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Elliott Brown People & community
09 Feb 2024 - Elliott Brown
Inspiration

Welcome to Ladywood around Ladywood Middleway

While Ladywood includes much of the City Centre, in this post we will take a look at Ladywood around Ladywood Middleway. This is the suburban part not far from Edgbaston and Five Ways. Spring Hill Library is near the end of Ladywood Middleway, while Broadway Plaza is close to Five Ways (the former site of the Children's Hospital). 

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Welcome to Ladywood around Ladywood Middleway





While Ladywood includes much of the City Centre, in this post we will take a look at Ladywood around Ladywood Middleway. This is the suburban part not far from Edgbaston and Five Ways. Spring Hill Library is near the end of Ladywood Middleway, while Broadway Plaza is close to Five Ways (the former site of the Children's Hospital). 


 

The first recorded evidence about Lady Wood was back in 1565. It was named after the Lady Wood which was located between Monument Road and the Ladywood Brook. It stretched from Portland Road to Spring Hill. The wood may have been the property of a church. The wood was long gone by the mid 16th century.

The Birmingham Canal Navigations Main Line

The Birmingham Canal Navigations Main Line was built through Ladywood between 1769 and 1772 by the canal engineer James Brindley.

The canal was straightened by Thomas Telford in the 19th century and this led to Brindley's sections being cut off as loops. Today we have the Icknield Port Loop and the Soho Loop within Ladywood (and the Oozells Loop in the City Centre).

dndimg alt="Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Canal Ladywood Middleway (May 2011).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Birmingham to Wolverhampton Railway

The Birmingham to Wolverhampton Railway opened in 1852 and it passes through Ladywood. It is known as the Stour Valley Line. There used to be a station in Ladywood called Monument Lane. It opened in 1854, was renamed to Edgbaston shortly afterwards. Renamed back to Monument Lane in 1874. It was relocated in 1886 and it was closed down in 1958.

dndimg alt="Birmingham to Wolverhampton Railway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham Wolv railway Ladywood Middlway (May 2011).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

St John's Church Ladywood

The Church of St John is located on Monument Road near Ladywood Middleway. It is a Grade II listed building. Originally built in 1854 in the Gothic style (or Decorated style) by S. S. Teulon, the Church of St John the Evangelist was built on the site of Ladywood House, on land that was leased from King Edward VI School.  The famous Birmingham architect J. A. Chatwin built additions to the church in 1881. It was also called the Anglican Church of St John and St Peter.  The building material used was coursed red sandstone with ashlar dressings. The Church of St John the Evangelist became the Church of St John and St Peter in 2000.

dndimg alt="St Johns Church Ladywood" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ladywood (May 2011) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Lench's Trust Almshouses

These Almshouses are on Ladywood Middleway near Five Ways. They were built in 1858 by J H Hornblower and Haylock in the Tudor style or Jacobean style. It is a Grade II listed building. It was built of red brick with stone dressings and tiled roofs. No 1 Hagley Road (Metropolitan House by John Madin) is seen behind to the left.  Broadway Plaza is to the right of this.  It was the site of the Children's Hospital until 1998).

dndimg alt="Lench's Trust Almshouses" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lenchs Trust Almshouses (Dec 2009) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Lench's Trust Almshouses" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lenchs Trust Almshouses (Dec 2009) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Below is the view from the Hagley Road of the Lansdowne House during April 2016 with developer Seven Capital. No. 1 Hagley Road was also getting refurbished at the time. You could see Lench's Trust Almshouses from Hagley Road before The Lansdowne got built.

dndimg alt="Lenchs Trust Almshouses" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lenchs Trust Almshouses (Apr 2016).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Ladywood Middleway view of Lench's Trust Almshouses, with The Lansdowne well under way behind. Seen during March 2018. A mixture of old and new architecture.

dndimg alt="Lenchs Trust Almshouses" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lenchs Trust Almshouses (March 2018).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Here is another view of Lench's Trust Almshouses during November 2019. 

