Queens College was formed by W.Sands Cox in 1830. He took over an old chapel in Paradise St and, with the aid of others, set up a small medical school there. One of the “others” was Dr. S.W.Warnford, a wealthy clergyman, who, with large gifts, encouraged the addition of theology and other subjects. Eventually a charter was granted and gothic buildings designed by Drury & Bateman were built on the site. Eventually all but the theology department went to Masons College, which became the University of Birmingham. In later years the buildings housed a number of diocesan offices together with accountants, sporting associations, Scrutons the tailors and the Ikon Gallery, but the unorderly mass of buildings was demolished around 1972 to give the rather bland block that is there today. They did keep a part of the frontage as a token.
The following pictures show the demolition of what was by then called Queens College Chambers, taken from Swallow St , or in some cases beyond Swallow St. Finally there is a rather nice pattern of original cobbles in Swallow St, the sort that planners now spend many thousands in laying in our city centres, but which nowadays are often in quite soft brick which breaks and wears. If it doesn’t break and wear some “authority” will take great pleasure in digging them up at the slightest whim, often using unskilled labour to replace them, or just asphalting over the space.
Mike
The Osborne tower is in the background of The Golden Arrow, at the junction of Gladstone st. and Church Lane. I should think this café was the last original building in the area. It had been a grocers from its erection around 1883 till the late 1950s, only changing use to a café for about ten years.
The next looks like it is showing the school in vicarage road again, but there seem to be extra buildings to the right part of the school compared to the first picture in #7.
No idea where the next photo is, though almost certainly in the same area, but perhaps someone recognises it
The next is 90 Church Lane, Aston. This site seems to have largely worked in metal trades. In 1900 Benjamin Bloomer, nail & boot protector maker worked there, in 1921 it was a shoeing smith, George Murrell, while in 1936 Sydney Barnett made chair frames chair frame, but by 1946 it had become Regent cleaners.
Last is one that almost certainly will never be identified, though again in the same area
Just had a browse of your photos again Mike. A really great record. I especially like the ones where there's evidence of small industry that went on in domestic premises. Did wonder if it's worth flagging up the photos you and Phil weren't able to identify? You never know someone might recognise the buildings and /or be nice to explore them again. Viv.
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