Old Central Public Library Birmingham (1866 - 1894)

[ellbrown]

I went to the Black Country Living Museum the other day, and I found this old spiral staircase from the old Central Public Library Birmingham, which existed from 1866 to 1894. I believe they were building an extension in the 1870s when they had a fire. They then rebuilt the library in the 1880s.


Black Country Living Museum - Cast Iron Houses - Spiral Staircase - old Central Public Library Birmingham (1866 - 1894) by ell brown, on Flickr


Black Country Living Museum - Cast Iron Houses - Spiral Staircase - old Central Public Library Birmingham (1866 - 1894) by ell brown, on Flickr


Black Country Living Museum - Cast Iron Houses - Spiral Staircase - old Central Public Library Birmingham (1866 - 1894) - sign by ell brown, on Flickr

It was in the Cast Iron Houses.

 

[Wendy]

It looks the same as the one in the library now to get to the archives....I think it's closed now though due to the move.

 

[ellbrown]

It reminds me of the sprial staircases in the Museum & Art Gallery.

They must all date from the mid to late 19th century.

The sign says it was cast at the St Pancras Ironworks, London.

 

[leslam]

I spotted "St Pancras Ironworks" as well. My maternal ancestors at that time were smiths - and lived round St Pancras at the right time. I can now dream that they made this magnificant staircase!

 

[Ian Forrester]

The fire at the Old Central Library in Birmingham was one of two fires that caused the Birmingham Corporation to invest in an efficient Fire Brigade. 30,000 books were destroyed and a large part
of the Shakespare Collection was lost. That fire and the fatal one in Digbeth caused the Corporation to send for Alfred Tozer from Bristol Fire Brigade to knock our Police run Fire Brigade into
shape !