Fighting Cocks pub on the corner of Alcester Road (part of it runs onto St Mary's Row). It is on the corner of King Edward Road. Shops running north from William Hill up to the Co-operative Food.

dndimg alt="Alcester Road Moseley bus diversion" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Village bus diversion Alcester Road (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

We start on St Mary's Row. It runs from Wake Green Road down the hill towards Salisbury Road (which itself goes down the hill towards Edgbaston Road in Edgbaston).

The most prominent landmark in Moseley Village is of St Mary's Church, the parish church of Moseley, located on St Mary's Row. Seen here in 2009 from the site of Moseley Station (hopefully the station will be built on the land behind the church in the 2020's). The church is a Grade II listed building and dates to the 15th century. Originally built as a chapel in the parish of Kings Norton. The body of the church was rebuilt in 1780 and altered by Thomas Rickman from 1823 to 1824. J A Chatwin added a north aisle in 1886 and his son P B Chatwin rebuilt the nave and south in 1910. War memorial cross on the left not far from the lychgate.

dndimg alt="St Mary's Church - St Mary's Row, Moseley" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/St Marys Church St Marys Row Moseley.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The shops running down St Mary's Row in Moseley Village during August 2013, while Moseley in Bloom had potted many flowers around the village centre. Priya is an Indian and Bangladeshi cuisine restaurant on this side of the road. Next up is a barber shop called Fino and a newsagent called Village News. Pottery & Pieces was open at the time, but as of late 2018 it is being refitted as something else. A bit further down is a Wetherspoon Freehouse called The Elizabeth of York.

dndimg alt="Shops on St Mary's Row, Moseley" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/St Marys Row Moseley shops.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Beyond St Mary's Church on this side of St Mary's Row used to be a Barclays Bank and a pub called the Bulls Head. This view was in 2011 when both were still open at the time. The bank eventually closed down at Costa Coffee opened there in 2017. While the Bulls Head is now a Cuban bar called The Cuban Embassy (opened in 2015).

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On the last Saturday of every month there is Farmers Market on St Mary's Row (the strip of road that leaves the main line and heads to Alcester Road). Normally when the road is open to traffic, vehicles can only leave Alcester Road for it and head onto St Mary's Row and not the other way round. If i'm on the no 1 bus on Saturday morning's I occasionally see the market. Seen here next to Sapori di Sole, Italian Food Specialists.

dndimg alt="Moseley Farmers Market" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Farmers Market Moseley Village (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Another view from the no 1 bus on St Mary's Row of the Farmers Market. They also have a bunch of stalls on the pavement on Alcester Road heading north from Boots.

dndimg alt="Moseley Farmers Market" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Farmers Market Moseley Village (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

In July 2017, I saw this green bus on the village green from the no 1 bus on St Mary's Row. Off the Scale. It looks like they were selling clothes on the bus and also outside of it. Was a Leyland Leopard vintage bus. Being that it was summer, there was a nice display of flowers from Moseley in Bloom around the village centre.

dndimg alt="Green bus on the village green - St Mary's Row, Moseley" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/St Marys Row Moseley Village green bus.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A general look at the village green from the no 1 bus on St Mary's Row in Moseley Village. Various shops on that side of St Mary's Row leading to the Alcester Road. Atlantis Fish Bar is now Flakes Fish & Chips. That changed over in 2014. In the middle is shop called Lewis's. Further to the left near The Fighting Cocks is Zen.

dndimg alt="Village Green - St Mary's Row, Moseley" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/St Marys Row Moseley Village green.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

We will next move onto Alcester Road. From St Mary's Row heading north towards Woodbridge Road. Or south towards Kings Heath. Mainly the shops, pubs and café's closest to the centre of the village. This is the A435, the main route up from the Maypole and Kings Heath towards Balsall Heath and Highgate.

We start with The Village at 179 Alcester Road in Moseley Village. A pub and restaurant in a house built in 1896. A red brick building, it's to the right of a Telephone Exchange. Parlour & Dining.

dndimg alt="The Village - Alcester Road, Moseley" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Village Inn Alcester Road Moseley.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Next up is Moseley's Post Office building. Part of the building is also used by The Moseley Exchange (a community centre). The building probably dates to the early decades of the 20th century.

dndimg alt="Post Office - Alcester Road, Moseley" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Post Office Alcester Road Moseley.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Seen just before the traffic lights on the no 50 bus is Damascena Coffee House. They recently had a new door installed on the former coach house entrance. There is many café's around Moseley Village up the Alcester Road, mostly independent. Although there is now a Costa Coffee in the former Barclays Bank on St Mary's Row (that I've been to a few times). There is also now a Damascena in Harborne on the High Street and in the City Centre on Temple Row West. This one is at 133 Alcester Road.

dndimg alt="Damascena - Alcester Road, Moseley" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Damascena Alcester Road Moseley.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The most prominent pub landmark in Moseley Village has got to be The Fighting Cocks, on the corner of Alcester Road and King Edward Road, with part of the building going down St Mary's Row. It is a Grade II listed building. Built in 1903 by the architects T W F Newton and Cheatle. Made of ashlar and red brick. It has Arts and Crafts details and looks a bit like a Jacobean building. On the corner is a big compass showing the wind direction and a barometer showing whether it's going to be dry or wet! Is also a clock tower at the top.

dndimg alt="The Fighting Cocks - Alcester Road, Moseley" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Fighting Cocks Alcester Road Moseley.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

From the no 50 bus on the Alcester Road, looking down St Mary's Row. Was a banner up for the Mostly Jazz Funk Soul Festival during April 2015. This was promoting the event in Moseley Park which took place during July 2015. This part of St Mary's Row is usually where the Farmers Market goes. Festivals and other events in the park usually have entrance on Salisbury Road and Alcester Road (the park is usually private for local residents and only open to the public on open days). The artists entrance I think is on Salisbury Road.

dndimg alt="Mostly Jazz Funk Soul Festival " dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Jazz Funk Festival.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

An Irish themed bar on the Alcester Road called O'Neills. Part of a chain that you would find other O'Neills around the West Midlands. This view was in February 2011. They were there until 2014 or 2015 when they were replaced by the One Trick Pony Club. Halfords autocentre used to be to the right until about 2014. At one point it was thought that Boston Tea Party would move into the former garage, but Prezzo did instead in 2016. They lasted there until 2017, and was replaced by Sorrento Lounge in 2018. To the left was Thistle Estates and Consol until 2015. Pizza Express moved in there in 2016.

dndimg alt="O'Neills - Alcester Road, Moseley" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/ONeills Alcester Road Moseley.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Further up the Alcester Road is the Prince of Wales pub. It dates to the Victorian era. They are located at 118 Alcester Road. The Moseley Emporium is to the left. Was a derelict building site to the right for many years until Moseley Central was built there from 2017 to 2018.

dndimg alt="Prince of Wales - Alcester Road, Moseley" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Prince of Wales Alcester Road Moseley.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Moseley Emporium is an antiques shop to the left of the Prince of Wales pub on the Alcester Road in Moseley. They have three floors of antiques and quality reproduction furniture. It looks like they share the building with the Prince of Wales! They are at 116 Alcester Road. There website describes their building as a beautiful Victorian villa.

dndimg alt="Moseley Emporium - Alcester Road, Moseley" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Emporium Alcester Road Moseley.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos by Elliott Brown.

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60 passion points
Modern Architecture
15 Dec 2018 - Elliott Brown
Inspiration

More Harborne Village architecture (Part 2)

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Part 2 of my look around the architecture in Harborne. As with part 1 around the High Street and surrounding roads. Mostly built up here from the Victorian period onwards as Harborne became an affluent suburb next to Edgbaston. This time starting with a look at Harborne Library and some alternate views of buildings I posted in part 1 (or later on in the post).

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More Harborne Village architecture (Part 2)





Part 2 of my look around the architecture in Harborne. As with part 1 around the High Street and surrounding roads. Mostly built up here from the Victorian period onwards as Harborne became an affluent suburb next to Edgbaston. This time starting with a look at Harborne Library and some alternate views of buildings I posted in part 1 (or later on in the post).


Follow this link for Harborne Village architecture part 1. Well it seemed like my first post on Harborne was popular so lets continue shall we!

We first start with a pub that has had a few name changes over the years. Looking on Google Maps Street View, this pub was called Varsity from at least 2009 (or before) until 2011. From 2011 to 2015 it was called The Proverbial (seen below in 2014). From 2015 to present it has been a Slug & Lettuce. 186 - 196 High Street, Harborne. At the time of the photo Lloyds Pharmacy was opposite, but that is now Jhoots Pharmacy.

