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Birmingham Town Hall
- Thread starter Di.Poppitt
- Start date
Nice photos Ell. Photo #4 in post 23 gives a clear view of the windows. They often seem to be obscured by pillars in other photos. Have the windows always been like this ? I don't remember ever seeing windows when you were inside the Town Hall either. I've been at concerts (1970s) and sat on the balcony but don't remember windows. Maybe they used to be covered with curtains? It definitely seems a much lighter and airy place now. Viv.
ellbrown
ell brown on Flickr
No problem. Was lucky that there wasn't many people around due to the Bank Holiday. All my previous photos of it had clouds with it, so looks better with a blue sky.
I also captured the flag.
Birmingham Town Hall, Victoria Square - Forward flag by ell brown, on Flickr
From a distance - with the Iron: Man sculpture by Anthony Gormley
Birmingham Town Hall, Victoria Square by ell brown, on Flickr
ellbrown
ell brown on Flickr
I assume that they put them in when they renovated the Town Hall from 2002 - 2008.
Wasn't too long since the Big Screen was in Chamberlain Square in front of it, but had to be moved when the renovation was complete.
Phil
Gone, but not forgotten.
It doesn't tell you a lot, but here's one of the official bankruptcy Notices from the London Gazette.
Maurice
Maurice,
An interesting snippet of the history of The Town Hall, thanks for the input.
Phil
It's an absolute pleasure to see such good photos of Birmingham. Keep up the good work Ell. And it's so uplifting to see the buildings being given a facelift. I remember, on the whole, very dull and dirty buildings. So nice to see these places being taken care of.
I wonder if the TH windows had been boarded over and uncovered them when they renovated the building. Viv.
I wonder if the TH windows had been boarded over and uncovered them when they renovated the building. Viv.
john knight
signman
Here's one I took a few weeks ago, thought it looked better in b/w.
Frothblower
Lubrication In Moderation
Nice photo John. It makes it look really majestic
Phil
Gone, but not forgotten.
My new book on the town hall arrived this morning, surprisingly for a history of the town hall it mentions very little about the building of it. There were a couple of photos of interest that I Will include here, perhaps I will add some more later after I finish reading the book.
1. A clipping of an advert placed by The Street Commissioners announcing the competition for the design of a Town Hall.
2. A drawing of the site of the town hall prior to its erection at Paradise Street / Congreve St.
3. A painting of Joseph Hanson.
Phil
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1. A clipping of an advert placed by The Street Commissioners announcing the competition for the design of a Town Hall.
2. A drawing of the site of the town hall prior to its erection at Paradise Street / Congreve St.
3. A painting of Joseph Hanson.
Phil
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sospiri
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Phil:
I can certainly sense your disappointment that the book didn't cover the areas in which you had an interest. I've been there myself many times! But picture number 2 is intriguing and it would be interesting to try and marry it up with maps of the area pre-1834.
Maurice
I can certainly sense your disappointment that the book didn't cover the areas in which you had an interest. I've been there myself many times! But picture number 2 is intriguing and it would be interesting to try and marry it up with maps of the area pre-1834.
Maurice
sospiri
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Hopefully these won't overlap with anything that Phil intends to post from his newly-acquired book, but they are a few newspaper snippets telling of the early history of the Town Hall.
1. The Derby Mercury dated 30th January 1833 tells of an accident during the building of the Town Hall
2. From Jackson's Oxford Journal dated 23rd February 1833 it seems that construction was already running behind schedule
3. Berrow's Worcester Journal dated 29th August 1833 was inviting people to subscribe to the cost of the new Town Hall organ
4. This notice in the Preston Chronicle dated 21st September 1833 was typical of several posted in other newspapers seeking to reassure customers that all was well with Hanson & Welch, even though it wasn't !
5. This article in the Hampshire Advertiser dated 4th January 1834 proudly described the attributes of the new organ
More to follow shortly....
Maurice
1. The Derby Mercury dated 30th January 1833 tells of an accident during the building of the Town Hall
2. From Jackson's Oxford Journal dated 23rd February 1833 it seems that construction was already running behind schedule
3. Berrow's Worcester Journal dated 29th August 1833 was inviting people to subscribe to the cost of the new Town Hall organ
4. This notice in the Preston Chronicle dated 21st September 1833 was typical of several posted in other newspapers seeking to reassure customers that all was well with Hanson & Welch, even though it wasn't !
5. This article in the Hampshire Advertiser dated 4th January 1834 proudly described the attributes of the new organ
More to follow shortly....
Maurice
Bernard67Arnold
master brummie
My pics are not in the same league as Mr Brown, but for whats its worth, BernardView attachment 67674
sospiri
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
Back to what the papers said.....
1. Berrow's Worcester Journal dated 1st May 1834 reported that Hanson & Welch were in difficulties.
However, as we all know, the building was completed and the postponed Birmingham Musical Festival did take place to great acclaim in the nation's press. In his opening post, Phil mentioned costs....
2. The Norwich Post dated 12th November 1834 quoted a figure. The last sentence refers to the cost of temporary accommodation for the Houses of Parliament following a fire. Nothing changes much where politicians are concerned!
3. Jackson's Oxford Journal dated 2nd May 1840 reported upon further enhancements to the organ built by Messrs Hill & Davison.
