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I popped out to Highbury Park today to do some 3D photogrammetry mapping of some of the historic field marking for a very switched on and welcoming Friends of Highbury Park Group. What I am trying to do is to help and encourage them to take responsibility for supporting the landscape and places...

I have been given for restoration an interesting piece of office furniture made by Smiths Systems Co Birmingham. As a Birmingham company I am also quite interested in it background, who Smiths Systems Co were, what else did they make and are they still trading. There are already quite a few...

Does anyone know or have any suggestions as to the origin of Gone for a Burton? A couple I had heard are: Gone for a beer (Burton on Trent being the heart of the brewing industry) An RAF phrase to say someone had died in a crash Gone to join the armed forces. There was a suggestion that...

One of the Birmingham Parks Friends Groups has asked me to restore an old park bench. The story goes, it was destined to be sent for scrap for the WWII effort along with all the iron railing etc. Apparently the park keeper got permission to keep this one and it been tracked down to Somerset...

I was watching something on another site the other day and it got me thinking of my first house. I bought it in 1979 and with not much money slowly furnished it over the years to come. Looking back at some of the 1980’s styles choices I now think “did I really buy one of those and actually like...

This is an object I picked up in a junk shop recently. I think it’s a WWII civilian gasmask. Am I correct and can anyone tell me any more information about it? Thanks.

The Birmingham Branch of The Newcomen Society has started it winter programme of monthly lectures on the first Wednesday of each month. These events are free to attend, but a small donation is always welcome. The Thinkthank lecture theatre is a super venue for these talks so please feel fee to...

The Imperial War Museum has produced a super film all about the Hurricane. I know there has been an ongoing debate about the virtues of both the Spitfire and the Hurricane, I think this film is a well-balanced view. I am fortunate in that I worked with a WWII Hurricane pilot. He was engaged in...

There a nice blog post on the Historic England website entitled: What Happened to Disabled First World War Veterans. Well worth a look at Click here to find out more.

Can anyone offer help or advice to our member Paul Stacey regarding the forum? Paul is saying “Could I ask the "Administrators", why I am the only member, online with (NO appreciate) tag on my site?” I assumed it maybe his computer or browser settings because he has had over 500 appreciates...

I popped into the city centre today to have a look at the Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony Bull. He is indeed a magnificent beast, hundreds of people there to see him and taking photos. I spoke to his designer and builder, Mike Kelt who was also taken back by the popularity of the bull too...

How Victorian engineers of South Staffordshire Waterworks brought clean water from Lichfield to the Black Country to eliminate the scourge of cholera which was killing up to 20% of the population. Cholera and clean water in the Black Country

A super article from the British Newspaper Archive exploring Seven Unusual or Lost Occupations from History.

There is quite an interesting article that has been written on the website of Homes and Antiques, detailing the house styles across the ages. Well worth a look here

Erdington Market, or Old Erdington Market to define it from the newer Wilton Market is closing its doors for the final time on 30 April 2022. I grew up in Erdington and have some very fond memories of the market, my mom was a regular visitor. I recall that up until the mid-70’s it was a vibrant...

A really super article about the experience of children in Britain well worth a look.

I could just not resist this is a super set of photos posted on Face Book by Angel Archer on the Old Pics of Brum page. The narrative is refreshing and perfectly reflects the curse of the rose-tinted spectacles of a golden age that never was. Living and working in conditions like this was not a...

This is a challenge with a difference for the Birmingham History Forum members. The BBC are looking for the for-owner of a 1943 Peter Pan book found in France. See the BBC article here for further details.

An interesting short film from the early 1960 showing the redevelopment of Nechells

One of the volunteers at the trust I am chairman of has given us a presentation of his research relating to the Birmingham Tramways system. I recorded the presentation and have productised a podcast. Here is part 1 of 3 History of Birmingham Corporation Tramways Part 1 of 3 - Lichfield...