 

dndimg alt="The Proverbial - High Street, Harborne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Proverbial High Street Harborne.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Rumours is a hair salon at the corner of North Road and the High Street in Harborne at 51 High Street. It has a distinctive corner turret.

dndimg alt="Rumours - High Street, Harborne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Rumours High Street Harborne.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Some views of Harborne Library. The following history was taken from this link Harborne Library history. The building was built as a Masonic Hall in 1879 by the architect A. E. Phipson (who lived in Harborne and designed several buildings around Harborne during the same period). It had originally housed the Harborne Lodge, Tudor 1792 of the Province of Staffordshire. The council as the Corporation of Birmingham bought the building in 1892 and some changes had to be made before it was opened as a Public Library. It also includes part of the next building to the right.

dndimg alt="Harborne Library" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Harborne Library High Street Harborne (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The close up view of the library. You can see that is still says "Masonic Hall" above the middle first floor windows. The public couldn't browse the shelves for books until 1925. Before that time they had to request books from the counter. There was major alterations to the library during the 1960s. It was during that time when the library expanded into the next building. The last major refurbishment took place from 2005 until 2006.

dndimg alt="Harborne Library" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Harborne Library High Street Harborne (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This is the better view of The Junction pub (built 1903) at the junction of Vivian Road (near Waitrose) and the Harborne High Street (on the right). There is a pedestrian crossing in the middle with a zebra crossing. 212 High Street. There website describes it as Victorian but with a 1903 date it is from the Edwardian period. It has distinctive red brick terracotta and stone detailing.

dndimg alt="The Junction - Vivian Road and High Street, Harborne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Junction Vivian Road and High Street Harborne.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This pub is called the Harborne Stores and is a Traditional Free House. 109 High Street. It's now part of the Stonegate Pub Company. Near the corner of Station Road on the High Street in Harborne.

dndimg alt="Harborne Stores - High Street, Harborne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Harborne Stores High Street Harborne.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Near the end of the High Street is no's 20 to 26 High Street in Harborne. No's 20, 22 and 24 used to be for many years Fishers Surveyors and Property Managers (established in 1913), but it looks like they have moved out. Cafe Boutique & Cake Shop is at no 26. Looks very much like a Victorian set of terraced houses.

dndimg alt="20 - 26 High Street, Harborne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/20 to 26 High Street Harborne.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Harborne Market used to be in this building betwen the High Street and Vivian Road. It was open until around 2011, and was closed / derelict from 2012 until 2015 when Paradice Gelateria opened. Webster & Co Solicitors used to be on the floors above, but seems like it hasn't been there for years, I'm not sure if they were open in the later years of the market being open on the ground floor.

dndimg alt="Paradice Gelateria - High Street, Harborne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Paradice Gelateria High Street Harborne.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This view of Paradice Gelateria from Vivian Road in Harborne, was the rear side of the now former Harborne Market. The Harborne Market Cafe used to occupy the units on the left. From Google Maps Street View, the exterior of the cafe wasn't much to look at. Temporary wooden doors that looked like hoardings. But they had signs outside until 2011 saying that they were open. By 2012 it looks like they had closed down.

dndimg alt="Paradice Gelateria - Vivian Road, Harborne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Paradice Gelateria Vivian Road Harborne.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

If you get off the 11C on Harborne Park Road you might see the modern spire of this church on Vivian Road. It's St Mary's Church, Harborne and was built between 1875 and 1877 (the Victorian church building not including the later 20th century buildings).  It was founded by the Passionists in 1875 and is currently served by the Augustinians.

dndimg alt="St Mary's RC Church - Vivian Road, Harborne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/St Marys RC Church Vivian Road Harborne.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Another look at The New Inn. In part 1 I posted a view of it from Greenfield Road, so I popped back to Harborne and took this new photo of the view of it on Vivian Road. A pub has been on this site since at least 1845 (or earlier). The pub has been refurbished in recent years and has had new pub signs installed.

dndimg alt="The New Inn - Vivian Road, Harborne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The New Inn Vivian Road Harborne.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The next pub is The White Horse on York Street in Harborne. Seen below in 2015. Ansells ran the pub back in the 1960s. By 2015 it was a Festival Ale House.

dndimg alt="The White Horse - York Street, Harborne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The White Horse York Street Harborne (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The second photo of The White Horse shows it during November 2018. By then it was under new ownership. Ostler's took over in 2017.

dndimg alt="The White Horse - York Street, Harborne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The White Horse York Street Harborne (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

There is many ghost signs around Birmingham, and Harborne is no exception. This one can be found on War Lane for A.W. Reynolds & Son who did Building Repairs. They were based 262 High Street (assume on the Harborne High Street). It was on the side of a house. It's possible that they were based there at War Lane and at High Street as well.

dndimg alt="Reynolds ghost sign - War Lane, Harborne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Reynolds ghost sign War Lane Harborne.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Seen on Park Hill Road in Harborne is Elizabeth Bretherton. In a building on the corner called Acorn House. I'm not sure if it is an office or an art gallery, but is part of a set of terraced houses. One of which in the middle says Kingscote Place 1883. Close to Nursery Road.

dndimg alt="Elizabeth Bretherton - Park Hill Road, Harborne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Elizabeth Bretherton Park Hill Road Harborne.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Over on the corner of North Road and Park Hill Road used to be Sue Howells Art. This view was in 2016, but after being there for at least a decade or more (Google Maps Street View only goes to 2008), it was replaced in 2017 by Barberology. I saw this shop in March 2016 and by September 2016 it looks like Barberology were being fitted out in this shop.
Next door to Sue Howells on Park Hill Road was ToTo Hair until 2012. Comida took over in 2015 until 2017. Caffiened took over in 2018.

dndimg alt="Sue Howells Art - North Road, Harborne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Sue Howells Art North Road Harborne.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

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13 Dec 2018 - Elliott Brown
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Tour of the Harborne Village architecture

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A look around the architecture in Harborne Village mostly from the Victorian, Edwardian and inter war eras. There are many red brick examples, schools and former and current schools. Some that used to be banks. Mostly the Harborne High Street and some of the surrounding roads.

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Tour of the Harborne Village architecture





A look around the architecture in Harborne Village mostly from the Victorian, Edwardian and inter war eras. There are many red brick examples, schools and former and current schools. Some that used to be banks. Mostly the Harborne High Street and some of the surrounding roads.


Harborne is the next suburb along close to Edgbaston and Selly Oak. You can get the no 11A, 11C or 23 or 24 NXWM buses here. The High Street in Harborne Village is a bit like Birmingham's version of London's Shoreditch. This is the modern Harborne Village which is around the High Street area now, while the original village was around St Peter's Church Harborne.

First up a look at this former Victorian bank building on the corner of the High Street in Harborne with Albany Road. For many years it has been a Zizzi Italian restaurant. May have once been a Lloyds Bank here. Not listed. A red brick building that slightly looks like it's in the Georgian style.

dndimg alt="Zizzi on the Harborne High Street" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Zizzi Harborne High Street.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Former primary school on the High Street, now The School Yard. With Boston Tea Party on the left and Prezzo to the right. It is on the corner with York Street.  A Grade II listed building as The Clock Tower Community Education Centre, it dates to around 1885 by the architects Martin and Chamberlain. Red brick and terracotta with minimum stone dressings; tile roof with decorative ridge tiles. It was the Harborne High Street Junior School from the 1880s until 1960. See this Birmingham Post article from 2014. Before it was converted in 2014 it was an adult education centre known as The Clock Tower.

dndimg alt="Former Girls School - High Street, Harborne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Former Girls School High Street Harborne.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Junction is a red brick and terracotta pub with stone details dating to 1903. On the corner of the High Street and Vivian Road. This view was from the High Street. The best view is probably from the juncton of Vivian Road and the High Street at the pelican crossing, than the view I got below in 2014. There is a set of Victorian urinals (no longer in use) to the right of here (not far from the no 23 and 24 bus stops).

dndimg alt="The Junction - High Street, Harborne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Junction High Street Harborne.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Vine is one of the pubs on the Harborne High Street. It's to the right of the Royalty. They are at 310 High Street and is part of the Sizzling Pubs chain.

dndimg alt="The Vine - High Street, Harborne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Vine High Street Harborne.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Royalty was a cinema built in 1930 by the architect Horace G. Bradley. It is a Grade II listed building, listed as the The Royalty (Gala Bingo).  A red brick structure. It became a bingo hall from 1930 and was still being used for bingo by the time it was listed in 2011. But by 2014 it had closed down and is now quite derelict. A recent fire didn't help, nor the threat of demolition (only 7 years after it was listed). Gala Bingo must have closed down before 2012, as the rear of the site was being used for a Hand Car Wash. The fire was in September 2018 and demolition started October 2018.

dndimg alt="Royalty - High Street, Harborne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Royalty High Street Harborne.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Green Man is a pub near the end of the Harborne High Street, close to the Edgbaston border. The building was probably built in the 1930s. There is a pub sign with a man and his dog on the left hand side of the building.

dndimg alt="Green Man - High Street, Harborne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Green Man High Street Harborne.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Leaving the High Street behind and a look at buildings on other nearby roads.

