 THE BIG BRUM - BIRMINGHAM
Mercia Tourist Board Official Guide
Big Brum
is
the local name for the clock tower on the Council House .The clock tower is
sufficiently important in the public consciousness of Birmingham people
that it has a name. Brum
is the local term for the town, the people and the dialect. The name
refers to the clock and tower, not only the bell. The bell rings with Westminster Chimes similar to Big Ben in
London. |
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website:
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The Comprehensive
Website for the Ancient English Kingdom of Mercia
Mercia,
sometimes spelled Mierce , was one of the kingdoms of the Anglo-Saxon
heptarchy, in what is now the Midlands region of England, with its
heart in the Trent valley and its tributary streams. This site
shows places of Interest & Events in Birmingham
Click on Your search
The
History of Birmingham. |
 Birmingham's past
undoubtably goes back as far as the Bronze age and beyond. However,
very little remains from this era except the scattered flint stones and
bronze artifacts that can be found in the city museum. Early Roman
military roads have passed through the region. Anglo-Saxon tribes
started to settle in the region around 700 A.D. Tribes such as the
Hwicce and Anglian Mercians started to make the area their permanent
home.
Evidence of Saxon
settlement is apparent from the name endings of some of Birmingham's
well known localities. The suffix -ley means clearing in a forest.
Therefore Selly, Yardley, Moseley and Warley are likely to have been
Saxon clearings. Other place names also carry the names of their
founders. The town of Birmingham was a hamlet hence ending in ham. The
followers of the ingas of Birm or Beorma completes the equation and
demonstrates how many town names carry the names we have today.
Medieval and subsequent Norman occupation also added to the variety of
interesting place names, the origin of which is often buried in a murky
past. An example of medieval remains can be found at Weoley Castle.
The
Domesday Survey of 1086 (Domesday Book)
Leading up to the time of
the Domesday Book, the independence of the scattered communities had
started to fall under the control of the large landowners. Dudley
Castle under the Norman William Fitz Ansculf was a prominent influence
over the region. The Domesday book of 1086 values Birmingham manor at
£1. Peter de Birmingham, holder of a manor worth considerably
less than neighbouring areas such as Yardley and Handsworth, was the
first recorded Birmingham. At the time there were five villagers and
four smallholders with two ploughs. The most populous area at Aston
records 43 adults.
Aston Parish History
The next recorded entry of
significance comes in 1166 when Peter de Birmingham bought the right to
hold a weekly market in his castle. The market prospered and Peter laid
the foundations of the town of Birmingham. In 1232 a group of citizens
formalised an agreement with William de Birmingham which freed them
from the compulsory haymaking duties. The tradesmen and merchants were
almost undoubtedly involved in the new and lucrative cloth industry.
Birmingham had started its long and winding road to manufacturing.
Birmingham
on the Map
Birmingham continued to
expand and by
mid 1300's the town was listed as third town in size in the county of
Warwickshire. Coventry and Warwick were larger. Aston, once the larger
settlement now became Aston beside Birmingham.
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The Birmingham market
grew from strength to strength with traders selling their cloth ware
and metal goods.
The castle of Birmingham,
a focal
point and power base for the town was influential in providing
assistance for new chapel's, the Guild of the Holy Cross in 1392 and a
chapel of St. John the Baptist at Deritend for the parishioners of
Deritend and Bordesley. Between 1400 and 1450 a new Guildhall and a
school were added. Birmingham had its first eductational facility. The
castle's dominance was not to last. After a period of decline the
castle lost its importance and influence.
At the time of Edward de
Birmingham in
the 1530's the manor was lost after Edward made enemies at court who
confiscated his property. He spent 4 years in the tower of London and
by 1538 he had died. The end of a family line, his wife Elizabeth
continued to live in the town for some time after Edward's unfortunate
downfall. The manor, a possession of the crown, later passed to Lord
Lisle of Dudley in 1545. Lord Lisle later became the Duke of
Northumberland and the most powerful man in England during the years of
Edward VI.
Birmingham was becoming
more of a town
in its own right. No longer under such heavy influence of the whims of
the current landlord the officials of the town could plan its destiny
with little interference. Trade and manufacturing industry was starting
to take hold. Birmingham was already known for its metalworking. In
1511 the Clerk of Ordanance placed an order for horseshoes and weaponry
for the Royal Army. Trade links were being forged with East Anglia and
Bristol. The tanning industry was also thriving.
Birmingham
Expands
In the early 1500's the
population of
the town of Birmingham was reaching a 1000 inhabitants. The thriving
local industry was already setting the scene for greater things to
come. Enter the 1600's. Things were starting to change. A prominant and
wealth landowner by the name of Holte commissioned the building of a
large country house in the 1620's. Completed in 1634 it stood
magnificient as it does today, standing in its own grounds, a testimony
to the wealth and status of the Holte family. Sir Thomas Holte, Lord of
Aston manor had made a tidy sum from the breaking up of the churches
and was well in with the the crown. Sir Thomas was not the nicest of
gentry having taken a cleaver to one unfortunate cook, killing him in
the process. Aston Hall is one of the great Jacobean country houses of
England.
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The civil war came and
went.
Birmingham surpassed Coventry in size and status making it the largest
town in Warwickshire. In the mid 1600's, with a population of some 7000
inhabitants, William Westley by 1700 drew up a town plan and calculated
the population of Birmingham as 15,000. In fifty years the doubling of
the towns population was caused by immigration from the surrounding
towns and villages. Birmingham was gaining a reputation as a town where
things were progressing. A trading and manufacturing town of status.
Nails, metalwork, and anything in iron was being exported to London and
Europe. Birmingham had a monopoly. The change to industrialisation had
taken hold. Mills sprang up all around the town. Corn mills were being
converted to the production of metal rolling and ironwork. An example
of this which survives to this day can be found at Sarehole Mill .
Birmingham was about to test its new found industrial might. |
 
MERCIAN
DECLARATION OF
INDEPENDENCE
VICTORIA
SQUARE,
BIRMINGHAM, 29 MAY 2003
We,
representatives of the Mercian Constitutional
Convention,
have assembled here today in the heartland of Mercia to reaffirm and
declare
the legal independence of the region under The Constitution Of
Mercia,
which we have now published and which is available to all the people of
the region upon request. We have spent over two years in careful
deliberation
and embrace this Constitution in order to re-create Mercia as an
autonomous
region, constructed as an organic democracy, based on holistic
principles.
Mercia
developed in the valleys of the upper
Trent
and its tributaries in the sixth century and gradually expanded to its
natural
boundaries to form the middle lands of England. In
1066, Mercia was one of six earldoms which comprised the
non-expansionist confederation
of England and operated as an organic democracy. Most Mercians lived as
freemen in stable subsistence farming communities, which were bonded by
common customs and traditions, kinship and co-operative effort on the
land. They also held a great respect for the environment and Mercia was
an extremely wealthy region, both in terms of its soil fertility and
agricultural production and of its creation of magnificent jewellery,
tapestries, manuscripts and literature.
However,
historic Mercia was annihilated by the
Norman
invaders after the Conquest in 1066 and its territory, along with that
of
the other English regions, was forcibly added to the Norman Empire. The
Conquest also destroyed the region’s ancient organic democracy and
imposed an hereditary absolute monarchy in its stead, under which the
people were reduced in status from freemen to ‘subjects of the crown’.
New hierarchical political and social systems ensured the suppression
of the indigenous people and the imposition of the Norman feudal system
marked the origins of the iniquitous modern class system. English
community law was replaced by a centralised system of courts, where
arbitrary punishments were decreed, and, following the Conquest, vast
numbers of English people were murdered by their alien masters. The
conquerors regarded England as a source of plunder and therefore
decisively altered the
human relationship with the land thenceforth into one of exploitation.
Today,
little has changed, despite the persistent
efforts
of the radical political movement extant in England for almost a
millennium
which has campaigned to free its historic and natural regions from the
illegal
and suffocating control of the authoritarian forces of the United
Kingdom. Therefore, Mercia remains locked inside a crumbling empire,
which shows little inclination to release the English regions from its
weakening grip. The anachronistic hereditary monarchy continues to
thrive and symbolise the impotence of the millions of Mercian ‘subjects
of the crown’, who are obliged to fund it , whilst only small
concessions to real democracy have yet resulted from the determined
efforts of countless English radicals over the centuries. The class
system remains essentially intact so that the rich live in luxury
whilst homeless
people beg on the streets and the environment is currently being abused
at
an even faster rate than it was during the last millennium.
Consequently, destructive individualism, centralisation and generalised
economic growth are leading the region and its people further down a
blind alley into disaster. This can only be averted by the formation of
the new holistic society outlined in The Constitution Of Mercia,
based
on organic democracy, co-operative community and ecological
balance, the selfsame principles that formed the bedrock of the
sustainable society of historic Mercia.
Although
almost a millennium has passed since
Mercia
existed as an autonomous entity, recognition of the historic region has
remained remarkably strong. Mercia gradually became better known as the
Midlands, but
remains a rich farming area and therefore still constitutes a highly
sustainable
region. Mercia also forms a viable region culturally and Midlanders
generally
see themselves as belonging neither to the north of England nor the
south.
Despite its
natural unity, Mercia was unlawfully
dismantled
by foreign conquerors and The Constitution Of Mercia
consequently
reaffirms its legal independence. Furthermore, the production of the
Constitution and this declaration of independence are part of a
programme of positive action aimed at the de facto re-creation of
Mercia as an autonomous and sustainable bioregion within an English
confederation. It was hoped that this might be achieved
through a process of negotiation with the relevant representatives of
the UK, especially following the election in 1997 of a government
committed by its manifesto to ‘the democratic renewal of our country
through decentralisation’ and to ‘decentralise power throughout the
United Kingdom’. This was put to the test in January
2000 when the Mercia Movement sent letters to the key agents of
political control in the UK, requesting joint meetings to discuss fully
the future of the region. However,
none was willing to enter into any such discussions and their refusal
thereby
revealed the hypocrisy of the government’s professed commitment to
democratic
regionalism. Therefore, a draft Constitution was produced without their
assistance
in January 2001 and circulated as widely as possible across the region.
This
led to the formation of the Mercian Constitutional Convention on 17
March
2001, which amended the draft to enable the production of The
Constitution
Of Mercia.
We
hereby declare that this
Constitution
is now the ultimate legal authority in Mercia, but that it remains
subject
to amendment by the people of the region. Furthermore, we reaffirm and
declare
the legal independence of Mercia, which will comprise its historic
twenty
shires (Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Cheshire,
Derbyshire,
Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Hertfordshire, Huntingdonshire,
Leicestershire,
Lincolnshire, Middlesex, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire,
Oxfordshire,
Rutland, Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire and Worcestershire) or
such
of these that find a common Mercian identity and wish to be included in
the region. Finally, we hereby proclaim that the
Constitutional
Convention has now become the Acting Witan of Mercia, to spearhead the
full democratisation of the region and the re-establishment of its de
facto independence under The Constitution Of Mercia. Long live
free Mercia!
Contact
Details
Jeff Kent, Convener of the Acting Witan of
Mercia,
Cherry Tree House, 8 Nelson Crescent, Cotes Heath, via Stafford, ST21
6ST, Mercia. Tel. 01782 791673
email: witan@mail.com Website
:
www.independentmercia.org For
general enquiries:
info@acting-witan-of-mercia.org
INFORMATION
 |
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Birmingham
received its Charter of Incorporation as a Borough on 1st November
1838. The package containing the Charter was opened by William
Scholefield, the High Bailiff at the office of the Birmingham Journal
and was read to the public at the Town Hall on 5th November. The first
town council, made up of the mayor, sixteen aldermen and forty-eight
councillors elected from thirteen wards, met on 27th December 1838, the
day after they were elected.
One of the first decisions made by Birmingham’s very first Council was
to adopt the town’s new motto, ‘Forward’. One of the alternative
suggestions rejected was ‘Fortitudo et Rectum’. It is suggested that
the ‘Forward’ motto was influenced by Birmingham’s leading position at
that time in the modern spheres of science and industry, the motto
demonstrating that Birmingham was proudly looking to the future and not
back to past glories in which it had little share.
The City’s coat of arms was adopted by Birmingham Corporation on 3rd
April 1889, following the earlier receipt of ‘letters patent’ granting
a Royal Charter Conferring the title of “city” on 14th January 1889.
However, the original coat of arms was modified and enhanced, becoming
the City Council’s official emblem on 10th May 1977. The modern-day
coat of arms shows a shield divided by a cross into patterned quarters
with a crown at the centre. Beneath the shield is the City’s motto
“Forward” and above it is a crest made up of a knight’s visor helmet
bearing a mural crown with a rose gules. From this crest emerges the
arm of a smith, holding a hammer.
The most striking features of the coat of arms are a man and woman
standing either side of the ornate central shield clearly representing
Birmingham’s cultural and industrial heritage. On the left of the
shield is a woman with a laurel wreathe, holding in her left hand a
book and in her right hand a painter’s palette. She is said to
represent the artistic and learning tradition of the city. The figure
on the right hand side is a man in the clothes of a smith, holding a
cupel and in his left hand a hammer. He is stood next to an anvil and
is said to represent the industrial heritage of Birmingham.
The patterns on the shield tell an interesting story and date back to
the medieval Lords who gave not only their family arms to the town but
also their name. The de Bermingham family (or Bermyngham) were Lords of
the Manor of Birmingham for over 400 years. The family probably
acquired the manor shortly after the Norman Conquest and it was Peter
de Bermingham who was first granted a market near the river Rea in
1166. In 1536 it was Edward de Bermingham who was finally deprived of
the Manor by the Crown, having been unjustly framed by John Dudley.
The toothed pattern, known as an indent, which occurs in the top right
quarter and bottom left quarter of the shield is from the de
Bermingham’s coat of arms. The pattern known as ‘lozenges’ in the top
left and bottom right quarters of the shield in the City’s coat of arms
originally came from the shield of the noble Fitz-Ansculf family, who
were Lords of Dudley. When an heiress of the Fitz-Ansculf family
married a son of the de Bermingham family, the lozenges from her family
shield were incorporated into her husband’s shield. This only happened
because she was marrying beneath her, normally the male line would
dominate and his shield would be passed to his sons unaltered.
Both of these patterns occur on three sculptured effigies of knights
which lie inside St Martin’s church and also in the tiles of the
chancel floor. These three knights are said to include William
Bermyngham who fought under Edward the First and Sir John Bermygham who
represented the county in the Parliament of Richard the Second.
There are however a number of anomalies in the modern day coat of arms.
Firstly, the position of the four patterned quarters does not
correspond to ancient heraldic rules in that the lozenges of the
Fitz-Ansculf heiress should occupy the second and third quarters whilst
her husband’s indent should occupy the first and fourth quarters of the
shield. The correct shield is represented in the old tiles of the
chancel floor of St Martins, whereas the shield used in the coat of
arms since 1889, is in fact, wrong.
