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Birmingham Town Hall

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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And finally the first show I went to at the Town Hall in 1972. Only 60p, bloomin' good value! Viv.

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Hi Keegs. Incredible It's impossible to see Bowie once, you have to see him again and again! He's a showman and for me his music's stood the test of time. Saw many others there too, memorable ones being Captain Beefhart - quite wacky, seem to remember a ballerina prancing about the stage (!) and Beefhart in an amazing cape. And Pink Floyd too. Oh and Rod Stewart, another value for money entertainer. Good times. Viv.
 
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In 1901 Lloyd George was not the favourite of many Birmingham people and his appearance at The Town Hall quickly led to mayhem and the politician
had to don a policemans uniform to aid his escape.
 
I don't know about you stitcher but I recon the bloke in the bowler behind the newspaper vendor was" i'm who killed that bloke" on the advertising, using a bit of Lancashire "By eck 'e' looks a rum un".
paul
 
I don't know whether it was the photography in those days but a number of individuals give that impression on old photos.
 
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In 1939 our magnificent Town Hall did not look so regal with the sand-bags for protection.
 
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I have put this on the Town Hall thread because it is advertising a charity Bash at the building. I hope I am orrect in assuming it means Birmingham Town Hall. The link for me was that we had a Lord Mayor W. Saunders in 1930-31. Can anyone explain the two small swastikas??
 
The Swastika is a ancient sysmbol and it is only its adoption by the Nazis that has cause the stigmatisation of it. I believe that the first National Savings Stamps issued bu the Post Office during WWI had a large swastika on them. Have a look at the Wikipedia page for Swastika.
 
Thats interesting, I have only ever aquainted the symbol with natzism. I never realised it was used by others as well.
 
It is seen on a lot of buildings in India. My friend was horrified to see it on a wall around a church untill I explained it was an ancient symbol.
 
Wendy, I did not know that about India and Bernie you are correct yet again. The symbol was reveresed by Hitler when he designed a flag.
 
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Wendy & Bernard, you have caused me to fall behind the schedule I had set myself for today. I had never heard about the Swastika use in India, or it's use in reverse mode. To satisfy myself I looked on Google and the above text is what I found out. There is plenty about it on a number of sites but this one seemed to contain what I wanted.
 
Can anyone tell me who was the actual builder of the Town Hall. I was always told that my greatgrandfather John Horsley was responsible. His sons, Horsley Brothers, did build the old free library among other lovely buildings in Birmingham.
 
Joseph Hansom (of the cabs fame), and when he went bust, Charles Edge. Architects were always builders too at one time. Charles Edge did other things too, I think I am right in saying the old HSBC building on the corner of Bennetts Hill (originally for the Birmingham Banking company, BBC is still above the door) and he also designed the chapel and railings and gateposts at Key Hill and his own house now long gone, in Key Hill Drive.
 
I think many builders over the years had a hand in the finished article, but in Pevsner it says that the Commissioners accepted a tender of £16.648 from Thomas & Kendall. I assume that they were the original builders.
 
I remember performing here with my Junior school on a couple of occasions. #This is the sound of the donkey...
Loads of Junior schools would compete. You either sang or played instruments or both. It was good though.

Did anyone else perform there?
 
Oh, lovely Carolina. I bet that was good entertainment, love Irish dancing
 
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Found this picture of BTH in my files but unfortunately I have no date. Don't think it's been posted before. Viv.

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The link you've posted Bordesleyexile is fascinating. Thank you! The coach in the 1814 travel account by Espriella describes it as : "its shape being that of a coffin placed upside down". I think the description of the travelling conditions is very amusing. If this account is from 1814, then I expect the drawing must be from around the time the Town Hall was completed in the early1830s, maybe just before these coaches went out of fashion perhaps? Viv.
 
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