The fire. This was from a video posted on Facebook.
-
Welcome to this forum . We are a worldwide group with a common interest in Birmingham and its history. While here, please follow a few simple rules. We ask that you respect other members, thank those who have helped you and please keep your contributions on-topic with the thread.
We do hope you enjoy your visit. BHF Admin Team
Birmingham City Hospital officially closed Nov 2024
- Thread starter maggs
- Start date
And the plaque which Carl Chinn unveiled in 1999.
can clearly see daylight through the windows which indicates that the front part of the archway which we can also see could have been saved...
lyn
I don't know the date as comments relating to the post were from only a year ago. But I think it may have been around 2016.
it was demolished sept 2017
The Fire Incident
Before the building was torn down, trespassers entered the empty structure (which had briefly functioned as a specialized care facility until its closure in 2016). A chair located in the former staff building was deliberately set on fire, causing subsequent fire and smoke damage that spread to other parts of the historic building and required emergency fire-fighting intervention. [1]
The Fire Incident
Before the building was torn down, trespassers entered the empty structure (which had briefly functioned as a specialized care facility until its closure in 2016). A chair located in the former staff building was deliberately set on fire, causing subsequent fire and smoke damage that spread to other parts of the historic building and required emergency fire-fighting intervention. [1]
I posted the photo's in my earlier post. This was the last I saw of the archway. Don't know what happened to them when the demolition teams came in. The site was completely locked off to everyone but the contractors.
Attachments
The bell (dated 1831) must have originally been used at the Lichfield Street Workhouse in central Birmingham. Maybe it was moved to the Western Road site when the new workhouse was built.
Re. Post 5. The leather sorting house chair with the 1831 carving must relate to and reflect changes introduced by the Poor Law Act (1831) which extended the powers of the Guardians. See attachment below.
A "sorting chair" or intake seat was a place where officials or guardians evaluated, registered, and processed newly arrived paupers or inmates. It was obviously designed to give the impression of power.
A "sorting chair" or intake seat was a place where officials or guardians evaluated, registered, and processed newly arrived paupers or inmates. It was obviously designed to give the impression of power.
Last edited:
once again fantastic photos zero...it seems as though quite a few very important artifacts were saved which is great to know...the bell is most important and if you could find out where its stored that would be great as viv has said given its date of 1831 it was most likely at the lichfield st workhouse and then moved to western road...what would be even better is to find out if there are any plans for the artifacts to be displayed somewhere where the public can see them..thanks again zero this is turning into a very interesting thread
lyn
lyn
Yes, Lyn, in my post #161, I presumed the bell was moved from Lichfield Street to Western Road. Maybe someone can confirm it was at one time on the Western Road site.
I notice there's a yellow 'Museum Archive' notice alongside the bell. Does this give us a clue as to where it's stored ? The Dollman Stores, perhaps ? And was it moved into storage in the 1990s when the workhouse buildings were demolished (excepting the Archway of Tears) ?
With further searching, found this below, and it seems to be an artifact of BMAG. Could it be/have been in Bham Museum and Art Gallery ? The date on this bell is clearly 1851 so it must have been cast for the Western Road workhouse. The yellow labelling of the bell in post #158 is dated 1831. Taking a closer look at the photo of the bell in post #158 think the bell is actually stamped 1851. So don't know why the yellow label suggests otherwise. Must be an error, as it's easy to mistake the '51' for '31'.
I notice there's a yellow 'Museum Archive' notice alongside the bell. Does this give us a clue as to where it's stored ? The Dollman Stores, perhaps ? And was it moved into storage in the 1990s when the workhouse buildings were demolished (excepting the Archway of Tears) ?
With further searching, found this below, and it seems to be an artifact of BMAG. Could it be/have been in Bham Museum and Art Gallery ? The date on this bell is clearly 1851 so it must have been cast for the Western Road workhouse. The yellow labelling of the bell in post #158 is dated 1831. Taking a closer look at the photo of the bell in post #158 think the bell is actually stamped 1851. So don't know why the yellow label suggests otherwise. Must be an error, as it's easy to mistake the '51' for '31'.
Last edited:
hi viv i did wonder if the date on the bell was 1851 not 1831 but didnt like to say as you say it could have been either...i am sure zero will be able to confirm it came from western road workhouse..
lyn
Yes that's correct Janice ! The style of bell is different. It has a different hanging mechanism and different decoration and banding.
And the other bell from post #158, copied below, is a school bell, and is possibly plain all over, with a single hanging mechanism.
And the other bell from post #158, copied below, is a school bell, and is possibly plain all over, with a single hanging mechanism.
Last edited:
I did indeed think they were the same Janice ! So thanks. The bell with the 4 arm hanging mechanism could be 1831 - the figure on the bell is debatable from the angle of the photos.
Now with my glasses on (!) the school house bell might have been from here (orange dot). Schooling was provided for around 600 children.
Now with my glasses on (!) the school house bell might have been from here (orange dot). Schooling was provided for around 600 children.
Last edited:
And I notice C&G Mears of London aren't named as submitting one of the seven tenders for the 1851 bell casting in the newspaper extract in post #169. A Mr J Talbot won the contract and was the cheapest.
Re the C&G (Charles and George) Mears bell - it must have been from the Whitechapel Foundry. (Famous for the Big Ben bell recasting). Charles and George took over the Foundry in 1844, (according to Grace's Guide) so the date on the bell probably wasn't 1831(unless their father Thomas who had the Foundry from at least 1810, named his Foundry for his sons born 1816 and 1820 - unlikely?).
Last edited:
Better day for it Janice, but put your wellies on !
I'll find out next week. When I took the photo's they were kept at an off site storage location for the trust.
I'll see what I can dig out. If I find them, will take some better photo's.
As far as I am aware, both bells are from the site. Can't see the trust accepting such items from elsewhere.