Bell Tower seen on War Lane in Harborne. A red brick building, possibly from the Victorian era. I've not been able to find out any information on the building but think it is now used as residential flats.

dndimg alt="Bell Tower - War Lane, Harborne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bell Tower War Lane Harborne.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

These shops seen on the corner of Greenfield Road and Vivian Road in Harborne. R. O. Price, F.G.I and Provisions and Prelude Hair. A stone on the corner on the first floor names it Harborne Quadrant with the date of 1861. For me, this is on the walk from the High Street towards Harborne Park Road to catch the 11A (or after getting off the 11C and walking towards the High Street).

dndimg alt="Greenfield Road and Vivian Road, Harborne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Greenfield Road and Vivian Road Harborne.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The New Inn is on the corner of Vivian Road and Greenfield Road in Harborne. This is the side on Greenfield Road. The pub may have been on this site as early as 1845. A traditional pub, they have had a recent refurbishment.

dndimg alt="The New Inn Harborne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The New Inn Harborne Vivian Road Harborne.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Seen on Serpentine Road in Harborne (not far from the High Street) is The Harborne Village Social Club and Institute. Mostly just known as The Harborne Village Social Club.

dndimg alt="The Harborne Village Social Club and Institute - Serpentine Road, Harborne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Harborne Village Social Club and Institute Serpentine Road Harborne.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

On Station Road is Harborne Primary School. Originally opened in 1902 as an Infant School during the Edwardian era. The Junior School followed in 1912. The two schools merged in September 2000 forming the Harborne Primary School it is today. A red brick building, it is on the corner of Emerson Road and Station Road.

dndimg alt="Harborne Primary School" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Harborne Primary School Station Road Harborne.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Still on Station Road, we get to a building / house called The Library at no 71. I'm not sure if it ever was a library, but the current Harborne Library is on the High Street.

dndimg alt="The Library - Station Road, Harborne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Library 71 Station Road, Harborne.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Next up the former Harborne Fire Station. At the junction of Gordon Road and Rose Road in Harborne. A Grade II listed building built in 1907. Now used as flats / apartments. Red brick with stone ashlar dressing; gabled and hipped plain tile roofs. There is a sculpture of a fireman on the right hand side of the building, where the former doors for the fire engines used to be.

dndimg alt="Harborne Fire Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Harborne Fire Station.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

On Gordon Road in Harborne is a new cafe called Caffiened, it opened in November 2017. They seem to have added a modern wooden look at the bottom complimenting the original red brick look on the upper floors.

dndimg alt="Caffiened - Gordon Road, Harborne" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Caffiened - 4 Gordon Road, Harborne.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

I'd add Harborne Library, but the only view I've got of it is from the side / close up. So if I return to Harborne, I'll take a new view of it. So expect to see that in a Part 2.

Photos by Elliott Brown.

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80 passion points
Modern Architecture
11 Dec 2018 - Elliott Brown
Did you know?

Calthorpe Estates Edgbaston white Regency / Victorian villas / town houses Part 2

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A second selection of the white Georgian / Regency / Victorian villas / town house in Calthorpe Estates Edgbaston. Mostly the posh looking area between the Hagley Road and Calthorpe Road. There is so many fine examples now. Mostly they are now offices. There are also examples on St James Road and George Road, which are towards the Islington Row Middleway and Wheeleys Road.

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Calthorpe Estates Edgbaston white Regency / Victorian villas / town houses Part 2





A second selection of the white Georgian / Regency / Victorian villas / town house in Calthorpe Estates Edgbaston. Mostly the posh looking area between the Hagley Road and Calthorpe Road. There is so many fine examples now. Mostly they are now offices. There are also examples on St James Road and George Road, which are towards the Islington Row Middleway and Wheeleys Road.


For my first post follow this link Calthorpe Estates Edgbaston Part 1.

Hagley Road

The Calthorpe Estates offices is located at 76 Hagley Road. On the corner with Highfield Road. The building dates to the early 19th century and is a Grade II listed building. White stucco with a slate roof. The Calthorpe Estates manages over 1600 acres of land across Edgbaston in Birmingham. Seen around November 2015 when they had Christmas reindeer on the Highfield Road side. You would normally find them around Edgbaston during the Christmas season each year.

dndimg alt="Calthorpe Estates - 76 Hagley Road, Edgbaston" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Calthorpe Estates - 76 Hagley Road.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

One of the earliest buildings of the Calthorpe Estates. Regency House was built from 1819 until 1820 and was designed by Thomas and Joseph Bateman for John Harris. Only the regency façade is Grade II listed, as the building behind was demolished and rebuilt in 1971 by John Madin Design Group (JMDG) for Rentcroft Investments (and that is of no special historic interest). A terrace of six former houses, now offices. No 97 to 107 Hagley Road. It is built of brick covered in whitewashed stuco with a slate roof.

dndimg alt="Regency House - Hagley Road" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Regency House Hagley Road(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Praza an Indian Restaurant with Cocktail Bar & Dining at 94 and 96 Hagley Road. Grade II listed building. The building dates to the early 19th century and was built as a pair of semi detached houses. Stucco with a slate roof.

dndimg alt="Praza - 94 and 96 Hagley Road, Edgbaston" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Praza 94 and 96 Hagley Road.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Cadbury Brothers

For my post on the Cadbury Brothers follow this link Cadbury Brothers: George and Richard Cadbury.

17 Wheeleys Road was the former home of Richard Cadbury who lived here from 1861 until 1871. Blue plaque from English Heritage. The houses at 17 and 18 Wheeleys Road were built in 1829 and have first floor Ionic pilasters.

dndimg alt="17 Wheeleys Road former home of Richard Cadbury" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Richard Cadburys house Wheeleys Road Edgbaston.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

At 32 George Road near the corner of St James Road was the former home of George Cadbury. Who lived here from 1872 until 1881 according to the blue plaque from English Heritage. The house is a Grade II listed building and was built in 1820 as a detached 2 storey stucco villa. The house has fluted Tuscan columns to the doorcases.

dndimg alt="32 George Road Edgbaston former home of George Cadbury" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/George Cadburys house on George Road Edgbaston.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

St James Road and George Road

The Roundhouse at 16 and 17 St James Road. A Grade II listed building. It's a good example of a stucco cottage combining picturesque Italian rustic manner with gothic-Tudor details. Was originally built as a freestanding folly in 1810 in the grounds of 29 George Road. Wings added to garden front and wings to roadside added in 1830. Further additions of a service wing around 1860-70.

dndimg alt="The Roundhouse - 16 and 17 St James Road" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Roundhouse 16 and 17 St James Road.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Over on George Road is St James Place. It's a Grade II listed building, now offices. Originally built as the Original House and Service Coach House Wings at the Skin Hospital. Was built between 1830 and 1840 as a substantial Grecian villa of 2 storeys with 5 bays and is stucco faced.

dndimg alt="St James Place - George Road" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/St James Place George Road Edgbaston.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Back to St James Road with what is now Busy Bees Nursery. The building isn't listed but looks of the 19th century period of the other Calthorpe Estates buildings in the area. Is close to Calthorpe Road and the HSBC building is behind it.

dndimg alt="Busy Bee Day Nursery - St James Road" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Busy Bees Day Nursery St James Road Edgbaston.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Hallfield School

This is Hallfield School and it has a couple of white stucco buildings that you might see on the no 1 bus route. The school was founded in 1879, and they will be 140 years old in 2019! The white stucco school buildings are located near Church Road.

First up, this building used as a Day Nursery. Grade II listed building dating to about 1850. Listed as the Main Block to Hallfield School. It has a rusticated porch with round-arched entrance framed by coupled pilasters.

dndimg alt="Hallfield School - Church Road, Edgbaston" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hallfield School Church Road Edgbaston (1) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This is the main building of Hallfield School, if you are on a train on the Cross City line, or heading up or down the Worcester & Birmingham Canal, you might be able to see the back of the school buildings from the playing field. While these buildings are not listed, it dates to about 1860 and was originally a large villa called Beech Lawn.

dndimg alt="Hallfield School - Church Road, Edgbaston" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hallfield School Church Road Edgbaston (2) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The view of Beech Lawn, now the main building of Hallfield School from the towpath of the Worcester & Birmingham Canal. Next to the canal is what is now known as the Cross City line. The Edgbaston Tunnel is a short distance away and it goes under Church Road. Normally from the train, you can normally just see the playing fields, as these Victorian brick railways walls get in the way of the view! You can't tell from here that the building is now part of a school!

dndimg alt="Hallfield School from the Worcester & Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hallfield School near the Edgbaston Tunnel.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Calthorpe Road

This is 20 Calthorpe Road, close to St James Road. Currently it is To Let but formerly it was occupied by DG Mutual. A Grade II listed building. It is an early Calthorpe Estates villa dating to about 1820 to 1830. Grecian stucco symmetrical 3 bay elevation on 2 storeys. There is a former coach house on the left.

dndimg alt="20 Calthorpe Road, Edgbaston" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/20 Calthorpe Road.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Next up is Al Rayan Bank at 24 to 25 Calthorpe Road. A Grade II listed building. Built as a pair of semi-detached Calthorpe Estate stucco villas in the year 1840. There is a Roman Doric doorway at no 25.

dndimg alt="Al Rayan Bank - 24 - 25 Calthorpe Road, Edgbaston" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Al Rayan Bank - 24 - 25 Calthorpe Road.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The next building down is a Grade II listed building at 26 Calthorpe Road. Rubric Lois King Solicitors. A stucco villa built in 1840. A detached version of the villas at Nos 24 and 25. Doric column porch.

dndimg alt="Rubric Lois King Solicitors - 26 Calthorpe Road, Edgbaston" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Rubric Lois King Solicitors - 26 Calthorpe Road.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The RoSPA are at 27 and 28 Calthorpe Road, also a Grade II listed building.  These buildings date to about 1830 and is a pair of 3-storey semi-detached stucco Calthorpe Estate villas. No 27 was altered in 1850, but also has a former coach house absorbed into a modern wing. No 28 was unaltered with an original entrance porch of unfluted Tuscan columns.

dndimg alt="RoSPA - 27 and 28 Calthorpe Road, Edgbaston" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/RoSPA - 27 and 28 Calthorpe Road.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos by Elliott Brown

 

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65 passion points
Modern Architecture
28 Nov 2018 - Elliott Brown
Did you know?

