Convention Centre & Broad Street - historic photos

[guilbert53]

Second photo from View 5.

No date on this picture I am afraid (1987 or 1988).

Site has been boarded up, in preparation for work on the Hyatt hotel to start I guess.

Not much changed, except someone has dug up the block paving in front and just replaced it with tarmac.

I have to say this one of my "pet hates" (if I ever go on Room 101). People spend ages designing a square and choose expensive bricks and fancy designs. Then the gas board or other utility company come along, dig it up, and just throw tarmac down in its place, totally spoiling the look and feel of the square.

View 5 Picture 2) Site of Hyatt Hotel, Broad Street

 

[guilbert53]

View 5, photo number 3.

Picture dated December 1989, and the Hyatt look almost finished, at least the outside.

I remember a story about the blue bridge on the right.

The bridge was ordered to link the Convention Centre to the hotel, and they built it to fit the wall on the right (seen behind the lamp post).

But it was not going on that wall, but a recessed wall behind, and the bridge was about 6 foot too short. They had a build an extra 6 foot of bridge to full the gap. You can still clearly see the "extra" part if you go up there today.

View 5 Picture 3) Site of Hyatt Hotel, Broad Street

 

[Williamstreeter]

View 5, photo number 3.

Picture dated December 1989, and the Hyatt look almost finished, at least the outside.

I remember a story about the blue bridge on the right.

The bridge was ordered to link the Convention Centre to the hotel, and they built it to fit the wall on the right (seen behind the lamp post).

But it was not going on that wall, but a recessed wall behind, and the bridge was about 6 foot too short. They had a build an extra 6 foot of bridge to full the gap. You can still clearly see the "extra" part if you go up there today.

View 5 Picture 3) Site of Hyatt Hotel, Broad Street
View attachment 133782

Can anyone remember reading The Evening Mail when the Hyatt opened the penthouse suite was booked by a certain Alan Manning and his wife Cynthia first people to occupy the penthouse . Funny thing is he used to live around the corner from me in the 50's I lived in William St , Alan lived in Granville St . I used to wash his car when I was a lad that was on a Sunday morning , payment was a drive in the car up Granville St along Broad St , down Islington Row , into William St , then back into Granville St . He's come a long way from selling nylons out of a suitcase , manager of The Rainbow Casino , main man head of the British Gaming Board now Gaming Commission , he also pioneered getting the jackpots on gambling machines to pay out decent jackpots . I think he lives in The Bahamas nowadays , where did I go wrong ?

 

[guilbert53]

This is View 5, and the fourth (and last) photo of this "View 5" set.

This photo was taken in November 2010 when the Hyatt hotel had been long finished.

I think this hotel still looks very modern and has not dated, even though it has been open over 25 years.

View 5 Picture 4) Site of Hyatt Hotel, Broad Street

 

[Astoness]

nice story about alan manning john....

i agree with you guilbert the hyatt does not really look out of place and looks to have stayed quite clean and tidy

lyn

 

[Astoness]

excellent photos guilbert..not only have you captured the changing face of birmingham but in doing so also captured many of our buildings that have long since gone...i take it the main idea of your photography was to capture the new buildings going up not realising that by also getting the older buildings now gone in shot how important those would also be?

lyn

 

[guilbert53]

Now for View 6 (Views 1 to 5 are above) and there are 5 photos in this set.

I have to be honest and say these are not the most exciting pictures in this series, but I am posting them for completeness.

This is one of the problems you have when you start taking pictures of something ISN'T there. How do you decide the best place to stand to get the best "before and after" pictures.

You don't even know if the spot on which you are standing will the THERE when you come back, a building may have been built over the spot, or maybe a huge brick wall will have been built in the way.

This is why I have taken so many picture of the Eastside site over the last few years (from 2010 onward), to try to get every angle covered.

The picture below was taken in November 1986, after the announcement of the ICC / Symphony Hall, but before much work had taken place.

