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Arch In Selly Park

I've had a look at images of St Philip's and can see a tenuous resemblance on the shapes of the balustrade uprights, but the ones on St Philip's are on the roof. Perhaps as far as we can get on this !
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oldMohawk said:
I've had a look at images of St Philip's and can see a tenuous resemblance on the shapes of the balustrade uprights, but the ones on St Philip's are on the roof. Perhaps as far as we can get on this !
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Mohawk, you're definitely hitting the nail on the head I think. Those photos simply have to be one and the same structure ? I'm beginning to agree with Greart's post 29 that it was utilised simply as a feature when Highfield was (sadly) demolished to make way for the development of Southbourne Close in 1984. I wonder when Highfield was actually built ? More to the point, when was the arch transplanted to Highfield from St.Philips ? Why ? By whom ? Very intriguing.
SPF4EVER
 
According to https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highfield_(Birmingham), Highfield was built in the 1860s and there is a reference to 'Harries 2011 p. 159' but I cannot find anything there. Presumably whoever owned it around 1880 saw the opportunity of aquiring some stone work from the alterations on St Philip's. It would be nice to know who had Highfield built and maybe who owned it in the 1880s.
I suppose the house only became notable when it became a focal point for the cultural life when Lella Secor Florence lived there, and before then it was just another large house in Selly Park.
 
Looks like the Colmore Row side - apse - of St Phillips Church/Cathedral was where considerable structural changes were made (although the tower may have also been altered). The apse looks to have been enlarged and was made more curved. If so the balustrades on top of the earlier apse at that end were the ones that were moved to Highgate along with stones from the walls. See the two lower images of the composite below. Viv.

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Below is a comparison of the church image included on Wesley's 1732 North Prospect of Birmingham map and a 20th century view. It originally had a very shallow apse and was definitely subsequently enlarged. Viv.

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The curved addition, commonly known as an apse, might well be when the church became a cathedral as the cathedra (bishops seat) would need to be in an enlarged sanctuary as would the presumably the seats for the probably newly created canons of the new diocese. There are quite a few additional architectural features added to the building hopefully, for the city, some resemblance to St. Pauls in London.
 
Thomas Harrison is listed as living there in the Kellys of 1890-1905, (house not listed in 1908), and he is listed as living in Selly Park road in 1878-1888 and in Selly Park in 1872-1876 (so probably at same place, but name of house not given). The Whites 1873 directory lists his home in Selly Park and his business as H & H (music sellers). This is presumably Harrison & Harrison of Colmore row. To adverts for Harrison & Harrison are below

Bim post,25.12.1893.jpg Birm post.10.3.1873.jpg
 
St Phillips was a church until 1905. As Mr Harrison's business was on Colmore Row, he may well have witnessed the structural changes being made to the Church when it was about to become a Cathedral. Maybe he even saw the process of the walls and balustrades being removed ! And hence decided to have some of the structure moved and rebuilt in his garden. Viv.
 
Vivienne14 said:
St Phillips was a church until 1905. As Mr Harrison's business was on Colmore Row, he may well have witnessed the structural changes being made to the Church when it was about to become a Cathedral. Maybe he even saw the process of the walls and balustrades being removed ! And hence decided to have some of the structure moved and rebuilt in his garden. Viv.
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Esteemed fellow Brummies, I am absolutely gobsmacked ! How do you do it ?! You guys make Sherlock Holmes & Dr.Watson look like Pinky & Perky ! My hands are joined together to you all in thanks. What an AMAZING story. What's even more amazing is the common threads of serendipity that I know at least from my years in Selly Park. Your amazing discovery of Harrison & Harrison - a music shop. Selly Park was LITTERED with musicians ! That stretch from Selly Park Road, down Kensington Road, over Pershore Road into the road that teemed with musicians - Wallace Road. We were all in bands of some shape or form! My friend who cut the professor's grass at Highfield - a musician. Probably why we used to refer to it as the 'magic arch ??'
If I may be respectfully permitted to extrapolate - the tenure of MacNeice- 'Professor of Greek' - my parents were Greek ; Selly Park's River Rea - my mother's name was Rhea. I think the arch brought with it some 'celestial serendipity' to Selly Park maybe ? WELL DONE ALL :-) SPF4EVER
 
Backtracking - the illustrious professor Philip Sargant Florence (as per Greart's post 11 -the blog) P.S.Florence was 'the son of an American musician !!' And he was called 'Philip' - the 'celestial serendipity' abounds ! SPF4EVER.
 