Castles within the West Midlands region

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Lets take a look at some of the castles that remain in the West Midlands region. Dudley Castle (West Midlands county), Tamworth Castle (Staffordshire), Kenilworth Castle and Warwick Castle (Warwickshire). Dudley also includes a zoo. Warwick is now like a Merlin Entertainments place. Kenilworth is English Heritage ruins and gardens. Tamworth is small but intact.

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Castles within the West Midlands region





Lets take a look at some of the castles that remain in the West Midlands region. Dudley Castle (West Midlands county), Tamworth Castle (Staffordshire), Kenilworth Castle and Warwick Castle (Warwickshire). Dudley also includes a zoo. Warwick is now like a Merlin Entertainments place. Kenilworth is English Heritage ruins and gardens. Tamworth is small but intact.


Dudley Castle

Located in Dudley, West Midlands, these days it is a part of Dudley Zoo. It is on Castle Hill. A Grade I listed building.

A castle was built here soon after the Norman Conquest and was a wooden motte and bailey castle. The castle was rebuilt as a stone fortification in the 12th century, but was demolished in the orders of King Henry II. The castle was rebuilt during the 13th century. The tower we see today above the zoo was built in the 14th century. It was slighted by Parliamentarian forces during the English Civil War. There is a pair of Russian cannons that were brought back from the Crimean War. They were brought to Dudley in 1857. You can see one below from the view above the track at the zoo.

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One of the stone walls and corner turrets at Dudley Castle, seen within the grounds of Dudley Zoo. This dates from the 14th century.

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Dudley Castle can be seen from many places in Dudley Town Centre. This is the view from close to Dudley Sixth Form College. You can see how badly slighted the tower was on the right from here.

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This view was from Priory Park in Dudley. England flag flying proudly.

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This view of Dudley Castle was from Trindle Road in Dudley. The turret from the wall is seen below. From this view taken in October 2016, you can see both of the Russian cannons. Dudley currently has no railway station, but there might be a future Midland Metro line through the town. At present you can get buses there from Birmingham (bus stops are close to outside of the zoo).

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Tamworth Castle

Located in Tamworth, Staffordshire. While the castle is now in Staffordshire, before boundary changes in 1889 it used to be in Warwickshire.

You might enter the castle grounds via the Holloway Lodge. A Grade II listed building, it resembles a castle gatehouse. The lodge was built in 1810. Tamworth Castle itself can be seen from above and is a Grade I listed building. A Norman castle built in 1080. The site served as the residence of the Mercian kings during the Anglo Saxon period, but fell into disuse during the Viking invasions.

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Within the Castle Grounds there is a statue of Ethelfleda (also known as Æthelflæd). She was the The Lady of the Mercians in 913. The statue dates to 1000 years later in 1913 and is Grade II listed. She was the daughter of Alfred the Great. She led the defence of Mercia against the Danes, fortified Tamworth and other towns.

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Tamworth Castle seen on top of the hill. Was a motte and bailey castle. Rebuilt in the 12th century, with repairs and reconstruction during the 13th century. The castle is now a museum. In March 2012 I couldn't see if it was open or not.

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Heading up the path, getting closer to Tamworth Castle for a walk around the perimeter. Was nice views of the River Anker from up here. The castle was continuously in use from the 11th and 12th centuries until the 17th century. From the 16th century it was adapted as a residence, but fell into disrepair by the 18th century. The castle was sold to the Tamworth Corporation in the late 19th century (now Tamworth Borough Council).

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A look round the back of the castle close up. The council has regularly maintained the castle and turned it into a tourist attraction. The grounds have been landscaped. You can get a train to Tamworth Station from Birmingham New Street, if you wish to visit this castle.

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Kenilworth Castle

Located in Kenilworth, Warwickshire. It is now managed by English Heritage. It's a Grade I listed building, and was built from the Norman period to the Tudor period. The castle was the subject of a six month long Siege of Kenilworth in 1266. The castle was founded in the 1120s around a Norman great tower.

From this view you can see the Leicester's Building and The Great Tower, as you enter the castle grounds. On the August 2017 bank holiday weekend was an event called the Clash of Knights (actors were in medieval costumes).

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A view of the ruined  Leicester's Building. Below was tents and canopies for that medieval bank holiday weekend event that took place at the time. Recreating what it could have been like in the 12th, 13th or 14th centuries. This tower block was built between 1571 and 1572 by Queen Elizabeth I's favourite Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. It was built to provide private lodgings for the queen and her close servants. She visited in 1572 and again in 1575.

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This is The Great Tower. Kenilworth Castle was founded in the 1120s by Geoffrey de Clinton, Lord Chamberlain and treasurer to Henry I. The tower is one of the castles earliest surviving features. The Norman keep, or 'great tower' was always the most commanding building at the castle. Most of the base structure was built from 1124 until 1130. King John added an open fighting gallery around 1210 to 1215. Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester altered it in the late 16th century. He enlarged the window openings and may have used the upper floors to display paintings. During the Civil War in the 1640s, it was slighted.

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There are steps up to the Strong Tower. This view was from outside of the Great Tower. You can climb up to the top. There are views of the Outer Court from the window openings of the ruined tower. Underneath there was also cellars that you can have a look at. This tower, along with the Great Hall to the left was built between 1373 and 1380 by John of Gaunt, the third son of Edward III. These parts of the castle were slighted during the Civil War in the 1640s and 1650s.

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The view of the castle from the Elizabethan Garden. From here you can see the Great Tower on the left. The garden is a recreation of the The Queen's Privy Garden. There are car parks at the castle, but you can also park at car parks in Kenilworth Town Centre, and get a free bus to the castle from Johnsons (this was on the Bank Holiday visit, not sure if they do that when it's not a bank holiday). Since Spring 2018 when Kenilworth Station opened, that has given visitors from Birmingham an alternate route to get to the castle. Trains from Birmingham New Street to Coventry, then on the branch line to Leamington Spa (get off at Kenilworth). Or from Birmingham Snow Hill (or Solihull) towards Leamington Spa. Change trains towards Coventry. The castle is a 20 minute walk away from the station in Kenilworth.

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Warwick Castle

Located in Warwick, Warwickshire. It is operated by Merlin Entertainments. It's a medieval castle that started after the Norman Conquest and was developed from 1068 onwards. It is next to the River Avon.

Seen from Castle Hill next to this roundabout is the Warwick Castle Lodge. It is a Grade II listed building and was built from 1796 until 1797 by Samuel Muddiman and John Williams. It has Neo-Gothic details. You can enter the castle grounds from this lodge. Tickets for the castle can be quite pricey, but it maybe possible to get an online discount.

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The castle was bought by the Tussauds Group in 1978, hence why there are loads of waxwork figures around the castle. The castle started off as a motte and bailey castle. It was later rebuilt in stone during the 12th century. The facade opposite the town was refortified during the Hundred Years War in the 14th century. In 1604 it was granted to Sir Fulke Greville by James I. The Greville family, who became Earls of Warwick in 1759 held it until Tussauds bought it in 1978.

This is a view of Guy's Tower. Probably named after Guy de Beauchamp, 10th Earl of Warwick, during the 14th century.

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This is a view of the Caesar's Tower. The view was from Banbury Road in Warwick. It also dates to the 14th century. The towers dominate the skyline of Warwick from the nearby houses in the area. The town centre isn't that far from the castle. It's well worth a look for it's mix of architecture.

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Usually on my visits to Warwick, I'm just there to have a look around the town, so the earlier photos didn't get to see the castle from the river. In May 2016 I found a view of the castle from the Castle Bridge on Banbury Road. From here you can see people on paddle boats that look like swans or dragons. Boat hire is from St Nicholas Park. There is a weir at the far end of the river, so people in the boats have to turn back.

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The castle really does look magnificent from here! Queen Elizabeth I visited the castle in 1566 and again in 1572. John Dudley was granted the castle in 1547 and was given the title Earl of Warwick. The title went extinct in 1590 on the death of Ambrose Dudley, 3rd Earl of Warwick (an elder brother of Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester who owned Kenilworth Castle). There is almshouses in Warwick called Lord Leycester Hospital. Robert Dudley founded it in 1571. You can get trains on the Chiltern Mainline from Birmingham Snow Hill or Solihull to Warwick. The castle is a short walk away from there.

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Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

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19 Nov 2018 - Elliott Brown
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Red brick Victorian buildings at the Colmore Estate

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There might be new buildings going up in the Colmore Business District, but there are examples of red brick / terracotta / stone buildings still there from the Victorian period. Some are just facades with a modern building behind. Architects such as J. H. Chamberlain, William Martin & Frederick Martin left there mark in the area. Most examples from the late 19th century.

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Red brick Victorian buildings at the Colmore Estate





There might be new buildings going up in the Colmore Business District, but there are examples of red brick / terracotta / stone buildings still there from the Victorian period. Some are just facades with a modern building behind. Architects such as J. H. Chamberlain, William Martin & Frederick Martin left there mark in the area. Most examples from the late 19th century.