The second anomaly lies in the fact that the two figures in the coat of
arms, the male smith and female artist have swapped sides since they
were originally designed in 1889. The coat of arms used since 1977
shows the female figure on the left of the shield and the male figure
on the right, whereas in the original coat of arms he was on the left
and she was on the right.
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www.birmingham.gov.uk/arms
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THE BRUMMIE TRANSLATOR
TALK LIKE A BRUMMIE
Brummie
(sometimes Brummy) is a colloquial term for the inhabitants, accent and
dialect of Birmingham, UK, as well as being a general adjective used to
denote a connection with the city, locally called Brum. The terms are
all derived from Brummagem or Bromwichham, historical variants or
alternatives to 'Birmingham'.
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Trouble
understanding the Brummie dialect maybe a thing of the past thanks to a
new free mobile phone app which has just been launched. Developed by
Manchester based IT company, Athernet Web Solutions, the app allows a
user to listen to common Brummie phrases and translate them into the
Queen’s English. It follows the stunning success of the firm’s
iWiganese App which came about after Athernet took on a Digital
Marketing Manager from Wigan who no one could understand. Now phrases
such as “go and wash yer donnies”(go and wash your
hands) “come up the wuddenill” (come upstairs) and “put
yer fizzog straight” (stop sulking) will make sense to
everyone outside Birmingham. Rather than get a celebrity “Brummie”
voice such as Ozzy Osbourne or
Frank Skinner, the company decided to run a competition to find local
talent. The search resulted in Alan Dugmore, 65, whose family moved to
Birmingham in 1767, being chosen as the voice of the city.
 The
retired paramedic, who lives in Quinton was chosen after a series of
test recordings and interviews. He has lived in Birmingham since he was
born and has traced his roots back to 1746 in Abbots Bromley in
Staffordshire before his family moved to Birmingham in 1767.
Director of Athernet Web Solutions,
Ajay Kapadia says that Alan’s voice was chosen as it was rich and
natural. “We had a number of applicants and it was a very close thing,”
explained Ajay. “Some people we listened to seemed to be trying too
hard and in the end we felt that Alan’s is a genuine dialect that has
been developed over many years. Other applicants auditioned by sending
computer files, but Alan’s first test was done over the telephone. We
knew it was something special straight away.” Alan, who is
married and has two children and three grandchildren,
was delighted when he was chosen. “It’s bostin!” he exclaimed. He was
keen to get involved in the project and provided a number of extra
phrases that he has used over the years and corrected some errors.
“Some of the phrases were more Yamyam than Brummie so I soon put them
right on that,” he said. “It’s great being involved in the iBrummie App
as I’m keen on local history and something like this really brings it
to life.” The iBrummie App is available for free download on
iPhones and
Android phones and the phrases are also available at a special website, iBrummie.com. The company is also
looking at the possibility of doing other regional dialects.
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Tourism
Centre and Ticket Shop , The Rotunda 150 New Street
Birmingham West Midlands England B2 4PA Tel: 0844 888 3883 Fax:
0121 616 1038 Email: visit@marketingbirmingham.com
Web: http://www.beinbirmingham.com
Map The place to go
for friendly faces, bags
of advice and local information. Opening Times: Monday
- Saturday 9.00 - 17.00 Sundays and Bank Holidays 10.00 - 16.00
(Open 30th May, Open 29th
August.)
Christmas Opening Hours:24 Dec
- 9.00- 17.00 25 Dec - CLOSED 26 Dec - CLOSED 27 Dec-
10.00 - 16.00 28 Dec - 9.00 - 17.00
29 Dec - 9.00 - 17.00 30 Dec - 9.00 - 17.00 31 Dec - 9.00 -
17.00 1
Jan - CLOSED 2 Jan - 10.00 - 16.00 3 Jan - 10.00 - 16.00
See location on map
Located at:
Birmingham Central Library,
Chamberlain Square, Birmingham B3 3HQ
Services
Professional friendly staff
Tourist information, maps and guides
Accommodation booking service
National Express information and tickets
Wide range of quality gifts and souvenirs
Discounted tickets for local attractions
Use of multi-linguistic services
Free internet access
Access to library service and resources
Disabled parking available nearby
Opening Times:
Monday - Friday 9.00 - 20.00
Saturday 09.00 - 17.00
Closed Sundays and Bank Holidays
From 12 December 2011
Monday - Friday 10.00 - 18.00
Saturday 09.00 - 17.00
Closed Sundays and Bank Holidays
Email: CentralLibraryTIC@birmingham.gov.uk
Telephone: +44 (0)
844 888 3883
See location on map |
Other Birmingham
Information Websites
Birmingham
Sparkling at Christmas. www.visitbirmingham.com is the official
tourist information visitor web site for the city of Birmingham.
LATEST NEWS AND ...
|
The Tourist Information
section of the Birmingham UK Com website
featuring attractions, places to visit, art and museum galleries
and a host of other interesting ...
|
Birmingham's
Sea Live Centre Planning a flight to or from Birmingham? Click
above for loads of helpful information: The Birmingham
Hippodrome Theatre
hosts ...
|
Updated around the
clock with Birmingham news, information, what's on,
comment and in-depth coverage of Aston ... Go to LocalMole.co.uk
... Mail mobile
site ...
|
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Solihull Council
For
the official view on Solihull including news, information and local
authority job vacancies. Adding more information every day and now list
all events at the Arts Complex and have a very comprehensive list
of local Organisations and planning applications.
www.solihull.gov.uk |
Birmingham
101
For all your information and news about Birmingham UK
its people , businesses and attractions
www.birmingham101.com |
Birmingham Plus
details restaurants in and around the city.
www.birminghamplus.com |
BBC
Birmingham Online
is a great new site with local news, information
and entertainment news. Without doubt its one to watch.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham |
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NEWSPAPERS
Birmingham now has two local daily
newspapers—the Birmingham Post and the Birmingham Mail—as well as the
Sunday Mercury, all owned by the Trinity Mirror. The publisher also
produces The Birmingham News, a weekly freesheet distributed to homes
in the suburbs along with Forward (formerly Birmingham Voice), the
Birmingham City Council's free newspaper distributed to homes and via
community centres and public buildings. Several local newspapers serve
Birmingham, including the Birmingham Advertiser and the Sutton
Coldfield Observer and Sutton Coldfield News for the area of Sutton
Coldfield.
Birmingham is
also the hub for various national ethnic media, including The Voice,
The Sikh Times, Desi Xpress, The Asian Today and Raj TV (based in
The Mailbox ). National showbiz magazine Ikonz is based in Birmingham,
one of the few outside London. The music magazine Bearded and culture
magazine Fused Magazine are produced in the city.
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The
Olympic
Flame will arrive in the UK on 18 May 2012 and will embark on a 70 day
journey around the UK- known as the Olympic Torch Relay. Lloyds TSB, as
a proud partner of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, are
excited to share with you a Community Celebration Event in
Birmingham on Saturday 30th of June 2012 on the evening when the Torch
comes to Birmingham. |
Widget by Frixo Travel | M11 Traffic
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Find
local
news,
sport
and entertainment near you with your local BBC Where I Live website. Choose
your
nearest
location in Mercia:
|
LOCAL
RADIO STATIONS
 96.4 (Birmingham)
 also
available on local DAB digital radio, in the Birmingham area
 listen
live on our audio pages |
95.6 (Birmingham and Wolverhampton)
also
available on local DAB digital radio, in the Birmingham,
 Wolverhampton,
Telford and Shrewsbury areas
listen live
to BBC WM on our audio pages |
97.0 (Coventry)
102.9 (Warwick and Leamington Spa, Warwickshire)
also available on local DAB digital
radio, in the Coventry area
listen live on our
audio pages |
|
89.1
(Aston, Birmingham) |
music,
news and information for the asian community
 828 (Wolverhampton)
1458 (Birmingham)
listen
live on our audio pages
 BBC Asian Network is also
broadcasting on the BBC
National DAB multiplex |
97.2
(Wolverhampton)
also available on local DAB digital
radio, in the Wolverhampton area
listen
live on our audio pages |
 Chill
relaxing
chillout music
Wolverhampton areas
listen live on
our audio pages |
Punjabi
Radio
radio for the Punjabi community
available on local DAB digital
radio, in the Wolverhampton,Telford and Shrewsbury areas |
102.5 (Stourbridge, West Midlands) |
102.2 (Birmingham)
also broadcasting on digital radio,
in the West Midlands region
listen
live on our audio pages
This station was formerly known as
Galaxy 102.2 |
Gold
oldies and classic hits
1152 (Birmingham)
also
available on local DAB digital radio, in the Birmingham area
listen
live on our audio pages |
Gold
oldies and classic hits
990 (Wolverhampton)
also available on local DAB digital
radio, in the Wolverhampton,
Telford and Shrewsbury areas
listen
live on our audio pages |
Heart
100.7
See the regional listing for
further information and links |
Heat Radio
music from the eighties to
today; old skool tracks; celebrity news
available on local DAB digital
radio, in the Birmingham area
listen live on
our audio pages |
Kiss
r&b, pop and contemporary
dance
available on local DAB digital
radio, in the Birmingham area
listen live on
our audio pages |
|
98.7 (Winson Green, Birmingham) |
91.3
(Sandwell, Birmingham) |
Smooth
Radio
See the regional listing for
further information and links |
|
106.9
(Sandwell, Birmingham) |
107.5
(Castle Vale, Birmingham) |
Radio XL
programmes for the
asian community
1296 (Birmingham)
also available on local DAB digital
radio, in the Birmingham are |
|
93.5 (Small Heath, Birmingham) |
available on local DAB digital
radio, in the Wolverhampton,
Telford and Shrewsbury and
Birmingham areas |
Xfm
new
rock, alternative and indie
available on local DAB digital
radio, in the Birmingham,Wolverhampton, Telford and
Shrewsbury areas
listen
live on our audio pages |
CLICK ON YOUR INTEREST
|
For
a full list of theatres in the UK. Click on to Showtime
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EVERYTHING
EQUINE
Please Click On To the Relevant Stable
door
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Details
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Birmingham Tourist
Information Centre
|
Tourism
Centre and Ticket Shop , The Rotunda 150 New Street
Birmingham West Midlands England B2 4PA
Tel: 0844 888 3883 Fax: 0121 616 1038 Email: visit@marketingbirmingham.com
Web: http://www.beinbirmingham.com Map |
Birmingham
Central Library
Visitor Centre
|
Birmingham
Central Library, Chamberlain Square, Birmingham B3 3HQ
Telephone: +44 (0)
844 888 3883 Email:
CentralLibraryTIC@birmingham.gov.uk
|
Birmingham Airport
Visitor Centre |
Between Terminal 1 and 2 ,
Birmingham International Airport , Birmingham West Midlands
England B26 3QJ
Tel: 0844 888 3883 visitor information and accommodation
Alternate Tel: 0844 888 4415 ticket hotline
Email: visit@marketingbirmingham.com
Web: http://www.visitbirmingham.com/
Map |
Birmingham
Tourist Information Centre
|
TBirmingham , National Exhibition Centre , Convention &
Visitor Bureau , National Exhibition Centre , Birmingham West
Midlands
T: 0121 780 4321 F: 0121 780 4260 E: piazza@bmp.org.uk |
Brierley
Hill
Tourist Information Centre
|
Merry
Hill , Merry Hill Centre , Brierley Hill West
Midlands Map
T: 01384 487 911 F: 01384 487 910 |
Bromsgrove
Tourist Information Centre
|
The Museum, 26 Birmingham Rd, Bromsgrove,
Worcestershire,
B61 0DD Tel: 01527 831809 Fax: 01527 577983 |
Dudley
Tourist Information Centre
|
Dudley , 39 Churchill Centre , Dudley West Midlands
T: 01384 812 830 F: 01384 815 580 |
Solihull
Tourist Information Centre
|
Solihull , Central Library Homer
Road Solihull West Midlands
T: 0121 704 6130 F: 0121 704 8224
E: ckelly@solihull.gov.uk
|
Walsall
Visitor Enquiries
|
Walsall
Central
Reference Library, Lichfield St, Walsall, WS1 1TR
Tel 01922 653110 Fax 01922 654013 Textphone 0845
1112910
Email reference@walsall.gov.uk
WALSALL
CLICK
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Wolverhampton
Visitor Information Point
|
18
Queen
Square, Wolverhampton West Midlands WV1 1TQ
Phone: 01902 556110 or 556112 Fax: 01902 556111
E-mail: wolverhampton.tic@dial.pipex.com
Website: http://www.wolverhampton.tic.dial.pipex.com
|
If we have missed you please
contact us 0845 868 2810 or contact
us by writing
Birmingham Attractions
|
PICTURE |
Address & Website
|
Tel/Fax
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Alexandra
Theatre
The Alexandra Theatre was built in 1901 by William
Coutts at a cost of
£10,000 and was originally called the Lyceum. Its opening
production
was a play entitled The Workman, which ran from 27th May 1901, with
tickets ranging in price from two shillings to four (old) pence.
Unfortunately, insufficient public support resulted in the theatre
being offered for sale just over a year later. The sale attracted no
great interest, and the Lyceum was bought by Lester Collingwood for
just £4,450. Collingwood was a flamboyant personality who sported
a magnificent
moustache. He had extensive theatre experience and was particularly
associated with the melodrama When London Sleeps, in which he toured
for some time, playing the role of the villain. Many theatres at the
time had a royal connection, and Collingwood bowed to tradition by
renaming the theatre to honour Queen Alexandra. The Alexandra Theatre
opened in 1902 with a melodrama called The Fatal
Wedding. Public taste greatly favoured this genre of entertainment, and
the new manager quickly established his personality within Birmingham,
such that the venue was soon tagged ‘The People’s Theatre’. Collingwood
also initiated the Alexandra’s panto tradition, beginning with Aladdin,
which ran for eight weeks. It is rumoured that Charlie Chaplin was one
of the actors to have starred in these pantomimes. Today
the Alex is owned and managed by The Ambassador Theatre Group
(ATG) who are the largest theatre operator in the world combining
international stature with core local venues. As a successful and
respected theatre provider, ATG has years of experience helping
millions of customers enjoy the very best theatre and live
entertainment. |
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Alexandra
Theatre ,
Station Street,
BIRMINGHAM, B5 4D
ALEXANDRA THEATRE CLICK
|
Telephone
Booking: 0844 871 3011 |
Alpha Tower
The Alpha Tower is Birmingham's second
tallest building at 99.9m high. It was built between 1972 and
1974. The Alpha Tower has 28
floors and stands at 328 feet. A prominent landmark it resembles the
Pirelli Building in Milan. This particular building is a smaller
version by architect Richard Seiffert.
