Further information

Websites birminghamcivicsociety.org.uk visitbirmingham.com birminghammuseums.org.uk CITY HERITAGE TRAIL libraryofbirmingham.com

Books WH Haywood The Work of the Civic Society from June 1918 to June 1946 (BCS, 1946)

Phillada Ballard (editor) Birmingham’s Victorian & Edwardian Architects (Oblong / Victorian Society, 2009)

Andy Foster Pesvner Architectural Guide to Birmingham (Yale, 2005)

George T. Noszlopy Public Sculpture of Birmingham ( University Press, 1998)

George T. Noszlopy & Fiona Waterhouse Birmingham Public Sculpture Trails (Liverpool University Press, 2008)

Credits Trail written and edited by Chris Rice Colour photography by Chris Rice Historic images courtesy of Birmingham Archives & Heritage, Birmingham Museums Trust

Designed and produced by Dave Walsh Creative © 2018

@BirminghamCivic Information contained within this guide is correct birminghamcivicsociety.org.uk at the time of publishing. The Civic Society Today Today the Society continues Birmingham to lobby for an improved urban environment and strongly Civic Society promotes active citizenship. The Society’s Next Generation Awards encourage young people to play a role in the future of their Birmingham Civic Society was city and the Renaissance Awards founded on 10 June 1918. recognise the most successful Its members were inspired, conservation projects in the city. in part, by a desire to create a better society following the The Society continues to advise devastation caused by the on planning and environment First World War. issues and to oversee the Blue From the outset, the Society’s Plaque programme. main objective was to One of the Society’s other major influence the regeneration of contributions to civic life the city after the end of the First World War. It was an influential voice is through Birmingham Trees in helping to create new parks and other public amenities and for Life. Since it was launched in preserving and improving the quality of the built environment. in 2006, this programme has In its early years, under the guidance of Honorary Secretary William planted more than 70,000 new Haywood (1876-1957), the Society focussed its efforts on buying land trees in Birmingham’s parks and to create public open spaces. It also provided designs and funds to make improvements to some of the city’s existing parks. open spaces. In the 1920s and 30s the Society campaigned to preserve Stratford The Civic Society is open to House (successfully) and Aston Almshouses (unsuccessfully). everyone and is made up of It also played a leading role in preventing the from people who value the city they closing by raising additional funds. In 1939 the Society ensured the live or work in. Cathedral’s Burne-Jones stained-glass windows would be protected from German bombing raids by moving them to safe storage in a The Birmingham Civic Society City Heritage Trail mine in Wales. The purpose of this trail is to help both residents and visitors to After the Second World War the Society was unable to prevent the discover the many different aspects of Birmingham’s heritage, and loss of notable buildings during the wholesale redevelopment of the Civic Society’s role in helping to preserve it. the city centre. However, it played an important role in rescuing The city centre route will take between 1 and 2 hours. The out of and restoring a number of important pieces of public art. town trail is most easily done by car, although all of the sites included In the 1950s the Society erected the first of its Blue Plaques which are accessible by public transport. honour significant people who have lived or worked in the city.

@BirminghamCivic Stratford House, Bordesley birminghamcivicsociety.org.uk This pleasant walk takes advantage of some of the Birmingham Civic Society more distinctive and attractive aspects of the city and should take between 1 and 2 hours. Please note this map is an approximate guide to the relative sites listed City Centre Heritage Trail within this publication and is not drawn to scale.

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Designed by the Warwickshire gentleman architect Thomas Archer, St Philip’s was built as a parish church and was consecrated in 1715. It became the city’s cathedral in 1905. Between 1885 and 1897 St Philip’s was enhanced by the addition of four magnificent stained glass windows designed by local artist Sir Edward Burne-Jones. At the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939 Birmingham Civic Society funded and oversaw the removal of the Burne- Jones windows into safe storage in a Welsh slate mine. The cathedral subsequently suffered severe damage during the and so the Society’s actions almost certainly saved these outstanding works of art from destruction.