dndimg alt="Lenchs Trust Almshouses" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lenchs Trust Almshouses (Nov 2019).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Spring Hill Library

Spring Hill Library is next to a large Tesco supermarket at Spring Hill on Summer Hill Road. Spring Hill Library is a Grade II* listed building built in 1893 by Martin and Chamberlain. It was built in the Gothic style with bright red bricks and terracotta dressings. 

dndimg alt="St Johns Church Ladywood" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ladywood (May 2011) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Welcome to Ladywood

Prominently located on Ladywood Middleway is this sculpture of Charles Blondin, a French tightrope walker.

In September 1873 he came to Birmingham, and crossed Edgbaston Reservoir on a tightrope! The statue was made in 1992 and placed on Ladywood Middleway. It was sculpted by the artist Paul Richardson in 1993.

dndimg alt="Welcome to Ladywood" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Welcome to Ladywood (Oct 2012) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Welcome to Ladywood" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Welcome to Ladywood (Oct 2012) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Welcome to Ladywood" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Welcome to Ladywood (Oct 2012) (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Broadway Plaza

The Birmingham Children's Hospital was on the Ladywood Middleway site from when it was built from 1910 to 1919, until they moved to Steelhouse Lane (the former Birmingham General Hospital) in 1998. Most of the hospital was demolished apart from the facade, and Broadway Plaza opened in 2003. It originally had a 12 screen cinema run by AMC, but Odeon took it over in 2012. It was transformed into the Odeon Luxe Cinema in 2018. There is also a bowling alley here. Originally BowlPlex, it is now the Hollywood Bowl. There is also a Travelodge hotel.

The architect of the Children's Hospital was F W Martin. At one point it was called the King Edward VII Memorial Children's Hospital. Only the facade was retained, the rest of the hospital was demolished. The facade became the entrance to the Broadway Casino, with Virgin Active to the left.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Children's Hospital" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Childrens Hosp Ladywood Mway (June 2009) (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Birmingham Children's Hospital" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Childrens Hosp Ladywood Mway (June 2009) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

This memorial stone was laid in April 1913 by H.R.H. The Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Children's Hospital" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Childrens Hosp Ladywood Mway (June 2009) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

View below during December 2009 with Christmas stars up as Christmas decorations at Broadway Plaza.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Children's Hospital" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Childrens Hosp Ladywood Mway (Dec 2009).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

An early evening shot below from December 2013 with Christmas lights on the facade of the former Children's Hospital at Broadway Plaza.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Children's Hospital" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Childrens Hosp Ladywood Mway (Dec 2013).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Kareo 6 Medical & Health Centre

Not much is known about this building. In the middle of the building is a Birmingham Forward coat of arms dated to 1934. Inscribed on it was Maternity & Child Welfare Centre. So that must of what it was originally built as back in the day.

dndimg alt="Kareo 6 Medical Centre" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ladywood Middleway (March 2017) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Kareo 6 Medical Centre" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ladywood Middleway (March 2017) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Ladywood Community Fire Station

Ladywood Fire Station is located on Icknield Port Road in Ladywood. It is not far from Monument Road. West Midlands Fire Service serves all of Ladywood plus the City Centre West from this fire station. 

dndimg alt="Ladywood Fire Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ladywood Fire Station (Feb 2020) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Ladywood Fire Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ladywood Fire Station (Feb 2020) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Ladywood Fire Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ladywood Fire Station (Feb 2020) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Ladywood Leisure Centre

The Ladywood Leisure Centre was opened in August 2019 on a site on Ladywood Middleway at the end of Monument Road. It replaced the old Ladywood Arts & Leisure Centre. The site was cleared by 2015 and it was built in 2019. It is similar in design to new leisure centres built in Northfield (2018) and in Stechford (2018).

