City And Midland Arcades

[Phil]

Mike

I realise in Kelly's it is called City Arcade and in other places it is called Midland Arcade. As mossg has posted a plan calling it The Midland Arcade from the High St I though I had better call it that. Have you any idea why there is such a mix up. Were the names changed when the Big Top Site was rebuilt because the New St & High St sections of the arcade were rebuilt.

Phil

 

[mikejee]

I think that is the probable explanation. mossg's map is obviously recent , as it shows martineau square. Kellys liste city arcade up to 1940, but after the bombing (from 1943 no mention is made of any arcade there. I think that after the wart they probably didn't include walkways for listing
mike

 

[Vivienne14]

Thanks Mike, Harris Heely seems like a pretty enterprising business. I've also been wondering if the Midland & City Arcade development in 1901 partially replaced some of the buildings in the view in post #10. Here are a couple of views of the arcade, the first c1905 view I think might be looking towards Union Street(?) The second, I think is possibly the same view about 100 years later. But not 100% sure if these are both looking towards Union Street, although I know the 2005 view is the only surviving section of the arcade which exits in Union Street and is still there today (if memory serves, doesn't it also join Union Passage?) Viv.

 

[Rupert]

I think the last picture is Warwick Passage and it cuts the corner between Union Street and Union Passage. Actually I am not sure if the term Warwick applies to this covered structure or the little lane that meets it at Union passage. Yes, still there remarkably and a pretty little example of style. I think the hanging lamps are original...I seem to have seen them on an original photo.

 

[mikejee]

Viv
Looking at the 1904 kellys for City Arcades, there is a Hocking & Co at no 76 , which , if you enlarge the picture. you can just see under the music sign. Am not sure exactly where it was though, as it lists Midland and city arcades separately and says city arcade went from union st to high st, and midland from city avenue to New St, which isn't how it is marked on the maps.

 

[ellbrown]

View of Union Street I took in 2009


City Arcade, Union Street, Birmingham by ell brown, on Flickr

It is now called City Arcade. Here is a view from Union Passage I took in 2009


City Arcade, Union Passage, Birmingham by ell brown, on Flickr

And inside City Arcade


City Arcade - Union Passage to Union Street Birmingham - the arched arcade walkway by ell brown, on Flickr

I always go to WH Smith down here, and sometimes shortcut through City Arcade.

Think it was renovated in 2010.

 

[Rupert]

Actually, this is an example of what could have been done with a lot of buildings in the city. Instead of blowing away mindlessly...very valuable pieces that could never be replaced in an equivalent way.

 

[mikejee]

Couldn't agree with you more Rupert

 

[Vivienne14]

Yes 'mindless' is spot on in my view too. Thanks Ell for posting the photos. Excellent illustration of the buildings that once graced Union Street. Your first photo says it all with the Ciry Arcade section contrasted against the poor quality of modern building that replaced much of Union Street. The City Arcade has some wonderful details, so very glad it's been restored. Viv.

 

[cookie273uk]

Now thats more like it, see what can be done, as Rupert says, this could have been done with other old buildings instead of demolishing them and sticking up hideous glass and concrete structures with no character. Eric

 

[Astoness]

Actually, this is an example of what could have been done with a lot of buildings in the city. Instead of blowing away mindlessly...very valuable pieces that could never be replaced in an equivalent way.

well said rupert..could not agree with you more..

lyn

 

[Wendy]

It actually makes you feel sad when you see buildings like this so beautiful. It makes you realise what has gone

 

[Astoness]

morning wend...and the thing is once they have gone thats it...never to see the likes of them again...makes me so mad at the loss of so many good strong buldings that were demolished just because the powers that be could...

 

[BilboC]

As there is a turn, or a 'T' junction, in the didtance this would make it part of the 'City Arcade' a small section of which survives from Union Street to Warwick Passage/Union Passage. Bill

 

[Stitcher]

The City Arcade opened in 1902 and this picture is from 1903.

 

[Vivienne14]

This is an early 1900s postcard view of New Street showing Midland Arcade at its exit point on New Street. Viv.

 

[mossg]

Edit. The map below shows the position of the Arcade - originally posted by Mossg on the Great Western Arcade thread. Viv.

I know there a are a few arcades missing from this map,but i thought it may be of interest.moss

 

[mikejee]

The City arcade was built in late Victorian times (see below)

 

[berniew]

Came across an old postcard of the City Arcade

 

[Vivienne14]

I like this photo because it seems to contradict the image I have of a typical arcade. I always imagine arcades as one row of small shops like the Great Western or Piccadilly. But this view shows it branching off into another arcade. In fact you could almost call it a small 19th century 'mall' (as our American friends call them - but to us it would really be an upmarket indoor market I suppose). Think it must have been an interesting move in the history of retail i.e. a nice warm, dry, traffic-free place to shop. Was the idea of arcades originally a continental innovation? Viv.