The Birmingham Banking Company building

Bennetts Hill was created as part of the development of the Inge estate in the early 19th century and boasts a number of fine Victorian and Edwardian buildings. These include the former Birmingham Banking The Archbishop of Canterbury Removal of the Burne-Jones Company designed by admiring the Burne-Jones windows windows for storage, 1939 Thomas Rickman and Henry Hutchinson and built 1830- 31. The corner entrance was added by Henry Yeoville Thomason in 1868. The Wellington Number 37 was home to the original offices of the Birmingham Civic Society. Today the building is the Wellington public house. The artist Sir Edward Burne- Jones was born at number 11 and a Civic Society blue plaque commemorates the location of his former William Westley North prospect of St Philip’s Church, 1732 family home. Victoria Birmingham Museum 3 Square 4 & Art Galle1ry

Victoria Square was so named following Opened in 1885, Birmingham the unveiling of Thomas Brock’s Museum & Art Gallery is a marble statue of the queen in 1901. must-see venue for anyone wishing to learn more about In 1951 the Civic Society paid for the the history of the city. statue to be recast in bronze by William Bloye as part of the national The Birmingham: its people, celebrations for the Festival of Britain. its history exhibition galleries feature a number of displays Designed by the architect Henry Yeoville relating to the redevelopment Thomason in 1874-75, the Council House of the city following the First was the venue for the inaugural meeting of the Civic Society in World War. The galleries won June1918. The entrance lobby contains a unique blue plaque a Civic Society Renaissance which commemorates five generations of the Award following their who all served as Mayor or Lord Mayor of Birmingham. completion in 2012. Across the square is Grade I listed which Outside the main entrance of was the city’s first public concert hall and auditorium. Opened in the Museum is the extravagant 1834, it was designed by Joseph Hansom and Edward Welch. Museum & Art Gallery gothic Fountain. Unveiled in 1880, the memorial was designed by the Birmingham architect J.H. Chamberlain to celebrate the achievements of MP and former mayor . The memorial’s original fountains were lost in the 1960s but in 1978 the Civic Society funded two new fountain bowls to celebrate its Diamond Queen Victoria statue The River by Dhruva Mistry Jubilee.

The Town Hall Chamberlain Memorial Fountain birminghammuseums.org.uk

Birmingham: its people, its history exhibition galleries Hall of Centenary 5 Memory1 6 Square 1

Centenary Square was created in 1989 to mark 100 years Hall of Memory of Birmingham achieving city status. During the 1920s and 1930s an ambitious new Civic Centre complex was planned for the square, to include a cathedral, planetarium and a host of other public buildings. Most of the scheme was never realised - the only elements completed were the Hall of Memory and . However, the original ‘civic’ vision for the square has largely been fulfilled with the opening of the Repertory Theatre in 1971, Symphony Hall and the International Convention Centre in 1991 and the in 2013. For a fine birds-eye view of the square and its surroundings the Library of Birmingham’s rooftop garden is well worth a visit. libraryofbirmingham.com

Completed in 1924, the Hall of Memory was built to commemorate the 12,320 Birmingham citizens who died during the First World War. Designed by local architects S.N. Cooke and W.N. Twist, Frontline by William Bloye the octagonal Doric-style building Below: Air Force statue is made from Cornish granite and by Albert Toft Portland stone. The exterior has four bronze statues representing the Army, Navy, Air Force and Women’s Services by the Handsworth-born sculptor Albert Toft. Inside are three Model of the unrealised Civic Centre scheme by William Haywood, 1939 fine low-relief sculptural plaques by © Birmingham Museums another local artist, William Bloye, entitled Call, Frontline & Return. Bloye went on to become a leading member of Birmingham Civic Society. During his career he undertook numerous public commissions including statues and carved reliefs on libraries, hospitals, pubs and other buildings. Library of Birmingham Boulton, Watt & Murdoch by William Bloye The Canal St Thomas’ 7 Network 8 Peace Garden