This view is taken from behind (or on the side) of the Convention Centre site. I am standing in Kingston Row and as you can see from the road signs on the right, it is near Cambridge Street and King Edwards Road.

I could not move the "view" any more to the left as there is a large block of flats in the way.

Here is a small map showing where I am standing, and what direction I am pointing for the photo. Click on it to see it larger.


Luckily it is Winter so no leaves on the trees, so you can just see the brewery on the very left.

Some demolition seems to have started, there is a half demolished building near the centre.

View 6 Picture 1) Back (or side) of Convention Centre

 

[guilbert53]

This is view 6, and as it is not the most exciting view of the series I am posting pictures 2 and 3 in this update .

First - View 6, Picture 2

No date on this picture. My guess is 1987 as I have one more undated picture I have posted below (1988?), then another one dated 1989 which I will post later. Obviously Winter as there are no leaves on the tree.

A lot of activity on the site. The brewery on the left has gone, cranes have appeared, the site has been "fenced in", and lots of workman's portakabins in the foreground.

The building work in the centre is for the power house building, which can be clearly seen in "View1" right at the start of this topic (or of course on the picture below).

View 6 Picture 2) Back (or side) of Convention Centre


Now View 6, Picture 3

Same view, but again no date on this picture. My guess is 1988. Rather annoyingly I have obviously gone back in Summer as the tree is covered in leaves, totally obliterating the Convention Centre building (trouble is once I had chosen this view I was stuck with it).

The power building seems complete, and another crane has appeared.

View 6 Picture 3) Back (or side) of Convention Centre

 

[guilbert53]

View 6, Picture 4.

Same view, this one dated December 1989, and luckily it was Winter so no leaves on the trees.

The Convention Centre building now seems complete (at least the outside), and now loads of workman's portakabins around.

Lots of workman's cars dotted around as well.

View 6 Picture 4) Back (or side) of Convention Centre

 

[guilbert53]

This is View 6, and the fifth (and last) photo of this "View 6" set.

This photo was taken in November 2010 when the ICC had been long finished.

The telegraph pole, that has been in every other photo, has also been removed.

Brindley Place has also been long finished, and that lovely red building on the right, with the tower, is part of Brindley Place.

View 6 Picture 5) Back (or side) of Convention Centre

 

[guilbert53]

This is View 7, taken from Gas Street Basin looking towards the proposed site of the Hyatt Hotel.

Here is a small map showing where I am standing, and what direction I am pointing for the photo. Click on it to see it larger.


This is picture 1, dated November 1986, after the Convention Centre / NIA had been announced, but before much development had started.

The site in front (Hyatt Hotel site) has been cleared but on the very left you can see the old buildings with white windows (where the ICC now stands) have yet to be knocked down (see them better in View 3).

Moving across the photo from left to right you can also see:
The Birmingham Rep theatre
Then Baskerville House (white building)
Then the Register Office (low brown building - since demolished - where I got married)
Then the old bank on Broad Street (second white building - currently being refurbished)
Then finally on the very right part of the old Central TV studios (since demolished and area being developed).

You can see the "reverse" of this picture in View 5 Picture 1 above.

View 7 Picture 1) Gas Street basin and the Hyatt Hotel site

 

[guilbert53]

This is View 7 Picture 2, but no date on the picture (1987 or 1988).

The site in front (Hyatt Hotel site) has been cleared and now boarded up ready for the development of the Hyatt Hotel to start.

Unfortunately I did not include any of the ICC site on the left so we cannot see how the ICC development is coming along.

Fine collection of canal boats in the foreground.

You can see the "reverse" of this picture in View 5 Picture 2 above.

