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Archaeological Site Library & Centenary Sq

Result folks....:):):)

hi folks just received a reply from sara rowell who has contacted the contractors for me.....they are most happpy for us to have some of the bricks and i have to email them to arrange time and date for collection...this is wicked...

Wendy...how many do you want for thomas walkers grave and can you confirm is it the blue bricks you need...

Lyn:):)
 
Congratulations Lyn
Its good to see quality stuff recycled. The blue bricks will last a lifetime, or two, or three......
 
Well done, Lyn for being so persistent.
A member of my family were involved in blue brick production in 1901 in West Bromwich, probably at Hambletts Brickworks. I shall be interested to read if you find markings on the bricks.
 
hi all...well weve got them:)not much left of the site now as most of it is filled in and will soon be all dug up and carted off..:( stilll we have saved a little bit of brum history and they have gone to 2 good causes...thomas walkers grave at key hill and we have raised £46 for the fourm funds so a big thank you to all of you who bought these very very old blue bricks....just a few photos here for you....this first one was interesting as its a very large piece of timber found 5 metres down in amongst machinery...me and david reckon it looks like a piece of canal lock...
 
last one now folks....i shall look forward to seeing what brian and colin do with thomas walkers grave and hopefully we will get some pics off him...and thanks for all the interest that you have shown on this thread..its been great fun....oh nearly forgot..a big thank you to david fowler who very kindly offered the transport to go and collect the bricks...

well thats it...mission accomplished.......until next time...;););)

lyn:)
 
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Before we leave the subject of Bricks,,,,,I wonder if Lyn can get any of the Rubber Bricks that used to be on the floor of the Minories below Lewis's,,,:p:p:D:D

Ok Before you do :armycigar:
 
Lyn
They were used, particularly beyween the wars, but also after, to muffle traffic noise where it might. disturb people. I only know of two definite places that had them, Lewis's, as max said, and the exit at leeds station (which i think still has them), which is underneath part of the station hotel and carries all the taxis.
Mike
 
Progression of maps showing development of Broad St in 1834, 1851 & 1866,
"courtesy of mapseeker.co.uk". Brick kilns close by, too!
(Replacements)
 

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At Old Wharf there were a plethora of coal merchants
Pigots Dir Birm 1841
1841 Broad St brass founders: Lant & Best
Birm 1849 Dir
1849 Broad St iron founders:
James c (mill) Bridge St Foundry Broad St
Chas Clapter
Smith & Hawkes
 
Was anything more said about Winfield's Brassworks? A member of my family was a brassfounder in 1851 when he lived at Reservoir Cottage, Reservoir Rd by Rotten Park Reservoir. He had lived at paradise St in 1841 as a boy. The distance from Reservoir Cottage to Broad St would have been under 2 miles so I have an extra interest in Winfields Brassworks & look forward to hearing more about this business.
Shirley
 
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sorry shirl i forgot to email you...google winfields brass works birmingham...there are a lot of links and i think pics are available too...

ps..just hope the arkies dont all leg it when i turn up again..:D
 
What i remember on ( or around where they are digging ) was a long archway , it was more or less opposite the Registery office , it had seats and benches along the length , and many people used to have there wedding photographs taken there , i passed it everyday in the middle 60s on my way to work at King Edwards Place , I have a feeling ,but no more than that it was something to do with the Hall of Memory , as the benches looked out on to it in the distance , This may be something to do with the Large stones being removed perhaps .
 
Max: My wedding photos were taken in that Colonnade, in 1963. The colonnade had since been moved to the Peace Gardens I believe.
 
From 30th September
 

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hi all...ive now received a reply from dr. mike hodder re phase 2...unfortunately they did not find as much as antisipated im afraid:( just the canal and an engine base...so thats it folks....still at least we got some blue bricks from the first dig...
.

lyn..:)
 
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Hi folks thought it was time to bring this thread back to life and repost a few pics i took of the dig..my interest started with a newspaper article in 2009 with regards to the old winfield brass co which was on the site of where the new library is now....had great fun following this dig over a number of weeks and managed to aquire 50 of the blue bricks that were uncovered...some of them were taken away by key hill brian who had them placed round the grave stone at key hill of the thomas walker who invented the blue brick...some are in my back garden and the rest were bought by members of this forum and the proceeds from those went to our forum funds..many artifacts were found and taken away for safe keeping..going to post a few of my pics taken at the time and would be grateful if any other members who also took photos if they could also repost theirs...

Lyn

image.jpeg image.jpeg image.jpeg

 
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I did try when you originaly took the pictures Lyn, without much success, as individual rooms are not marked. this is true of the larger scale map as well, buthere it is in case it can help you

area_around_hall_of_memory_map_c_1889.jpg
 
Thanks Lyn for bringing this thread up again. What an interesting thread and good to see re-posting of photos etc too. So good that some of the bricks were recovered and are proudly displayed in members gardens. Has anyone seen the other artefacts on display anywhere?

This aerial photo from the 'Britain form Above' site is a good view of the area in 1921. Seems incredible that it's now pretty well ALL gone. Viv.

https://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw005846
 
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