 

[brumgum]

I like this photo because it seems to contradict the image I have of a typical arcade. I always imagine arcades as one row of small shops like the Great Western or Piccadilly. But this view shows it branching off into another arcade. In fact you could almost call it a small 19th century 'mall' (as our American friends call them - but to us it would really be an upmarket indoor market I suppose). Think it must have been an interesting move in the history of retail i.e. a nice warm, dry, traffic-free place to shop. Was the idea of arcades originally a continental innovation? Viv.

There's several shots of the Arcade on this persons Flickr account..https://www.flickr.com/photos/64196730@N00/3182693608/in/set-72157612312529949/

 

[brumgum]

Goodness me!, city arcade was fabulous!..
https://www.flickr.com/photos/64196730@N00/3181860683/in/set-72157612312529949/

[URL]https://www.flickr.com/photos/pellethepoet/6240668572/in/pool-old_lanes|pellethepoet[/URL]

 

[brumgum]

City Arcade now..
https://www.flickr.com/photos/drewfield/1269653963/

 

[Vivienne14]

Good photos of the arcade. Looking at those made me think about the echo which must have been produced around the place. The high ceilings must have meant there was quite an echo, something you don't get today. Expect it would have made it sound pretty busy. Viv.

 

[Vivienne14]

Midland Arcade. The Grand Louvre can just be seen to the left.






Viv.

 

[Vivienne14]

Thanks Nebolland. Very surprised they've survived, and reinstated not too far away. Viv.

 

[kaufmanised]

Hi All,

Been on here close to 6 hours reading all the amazing threads and learning so much

I really love the city arcade in Birmingham and i have been searching for early photographs of the building from the Warwick Passage/Union Passage entrance.

If anyone could help and any information regarding the shops that were there would be great also.

Kirk

 

[Phil]

Hi Kirk

It depends on how early you want to go, this listing is from 1936 /37 and I would imagine is the last one before the arcade was bombed out during the last war. The postcard is a little earlier. Can you specify a date that you are looking for?

City Arcades (2), Union st.
to 75 High st. MAP G 4.
1 & 2 Terry Gabrielle Ltd.
costumiers
3 Cooper Alfred Limited,
ladies' tailors
4 Birmingham DairyCo.Ltd.
cafe
5, 6 & 7 Duval, gown
specialists
Chamberlain, King & Jones
Limited, house furnishers
here is Union passage......
10 Clarke Ann, milliner
11&12 WerffBros.ladies' tailrs
13 Salisbury A. L. Ltd.
leather goods mers
14 Rees E. W. Ltd. wools
15 Ironmonger Alfd.costumier
16 Needlework Shop (The),
embroiderers
17 & 18 Parkinson Geo. gown
specialist
19 & 20 Canadian Fur Co.
furriers
21 Cryse'de Ltd. silk mercers
22,23&24 HicksJn. Wm.outftr
25 Smart Basil F.S.M.C.optician
26 Addleman M. Ltd. linen mers
27 The City Health Centre,
food specialists
28 Gift Shop (The), fancy
goods dlrs
29 Gramophone Depot (The),
gramophone record specialists
30 Dubarry, costumiers
here is High st
here is Midland arcade ...
46 to 51 Winter's Stores (R.
Winter Ltd.), food specialists
52 Wire King's Bead Shop (The)
53 Day (Opticians) Ltd
54 Lafavette,ladies' outfitters
55 & 56"WerffBros. ladies' tlrs
57: 58> 59' 6 o& 61 Isabel Ltd.
costumiers
64, 65, 66 & 67 Cooke S. N
Ltd. ladies' outfitters
68, 69, 70, 71,72, 73, 74,75 &
76 Stanley(Birmingham)
Ltd. ladies' outfitters
82 to 85 Werff Bros, ladies'
tailors

 

[kaufmanised]

Hi Phil,

I looking for photos and listing of the remaining section of city arcade from Union Passage to Union Street.

Looking for photos from this prospective and can anyone give me the history of the corner unit on the left?

 

[horsencart]

Mine must be the Australian version ?

Hi Phil,

I looking for photos and listing of the remaining section of city arcade from Union Passage to Union Street.

Looking for photos from this prospective and can anyone give me the history of the corner unit on the left?

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