Old Royal - Church Street / Cornwall Street

This public house is Grade II listed and dates to the late 19th century (around 1898). It's at 53 - 55 Church Street. Was a rebuilding of a previous pub on the same site called the Red Lion for Alfred Homer, by the architect A H Hamblin. Purple brick and terracotta in a vaguely Loire style. During the football World Cup or the Euros, they put bunting flags up of the countries that were playing at the tournament such as below in July 2018.

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Purnell's 55 Cornwall Street

This building is a bit hidden at the moment. Heading up New Market Street from Great Charles Street Queensway you find this building on the corner of Cornwall Street. A Victorian red brick and terracotta building. It is not listed. Purnell's one of Birmingham's Michelin starred restaurants is located here. There is hoardings on the building to the left, blocking off half Cornwall Street and half of New Market Street for something called The Lightwell. Back to 55 Cornwall Street, it has four storeys plus an attic level in the roof.

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Empire House - Edmund Street

This building is Grade II listed and dates to the late 19th century. You would find it opposite a bus stop and to the right of the Birmingham School of Art. Edmund Street used to continue beyond Margaret Street, but that's part of Chamberlain Square now (between the Council House and Council House extension). The building is of red brick and terracotta, with Corinthian style columns. The building is in a derelict state at the moment, and has a Danger sign on the door. Hopefully it could get restored and given a new use, such as a restaurant or bar?

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Birmingham School of Art - Margaret Street

This building is a red Victorian Gothic structure by the architects Chamberlain and Martin. Started in 1884 and completed after the death of J. H. Chamberlain in 1885 by his partner William Martin and his son Frederick Martin. Their architect firm completed an extension down Cornwall Street in 1892 - 1893. Associated Architects refurbished it between 1992 and 1996. A Grade I listed building, at the time of it's listing in 1970, it was listed as Art And Design Annexe, Birmingham Polytechnic. It is now listed as School of Art, Birmingham City University. The College of Art used to be part of the former Birmingham Polytechnic, which became a University in 1992 as the University of Central England. It was rebranded as Birmingham City University in 2005. It is now part of BCU's Birmingham Institute of Art and Design. And to this day it remains part of the University's Department of Fine Art, but is commonly referred to it's original title.

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Birmingham and Midland Institute - Margaret Street

A Grade II* listed building dating to 1889 (or 1899) by the architects Jethro Cossins, F. B. Peacock, and Ernest Bewly. Originally the Birmingham Library, which from 1797 until 1899 had premises on Union Street before they moved to the site at the corner of Margaret Street and Cornwall Street. This library was established in 1779. It was a private library. The Birmingham and Midland Institute moved into this building in 1965 after their previous 19th century building was demolished, and they remain here to this day. The BMI was the pioneer of adult scientific and technical institution (General Industrial, Commercial and Music) and it today offers Arts and Sciences lectures.

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All Bar One - Newhall Street

The Cornwall Buildings at 43 - 51 Newhall Street. It is on the corner with Cornwall Street and is Grade II listed. Built in the late 19th century is is built of brick and terracotta an has a slate roof. It was originally built for the Birmingham Hospital Saturday Fund (a low-cost medical insurance society). All Bar One is a chain bar, serving beers, wines and cocktails. The BT Tower is seen to the left in the Jewellery Quarter.

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Edmunds - Newhall Street

This is The Scottish Mutual Assurance Society Building, built in 1895. On the corner of Edmund Street and Newhall Street. Located at 29 Newhall Street and 106 to 110 Edmund Street. Used to be a pub here called The Hogshead. It's a Grade II listed building.  It was by the architect Frank Barlow Osborn for W M Smythe, and was originally Solicitors' offices with sets of doctors' consulting rooms on either side. Red brick with ashlar sandstone dressings; blue tile roof. The building is asymmetrical and was built in the simplified Flemish Revival style. Edmunds Bar & Brewhouse has recently closed down.

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Hotel Du Vin - Church Street

On the corner of Church Street and Edmund Street was the Birmingham and Midland Eye Hospital. This building was built in 1883, although the Eye Hospital was founded back in 1823. Founded by Joseph Hodgson, Eye Surgeon at The Eye Institution, Cannon Street (opening in 1824). It later moved to Steelhouse Lane (1853) then later to Temple Row (1862). They moved to Church Street in 1884. They were relocated again in 1996 when the Eye Hospital moved to City Hospital on the Dudley Road. The building was designed in the Franco-Italian style. A new wing was added to the hospital in 1895. The architects was  Payne and Talbot and the building was built in 1882 to 1883 in the modified Queen Anne style, of dark red brick with light-coloured stone dressings. Hotel Du Vin is a luxury hotel at 25 Church Street, stretching from Edmund Street to Barwick Street. Wards, operating theatres and laboratories have been converted into bedrooms, dining rooms and meeting rooms!

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The Birmingham and Midland Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital - Edmund Street

At 105 and 107 Edmund Street is this Grade II listed building, at the corner with Barwick Street. Originally built as The Birmingham and Midland Ear, Nose and Throat Hospital in 1890 to 1891 by the architect Jethro A Cossins and Peacock. In red brick and terracotta with a tile roof. On Barwick Street is at no 70 to 78. Now the offices of H B J Gateley Wareing Llp at 111 Edmund Street. Some sections on Barwick Street have modern inserts in-between the original Victorian architecture, a bit of an old and new mishmash! The foundation stone of the Ear & Throat Hospital was laid by the Marquess of Hertford in 1890.

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Maddox House and Enterprise House - Edmund Street

This building was formerly the White Swan pub of around 1890 by the architect J.S. Davis, it was facaded in the 1990s. Located at 117 to 119 Edmund Street to the corner with Barwick Street. Hortons Estates owns the building, and Maddox House to the left was named after Conroy Ronald Maddox (1912 - 2005), a surrealist artist and Birmingham innovator. You would find a black plaque on the front of this building. My photo below was taken in 2013. Enterprise House has since been refurbished since around 2014 and that's at 115 Edmund Street. Now offices.

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Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

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17 Nov 2018 - Elliott Brown
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Key Hill and Warstone Lane Cemeteries in the Jewellery Quarter

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Did you know that there is two cemeteries within the boundaries of the Middle Ring Road? At the north east corner of the Jewellery Quarter (Hockley) is Key Hill Cemetery (Non-Conformist) and Warstone Lane Cemetery (Church of England). If you walk along Icknield Street (part of the Middle Ring Road) you can walk in and out of both.

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Key Hill and Warstone Lane Cemeteries in the Jewellery Quarter





Did you know that there is two cemeteries within the boundaries of the Middle Ring Road? At the north east corner of the Jewellery Quarter (Hockley) is Key Hill Cemetery (Non-Conformist) and Warstone Lane Cemetery (Church of England). If you walk along Icknield Street (part of the Middle Ring Road) you can walk in and out of both.


Key Hill Cemetery

The cemetery opened in 1836 and is the oldest of the two cemeteries. It's a nondenominational cemetery (nonconformist). The main entrance is on Icknield Street, while a side entrance is on Key Hill. The cemetery was laid out by the Birmingham General Cemetery Company by the architect Charles Edge. It is no longer used for burials. There is also Commonwealth war graves in the cemetery. A lot of famous names of Birmingham's past are buried here such as Joseph Chamberlain and George Dawson to name two.

Key Hill Cemetery seen in January 2018. Icknield Street entrance.

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Key Hill entrance.

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Key Hill Cemetery seen in November 2018. Starting again at the Icknield Street entrance towards the first WW1 war memorial.

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Path past the gravestone and momuments.

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Getting a little tricky to see the paths with all the leaves on the ground. This way towards the Key Hill exit / entrance.

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Leaves everywhere, gravestones and monuments all over. Is some catacombs nearby too.

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War memorials at Key Hill Cemetery.

This memorial is in memory of those who fell in the Great Wart 1914 - 1918 and who are buried in this cemetery. Poppy wreath from the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, the Council and the people of Birmingham.

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The original war memorial in the cemetery to those who fell in the Great War 1914 - 1918. It is inscribed with the fallen names.

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More recently a war memorial bench to those who fell in WW1 has been placed in the cemetery.

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Warstone Lane Cemetery

This cemetery dates to about 1847. There is an Entrance Lodge on Warstone Lane. It's a Church of England cemetery. In here can be found a set of catacombs. This cemetery also has Commonwealth war graves. Famous names of Birmingham's past here include John Baskerville and Harry Gem to name two. Other names for this cemetery include Brookfields Cemetery, Mint Cemetery or Church of England Cemetery. As well as Warstone Lane, other entrance's include Pitsford Street, Vyse Street and Icknield Street.

Views from November 2009.

Cemetery Lodge. Grade II listed building. Built in 1848 by J R Hamilton of Gloucester (Hamilton & Medland). It's at 161 Warstone Lane.

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The War Stone. It landed here in the last Ice Age by a glacier. It was called the Hoar Stone. It is a felsite boulder.

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Gravestones in Warstone Lane Cemetery seen close to the lodge and war memorial area.

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December 2012 view of Warstone Lane Cemetery from Pitsford Street.

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A November 2018 walk into Warstone Lane Cemetery towards the catacombs. Various gravestones on the way along the footpaths.

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A look at the catacombs at Warstone Lane Cemetery. It is double layered, and has a path that goes around it to the top. This is probably the most well known part of this cemetery.