dndimg alt="Ladywood Leisure Centre" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ladywood Leisure Centre (Feb 2020) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Ladywood Leisure Centre" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ladywood Leisure Centre (Feb 2020) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Ladywood Leisure Centre" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ladywood Leisure Centre (Feb 2020) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Ladywood Leisure Centre" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ladywood Leisure Centre (Feb 2020) (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Ladywood Leisure Centre" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ladywood Leisure Centre (Feb 2020) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Ladywood Leisure Centre" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ladywood Leisure Centre (Feb 2020) (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

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100 passion points
Elliott Brown Art; Culture & creativity
30 Dec 2023 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

Stacey Barnfield's Colour Palette's in Birmingham, Warwick and Royal Leamington Spa

Former Birmingham Mail editor Stacey Barnfield set up a company called Draw My City and the Colour Palette Company. He has also been involved in Staying Cool's Creative Heights programmes. His Colour Palette's can be seen in Birmingham at Grand Central, in Warwick at Warwick Station and in Royal Leamington Spa in a subway below the station.

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Stacey Barnfield's Colour Palette's in Birmingham, Warwick and Royal Leamington Spa





Former Birmingham Mail editor Stacey Barnfield set up a company called Draw My City and the Colour Palette Company. He has also been involved in Staying Cool's Creative Heights programmes. His Colour Palette's can be seen in Birmingham at Grand Central, in Warwick at Warwick Station and in Royal Leamington Spa in a subway below the station.


Go here for Stacey Barnfield's Draw My City website, if you wish to purchase any of his products.

 

The Birmingham Colour Palette

The Birmingham Colour Palette seen in Grand Central during June 2021. This is if you are heading to the Stephenson Street exit of Birmingham New Street Station. Was covering over vacant units.

dndimg alt="The Birmingham Colour Palette" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham%20Col%20Pal%20Grand%20Central%2028062021.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The Birmingham Colour Palette and Draw My City seen in Grand Central during October 2022. More vacant units were covered by Stacey's art beyond the Kitty Cafe.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Colour Palette" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Draw%20my%20City%20BGCB%2025102022%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Birmingham Colour Palette" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Draw%20my%20City%20BGCB%2025102022%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The Warwick Colour Palette

The Warwick Colour Palette is located on platform 1 at Warwick Station, as seen during April 2023. The station is currently being renovated, so the subway and station building were closed.

dndimg alt="The Warwick Colour Palette" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Warwick%20Colour%20Palette%20(Apr%202023)%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="The Warwick Colour Palette" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Warwick%20Colour%20Palette%20(Apr%202023)%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="The Warwick Colour Palette" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Warwick%20Colour%20Palette%20(Apr%202023)%20(3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Seen from the Chiltern Mainline, when the train stopped at Warwick Station during December 2023. The Warwick Colour Palette is to the right of the temporary entrance to platform 1 (half the platform is still closed during these works).

dndimg alt="The Warwick Colour Palette" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Warwick%20Colour%20Palette%20(Dec%202023)%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="The Warwick Colour Palette" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Warwick%20Colour%20Palette%20(Dec%202023)%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The Royal Leamington Spa Colour Palette

The Royal Leamington Spa Colour Palette is located in the pedestrian subway below Leamington Spa Station (not the subway between platforms 2 and 3). The panels are on both sides of the subways walls.

dndimg alt="Royal Leamington Spa Colour Palette" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Leamington%20Spa%20Colour%20Palette%20(Dec%202023)%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Royal Leamington Spa Colour Palette" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Leamington%20Spa%20Colour%20Palette%20(Dec%202023)%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Royal Leamington Spa Colour Palette" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Leamington%20Spa%20Colour%20Palette%20(Dec%202023)%20(3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Royal Leamington Spa Colour Palette" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Leamington%20Spa%20Colour%20Palette%20(Dec%202023)%20(4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Royal Leamington Spa Colour Palette" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Leamington%20Spa%20Colour%20Palette%20(Dec%202023)%20(5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 Photography by Elliott Brown

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130 passion points
Elliott Brown Art; Culture & creativity
30 Aug 2023 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

A visit to the Wolverhampton Art Gallery on the August Bank Holiday Monday

On the August Bank Holiday Monday, 28th August 2023, I travelled to Wolverhampton, by train, for a visit to the Wolverhampton Art Gallery. Free entry. The entrance now on the side via St Peter's Walk. One early highlight was seeing the Maquette of King Kong. There was also a see-saw sculpture on the first floor. After a look around, had coffee and lunch in the Glaze cafe.

