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Council House Birmingham

gingerjon

gingerjon

GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN R.I.P.
just a few building the council
 

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HI JOHN I THINK THE NEW FRONTAGE OF THE COUNCIL BUILDING DOES US BRUMIES PROUD,AND IT FALLS IN LINE WITH OUR FORIEGN COUNTER PARTS , ITS A CRYING SHAME THAT THEY HAVE DISPOESED OF BASKERVILLE HOUSE, I DON,T KNOW WHETHER OR NOT YOU HAVE EVER BEEN INSIDE THERE BUT THE WALLS ALL AROUND ARE PAINTED MURIALS FROM THE CEILING , DOWN TO THE FLOOR , INCLUDING THE CENTRE OF THE FLOOR, YOU HAD TO WALK AROUND THE CENTRE PIECE WHEN ENTERING THE BUILDING, THERE SOME TALK, THAT ITS GONNA BE A HOTEL, ACCORDING TO MY SON IN LAW, HE,S AGOVERMENT OFFICER UP AT THE BIG HOUSE, BEST WISHES ASTONIAN,;;;;;
 
Birmingham Council House

Until the building of the Council House on what was then known as Anne street the Council used to meet at the Public Offices Moor St and even sometimes at a local public house. When the descision was taken to construct a building for this purpose as was the norm for public building inthose days an open competition was held for a design for the proposed Council House and adjoining Assize Courts. A very poor response and only 29 design entries were returned and this was narrowed down to a Gothic style design by Martin & Chamberlain and a Classic Style design from Yeoville Thomason.

This was only after the person chosen to be the assessor oft he designs Alfred Waterhouse had recommended two other designs by separate Architects. His recommendation was ignored by the Council who chose Thomason’s design instead.

The site had been purchased in 1853 but the economic situation meant that proposals in 1858 and 1868 had been frustrated it was now 1870 and things were not much better. In 1873 the Estates Committee persuaded Thomason to radically change his design to that more in keeping on one of the two that had been recommended by Waterhouse and minus the Assize Court The new Art Gallery would later be built on a site at the rear of The Council House acquired in 1899, (but that’s another story). The foundation stone was laid on June 17th 1874 by JosephChamberlain and the Council met for the first time in its new chambers in 1878 and the Council House was formally opened on the 30th of October 1879.

The extension to the Council house was built during 1908 to1917 by Architects Ashley & Newman. A connecting corridor was built across Edmund Street to connect the two different parts of the building. This connecting archway takes the form of a bridge resembling The Bridge of Sighs in Venice. The extension was build to house much needed office space for the rapidly growing City that Birmingham had become.




Photos

1. Anne Street site of Birmingham Council House.

2. Birmingham Council House.

3. Birmingham Council House Interior.

4. Birmingham Council House Extension.

5. Connecting bridge between the two parts of the Council House.

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This is one of my favourite buildings in Birmingham, great photo's
 
If you look at the clock tower in photo no 2, you can see some wrought iron railing around the top of the tower. Next time you pass, take a look; you can will a small steel shed inside the railing put there during WW2, and used for fire watching. The entrance to this shed in thought a trap door in the floor.

You may recall that sometime in the 90’s the Council House had some major roof work done to it; a friend of mine was the project manager. When he saw this iron shed, it was rusting away and falling apart, so he finished the job off and threw it all in the skip.

Within half an hour the conservation officer arrived on site, and told him it had to be put back. Even allowing for the fact it was not part of the original building, it was there when the building was listed. He had great fun getting it all welded back together, lol.


 
An interesting addition to its more recent history Morturn. The Clock Tower was intended to rival the Westminster Clock Tower (nicknamed Big Ben). Well I suppose they both have their virtues ..... Viv.
 
Morturn said:
If you look at the clock tower in photo no 2, you can see some wrought iron railing around the top of the tower. Next time you pass, take a look; you can will a small steel shed inside the railing put there during WW2, and used for fire watching. The entrance to this shed in thought a trap door in the floor.

You may recall that sometime in the 90’s the Council House had some major roof work done to it; a friend of mine was the project manager. When he saw this iron shed, it was rusting away and falling apart, so he finished the job off and threw it all in the skip.

Within half an hour the conservation officer arrived on site, and told him it had to be put back. Even allowing for the fact it was not part of the original building, it was there when the building was listed. He had great fun getting it all welded back together, lol.
Click to expand...

Don't suppose this air raid siren survived on top of the Council House roof! But here it is in the 1940s. viv

AirSirenCouncilHouse.JPG

https://birminghamhistory.co.uk/forum/images2/userpics/10014/AirSirenCouncilHouse.JPG
 
I'm currently scanning all my late Nan's slides into JPEGs and stumbled across these. Anyone got any idea what year this was or have any memories to share?

3-12-2012_001.JPG3-12-2012_002.JPG3-12-2012_005.JPG3-12-2012_006.JPG3-12-2012_007.JPG

 
Dek, welcome to the forum, by posting the images on here they will be seen by more members as not all members have access to FB.
They do date from the early 70's, Bloomers Cabaret Disco at The Swan, Yardley, was around then.

Colin
 
Yeah, my mother was known for downing the odd whiskey and orange (or six) in Bloomers and many of the acts listed on that float were often to be seen at The Cresta Club.

I reckon if I can work out who the Mayor is, I can nail the year.
 
Lord mayors in the early 70' ,Nigel Bosworth 69/70 Stanley Bleyer 70/71 Victor Turton 71/72 Frederick Hall 72/73 so which one is it ?
 
Council house courtyard.jpgBig brum from c h courtyard.jpgI took these photos earier this year when i had to call in the council house with my job,hope you find them interesting.
 
great pics...nice to see the council house from the back of the building..

thanks for posting them

lyn
 
Each year Birmingham has a "Lord Mayors Show" which takes places Spring Bank Holiday Monday.

As part of this event the whole Council House building is open and it is a chance to have a good look round inside.

You can go in the Lord Mayors office, the council chamber, and many other rooms not normnally open to the public.

More here

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/lord-mayors-show

It seems tours can be arranged as well

https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/council-house
.
 
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