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Peace Gardens

Valerie Dunbar

Valerie Dunbar

master brummie
I have visited the Peace Gardens in Bath Row. It is a beautiful place and has connections to the G8 summit. The plaques and trees placed in the Peace Gardens have comments from different countries which are thought provoking to read and see. The gardens are encompassed by wrought iron metal work to which are attached birds of peace. All this in the hope that love,togetherness and careing can make the world a better, more united place.

My question on seeing this place is why are they letting the gardens deteriorate so much? The stone work is in need of renovation and the whole place looks uncared for such a sad thing for such a lovely place.
 
When I went there in April 2009, saw at least one plaque that was vandalised.


The Peace Garden - St Thomas's Church The Beginning by ell brown, on Flickr

Other plaques were ok


The Peace Garden - St Thomas's Church Victim of World War II by ell brown, on Flickr



The Peace Garden - St Thomas's Church Testimony of Peace by ell brown, on Flickr


The Peace Garden - Acknowledgements by ell brown, on Flickr

Remains of the Church of St Thomas


The Peace Garden -Remains of the Church of St Thomas by ell brown, on Flickr
 
There is also a colonnade in the Peace Garden that was removed in the early 1990s when Centenary Square was being developed, along with the ICC and the 1991 REP renovation.


The Peace Garden - Doric loggia moved from Broad Street - colonnade by ell brown, on Flickr


The Peace Garden - Doric loggia moved from Broad Street - colonnade by ell brown, on Flickr

A few plaques inside there

19g8


The Peace Garden - 19g8 - Doric loggia moved from Broad Street - colonnade by ell brown, on Flickr


The Peace Garden - The Birmingham District Branch - National Malaya and Borneo Veterans Association - Doric loggia moved from Broad Street - colonnade by ell brown, on Flickr


The Peace Garden - National Service for Crown and Country - National Service Memorial to Peace - Doric loggia moved from Broad Street - colonnade by ell brown, on Flickr
 
I've been meaning to visit the Peace Garden, these are lovely photos. Some of my ancestors were married here, and buried. I think they were re-buried in Warstone Lane Cemetery after the bombing.

I wonder how many brides had their wedding photos taken under the the colonnade after being married at the Register Office on Broad Street? At least these buildings were preserved.
 
HI ELBROWN
Do you know where they moved the colonnaade too i remember that colun and to be honest when i was a young wild and free and living the night life
doing the party bits and week endparts all over the place around the country
my associates and myself would come out of the pink elephant night club bromscrove st and if we missed the last bus home we would have slept on those benches quiteoften
and in the days of the regular police officiers on the beat would stop when they see us kipping on those benches andasked what are we doing we would tell him we have missed
the last bus home and he would say okay but do not let me see you again but for some reason or another there was an other time but it was a different police officer
we was young and stupid kids really but as you grow older you see and think differently astonian
 
The Colonnade was removed brick by brick from Centenary Square in about 1990. It used to be attached to the Hall of Memory (according to my sources).


The Peace Garden - foundation stone - Constructed 1925 in Broad Street Garden of Rememberance - Re-erected here 1990 - colonnade by ell brown, on Flickr

From Pevsner Architectural Guides: Birmingham
Churchyard laid out as a Peace Garden in 1992, incorporating a Doric loggia by S.N. Cooke and W.N. Twist, once part of the Hall of Memory scheme, brought from Broad Street.
Click to expand...

From Bill Dargue - Birmingham City Centre
At right angles to Broad Street (in front of the present ICC entrance) was built a colonnade also of Portland stone. This was removed to the Peace Gardens at the former St Thomas' church in Bath Row when Centenary Square was laid out 1989.
Click to expand...
 
I recall being taken to the major road which ran past the Hall of Memory (Broad Street? ) most likely in 1945 by my Nanny. My father was still in the Army at that time.

We watched a very long parade of all types of military people and civil defense plus many of their vehicles. I don't recall much of the parade but I guess it may well have been a victory parade celebrating VE day after the cessation of the War in Europe. It might, of course, have been a VJ Day parade. I wonder if any other Forum readers remember this.

There is the possibility, of course that this was an Armistice Day (11th. November) parade but the day was quite pleasant weatherwise, from memory, and would not fit the November Midland weather I guess.
 
Can someone tell me if if the Peace Garden is opposite "Speaking Style Walk" that was [which has now been demolished]. Can remember my gran living in the 'Walk' years ago and I can remember seeing just an Archway [or am I way off] Miriam.
 
