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Drawn reconstructions of Birmingham old streets

C

cuppateabiscuit

master brummie
Hi,
I have been working on a reconstruction of some of Birmingham's inner streets how they looked in about 1851. I've done a few, all the north side of Ann Street, most of Paradise Street, about two thirds of New Street, and bits and bobs of others like High Street, Bull Ring, Worcester Street, Moor Street, Bull Street, Congreve Street etc. I've been using the photographic collection in Birmingham Archives to make the illustrations (see image below), as well as maps, architectural drawings, newspapers, censuses and personal accounts. I'm looking for anyone with any photographs or other information about these streets and adjoining ones, that aren't in the archive, or difficult to find, to help fill in the gaps. The image below shows a little bit of Ann Street and some clips of New Street buildings, obviously these illustrations take a long time to produce, so I would appreciate it if no-one posts them anywhere else without asking first. It would also be interesting to get some feedback on how interested people are in what I'm doing, and general opinions on the project. All suggestions welcome....
Cheers, Jenni

Sampleforhistoryforum.jpg
 
This is part of an MA history project, and a personal arts project, and at the mo I'm writing an essay on family businesses and am finding some interesting things out about some of the shops. In this image the Lawledge file manufactury is an interesting business and was there a long time. Wm Lawledge married Ann Heptinstall, a widow whose family had run the business for several generations and moved from Walsall (I think), the business has been discussed on here before too. Warwick House was Birmingham's first department store built in the 1830s, and was in the first photo taken in Birmingham in 1838.
j
 
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Thanks Sue,
I'm making some little booklets producing an imaginary tour around the Birmingham that is gone. I'm going to be using images of the interiors of some of the buildings, that are in the archive as well. j
 
This all looks incredibly promising Jenni. Lots of people will be interested in your work, I'm sure. Your imaginary tours idea is excellent. Good luck with your valuable work. Viv.
 
Thank you all for all the amazing positive comments. I will keep you posted on how things are going and let you know when anything is printed. If anyone does come across any old photo's, please put them up, the more the better, even if it helps me get a bit more detail, it would be great!
Cheers j
 
Absolutely brilliant Jenni, I too dabble in this sort of thing but not to your proficency, being more orientated to the signage aspect,being a signwriter.
Put me down also for any publication that may arise from your project, and I also would like to know the software used by you,( pm me if you would rather wish), best of luck with your ongoing work, once again brilliant.
 
cuppateabiscuit said:
........... I'm looking for anyone with any photographs or other information about these streets and adjoining ones, that aren't in the archive, or difficult to find, to help fill in the gaps.....
Click to expand...

Beautiful work, Jenni.

From various sources, not least BHF members, I collected some images of the K. E. School building in New Street, some of which may not be in the archive. They are all online, here.

Chris
 
Jenni, I can only agree with all the other comments on here :)

Heptinstalls (the file maker) is a direct ancestor of my husband. I have various documents related to the family and the business
For the record, the business didn't adopt the Lawledge name when William married Ann. It retained the Heptinstall name, even after Ann died and William remarried. The business passed down through the Heptinstall children, until an only daughter married my husband's great-grandfather.
You are right, the Heptinstalls did come from Walsall. I have traced the business back to c1746 in Walsall - but I think they originally came from Yorkshire as John Heptinstall served an apprenticeship in Sheffield before coming to Yorkshire. There is a reasonable amount of information on the Heptinstalls on the Ann Street thread. If you want more information about the family or the business, I should be able to help you; it is one of the bits of the family history that I have actually written up! I think that you may already have my email address, but otherwise IM me and I will send it to you.
 
Just realised that the roads in that area have 'Christian' names, e.g. Edmund, Margaret, Charles
I had never thought about it before - would they have been names of members of the Colmore family maybe?
 
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A Sparks said:
That's an amazing painting!
Presumably Ann Street was where the Council House is now?

It's just made me realise that the roads in that area have 'Christian' names, e.g. Edmund, Margaret, Charles
I had never thought about it before - would they have been names of members of the Colmore family maybe?
Click to expand...

Yeah, they're all members of the Colmore family, Lionel St is another.
 
Hi,
Just keeping you posted on how things are going. After some hold-ups, I should be printing my first booklet in the next week or two, all about Ann Street. It follows an imaginary tour of the area in 1851 (to tally with the illustrations) but also explores previous history as well as looking at how it has changed to be how it is today. It will be about 16 pages long, plus there will be a fold out of the street and a map. There are about eight images of different parts of Ann Street, some of which I've not seen printed before, plus a list of all the photo's I've used in the archive. I will let everyone know when it is printed.
Cheers,
Jenni
 
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Hi Vivienne,

I should note, I have a near complete illustration for the north side (only the shop fronts for 13 & 14 are missing (due to a carriage in the way), and the roof of 22 (because it had been knocked down), but the south side is very sporadic. No-one seems to have taken photo's of the south side. To make up for it I found a lovely drawing of the south side in the 1820's and of Bennett's Hill House, which was just up from the south side on the left, and lots of information about the actual Bennett's Hill that the south side of the street was built along the side of.
 
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I do not know if you have a copy of Personal Recolection of Birmingham and Birmingham Men, by E Edwards, printed in 1877 Bt Midland Educational Trading Co Ltd
inside there is a Drawing of Bull St in 1840 it is in the same type of drawing to yours, it shows boths sides of Bull St the drawing is from a rare print that was in the possesion of Mr John Suffied, If you like I can scan it (but not for a few days)
 
Reply to;

"do not know if you have a copy of Personal Recolection of Birmingham and Birmingham Men, by E Edwards, printed in 1877 Bt Midland Educational Trading Co Ltd
inside there is a Drawing of Bull St in 1840 it is in the same type of drawing to yours, it shows boths sides of Bull St the drawing is from a rare print that was in the possesion of Mr John Suffied, If you like I can scan it (but not for a few days)"

Hi,
I saw this a couple of months ago, it's lovely isn't it. It's just the one side though, cut into two parts- when I saw it I was glad that I hadn't started Bull Street, it will be very useful though, when I do.

If anyone needs any information on any of the buildings I have drawn that I havn't included yet, please ask, I have piles of research.

Jenni

Jenni also did have a blog on her work. this has now been discontinued, but all the information is at https://mappingbirmingham.blogspot.co.uk/
 
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