Giant England flag on the Town Hall for St George's Day 2022

On St George's Day 23rd April 2022, for one day only, a giant England flag was on the side of Birmingham Town Hall in Victoria Square. In the morning Team England were there ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. Closer to the May Day Bank Holiday Weekend now, but enjoy these photos from St George's Day.

St George's Day 23rd April 2022 in Victoria Square

Walking up Pinfold Street into Victoria Square on the 23rd April 2022, you could see the giant England flag on the Town Hall. This view with the Iron: Man (returned to the square in February 2022) and the Queen Victoria statue. Sadly no trams as they are out of service (and they only test the new trams to Broad Street on Monday's and Wednesday's).

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Heading over to the Council House with this view of the England flag in Victoria Square.

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Inspired by a Jack Babbington photo I'd seen earlier that day on Twitter, a shot of the reinstated Floozie in the Jacuzzi (back earlier in April 2022) with the giant England flag on the Town Hall.

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Around the back of the Council House via Eden Place and Edmund Street to Chamberlain Square. This view to the left of Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (due to reopen on the 28th April 2022).

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Have a nice May Day Bank Holiday weekend.

Photography by Elliott Brown

Annatomix fox at Wylde Green Station

I was first aware that Annatomix had painted her trademark orange fox at Wylde Green Station, during June 2021. Took me a while, but returned to Sutton Coldfield at midday on Sunday 24th April 2022. Walked down from the Town Centre to the Highbridge Road Bridge. Down the steps, and the art was in an alcove behind the steps and wall.

Getting to Sutton Coldfield

I was going to get the 13:06 from platform 8A at Birmingham New Street Station, but it was running 10 minutes late on the 24th April 2022. The first Class 323 from Redditch ended up terminating there, but an announcement told passengers to go to platform 7A, so over the bridge to the other side, and another Class 323 arrived for 13:16 from Soho Depot.

Arriving at Sutton Coldfield Station, I first popped to Costa Coffee at the Gracechurch Centre, before walking down the Birmingham Road towards Wylde Green Station. I left Birmingham Road at Jockey Road. The wrong bridge over the Cross City Line, but found a shortcut via Wilkinson Close to Highbridge Road.

Annatomix fox at Wylde Green Station

Down the steps towards platform 1 (trains towards Four Oaks and Lichfield Trent Valley). I could see the Annatomix fox over the steps as I headed down.

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In the alcove at the back, below the Highbridge Road Bridge in Wylde Green is the Annatomix fox.

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The fox and the steps. To get back to Birmingham New Street though, went back up these steps, and over the other steps to platform 2.

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Now on the path to platform 2, a view of the Annatomix fox and the steps to / from platform 1.

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There is high fences either side of the railway, but the fox street art is just about visible from the path.

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I somehow timed my arrival at Wylde Green Station as my train back to Birmingham New Street was arriving at platform 2. The Class 323 got a bit of shadow here, and you can see the fox by Annatomix on the far left.

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Retook West Midlands Railway 323213, the lighting was better on the second attempt. Bit hard to see the Annatomix fox now.

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There is a new thing from the Soho Depot called "Soho Bingo", the train I got is now named Sutton Coldfield. I think the game works if you get the name of the train at the station of the same name. But I did earlier arrive at Sutton Coldfield Station.

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Photography by Elliott Brown

The Samuel Heath Building

The Samuel Heath Building now a protected listed building - Wonderful photography of this great building of historic importance from Stephen Hartland of the Victorian Society (West Midlands). 

Enjoy! 

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Photography by Stephen Hartland

Ghost signs found at Lamp Works site on Great Hampton Street

During site preparation works at Codia Blackswan's Lamp Works on Great Hampton Street, old painted shop signs often referred to as "Ghost Signs" were found.

Wow, isn't uncovering hidden gems just wonderful!

Whilst the signs are slightly hard to decipher, they are believed to mark the former home of J.R. Stevens, a tailor, hosier, and general outfitters store which traded on Great Hampton Street around 100 years ago.

On the other side of the building, two further ghost signs were also revealed during the demolition. The ghost sign in view is the home of ‘Strawbridge Painter & Glazier’ at 30 Great Hampton Street, estimated to be at least a century old.

These are believed to showcase the former home of a business involved in ‘glass, china and all kinds of Earthenware’. Earthenware is glazed or unglazed nonvitreous pottery that is normally fired below 1,200 degrees celcius.

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The Lamp Works will be a residential led mixed-use scheme of 148 apartments, with the industrial heritage of the site reflected in the design of the building, its form and materials used.

A steel frame from one of the original buildings will be retained in memory of the original central factory space, referencing the sites key history in Jewellery Quarter.

Construction of the Lamp Works will begin in August 2021 with apartments ready for occupation in 2023.

Connect with us HERE.

Become part of our Great Hampton Street community HERE. 

Ye Olde Engine Tavern uncovered and rediscovered!

Wow! Look what was found by Cordia Blackswan at 184a Great Hampton Row, the former site of Nightingale Knitwear - does the Engine Tavern or names Thomas and Annie Rose ring any bells with anyone?

When undertaking a recent removal of the shop frontage, Cordia Blackswan discovered an old mosaic façade for the ‘Ye Olde Engine Tavern’.

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According to the Birmingham History Forum and Midland Pubs, the Engine Tavern was trading from the 1830’s originally as a beer house. In the 19^th Century, it was believed to be a homebrew house along with other pubs in this throughfare including the Balmoral Inn, Saint George’s Vaults and the Star and Garter.

The electoral roll shows the Engine Tavern occupants in 1930 were a couple by the name Thomas and Annie Rose. Does the name sound familiar? We'd love to hear from anyone that has any details. 

Cordia Blackswan will be transforming The Nightingale into a small number of New York loft-style apartments as a future phase of The Gothic. The apartments will be sold as individual units for buyers to design and bring to life in their own personal style. For more information about any of these exciting developments or to share in uncovering more hidden history, we'd love to hear from you. 

Connect with us HERE.

Become part of our Great Hampton Street community HERE.