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Birmingham City Hospital officially closed Nov 2024

Astoness said:
again stunning photos zero...photos 1 and 2 on post 115 showed a walled area on the ground..do you know what that was it looks like it holds water so maybe a pond?...you most certainly did choose the right forum to share the photos..not wishing to blow ones own trumpet but unlike other history platforms such as facebook we have dedicated threads for thousands of topics so it is easier to come back and find the threads as you should receive an email alert telling you a new post has been made on a thread you have posted on...carl chinn who as you most likely know fought hard to save the archway of tears and failed and like most of us is still very angry at its loss.. he knows about this forum and has told me its the best pro active birmingham history forum that is out there...so praise indeed.. thank you

lyn
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Hi, Yes it was a pond and a garden area.
I have browsed around the various posts on this site and it is amazing!. The posts captured my attention for hours upon hours.
I have spoken to a few long serving members of staff about the archway, they too were and are still sad about its destruction.
 
zero said:
Have a read of this. It mentions the beginning of the infirmary.
It's a very sad read though. It was given to me sometime back, finally got round to scanning it today.
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thanks zero i have just read it and i have read quite a lot about the workhouses...yes very sad reading indeed but my opinion (some may disagree) remains the same...what was the alternative to going into the workhouse? men ..women and children roaming the streets with no roof over their heads..no jobs..not enough food to keep them alive ? being forced into crime and ending up in prison? harsh winters making life even worse? there is little doubt that having to enter the workhouse was degrading but lets also remember that it also saved lives.. many came out and forged decent lives for themselves...sadly many did not mainly due to lack of medical science not being as advanced as it is today ...society as it was back then forced the issue..we must take the rough with the smooth when it comes to history ..which brings me to say again that the archway of tears should have been preserved as a lasting legacy of respect to those who had no choice but to enter..shame on the powers that be for not doing this..sorry to go on but its something i feel very strongly about

lyn
 
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So am I reading info in post #126 right ? Some of the archway is being stored somewhere ? And only parts of it? It says the the main arch and two flanking arches, so not all of the archway.

Where are the parts now ? And how and where on the site was/is it intended to re-assemble these parts ?

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Vivienne14 said:
So have I got this right from reading #126 ? Some of the archway is being stored somewhere ? And only parts of it? Which parts - it says the the main arch and two flanking arches ?

Where are tge parts now ? And how and where on the site was/is it intended to re-assemble these parts ?

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That was supposed to be the plan but, from what I've seen/read/heard, it was just knocked down.
 
A few more questions ! Wonder who compiled the report for planning and which organisation condemned the archway ? Was it ever condemned ? And do/did the proposed reconstructed arch parts ever appear on any of the plans ?
 
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At the top it just says - I have redacted the individual's name
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The only other name is the case officer.

It does refer to information from the demolition complany but I haven't seen that so far
 
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forget about talk of asbetos being present (thats if it was ever there)...the least that could have been done was to take the main arch and the 2 flanking arches down brick by brick and re build it in a prominent space within the new build..i think the people of birmingham would have been happy with that..not a lot ask is it for years of history..

lyn
 
That was the original plan Lyn.
I did see a passing reference to asbestos but the main concern seemed to be its condition. Hence "demolition by mechanical means" as unsafe for workers to enter.
 
pjmburns said:
That was the original plan Lyn.
I did see a passing reference to asbestos but the main concern seemed to be its condition. Hence "demolition by mechanical means" as unsafe for workers to enter.
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yes i know jan but they could have demolished the main building first leaving the main arch and flanking arches to be dismantled brick by brick...i am quite sure in the day and age this would have been possible..any how we cant change things now..whats gone is gone...

lyn
 
zero said:
These photo's are saddening.... the remnants of the archway of tears
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Wonder if any of the remnants in Zero's photos post #67 were kept ? They could at least have formed a memorial/recognition of its history of some sort, along with the plaque once within the archway - assuming that was rescued.
 
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I must be half asleep as the penny has only just dropped following Lyn's query yesterday about the Mill which was on the site pre infirmary days.

All the recent planning applications (mostly for tweaking things) are like this
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I assume the "Mill" is a reference to the old mill.
 
pjmburns said:
I must be half asleep as the penny has only just dropped following Lyn's query yesterday about the Mill which was on the site pre infirmary days.

All the recent planning applications (mostly for tweaking things) are like this
View attachment 231105
I assume the "Mill" is a reference to the old mill.
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now that i do like jan...a lovely nod to the old windmill that was on that site :) :) :)

lyn
 
GOing back to th Archway.
A structural report was issued
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It runs to 18 pages and it looks as if any plans to save part of it came too late.
There had been a fire in the first floor of the buiding and this had led to some damage to the groundfloor. Also water damage, cracked walls and lintels plus vegetation growing.

Anyone who wants to read and see the whole report needs to go to the Planning Portal and look for
Application number 2016/09090/PA then "documents" and on page 2 "structural report". I can't paste a link as the site changes and a link only works for a short time.

I'll post a few of the photographs which show a sorry picture
 

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Thanks for persevering Janice. Yes, the building really was in a bad way.

All the same, they could have preserved some features for a future project and included the plaque. Pity. This is a missed opportunity to recognise and pay tribute to all those who suffered, passed away here or who found needed help and care over the 170 or so years.
 
I wonder if the plaque went to the MMUH ?

At least some of the hospital archives are now safely held at the MMUH and pieces such as the 3 stained glass chapel/mortuary windows are available for anyone to see - one attached below.

And of course, as already said, Zero's photographs are a very comprehensive and impressive documentation of the hospital.

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Vivienne14 said:
I wonder if the plaque went to the MMUH ?

At least some of the hospital archives are now safely held at the MMUH and pieces such as the 3 stained glass chapel/mortuary windows are available for anyone to see - one attached below.

And of course, as already said, Zero's photographs are a very comprehensive and impressive documentation of the hospital.

View attachment 231121
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viv zeros post 74 he said the MMUH aso have the old bells..

lyn
 
I note that their website emphasises "Value Engineered Solutions", meaning that their opinions as to the viability of a historical preservation are likely to be biased towards the cheapest option . That would indicate that the person recommending their employment had little interest in preservation and possibly chose them with that in mind

Civil & Structural Engineers - GHW Consulting

At GHW we strive to deliver BUILDABLE, VALUE ENGINEERED SOLUTIONS from our very first meeting on a project. Get in touch today!
www.ghwconsulting.co.uk www.ghwconsulting.co.uk
 
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