Not sure but it could be for full working basement/cellar or potentially a high water table?Newhall Street Meeting House.
Quite a number of buildings from the 1800s in the street seem to have had many steps up to their entrances. Wonder why ?
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A drawing of Newhall Street by a member of the Lines family, View attachment 209041
This has been posted before somewhere on the site, but not on this thread. Don't know exactly in Newhall Street where this was located, nor do I have a date. Guessing it's about 1890s.
And a couple of sketches of Newhall Street doorways - #15 and #9 - by F Chamberlain. Maybe they're somewhere in the distance in the photo ? They're unusual in that the two entrances are close together with no street level windows.
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101, Newhall Street. (1932, William Clark)
[Birmingham Archives and Collections]
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Fascinating. The red circle is where Canterbury house now stands. This was my place of work during the seventies. Further up appears to be Lancaster house under construction.Here's an aerial view of Newhall Street dated June 1932 .... with the British Red Cross building indicated, on the corner of Lionel Street.
Credit: britainfromabove
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So this is now #85 Newhall Street. Today, the building that replaced it is now Canterbury House (thanks Enel) and is University student accommodation.101, Newhall Street. (1932, William Clark)
[Birmingham Archives and Collections]
View attachment 208975