Posts Tagged ‘Architecture’
Saturday, July 24th, 2010
The ‘pub’ is one of Britain’s great institutions; it was largely a Victorian creation but since the 1960’s it has been subject to rapid and often insensitive change. Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA) have estimated that 39 pubs are closing each week; a loss of any heritage asset will lead to a desire to preserve what is left.
CAMRA did just this and undertook a National Inventory of Pub Interiors of Outstanding Interest and of the 60 000 pubs in the United Kingdom, 293 of those were of significant importance. The inventory is in two parts: part one covers interiors which are essentially intact since they were originally created which holds 195 entries 8 of which are in Birmingham and part two lists pub interiors whilst not intact contain features or rooms which are of truly national significance of which there are 98 entries 4 of which are in Birmingham.
A series of pubs built in Birmingham between 1896 and 1904 by James and Lister Lea are truly unique to Birmingham. These pubs are named ‘tile and terracotta’ so-called from the red terracotta facing on the frontage and extensive use of tiles for decoration inside.
Ceramic tiles found in The White Swan, Digbeth
The Anchor, Digbeth: A red brick and terracotta building built by James and Lister Lea.
However, over the past three or four decades the public house has seen massive changes through changing fashion tastes, economy and benign neglect which has resulted in many nationally important interiors currently at risk. If you want to know more Licensed to Sell – The History and Heritage of the Public House by Geoff Brandwood, Andrew Davison and Michael Slaughter explains how pubs took their present form and examines the exceptional interiors that can be found.
Tags: Architecture, birmingham, birminghamheritage, Buildings, digbeth, heritage, Victorian
Posted in Architecture, Buildings, birmingham | 1 Comment »
Sunday, July 4th, 2010
Church in Cheshire, courtesy of the English Heritage website
Two recent articles on the Guardian website highlighted a survey of our churches and other places of worship by English Heritage. The survey uncovered an urgent repairs backlog of an estimated £900m, with the current condition of one in 10 churches causing serious concern.
One article, published prior to the release of the survey, said:
…The report, to be released on Wednesday, is not as bleak as many feared. It is expected to show that one in nine (11%) of all places of worship are in poor or very poor condition and therefore at risk, based on a representative sample survey of almost 1,500 buildings. The remainder are in fair or good condition, greatly valued both by the worshippers and the surrounding community, and often well supported and maintained through heroic efforts by tiny regular congregations.
The article goes on to say that the type of building often has much bearing on its condition – higher graded listed buildings are often in poor condition, as are isolated rural churches. Inner-city churches are often found to be in better condition than those in rural areas, but the survey found that 28% of places of worship in Birmingham are at risk – St. Barnabas on Erdington High St is one of these.
However mammoth the task of caring for our crumbling places of worship may seem, English Heritage is very positive about what congregations can do to help. Dr Simon Thurley (Chief Executive of English Heritage) said:
“I urge everyone who cares about their local church, chapel, synagogue or other place of worship to lend a hand. Don’t be put off by what might seem like an impossible challenge – the key is to do small things really well. Finding somewhere to serve cups of tea might achieve just as much as a major building project. Clearing gutters could save the need for a whole new roof or renewing damp walls at a cost of thousands of pounds. Brambles cleared in a Cornish churchyard last year made way for a host of primroses this year and an influx of visitors as a result. Get hold of one of our Caring for Places of Worship booklets and get going!”
You can find the Guardian articles here and here. The Birmingham Mail have also covered the survey, focusing on the places of worship at risk in Birmingham – find that article here.
Tags: Architecture, birmingham, birmingham mail, birminghamheritage, Churches, conservation, English Heritage, Guardian
Posted in Architecture, Birmingham News, Buildings, Feature on Front Page, Heritage News, Other sites | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 16th, 2010
Ceramic tiles cover walls and floors, roofs and pavements, furniture and stoves, and can be seen in churches, mosques, pubs, shops, hospitals and homes in Birmingham. They are often combined with other forms of ceramics such as terracotta, faience and mosaic.
Some examples include:
Moseley Road Baths
This building has a Gothic renaissance red brick and terracotta frontage, lavishly embellished and decorated and inside various glazed bricks can be seen.
The Bartons Arms
This pub is best known for, its wall to wall Minton-Hollins tiles, from shiny-glazed decorative patterns to huge painted scenes.
