Victoria Square

[oldbrit]

Any chance you could take a image of the coat of arms I carved about the entrance to the building on Bennets Hill before you get to News street, I worked on that also in 1951 or about, Many thanks John Crump oldBrit in Parker. Co USA

 

[ellbrown]

Got it - twice. (is there a Bennetts Hill thread?)

18 - 19 Bennetts Hill / 51, 52, 53 New Street - formerly the London & Lancashire Insurance Co.


18 - 19 Bennetts Hill / 51, 52 and 53 New Street - coat of arms (formerly the London & Lancashire Insurance Co.) by ell brown, on Flickr


18 - 19 Bennetts Hill / 51, 52 and 53 New Street (formerly the London & Lancashire Insurance Co.) - coat of arms by ell brown, on Flickr

Quote from Pevsner re the arms:

Good sculpture: cherubs and garlands, and the company's arms with fearsome gryphons.

18 - 19 Bennetts Hill / 51, 52 and 53 New Street (formerly the London & Lancashire Insurance Co.) by ell brown, on Flickr

 

[oldbrit]

Smashing! Thank you so much, three of us with Bill Bloye carved that in the bloody winter freezing our arses off! You must live near by? I have not been to Brum now for 5-6 years, My sister lives in Hagley. Hope to visit this year, IF my hip replacment this month goes OK, You can Email me direct at crumpy6204@aol.com if you wish. Thanks once again John Crump

 

[ellbrown]

I usually get the bus into the City Centre from where I live (in Hall Green).

I know all the routes that you can walk in the City Centre. New Street is now pedestrianised.

 

[ellbrown]

Saw this in the Birmingham Mail Queen Victoria's sceptre returned intact although they mispelt William Bloye's name as "William Boyle". Opps.
In the Birmingham Mail they called the article Statue's sceptre restored.

BIRMINGHAM’S famous statue of Queen Victoria has been returned to its former glory with her missing sceptre returned fully intact.
The restoration of the bronze tribute, created in marble by sculptor Thomas Brock following the Queen’s death in 1901, follows detective work by the Victorian Society.
Victoria’s sceptre, cradled in her right hand, has been missing its top, known as a capital, since the early 1990s.
The missing capital was amended to incorporate the Star of India in 1908. The statue was recast in bronze by William Boyle in 1958.


The Victorian Society unearthed photographs of the original and, working with the city council, commissioned Eura Conservation to recreate it.
Society regional chairman Stephen Hartland said: “Many of our campaigns are large but we are also able to call on our knowledge and expertise in smaller matters.”

​

 

[ellbrown]

As the article appeared in the Birmingham Mail - with photo comparison


Queen Victoria statue - sceptre restored by ell brown, on Flickr

 

[ellbrown]

Posted in the Statue of Queen Victoria thread

Got new shots of the restored statue first thing this morning.

The sceptre


Statue of Queen Victoria, Victoria Square - new Sceptre by ell brown, on Flickr

Top half of the statue


Statue of Queen Victoria, Victoria Square - new Sceptre by ell brown, on Flickr

Full shot of the statue


Statue of Queen Victoria, Victoria Square - new Sceptre by ell brown, on Flickr

 

[ellbrown]

Sculpture from the 1991-3 landscaping by Dhruva Mistry.

Two sphinx-like guardians.

This one is near Christchurch Passage


Victoria Square Sphinx-like Guardian by ell brown, on Flickr

This one is near the former General Post Office building


Victoria Square - Sphinx-like Guardian by ell brown, on Flickr

Floozie in the Jacuzzi - also by Dhruva Mistry.

At the top is River, at the bottom is Youth


Floozie in the Jacuzzi, Victoria Square - River and Youth by ell brown, on Flickr

 

[ellbrown]

Close up of River with the fountain switched on


Floozie in the Jacuzzi, Victoria Square - River by ell brown, on Flickr

Close up of Youth with the fountain switched on


Floozie in the Jacuzzi, Victoria Square - Youth by ell brown, on Flickr

 

[ellbrown]

Iron: Man by Antony Gormley, dating from 1993.


Iron: Man - Victoria Square, Birmingham by ell brown, on Flickr

The staue is usually referred to as The Iron Man. It is 6 metres high. It's feet are buried under the pavement. It was gift from the Trustee Savings Bank (TSB - now Lloyds TSB), being erected outside the former Head Post Office which was then there headquarters. It was originally title Untitled, until it became Iron Man then Iron: Man.