Now looking somewhat outdated and
on its own amongst the more modern and tasteful architecture of
Brindleyplace it nevertheless is an impressive building. Alpha Tower is
situated in Suffolk Street, near Broad Street and not far from the
Mailbox. |
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Suffolk Street
Queensway,
Birmingham, , B1 1TT
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Artifex
The 3000 square foot gallery specialises in designer/craftsman
made furniture, glass, ceramics, jewellery, metalwork, woodwork,
mirrors, clocks, sculpture & original painting. The emphasis is on
originality and quality. The atmosphere is welcoming and our
staff are friendly and knowledgeable. The first floor gallery is
devoted to paintings, all original, featuring the work of around 18
artists at any one time. We also run an exhibition programme of more
substantial one person shows. Our furniture gallery specialises in
'one-off' contemporary pieces made by Britain's leading makers. You can
buy from the large selection on display, seek inspiration from an
extensive portfolio of makers' work, or turn your dreams into reality
through our personal commissioning service. Open 7 days - 10.00am -
5.00pm
|
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The Mitchell Centre
Weeford Road
Sutton Coldfield
B75 6NA
Email: sutton@artifex.co.uk
ARTIFEX CLICK
|
Tel: 0121 323 3776
Fax: 0121 323 2380
|
Aston Hall
Aston Hall was built by Sir Thomas Holte in 1618. One of England's
great country houses. Aston Hall is one of Birmingham's most treasured
buildings. Redisplayed as part of the development project, Aston Hall
boasts sumptuous interiors from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries,
including the magnificent Long Gallery.Display rooms illustrate the
part Aston Hall and its residents played in key moments in history,
including the English Civil War, and how it prepared to receive royalty
on more than one occasion.he acclaimed Astonish Gallery in the newly
restored Stables Range take visitors on a journey through the Aston
area. Astonish describes the history of Aston, its industries, sporting
achievements and community changes through historic objects and hands
on interactives.
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Trinity Road, Aston,
Birmingham, B6 6JD
ASTON HALL
CLICK
|
Tel: +44 (0)121 675 4722
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Aston Transport
Museum
A wide range of commercial vehicles on show so if you are interested in
transport, particularly buses, then this is the place to come.
Set up in 1978 the Aston Manor Transport Museum can be found on Witton
Lane just down from the Aston Villa Football Ground. It's only open on
Saturdays, Sundays and Bank Holidays from 11am - 5pm but if you are
interested in transport, particularly buses, then this is the place to
come. A wide range of commercial vehicles are on show and clicking on
our photographs section will show you more of what is on offer. The
Museum closed its doors at Witton for the final time on Sunday October
30th 2011. We were unable to convince Birmingham City Council of
the value of the Museum to the City and, crucially, to be given a
reasonable period in which to raise what would have been a quite
significant sum of money to secure the premises and therefore the
Museum for future generations.Ongoing discussions are presently taking
place with a view to reopening on another site, outside of
Birmingham. Cataloguing of all artefacts and preparing for their
removal is now taking place and sites have been located where all these
items and the vehicles can be stored safely, if these discussions do
not come to fruition. This all has to take place before the end
of 2011. If the Museum is able to relocate then we would expect
to reopen on the new site around Easter / early Spring.
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Aston
Villa Football Club
Aston Villa Football Club ( /ˈæstən ˈvɪlə/; also known as Villa, The
Villa, The Villans and The Lions) ] is
an English professional association football club based in Witton,
Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their
current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder
members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder members
of the Premier League in 1992, and have remained there ever since. The club was
floated by the previous owner and chairman Doug Ellis, but in 2006 full
control of the club was acquired by Randy Lerner. They are one of the
oldest and most successful football clubs in
England, having won the First Division Championship seven times and the
FA Cup seven times.
Villa also won the 1981–82 European Cup, one of only four English clubs
to win what is now the UEFA Champions League. Aston Villa has the
fourth highest total of major honours won by an English club.They
have a fierce local rivalry with Birmingham City. The Second City derby
between Aston Villa and Birmingham City has been played since 1879. The
club's traditional kit colours are claret shirts with sky blue sleeves,
white shorts and sky blue socks. Their traditional crest is of a rampant
gold lion on a light blue background with the club's motto "Prepared"
underneath; a modified version of this was adopted in 2007.
|
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Aston
Villa
- Villa Park
Trinity
Road Birmingham. B6 6HE
ASTON
VILLA CLICK
SEE OUR SOCCER
SITE
Fixtures
List
Get An Aston Villa
Email Address
|
Main Telephone No: 0121 327 2299
Main Fax No: 0121 322 2107
Ticket Office: 0800 612 0970
Ticket Office Fax: 0800 612 0977
Stadium Tours: 0800 612 0970
|
Avoncroft
Museum
Avoncroft Museum is home to over 27
different structures which have been rescued and re-built in rural
Worcestershire. The Museum is spread over 19 acres and includes a
wildflower meadow, period gardens, a traditional cider and perry
orchard as well as the collection of buildings. In 1967 Avoncroft
Museum was opened to the public following the rescue and reconstruction
of a medieval merchant’s house from Bromsgrove. Then, as now, our
priority was to retain historic buildings in their original location.
Over five decades, Avoncroft Museum has continued to rescue structures
where this had not been achievable and the museum now displays and
cares for twenty five historic buildings that range in date from
Worcester Cathedral’s fourteenth century Guesten Hall roof to a post
second world war prefab from Birmingham. Visitors will be able to enjoy
the peaceful countryside as well as explore the historic buildings,
enjoy the Edwardian Tea Room and discover the past.
|
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Avoncroft Museum, Stoke Heath, Bromsgrove, B60 4JR
AVONCROFT CLICK
|
Tel: 01527 831363/831886
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Birmingham City
Football Club
Birmingham City Football Club ( /ˈbɜrmɪŋɡəm
ˈsɪti/) is a professional association football
club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small
Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham
in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943. They
were relegated at the end of the 2010–11 Premier League season and will
play the 2011–12 season in the Football League Championship.
As Small Heath, they were founder members and first ever champions of
the Football League Second Division.
The most successful period in their history was in the 1950s and early
1960s. They achieved their highest finishing position of sixth in the
First Division in the 1955–56 season and reached the 1956 FA Cup Final,
progressed to the final of the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup in 1960 and 1961,
and won their first major trophy, the League Cup, in 1963, beating
Aston Villa 3–1 on aggregate. They won the latter competition for the
second time in 2011. They have played in the top tier of English
football for the majority of their history.
Their longest period spent outside the top division, between 1986 and
2002, included two brief spells in the third tier of the English
League, during which time they twice won the Football League Trophy.
St Andrew's
has been their home ground since 1906. They have a long-standing and
fierce rivalry with Aston Villa, their nearest neighbours, with whom
they play the Second City derby. The club's nickname is Blues,
due to the colour of their kit, and their fans are known as Bluenoses.
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Birmingham City - St Andrew's Stadium
St. Andrew's Stadium, St
Andrew's Road, Birmingham, West Midlands, B9 4NH
Email: reception@bcfc.com
St Andrew's stadium was built in 1906 to replace the Muntz Street
ground.
Fixtures
List
BIRMINGHAM
CITY CLICK
SEE OUR SOCCER
SITE
Get A Birmingham
Email Address
|
Telephone : 0844 557 1875
|
Birmingham Back to
Backs
An atmospheric glimpse into the lives of the ordinary people who helped
make Birmingham an extraordinary city. On a fascinating guided tour,
step back in time at Birmingham's last surviving court of back to
backs; houses built literally back-to-back around a communal courtyard.
Moving from the 1840s through to the 1970s, discover the lives of some
of the former residents who crammed into these small houses to live and
work. With fires alight in the grates, and sounds and smells from the
past, experience an evocative and intimate insight into life at the
Back to Backs. Note: visits by guided tour only (advance booking
advised).
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50-54 Inge Street, 55-63 Hurst Street, Birmingham, West
Midlands, , B5 4TE
BACK
TO BACKS CLICK
|
Phone: 0121 666 7671
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Baddesley Clinton Knowle
This atmospheric house dates from the 15th
century and was the home of the Ferrers family for 500 years. The house
and interiors reflect its heyday in the Elizabethan era, when it was a
haven for persecuted Catholics – there are three priest's holes. There
is a delightful garden with stewponds and a romantic lake and nature
walk.
|
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Rising
Lane,
Baddesley Clinton,
Warwickshire B93 0DQ
BADDERSLEY
CLICK
|
Telephone:
01564 783294
|
Barber Institute
Monet, Manet, and Magritte; Renoir, Rubens, Rossetti and Rodin; Degas,
Delacroix and van Dyck — not to mention Botticelli, Poussin, Turner,
Gainsborough, Gauguin, van Gogh, Picasso, Hodgkin… The Red GalleryYou
can see major works by all these great artists in the Barber Institute
of Fine Arts, at the University of Birmingham. There’s also a stunning
coin gallery and an exciting programme of exhibitions, concerts,
lectures, gallery talks, workshops and family activities. The Barber is
also home to the University of Birmingham's departments of History of
Art and Music, as well as the Barber Fine Art and Music libraries..
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The Barber Institute of Fine Arts
University of Birmingham
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 2TS
BARBER INSTITUTE
CLICK
|
Telephone: +44 (0) 121 414 7333
Fax: + 44 (0) 121 414 3370
|
Bantock House
Bantock House was originally completed in 1788 and inherited from his
father by Baldwin Bantock in 1896. From what we know of Bantock he
would appear to have been a keen gardener. The original name of the
house was Merridale Farm hence the farm courtyard and outbuildings
which now provide space for the tea rooms and conveniences. Bantock
House received funding from the Heritage Lottery fund and extensive
work was carried out to restore it to its former glory in 1999. The
house holds some fine examples of art and devotes a section to the
history of Wolverhampton.Bantock House also houses a collection of
dolls and japanned and enamel ware. The gardens around the house are
now small but the surrounding parkland which used to belong to the
house is a wonderful example of open space and a haven of tranquility
in a busy city.
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Finchfield Road
Wolverhampton
West Midlands
WV3 9LQ
Email:
bantockhouse@
wolverhampton.gov.uk
BANTOCK HOUSE
CLICK
|
Telephone: 01902 552195
|
Birmingham
Central Library
The city library and
central archives is one
of the most dominant and well recognised buildings at the heart of the
great city. The library carries a massive collection of texts that
relate to the development of Birmingham, along with a great many other
types of media that are available for loan. The city archives are
connected and carry a massive collection of documents from the cities
past.
|
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Chamberlain
Square,
Birmingham, B3 3HQ
|
Phone:
+44 (0)121 303 4511 - Fax: +44 (0)121 303 4511 |
Birmingham Central Mosque
Birmingham Central Mosque is the
second purpose built
mosque in the United Kingdom, which was built in 1969 and opened to the
public in 1975. It is one of the most recognised religious buildings in
the city of Birmingham and a result, a vast number of people visit the
mosque every year. The mosque has a special Guest Book which visitors
have been signing since 1984; all visitors are encouraged to leave
their messages about the mosque's visit in the Visitors' book. The
Birmingham Central Mosque is open to
visitors throughout the
year. We receive a large number of visitors from schools, colleges,
universities and other institutions wishing to find out more about a
mosque and the Islamic faith for projects and studies. |
 |
180
Belgrave Middleway,
Highgate,
Birmingham,
B12 0XS
BIRMINGHAM
CENTRAL
MOSQUE CLICK
|
Tel:
0121 440 5355
Fax: 0121 446 6140 |
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Birmingham Central Synagogue
An
informal, warm and welcoming provincial community atmosphere exists at
Birmingham Central Synagogue, just a short distance from the city
centre. The Birmingham Jewish Ashkenazi Orthodox community was
established in a private house in Belgrave Road in 1883 before moving
to Wrottesley Street in 1900 and then to Bristol Street in 1928, taking
over a former Methodist Hall. In 1961 a small group of dedicated, hard
working individuals acquired the large plot of land upon which the
current Synagogue, hall and classrooms now stand at 133 Pershore Road. Whilst
the formal services are a perfect mix of tradition yet modern,
Birmingham Central Synagogue is so much more than just a place for
Jewish people to pray. The membership spans a great range of ages and
aims to cater for them all, from the very young Toddlers' service to
the teenage youth activities to the retired ladies' and gentlemen's
programmes. Daily
and weekly learning sessions for a variety of ages and abilities are
offered including a Gemara shiur, Chumash Rashi, talks on topical
subjects as part of our monthly "Central Forum" after kiddush on
Shabbat and, of course, a short daily dose of Halachah (law) at the end
of all services.
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133
Pershore Road
Birmingham
B5 7PA
BIRMINGHAM
CENTRAL
SYNAGOGUE CLICK
|
Tel
:0121 440 4044 |
Birmingham
Conservatoire
The Birmingham
Conservatoire is one of UCE’s
faculties and, as such, regularly hosts performances by its students.
In addition to student concerts the venue also puts on performances by
regional and national musicians which, in turn, makes it an important
concert venue for Birmingham and the Midlands. If you are interested in
listening about music as well as listening to it, many lectures take
place throughout the year on a variety of subjects. Rooms can also be
hired for meetings, conferences and concerts.
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Paradise
Place,
Birmingham B3 3HG
|
Phone:
+44 (0)121 331 5901 - Fax: +44 (0)121 331 5906 |
Birmingham Hebrew
Congregation
Singers Hill Synagogue was built in 1856 and
has played an important part of
the life of Birmingham Jewry. Even when movements of Jewish population
in Birmingham resulted in the provision of synagogues elsewhere in the
City, Singers Hill has remained an important hub of Jewish worship and
communal life over the last 150 years, and is termed the "Cathedral"
Synagogue of Birmingham. Today, Singers Hill Synagogue holds weekly
Shabbat (Sabbath) services,
daily morning and mincha services during the week. Shabbat Services,
under the auspices of the Birmingham Hebrew Congregation, are also held
at the King David Jewish Primary School in Alcester Road, Moseley, to
accommodate the local Jewish population. Educational visits from
schools, universities, teachers training
colleges and other educational organisations are welcomed throughout
the year by prior booking.
|
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Ellis Street,
Birmingham B1 1HL
BIRMINGHAM
HEBREW
CONGREGATION
CLICK
|
Tel: +44(0)121-643 0884 |
Birmingham
Hippodrome
Birmingham Hippodrome is in
Birmingham city
centre in the heart of the gay village and is therefore ideally
situated close to the city’s many pubs, clubs and restaurants. The
venue hosts a wide variety of shows for an equally diverse audience.
These include ballet, opera, musicals, drama, pantomime, comedy and
children’s shows. The theatre also has its own restaurant with set
menus at reasonable prices. The Hippodrome also has an educational
programme for young people which offers performance arts training by
professionals in the business.
|
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Hurst
Street,
Birmingham B5 4TB
|
Phone:
+44 (0)870 730 1234 - Fax: +44 (0)870 730 5030 |
Birmingham
Progressive Synagogue
During 2011, we have been celebrating 75
years of Liberal Judaism in
Birmingham and we are as committed now, as our founders were then, to
providing a complete range of religious, social and educational
activities.
Being a part of the Liberal Jewish movement we value tradition and all
that is good within Judaism and combine it with innovation and forward
thinking to provide a secure future for our community and our
neighbours. Birmingham Progressive Synagogue is an integral part of the
Jewish community in Birmingham but is also at the forefront of
interfaith work in Birmingham.
Our new synagogue building, on the corner of Bishopsgate Street
and
Roseland Way was formally consecrated on September 6th 2009. We are
delighted to be able to accommodate our many and varied activities
including services, study groups, cheder and the synagogue office.