View 7 Picture 2) Gas Street basin and the Hyatt Hotel

 

[carolina]

Can anyone remember reading The Evening Mail when the Hyatt opened the penthouse suite was booked by a certain Alan Manning and his wife Cynthia first people to occupy the penthouse . Funny thing is he used to live around the corner from me in the 50's I lived in William St , Alan lived in Granville St . I used to wash his car when I was a lad that was on a Sunday morning , payment was a drive in the car up Granville St along Broad St , down Islington Row , into William St , then back into Granville St . He's come a long way from selling nylons out of a suitcase , manager of The Rainbow Casino , main man head of the British Gaming Board now Gaming Commission , he also pioneered getting the jackpots on gambling machines to pay out decent jackpots . I think he lives in The Bahamas nowadays , where did I go wrong ?

I think it was his brother Patsy who wrote a book about his bet with Eddie Fewtrell.

 

[Williamstreeter]

I think it was his brother Patsy who wrote a book about his bet with Eddie Fewtrell.

Carolina I used to see Patsy occassionaly , at The Rex Williams Snooker Hall in the Piccadilly Arcade in the 60's . He did write a book title Crumpet All The Way , he got on the wrong side of Ronnie Kray , Mr K sent the Lambrianou brothers up from london and they roughed him up . When I think of the success Alan had made of his life and how Patsy died in a residential home in Erdington it beggars belief , I'm slightly off topic here with this now

 

[guilbert53]

This is View 7 Picture 3, dated February 1989.

The building of the Hyatt hotel is now well under way, and you can just see the ICC being built in the background on the left as well.

View 7 Picture 3) Gas Street basin and the Hyatt Hotel

 

[guilbert53]

This is View 7, and the fifth (and last) photo of this "View 7" set.

This photo was taken in November 2010 when the Hyatt hotel had been long finished.

View 7 Picture 5) Gas Street basin and Hyatt Hotel, Broad Street

 

[guilbert53]

This is View 8, and four pictures in this set. This is of Brindley Place (believe it or not).

This picture was taken in November 1986, as they were clearing the site.

I am standing by the canal and facing Broad Street, with the site of the National Indoor Arena (not built yet of course) behind me. The Sea Life Centre would be just off to the left of this picture.

Here is a small map showing where I am standing, and what direction I am pointing for the photo. Click on it to see it larger.


The two tall buildings in the distance are on Broad Street. They are both hotels now (The Jury's Inn on the left and Hampton by Hilton on the right).

The two old buildings in front of the tall buildings on the left: One is now the Ikon Gallery (it was a school), the black church next to it is also still there (right on Broad Street) and is now a nightclub.

The small canal section in front of me (on the left of the picture) can still be seen if you go there today.

Looks like part of a small dome on the very right of the picture, I wonder what that was.

View 8 Picture 1) Brindley Place

 

[Astoness]

smashing photos guilbert once again thank you for sharing them with us...in the fullness of time they will go down in history as the changing face of brum to be honest at over 30 years old they are already are on par with all the photos mikejee took in the 60s and 70s ..the nicklin collection..the ray griffiths collection..keith berry collection..the many private one off photos that i have been given...and of course the many photos that other members have shared with us over the years all of which are on the forum...i will get off my soap box now but not before once again saying that photographs are so very important to this forum as they provide talking points about our history...thanks again and thanks to everyone who is happy to share

lyn

 

[guilbert53]

View 8, Picture 2

No date on this picture I am afraid. Could be any time between November 1986 (the date of the first picture above) and July 1990 (the date of the next picture).

The site has been almost totally cleared. The Ikon gallery and Church remain.

The low building in the centre is the Crescent Theatre on its old site, before it was rebuilt just a short distance away (further to the right, on Sheepcote Street).

View 8 Picture 2) Brindley Place

 

[guilbert53]

View 8, Picture 3.

Third picture of this view, dated July 1990

Site now totally cleared and looks almost ready for development to start.

A new hotel, the Novotel, has appeared on the right (which is still there and still the same name).

Lots of rubbish in the canal, they have certainly cleaned up the canals since then.

View 8 Picture 3) Brindley Place

 

[guilbert53]

This is View 8, and the fourth (and last) photo of this "View 8" set.

This photo was taken in November 2010 when Brindley Place had been long finished.

As you can see, sadly a huge building has been built in front of me, blocking out everything in Brindley Place.