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A visit to the Wolverhampton Art Gallery on the August Bank Holiday Monday





On the August Bank Holiday Monday, 28th August 2023, I travelled to Wolverhampton, by train, for a visit to the Wolverhampton Art Gallery. Free entry. The entrance now on the side via St Peter's Walk. One early highlight was seeing the Maquette of King Kong. There was also a see-saw sculpture on the first floor. After a look around, had coffee and lunch in the Glaze cafe.


Wolverhampton Art Gallery was funded and built by Philip Horsman (1825-1890). It opened in 1884. The two storey building was designed by Birmingham architect Julius Chatwin (1829-1907). The Victorian building is Grade II* listed, and a modern extension later built in 2006-07, along with a refurbishment.

As of 2023, the main entrance on Lichfield Street is closed, it is an emergency exit only. The entrance is now near St Peter's Gardens on St Peter's Walk.

dndimg alt="Wolverhampton Art Gallery" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lichfield%20St%20Wolv%20Art%20Gallery%2028082023.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

A portrait of local businessman, Philip Horsman, who founded Wolverhampton Art Gallery in 1885. It was painted by George Phoenix (1863-1935).

dndimg alt="Wolverhampton Art Gallery" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/HWS%20Wolv%20Art%20Gallery%2028082023%20(5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The main staircase from the hallway, has a mixture of art from the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries. It leads up to the galleries on the first floor.

dndimg alt="Wolverhampton Art Gallery" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/HW%20Wolv%20AG%2028082023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Likeness Guaranteed by David Mach (b.1956), made in 1995. Welded metal coathangers.

dndimg alt="Wolverhampton Art Gallery" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/HWS%20Wolv%20Art%20Gallery%2028082023%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Standing Relief VI 1958 by Frederick Edward McWilliam (1909-1992), made in 1972. Bronze.

dndimg alt="Wolverhampton Art Gallery" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/HWS%20Wolv%20Art%20Gallery%2028082023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

St Cecilia by Atri Cecil Brown (1906-1982) dates to the 1940s. Bronze.

dndimg alt="Wolverhampton Art Gallery" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/HWS%20Wolv%20Art%20Gallery%2028082023%20(6).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

King Kong by Nicholas Monro (1936 - 2022). Fibreglass maquette of King Kong made in 1971. 

The full-sized replica stood for six months in Birmingham City Centre, during 1972, before being sold. A replica of the 20ft full-sized sculpture could be seen in the pop-up 'King Kong Park' during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. The replica was created by 3D scanning this maquette.

dndimg alt="King Kong" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/King%20Kong%20WAG%2028082023%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

End of Empire, 2016. By Yinka Shonibare CBE (b. 1962). Mixed media. Commemorates one hundred years since the First World War. Two figurative sculptures dressed in clothing of 19th century aristocrats sit on a 'see-saw'.

dndimg alt="Wolverhampton Art Gallery" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/EE%20SeeSaw%20Wolv%20AG%2028082023%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

This is the new main entrance from St Peter's Walk. Straight ahead is the gift shop. Plus a lot of helpful staff.

dndimg alt="Wolverhampton Art Gallery" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/SPW%20ent%20Wolv%20Art%20Gallery%2028082023.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Adam by Sir Charles Wheeler (1892-1974). Dates to the mid 1900s. Bronze.

dndimg alt="Wolverhampton Art Gallery" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bronze%20Wolv%20Art%20Gallery%2028082023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Rock Form (Porthcurno) by Dame Barbara Hepworth DBE (1903-1975). Made in 1964. Bronze, Edition of 6. Cast No. 5. On loan from the Royal Bank of Scotland.