Everyone can attend our services or social events and whatever your
interests or background you will always be welcome in our synagogue.
|
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Roseland Way,
Bishopgate Street,
Birmingham, B15 1HD
BIRMINGHAM
PROGRESSIVE SYNAGOGUE CLICK
|
Tel: +44(0)121 446 5273/643 5640 |
Birmingham
Repertory Theatre
Birmingham Repertory
Theatre, or the Rep as it
is more commonly known, was established in 1913 and is acclaimed for
launching the careers of new playwrights by offering them a stage on
which to showcase their work. The Door hosts new plays in the Rep’s old
studio space and often plays go on to London or other UK cities. In
addition to a wide selection of performances throughout the year, the
theatre also runs programmes to encourage young writers and new talent.
|
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Centenary
Square,
Broad Street,
Birmingham B1 2EP
BIRMINGHAM
REP CLICK
|
Phone:
+44 (0)121 236 4455 |
Birmingham Wheel
The Wheel of
Birmingham or Birmingham Wheel was a series of transportable Ferris
wheel installations at Centenary Square in Birmingham, England. These
have been landmarks in central Birmingham, visible from many parts of
the City. The first opened on 6 November 2003, and its replacement
opened on 21 October 2004 , both being 60 metres (197 ft) tall. A
third wheel, the Birmingham Mail Wheel, operated from 18 January 2010
until 22 February 2010, and was also 60 m tall.
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Black Country Museum
Discover a fascinating world when you visit this urban heritage park in
the shadow of Dudley Castle at the heart of the Black Country.Historic
buildings from all around the Black Country have been moved and
authentically rebuilt at the Museum, to create a tribute to the
traditional skills and enterprise of the people that once lived in the
heart of industrial Britain. Visitors are transported back in time from
the modern exhibition halls to the canal-side village, where costumed
demonstrators and working craftsmen bring the buildings to life with
their local knowledge, practical skills and unique Black Country
humour.
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Black Country Living Museum Trust.
Tipton Road, Dudley, West Midlands, DY1 4SQ.
BLACK COUNTRY MUSEUM
CLICK
|
Tel : 0121 557 9643
|
Blakesley Hall
The timber-framed house was built in 1590 by Richard Smalbroke, a
member of one of Birmingham’s leading merchant families. More than 400
years later, beautiful Blakesley is still a haven; secluded from the
avenues of modern houses that lie beyond its gates. Admission charges
apply to the Hall only. Gardens, grounds and visitor facilities are
free to all vistors. There is free admission to the entire site on the
first Sunday in every month during the open season.
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Blakesley Road, Yardley,
Birmingham, B25 8RN
Website:
BLAKESLEY
HALL CLICK
|
Tel: +44 (0)121 464 2193
|
Botanical Gardens
The Birmingham Botanical Gardens & Glasshouses, situated in
Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK, are a 15 acre oasis of delight. Designed by
J. C. Loudon, a leading garden planner, horticultural journalist and
publisher, they opened to subscribers in 1832.Today, you will find
beauty, peace and also tranquillity combined with excellent visitor
facilities for all the family. We really look forward to welcoming you
into our gardens and glasshouses where you can enjoy nature at its best
and discover the importance of plants to people. Our Mission: We aim to
bring enjoyment and to use the plant collection to spread the message
that plants are essential. We need plants, yet our actions determine
whether they survive or become extinct. As an educational charity we
aim to encourage our visitors to respect their environment by
maintaining and developing our plant collection, sharing stories,
organising events and offering educational programmes.
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Westbourne Road
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B15 3TR
BOTANICAL
GARDENS CLICK
|
Tel : 0121-454-1860
|
Brindleyplace
Brindleyplace is a 17 acre mixed use redevelopment site on a grand
scale. With more canals than Venice, why not explore and dine in
Brindley Place on Broad Street. The architecture is spacious, pleasing
and modern and blends in with its surroundings in style. Definately a
fine asset to any city, Brindleyplace backs up to the old canal with
its stylish bars and restaurants and the nearby National Indoor Arena
and the Sea Life Centre.
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Brindleyplace
Estate Management Office
2 Brunswick Street
Brindleyplace
Birmingham B1 2JF
BRINDLEY PLACE
CLICK
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Birmingham &
Midland Museum of Transport
The Birmingham & Midland Museum
of Transport has been on its
present site for around 25 years. All
facets of the museum are staffed by volunteers.
We are open to casual visitors between 11a.m. and 4.30p.m. each
Saturday and Sunday between March and the end of October, and Wednesday
afternoons 1pm to 4:30pm between June and August, when you are able to
see volunteers restoring and maintaining the collection. Throughout the
year we have themed Event Days when museum buses offer rides, a
delightful ride-on miniature steam railway operates, and the cafeteria
and shop are open, the latter selling transport models, books,
magazines and DVDs.
There are now three halls which accommodate
one
of the most significant collections of preserved buses in the country.
It has the largest collection of preserved Midland Red buses and can
probably make the same claim for Birmingham City Transport. Midland Red is particularly important because
it built its own buses for half a century and, whilst the term 'home
made' may imply primitive, in fact its products were regularly at the
leading edge of bus design. Designers and engineers, however, were
tempted away by better pay and conditions in car factories so
production ceased in 1970. Midland Red served many thinly populated
rural areas which led to severe financial difficulties and it was
broken up into smaller companies in 1981. These were privatised in the
1980s and passed into separate ownerships. |
 |
Birmingham & Midland
Museum of Transport
Chapel Lane
Wythall
Birmingham
B47 6JX
email
TRANSPORT MUSEUM
CLICK
|
Tel:
+44 (0) 1564 - 826471 |
|
Broadfield
House
Glass
Museum
Situated in
the
historic Glass Quarter, Broadfield House celebrates the magical art of
glassmaking.
Our world-famous collections feature the very best of British glass,
much
of which was made in the Stourbridge area. The collections range from
the
elegance of the 18th century to exciting contemporary work by Britain's
leading
glass artists. See glassmakers at work in the studio and visit the gift
shop,
selling contemporary studio glass.
|
 |
Broadfield
House
Glass Museum, Compton Drive, Kingswinford, West Midlands DY6 9NS
BROADFIELD HOUSE
MUSEUM CLICK |
Tel:
01384
812745 |
Bull Ring
In September 2003,
the Bullring Shopping
Centre reopened its doors after a £500 million revamp of the
original
building. Widely recognised by the Selfridges building, the Bullring
houses over 140 shops, covering the size of 26 football fields, making
it the largest shopping complex in Europe. Just outside the main
building, the famous “Bronze Bull”, designed by Laurence Broderick,
stands at 2.2m tall and weighs 5 tonnes. Just a two-minute walk from
the Bullring is Moor Street railway station.
|
 |
Birmingham,
B5 4BU
|
Phone:
+44 (0)121 632 1500 |
Cadbury World
Cadbury World is an adventure into the world of chocolate. From
humble beginnings in a shop in Birmingham the Cadbury brothers created
a chocolate empire that has factories around the world.The Cadbury
factory at Bournville has a visitor centre that is dedicated to the
history of chocolate. Both educational and excitingly portrayed, the
visitor can learn about how cocoa beans are grown, how they came to be
imported to Europe and made into the chocolate that we know today. How
has chocolate changed over the years?, and what made Cadbury's so
successful. It's all here. There is also an excellent factory shop
where visitors can purchase a wide range of Cadbury products at factory
prices. The tour is optional and not necessary for access to the shop
for those that just want to purchase chocolate. A restaurant/cafeteria
can be found on site and there is a play area for children. Special
features include a 3D video story and an interactive theatre which
deals not only with chocolate, its manufacture and its advertising but
also provides an insight into the Cadbury family who created the UK's
favourite chocolate produce. This is one of the main West Midlands
attractions and draws visitors from all over the UK and beyond. More
than 500,000 people per year visit Cadbury World.
|
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Linden Rd
Bournville
Birmingham B30 2LU
CADBURY
WORLD CLICK
|
Tel: 0844 880 7667
|
Cannon Hill Park
This is the pride of Birmingham Parks. Birmingham claims to have
over 200 parks, more than any other European city in fact. This is the
flagship and the most varied and attractive. The park has two lakes,
rowing boat facilities, tennis, fishing and a host of activities
particularly during the summer months. This park is very much used as a
retreat from the hustle and bustle of the city. It is popular and busy
and yet takes it all in its stride. The Midlands Arts Centre is
also based here and provides refreshments and regular exhibitions as
well as cinema and theatre productions. The Nature Centre is also close
by and there are two childrens play areas. A striking war memorial has
the following inscription 'To the glorious memory of the SONS OF
BIRMINGHAM who fell in South Africa 1890-1902 and to perpetuate the
example of all who served in the war. This memorial is erected by their
fellow citizens'
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2 Russell Road
Moseley, Birmingham
B13 8RD
Buses from City Centre: No.1 (to Edgbaston Road), 45
& 47 (to Pershore Road)
There is a large car park off Edgbaston Road, opposite the
Warwickshire Cricket Ground, near the Mac entrance. A small car park is
located off the Russell Road entrance.
CANNON
HILL PARK CLICK
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Carling Academy
Birmingham
Opened in 2000, Carling
Academy Birmingham is
a medium-sized concert venue that follows in the footsteps of the
successful Carling Academy Brixton. The complex consists of three
sites: the 250-capacity Bar Academy - a 600-capacity in Academy 2 as
well as the main 2,700-capacity venue - and can therefore accommodate
gigs of a variety of sizes. Since the relatively recent opening, the
venue has already hosted the likes of Prodigy, Primal Scream, Blondie
and Black Sabbath.
|
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52-54
Dale End,
Birmingham B4 7LS
|
Phone:
+44 (0)121 262 3000 - Fax: +44 (0)121 236 2241 |
Castle
Bromwich Hall & Gardens
Castle Bromwich Hall was built in
1599 and was the property of Sir Edward Devereux. The estate changed
hands in 1657 when Sir John Bridgeman purchased the hall and gardens.
Many changes have taken place since with the tower and kitchen block
being added in 1838. The
Bridgeman family inherited Weston Park in 1762 and Castle Bromwich Hall
went through a period of being let to tenants before the family moved
back to the hall in 1820. The last member of the family lived in the
hall until 1936.
|
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Castle Bromwich Hall and Gardens Trust
Chester Road, Castle Bromwich,
Birmingham, B36 9BT.
CASTLE BROMWICH
HALL & GARDENS
CLICK
|
Tel & Fax 0121 749 4100 |
Centenary Square
Centenary Square is one of Birmingham's newest public squares. It is a
popular meeting place and walkway between Broad Street and the canal
area and those passing on foot to the city centre. Many live concerts
and events take place in the square including the now popular New Years
Celebrations. The paving stones and railings were designed by Tess
Jaray. |
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The
Clent
Hills
Clent Hills have a special
place
in the hearts of Stourbridge people. Before mass transport it was the
nearest
thing working people had to a holiday, along with Kinver Edge. Just
about
1,000 feet high, there are fantastic views from Clent Hills to the West
over
the Worcestershire plain and Severn Valley, across to the hills of
Shropshire
and even the Welsh borders.
To the North and East is the West Midlands conurbation, encompassing
the
UK's second city, Birmingham, and the Black Country region, a major
manufacturing
region of the UK. The photos below show the extraordinary diversity of
the
region, beautiful scenery close to major residential and commercial
areas
|
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CLENT HILLS CLICK |
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Coughton Court
Coughton Court has been the home of the
Throckmorton family since
1409. It holds a unique place in English history with its close
connections to the Gunpowder Plot of 1605.
Behind the Tudor gatehouse house you will find the courtyard with
its fine Elizabethan half-timbering, where a knot garden leads to lawns
and fine vistas of the Warwickshire countryside.
The house stands in 25 acres of grounds containing some of the most
breathtaking gardens in the country. It was Clare
McLaren-Throckmorton's intention to create a garden that complements
the beautiful house, and to give it the setting it deserves. She
also
wanted to create a wide variety of gardens: formal and informal,
traditional and innovative. Created over the last 15 years, the
gardens are now mature and varied and are solely managed by the
Throckmorton family.
|
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Throckmorton
Estates
Coughton Court
Alcester
Warwickshire B49 5JA
COUGHTON
COURT CLICK
|
Visitor
information: +44 (0)1789 762435 |
Coventry Cathedral
Glorious 20th century Cathedral, with
stunning 1950's art &
architecture, rising above the stark ruins of the medieval Cathedral
destroyed by German air raids in 1940. The Visitor Information Centre
housed in St Michael's Tower.
|
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Coventry Cathedral
1 Hill Top
Coventry
CV1 5AB
COVENTRY
CATHEDRAL CLICK
|
Tel:
+44 (0)24 7652 1200
Fax: +44 (0)24 7652 1220 |
Crooked
House
The Crooked House or
‘Siden House’ has been a
Midlands tourist attraction for well over a hundred years. The building
is a typical Black Country pub, however, one side is four foot lower
than the other as a result of subsidence from 19th Century coal mining.
Originally built as a farmhouse in 1765, it was then known as The
Glynne Arms on becoming a public house. Visitors can now experience a
variety of optical illusions, including marbles rolling uphill and
drinks sliding up the table, before even touching a drop!
|
 |
Crooked
House Lane,
Himley,
Near Dudley, DY3 4DA |
|
Council House
Built between 1874 and 1879
on what was once Ann Street, and designed by Yeoville Thomason,
the Council House is now a Grade II listed building, used for all
Council and most Committee meetings. The front, facing Victoria Square,
has a pediment showing Britannia receiving the manufacturers of
Birmingham.
Before it was built the town council met at such places as the Public
Offices in Moor Street, and even at a public house.
The town argued long and hard whether the finished building should
be called The Municipal Hall, Council House, or Guildhall. The total
cost was £63,805. Big Brum is the
local name for the clock tower on the Council House. The clock tower is
sufficiently important in the public consciousness of Birmingham people
that it has a name. Brum
is the local term for the town, the people and the dialect. The name
refers to the clock and tower, not only the bell. The bell rings with Westminster Chimes similar to Big Ben in
London.
The clock tower (1885) is part of the first extension to the original
Council House of 1879 and stands above the Museum
& Art Gallery.
Behind it stands the Museum and Art Gallery, built by the same
architect in 1881-5.
Tours of the Council House can be arranged, for availability please
contact Democratic.Services@birmingham.gov.uk
or telephone (0121) 303 2438.
Virtual
Tour of the Council House.
|
 |
Victoria
Square,
Birmingham B1 1BB
Council
House Web site
|
Phone:
+44 (0)121 303 9944 |
Curzon Street
Station
Curzon Street railway station (formerly Birmingham station) was a
railway station in Birmingham that was used briefly for regular
scheduled passenger services between 1838 and 1854 when it acted as the
terminus for both the London and Birmingham Railway and the Grand
Junction Railway, with lines connecting Birmingham to London and to
Manchester and Liverpool respectively. It was then used for excursions
until 1893 and goods traffic until 1966 when it closed. More recently,
the surviving Grade I listed, entrance building has been used for
occasional art events. In 2010, a new Curzon Street station, partly on
the site of the historical station was proposed as the Birmingham
terminus for High Speed 2.