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War memorial in Warstone Lane Cemetery close to the Cemetery Lodge.

November 2009 view of the war memorial cross with a few poppy wreaths below.

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The names on the memorial, as seen in November 2009. Bit similar to the design at Key Hill Cemetery. They make it look nice sometimes with the flowers planted in front of the memorial.

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The same war memorial seen in November 2018. This time just one poppy wreath. Was just after the Armistice 100 weekend commemorations. Cemetery lodge seen to the left. You can also see The War Stone from this vantage point.

dndimg alt="Warstone Lane Cemetery war memorial" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Warstone Lane Cemetery war memorial (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

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14 Oct 2018 - Your Place Your Space
Did you know?

Kings Norton and 'Thomas the Tank Engine' - did you know!

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This is 'Saint Nicolas Church Kings Norton. Birmingham. It may be a surprise to hear that Rev Awdry was Curate here. 1940-46. He started writing stories for his son Christopher about the trains at the local station. This was the modest beginnings of 'Thomas the Tank Engine'.

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14 Oct 2018 - Your Place Your Space
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Great architecture at Kings Norton

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Another great 'Did you Know' post from Birmingham's People with Passion: Did you know that the area, now known as Kings Norton, was given to Queen Henrietta Maria as part of her wedding dowry. She also stayed over night in a building there in 1643. Photo and post credited to Pat Taylor.

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14 Oct 2018 - Your Place Your Space
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The magnificent Old Crown Pub in Digbeth

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The 'Old Crown Pub' in Birmingham. Be great if they did tours, they'd be very popular. Stunning architecture all over Birmingham.

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14 Oct 2018 - Elliott Brown
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Manor Houses in the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull

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Let's leave Birmingham, and head over into the next borough. Solihull to be presise. On the High Street is the Manor House and nearby that is a timber framed building. Both now used as shops. Not far from there is Malvern Hall, now a school (Brueton Park open to the public). Over in Castle Bromwich is Castle Bromwich Hall, now a hotel (Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens open to the public).

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Manor Houses in the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull





Let's leave Birmingham, and head over into the next borough. Solihull to be presise. On the High Street is the Manor House and nearby that is a timber framed building. Both now used as shops. Not far from there is Malvern Hall, now a school (Brueton Park open to the public). Over in Castle Bromwich is Castle Bromwich Hall, now a hotel (Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens open to the public).


We start on the busy Solihull High Street. And head back to 15th and 16th centuries long before it was full of shops and the Touchwood Centre (built 2001).

The Manor House

It was built in 1495 by the Greswold family. Saved by public subscription in 1945. It is Grade II* listed. It had never been home to the Lords of the Manor so it isn't a manor house in the traditional sense. Greswold is also spelt Greswolde. By the 19th century it was known as Lime Tree House due to the 9 lime trees planted there in 1720. For many years it was the local doctor surgery of Ferdinand Page and his son Ericson.

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A brewery purchsed it in 1938 with plans to turn it into a public house, but that was shelved due to the Second World War. It was the local headquarters during the war of the Home Guard. Sold in 1945, eventually used as a community, adult and social care centre. These days there is a shop on the High Street, and round the side is the Manor House Tearoom.

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The Black Greyhound on the coat of arms of the borough was taken from the Greswold family.

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116 - 120 High Street, Solihull

This timber framed building was built in 1571, with changes in 1845 and 1924. It is a Grade II listed building. A variety of shops have been in this building for many years now.

dndimg alt="Timber framed building on the Solihull High Street" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/116 - 120 High Street Solihull.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Touchwood Shopping Centre opened nearby in 2001. In the late 2000s / early 2010s a shop called East was in this building. Joules has been there since at least the mid 2010s.

dndimg alt="116-120 High Street Solihull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/116-120 High Street Solihull (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

On the left looks like what was a coach entrance, now blocked off with a window with the shop!

dndimg alt="116-120 High Street Solihull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/116-120 High Street Solihull (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Malvern Hall

The Greswold family built another property in Solihull. The Rector of Solihull, Henry Greswold bought the site of Malvern Farm in 1690 for his son Humphry Greswold. The hall passed to various members of the Greswold family until 1772 when Henry Greswold Lewis inherited the hall. When he died in 1829 it passed to a cousin who took the Greswold name. After years of neglect by 1896 it was bought by a Birmingham industrialist who reduced the house to it's present size. Horace Brueton bought it in 1915, but made few changes to the hall.  He sold it to Solihull Rural District Council in 1926, and by 1931 a school opened here. Mr Brueton also gave the parklands of the hall to the council and it was opened to the public as Brueton Park (later linked to Malvern Park).

It is now a Grade II* listed building and is part of Saint Martin's School. A girls school that started here during the Second World War started by two ladies as a boarding school. That school moved to another site in 1989 and Saint Martin's purchased the hall.

dndimg alt="Malvern Hall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Malvern Hall.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Brueton Park was formerly part of the grounds to Malvern Hall (the gardens). Horace Brueton gave the park to Solihull Council in 1944. The park was joined to the nearby Malvern Park in 1963. Walking through them both you can't really tell wehn you are leaving one park for the other! The park received Local Nature Reserve status in 2002.

dndimg alt="Brueton Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Brueton Park (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Brueton Park Lake. The famous artist John Constable visited Malvern Hall and the lake in the 19th century. His painting of the scene is now at Tate Britain. John Constable Malvern Hall, Warwickshire 1809. The view Constable saw is now not possible due to the line of trees separating the park from the school grounds.

dndimg alt="Brueton Park Lake" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Brueton Park (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Castle Bromwich Hall

It was built between 1557 and 1585 by Sir Edward Devereux, the first MP for Tamworth, and can be described as an Jacobean Mansion (similar to Aston Hall but much older). But was from the Elizabethan period. Sir Orlando Bridgeman bought the Hall and Gardens for his son Sir John Bridgeman I in 1657 (during the Commonwealth period). Sir John Bridgeman II inherited the hall and gardens in 1710 and made changes to the hall and gardens. The gardens were further developed over the following centuries by other members of the Bridgeman family later to become Earls of Bradford. The last member of the family to live here was Lady Ida Bridgeman who died here in 1936. During World War II it was used for storage, after that an apprentice training centre, and later used as offices by various small companies. From 2007 to 2009 it was used as a furniture showroom, before being sold again and becoming the hotel it is today.

The hall is a Grade I listed building. The Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens Trust was formed in the 1980s to protect and preserve the gardens. The hall is now used as a hotel. And visitors can come to Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens. Access to the part of the garden near the hall is for guided tours only.

dndimg alt="Castle Bromwich Hall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Castle Bromwich Hall.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Seen beyond the gardens of Castle Bromwich Hall (from Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens) is the Dovecote (or the Bakehouse), a Grade I listed building dating to the late 16th century. It is now a part of the hotel.

dndimg alt="Dovecote or Bakehouse at Castle Bromwich Hall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Dovecote Castle Bromwich Hall.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Mirror Pond seen at Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens. It is on the other side of the garden walls. On this side you can find an orchard, a wildflower meadow, and various other areas for nature. There is a view of Castle Bromwich Hall beyond the railings in the middle of the wall. The view is separated by the Lower Wilderness (garden area closest to the wall), and the Upper Wilderness (closer to the entrance to the gardens). You can walk up the Archery Lawn in the middle to get close to the view of the hall.

dndimg alt="The Mirror Pond at Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Mirror Pond Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos by Elliott Brown

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40 passion points
Civic pride
10 Oct 2018 - Elliott Brown
Did you know?

Shakespeare in Birmingham

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While William Shakespeare lived in Stratford-upon-Avon or London, and didn't live in Birmingham, you can still find objects of Shakespeare here in our city! Including pubs called The Shakespeare. The Shakespeare Memorial Room in the Library of Birmingham, and various busts of the bard!

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Shakespeare in Birmingham





While William Shakespeare lived in Stratford-upon-Avon or London, and didn't live in Birmingham, you can still find objects of Shakespeare here in our city! Including pubs called The Shakespeare. The Shakespeare Memorial Room in the Library of Birmingham, and various busts of the bard!


The Shakespeare Memorial Room opened up at the top of the Library of Birmingham in 2013. But it was originally part of the much loved Victorian library. Created in 1882 to house the Shakespeare Library, it was designed by John Henry Chamberlain, who was responsible for rebuilding the old Central Library after the original was gutted by a fire.

When the Central Library was demolished in 1974, the room was dismantled and stored, and eventually re-erected as part of the School of Music Complex.

The same happened again when construction of the new Library of Birmingham started in 2010.

 

Library Theatre Birmingham seen in 2011. Close to Adrian Boult Hall and the Birmingham Central Library. The location of the Shakespeare Memorial Room was close to here back then.

dndimg alt="Library Theatre Birmingham" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Library Theatre Birmingham.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Entrance to the William Shakespeare Memorial Library and the Library Exhibition Hall. I never did get around to going in and seeing it at the time. So only saw it for myself when the Library of Birmingham opened in 2013.

dndimg alt="William Shakespeare Memorial Library" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/William Shakespeare Memorial Library.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

In 2013 the Shakespeare Memorial Room was installed at Level 9 of the Library of Birmingham inside this golden cylinder. The space next to it is the Skyline Viewpoint. There is also some busts and foundation stones saved from the demolished old libraries up there.

dndimg alt="Golden cylinder new location of the Shakespeare Memorial Room" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Shakespeare Memorial Room at the Library of Birmingham golden cylinder.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A look around the walls of the Shakespeare Memorial Room. Inside are books and folios of Shakespeares famous plays.

