Hi all,
Did anyone else go along to Newman Bros today? I did and it was absolutely fascinating. The building was opened in 1894 and only stopped trading about 1994!
Unfortunately,
Advantage West Midlands, who are the owners of the building, announced yesterday that they will no longer be able to fund the project, which has been worked on for 7 years, possibly leaving the proposed idea of a Museum in limbo, in fact the tour that my daughter went on yesterday was described by the guide as the RIP tour!
I was fortunate to be part of a tour led by Elizabeth Perkins of Birmingham Conservation Trust, who most eloquently outlined all the work that has gone into this project and that people are needed to write or email AVM to urge them to reconsider. It is not only Newman Bros. that will lose their funding but all Jewellery Quarter projects!!!!
One lady on the tour, quite rightly asked 'Isn't the Jewellery Quarter applying for World Heritage Status?' Surely then, the AVM and other funders should be solidly behind this venture? This is an integral part of our heritage and we should not allow this gem to be lost.
Anyone who feels as strongly as I do, please e-mail or write to:
Mick Laverty
Advantage West Midlands
3 Priestley Wharf
Holt Street
Aston Science Park
Birmingham B7 4BN.
E:Mail
Michaellaverty@advantagewm.co.uk
The following is taken from their literature today, entitled
How You Can Help.
You might like to mention:
Why you think the building is special and worth preserving, (Grade II* listing, the social history and the industrial history etc.)
That it is clear from visiting the site that it is in poor condition and will deteriorate and get even more expensive to tackle if left.
That AWM as owners of the buildings and the equally important contents need to set aside resources to restore them.
That Birmingham Conservation Trust appears to have a number of potential sustainable solutions that will preserve both the buildings and the contents but need funding from the owners before any other funders will contribute to this scheme.
What do AWM intend to do - about the buildings, about the contents and about the partnership with BCT?
If you are writing please could you also enclose a copy for Sir Roy McNulty, Chaiman of AWM and let Bham Conservation Trust know that you have written. https://www.birminghamconservationtrust.org/blog/
Thanks for reading this - this is something I truly believe that Bham History members can lodge their opinions about and help save Newman Bros.
Suzanne