Contents
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Custard Factory
The Custard
Factory is a buzzing
quarter in Birmingham which is home to a hive of young creative
companies, galleries, fine artists, independent shops and terrific
restaurants. We have office space, studio
offices and exhibition space
available so if you fancy working amongst our thriving creative
community, get in touch now.
|
 |
Gibb Street
Birmingham
B9 4AA
CUSTARD
FACTORY CLICK
|
Tel:
0121 224 7777 |
|
Dhamma
Talaka Pagoda
The
pagoda in Edgbaston is provided so that western people are able to
learn about Buddhism. The main financial support however comes from
generous donations by the Myanmar community around the country.
This significant landmark and temple of
Buddhism serves as a shrine to
local Buddhists for traditional ceremonies and a focal point where non
Buddhists can explore Buddhism in a tranquil and peaceful environment
within the beautiful surrounding of this pagoda.
|
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Buddhist Vihara
Osler Street
Ladywood
Birmingham
B16 9EU
DHAMMA
TALAKA PAGODA CLICK
|
Tel: 0121 454 6591 |
Digbeth
Digbeth was almost certainly the site of Birmingham's birth when
Berma's tribe chose to settle in the River Rea valley during the 7th
Century A.D. The town which grew from this small settlement came to be
famous as a place of opportunity where people with a wide assortment of
skills, and from many regions of both Britain and the rest of the
world, could make a successful living. The "city of a thousand trades"
was no idle boast - and for centuries those who wanted to be part of
Birmingham life were most likely to find a home in Digbeth. It was
Digbeth's plentiful water supply which acted as a magnet - not only the
River Rea, but also the area's natural springs. In fact the name
Digbeth is believed to have originally been 'Duck's bath' - a quaint
description of one of these springs. The coming to Digbeth of the
canals in the 18th Century and the railways in the 19th Century ensured
that a large community was in permanent residence. Until, that is, the
turn of the 20th Century, when Digbeth had become full to bursting
point and people began to move out. Today, Digbeth is a successful
industrial centre and the vibrant community life of Digbeth's past will
no doubt help to point the way to an equally lively future. Meanwhile
memories of by gone Digbeth are revealed in a surprising number of its
buildings, and 2 discovery trails have been devised to guide you around
this important area of Birmingham heritage.
|
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Heritage: Digbeth
Tuck Trail
Heritage:
Digbeth Slice of Life Trail
|
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Discovery Centre
(Jewellery Quarter)
When the proprietors of the Smith & Pepper jewellery manufacturing
firm decided to retire in 1981 they ceased trading and locked the door,
unaware they would be leaving a time capsule for future generations.
Tools were left strewn on benches; grubby overalls were hung on the
coat hooks; and dirty teacups were abandoned alongside jars of marmite
and jam on the shelf. In the eighty years before its closure little
changed with the working practices or equipment used within the
family-owned business. Even the décor had more in common with
early 20th century trends than a thriving business in the early 1980s.
Today the factory is a remarkable museum, which tells the story of the
Jewellery Quarter and Birmingham’s renowned jewellery and metalworking
heritage.
|
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75-79 Vyse Street, Hockley, Birmingham, B18 6HA
Website:
MUSEUM OF
JEWELLERY
CLICK
|
Tel: +44 (0)121 554 3598
|
Discovery -
Millenium Centre
Thinktank, Birmingham’s award-winning science museum offers an
extraordinary, fun-packed day out for all visitors. From steam engines
to intestines, Thinktank has over 200 hands-on displays on science and
technology from the past, present and future. This includes the
state-of-the-art Planetarium, where you can tour the night sky and fly
through the galaxy without stepping a foot outside! With an
ever-changing programme of workshops, classes, laboratory sessions and
interactive science shows, there’s always something new to
discover.Thinktank is open seven days a week, except 24, 25 & 26
Dec. Opening hours are 10.00am-5.00pm with last admission at 4pm.
|
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Millennium Point, Curzon Street, Birmingham B4 7XG
MILLENIUM
CENTRE CLICK
|
Tel : 0121 202 2222
|
Dudley Zoo
There’s something for everyone at Dudley Zoo & Castle . . .animals
aplenty, an ancient monument – and we’re big on conservation too!
DZG is unique . . . a zoo with hundreds of animals
set around an
11th century castle incorporating the world’s largest single collection
of Tecton buildings all sited on a 40-acre wooded hillside with a
rich
geological history. |
 |
2 The Broadway
Dudley DY1 4QB
DUDLEY ZOO CLICK
|
Tel:
0844 474 2272 Fax: 01384 456 048 |
|
Dormston Mill Theater
|
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Dormston
Mill Theater ,
The Dormston Centre
Mill Bank
Sedgley DY3 1SN
|
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Edgbaston
Reservoir
Situated close to the city centre,
Edgbaston Reservoir is a Site of
Importance for Nature Conservation. It was built in 1827 by Thomas
Telford as a op upfor Birmingham canal system and is still used for
that purpose today. The 70 acres site is mainly open water and supports
a variety of birdlife; it is also a valuable city site for animals such
as newts and bats. A belt of woodland and grassland encircles the
reservoir providing an oasis of natural beauty in an urban setting.
There are currently no public toilets on site.
|
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Reservoir
Road, Ladywood,
Birmingham, B16 9EE.
The main entrance and car park is at the end of
Reservoir Road. The car
park opens at 8am and is locked at dusk. There are three other
pedestrian entrances, Rotton Park Road, Ickneild Port Road and Gillott
Road. It should be noted that the Gillott road entrance is a flight of
steps.
EDGBASTON
RESERVOIR CLICK
|
|
Gas Basin
Birmingham’s canals
were once essential to the
industrial success of this thriving Midlands city and the city centre’s
Gas Street Basin was its pivotal point. Today, the canal has been
restored and instead of the industrial canal that it once was, it is
now a waterside city centre development that locals and tourists alike
can enjoy. There are pubs and restaurants lining the canal at the Gas
Street Basin and canal boats to admire. The city is only a few short
steps away from the Basin which shouldn’t be missed when visiting
Birmingham.
|
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Near
Broad Street, Birmingham B15 |
|
The Grand
Theatre Wolverhampton
The Grand
Theatre first opened its doors in 1894. Designed by prestigious theatre
architect Charles J. Phipps
and Wolverhampton native builder Henry
Gough, the ten thousand pound construction began June
28th 1894 when Mayoress C.T. Mander unveiled foundation stone. Even
today, the Grand remains held in high regard as one of Phipps’ crowning
achievements, so much so that the facade of the building has remained
virtually unchanged during both of its major refurbishments. Many would
agree that it is one of the finest examples of Victorian architecture
in the city of Wolverhampton today. Unlike
Repertory Theatres, venues like the
Grand Theatre do not produce their own shows but stage the productions
of touring companies.
|
 |
The
Grand
Theatre Wolverhampton,
Lichfield Street,
Wolverhampton WV1 1DE
GRAND
THEATRE CLICK
|
Box
Office: 01902 42 92 12
|
Gun Barrel Proof
House
The growth of gun making in London led in 1637 to the incorporation by
Royal Charter of the London Company of Gunmakers. This Charter marked
the introduction of “proof” into England. Similarly in Birmingham, with
a population at this time of only 4000, there was a flourishing trade
of guns. Indeed, by 1767 Birmingham could boast of having 35 gun and
pistol makers, 8 gun barrel makers and filers, 5 gun barrel polishers
and finishers, 11 gunlock makers, forgers and finishers, and 3 gun
swivel and stock makers, supplying all of the kingdom. The reputable
gunmakers of Birmingham had set themselves a high standard for material
and workmanship and were eager to submit their products to an
independent. compulsory proof test as available to the London Trade.
Private Proof Houses were in use in Birmingham, sited on the premises
of reputable gunmakers and available for use by others, but as proof
was not compulsory they were not used by the less reputable members of
the trade. As a result, the Birmingham Proof House was established in
1813, by Act of Parliament, it was requested and obtained by the
Birmingham Trade at its own expense.Almost 200 years later the purpose
of the Birmingham Gun Barrel Proof House remains essentially unchanged
and is able to offer many additional services to that of proof. Inside
this historical & unique institute are assembled a store of
documents and artefacts of real interest
|
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Gun Barrel Proof House,
Banbury Street
Birmingham
B5 5RH
GUN BARREL PROOF
HOUSE CLICK
|
Tel. 0121 643 3860, Fax 0121 643 7872
|
|
Hagley
Hall
The last of
the
Grand Palladian houses, designed by Sanderson Miller and completed in
1760.
The house contains the finest example of Rococo plasterwork by
Francesco Vassali
and a unique collection of 18th century furniture and family portraits,
including
works by Van Dyck, Reynolds and Lely. Location: just off A456
Birmingham to
Kidderminster. Exit 3 or 4 from M5. Is within easy reach of M6, M42,
M40.
Specialists in Corporate Entertaining, Conferences and Weddings. Open
to the
public for guided tours
|
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Hagley
Worcestershire
DY9 9LG
January and February and Bank Holidays from 2pm - 5pm 2pm - 5pm
18
- 22 April 25 May - 28 May
24 - 27 Aug
HAGLEY HALL
CLICK |
Tel:
01562
882 408 |
Hall of Memory
Birmingham's Hall of Memory was erected in the 1920s (before
Baskerville House, in front of which it now stands) to commemorate the
12,320 Birmingham citizens who died in the "Great War", which we now
know as the First World War (a further 35,000 Birmingham men came home
from that war with a disability). The Hall, made from Portland Stone,
from Portland Bill near Weymouth, was opened by Prince Arthur of
Connaught on July 4, 1925. It cost £60,000, which was raised by
public subscription.
Further memorials were added after the Second World War, and for
subsequent campaigns, including Korea, Vietnam and the Falklands.
Around the exterior are four allegorical bronze figures, by local
artist Albert Toft, representing the Army, Navy, Air Force and Women's
Services.Inside the Hall are three Art Deco panels, "Call", "Front
Line" and "Return", by William Bloye, another local artist. Opposite
the Hall of Memory, outside what is now the Rep Theatre, stood a
colonnade of Portland Stone. When Centenary Square was created, this
was moved to the Peace Gardens (formerly St Thomas' church) in Bath
Row. The Hall of Memory is open to the public every Mon - Sat (except
for Christmas Day), from 10 am to 4pm. For further information, please
contact the curator, Paul Ellis, on (0121) 303 2822.
|
 |
|
Tel: 0121 303 2822. |
Handsworth Old Town
Hall
A rare medieval survival at the junction of
Slack Lane and Oxhill Road
is Handsworth Old Town Hall which dates from before 1500. It is a
timber-framed building of three bays each divided by a cruck truss. Few
examples survive in the Birmingham area of cruck-frames. The technique
involved sawing a tree, usually oak, lengthways and leaning the two
halves against each other to form an arch. This building served
variously as a community meeting place, a village jail and a workhouse.
In a poor state of repair and due for demolition, it was bought by the
Birmingham Archaeological Society who modernised it to form two
dwellings and who gave it to the City in 1947.
|
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20
Slack Lane,
Handsworth,
Birmingham
B20 2JL. |
|
Himley Hall
In early days, it was a moated manor house, standing
beside the
medieval church. For over four centuries it served as a secondary home
to the Lords of Dudley and their knights. Its occupants included Dud
Dudley, whose seventeenth-century experiments in smelting iron ore with
coal were carried out nearby. In 1645, King Charles I encamped in the
grounds on his way to defeat at the Battle of Naseby during the English
Civil War. In 1628, the Ward family inherited the title
Lords
of Dudley through the marriage of Humble Ward to the heiress to the
Dudley estates, Frances Sutton.
Humble Ward was the son of the jeweller and goldsmith to the court of
King Charles I. Following damage to Dudley Castle during the Civil War,
Himley Hall became the principal family home. Today's
hall dates from the 18th century when John
Ward demolished the medieval manor to make way for a great Palladian mansion. The village of Himley
was relocated at this time, and its church rebuilt on its present site
in 1764. In 1774 John Ward died and was succeeded by his son John
junior. He brought in Lancelot 'Capability' Brown to re-design the
parkland. The 180 acres (728,000 m²) of grounds
were
designed by Capability Brown to
include a great lake, fed by a series of waterfalls from a higher chain
of smaller pools.
|
 |
Himley Hall, Himley Park,
Himley, Dudley, DY34DF |
01902 895 207 |
Hatton
Country World
Set in the beautiful Warwickshire
countryside, Hatton Farm Village
offers a wonderful family day out with a fun packed programme of
farmyard animals adventure play, fun fair rides, children’s shows,
falconry displays and tractor rides. With a seasonally changing
programme there is always something new to see and do from new born
lambs at our February Frolics event, Easter Egg and Bunny Hunts, an
A-maize-ing Maze in the summer, free pumpkins during our Pumpkin Week
and Santa’s Grotto at Christmas. We’re open all year and just five
minutes from Junction 15 of the M40 on the Solihull to Warwick road.
|
 |
Dark Lane, Hatton,
Warwick,
Warwickshire CV35 8XA
HATTON COUNTRY
WORLD CLICK
|
Tel : 0192684 3411 |
Indoor Market
Under a complete new redevelopment of the Bull Ring shopping centre, a
brand new indoor market has been built
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Ghosts and
Graveyard Walks
Would you like to hear about the dark side of Birmingham's history, to
hear about the ghosts of Birmingham's past - or should that be
'passed-on'.
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Ikon Gallery
The Ikon Gallery is a well known art gallery for new art. Exhibitions
from the UK and further afield. From its beginnings in a small
kiosk in Birmingham’s Bullring, Ikon’s reputation for innovation,
internationalism and excellence has developed over 40 years. Now housed
in the neo-gothic Oozells Street School, Ikon has an artistic programme
consisting of four interdependent strands.
|
 |
Ikon
Gallery, 1 Oozells Square,
Brindleyplace,
Birmingham b1 2hs
email. art@ikon-gallery.co.uk
/
website
IKON GALLERY CLICK
Ikon Gallery is a registered charity no. 528892 |
tel.
+44 (0) 121 248 0708 / fax. +44 (0) 121 248 0709 |
International
Convention Centre
The key to a successful event is a
successful, accessible venue. A
venue that fits your budget, supports your efforts and understands your
requirements. A venue that promotes your values and enhances your
reputation with superb surroundings and high quality presentations.
That venue is The ICC Birmingham. At The ICC we offer all of the
elements key to delivering a superb conference, seminar, banquet or
meeting. These include professional customer service, advice and
support in event management, catering, technical equipment and other
services.Our ten halls and ten executive meeting rooms,
with dedicated registration and foyer areas, mean we can offer one of
the UK's largest selections of facilities under one roof. We offer the
support of a dedicated team of event managers and presentation
specialists to ensure everything runs smoothly from start to finish.