dndimg alt="Wolverhampton Art Gallery" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bronze%20Wolv%20Art%20Gallery%2028082023%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

This is our Love and it Knows no Division. An exhibition presenting works by fifteen British artists in response to ‘the beautiful game’. Art in this room related to football.
Some objects from Joe Lycett. Including a magazine with David Beckham on the cover that he shredded on TV.

dndimg alt="Wolverhampton Art Gallery" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Football%20Wolv%20AG%2028082023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Community Picks. Things in this room for kids to play with on their visit. Saw a large Campbells Condensed Tomato Soup can. Was also a frieze on the wall to the right.

dndimg alt="Wolverhampton Art Gallery" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/CP%20Wolv%20Art%20Gallery%2028082023%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Old Masters. 18th century paintings, on this room on the first floor. Was also a piano in here. Probably used for functions or events.

dndimg alt="Wolverhampton Art Gallery" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/OM%20Wolv%20Art%20Gallery%2028082023%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Another gallery on the first floor. Various objects, and paintings dating to the 19th century. One in the middle had an image of Dante on it.

dndimg alt="Wolverhampton Art Gallery" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Up%20Wolv%20Art%20Gallery%2028082023%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

A mixture of modern art in this first floor gallery. One painting from 2020 reminds you of the pandemic with the face masks.

dndimg alt="Wolverhampton Art Gallery" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Up%20Wolv%20Art%20Gallery%2028082023%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

After a look around the art gallery, it was time to check out Glaze the Eating Space at the Gallery. I first had a coffee, as it was before 12pm, wasn't too busy then. Then after noon I ordered a sandwich, which came with salad. Got a bit more busier with families by then.

dndimg alt="Wolverhampton Art Gallery" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Glaze%20Wolv%20AG%2028082023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Hope you enjoyed this look around Wolverhampton Art Gallery.

 

Photography by Elliott Brown

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70 passion points
Elliott Brown History & heritage
12 Feb 2023 - Elliott Brown
Did you know?

Guided tour of the Birmingham Back to Backs from the National Trust

Having pre-booked a guided tour of the Birmingham Back to Backs, we went to the National Trust property on Hurst Street and Inge Street in Southside on Friday 10th February 2023, for the 10:20am tour. Before starting there was an exhibition space to check out. The tour itself with a knowledgeable volunteer, took well over an hour and a half to get around the houses and the tailoring shop.

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Guided tour of the Birmingham Back to Backs from the National Trust





Having pre-booked a guided tour of the Birmingham Back to Backs, we went to the National Trust property on Hurst Street and Inge Street in Southside on Friday 10th February 2023, for the 10:20am tour. Before starting there was an exhibition space to check out. The tour itself with a knowledgeable volunteer, took well over an hour and a half to get around the houses and the tailoring shop.


Back to Backs

It is best to book your tour in advance for the Back to Backs, as they are usually fully booked if you arrive without pre-booked tickets at the Visitor Centre (corner of Hurst Street and Inge Street).

National Trust members go free (they will scan your card in the Visitor Centre). Otherwise, tickets for adults are £7.50 and for children £3.75 (ground floor only). The full guided tour costs for £9.50 for adults and £4.75 for children.

 

Hurst Street

The Visitor Centre is at the corner of Hurst Street and Inge Street, while the former George Saunders tailoring shop you will see during the guided tour. To the far left is the second hand book shop. Upstairs on the 1st and 2nd floors are the special exhibition rooms.

 

 

dndimg alt="Back to Backs" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham%20Back%20to%20Backs%2010022023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Here's the exterior of George Saunders Tailoring. The tailor was here on Hurst Street from 1974 to 2001. You will see more of that from the guided tour.

dndimg alt="Back to Backs" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham%20Back%20to%20Backs%2010022023%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Inge Street

The guided tour starts outside the three terraced houses on Inge Street. The tour guides take the group of about 10 people through the gate.

dndimg alt="Back to Backs" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham%20Back%20to%20Backs%2010022023%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Special exhibition

In 2023, the Back to Backs is the proud host of a special exhibition called From City of Empire to City of Diversity. This is on the floors above the second hand bookshop.

