Fountains around Birmingham (past and present)

There has been many fountains and water jets in the City Centre. Not all are still on or working. With the new one in Centenary Square going on. Time to look at other Birmingham fountains. When they were working (some of them are now off for a variety of reasons). Some got replaced and others went into storage.

Centenary Square

The new Centenary Square was officially opened on the 3rd July 2019, along with a big area with water jet fountains. Which people can walk into or have fun in. I popped along on Sunday 7th July 2019 to see what all the fuss was about! Along with the new lighting columns, the various buildings are reflected in the water.

This view: Symphony Hall, The ICC, The REP and Library of Birmingham.

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This view of The REP, Library of Birmingham, Baskerville House and the Hall of Memory towards Paradise Birmingham.

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This isn't the first time a water jet fountain has been in the square. From about 1991 to 2009, the Spirit of Enterprise fountain by Tom Lomax. Seen below during April 2009. It was removed to storage and is still at the Birmingham Museums Collections Centre. Unlikely to ever return, which is sad.

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It was such a nice fountain. This view towards Symphony Hall and The REP. This is now the site of the Library of Birmingham Amphitheatre. I believe there used to be another fountain in the gardens that preceded the 1991 Centenary Square, but not sure what happened to that. It didn't end up in the Peace Garden like the Colonnade did.

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Victoria Square

The remodelling of Victoria Square which was opened in May 1993 by the late Diana Princess of Wales included the bronze sculpture everyone knows as the Floozie in the Jacuzzi. But officially called River and Youth. They were made by Dhruva Mistry. Seen in November 2010 in one of the periods when the Council got the fountain working. This view looking up to the Council House.

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But in recent years, there has been a leak that they have been unable to repair. So by 2015, the Council had plants and flowers put here instead. This view towards Chamberlain Square when Birmingham Central Library still stood (closed in 2013, demolished in 2016).

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Chamberlain Square

The Chamberlain Memorial in Chamberlain Square also has it's own fountain. Seen below during April 2009, when Birmingham Central Library and Paradise Forum were still open. In the late 1960s, the pools around the fountain were removed, but in 1978, to celebrate their Diamond Jubilee, The Birmingham Civic Society designed and paid for the pools to be reinstated. The Portland stone spire underwent a major clean in 1994. Expect the area to change when Paradise Birmingham eventually reopens the square in the future.

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Close up of the pool in front of the Chamberlain Memorial with the small water jet fountain (this was also April 2009). Lets hope that this is opened up again sooner rather than later (at this rate the early to mid 2020s?).

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Close up taken during February 2010. Obviously the original pools before the 1960s redevelopment was much bigger, and this replacement was much smaller. Will Paradise Birmingham have room to have the Chamberlain Memorial back to it's 1880s glory? Only time will tell.

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Brindleyplace

The water jet fountains seen in Central Square, Brindleyplace back in May 2009. Near Three and Two Brindleyplace. You can walk down the steps towards the Central Cafe (Costa Coffee). This fountain is still on, and regularly maintained by the Brindleyplace Estate.

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This view towards Two Brindleyplace and Six Brindleyplace with Costa Coffee to the right. It is still like this over 10 years later.

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Bullring

There used to be a Three Cubes fountain sculpture in the Bullring from about 2003 (when the Bullring reopened) until about early 2011 (before the Spiceal Street redevelopment took over this part of the Bullring). This view from April 2009, looking towards Borders and Starbucks Coffee (both no longer there, but there is now a Starbucks further around to the right).

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By December 2010, got this nightshot of the Three Cubes. Borders had been replaced by Jamie's Italian (they have recently closed down due to Jamie's Italian going into administration). The Spiceal Street redevelopment resulted in a new fountain near the new steps.

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The Three Cubes was replaced by this artwork when the new Spiceal Street development opened in late 2011. Seen here in August 2013. Heading up the step from St Martin's Square towards the statue of Horatio Nelson. Quotes here include "Warms the walls of our city. And will do again".

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Heading up the steps during July 2019. The water trickling down the wall is a bit more clear here. More quotes include "Thrums to a different beat beneath our feet".

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Eastside

Another lost fountain. This one was near Millennium Point in Eastside close to Jennens Road. I would say that it was probably built in 2001 when Millennium Point was went up. These views from September 2009. Years later it was switched off. And the site was later used to build the new Birmingham Conservatoire for BCU (now the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire).

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It was only a small fountain, but had water jets and a small waterfall. If you go there now you will only see the Conservatoire, and the path leading to the rear entrances of Millennium Point. Aston University is still on the other side of Jennens Road (in 2009 the student residences were still under construction).

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Eastside City Park opened in 2012 and it included fountains. Near Millennium Point and the Parkside Building of Birmingham City University was this fountain canal. Seen during April 2013, before it got rusted for the water jets being continually on. The Parkside Building wa under construction at the time.

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In this nightshot view from December 2014, the fountains down here were already showing signs of rust on the white walls. More recently on my walks through the park, and out of Millennium Point, I've noticed that this has been turned off, and no water in the canal.

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There was one more fountain in Eastside City Park, on this area near The Woodman pub. This view from June 2013. Used to see kids playing in these jets. But more recently it has been turned off (perhaps when the Big Wheel was here last Christmas). Normally see a group of skateboarders doing tricks around this area.

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In this April 2014 view you can see the water jets towards The Woodman pub and Curzon Street Station. With the viaduct on the railway lines into Birmingham New Street Station. This was similar to what we now have in Centenary Square, but on a much smaller scale.

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Aston University

We will finish off here with Aston University. I see this one in the lake at Lakeside most days of the week. It's the Peace sculpture by William Pye, made in 1985. This view from May 2009 towards what is now the Matthew Boulton Campus of Birmingham Metropolitan College (formerly Matthew Boulton College). You would usually see Canada geese around this area.

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Near the main building at Aston University is Tipping Triangles by the sculptor Angela Conner. Commissioned in 1987, started to be made in 1989, then unveiled in 1994. Stainless steel. This view from March 2014. I'm not sure if this is fountain or not as I've never seen water coming out of the sculpture, but obviously the pool below has water.

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Closer to the main entrance to Aston University if this fountain / water jets. Looks like flowers spitting water out in every direction! Observed during April 2017. There is a regular water jet behind the two sprouting flower fountains.

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Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

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