From
your first welcome handshake to your final farewell wave, you’ll
experience total dedication to detail and commitment to quality
delivery. And we hope that you’ll leave making a promise to yourself:
to come back very soon.
|
 |
Broad Street,
Birmingham,
B1 2EA
THE ICC CLICK
|
Tel
: 0121 644 5025 |
The
Iron Bridge
Ironbridge is a
settlement on the River Severn, at the heart of the Ironbridge Gorge in
Telford, Shropshire, England. It lies in the parish of The Gorge, in
the borough of Telford and Wrekin. The village developed beside, and
takes its name from the famous Iron Bridge, a 30 metre (100 ft) cast
iron bridge that was built across the river there in 1779.The area
around Ironbridge is described as the "Birthplace of the Industrial
Revolution" because it is near a the place where Abraham Darby I
perfected the technique of smelting iron with coke, allowing much
cheaper production of iron. The grandson of the first Abraham Darby,
Abraham Darby III, built the famous bridge - originally designed by
Thomas Farnolls Pritchard - to link the two areas. Construction began
in 1779 and the bridge opened on New Year's Day 1781. Soon afterwards
the ancient Madeley market was relocated to the new purpose built
square and Georgian Butter Cross and the former dispersed settlement of
Madeley Wood gained a planned urban focus as Ironbridge, the commercial
and administrative centre of the Coalbrookdale coalfield. The Iron
Bridge proprietors also built the Tontine Hotel to accommodate visitors
to the new Bridge and the industrial sights of the Severn Gorge. On the
hillside above the river are situated the stone-built 16th century
hunting Lodge at Lincoln Hill, many 17th and 18th century workers
cottages, some imposing Georgian houses built by ironmasters and mine
and canal barge owners, and many early Victorian villas built from the
various coloured bricks and tiles of the locality.
|
 |
The
Wharfage,
Ironbridge Telford, TF8 7AW
Tel: 01952 432166 Fax: 01952 432204
E-mail:
tic@ironbridge.org.uk
Adjacent to A4169,
Ironbridge,
Shropshire
TF8 7JU
|
Tel:
01952 432166 Fax: 01952 432204
|
Ironbridge
Gorge Museums
Ironbridge is a World Heritage
Site,
chosen for its outstanding character and the historic importance its
monuments.
The ten Ironbridge Gorge Museums tell this revolutionary story. Most
famous
is the Iron Bridge built by Abraham Darby in 1779. The Museums
catalogue the
remarkable innovation and invention which followed. The social history
of
the managers and men of the Industrial Revolution is brought to life
through
the illustration and demonstration of their labours - most vividly at
Blists
Hill Victorian Town, set in a 50 acre woodland site, where you can step
back
in time. The 19th Century ceramic industry also flourished, and
original bottle
ovens are the backdrop to the China Museum, where the premier
collection of
Coalport China is exhibited. The original factory at Jackfield houses a
kaleidoscopic
collection of tiles and art pottery. Both Museums offer 'hands on'
workshops.
A Museum of Iron, the Broseley Pipeworks and the Tar Tunnel complete
your
visit to the 'most extraordinary district in the world'. New for 2003
is
Enginuity - it opened August last year and is a hands-on Design
Technology
Centre. Passport Tickets admit you to all ten Museums in your own time. |
 |
Exit
J4
of M54. Follow signs
for
Ironbridge Gorge. Then follow signs for Blists Hill Museums
The
IRONBRIDGE
GORGE MUSEUM TRUST, Coach Road, Coalbrookdale, Telford, TF8 7DQ
A
QUICK
TASTER OF IRONBRIDGE CLICK |
Tel:
01952 435 900
Fax:01952 435 999 |
Jerome K Jerome Birthplace Museum,
Walsall
Birthplace of the famous
Victorian
author Jerome K Jerome (1859-1927) writer of 'Three Men in a Boat'. The
Museum
is situated in two rooms of his family home. One room is dedicated to
the
life and works of Jerome and the other room is a reconstructed
Victorian Parlour. |
 |
Lichfield
Street
Walsall
WS1 1TR
Sat - 12noon-2pm
Email: www.walsall.gov.uk/museums |
01922
653116
01922 632824 |
Jewellery
Quarter Birmingham's Gem
A unique area with Conservation Area status, Birminghams Jewellery
Quarter still makes an estimated 40% of UK jewellery. Dating back over
250 years it contains Birmingham's last remaining Georgian Square and
is being sensitively regenerated with the support of the Birmingham
City Council funded Jewellery Quarter Regeneration Partnership.
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JEWELLERY
QUARTER CLICK
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JW Evans – The
Silver Factory
English Heritage stepped in to rescue J. W. Evans
Silver Factory in 2008. With the completion of the repairs programme,
the site will open to the public in summer 2011 on a pre-booked
guided-tour basis only.Established in 1881, J. W. Evans is one of the
most complete surviving historic factories in Birmingham's Jewellery
Quarter. To walk into the factory today is to enter a lost industrial
world.Behind the frontage of four terraced houses, the workshops retain
their original drop stamps and fly presses. They are packed with
thousands of dies for the manufacture of silverware, as well as the
whole of the working equipment, stock and records of the business.
Guided Tours Tours of J. W. Evans are available on a limited number of
days throughout Summer 2011. The size of the property means these are
limited to 10 people per tour, and must be booked in advance.The
property opens for guided tours on 1 June 2011. For tour times and to
book, please call Customer Services on 0870 333 1181.
|
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54-57 Albion Street
Birmingham B1 3EA
JW
EVANS CLICK
|
0870 333 1181.
|
Kings Heath Park
An award winning Birmingham Park and home to the BBC television series
'Gardeners World'.Kings Heath Park is not a particularly large park but
it is beautifully presented and is definately worth a stroll round. The
flowers and mature trees make this one of the most pleasant inner city
parks of Birmingham.
|
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Kings
Heath Park
Vicarage Road
Kings Heath
Birmingham, B14 7TQ |
Tel:
0121 444 2848 |
Lapworth
Museum
The Lapworth Museum of Geology is a
fascinating place to visit if you have even a passing interest in the
earth that lies beneath our feet. This collection represents one of the
most impressive of its type in the country, and has many fine samples
and specimens that have been collected from across the world, piecing
together the natural history of our planet.
|
 |
University
of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, B15 2TT
|
Phone:
+44 (0)121 414 4173 - Fax: +44 (0)121 414 4942 |
Leather Museum
Leather MuseumAdmission to the Museum is free Discover why Walsall
became the British leather goods capital in this fascinating working
museum, housed in a restored leather factory. For two hundred years
Walsall people have been making some of the world's finest saddles and
leather goods. Walsall Leather Museum seeks to celebrate this great
tradition and reflect the achievements of the leather craftsmen and
women of Walsall. Dog Collar MakingIn our atmospheric workshops you can
watch skilled leather workers in the process of hand-crafting leather
goods such as wallets and purses and perhaps have-a-go yourself. The
displays around the museum tell the stories of the Walsall leather
trade and feature splendid examples of local craftsmanship past and
present, including saddles made for the Royal Family and exciting
contemporary designs. "Excellent, friendly and welcoming staff, well
maintained grounds and buildings together with very high standards of
presentation, interpretation and cleanliness throughout all areas of
the museum…fresh flowers, daily newspapers and clean menu cards added a
welcoming feel to the café… The museum continues to offer a very
good quality visitor experience, with staff providing very high
standards in visitor welcome….The museum has met the standards of the
Visitor Attraction Quality Assurance Service at a very high standard."
(Extract from our VAQAS report for 2010) Walsall is still home to over
ninety leather companies between them making an astonishing variety of
items which are exported to most parts of the world.
|
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Leather Museum
Littleton Street West
Walsall
WS2 8EQ
LEATHER
MUSEUM CLICK
|
Telephone 01922 721153
Fax 01922 725827
|
Lickey Hills
Lickey Hills is one of the regions oldest parks. An area of outstanding
beauty this has long been a favourite destination for the citizens of
Birmingham. The views from Beacon Hill across the city are outstanding.
The park itself covers some 500 acres as well as having a golf course,
bowls, tennis and putting green.The visitor centre which was built in
1990 is a popular place for a rest and refreshments. It also has plenty
of guide books and recommended walks to offer. Lickey Hills has over
500,000 visitors a year and it is an excellent adventure playground for
the children. If snow falls the visitor centre is invaded by local
children with their sledges and the hill on which the visitor centre
stands makes a good and yet safe launch pad.Lickey Hills is home to a
variety of different habitats with over 380 species of flowering plants
and a wide range of wildlife. The area became a designated Country Park
in 1971.
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|
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Lord Nelson Statue
This bronze statue was the first publicly
funded statue in Birmingham, and the first statue of Horatio Nelson in
Britain. It was made in 1809 by public subscription
of £2,500 by the people of Birmingham following Nelson's visit to
the town on 31 August 1802, the year before he sailed against the
fleets of Napoleon. The statue was
unveiled on 25 October 1809, that being the day decreed as the official
golden jubilee of George III. |
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stands
in the Bull Ring,
Birmingham |
|
Mailbox
Birmingham's Mailbox shopping arcade
opened just before Christmas 2000. The mailbox is one of the newest
prestige buildings to be added to the growing collection. Advertised as
Britain's largest mixed use building the mailbox will soon have a brand
new square at the entrance. What
is suprising about the mailbox is the sheer length of the arcade. The
upper floor goes even further and opens into a courtyard.
The Mailbox is a landmark building in Birmingham city centre's ongoing
renaissance. Since opening in December 2000, it has fast become a key
attraction alongside the city's existing tourism and visitor
destinations. The Mailbox is an upmarket development of offices,
designer shops, restaurants, bars and luxury city-centre apartments in
the City Centre and on the boundary of the City Centre Core in
Birmingham, It includes a mini supermarket and three art
galleries: the Artlounge, Castle Galleries and the Three White Walls
Gallery. It is also home to BBC
Birmingham.
The Mailbox is about 300 metres (980 ft) long from front to back
including The Cube. Above the front shops it has an additional 6
floors. The Birmingham and Worcester Canal passes along the back.
|
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61
Wharfside Street
The Mailbox
Birmingham B1 1XL
MAILBOX CLICK
|
Tel:
0121 632 1000 |
Merry Hill Shopping
Centre
Westfield Merry Hill is a shopping centre in
Brierley Hill near Dudley,
West Midlands, England. The first businesses moved into the complex in
1985 and the centre was fully occupied by 1989 with several expansion
projects taking place since then. The original developers and owners
were Richardson Developments but the Centre has had a number of other
owners including Chelsfield and Mountleigh. The current owners are
Westfield and QIC.[2] It was built by Tarmac Construction. Merry
Hill is home to over 250 Shops, Retail Park, Cinema and a Eat Central
food hall including Pizza Express & Nandos with 10,000 Car Parking
Spaces. Adjacent to the main shopping site is The Waterfront, which
accommodates offices for HM Revenue and Customs amongst others, and has
a marina area providing space for a number of bars and restaurants.The
Dudley No.1 Canal passes though the adjacent Waterfront site and high
above the edge of the shopping centre, before descending Delph Locks.
|
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Merry
Hill ,
Merry Hill Centre ,
Brierley Hill
DY5 1QX
Westfield Merry Hill is easily accessible from the
M5 and the main routes leading from Birmingham city centre.
MERRY
HILL SHOPPING CENTRE CLICK
|
Tel: 01384 487 911 Fax: 01384 487 910 |
Moseley Old Hall
This atmospheric Elizabethan farmhouse
conceals a priest's hole and
hiding places, in one of which Charles II hid while on the run after
being defeated at the Battle of Worcester in 1651. You can also see the
bed on which the royal fugitive slept. Follow the story of the King's
dramatic escape from Cromwell's troops and find out about 17th-century
domestic life in this friendly and fascinating historic home. The Hall
is an integral part of the Monarch's Way Trail. The garden has plant
varieties in keeping with the period and has a striking knot garden
following a 17th-century design. |
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Moseley Old Hall
Lane,
Fordhouses,
Wolverhampton,
Staffordshire WV10 7HY
MOSELEY
OLD HALL CLICK
|
Telephone:
01902 782808 |
Museum and Art
Gallery
This excellent
museum at the heart of the city
centre was opened in 1885, and stands in a good looking museum that is
filled with pieces that relate to both the history and development of
Birmingham and the surrounding areas. There is a large collection on
offer that includes artefacts, paintings, documents, maps and many
other pieces that help tell the story of the city.
|
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Chamberlain
Square,
Birmingham, B3 3DH
Birmingham
Museum & Gallery CLICK
|
Phone:
+44 (0)121 303 2834 |
Museums Collections
Centre
The Museums Collections Centre in Nechells has brought together 80 per
cent of Birmingham Museums and Art Gallery’s stored collections under
one roof. The 1.5 hectare site, close to Duddeston Station, holds
hundreds of thousands of objects. Among the collections are steam
engines, sculptures, an entire collection of Austin, Rover and MG motor
cars, a red phone box and even a Sinclair C5.
|
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25 Dollman Street, Birmingham B7 4RQ
MUSEUMS
COLLECTION CENTRE CLICK
|
Tel: +44 (0)121 303 0190
|
National Exhibition
Centre (NEC)
The Birmingham NEC
(National Exhibition
Centre) is one of the largest exhibition spaces in Britain with 20
interconnected halls. The centre is often chosen to host the most
prestigious events outside of London due to its flexible nature with
events large and small often running in parallel. The NEC is situated
near to the J6 of the M42 motorway, adjacent to Birmingham
International Airport and next to Birmingham International railway
station allows visitors easy transport access. Annual events generally
include BBC Gardeners’ World Live, BBC Good Food Show, Gadget Show
Live, Horse of the Year Show and Crufts International Dog Show.
|
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National
Exhibition Centre,
Birmingham B40 1NT
NATIONAL
EXHIBITION CENTRE CLICK
|
Phone:
0121 780 4141 |
National Indoor
Arena (NIA)
The National Indoor
Arena is situated in
central Birmingham and used for many of the most prestigious sporting
events in the country. The arena has a seating capacity of 12,700 and
is by default designed around a ring, thus making it best suited for
sporting and other ringside events. Examples of its use include the
World Badminton Championships, World Judo Championships, Davis Cup
tennis matches and the The Gladiators television programme from 1992 to
2000. The arena is located next to the National Sea Life Centre. There
are four car parks on site with ticket machines, and the NIA is around
a 5 minute taxi ride from Birmingham New Street Station.
|
 |
The
NIA, King Edwards Road,
Birmingham B1 2AA
NATIONAL
INDOOR ARENA CLICK
|
Tel : 0121 780 4141 |
National Motorcycle
Museum
The National
Motorcycle Museum has a vast
collection of British made motorcycles (from past and present) making
it is one of the best and largest motorcycle museums in the world. This
museum pays tribute to those involved in the British motorcycle
industry, an industry that once dominated world markets for
approximately 60 years. The museum also hosts a range of conferences,
seminars and other functions.
|
 |
Coventry
Road,
Bickenhill,
Solihull, B92 0EJ
|
Phone:
+44 (0)1675443311 |
National Sea Life
Centre
Situated at Brindley Place this is an underwater wonderland.