A section of the Bartons Arms staircase
St. Mary’s College, Oscott
The interiors include early Minton encaustic tile pavements dating from around 1840’s.
The Tiles & Architectural Ceramics Society has served as Britain’s national society responsible for the study of tiles and architectural ceramics. The website is worth a look for anyone interested in tiles and decorative ceramics related to buildings.
Also ‘The Decorative Tile in Architecture and Interiors‘ by Tony Herbert and Kathryn Huggins explores the variety of techniques used by decorative tile manufacturers and the way in which designers, architects and builders exploited the colour palette of ceramic glazes. Coupled with design ideas from around the world and from the history of ceramics, the resulting buildings show how the creative use of ceramic tiles can produce architecture and interiors of quality.
Tags: Architecture, baths, book review, Moseley Road Baths, Victorian Society
Posted in Architecture, Buildings, Uncategorized, birmingham | No Comments »
Wednesday, June 9th, 2010
These are our links for June 3rd through June 9th:
- Another landmark in the Staffordshire Hoard campaign | birminghamnewsroom.com – The campaign to permanently display the Staffordshire Hoard in the Midlands has passed another major milestone.<br />
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Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery and The Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent have now transferred £3.3 million to the British Museum for the joint acquisition of the world famous collection of Anglo-Saxon gold.<br />
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That means the farmer on whose land the treasure was found, and the metal detecting enthusiast who discovered it will now receive their money (a 50/50 split of £3.285 million).
- Lord Mayor visits Old Town Hall | Hands on Handsworth – The Old Town hall is just off Slack Lane in Handsworth and is looked after by the Handsworth Historical Society, all volunteers.<br />
The society were delighted in May to win the Arts & Culture Award at the Pride in Handsworth Award and said “that they had never in over forty years been recognised for the work they have done”. On the 11th May they were also delighted to welcome the Lord Major & Majoress to the Old Town Hall
- BLDGBLOG: Bloggers in the Archive – "…what if you could install an architecture blogger—or a film blogger, a food blogger, an archaeology blogger, a fiction blogger—in an overlooked archive somewhere, anywhere in the world, and thus help to reveal those items to the general public?"
Tags: Architecture, archives, bctblog, blogging, Handsworth, hoard, linklove, links, staffordshire
Posted in Other sites | No Comments »
Saturday, June 5th, 2010
Click to view this title on Amazon
Architecture for Beginners!
For someone who is fascinated by historic buildings, I know very little of the many architectural eras and correct terminology! There are plenty of guides to historic architecture out there, such as the Pevsner guides, and whilst I recognise the brilliance of such guides, I was looking for something a little gentler to ease myself into the world of architecture.
I came across Rice’s Architectural Primer by Matthew Rice which has (among other chapters) grammar of architecture, vocabulary, and concise information about architectural eras, illustrated beautifully with Rice’s ink and wash drawings. Its very informative, but in a completely user-friendly way – especially for beginners, or those with a general interest in architecture. It was definitely a great place to start so I could build up the confidence to progress to some of those other, slightly scary looking, architecture guides.
Rice’s gorgeous, quirky drawings are very easy on the eye – this little hardback is so nicely presented that it makes a brilliant present. Father’s Day, anyone?
Tags: Architecture, book review, Buildings, heritage, Matthew Rice, pevsner
Posted in Architecture, Book Reviews, Buildings | No Comments »
Friday, April 30th, 2010
Manor House, West Bromwich. Image courtesy of Sandwell Council website
The Manor House, a medieval building in West Bromwich, has been closed to the public for years and is only open for designated events and open days – including this Sunday and Monday (2nd and 3rd May). The building is currently undergoing a restoration by Sandwell Council who hope that the Grade I listed building can become a visitor attraction and community venue.
Built by the de Marnham family in the late 1200s as the centre of their farming estate, the Great Hall is now the only part of the original complex that survives, although over many years the original building was added to. You can find out more about the Bank Holiday events here.
The house will also be the site of an survey by archaeologists who hope to establish the purpose of a series of tunnels under the house that were uncovered during the restoration. Find out more here.