Designed by the engineer James Brindley and opened in 1772, the Birmingham Canal was created to connect Birmingham with the Black Country coalfields. In 1795 the Birmingham & Worcester Canal was constructed to the south of the Birmingham Canal Canalside houses with both terminating at what is now Gas Street Basin. With the advent of the railways and improved road transport in the Colonnade from Hall of Memory 19th and 20th centuries the canal network fell into disrepair. St Thomas’ Peace Garden on Gas Street Basin Holloway Head was designed During the 1990s around the ruined tower of Birmingham’s canals were comprehensively restored as part St Thomas’ Church. The tower of the wider regeneration of the city centre. The transformation of was the only part of Thomas these waterways has continued ever since, with two of the most Rickman’s 1829 structure to recent major canal-side developments being the Mailbox survive the Birmingham Blitz (completed in 2000) and The Cube (2010). of 1940. canalrivertrust.org.uk In 1953 the site was laid out as a public garden based on the designs of the Civic Society to mark the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

The Peace Garden includes a St Thomas’ Church Tower colonnade which had originally formed part of the Hall of Memory but which was relocated here when was laid out in 1989. On the way back to the Mailbox it is well worthwhile to make a short detour to view the fine exterior of Singers Hill The Mailbox Synagogue. The Old The 9 Rep 10 Bull Ring

Opened in 1913, the Japanned tray depicting the Bull Ring c1812 was the first purpose-built © Birmingham Museums repertory theatre to be built the . Designed by architect S.N. Cooke, the construction of the theatre was funded by its artistic director Sir . During its early years the theatre was beset by financial difficulties and it was threatened with closure in 1923 and again in 1934. On both occasions the Civic Society was instrumental in securing its future through successful fundraising The Old Rep appeals. The theatre remained the home of the Birmingham Repertory Company until 1971 when the new Repertory Theatre was opened in Centenary Square. Today owned and operated by the Birmingham Ormiston Academy, the Old Rep is still a working theatre. oldreptheatre.co.uk St Martin’s Church Nelson Memorial Established around 1166, the Bull Ring was the site of the medieval town of Birmingham’s weekly market. St Martin’s was the town’s original parish church and dates from at least 1263. It was substantially rebuilt by Birmingham architect J.A. Chatwin in 1873-5. On the terrace above the church is Sir Richard Westmacott’s fine statue of Admiral Lord Nelson. Unveiled on 25th October 1809, it was the first figurative memorial to Nelson in the United Kingdom. When the memorial was restored following the completion of the new Bullring shopping centre in 2003 it was missing its original Sir Barry Jackson iron railings. The Civic Society successfully campaigned for the The Birmingham Repertory Theatre by William Bloye return of the railings which were finally reinstated in 2005. Out of Town Trail 11 & Park 1

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h s Lickey Hills r e 14 10 miles P from city 17 centre Constructed between 1618 and 1635, Aston Hall is one of the finest Jacobean mansion houses in the country. In 1864 it was acquired by Birmingham Corporation 15 (now City Council) as a museum. Kings The Civic Society was responsible for redesigning much of the Norton parkland around the Hall during the 1920s. The Society’s designs can still be seen in the west garden and also the eastern approach to the mansion.

Please note this map is an approximate guide to the relative sites During the 1920s the Society also led a campaign to try to listed within this publication and is not drawn to scale. All routes are prevent the demolition of the 17th century Holte Almshouses accessible by public transport. For up to date transport information which were located just outside the park. Sadly these efforts were please visit www.networkwestmidlands.com unsuccessful and the almshouses were pulled down in 1929. Handsworth Cannon Hill 12 Park 13 Park