Collections of sealife from around the globe. National Sea Life Centre
The National Sea Life Centre in Brindleyplace is a popular tourist
attraction which features over 60 displays of various sea and
freshwater creatures. It boasts the worlds first transparent 360 degree
tunnel which provides spectacular views of an ocean floor, complete
with stingrays and sharks and other fish and marine life.The one
million litre ocean tank also has giant green sea turtles which are
often a favourite with visitors. The building was designed by Sir
Norman Foster. The diverse and colourful displays along the tour route
of this unique building give the visitor a close look at sea life from
a perspective they would probably never see in real life. This is a
popular destination for school tours and groups. The National Sea Life
Centre also breeds seahorse, is home to a Giant Pacific Octopus, crabs,
lobsters, otters and many species of fish.
|
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The Waters Edge,
Brindleyplace,
Birmingham, B1 2HL
We are located in the corner of Brindleyplace, Birmingham on the Waters
Edge.
NATIONAL
SEA LIFE CENTRE CLICK
|
0121 643 6777
|
Nature Museum
The Birmingham Nature Centre can be found situated on the
Pershore Road not far from BBC Pebble Mill. Set back off the road it is
easily missed. An oasis of calm adjoining Cannon Hill Park, this is a
delightful inner city animal kingdom on your doorstep. It's only 2
miles from the city centre.The centre strives to retain the original
habitat of the animals and it expresses the importance of conservation.
A place for young children to find out about animals, the Nature Centre
is perched right along aside the River Lea. Six and a half acres and
with a wide selection of domestic and wild animals.Advertising itself
as having 134 species of British and European wildlife, the centre
allows free admission to children. The Nature centre is home to otters,
foxes, deer, owls, sheep, goats, wallaby, donkeys, pigs, polecats,
chickens, rabbits, rodents, beavers, reptiles, porcupine, cats,
waterfowl, lynx, and has a selection of wild flowers and birds.
|
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Pershore Road,
Birmingham, B5 7RL
|
Tel :
0121 472 7775 |
Neville
Chamberlain's House
Neville Chamberlain was born in 1869, the son of Joseph Chamberlain
|
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Edgbaston, Birmingham
|
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New Hall Mill
New Hall Mill, a Grade 2 listed building, is
one of only two water mills still surviving in the Birmingham area. The
Mill and its meadow field are privately owned and managed by the New
Hall Water Mill Preservation Trust (Registered Charity No. 502226).
Although now surrounded by the New Hall Valley Country Park, the Mill
is only open to the general public on specific Open Days, or by prior
arrangement. Now restored to a working condition, New Hall Mill is
located off Wylde Green Road, Walmley, Sutton Coldfield, in the West
Midlands area of central England. It is a significant local example of
our industrial heritage and has been described as 'Sutton's little
gem'. The present structure dates from the 18th century, although some
parts are much older. An external overshot waterwheel provides power
for the two pairs of millstones, while a diesel engine over 50 years
old powers various other milling machinery.
|
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Off
Wylde Green Road
Birmingham B76 1QU
NEW
MILL CLICK |
Tel:
0121 526 3131 |
Newman Brothers
Coffin Fittings Works
Newman Brothers Coffin Fittings Works in Fleet Street is to be
refurbished and opened to the public. Production stopped in 1998,
but the company made some of the world’s finest coffin furniture,
including fittings for the coffins of Churchill, Chamberlain and Diana,
Princess of Wales. Thanks to the unique atmosphere of the
interiors, the building reached the finals of the BCC programme
‘Restoration’ featuring Griff Rhys Jones.
|
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Fleet Street
|
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Numbernine Gallery
Birmingham's most exciting and ambitious art gallery which has created
ripples of enthusiastic interest, at both local and international
level.Number nine was established by Lee Benson in 1999. The business
features upcoming and existing artists who specialise in art, glass,
ceramics, sculpture and Rock Art. The website is continually updated
with fresh material and artists. The idea behind Number nine the
gallery is to display art in a commerical environment. When you are
next in Brindleyplace you might like to stop by and take a look. Anyone
interested in fine and modern arts will find something to their taste
here.
|
 |
Number nine the gallery
9 Brindleyplace, Birmingham, B1 2JA,
NUMBERNINE
GALLERY CLICK
|
(0)121 643 9099 or fax: +44(0)121 643 9199
|
Oak House, West Bromwich
16th century timber
framed
yeoman farmer's house surrounded by pleasant grounds, housing Tudor and
Jacobean
furniture.
|
 |
Oak
House
Museum
Oak Road
West Bromwich B70 8HJ
Email: oakhouse@sandwell.gov.uk
OAK
HOUSE
CLICK |
0121
553
0759
0121 525 5167 |
Oratory Hagley Road
After several oratory locations in the city the current location in
Edgbaston commenced in 1852. The church was
constructed between 1907 and 1910 in the Baroque
style as a memorial to Cardinal Newman, founder of the English
Oratory. His papers are located here.
It was designed by the architect Edward Doran Webb . It is also known
as Little Rome in Birmingham.
The Grade II listed church is served by the Congregation
of the Oratory; who also serve the Brompton Oratory in London
and the Oxford Oratory.
J. R. R. Tolkien, the author of The Lord of the Rings,
worshipped here for about seven years.The Oratory was visited by Pope
Benedict XVI,
immediately after the Beatification Mass of John Henry Cardinal Newman
which was held at Cofton Park, Birmingham, on the morning of Sunday
September 19, 2010. |
 |
Oratory House
Hagley Road
Edgbaston
Birmingham
B16 8UE
ORATORY CLICK
|
Telephone
+44 (121) 454 0496
Facsimile
+44 (121) 455 8160 |
Packwood House
The house is originally 16th-century, yet its
interiors were
extensively restored between the world wars by Graham Baron Ash to
create a fascinating 20th-century evocation of domestic Tudor
architecture. Packwood House contains a fine collection of 16th-century
textiles and furniture, and the gardens have renowned herbaceous
borders and a famous collection of yews.
|
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Packwood Lane,
Lapworth,
Warwickshire
B94 6AT
PACKWOOD
HOUSE CLICK
|
Telephone:
01564 782024 |
Pen Room Museum
During the 19th Century, 75% of everything written in the world was
with a ‘Birmingham’ pen. Birmingham was at the forefront of this
trade until it declined in the 1950’s with the invention of the biro
and fountain pen. At one time there were about 100 factories in
the Jewellery Quarter area. The development of the steel pen
reduced the cost of writing and enabled the spread of literacy
throughout the world.Set in the atmosphere of a former Victorian pen
factory, the Pen Room Museum is dedicated to preserving and promoting
the legacy of this trade. There is ongoing research into the
social, historical and technical aspects of the trade and also the
Jewellery Quarter itself. The museum has assisted people tracing
their genealogy and is keen to hear from anybody who has had
connections with the trade. The Pen Room is more than just a passive
museum with objects on display. It is a hands on
collection! Visitors can try writing with a variety of different
implements including quills and typewriters; you can also try writing
in Braille or make your own pen nib using original machinery.
The Pen Room has a range of educational activities that covers both
formal and informal learning. The collection can be used to
support a variety of curricular subjects including literacy, local
history and citizenship. Calligraphy Classes are held at the Pen
Room on Saturday mornings from 10am – 11.30am.The Museum is keen to
form partnerships with community groups to encourage participation in
various cultural activities
|
 |
Pen Room Museum & Learning Centre
Unit 3, The Argent Centre
60 Frederick Street
Hockley
Birmingham
B1 3HS
Email: pentalk@penroom.freeserve.co.uk
PEN ROOM MUSEUM
CLICK
|
Tel: 0121 236 9834
|
Perrot's Folly
The tower or folly is not actually one hundred feet tall. It is in fact
94 feet high and offers panoramic views of leafy Edgbaston and the
surrounding area from its top.he enchanting tower that inspired
Tolkien's 'Two Towers' in Lord of the Rings is open for an extended
period for the first time in over 20 years.Birmingham's historic
landmark tower Perrott's Folly, celebrating it's 250th anniversary,
will be open to the public for an extended period the first time in
over twenty years.The tower was built by eccentric landowner John
Perrott in 1758. Though the reason for its construction is unknown,
historical accounts suggest that in keeping with the fashion of the
day, it was built as an elaborate hunting lodge for the entertainment
of Perrott’s wealthy friends. It later went onto be used as a weather
observatory |
 |
Edgbaston, Birmingham |
0121 248 0708
|
Ragley Hall
Ragley Hall is the home of the Marquess & Marchioness of
Hertford & the seat of the Conway-Seymour family since 1680. The
Stately Home and Gardens include extensive parkland, a large lake with
a picnic and play area, an Adventure Wood, Maze, Woodland Walk, Stables
and the Jerwood Sculpture Park. Refreshments of food and drink can be
obtained from Bodgers cabin near the Adventure Park as well as in a
dedicated Tea Room in the house. There is also a gift shop.This is an
ideal location for a family day out. Take a picnic and let the kids
enjoy themselves in the Adventure Wood. There are climbing frames,
trampoline, swings, wooden walkways and rope climbs and plenty of
places to run and hide. The 3D maze is also very popular. Ragley Hall
Gardens contain some fascinating sculptures with some very lifelike
human figures and unusual stone and metal ones with various themes.
Ragley Hall itself was designed n 1680 by Robert Hooke, a friend of Sir
Christopher Wren. Of particular note is the Baroque plasterwork by
James Gibbs which is dated 1750 and the collection of 18th century
paintings, china and furniture. The gardens and lakeside of Ragley are
set in 400 acres of parkland which was landscaped by 'Capability'
Brown. There are also some 18th century carriages and equestrian
memorabilia with an ice house and game larder.
|
 |
Ragley Hall
Alcester
Warwickshire
B49 5NJ
RAGLEY HALL CLICK
|
Hall Office 01789 762 090
|
Red House Glass
Cone Museum
There are only four surviving glass cones in the UK. This one at
Stourbridge is the best preserved. At one time there would have been
many dotted around the landscape. Glass cones were quite common in the
UK and first appeared around the end of the 17th century. Glass cones
were used to provide a work space for the glassmakers and at the same
time they acted as a giant chimney for the furnace itself. Through the
use of underground tunnels, air was channelled to the furnace to ensure
that the high temperatures necessary for glass making were achieved.
Glass cones should not be confused with the kilns of the potteries
which were in effect large ovens where ceramics were fired. The current
site was purchased in 1788 by a Richard Bradley and the Red House Cone
was completed around 1790. It changed hands several times and in 1916
Stuart Crystal purchased the large glassworks ( now disused ) across
the road. In 1920 they purchased the Red House Cone. Production ceased
here in 1936 and was moved to Vine Street in Birmingham. A new factory
was opened in Gwent in 1965. The Red House Cone is a Grade 2 listed
building and after the closure of Stuart Crystal the restoration of the
buildings and restored craft shops continued until in 2002 it was
opened as a visitor attraction. Inside the cone the building becomes
even more impressive than from the outside where its size is
misleading. The attraction features working glassmakers, an exhibition,
information on the history of glassmaking, a tea room and a Stuart
Crystal shop. This is an attraction suitable for all the family and
there is plenty to do and see.
|
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Wordsley, High Street, Stourbridge DY8 4AZ
RED
HOUSE CONE MUSEUM CLICK
|
01384 812750
|
Ruskin Glass Centre
Glassmaking has taken place in Stourbridge for over 400 years. Glass
and Crystal is still made here today. Following a £1.4m
refurbishment, made possible thanks to funding from Advantage West
Midlands, the site that once was home to the glass trade greats of
Royal Doulton and Webb Corbett is continuing to help the glass trade
thrive in Stourbridge. Ruskin Glass Centre is home to a wide array of
glass crafts; from live glassblowing, respected studio glass artists,
engravers, glass decorators, and glass repair specialists to the
diverse yet complementary trades of furniture design, handmade soap,
textiles, photography, printing and publishing.
There is also a brand new 30 cover cafe on site serving high quality
fresh organic snacks, meals and desserts.
|
 |
Ruskin Glass Centre, Wollaston Road, Amblecote, Stourbridge,
West Midlands, DY8 4HF
email: info@ruskinglasscentre.co.uk
RUSKIN GLASS
CENTRE CLICK
|
tel: 01384 399 419
|
St. Martin's Church
St. Martins is the parish church of Birmingham, or "The Cathedral of
the Bull Ring", as some would say. The first church was probably
Norman, but was rebuilt in the 13th century. As it stands today, most
of the church dates from the late 19th century, though inside you can
see effigies of the de Berminghams, who were Lords of the Manor. Their
home was nearby. There are windows by Burne-Jones and William Morris
inside. In 2003, the exterior was cleaned and refurbished, in
conjunction with the redevelopment of the adjacent Bullring area. This
is one of the most ancient and contemporary buildings in Birmingham.
Most of this Grade II listed church is from the nineteenth century. It
was built in 1873 and is an example of gothic Victorian architecture,
designed by Alfred Chatwin, from Birmingham, who also worked on the
houses of parliament. But St Martin's is much older than that. There
has been a church on this site since 1290 and may well have been a
simple place of worship here in Saxon times. St Martin's is also a
place of worship for a thriving community who refurbished the building
in 2000 making it more light and open. In 2009 we created a tea lounge,
healing centre, and learning and advice service so our hospitality in
the heart of the city could be extended. We believe that what Jesus
called 'Life in all its fullness' can be discovered right here in the
crosscurrents of the marketplace. You are very welcome to come in and
walk around.
|
 |
St. Martin in the Bull Ring,
Edgbaston Street,
Birmingham
B5 5BB.
ST. MARTINS CLICK
|
0121-600 6020
|
St. Paul's Church
and St. Paul's Square
St Paul's Church was built in 1777-9 when the estate of the Colmore
family was released for development. It was the parish church of James
Watt, Matthew Boulton and Washington Irving. The rectangular church has
a West Tower and its spire was added in 1823. Unfortunately, over time
the church became run down. However it has since undergone
refurbishment and restoration. It stands in the centre of Birmingham's
only remaining Georgian square. This was built in 1779 as part of the
Newhall estate. Once a most elegant area, it was encroached upon by
factories and fell into disrepair. In recent times regeneration has
taken place and a number of bars (such as the Jam House) and
restaurants are now situated in and around the square, making it a
desirable and vibrant place to be once more.
|
|
St. Paul's Church, St. Paul's Square
Birmingham, B3 1QZ
ST PAUL'S CLICK
|
Tel) 0121 236 7858 (Fax) 0121 233 0332
|
St. Philip's
Cathedral
St. Philip's Church was consecrated in 1715, having been designed by
Thomas Archer in the baroque style. When Birmingham became a bishopric
in 1905, St Philip's, despite rival claims from St Martin's, became its
cathedral. A statue of the first bishop, Charles Gore, stands by the
west door. Inside there are fine windows by Burne-Jones, for which the
artist waived his fee, being himself a Birmingham man.
|
 |
Birmingham Cathedral, Colmore Row, Birmingham B3 2QB
Email us enquiries@
birminghamcathedral.com
ST.PHILLIP'S
CLICK
|
Tel: 0121 262 1840 Fax: 0121 262 1860
|
Sandwell
Valley
Country Park
2000 acres of lakes,
woodland
and farms with hidden pools, wildlife refuges and the remains of an old
Benedictine
monastery. |
 |
Salters
Lane
West Bromwich
B71 4BG
Email: enquiries@sandwellvalley.com
SANDWELL
COUNTRY
PARK CLICK |
tel : 0121 553 0220
0121 525 9435
|
Sandwell Valley
Park Farm
Sandwell Park Farm is a fully restored working Victorian farm. Grazing
meadows, a traditional farmyard, walled kitchen gardens, Grade II
listed buildings, a small museum and award winning Tea Rooms provide a
perfect day out.
|
 |
Sandwell Park Farm, Salters Lane, West Bromwich, B71 4BG.