The roof has been reconstructed in plaster by A E Edwards & Co, a Birmingham based company dating to the 1870s.

dndimg alt="Shakespeare Memorial Room" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Shakespeare Memorial Room at the Library of Birmingham (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Shakespeare Memorial Room" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Shakespeare Memorial Room at the Library of Birmingham (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Shakespeare Memorial Room" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Shakespeare Memorial Room at the Library of Birmingham (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Shakespeare Memorial Room" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Shakespeare Memorial Room at the Library of Birmingham (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Images of Shakespeare to be found in the Shakespeare Memorial Room.

dndimg alt="Shakespeare bust in the Shakespeare Memorial Room" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Shakespeare bust in the Shakespeare Memorial Room at the LoB.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Shakespeare in the Shakespeare Memorial Room" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Shakespeare at the Library of Birmingham (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Shakespeare in the Shakespeare Memorial Room" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Shakespeare at the Library of Birmingham (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Shakespeare in the Shakespeare Memorial Room" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Shakespeare at the Library of Birmingham (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Much ado about Shakespeare

dndimg alt="Much ado about Shakespeare" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Shakespeare at the Library of Birmingham (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Our Shakespeare was an exhibition at the Library of Birmingham, from April to September 2016 in the Exhibition Gallery on Level 3.

This bust is normally at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.

dndimg alt="Shakespeare bust Our Shakespeare" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Shakespeare at the Library of Birmingham (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Our Shakespeare

dndimg alt="Our Shakespeare" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Shakespeare at the Library of Birmingham (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Was several old books around in glass cases. Shakespeare's Folios.

dndimg alt="Shakespeares Folio" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Our Shakespeare folio (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Actors Names

dndimg alt="Actors Names" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Our Shakespeare folio (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Tempest

dndimg alt="The Tempest" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Our Shakespeare folio (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

There is one bust of Shakespeare at the Birmingham Museum Collections Centre in the warehouse.

dndimg alt="Shakespeare bust at BMCC" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Shakespeare bus a BMCC.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Over to the pubs in the City Centre named after William Shakespeare.

First off we have a look at The Shakespeare on Lower Temple Street.

Before refurbishment in 2010. It used to be a Mitchells & Butlers pub.

dndimg alt="The Shakespeare Lower Temple Street" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Shakespeare Lower Temple Street old facade (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

This building dates to 1911.

dndimg alt="The Shakespeare Lower Temple Street in 2010" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Shakespeare Lower Temple Street old facade (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

After refurbishment in 2011 with a new pub sign.

dndimg alt="The Shakespeare Lower Temple Street" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Shakespeare Lower Temple Street new facade (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Nicholson's was established in 1873.

dndimg alt="The Shakespeare Lower Temple Street in 2011" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Shakespeare Lower Temple Street new facade (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The other pub called The Shakespeare is on Summer Row near the Jewellery Quarter.

dndimg alt="The Shakespeare Summer Row" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Shakespeare Summer Row (1)(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="The Shakespeare Summer Row" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Shakespeare Summer Row (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Pub sign has changed over the years. This one from 2012. Nicholsons also runs this pub.

dndimg alt="The Shakespeare Summer Row" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Shakespeare Summer Row (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Built in the Victorian period, also known as the Shakespeare Tavern.

dndimg alt="The Shakespeare Summer Row" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Shakespeare Summer Row (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Here's a bonus The Shakespeare pub that no longer exists in Birmingham City Centre.

The Shakespeare used to be in Birmingham New Street Station but closed in 2013 during the redevelopment of the station.

dndimg alt="The Shakespeare Birmingham New Street Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Shakespeare Birmingham New Street Station.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

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50 passion points
History & heritage
21 Sep 2018 - Elliott Brown
Did you know?

J.R.R. Tolkien's Birmingham (inspiration for The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings)

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J. R. R. Tolkien lived in the Birmingham area from when he was a child until he left for Oxford. Famous for writing The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings he lived in Sarehole, a hamlet now in Moseley, and later Edgbaston.

Related

J.R.R. Tolkien's Birmingham (inspiration for The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings)





J. R. R. Tolkien lived in the Birmingham area from when he was a child until he left for Oxford. Famous for writing The Hobbit and the Lord of the Rings he lived in Sarehole, a hamlet now in Moseley, and later Edgbaston.


Sarehole 1896 - 1900

Tolkien lived with his mother Mabel and his younger brother Hilary from about 1896 to 1900 in house near the bottom of Wake Green Road in the hamlet of Sarehole (now part of Moseley). Nearby was Sarehole Mill and Moseley Bog which inspired him to create The Shire in The Hobbit. There is now a nearby country park that runs alongside the River Cole called The Shire Country Park.

dndimg alt="Sarehole Mill" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Sarehole Mill (April 2009).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Moseley Bog where JRR Tolkien and his younger brother would play as children. Inspiration for woods in The Hobbit and Lord of the Rings.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Tolkien lived in a property on Wake Green Road close to Moseley Bog and opposite Sarehole Mill. It is now Gracewell Cottages and is home to retired people. The Tolkien family lived at 264 Wake Green Road. Also known as No 5 Gracewell Cottages.

dndimg alt="Wake Green Road home of Tolkien in Sarehole" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Tolkiens Wake Green Rd Sarehole home.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Originally made for Birmingham's 2013 display at the Chelsea Flower Show, these models of The Two Towers (Perrott's Folly and Edgbaston Waterworks Tower) were later moved to the garden area in front of the Library of Birmingham (before it opened in September 2013). A few years later in 2015, they were moved to an area close to Sarehole Mill where they are on permenant display.

dndimg alt="The Two Towers at Sarehole Mill" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Sarehole Mill Two Towers.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Edgbaston 1900 - 1911

The Tolkien's later moved to Edgbaston. His mother placed the Tolkien boys in the guardianship of Father Francis Xavier Morgan of the Birmingham Oratory before her death. Inspiration for The Two Towers came from Perrott's Folly and the Edgbaston Waterworks Tower.

dndimg alt="Perrott's Folly and Edgbaston Waterworks Tower" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Perrotts Folly and Edgbaston Waterworks Tower.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Birmingham Oratory seen on the Hagley Road in Edgbaston near Ladywood. JRR Tolkien was a parishioner and altar boy here from about 1902 to 1911. Not far from his homes at the time.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Oratory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Oratory.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

This was the home on Highfield Road in Edgbaston of Tolkien. He lived at No. 4 from 1910-11. He previously lived at Duchess Place in Ladywood from 1902 to about 1910. A modern building called Teleperformance House is on that site from the Hagley Road.

dndimg alt="Highfield Road Edgbaston home of JRR Tolkien" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Tolkiens Highfield Rd Edgbaston home.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Plough and Harrow pub on the Hagley Road in Edgbaston. Tolkien stayed here in June 1916 according to a blue plaque on the side of the building.

dndimg alt="The Plough and Harrow - Hagley Road, Edgbaston" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Plough and Harrow Hagley Road Edgbaston.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

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40 passion points
History & heritage
02 Sep 2018 - Elliott Brown
Did you know?

The Old Grammar Schools of Kings Norton and Yardley

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Did you know that there are buildings in Kings Norton and Yardley both called The Old Grammar School (no relation).

The Old School in Kings Norton is in the churchyard of St Nicholas's Church. The one in Yardley is close to St Edburgha's Church.

This post and all photography courtesy Elliott Brown. 

Related

The Old Grammar Schools of Kings Norton and Yardley





Did you know that there are buildings in Kings Norton and Yardley both called The Old Grammar School (no relation).

The Old School in Kings Norton is in the churchyard of St Nicholas's Church. The one in Yardley is close to St Edburgha's Church.

This post and all photography courtesy Elliott Brown. 


The Old Grammar School Kings Norton

Old Grammar School, Kings Norton was probably built as a priest's house to St Nicholas's Church, and it dates to the early 15th century. The building was expanded in the early 16th century. Along with the Saracen's Head it won the BBC Restoration programme in 2004, and was restored and reopened by 2008.

dndimg alt="Old Grammar School Kings Norton" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Grammar School Kings Norton (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Old Grammar School Kings Norton" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Grammar School Kings Norton (2)(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Old Grammar School Kings Norton" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Grammar School Kings Norton (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Old Grammar School Kings Norton" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Grammar School Kings Norton (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The Old Grammar School Yardley

Known as The Trust School. There is evidence of a school in Yardley by 1260 AD. The Masters were Monks from Maxstoke Priory. The present building dates to around the 15th century. It was originally a guild hall. The school closed in 1908. Now used as Parish Rooms with a Youth Club upstairs and a lounge downstairs.

dndimg alt="The Old Grammar School Yardley" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Grammar School Yardley (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="The Old Grammar School Yardley" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Grammar School Yardley (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="The Old Grammar School Yardley" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Grammar School Yardley (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="The Old Grammar School Yardley" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Grammar School Yardley (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

All photos by Elliott Brown

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50 passion points
Modern Architecture
29 Aug 2018 - Your Place Your Space - Support
Did you know?

