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Areas of Birmingham (ish) Quiz

Vivienne14 said:
#8 “Birmingham New Street” opened for passenger use in 1851, official opening was in 1854.

Became simply “New Street” in 1884 (?).

Viv.
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8. New Street is the second name which the station has borne. What was it first called, and when was the name changed?

This is another strange clue. The clue refers to New Street as the second name of the station. There is reference to the first name on the Forum, but the answer given is…

Navigation Street. It was renamed New Street at or just before it’s opening in 1852.

I think the quizmaster is having a laugh ?
 
Number 3 is interesting, and I have not looked at the answer.

3 For about 80 years a mermaid has floated in Birmingham, until a few months ago when she took her last dive. Who was she ?

Anyone remember a mermaid around 1964.
 
The Mermaid statue at Birmingham university is still there. So I think this must be a reference to the Mermaid pub in Sparkbrook. It became an Indian restaurant. Did they stop selling beer in 1964? I think the building stood empty for some years?
 
Well I would have thought that the University statue would be a good guess. But the answer is…

The stone mermaid on the apex of the highest gable of the University building in Edmund Street.

It looks like, in 1964, they had decided that the building would be pulled down !
 
Pedrocut said:
Well I would have thought that the University statue would be a good guess. But the answer is…

The stone mermaid on the apex of the highest gable of the University building in Edmund Street.

It looks like, in 1964, they had decided that the building would be pulled down !
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Mason College, I guess? What a lot of distinguished buildings we have lost. Tastes change, Paul Cadbury called it a 'Neo-gothic monstrosity' in 1952.
 
7 The classical architect Charles Barry and the Gothic architect AW Pugin collaborated in designing the Houses of Parliament. But they had a dummy run on a similar but much smaller architectural collaboration in Birmingham.
What was it? King Edward's School, New Street, 1838-1936 - demolished.
 
6 What were the surnames of these men and what connection with Birmingham have they in common ?
Lister, Sir Harry, Lionel, Heneage.

The connection with Birmingham is that they all had streets named after them, or perhaps streets with these names? Lister Street, Sir Harry's Road, Lionel Street and Heneage Street. Anyone supply the surnames?
 
Now this is an interesting question. As you say they all have streets named after them, but the surnames are part of the answer.
 
Oh this quiz master (Not MWS !)

This question again is ambiguous. Stokkie has the answer as to what connection the first names have with Birmingham. That they have streets named after their first names. Lister Street, Sir Harry's Road, Lionel Street and Heneage Street.

The quizmaster has also asked for the surnames of the men Lister, Lionel, Sir Harry, and Heneage.

In his answer he gives the men their full names, and that each had a road bearing his Christian name and another bearing his surname.

I suppose we could work out the first three, but Janice has picked the short straw !
 
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The problem I thought with Heneage ***** is how he is associated to Birmingham. Thats if I have the right chap !

[Wrong Chap, now found him after fishing about at bit !]
 
1 Birmingham architect and namesake of famous family of Birmingham He was responsible (amongst other things) for the design of a well-loved watering-place and a house containing many drawing-rooms. Who was he and what are the buildings referred to ?

John Henry Chamberlain (no relation to the famous Chamberlains) He built Edgbaston Waterworks - including one of the two towers that inspired Tolkien. Drawing rooms is more elusive. I'm going for Highbury Hall unconfidently.
 
I liked it as well. Especially as I only found reference to 1 drawing room at Highbury. Apparently he designed the School of Art in Margaret Street and it was built after his death.
 
The modern restoration has been done sympathetically I think. Glass lift, an inserted mezzanine floor and a glass box library all inside which doesn’t detract from the original exterior.
 
So we just have N°6 to finish. We need the surnames of the chaps below that are also street names.
Lister
Lionel
Sir Harry
Heneage
 
4 Who said, “Architecture is for people not architects.” And was he right ? There's this one as well. Could be Ruskin, but I can't find the quote.
 
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