JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN THE CHAMBERLAIN MEMORIAL CLOCK THE UNIVERSITY OF BIRMINGHAM AND THE CHAMBERLAIN CLOCK TOWER PLACES TO VISIT Situated at the very centre of Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter, the ornate Chamberlain A renowned advocate of Memorial Clock was erected in 1903 in honour of the importance of his visit to South Africa as Secretary of State for the education, Chamberlain Colonies. Chamberlain's unrelenting support for was highly local industry, his own background in screw- instrumental in the making, and his contribution to the abolition of University’s 1900 jewellers' plate duties in particular, undoubtedly founding and held the earned him the backing of many of the local position of Chancellor manufacturers. The clock was restored to its from its inception until former glory in the 1980s and is accessible to the his death. Despite being public at any time. surrounded by more modern buildings, the Courtesy P. Bounous P. Courtesy Warstone Lane, Birmingham B18 6JJ Victorian red-brick © University of Birmingham © University heart of the University HIGHBURY HALL still stands and is dominated by the Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Named after the London suburb in Tower – the tallest of its type in the world and affectionately dubbed ‘Old which he grew up, this grand house Joe’. The grounds are accessible to the public at any reasonable time of was commissioned by Joseph the day and a virtual tour is available at www.virtualtour.bham.ac.uk. A Chamberlain and designed by self-guided heritage trail can also be downloaded at renowned architect John Henry www.birmingham.ac.uk/Documents/culture/BookletfinalPDF.pdf. Chamberlain. Built in 1878, it was The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham B15 2TT his residence until his death in 1914. Phone: + 44 (0) 121 414 3344 Website: www.birmingham.ac.uk Now owned by Birmingham City © Birmingham City Council Council, it functions mainly as a BIRMINGHAM TOWN HALL private venue for conferences and weddings. The house has been largely restored to its original period condition and contains an abundance of Chamberlain Completed in 1834, memorabilia. Highbury Hall is accessible to the public on occasional event-days. Birmingham Town Hall Highbury Hall, 4 Yew Tree Road, Moseley, Birmingham B13 8QG was the setting for many Phone: + 44 (0) 121 303 2050 of Joseph Chamberlain’s Website: www.birmingham.gov.uk/highbury-events political speeches, as well as those of his BIRMINGHAM COUNCIL HOUSE contemporaries. Completely renovated Constructed during over a period of 12 years Chamberlain’s mayoralty, from 1996, the building taking five years to complete . © Mary Evans Picture Library/Mapseeker Publishing Library/Mapseeker Picture . © Mary Evans now functions almost © Birmingham City Council and costing over £160,000, exclusively as a theatre Birmingham Council House was and concert venue. Whilst much of its external architecture has been the political backdrop for one of preserved and restored, the interior has been extensively modernised – the defining periods of although, where possible, in keeping with the spirit of the original design. Chamberlain’s career: a time Regular guided tours are available for individuals and groups wishing to when his name became learn more. synonymous with municipal © Birmingham City Council Birmingham Town Hall, Victoria Square, Birmingham B3 3DQ improvement and decisive Phone: + 44 (0) 121 780 3333 Website: www.thsh.co.uk/tours action. The building contains many original features and a wealth of historical Late Victorian Birds Eye View of Birmingham View Eye Birds Victorian Late ephemera. Today, still the administrative heart of the city, the House is not open to the public but private tours can be arranged using the contact details below. A THE ELAN VALLEY virtual tour is also available at: CHAMBERLAIN SQUARE AND THE CHAMBERLAIN MEMORIAL CORPORATION STREET www.summitvirtualtours.co.uk/portfolio_museums_Virtual_Tour.asp It is ironic that perhaps the single Birmingham Council House, Victoria Square, Birmingham B3 3AA Whilst the city hosts a Started in 1878, this lengthy greatest physical Phone: + 44 (0) 121 303 2438 number of memorials and ambitious project was part testament to email: [email protected] to Joseph of Chamberlain’s response to Chamberlain’s Chamberlain, this is the Artisans’ Dwellings Act KEY HILL CEMETERY endeavours in arguably the most (1875), providing councils with Birmingham lies impressive: located in the power to buy up Originally called the almost 100 miles what was the civic dilapidated property for the Birmingham General away. Begun in 1892, heart of Victorian purposes of redevelopment. Cemetery, it was established the Elan Valley Water Birmingham, His intention was to clear the by a group of non-conformist ^ Supply Scheme was a © Dwr Cymru Welsh Water © Dwr Cymru Welsh purpose-built and slums and replace them with a businessmen dismayed at the masterpiece of civil Courtesy P. Bounous P. Courtesy highly ornate, it stands showcase Parisian-style restrictions placed on engineering and political manoeuvring that secured clean drinking water © Birmingham City Council in a square likewise boulevard lined with modern housing. However, the scheme received criticism dissenting ministers officiating for the city. The construction of a series of dams and reservoirs in mid- dedicated in Chamberlain’s honour. Designed by the Council’s favoured when the resulting street was instead composed mainly of shops and offices. This Bounous P. Courtesy at funerals in Anglican Wales, taking over a decade to complete, allowed water to be transported architect, John Henry Chamberlain, it was unveiled in 1880 but received was further exacerbated by the fact that the Act, and consequently the Council, churches. Opened in May 1836, it is the oldest cemetery in Birmingham and is the along a 73-mile aqueduct directly to Birmingham. The dams and mixed reviews from artists and sculptors and led some to question the made no immediate provision for the rehousing of people displaced by these resting place of many of Victorian Birmingham’s great and good. A number of the reservoirs remain in use and are accessible at any time. A dedicated motives for its creation. Despite the demolition of many of the improvements. Today, the street continues to be a central commercial Chamberlain family – including Joseph himself – are interred here, all in relatively visitors' centre, which includes a revealing exhibition of the project's surrounding Victorian buildings, it remains in its original position. The thoroughfare and, above the level of the modern ground-floor shop frontages, the modest graves. The cemetery is open daily but opening hours vary. Check before history, opens daily 10am - 4.30pm. monument and square are accessible to the public at any time. original elaborate architecture is much in evidence. visiting at: www.birmingham.gov.uk/cemeteries or by calling 0121 554 0096. Elan Valley Visitor Centre, Elan Valley, Rhayader, Powys LD6 5HP Chamberlain Square, Birmingham B3 3BH Corporation Street, Birmingham B4 6QA Key Hill Cemetery, Icknield Street, Birmingham B18 6PP Phone: + 44 (0) 1597 810 880 Website: www.elanvalley.org.uk 24 25.