When the bank moved its HQ to Bristol, it was said that the statue should be relocated, but it stayed.

 

[ellbrown]

Plaques about Victoria Square - near the Council House


Brown plaque on the Council House - Renaissance Award 2010 by ell brown, on Flickr


Victoria Square opened by HRH The Princess of Wales 6th May 1993 - bronze plaque by ell brown, on Flickr


Victoria Square - road sign by ell brown, on Flickr

 

[ellbrown]

Wall with Victoria Square name and Forward coat of arms


Victoria Square - sign by ell brown, on Flickr


Victoria Square - Birmingham coat of arms by ell brown, on Flickr


Forward - coat of arms of Birmingham on Victoria Square by ell brown, on Flickr

 

[beamish]

I don't think Victoria was square. I think she was quite with it...

 

[ellbrown]

I've found this old photo on Flickr dating from 1983 (taken by Andrew Miller). The sceptre was missing then too ...


Victoria Square(2) Birmingham 14-08-83 by dartsmaster, on Flickr


Victoria Square(1) Birmingham 14-08-83 by dartsmaster, on Flickr

Another view of Victoria Square, 1983 by Andrew Miller


Council House(1) Birmingham 14-08-83 by dartsmaster, on Flickr

I first remember seeing Victoria Square in the early 1990s, when it was behind hoardings - so I don't remember it like that.

 

[ellbrown]

Christchurch Passage


Christchurch Passage, Birmingham - steps down by ell brown, on Flickr


Christchurch Passage, Birmingham - steps down by ell brown, on Flickr


Christchurch Passage, Birmingham - steps up by ell brown, on Flickr


Christchurch Passage, Birmingham - cast iron fence by ell brown, on Flickr


Christchurch Passage, Birmingham - steps up by ell brown, on Flickr


Christchurch Passage, Birmingham - door below and cast iron fence above by ell brown, on Flickr

 

[ellbrown]

I found a plaque on one of the columns


Victoria Square - columns commissioned by Waterloo House 1993 - bronze plaque by ell brown, on Flickr


Victoria Square - columns commissioned by Waterloo House 1993 by ell brown, on Flickr

 

[ellbrown]

Video from TNT marking 20 years since the redeveloped Victoria Square opened

[youtube]U-DeqnnNEi4[/youtube]

 

[ellbrown]

The plaque unveiled by the late Diana, Princess of Wales on 6th May 1993



River and Youth plaque



Fountain of the Year 1995

 

[rosie]

Thank you for the video ellbrown, I enjoyed it and also there was one for the Coffin Works which was also very good.
rosie.

 

[ellbrown]

No problem. Hard to believe that 20 years has passed since it was re-opened. Good to see the River and Youth, and the Guardians being built. As well as the Victoria statue getting a clean!

 

[Di.Poppitt]

Here is my water colour of Christchurch Passage as many of us remember it

 

[Wendy]

Thats lovely Di, you have a wonderful talent there..x

 

[Vivienne14]

Victoria Square looking towards Colmore Row. Looks about 1920s (?). Not seen the Birmingham Tramways sign on that building before. Also Victoria Square looks quite small at this time. When that corner was demolished the Square must have gained some pace. Also noticed the cupolas on the buildings, seem to have been quite a few buildings across the City had them at the time. Viv.

 

[ellbrown]

Cluttered with statues.

Only Victoria survives in the square, but in a different position.

Priestley now outside the "old" Central Library (1974-2013).
And Dawson in storage at Dollman Street.

 

[Vivienne14]

A ticket booth? A cab shelter? Not seen this before in any photos of Victoria Square. Maybe it was for a special occasion. Sorry, no date. Viv.

 

[Radiorails]

Early 1920's? And not a bus in sight! The small conifers situated around the kiosk might suggest Christmastide or maybe not.

 

[Pedrocut]

20 to 4 by the clock? The 2 statues may give a clue to the date?

 

[horsencart]

It is a shame about the crack in the wall https://www.flickr.com/photos/dofar...ist-U2tXEq-LwQUee-K3Ddxm-qMbPoz-dMggNK-dGLbFE

 

[oldbrit]

wonder who carved that inscription? It is very much like the work I did for Bill Bloye. People today have no idea how many things were done by hand those days, Now its all machine and computer done.

 

[ellbrown]

The Big Sleuth seen in Victoria Square around 3 weeks ago