Victorian Buildings of Birmingham by Roy Thornton, a book review

Click here to see the book on Amazon

I really can’t resist a book laden with old photographs of Birmingham – which is why I bought Victorian Buildings of Birmingham by Roy Thornton.  I’m sure we’ll end up reviewing, or perhaps describing, many more like it.

The publishers descriptions says:

Birmingham’s Victorian heritage is still surprisingly well preserved, despite much demolition during the twentieth century, and major redevelopment in the last few months and years. In this book Roy Thornton looks at a selection of the city’s Victorian architecture, some of the lost buildings as well as the survivors to illustrate the range of building that took place during Birmingham’s most prosperous decades. A wide range of old and new photographs, maps, plans, drawings and paintings are also included. Public buildings, churches, houses, industrial buildings, schools and hospitals are all discussed, together with a special study of Corporation Street – arguably the city centre’s best-preserved Victorian thoroughfare.”Victorian Buildings of Birmingham” will appeal to anyone interested in the history of Britain’s second city.

Roy Thornton was born and brought up in Birmingham and has lived and worked in the West Midlands ever since. He trained as an architect and ran his own architectural practice for over thirty years. Roy has now retired but is still an active member of many local groups, clubs and societies.

My favourite with these books is rootling through to find places I know.  This book organises the images in the following chapters:

1. Martin & Chamberlain
2. Public Buildings
3. The Colmore Estate
4. Colmore Row and Victoria Square
5. The Original Buildings of Corporation Street
6. New Street and the Rest
7. Board Schools & Others
8. Hospitals
9. Residential Buildings
10. Religious Buildings
11. The Jewellery Quarter & Surrounds
12. Public Houses
13. A Miscellany

Despite the grandeur of most Public buildings and the commercial streets I enjoy the domestic buildings.  Detail after detail of Victorian Houses in Edgbaston, Moseley, Sutton Coldfield, Sparkbrook, Highgate and Handsworth.

Enjoy, I did.

Click here to buy this book on Amazon.