Birmingham Medical Mission (1875) Floodgate Street Deritend

[Vivienne14]

This building is tucked away between factories on River Street (map - red dot). There's no obvious entrance from River Street, so perhaps it was/is accessed via Floodgate Street. The River Street frontage has two square spaces (blue dots) which look to have once had plaques inserted (Foundation stones ? Name plaques ?). The window design seems to be in the style of those found in a chapel.

So was it once a chapel ?

 

[Pedrocut]

1883 Kelly’s shows a mission close by ?

 

[Pedrocut]

From 1913…

 

[pjmburns]

1887 map shows the Mission right onnthe corner

 

[Morturn]

Yes, the maps has it as a Medical Mission and it is looking like the whole corner building was a part of it. Maybe that explains why no entrance. If you look at the Google map view you can see the hint of a hipped roof linking the two building together.

 

[Pedrocut]

Present 3D view from GE…

 

[brummy-lad]

Certainly looks as though the original building is still there on the corner, although extensively refurbished (chimneys removed, new roof etc.).

 

[Astoness]

could someone provide a kellys look up for the whole of river st please date wise about the 1930s does not look to me as though vivs bulding is anything to do with the corner building...thanks

lyn

 

[brummy-lad]

Here it is Lyn Kelly's 1933.

 

[Pedrocut]

New premises opened at corner of River and Floodgate Streets in March 1879

 

[Astoness]

nice one here from phyllis nicklin 1968 the end building is cranes screws

lyn

 

[superdad3]

Perhaps see also

River St/fazeley St Corner​

 

[Vivienne14]

Thanks all.

What a valuable facility, especially for children, this must have been with so many facilities under one roof. Possibly ahead of its time ?

From the Iron Room


.... a philanthropic charity devoted to the spiritual and medical wellbeing of the city. The Mission opened its doors to the urban poor in 1875 and continued to provide medical care for the community until the advent of the NHS in 1948. The Mission carried on its charitable works throughout the twentieth century until its functions were absorbed by the Kitts Green Evangelical Church.

For most of its history the Mission was based in Floodgate Street where its staff used a combination of religious education and free healthcare to combat the social ills of the day, namely drink.

 

[Vivienne14]

Re post #2 Joel Cadbury was secretary. Doubtless the Cadbury family supported it financially. Could the religious ethos have originally been Quaker ? (Although eventually it was absorbed by Kitts Green Evangelical Church).

Re post #3, by !913 it had a specific focus on infant health and mother craft. Consultations here were the first of their kind in Brum.

 

[pjmburns]

could someone provide a kellys look up for the whole of river st please date wise about the 1930s does not look to me as though vivs bulding is anything to do with the corner building...thanks

lyn

That was my thought as well Lyn.

 

[Pedrocut]

Here is the 1940 Kelly’s (mentions Crane Screws which can be seen on Nicklin’s picture)

 

[Vivienne14]

They probably vacated/sold off the premises by 1948 (Introduction of the NHS)