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City Centre Photographs

Stitcher, like you I dislike the so called modern City centre, I once had great pleasure painting subjects such as the Bullring and Gas Street basin and similar sites - but not now, beautiful old buildings demolished to be replaced by souless glass and concrete monstrosities. I wonder if there is any one else who like me as never visited the new Bullring ? Eric
 
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Does this one make you feel a little better Eric? It is Ann Street and it is the site where the Council House was to be built. The statue is of Sir Robert Peel and was unveiled in 1855, this statue now stands outside The Tally Ho Police Training College on Pershore Road. The land for The Council House cost £33,000 in 1853.
 
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This is another view of Ann Street in 1867 looking towards the Town Hall.
 
cookie273uk said:
Stitcher, like you I dislike the so called modern City centre, I once had great pleasure painting subjects such as the Bullring and Gas Street basin and similar sites - but not now, beautiful old buildings demolished to be replaced by souless glass and concrete monstrosities. I wonder if there is any one else who like me as never visited the new Bullring ? Eric
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That me too have nor set foot in the City for 20 years ,have had a drive though a number of times , but My CITY HAS GONE ;0)
 
Hello Baron, I do understand that some people like the modern Birmingham and of course that is their choice. I also understand that a lot of the buildings were ugly, unsafe or 'in the way', but a large amount of the demolition was nothing more than wanton destruction in my opinion. I think that many of the newer buildings are ugly with vast amounts of money spent on flash add ons to make them look more attractive. Time will tell but we all know these new ones will not last very long before massively expensive re-furbs will be required. Like you I feel that My City has gone, I have used the Aston Expressway and the tunnel to get back onto Broad Street when returning home from Erdington, and my son has taken me on a tour of all the new road systems. He used to come out with me as a school-child when I was a cabbie so he remembers what things were like 35 years ago. Having said that, we all have to understand that there must be people who feel about the new Birmingham the same as we felt about the old one, it's called 'progress' I suppose. Cheer up because I still have a number of photos of the place we loved to be proud of.
stitcher
 
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Queens Chambers, Paradise Street in 1970. Note the Hawley's bread van.
 
One that escaped the bulldozer Stitcher! Didn't know that there were once shops along the street level of Queens Chambers. Viv.
 
Sticher, your posts 511 and particulaly 512 are what I call 'paintable' subjects but these are few and far between now. I much prefer to stand in front of the subject to sketch or paint it but now I have to rely more and more on old black and white pics and memory, but as you remarked that is progress. I envy pre WW2 brum artists with all the subject matter at their disposal. Eric
 
I understand exactly what you are saying Eric, it is the same with T.V. a large flat screen High definition and rubbish programs. How about a new car and being stuck in traffic. Ha Ha.I will post a couple more later this afternoon.
stitcher
 
Viv
It was only the frontage that survived of Queens college chambers.Somewhere on the forum were pictures I took of it being demolished (from the back). when I get to that bti (I;m working backwards) I;kk repost them
Mike
 
That's a pity Mike. Thought it was a bit too good to be true as both sides of Queens College are newer buildings. Oh well ...... Viv.
 
There is a difference between a 'building' and a 'structure'. Most space (previously occupied or not) is filled with the latter these days. I don't know...I think that wear on the old buildings had the same status as patina on an antique. It has a human content to it. Wear on a structure...rust running down the facing...is just ugly in my view. How do they clean the windows on the new library...maybe they don't anymore.
 
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Corporation Street looking towards the Central Hall. 1962.
Ooh, how I remember Kings Hall Market when I was a nipper.
 
More little gems Stitch....Kings hall market...jellied eels and a hunk of crusty bread for a shilling...such luxury.

The old Snow Hill building looks far better than it's replacement...
 
hi ray ;
do you recall the swan market at the swan ; that was a cracking market ;
but its all gone just like most of our land marks in brum; its sad like they say whats gonna replace the tv studios i expect it will become another wine bar for the white house clan; for when we will select another city lord mayor ; and three guesses whom its gonna be . but getting back on track with the swan markety as you know its gone and they are building new tescos ; but did you know about changing the cov rd expansion
into a three lane one from the bottom end of the cov up and through to the air port they are about to start soon
but on face book there is a campaign to save the island at the swan yardley its on face book and the person whom as started it as already written to head of tescos for backing and to the head of the council at the house of commons and they have written to the birmingham city foot ball club to get there backing on the campaign ; all of the two have given say they will back it and the leader of the city council saidin march tescos openened they will come and discuss it with them ; have a nice day ;; astonian
 
Hello Ray, I remember as though it was yesterday, well no, perhaps it is not that clear but I do remember mom taking me and two brothers into town on the bus. An ordinary bus if we went on the 31 or 32 from the Gospel Oak or a trolley bus if we walked to Acocks Green village and caught the 44. We would go to the Co-op in High Street to get mom's divi, then it would be a parade aroung a number of shops including Kings Hall Market. We would usually end up in the Bull Ring Market Hall before catching the bus back home. Ooh happy memories.
 
Hello Astonian, I remember The Swan Market although it was not one mom took us to very often.
 
What a lovely building this was. I remember it well, and travelled from there on a number of occasions. I sometimes wonder what Birmingham City Council were thinking of pulling these wonderful buildings down. Thank you for putting this pic on Stitcher.
 
Maggs, there is no need to thank me for showing you my pictures, because I enjoy looking at them as much you do. Quite a few of mine are from The City Centre rather than the area wher I grew up because I am proud of how the city used to be. I remember fabulous days in town every couple of weeks with mom, and The Onion Fair with dad.
 
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The Right Hon Anthony Eden taking the salute of British Legion ex-servicemen outside the Council House. I do not have a date with this one.
 
I remember these parades as a lad, and taken by my dad to the memorial hall, many of theWW1 vets hardly ever wore any form of head gear, it was a post WW2 thing, they even wore them to work.
 
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This picture is on what is obviously two pages from a book I do not know what the book is/was but I have attempted to put the two together to produce this photo. The caption reads; The Chamberlain memorial, inaugurated 26th October 1880. On the left is the Reference Library, and behind the memorial is Mason's College, Edmund Street, later the University of Birmingham. Dated 1900.
 
Love photos like this where the people seem unaware of the cameraman. The two lads in white coats look like they're in serious conversion and look at that baby on the floor!! Viv.
 
As you so rightly say Vivienne, the picture can be interesting to look at but it increases the curiosity when you attempt to imagine other people thoughts and words.
stitcher
 
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