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Birmingham Town Hall

Here's an original, ageing photograph of the Town Hall. It was taken at four minutes past two on a day in late December - or very early January - possibly during one of the winters of the mid-seventies. It was about then that I bought a decent camera and started developing black and white film on my own.

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I did wonder that Wendy but I think it is the position of the statue that is confusing me - is that the same statue in the same place that is on the photos of the Temperance Hotel - if so it confuses me (easily done)
 
Polly

This painting gives more or less the same view as you indicate, but it is from a little further back and shows exactly where Christchurch was located in relation to the other painting.

Phil

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This picture is amazing, Phil! It's so strange to see cottages where the Council House is now! What date is this view, please?
 
Phil said:
Polly

This painting gives more or less the same view as you indicate, but it is from a little further back and shows exactly where Christchurch was located in relation to the other painting.

Phil
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Thank you so much for posting the picture Phill - I can understand now what I am looking at. Christchurch is exactly where Wendy thought it was. I have seen lots of pictures with a statue on in that area - did the statue change or was it always the same one?
 
Wow this is why I love this forum we all work together and solve a problem. Thanks Phil.
 
pollypops said:
Thank you so much for posting the picture Phill - I can understand now what I am looking at. Christchurch is exactly where Wendy thought it was. I have seen lots of pictures with a statue on in that area - did the statue change or was it always the same one?
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The statue in Phil's picture is of Peel, but it was removed. I believe it eventually ended up outside the police college (Edgbaston ?). Viv
 
db84124 said:
Here's an original, ageing photograph of the Town Hall. It was taken at four minutes past two on a day in late December - or very early January - possibly during one of the winters of the mid-seventies. It was about then that I bought a decent camera and started developing black and white film on my own.

08-06-2011_183B413B32.JPG
Click to expand...

What a great photo. A view that would, I think, be impossible today. This view could be lined up with the top part of the painting in post #96 - only about 120ish years difference! Viv.
 
Thanks db and Ell. The new building on the corner of Hill St (opposite the Old Post Office) looks relatively new to me or maybe I just don't recognise it. I used to pass this every day and now wonder if another building was built there between db's 1970s photos and Ell's current streetview? Or is it the same 1970ish building which has been refaced/refurbed? If you get my drift! Viv.
 
Hi Viv: There is a photo on Leonard Stace's Brum web site of the Royal Mail Parcels Office on the corner of Hill and Paradise Streets. Also, Mark Norton has updated his site recently and there are some great photos
of the Old Reference Library now on his great site. https://www.photobydjnorton.com/PhotosByLeonardStace.html I used to work in Queen's College Chambers on Paradise Street so passed the Parcels Office everyday. I can't remember if there was a bridge across Hill Street from the old Post Office connecting to the Parcels Office or was it a tunnel they used. Here is Mark Norton's site: https://www.photobydjnorton.com/index.html
 
Thanks Mike and Jennyann. Looks like the building on the right in Mike's photo #126 is the one which would have been cleared behind the hoardings in db's 1970s photo #114. It's fairly unlikely I suppose, that the building that then went up in the 70s in it's place has since been demolished (although not impossible). So Ell's streetview of this spot (post #112) must still be the 1970s building. Just looks very new. Viv.
 
If you go back to Google Street view Viv, you will noticed the two plaques on No 1 Victoria Square. The one on the right says "This stone was laid on Thursday 12th April 1983 by Councillor B V Smith, West Midlands County Council". (it looks like 1963 but it can't be that as the WMCC lasted from 1974-86)

I've not got any direct photos of this building, but I've got this (during the beginning of 2009's Frankfurt Christmas Market)


The Helter Skelter slide in Victoria Square - Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market by ell brown, on Flickr
 
I see what you mean Ell, it does say 1983 WMCC. So I expect the site may have been empty for a few years before One Victoria Square was built. Viv.
 
There's this in Pevsner

On the S, first a plain block by Watkins Gray Woodgate International, 1983-5. The corner attempts an oriel, nicknamed 'the Chieftain tank' by a former chair of the City Planning Committee.
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Hi Dek and Carolina - sorry will try posting soon when I can work out the probem. Now you'll just need to exercise patience to find out which one I went to!! :devilish::devilish: Viv.
 
Think I'll try one at a time! The first of a series of pictures showing events at the Town Hall through time.Viv

Firstly the 1846 music festival
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Secondly an 1849 soiree showing specimens of papier mache, silver plate, electro plate and glass on a display in the centre of the floor. Professor Faraday gave a brief address on the electric light illustrated using Mr Gasslot's enormous battery of 100 plates. Mr Stimpson played the organ.

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Now we have a bit of a riot: 1924 Police clearing a charging crowd of Pro-Boars outside the Town Hall during the speech of Lloyd George MP. Stones and rocks were thrown through the windows hitting people insude tge Hall. Some 400 -500 police were involved. One person died and many people were injured.

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