View 8 Picture 4) Brindley Place


As you cant see what is behind that wall in the photo, here below is a view from Google maps showing Brindley Place in 3D.

The red arrow at the bottom shows where I was standing when taking my photos for this view.

I have to say I think this whole area is a fantastic development for Birmingham, a mixture of office buildings, bringing companies and employment to the city, as well as many bars and restaurants, plus the Sea Life Centre.

I still often go up to Birmingham taking photos and whenever I go round this area it is packed with people, compared when I used to go up there in the 1980s when I could walk for 2 hours and not see anyone.

 

[guilbert53]

This set is View 9, and four more pictures of the building of the Convention Centre.

Rather like View 6 these are not the most exciting pictures in the series, but I am posting them for completeness.

The picture below was taken in November 1986, after the announcement of the ICC / Symphony Hall, but before much work had taken place. Facing right into the sun I am afraid.

This view is taken from behind the Repertory Theatre in Cambridge Street (you can just see part of the theatre on the very left of the picture. I used that as a reference point so I would know where to stand each time I took a picture).

Here is a small map showing where I am standing, and what direction I am pointing for the photo. Click on it to see it larger.


Some demolition seems to have started, but there are still some old building remaining. The large old building on the left is the brewery that has been discussed before in this topic.

Interesting glass roofed building to the right of the brewery, just poking above the white hoarding. I wonder what that was?

View 9 Picture 1) Convention Centre from Cambridge Street

 

[guilbert53]

Still View 9, now picture 2, but no date on this picture I am afraid (1987?).

All the old buildings have gone and site boarded up for development to start.

A few cranes have appeared.

View 9 Picture 2) Convention Centre from Cambridge Street

 

[guilbert53]

Still View 9, now picture 3, but again no date on the picture (1988?).

Building of the main ICC building now well under way.

View 9 Picture 3) Convention Centre from Cambridge Street

 

[guilbert53]

Still view 9, now picture 4, and we now have a date, December 1989.

External of the building in the foreground (including glass) now complete, still working on the rear of the building.

This is the last picture I took from this viewpoint, however I have posted the view as it is now taken from Google Maps, see second photo below.

View 9 Picture 4) Convention Centre from Cambridge Street in 1989

Here is the view today taken from Google Maps

 

[guilbert53]

This is View 10, Picture 1 (and only two pictures in this "set" I am afraid).

Picture taken on December 1989.

It is on Broad Street, looking towards the city centre, with Gas Street going off to the right, with of course the Hyatt Hotel (still being built) in the background.

Here is a small map showing where I am standing, and what direction I am pointing for the photo. Click on it to see it larger.


As you can see from the small image above, Gas Street basin is directly behind these buildings.

All the buildings in the foreground are still there, and have been refurbished (wait for next photo).

View 10 Picture 1) Broad Street, old buildings, and the Hyatt Hotel

 

[guilbert53]

This is View 10, and the second (and last) photo of this "View 10" set.

This photo was taken in November 2010 when the refurbishment of these buildings, and the building of the Hyatt Hotel, had been long finished.

View 10 Picture 2) Broad Street, old buildings, and the Hyatt Hotel

 

[ellbrown]

Brumpic on Twitter has posted your 1989 O Bar photo without credit

https://twitter.com/x/status/1126566271737319424

 

[sospiri]

Except where is the orange traffic light and the tree outside on the right?

Maurice

 

[guilbert53]

This is now "View 11" and there are only three pictures from this viewpoint. This is picture 1.

This picture is dated November 1986. It is taken on Broad Street looking towards the Five Ways junction (in the distance)

Here is a small map showing where I am standing, and what direction I am pointing for the photo. Click on it to see it larger.


This shows run down buildings on Broad Street, most of which were demolished (see picture 2, to be posted later)

On the far right of the picture you can see part of the building that is now "The Brasshouse". See View 2 earlier in this topic for pictures of that building before and during restoration.

View 11 Picture 1) Broad Street