Just got home from a day out. Gobsmacked to see what's been achieved on this subject. I wonder if there is anymore to be squeezed out of this. G
 
Reading through what's been added today I think viv has it spot on. All the material must have come from the extended end. G
 
I have found there is a company up in Durham (Harrison & Harrison Ltd, St John's Rd, Meadowfield, Durham, DH7 8YH, Telephone: 0191 378 22 22, [email protected]) whose founder was no less than Thomas Hugh Harrison (born 1839.) Could this be the very Thomas Harrison who was registered as living in Highfield 1890 to 1905 ? He would have been 51 - feasible. SPF4EVER
 
Hi SPf4, I think u are right, it must be him. Further investigation needed. I visited my sister today in the QE Hospital. So took the opportunity to visit the site with the hope of taking a few photos and getting more info from locals. The site is beautifully landscaped with a lovely clear lake, it is low gated so access to the lake is not easy. I did speak to two locals one told me without prompt from me that the stonework was from St Phillips so Viv was spot on but that was all he knew. The second resident gave me permission to go through the gate and photo the arch, THEN changed her mind stating that she was new to the area and didn't want to upset neighbours. I was only ten feet away from it, "gutted" . I will go back asap. From what I saw was the arch is in lovely condition with seating around it for residents to relax and enjoy it. G
 
Great good evening. Hope you found your sister well. You went to the arch !!! Fantastic !! Oh my gosh - why did she change her mind ??? Somehow, someway that arch needs to be photographed for future posterity. I wonder who is responsible for the actual maintenance of the arch and the grounds? I'm sure if they were informed it was for the B.ham History Forum to preserve as an archive for the future of B.ham they'd acquiesce ? It's Selly Park's/Birmingham's mysterious little secret ! I am absolutely ELATED you went there, WELL DONE ! I am truly brimming with elation! It must have been enchanting. I didn't realise it had seating. I could sit there forever and a day I kid you not.
See MikeJee's post 59 on St.Philip's Cathedral - may not be 'the' Harrison ? This arch story has only just begun ! SPF4EVER
 
I will most definitely go back soon. I did get some shots and will post them tomorrow. They are poor as taken on phone. I took my cameras only to find battery flat "idiot". I will say the view from Kensington road is now gone. That section is wild, overgrown and littered with car tyres, drink cans old pushchairs etc. Such a shame G
 
great thread really enjoyed watching it unfold...G is the arch on private property or can anyone wonder around i only ask as it seems permission is needed to go through the gate ..i am not familar with that side of town

lyn
 
Lyn, at the entrance to the estate it clearly says PRIVATE. I spoke to a person who lived adjacent to the estate who gave me the name of a resident that she knew and said it would be ok to just walk in and quote her if challenged. The arch is on the complex and is shared by all the residents. It really is a lovely peaceful place. The entrance to the lake and arch is gated but not locked. I did get the ok to go in then the person changed her mind because she was new on the estate and didn't want to upset her neighbors. Unfortunately she was the only resident home at the time so there was no one else to ask. I am going back asap. G
 
 
thanks G..really hope you can get a closer look at the arch when time permits...i also cant see the image you posted..

lyn
 
Image will not open for me either. G my fingers are crossed you succeed on your next visit to Selly Park ! What will be will be. Nevertheless I can't express my appreciation for your efforts enough. SPF4EVER
 
lyn. I'm trying to put photos i took of arch with my phone on but am experiencing difficulties. i will try again in a few mins G
 
OK G ..i all else fails and you want to you i could send you my private email address via our private message system and if you can email the photos to me i will happily post them on this thread for you..just let me know

lyn
 
selly park fields forever said:
Image will not open for me either. G my fingers are crossed you succeed on your next visit to Selly Park ! What will be will be. Nevertheless I can't express my appreciation for your efforts enough. SPF4EVER
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I am emailing pics to lynn. i keep getting message "image too large" so hopefully it should work . i will add lake images are good the arch is slightly blurred as taken with phone G
 
here you go G..i have resized them for you..i think the arch ones turned out very well considering that you were limited to how close you could get to it:) could i just suggest to anyone who would like to get a closer shot of the arch to explain that you are from the birmingham history forum and that the arch has been of great interest to us...over the years i have found that everyone i have approached when taking photos has been most welcoming...not one person has told me to get lost:D

lyn
 

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That's brilliant thank you. I was surprised to find out that a resident who has only lived in the area for a short time, knew the material came from St Phillips. He must have been told that by a neighbor who has more information.When I go back it will be later in the day when more people are likely to be home. Thanks again. G
 
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