Charlie
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Went to a couple of the places open for Heritage Weekend yesterday (didn't get back from hols 'til Saturday night).
Birmingham Synagogue : an interesting building and an informative tour, wonderful stained glass. Sadly, the congregation (like C of E) has diminished over the years, they now only have some 2,000 members.
Hardmans : Makers of Stained Glass situated in the Georgian building in Lightwoods Park. A wonderful building - thank goodness it didn't go the way of the equally lovely building that was in Handsworth Park. Seeing how the stained glass was formed and painted was really good. They have such talented people working there, and the Company keeps the building from being wrecked by vandals or just left to decay.
Newmans in Fleet Street : Makers of coffin furniture. A brilliant Grade II* Listed Building that was 'left as it was' in the same way that the Jewellery Museum was abandoned by Smith and Pepper. All the heavy stamping machinery is still in situ, some of the smaller stampings, coffin handles etc have been removed, catalogued and put into storage. They intend to open it as a museum but it will take some time to sort out - work has to be done in protective clothing because of asbestos dust, ....nic and other nasties on site. I didn't realise that they also made the shrouds and coffin linings. It was owned, and ruled with a rod of iron, by a Miss Green, who is still alive but in poor health. Unbelievably, looking at the condition of the building and the facilities there, production was still ongoing until 1997. Don't know how they got round Health and Safety! A brilliant informative tour. In order to fund the museum, they plan to let the upper floors out as offices - but, being Grade II* I hope that English Heritage make sure it's done sympathetically.
Sorry (cringe cringe) I forgot to take my camera!!!!!!
Birmingham Synagogue : an interesting building and an informative tour, wonderful stained glass. Sadly, the congregation (like C of E) has diminished over the years, they now only have some 2,000 members.
Hardmans : Makers of Stained Glass situated in the Georgian building in Lightwoods Park. A wonderful building - thank goodness it didn't go the way of the equally lovely building that was in Handsworth Park. Seeing how the stained glass was formed and painted was really good. They have such talented people working there, and the Company keeps the building from being wrecked by vandals or just left to decay.
Newmans in Fleet Street : Makers of coffin furniture. A brilliant Grade II* Listed Building that was 'left as it was' in the same way that the Jewellery Museum was abandoned by Smith and Pepper. All the heavy stamping machinery is still in situ, some of the smaller stampings, coffin handles etc have been removed, catalogued and put into storage. They intend to open it as a museum but it will take some time to sort out - work has to be done in protective clothing because of asbestos dust, ....nic and other nasties on site. I didn't realise that they also made the shrouds and coffin linings. It was owned, and ruled with a rod of iron, by a Miss Green, who is still alive but in poor health. Unbelievably, looking at the condition of the building and the facilities there, production was still ongoing until 1997. Don't know how they got round Health and Safety! A brilliant informative tour. In order to fund the museum, they plan to let the upper floors out as offices - but, being Grade II* I hope that English Heritage make sure it's done sympathetically.
Sorry (cringe cringe) I forgot to take my camera!!!!!!