SANDWELL PARK
FARM CLICK
|
Telephone 0121 553 0220. |
Sarehole Mill
he 200-year-old mill at Sarehole is one of only two surviving
watermills in Birmingham. The cobbled courtyard and mill pool are a
tranquil haven from 21st century life outside, while the buildings and
their impressive machinery give a unique insight into the lives of the
millers who once inhabited this rural retreat.More than seventy
watermills once occupied the riverbanks around Birmingham and there has
been one at Sarehole for at least 460 years. Sarehole was first
built as a corn-grinding mill but has also been used for rolling sheet
metal, grinding blades and wire rolling.The Mill was once rented to
Matthew Boulton before he moved to Handsworth to build his famous Soho
Manufactory. The local landscape also provided inspiration for the
stories of JRR Tolkien who spent his childhood here.
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Cole Bank Road,
Hall Green
Birmingham, B13 0BD
SAREHOLE
MILL CLICK
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Tel: +44 (0)121 777 6612
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Selfridges
Birmingham
Selfridges is a chain of department stores in the United Kingdom. It
was founded by American entrepreneur Harry Gordon Selfridge who opened
a large store in London's Oxford Street on 15 March 1909..The
Birmingham store is covered in 15,000 spun aluminium discs and was
designed by architects Future Systems. A further store is scheduled to
open in Glasgow in 2007.
The Birmingham store, designed by architects Future Systems, is covered
in 15,000 spun aluminium discs. Since it opened in 2003, the Birmingham
store has been named every year by industry magazine Retail Week as one
of the 100 stores to visit in the world.
The current shopping centre at the Bull Ring is the busiest in the
United Kingdom with 36.5 million visitors in 2004. It is also the UK's
eleventh largest shopping complex and it houses one of only four
Selfridges department stores and the largest Debenhams outside of
London. Consequently, the centre has been a huge success, attracting
custom from all over the world, including New York.
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Selfridges & Co
The Bullring
Upper Mall East Birmingham
B5 4BP
SELFRIDGES
CLICK
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Tel: 0800 123 400
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Selly Manor
Selly Manor is one of Birmingham's oldest buildings. It used to stand
in Bournbrook Road. First mentioned in the Court Rolls in 1327, Selly
Manor was originally a sub-Manor of Weoley Castle. Early last century
it was condemned to be demolished to make way for new building
development.It was bought by George Cadbury and transported piece by
piece from the original site in Bournbrook (about a mile away) then
repaired and re-built in his new village of Bournville. Owned by the
Bournville Village Trust, Selly Manor was opened to the public in 1917
and houses the Laurence Cadbury collection of furniture. dating from c.
1500-c.1750 it is one of the best collections of vernacular furniture
in the country. The garden surrounding Selly Manor and the smaller
Minworth Greaves is planted with many herbs and plants that would have
been familiar to the people living in the houses.
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Corner of Maple Road and Sycamore Road
Bournville
Birmingham
SELLY
MANOR CLICK
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Tel: (0121) 472 0199
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Severn
Valley
Railway
The Severn
Valley
Railway runs for 16 miles from Kidderminster in Worcestershire to
Bridgnorth
in Shropshire and boasts one of the largest collections of working
steam locomotives
and coaches, including some rolling stock which is over 80 years old.
It
hosts many special events throughout the year including visits by those
children's
favourites 'Thomas the Tank Engine' and of course 'Santa'. Other events
include
the popular '1940s Weekend', 'Classic Car and Bike Day' and 'Severn
Valley
in Bloom', which highlights the beautiful Station gardens.The Railway
also
offers a wide variety of catering facilities ranging from the buffets
at
the main stations, a trolley service on the trains, through to the ever
popular
Sunday luncheon trains. These trains operate on most Sundays throughout
the
year and advance booking is required. The beautiful valley of the River
Severn
is best seen from the train or by alighting at one of the intermediate
stations
you can enjoy a walk along the riverside paths.
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The Railway Station
Bewdley
Worcestershire
DY12 1BG
SEVERN VALLEY
RAILWAY CLICK |
Tel:
01299
403 816 |
Shakespeare Express
Birmingham ( Snow Hill ) to Stratford and back twice a day on Sundays
during July, through to the beginning of September and occassionally on
other Sundays The Shakespeare Line - the railway line between the City
of Birmingham and Stratford-upon-Avon. Stations along this line serve
the City’s shopping and business districts, urban suburbs, market
towns, rural communities and Stratford-upon-Avon’s international
visitor centre and facilities. The Shakespeare Line offers residents
and visitors quick, convenient and economical travel for business,
leisure and educational purposes. Shoppers, in particular, find the
trains a quick and easy way to get to the Birmingham, Stratford and
Henley markets and for other shopping outings. The route is relatively
unusual as it is used by regular modern diesel services and seasonal
heritage steam train operations. Over 2 million passengers per annum
use the stations between Stratford and Small Heath, with many of those
people using Birmingham Moor Street and Snow Hill stations travelling
to and from other Shakespeare Line stations.
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* Birmingham - Snow Hill (BSW)
* Birmingham - Moor Street (BMO)
* Bordesley (BBS)
* Small Heath (SMA)
* Tyseley (TYS)
* Spring Road (SRI)
* Hall Green (HLG)
* Yardley Wood (YRD)
* Shirley (SRL)
* Whitlocks End (WTE)
* Wythall (WYT)
* Earlswood (EWD)
* The Lakes (TLK)
* Wood End (WDE)
* Danzey (DZY)
* Henley-in-Arden (HNL)
* Wootton Wawen (WWW)
* Wilmcote (WMC)
* Stratford-upon-Avon (SAV)
SLPG,
12 Morris Field Croft.
Hall Green,
Birmingham B28 0RN
SHAKESPEARE
EXPRESS CLICK
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Soho House
Soho House was the elegant home of industrialist and enterpreneur
Matthew Boulton from 1766 to 1809. Carefully restored, this fashionable
Georgian house features period room interiors with fine collections of
ormolu, silver, furniture and paintings. It was once a regular meeting
place for some of the greatest minds of the 18th century. Matthew
Boulton (1728-1809) was a founding member of the Lunar Society, a group
of great thinkers and inventors who met regularly at his home at Soho
House. Boulton’s guests included James Watt, Erasmus Darwin, Josiah
Wedgwood and Joseph Priestley.
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Soho Avenue (off Soho Road) Handsworth Birmingham B18 5LB
SOHO HOUSE
CLICK
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Tel: +44 (0)121 554 9122
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Solihull and
District Hebrew Congregation
The Solihull and
District Hebrew Congregation is a small
and vibrant community which holds regular religious services as well as
a wide range of social activities. It also operates a successful Cheder
which utilises the latest audio/visual teaching aids to bring Judaism
alive for its pupils. Visitors are always welcome
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3 Monastery Drive,
Solihull,
B91 1DW
SOLIHULL &
DISTRICT HEBREW CONGREGATION
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Tel: +44(0)121 603 5170
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Star City
Europe's largest cinema complex right here in Birmingham. Warner
Village.The Warner Village cinema at Star City is just off Junction 6,
Cuckoo Road near the Heartlands Spine Road. A massive entertainment
complex, it is very close to Spaghetti Junction.Star City came into
being as a result of the regeneration of the Heartlands area of
Birmingham. It was opened in 2000 by George Clooney, having been
referred to as Warner Village and now as Vue under its new
branding.Star City is a premier destination for family leisure in
Birmingham and the West Midlands. There are a host of attractions under
one roof including the recently opened Adventure Island Golf which is
the UK's first indoor Adventure Golf Complex with two 18 hole gold
courses - all with a tropical theme complete with palm trees,
volcanoes, caves, waterfalls and villages.Star City boasts one of the
largest Cinemas in Europe alonge with a 22 lane bowling alley, a 5 a
side football centre, gym, Laser Station and Climbing Centre. It also
has a huge choice of restaurants and a few shops.The UK's largest
Casino is also based here. Star City went through a major redevelopment
in 2008 and the venue is host to several shows and events throughout
the year. This is no longer just a big cinema. This is an impressive
family leisure destination of significant value to the region. Vue's
theatre screens all the usual Hollywood blockbusters and many popular
Bollywood films. You can't go wrong with Star City. If the weather is
bad and you feel like being cheered up then head straight here.
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StarCity Birmingham
32 Watson Road
Birmingham
B7 5SA
STAR
CITY CLICK
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"Stourbridge
Schindler"
The plaque
above
can be seen at the entrance to Mary Stevens Park in Stourbridge in
recognition
of the late Frank Foley, the Stourbridge man who saved thousands of
Jews in
World War 2. The plaque was unveiled on 27 January 2004, Frank Foley
was a
secret service agent who posed as a passport officer in Berlin, issuing
fake
documents to around 10,000 Jews, saving them from almost certain death
in
the Nazi concentration camps. Mr Foley lived most of his life in
Stourbridge
and died in 1958 and is buried at Stourbridge Crematorium.
Foley: The Spy who saved 10,000 Jews - buy the book |
 |
 Foley:
The
Spy who saved 10,000 Jews
by Michael Smith
Published by Hodder & Stoughton General |
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Sutton
Arts Theatre
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Sutton
Arts Theatre
, South Parade,
Sutton Coldfield
, B72 1QU
http://www.suttonartstheatre.co.uk/
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Sutton Park
Sutton Park is not just another park. It is a nature reserve
which consists of woodland, heathland and wetland. Plentiful in water,
a variety of plant life and tree specimens grow here. Sutton park
covers an area of some 2,400 acres.Henry VIII used Sutton Park as one
of his favourite hunting parks and settlements have been here from much
earlier times. The park was used by the military in the first and
second world war for training purposes. There was even a prisoner of
war camp here. Sutton Park is a National Nature Reserve under the
management of the Birmingham City Council. The park handles large
numbers of visitors especially in the summer months. It also caters for
a wide range of leisure pursuits from model aircraft flying, kite
flying clubs to joggers and cyclists as well as families who just love
to visit and picnic within the grounds. There is a visitor centre, a
restaurant by the lake, a nearby golf course and plenty of open space
and fresh air.
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Sutton
Coldfield
The main entrance is Town Gate in Tudor Hill. The postcode for satnav
users is B73 6BU.
SUTTON PARK CLICK
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Symphony Hall
The Birmingham Symphony Hall opened in 1991 and is situated just
opposite the Hyatt Hotel adjacent to Centenary Square. Birmingham's
Symphony Hall is an impressive 2,262 seat concert hall in the heart of
the city. Located in the ICC ( International Convention Centre )
building, it was officially opened by the Queen in 1991. The Symphony
hall has world class acoustics and an impressive auditorium that must
place it amongst the finest in the UK. The Birmingham Symphony
Orchestra are based here and it is host to numerous international
orchestras. It is also a venue for community events and has a diverse
programme which includes all types of music, comedy acts, conferences
and graduations. Over 300 events a year take place here with nearly
400,000 people visiting the Symphony Hall each and every year. At a
cost of £30 million it was designed by Russell Johnson of Artec
Consultants Inc and features state of the art acoustics and 8 inch (
200 mm ) thick concrete walls and ceilings with dampening curtains and
sound reflection equipment. Many people are unaware that the Symphony
Hall is built just 98 feet ( 30 metres ) from a railway line. To
alleviate any interference the railway track is mounted on rubber
cushions as is the entire hall.
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Symphony Hall is located in the International Convention
Centre (ICC) on Broad Street. On entering the Convention Centre from
Centenary Square,
SYMPHONY
HALL CLICK
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Box Office and information: 0121 780 3333
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Town Hall
Designed by architect Joseph Hanson but based on Palladio's Books of
architecture the Birmingham Town Hall is an impressive building. Town
Hall re-opened on Thursday 4 October 2007, with a two-week festival of
events on the theme Celebrating the Past, Pioneering the Future.
Town Hall has undergone a £35m renovation, funded by Birmingham
City Council (£18.3m), Heritage Lottery Fund (£13.7m) and
European Regional Development Fund (£3m).
Acclaimed at its opening in 1834 as the finest music hall in the
country, this Grade 1 listed landmark has been lovingly and
painstakingly renovated by a dedicated team of conservation and
construction professionals. Since that time, its imposing neo-classical
design has dominated the City centre’s Victoria and Chamberlain Squares.
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Town Hall
Victoria Square
Birmingham
B3 3DQ
TOWN HALL CLICK
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Box Office and information: 0121 780 3333
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UNIVERSITY COLLEGE
The origins of our College can be traced back to the late nineteenth
century with the foundation of a Municipal Technical School offering
cookery and household science courses. In 1927 the name of the
School was changed to the Central
Technical College. By the 1950s the College had been renamed the
College of Technology and a department of Bakery and Domestic Science
had been established.
The new College of Bakery, Catering, Domestic Science and Associated
Studies opened to students in 1957. The following year, the name was
changed yet again to the Birmingham College of Food and Domestic Arts.
The College continued to operate on many sites across the City until
1968 when HRH The Duke of Edinburgh opened our main site in Summer Row.
Another name change, in the late 1980s, to the Birmingham College of
Food, Tourism and Creative Studies, was designed to recognise the
diversification of the College's programmes. We
welcome members of the public into University College Birmingham
to try our facilities and give our students valuable practical
experience, so why not make the most of what's on offer?
Restaurants : bringing
fine dining at affordable prices, with lunchtime and evening
menus to rival the best Birmingham has to offer.
With a 3 course lunch from just £8.50 why not take time out of
your
busy day and let us serve you, or if time is short our Express Dish of
the Day is an ideal choice for those who want a quick bite to
eat. The
Atrium Restaurant is open Monday - Friday evenings with a range of
fine dining menus, or if you're looking for a night out with a
difference try one of our popular theme nights in the Brasserie
Restaurant.
Cakes and Bakes
: Pick up delicious freshly baked goods and ready
meals in our shop, Cakes and Bakes.
The
Spa :You could treat yourself to top class
pampering in The Spa
, with facilities that rival the most exclusive salons our students
learn in the best possible environment and you can benefit from that
too.
Sports Therapy
Clinics :And if you require Sports
Therapy because of participation in sport or
merely the rigours of everyday life then our Sports Therapy Clinics are for you. |
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University College
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