The exhibition tells the tale of Birmingham from City Status in 1889 to the present day, with people of South Asian and Caribbean heritage very much part of this exhibition. It is on the 1st and 2nd floors, accessed via the narrow spiral style staircases (with hand rails and grips to go up and down).

dndimg alt="Back to Backs" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/FCECD%20BBtB%2010022023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Back to Backs" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/FCECD%20BBtB%2010022023%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Back to Backs" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/FCECD%20BBtB%2010022023%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Court 15 - inner courtyard

This is the only surviving courtyard in the block. Built after 1801, there used to be other courts of back to back houses down Hurst Street, Bromsgrove Street, Essex Street and Inge Street. The rest were demolished. Court 15 was restored after 2001, and opened as a museum by the National Trust in 2004.

dndimg alt="Court 15" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/C15%20Birm%20BtB%2010022023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

To the far left are three outdoor privies (toilets). The one on the left was just a hole with a bucket below. The second was a flushing toilet with long pull cord. 

dndimg alt="Court 15" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/C15%20Birm%20BtB%2010022023%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

On this side is the Wash House, women would work hard all day washing and cleaning clothes and sheets etc, manually.  There was no plumbing or mod cons back in the 19th century.

dndimg alt="Court 15" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/C15%20Birm%20BtB%2010022023%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Outside is a bike, a child's wheelchair and what looks like a skateboard.

dndimg alt="Court 15" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/C15%20Birm%20BtB%2010022023%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Some rooms above had windows with views to the courtyard below. Here's the Wash Room again.

dndimg alt="Court 15" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/C15%20Birm%20BtB%2010022023%20(5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Other groups were visiting Back to Backs at different times. This group were near the privies, so at the end of their guided tour.

dndimg alt="Court 15" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/C15%20Birm%20BtB%2010022023%20(6).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

We were taken into three houses. The left was set up as the 1840's for the Levy's. Then the 1870's for the Oldfield's. Finally the 1930's with the Mitchell Brothers.

dndimg alt="Court 15" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/C15%20Birm%20BtB%2010022023%20(7).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

There is a bicycle outside of one of the houses.

dndimg alt="Court 15" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/C15%20Birm%20BtB%2010022023%20(8).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Here's the 1840's house in the corner.

dndimg alt="Court 15" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/C15%20Birm%20BtB%2010022023%20(9).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

This is the alleyway we came into at the beginning of the tour from Inge Street. They lock the gate now, but it never used to be locked back in the day.

dndimg alt="Court 15" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/C15%20Birm%20BtB%2010022023%20(10).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Wash Room

The Wash Room or laundry room is accessed from the inner courtyard. There is so much manual equipment and tools here to wash and dry your clothes and women would be doing this all day long. There is also shoe polish and a basic iron for ironing clothes.

dndimg alt="Wash Room" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WR%20Bham%20BtB%2010022023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Wash Room" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WR%20Bham%20BtB%2010022023%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

House 1 - 1840's Levy's

The first house you enter from the inner courtyard is on the far left. It is set up as an 1840's home of the Levy's, who were Jewish. The dining table is set up with bread and wine with candles on the table. Although the candle sticks would normally be close together. 

dndimg alt="1840's Levy's" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BBtB%201840s%20Levys%2010022023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The daughter had to share a room with her parents, but the boys had their room on the top floor. They got the beds through the window, as the staircase was way too narrow to carry beds up to the rooms. There was a potty under the bed.

dndimg alt="1840's Levy's" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BBtB%201840s%20Levys%2010022023%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Here is the fireplace in the bedroom and a dressing table.

dndimg alt="1840's Levy's" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BBtB%201840s%20Levys%2010022023%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Three beds are in the boys room on the 2nd floor. There was also unfurnished rooms on the top floor to show how bad a condition the property was before it was restored from 2001-4.

dndimg alt="1840's Levy's" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BBtB%201840s%20Levys%2010022023%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

House 2 - 1870's The Oldfield's

30 years later, the middle house in the 1870's was the home of the Oldfield family.

