• 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

Victoria Square

This sheds some light on cities and cathedrals. I don;t guarantee its accuracy.
It suggests London (city) was established in 314 AD. The first cathedral in 604 AD.
http://www.lovemytown.co.uk/Cathedrals/Cathedrals.htm

Incidentally there are three cathedrals south of the River Thames. The oldest dating to Norman times, but only a cathedral since 1905 and is one of two in Southwark. This older one is Anglican, the other newer one is Catholic; a cathedral since 1850 but badly damaged by bombing in WW2. The third is Westminster Cathedral which was started at the beginning of the 20th. century. It is a magnificent building, unlike any other in the UK.

But, none of this has anything to do with Birmingham and its 130 year celebrations - whatever they might be. :D
 
Managed to pop to Victoria Square before I left town earlier this evening and took these shots of the Brum 130 film display.

Better view was from heading down the steps around the Floozie. At the top was a bit too close.



I think that's a Birmingham 2022 banner!



Safety with the West Midlands Police.



First decent view as I headed down the steps.



Floozie plant garden.



One more before I headed down Pinfold Street to catch my bus on Carrs Lane.

 
This sheds some light on cities and cathedrals. I don;t guarantee its accuracy.
It suggests London (city) was established in 314 AD. The first cathedral in 604 AD.
http://www.lovemytown.co.uk/Cathedrals/Cathedrals.htm

Incidentally there are three cathedrals south of the River Thames. The oldest dating to Norman times, but only a cathedral since 1905 and is one of two in Southwark. This older one is Anglican, the other newer one is Catholic; a cathedral since 1850 but badly damaged by bombing in WW2. The third is Westminster Cathedral which was started at the beginning of the 20th. century. It is a magnificent building, unlike any other in the UK.

But, none of this has anything to do with Birmingham and its 130 year celebrations - whatever they might be. :D

Although it has an SE postcode, Westminster Cathedral is actually north of the Thames, near Victoria.
 
This view of Victoria Square will change now that the new 103 Colmore Row is rising on the site of the old.



2009 view with the now demolished NatWest Tower.

 
You have all commented on the old Victorian buildings being destroyed, but why was the Nat West Tower, which appears to be fairly modern demolished, only for another monolith to rise in its place? But that is a superb picture of a luffing tower crane, just wondering whether he has an internal lift or has to climb up there every day. And you need nerves of steel and a head for heights and a good wind speed indicator to sit in that cab all day. At least the operator can get up and down, not like the one on the Burj Al Khalifa in Dubai, where he virtually lived in his crane.

Bob
 
You have all commented on the old Victorian buildings being destroyed, but why was the Nat West Tower, which appears to be fairly modern demolished, only for another monolith to rise in its place? But that is a superb picture of a luffing tower crane, just wondering whether he has an internal lift or has to climb up there every day. And you need nerves of steel and a head for heights and a good wind speed indicator to sit in that cab all day. At least the operator can get up and down, not like the one on the Burj Al Khalifa in Dubai, where he virtually lived in his crane.

Bob

The old NatWest Tower which was empty for many years was one of John Madin's Brutalist buildings and in my opinion definitely not one of his best creations. He lived long enough to see many of his buildings in Birmingham demolished for which I do feel sorry for him. However I do like some of his designs and I have worked in one of his buildings which is still standing which I think still looks good in its location.
 
The old NatWest Tower which was empty for many years was one of John Madin's Brutalist buildings and in my opinion definitely not one of his best creations. He lived long enough to see many of his buildings in Birmingham demolished for which I do feel sorry for him. However I do like some of his designs and I have worked in one of his buildings which is still standing which I think still looks good in its location.
David
Thank you, sorry I know the name Manzoni, but who was John Madin?
Bob
 
David
Thank you, sorry I know the name Manzoni, but who was John Madin?
Bob

John Madin was probably the leading Birmingham architect in the `1960s 1970s see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Madin

Sir Herbert Manzoni was Birmingham City Council's Chief Engineer from 1930s who came up with the idea of the Inner Ring Road in order to keep traffic out of the city centre and was responsible for the plans to redevelop the city centre after the havoc of WWII
 
That's only the inner core rising at the moment. I think they are going to raise the crane up even higher.

The core is visible from quite a few places now. As well as near the Council House / Museum & Art Gallery. It's already on the skyline.

From the Moseley Road in Highgate if you get the no 50 bus.

 
Diwali on the Square was in Victoria Square today.



Back in August was the Jamaica 0121 Festival.



A Bollywood movie shooting in the square in August 2019. They are still filming bits and pieces around the city centre.

 
Back
Top