Maurice
1. Berrow's Worcester Journal dated 1st May 1834 reported that Hanson & Welch were in difficulties.
However, as we all know, the building was completed and the postponed Birmingham Musical Festival did take place to great acclaim in the nation's press. In his opening post, Phil mentioned costs....
2. The Norwich Post dated 12th November 1834 quoted a figure. The last sentence refers to the cost of temporary accommodation for the Houses of Parliament following a fire. Nothing changes much where politicians are concerned!
3. Jackson's Oxford Journal dated 2nd May 1840 reported upon further enhancements to the organ built by Messrs Hill & Davison.
Maurice
Thanks Phil and Sospiri for posting all this interesting info about the Town Hall. It shows that you cannot beat going back to source material on historical events etc. I like to read original historical newspaper articles, not only for the information they give, but for the language used. Gives a great sense of the time in which they were written. The drawing in Phil's post 34 also is an excellent addition to the pictures posted in other threads about this part of B'ham pre- Town Hall. Thoroughly enjoying all these postings on B'ham's buildings. Thanks. Viv.
Like the painting. Notice the two men carrying the Grecian urn across the square to the house of curiosities? Or to the Town Hall? Viv.
BazzM
master brummie
Phil, Im sorry, but have only just got round to seeing this thread, but the 5 pictures on your first post are great. No.2 I have never seen before, and No.3 just shows what a grand, majestic building it is. Im proud to say I sang in this building when I was at school. Great item this, thanks.
W
Wendy
Guest
Fantastic photo's info and pictures Phil as Bazz said some we have not seen before...lovely!
Phil
Gone, but not forgotten.
A painting or maybe it’s a drawing of the specially erected dais built inside the Town Hall to receive HM Queen Victoria when she visited Birmingham on June 15th 1858 to open Aston Hall & Park.
Also another same of the interior of a packed hall in 1845 before the organ was moved back in to its specially built alcove which was recommended by Felix Mendelssohn after appearing at the Hall twice once in 1837 and again in 1847 to present an oratorio called Elijah written especially for Birmingham. He later in that same year died aged 38.
Phil
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Also another same of the interior of a packed hall in 1845 before the organ was moved back in to its specially built alcove which was recommended by Felix Mendelssohn after appearing at the Hall twice once in 1837 and again in 1847 to present an oratorio called Elijah written especially for Birmingham. He later in that same year died aged 38.
Phil
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Stunning pictures Phil of the interior and interesting background info too. It's a good reminder of how old the TH actually is and the history associated with it. Viv.
W
Wendy
Guest
Lovely pictures Phil it's nice to see how the town hall looked originally. It has a balcony round it now which I didn't realise was not original.
A few snippets to add from Cornish's 1851 "Stranger's Guide Through Birmingham".
The Hall was "esteemed the most spacious room in the kingdom"
It was built with "imperishable marble from the island of Anglesey"
Dimensions given in the book are
Height of basement: 23 feet
Height of column: 36 feet
Diameter of columns: 3 ft 6in
The great room: length 145 feet, breadth 65 feet and height 65 feet. This gave total 'cubical' feet as 600,000.
Finally Cornish's claims the organ cost £3000 - £4000. The organ case was 40 foot wide, 45 feet high and 17 feet deep.
Very impressive! Imagine visiting the place in the 1850's. Viv.
The Hall was "esteemed the most spacious room in the kingdom"
It was built with "imperishable marble from the island of Anglesey"
Dimensions given in the book are
Height of basement: 23 feet
Height of column: 36 feet
Diameter of columns: 3 ft 6in
The great room: length 145 feet, breadth 65 feet and height 65 feet. This gave total 'cubical' feet as 600,000.
Finally Cornish's claims the organ cost £3000 - £4000. The organ case was 40 foot wide, 45 feet high and 17 feet deep.
Very impressive! Imagine visiting the place in the 1850's. Viv.
Phil
Gone, but not forgotten.
The built in situ organ was to be forty feet wide and forty five feet high. The largest diapason metal pipe which is front centre of the organ would be five feet tree inches in circumference and thirty five feet high. This information is just a little of that given on an appeal that was launched in 1833 to raise £2,000 toward the cost of building the organ.
If you click on the photo and enlarge it to its fullest extent you should be able to read the appeal set out underneath the artists impression of the organ.
The second photo is a drawing of the organ after it had been installed and set back in to its specially built new alcove. In my opinion it looks as if there has been a bit of artistic licence as it looks far bigger than I remember it.
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If you click on the photo and enlarge it to its fullest extent you should be able to read the appeal set out underneath the artists impression of the organ.
The second photo is a drawing of the organ after it had been installed and set back in to its specially built new alcove. In my opinion it looks as if there has been a bit of artistic licence as it looks far bigger than I remember it.
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W
Wendy
Guest
Thanks Phil that has cleared that up!
Agree, Phil, there may have been some artistic licence here. I can't remember those proportions either. The figures in the 2nd picture look miniature alongside it. It's interesting that the appeal mentions the TH acoustics: "Without a column or impediment to obstruct the proper vibration of the sound". Not until reading that had I fully appreciated the Hall has no real inner columns or pillars etc. as in buildings of this scale. Viv.