A selection of Birmingham's great Manor Houses - more 'Did you know' facts from Elliott!

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There are many manor houses around Birmingham, some open to the public, some not. In Handsworth is Soho House. In Tyseley not far from the local tip is Hay Hall. Over in Highgate is Stratford House. In Bournville is Selly Manor with Minworth Greaves.

Take our full post for great 'Did you know' facts from Elliott Brown.

Related

A selection of Birmingham's great Manor Houses - more 'Did you know' facts from Elliott!





There are many manor houses around Birmingham, some open to the public, some not. In Handsworth is Soho House. In Tyseley not far from the local tip is Hay Hall. Over in Highgate is Stratford House. In Bournville is Selly Manor with Minworth Greaves.

Take our full post for great 'Did you know' facts from Elliott Brown.


Soho House

Soho House was the home of Matthew Boulton from 1766 until his death in 1809. Now a museum ran by the Birmingham Museums Trust. The Lunar Society regularly had meetings here in the dining room. This Grade II* listed the house is in Handsworth. After Boulton's death it has had various uses as a hotel / hostel. Birmingham City Council acquired it in 1990 and it's been a museum since 1995.

dndimg alt="Soho House" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Soho House (July 2010).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photo courtesy Elliott Brown.

The Dining Room at Soho House became known as the Lunar Room where members of the Lunar Society met. The architecture of the room dates to the late 18th century. Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery acquired the dining table in 1987. Other furniture was bought with assistance from the Lunar Society in 1994 - 95.

dndimg alt="Lunar Room" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Soho House The Lunar Room (July 2010).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photo courtesy Elliott Brown

Hay Hall

Hay Hall was a 15th century moated manor house near Redfern Road in Hay Mills (Tyseley). Now used as offices. A manor house has been on this site since around 1260 and was built for the De La Haye family. It passed to the Este family in 1423. By the 20th century the whole area had become industrial, but Hay Hall was saved. It's been Grade II listed since 1952.

dndimg alt="Hay Hall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hay Hall Tyseley.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Hay Hall wide view" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hay Hall.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos courtesy Elliott Brown

Stratford House

Stratford House is located close to Highgate Middleway and can be seen from the no 50 bus route on the Moseley Road in Highgate. Grade II* listed, the building dates to around 1601 and is one of the oldest surviving houses in Birmingham. It was built for Ambrose and Bridget Rotton. In recent years it's been used as offices and a club. There was a fire here in late 2015, but the building has since been fully restored and is vacant once again.

dndimg alt="Stratford House" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Stratford House (April 2018).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Stratford House in 2010" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Stratford House 2010.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos courtesy Elliott Brown

Selly Manor

Selly Manor was moved to Bournville in 1907 by George Cadbury. It's a timber framed building dating back to the 14th century, at least to around 1327. The Manor House used to be in Bournbrook, before it was relocated with Minworth Greaves to the corner of Sycamore Road and Maple Road in Bournville.

dndimg alt="Selly Manor" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly Manor (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Selly Manor view 2" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly Manor (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

All photos by Elliott Brown

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70 passion points
History & heritage
23 Aug 2018 - Elliott Brown
Did you know?

Birmingham's architectural gems - we go back in time!

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Every month with the help of our People with Passion, FreeTimePays will feature great historic architecture of Birmingham.

In this article we feature Highbury Hall, Aston Hall, Sarehole Mill and Blakesley Hall, 4 of Birmingham's magnificent buildings.

Take the full post and view more for more great historic gems and 'Did you know' facts.

Related

Birmingham's architectural gems - we go back in time!





Every month with the help of our People with Passion, FreeTimePays will feature great historic architecture of Birmingham.

In this article we feature Highbury Hall, Aston Hall, Sarehole Mill and Blakesley Hall, 4 of Birmingham's magnificent buildings.

Take the full post and view more for more great historic gems and 'Did you know' facts.


Highbury Hall - a historic gem in Moseley, Birmingham

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Highbury Hall-1.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photo courtesy Christine Wright

Highbury Hall is a wonderful Grade II listed building that nestles in Highbury Park. It was built in 1879 by J H Chamberlain for Joseph Chamberlain (no relation). Joseph Chamberlain lived here from 1880 until 1914.

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Highbury Hall Apr2011.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photo courtesy Elliott Brown

dndimg alt="Highbury Hall (August 2018)" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Highbury Hall (August 2018).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photo courtesy Elliott Brown

Aston Hall - a historic gem in Aston, Birmingham

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Aston Hall (September 2017).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photo courtesy Elliott Brown

Aston Hall was built between 1618 and 1635 for Sir Thomas Holte. It was then leased by James Watt Jr from 1817. It became a museum from 1858 with ownership passing to Birmingham Corporation soon after.

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Aston Hall 2010-7.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photo by Birmingham Museums Trust

The Great Parlour at Aston Hall was the Holte family's principal living room. Around 1700 it was converted into a chapel.

dndimg alt="The Great Parlour at Aston Hall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Aston Hall Great Parlour (Sept 2017).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photo courtesy Elliott Brown

 

Sarehole Mill - a historic gem in Hall Green, Birmingham 

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Sarehole Mill (April 2009).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photo courtesy Elliott Brown

The original Sarehole Mill was built in 1542. The Mill standing now was built in 1771. JRR Tolkien lived in the area as a child and got much of his inspiration from the Sarehole Mill.

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/SareholeMill_2014_076.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photo by Birmingham Museums Trust

Here is Mill machinery as seen inside Sarehole Mill.

dndimg alt="Mill Machinery at Sarehole Mill" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Sarehole Mill - Mill Machinery (Oct 2013).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photo courtesy Elliott Brown

 

Blakesley Hall - historic gem in Yardley, Birmingham.

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Blakesley Hall Aug14.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photo courtesy Elliott Brown

Blakesley Hall is a timber framed farmhouse in Yardley which was built for Richard Smallbroke towards the end of the 16th century.

Blakesley Hall is now owned and run as a museum by the Birmingham Museums Trust.

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Blakesley Hall_Front.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photo by Birmingham Museums Trust

The Great Parlour at Blakesley Hall was used for private dining, sitting and entertaining. Had a door to the garden so people could come and go without passing through the main Hall.

dndimg alt="The Great Parlour at Blakesley Hall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Blakesley Hall Great Parlour (Aug 2014).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photo courtesy Elliott Brown

 

Follow us for more great history and 'Did you Know' facts as we build a gallery and catalogue of wonderful architecture to be found across Birmingham.

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50 passion points
Modern Architecture
17 Aug 2018 - Elliott Brown
Did you know?

Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower inspired by the Torre del Mangia in Siena, Italy

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The Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower at the University of Birmingham, also known as Old Joe, built from 1900 to 1908, was based on the Torre del Mangia in the Piazza del Campo in Siena, Tuscany, Italy (that was built from 1338 to 1348). 

Take the full post for more great 'Did you know' facts on 'Old Joe' plus stunning photography courtesy Elliott Brown.

Related

Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower inspired by the Torre del Mangia in Siena, Italy





The Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower at the University of Birmingham, also known as Old Joe, built from 1900 to 1908, was based on the Torre del Mangia in the Piazza del Campo in Siena, Tuscany, Italy (that was built from 1338 to 1348). 

Take the full post for more great 'Did you know' facts on 'Old Joe' plus stunning photography courtesy Elliott Brown.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Joseph_Chamberlain_Memorial_Clock_Tower

The Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock tower was designed by Aston Webb and Ingress Bell and it was built from 1900 to 1908. Old Joe was designed by Aston Webb & Ingress Bell and is the tallest free standing clock tower in the world at 110 metres.

dndimg alt="Old Joe at University of Birmingham" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe Uni Birmingham (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The clock tower is the tallest free standing clock tower in the world, recorded at 110 metres high. It stands in the middle of the University campus and is visible from many places, not just from the campus!

dndimg alt="Quadrangle Old Joe view" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe Uni Birmingham (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This view of Old Joe is from South Yardley seen from the Oaklands Recreation Ground (a good site for viewing the city skyline).

dndimg alt="Old Joe from Oaklands Recreation Ground" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe from Oaklands Recreation Ground.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This view of Old Joe is from Holders Lane Woods. It leads onto Cannon Hill Park starting at either Selly Park or Moseley, towards Edgbaston.

dndimg alt="Old Joe from Holders Lane Woods" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe from Holders Lane Woods.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torre_del_Mangia

The tower that inspired Old Joe was the Torre del Mangia in Siena, Italy, in the Tuscany region of the country. It is in the Piazza del Campo also known as Il Campo. Each summer there is a horse race called the Palio of Siena and the square gets quite busy. On my visit it was just days away from the first horse race and the various teams were getting prepared, so sand was in the square as the horse racing track.

The tower is 102 metres high and was one of the tallest towers of medieval Italy.

dndimg alt="Torre del Mangia, Il Campo, Siena, Italy" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Torre del Mangia Il Campo Siena.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Torre del Mangia in Piazza del Campo, Siena" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Torre del Mangia Piazza del Campo Siena(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

You can tell that Old Joe was based on the Torre del Mangia as it has a similar design. Both towers dominate the skyline in their respective cities.

dndimg alt="Siena Skyline with Torre del Mangia" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Torre del Mangia Siena.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

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