Cannon Hill Park was given to the city of Birmingham by Sunk Garden the philanthropist Louisa Ann Ryland in 1873. The park contains a memorial to members of the Scouting movement in Birmingham who were killed during the First (and later Second) World War. The memorial was designed by the Civic Society’s Secretary William Haywood and was unveiled on 27 July 1924. During the 1920s the Civic Society funded new formal gardens next to the Boy Scout Memorial. Cannon Hill also includes a fine memorial to the soldiers of the Warwickshire Regiment who were killed in the second Boer War. Completed in 1906, the memorial was the work was created between 1880 and 1898 when of Handsworth-born sculptor the surrounding area was still part of Staffordshire. The park Albert Toft (1862-1949). consists of 63 acres of landscaped grassland, including a large boating lake, bandstand, flower beds, mature trees and shrubs. On its northern side the park is connected to the graveyard of

St Mary’s Parish Church, the final resting place of industrialists Right: Avenue of trees laid out to , Matthew Boulton and . The three the designs of the Civic Society men all have memorials inside the church. In 1922 Birmingham Civic Society designed and paid for the creation of a new formal ‘Sunk Garden’ near the Grove Lane entrance. The garden featured as its centrepiece a bronze sculpture of a child holding a lamb designed by local artist John P. Walker. Sadly this was stolen in 1988 and has never been recovered.

Right: Handsworth Park Bandstand Below: St Mary’s Parish Church

Boy Scout Memorial Boer War Memorial Highbury and Kings Norton 14 the Henbu1rys 15 1

Originally part of Worcestershire, the village of Kings Norton was incorporated into Birmingham in 1911. At the northern end of the village green, 13th century St Nicolas’ Church, the Tudor Merchant’s House and the 17th century Old Grammar School make up the finest collection of early buildings in Birmingham. To the north of the village centre is Kings Norton Park and Playing Fields. This was created after Birmingham Civic Society purchased the 25 acre plot in 1920 and gifted it to the City Council. The Society also paid for laying out formal gardens, and providing new benches and gates at the Pershore Road entrance to the park.

Highbury was home to Joseph saintnicolasplace.co.uk Chamberlain, influential Mayor of Birmingham and controversial national politician. Completed in 1878, the house was designed by the architect J. H. Chamberlain in the Venetian Gothic style. Following Joseph’s death in 1914, his son Austen put the estate into trust in 1919. A public park was established adjacent to the house in 1921. In January 1923 the Civic Society purchased 42 acres of parkland from the adjacent Henburys estate for £9,000. This was gifted to and more than The Merchant’s House doubled the size of the public park around Highbury. In 2015 the Chamberlain Highbury Trust was established to preserve and restore the house and grounds and give them a sustainable future. chamberlainhighburytrust.co.uk

Old Grammar School

St Nicolas’ Church Kings Norton Park The Henburys Joseph Chamberlain 16 Northfield 17 Lickey Hills

St. Laurence Parish Church The Great Stone

Heathland habitat

One of Birmingham’s best-loved green spaces, Lickey Hills Country Park covers 524 acres and is located 10 miles south west of Birmingham The Village Pound The Great Stone Inn city centre. The uncontrolled expansion of the Birmingham suburbs following The founding of the the end of the First World War was a particular concern to the park dates back Beacon Hill Toposcope Civic Society. The Society encouraged the City Council to ensure to 1888 when the that the historic fabric of previously distinct villages like Northfield Birmingham Society for the Preservation were not completely overwhelmed by new housing, industry and of Open Spaces purchased Rednal Hill infrastructure. and donated it to the Corporation. Thanks to the Society’s efforts the Over the next 35 years further land was historic core of Northfield still survives acquired, much of it funded by the today. St Laurence Church’s Norman Cadbury family. doorway is the oldest piece of Rising 297m (975ft) above sea level, architecture in Birmingham and the Beacon Hill is the most famous 13th century chancel is one of the viewpoint in the Lickeys. At the summit finest in the Midlands. The nearby is an early 20th century toposcope Great Stone Inn and Village Pound located in a small ‘fort’ which was date from the 17th century. built in 1988 to celebrate the park’s The Civic Society’s first land centenary. purchase for public open space took In 1918, the Earl of Plymouth, whose place in Northfield in February 1920. estates originally included the park, The 10 acre plot became known as became the first President of Daffodil Park. Birmingham Civic Society. Earl of Plymouth’s obelisk