It is near Holloway Head - within Bath Row, Washington Street, Ridley Street and Granville Street.

Google Maps - Peace Garden

You wouldn't recognise the area now - it is all modern. So much change in the last decade.

If you head up Washington Street or Granville Street you will get a nice view of The Cube.

A view up Washington Street of The Cube


The Cube from Washington Street by ell brown, on Flickr

The Peace Garden from Upper Gough Street


Remains of the Church of St Thomas - from Upper Gough Street and Doric loggia moved from Broad Street - colonnade by ell brown, on Flickr
 
Had my wedding photographs taken under that colonnade, when we came out of the Register Office. That was in 1963...blimey..was it THAT long ago?!
 
When the colonnade was by the Hall of Memory, there used to be the occasional homeless person sleeping there. If you were lucky, you might capture a homeless chap snoring away in the background of your wedding pics! Viv.
 
Someone tweeted BBC Live news to say that "work has started to sure up St Thomas'" (Note: not my spelling!). There is also a picture. Can only be good news , I think...
 
It was obviously once a beautiful building. I expect the work, if it goes ahead, would be to stabilise the building, not to fully restore it. Or are the plans to actually restore it to its 1820's structure ? Would expect that to cost a fortune. Viv.
 
That's what I assume Vivienne. Personally I wouldn't want them to restore the bomb damage - after all, that's part of history, isn't it?
 
I emailed Councillor Kath Hartley, Councillor for Ladywood re St. Thomas Peace Gardens and the regeneration of same. Here is my e-mail and
Ms. Hartley's response today. Ms. Hartley has sent an e-mail containing my message to Councillor Carl Rice also a Councillor for Ladywood who must be connected to the project. My e-mail addy has been removed from this post by myself but will appear on Mr. Rice's e-mail.


To: Councillor Carl Rice <Carl.Rice@birmingham.gov.uk>
CC: To myself
Subject: FW: St.Thomas-Peace Garden Regeneration Project
Thread-Topic: St.Thomas-Peace Garden Regeneration Project

Date: Sun, 12 Jan 2014 14:30:08 +0000

Kath.Hartley@birmingham.gov.uk

From: Councillor Kath Hartley <Kath.Hartley@birmingham.gov.uk>
To: Councillor Carl Rice <Carl.Rice@birmingham.gov.uk>
CC: to my e-mail
Subject: FW: St.Thomas-Peace Garden Regeneration Project
Thread-Topic: St.Thomas-Peace Garden Regeneration Project

Date: Sun, 12 Jan 2014 14:30:08 +0000


Carl, did you get an update on St. Thomas Church/Peace Gardens, please? If the work to the masonry has been done back in August as we were assured, why is the fencing still there and why haven't the undergrowth and over grown trees/shrubs been removed?
________________________________________
From: Jennifer Nicol

Sent: 11 January 2014 22:26
To: Councillor Kath Hartley
Subject: St.Thomas-Peace Garden Regeneration Project

Dear Ms Hartley:
I am looking for an update on the plans for the regeneration of this
site. As an advocate for the restoration of
St. Thomas-Peace Gardens, you must be frustrated by the plans for
regenerationj being on again/off again over the past few years, the
consequence of which means
nothing much has been achieved to restore the site. This week the
BBC announced that workmen were working at the site. Does that mean that
a full restoration is planned now?

I am a long time member of the Birmingham History Forum online and so
many members are concerned about what is happening. I also know that many
citizens are also wondering about the site's future.

Thank you for your attention Ms Hartley it is very much appreciated.

Sincerely, Jennifer Nicol - Concerned Brummie

***********************************************************************


***********************************************************************


***********************************************************************
 
Was happy to receive an e-mail from Councillor Carl Rice (Ladywood) today regarding the renovations(clear up and fence removal) to the Peace Gardens.
This e-mail is accompanied y e-mail Coun. Rice sent to other people in BCC who are involved in the project. I am posting these here also. I will send Coun. Rice an e-mail thanking him for getting back to me on this:
******************************************************************************************
From: Councillor Carl Rice <Carl.Rice@birmingham.gov.uk>
To: "Bonas, Sheila (Dr.) (sb162@leicester.ac.uk)" <sb162@leicester.ac.uk>,
"nicol@shaw.ca" <nicol@shaw.ca>
CC: "Kath Hartley (kath_hartley@live.co.uk)" <kath_hartley@live.co.uk>,
Councillor Albert Bore <Albert.Bore@birmingham.gov.uk>
Subject: FW: St Thomas Church
Thread-Topic: St Thomas Church
Thread-Index: Ac83n9jPQCcdKCttQTKnCMnwbSVX+ACdU6CAAAFSoIAAAArD4A==
Date: Fri, 7 Mar 2014 15:35:31 +0000
Accept-Language: en-GB, en-US
X-MS-Has-Attach: yes
X-MS-TNEF-Correlator:
x-originating-ip: [10.79.26.24]

Hooray!