There is a bedroom workstation for making clock hands during the day. They would put their own thing onto the attachment at the front.

dndimg alt="1870s Oldfields" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BBtB%201870s%20Oldfields%2010022023%20(4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

In one bedroom, a curtain divides the beds from the lodgers.

dndimg alt="1870s Oldfields" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BBtB%201870s%20Oldfields%2010022023%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

There are some rabbit ornaments on the dressing table next to the light, with a hand mirror.

dndimg alt="1870s Oldfields" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BBtB%201870s%20Oldfields%2010022023%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Downstairs, there is a kitchen table with basic food and a candle stick lit in the middle.

dndimg alt="1870s Oldfields" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BBtB%201870s%20Oldfields%2010022023%20(3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

House 3 - 1930's The Mitchell Brothers

No, not the Mitchell Brothers from Eastenders! In this case, the Mitchell Brothers were elderly men in their 60's or 70's living during the 1930's. The decade of three Kings (George V, Edward VIII and George VI) and the start of WW2.

dndimg alt="1930s Mitchells" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BBtB%201930s%20Mitchells%2010022023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

On the window sill on the ground floor, there is a potted plant, some jugs, playing cards etc.

dndimg alt="1930s Mitchells" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BBtB%201930s%20Mitchells%2010022023%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

A Bakelite radio is on the ground floor with a mirror and other objects.

dndimg alt="1930s Mitchells" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BBtB%201930s%20Mitchells%2010022023%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

There are items above a chest of drawers in one of the bedrooms. There are some books or notebooks plus a clock and candle sticks.

dndimg alt="1930s Mitchells" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BBtB%201930s%20Mitchells%2010022023%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

1970's George Saunders Tailoring

George Saunders, from the West Indies, set up his tailoring business on Hurst Street in 1974. He stayed until he retired in 2001 (before the houses were restored). He mainly made suits for men. All of the contents are original as he left them.

dndimg alt="1970s Saunders" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BBtB%201970s%20G%20Saunders%2010022023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Here is one of the machines for making or pressing buttons.

dndimg alt="1970s Saunders" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BBtB%201970s%20G%20Saunders%2010022023%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Here is a table with some magazines and a radio.

dndimg alt="1970s Saunders" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BBtB%201970s%20G%20Saunders%2010022023%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Here is the ground floor shop, George's desk with phone, postcards etc.

dndimg alt="1970s Saunders" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BBtB%201970s%20G%20Saunders%2010022023%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Elliott Brown

We hope you have enjoyed this post and tour of Back to Backs. 

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Stephen Giles Construction & regeneration
10 Feb 2023 - Stephen Giles
Gallery

The Construction of Snowhill Wharf - February 2023

Snowhill Wharf is complete and we have here a photographic review of the construction from 2019 to present.

There are 0ver 200 photos in Full Construction Photo Gallery for this site, there is a link to this in the article...

View feature View community

The Construction of Snowhill Wharf - February 2023





Snowhill Wharf is complete and we have here a photographic review of the construction from 2019 to present.

There are 0ver 200 photos in Full Construction Photo Gallery for this site, there is a link to this in the article...


Showhill Wharf Full Construction Photo Gallery

Berkeley Group's Snow Hill Wharf is complete.


420 (1-3 bed) new homes, 24-hour concierge, gym, sauna, steam room, cinema and lounges galore.

Quality!

