Birmingham of Yesterday
Reminiscences, observations and information about the history of Birmingham, its people and industry.
Birmingham City Council Museum Collections Centre – Dollman Street
As you would expect, over the years Birmingham City Council has built up some ‘overspill’ from its museums that it needed to put into storage. However, with the closure of the Birmingham Museum of Science and Industry in 1997, considerable storage space was required for a large proportion of its exhibits as only some made [...]
Cryer
Along with the Starfighters and Quartz, Cryer were a heavyweight in Birmingham rock music circles. Constantly gigging, and touring in support of such notables as Gillan and Ozzy Osbourne, the band had a great live reputation – not least due to the extensive use of somewhat unpredictable pyrotechnics operated by roadie Stevie Husband – alongside [...]
The Starfighters and The Pits Rehearsal Rooms – Granville Street
A more classic example of a rags to riches – to rags again cautionary tale of the music industry could not wish to be found than that of Birmingham’s Starfighters. Formed in 1979 the band comprised of Steve ‘Bertie’ Burton (vocals) – previously of Birmingham rock band Cryer, Stevie Young (guitar), Pat Hambly (guitar), Doug Dennis (bass) and Steve Bailey (drums) [...]
Birmingham & Midland Eye Hospital – Church Street/Edmund Street
Opened in 1883 to accomodate the hospital’s move from Cannon Street in 1823, the building – designed by Payne & Talbot – is fortunately still standing and is a prime example of Victorian Architecture as can be seen above.
As with the other City Centre hospitals – the building was insufficient to cope with today’s demands [...]
Birmingham and Midland Hospital for Skin and Urinary Diseases – John Bright Street
Opened in 1888 – following transfer of facilities from Newhall Street which began operating in 1881 – the Birmingham and Midland Hospital for Skin and Urinary Diseases operated from its John Bright Street base for nearly 100 years before its work was transferred to George Road Edgbaston and is now part of the Dudley Road [...]
Birmingham & Midland Institute – Margaret St/Cornwall St
The Birmingham and Midland Institute was founded in 1854 with a mission “for the Diffusion and Advancement of Science, Literature and Art amongst all Classes of Persons resident in Birmingham and the Midland Counties” and operated from a purpose built building in Paradise Street – a short distance from its present-day location – which was [...]
Birmingham & Midland Ear, Nose & Throat Hospital – Edmund Street
Opening in 1891, the Birmingham & Midland Ear, Nose & Throat Hospital in Edmund Street is one of a handful of what we would now call ’sepcialist’ hospitals that were constructed around the City Centre during the 19th Century. Designed by Jethro Cossins and F. B. Peacock, the building today cuts an impressive figure as [...]
Woodview Estate – Edgbaston
The City of Birmingham has a great time-honoured tradition of replacing substandard housing with soon-to-become substandard housing – see the results of inner-City slum clearance around Aston, Newtown and Nechells for prime examples - and where once we had great swathes of the City cleansed of their private hovels to be replaced by the wonders of municipal [...]
Birmingham Assay Office – Newhall Street
Opening in 1773 following the Hallmarking Act, the purpose of the Birmingham Assay Office was to validate the quality of the previous metal used and to hallmark the item to attest to this measure having been validated (the hallmark indicating the maker and date of item and the anchor symbol indicating the Birmingham Assay Office). With a [...]
Birmingham School of Art – Margaret Street
A striking and impressive structure, the Birmingham School of Art building in Margaret Street was commissioned in 1877 to house the then-independent School in a purpose built environment designed, with typical Gothic overtones, by John Henry Chamberlain (a contemporary of, but no relation to, celebrated Mayor Joseph Chamberlain).
During the 1970s the building became co-opted by [...]
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