From: Robin Bryan
Sent: Friday, March 07, 2014 3:32 PM
To: Councillor Carl Rice; Peter Ryans
Cc: Lee Southall
Subject: RE: St Thomas Church



Hi Councillor,

Just to confirm we have been working on the grounds works, this should have been completed by today.

I will check out and confirm

Kind regards


Robin Bryan
Constituency Parks & Customer Liaison Manager
Parks & Nature Conservation
Birmingham City Council
House of Sport
300 Broad Street, Birmingham B1 1TZ
Tel: 0121 464 0448

Visit us at www.birmingham.gov.uk/parks

Helping make Birmingham a cleaner, greener and smarter City.



From: Councillor Carl Rice
Sent: Friday, March 07, 2014 2:56 PM
To: Peter Ryans
Cc: Lee Southall; Robin Bryan
Subject: RE: St Thomas Church



Dear Peter

I plan to visit the site on Tuesday, 11[SUP]th[/SUP] March 2014 and do hope it will be cleaned up by then!

Regards

Carl

From: Peter Ryans
Sent: Tuesday, March 04, 2014 11:50 AM
To: Councillor Carl Rice
Cc: John Blakemore
Subject: St Thomas Church



Councillor Rice

I apologise for the delay in responding to you regarding the fencing at St Thomas Church in the Peace Garden.

The Church is in the portfolio of structures within Highways, but the maintenance is carried out by Acivico. The work was completed four weeks ago and I have chased up the removal of the fencing on a weekly basis. Last week I escalated upwards within Acivico the difficulty I was experiencing in having the fencing removed, I was informed they would investigate the problem and assured me that the fencing would be removed on the
3 March 2014, which it was.

I will now contact the appropriate people to complete the ground maintenance work that is required around the Church.

Once again I apologise for the delay in responding to you.

Regards,

Peter

Peter Ryans
Services Manager,
Highways Services
1 Lancaster Circus, Queensway
Birmingham
B4 7DQ
 
Final update on the renovations to the St. Thomas Tower and the Peace Garden itself. I heard from Councillor Carl Rice today via this e-mail.

"Dear Jennifer


I so sorry - I thought I had notified everyone who contacted me about this issue. I am delighted to say that all the work to the Peace Garden has been completed and the barriers removed.

I visited a few weeks ago and St Thomas's was looking fantastic.

Regards

Carl "


Be nice to get some photos of the changes. I e-mailed Carl back as follows:"

Dear Carl:

That is such good news and I thank you very much for your efforts at advising me and, therefore, the Birmingham Forum Members and Facebook contributors
about the St. Thomas Peace Garden. This site is in so many ways an important one to Birmingham citizens far and wide. I realize that there are many older buildings at risk in the city
that cannot be renovated without private backing, etc. Thank goodness the Grand Hotel is finally being renovated. This will once more become a jewel in Birmingham's crown when the renovations are completed. Can you please tell me who to contact regarding the Golden Lion project in Cannon Hill Park?There doesn't seem to be any updates on-line for at least two years. Just an update is all a lot of people want as to what is happening.

Thanks again.

Best from Jennifer Nicol "
 
Last edited:
That's very good news Jennyann. Thanks for following this up. Glad that the remains of the church and the surrounding gardens are being properly cared for. Well worth the investment of time and money. Any up to date photos very welcome if any members are in that area. Viv.
 
same here jenny thanks for keeping up with what is going on at the peace gardens..have to admit i have never been there but i shall now be paying a visit when time permits...

lyn x
 
no location but sure these are of the peace gardens broad st before they were moved..dated 1989

img146.jpg img147.jpg
 
The Colonnade when it was in Broad Street. I appreciate the fact that this was removed (rather than demolished) and rebuilt at St Thomas's - now called the Peace Garden. But didn't it look great from this angle on Broad Street with the Civic Centre in the background. But we must be thankful for small mercies when it comes to preserving buildings with heritage. At least it's survived the City Centre developments. Viv.

image.jpeg
 
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