Here is a selection of the over 200 photos of the construction of this project:

April 2019

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October 2019

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Construction of Snow Hill Wharf 1 - October 2019.jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Construction of Snow Hill Wharf 4 - October 2019.jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Construction of Snow Hill Wharf 6 - October 2019.jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Construction of Snow Hill Wharf 7 - October 2019.jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_20191021_092914.jpg" />

December 2019

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Construction of SHW - December 2019 (2).jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Construction of SHW - December 2019 (11).jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Construction of SHW - December 2019 (5).jpg" />

February 2020

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Construction of Snow Hill Wharf - Feb 2020 (1).jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Construction of Snow Hill Wharf - Feb 2020 (2).jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Construction of Snow Hill Wharf - Feb 2020 (4).jpg" />

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dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Construction of Snow Hill Wharf - Feb 2020 (8).jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Construction of Snow Hill Wharf - Feb 2020 (15).jpg" />

Macrh 2020

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Construction of Snow Hill Wharf - 6th March 2020 (1).jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Construction of Snow Hill Wharf - 6th March 2020 (5).jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Construction of Snow Hill Wharf - 6th March 2020 (7).jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Construction of Snow Hill Wharf - 6th March 2020 (2).jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Construction of Snow Hill Wharf - 6th March 2020 (9).jpg" />

May 2020

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/SHW3.jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/SHW1.jpg" />

June 2020

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dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/50033665142_1d84ddabfd_k.jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Construction of SHW - June 2020 (10).jpg" />

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July 2020

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Construction of SHW - July 21st 2020 (2).jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Construction of SHW - July 21st 2020 (3).jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Construction of SHW - July 21st 2020 (5).jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Construction of SHW - July 21st 2020 (7).jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Construction of SHW - July 21st 2020 (9).jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Construction of SHW - July 21st 2020 (13).jpg" />

August 2020

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Snow Hill Wharf - August 1 2020 (2).jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Snow Hill Wharf - August 1 2020 (4).jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Snow Hill Wharf - August 1 2020 (7).jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Snow Hill Wharf - August 1 2020 (10).jpg" />

December 2020

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/SHW Dec 8 (4).jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/SHW Dec 8 (8).jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/SHW Dec 8 (12).jpg" />

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dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/SHW Dec 8 (15).jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/SHW Dec 8 (17).jpg" />

Photography above by Stephen Giles

 

February 2021

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_6493b_SHWF.jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_6519b_SHWF.jpg" />

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April 2021

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_4305b_SHWF.jpg" />

July 2021

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_2353b_SHWF.jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_2470b_SHWF.jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_2475b_SHWF.jpg" />

Photography by Daniel Sturley

 

October 2021

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/Snow%20Hill%20Wharf%20October%202021%20(2).jpg" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/DSC_0101.jpg" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/Snow%20Hill%20Wharf%20October%202021%20(1).jpg" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/Snow%20Hill%20Wharf%20October%202021%20(3).jpg" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/Snow%20Hill%20Wharf%20October%202021%20(4).jpg" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/Snow%20Hill%20Wharf%20October%202021%20(5).jpg" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/Snow%20Hill%20Wharf%20October%202021%20(6).jpg" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/Snow%20Hill%20Wharf%20October%202021%20(7).jpg" />

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="https://www.yourplaceyourspace.net/uploadedfiles/Snow%20Hill%20Wharf%20October%202021%20(8).jpg" />

Photography by Stephen Giles

 

September 2021

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_6160b_SHWF.jpg" />

November 2021

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_3372b_SHWF.jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_3373b_SHWF.jpg" />

February 2022

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_0794b_3SHW.jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_1674b_SHWF.jpg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_1680b_SHWF.jpg" />

October 2022

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IMG_0741b_SHW.jpg" />

Photography by Daniel Sturley

 

January 2023

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/7EDB3896-DB77-48E0-B1CB-D165B2A7F020.jpeg" />

dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/B04188AB-23FA-4970-BA13-A517788F79EA.jpeg" />

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dndimg align="middle" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/E4BE99F6-BC07-4DA8-9D35-ED84878909DE.jpeg" />

Photography by Jonathan Bostock

 

There are 0ver 200 photos in Full Construction Photo Gallery for this site:

Showhill Wharf Full Construction Photo Gallery

 

 

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