Tags: Architecture, conservation, heritage, Manor House, open day, sandwell, Sandwell Council
Posted in Architecture, Buildings, Events, Other Groups, Other sites | No Comments »
Thursday, March 25th, 2010
Bells Farm in 1969 - photo by Phyllis Nicklin from the Birmingham University Archive
Dave Thomas, one of our volunteers has sent us this update which I thought we would share with you:
I’m really interested in old buildings and the work that Birmingham Conservation Trust does. I am a chartered building surveyor and I volunteered at Birmingham Conservation Trust (BCT). I was lucky enough to attend a recent meeting at Bells Farm with BCT, The Spearhead Trust (who use the existing part of the building for their valuable community activities) and Nick Joyce Architects LLP for initial discussions on the future restoration plans for the property.
The rear wing of this very special Grade II* listed, 17th century, timber framed farmhouse was seriously damaged by fire over 20 years ago and BCT have been asked to carry out an Options Appraisal to identify costs to restore it and a sustainable use to ensure its future. This is being done over the next few months and should lead to a bright new future for Bells Farm.
Which sort of sums up where we are at the moment.
Tags: Architecture, birmingham, BirminghamUK, conservation, heritage, Volunteers
Posted in Architecture, BirminghamUK, Buildings, Heritage News, Heritage jobs, Other Groups, Projects, Volunteers, birmingham | 9 Comments »
Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010
- Click above to view this title on Amazon
I was able to go to
The Victorian Society‘s Saving a Century exhibition at the Central Library just before it moved on to the next city. It was completely engrossing with some fantastic photography and stories both dispiriting and uplifting.
It made me realise that I know little of the buildings that Birmingham itself has lost, because much of them were lost before my time. I remembered Roy Thornton’s
Lost Buildings of Birmingham being published a year or so ago, treated myself to a copy and found a great book full of atmospheric photographs and illustrations under various different catagories – public buildings, religious buildings, etc. I was suddenly nostalgic for buildings I had never known!
While brief, the text accompanying the images is informative, and interestingly, for the most part doesn’t include the reason for a building’s demolition – maybe this information wasn’t always available to the author, but rather than have us puzzle and rage over the politics and unfairness of city planning, Thornton allows us to appreciate the former glories of Birmingham for what they were. And quite right too.
Tags: Architecture, birmingham, birminghamheritage, book review, development, Roy Thornton, Victorian Society
Posted in Architecture, Book Reviews, Buildings, Pictures, birmingham | 2 Comments »
Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010
The Archway of Tears
The Archway of Tears at the City Hospital, Dudley Road, Birmingham
Birmingham Conservation Trust have secured funding to carry out an Options Appraisal on the Archway of Tears at the City Hospital on Dudley Road. This is the initial stage in a proposed larger project to restore the Archway of Tears – the entrance to the former Birmingham Union Workhouse.
The building was designed by J.J. Bateman and completed in 1852. It was here that people driven by poverty and circumstance arrived to be assessed for entry to the workhouse. Its evocative name reflects the sorrow suffered by new arrivals as families were split by gender and age to relevant living and working areas. Have a look at Ted Rudge’s website http://www.ted.rudge.btinternet.co.uk/workhouse.htm to read stories about the Workhouse.
We will look at ways to re-use the building in a sustainable way and we also will tell the story of the Workhouse in some way. If you or your family have any memories or artefacts you want to share with us, please get in touch.
Tags: Architecture, Archway of Tears, birmingham, BirminghamUK, history
Posted in Architecture, Birmingham News, BirminghamUK, Buildings, Heritage News, birmingham | 5 Comments »
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010
These are our links for February 21st through March 2nd:
- MADE – Talking cities lecture series – “MADE’s thought provoking lecture series, supported by Cudos and Birmingham Architectural Association, kicks off on 11th March with a talk by Irena Bauman, Bauman Lyons Architects, entitled Happy Cities – Stitching the Disconnections”
- Birmingham museum in frame for national crown | birminghamnewsroom.com – The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter in Hockley has been shortlisted for the silver or gold award in the Enjoy England Awards for Excellence 2010.
- Revolutionary Players – Project Information – Revolutionary Players of Industry and Innovation is creating a website based on digitised material from libraries, museums and archives across the West Midlands region relating to the development of the Industrial Revolution and significant individuals who contributed to it. The focus is on the period 1700 – 1830.
Tags: Architecture, bctblog, heritage, linklove, links, museum
Posted in Other sites | No Comments »
