Two glimpses of the library between the two trams and it next to (red dot) the Birchfield Cinema
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Birchfield Road Library
- Thread starter Vivienne14
- Start date
Birchfield Library has long been demolished. These interior photos are from the Library of Birmingham Archives. Captions from the archives are included.
1952 .... Birchfield Public Library, Pery Barr. This 1952 interior view with no signs of wear anc
tear might suggest that the library had recently been decorated and re-fitted.
1952.... Interior of Birchfield Public Library, Perry Barr, looking remarkably smart in 1 952. The building dates from 1874 but only became a branch library in 1886. Many of the books on the right sport traditional library bindings with leather spines
The reading room at Birchfield Public Library, Perry Bar, photographed in 1913
1952 .... Birchfield Public Library, Pery Barr. This 1952 interior view with no signs of wear anc
tear might suggest that the library had recently been decorated and re-fitted.
1952.... Interior of Birchfield Public Library, Perry Barr, looking remarkably smart in 1 952. The building dates from 1874 but only became a branch library in 1886. Many of the books on the right sport traditional library bindings with leather spinesThe reading room at Birchfield Public Library, Perry Bar, photographed in 1913
The library hanging in there as the Perry Barr Underpass is being constructed. (March 1961)
And in this 1962 view the library can still be seen behind the Birchfield Cinema (rght) near the new roundabout.
1962 Birchfield Road, Perry Barr, looking north towards Walsall Road at an advanced stage in the construction of the underpass. One of the first in the country, the underpass was opened in 1962 (Birmingham Archives)
And in this 1962 view the library can still be seen behind the Birchfield Cinema (rght) near the new roundabout.
1962 Birchfield Road, Perry Barr, looking north towards Walsall Road at an advanced stage in the construction of the underpass. One of the first in the country, the underpass was opened in 1962 (Birmingham Archives)
think it was demolished in 2008 viv...here is a st view from 2009 the library was behind the boards..
September 1897. This building on Birchfield Road was once known as the Perry Barr Institute. It became Birchfield Library, a satellite of Handsworth Library in September 1897, when the two front rooms began to be used, one as a reading-room and the other as a lending library. (From Library of Birmingham)Thats how i remember it from the 60s it was our go to Library been taken there by our Teachers from SH Junior School
A Sparks
master brummie
Ah yes, for me too. I remember going with my class from Birchfield Road junior and being shown how to use the index cards to search for a book!
Happy memories with the photos Viv! I remember it so well, I used to go in my Senior school years and use the reference books sections for homework and projects - the only way in the days before the Internet!
I think I may have mentioned this on another thread but I met someone here in London, in recent years, who was originally from Handsworth and his first job was at Birchfield library, he is older than me so our paths may have crossed years before!
Small world !!
I hadn't realised, as Lyn pointed out in #4 that it was still there in 2008. The amount of times I went past it on the bus and never noticed it, I just don't remember it.
Like many of you, I was taken to our local one at a young age. That has to stick firmly in your memory. I'd get very excited about choosing books, loved the warmth of the place in winter, the smell and, of course, the peace and quiet !
I hadn't realised, as Lyn pointed out in #4 that it was still there in 2008. The amount of times I went past it on the bus and never noticed it, I just don't remember it.
Like many of you, I was taken to our local one at a young age. That has to stick firmly in your memory. I'd get very excited about choosing books, loved the warmth of the place in winter, the smell and, of course, the peace and quiet !
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i remember it being demolished and the crazy thing is nothing has been done with the land..just an empty space..
viv ive just read that the library was demolished early 2007 so i was a tad out...
lyn