Schmap Birmingham Historical Background

Our apologies: your internet browser is not yet fully supported by our Schmap online guides. If you continue, pages in this guide may display or function incorrectly.

Would you like to continue anyway?

Schmap.com supports the following browsers:

Internet Explorer 6 and above
Firefox 1.5 and above
Safari 3 for Pc

MAC

Safari version 1.3 and above
Firefox 2 and above

Birmingham - Historical Background
Download the Schmap Birmingham Guide
With Schmap 2.0 you can:

Browse this Schmap Guide on your PC, online or offline.
View Schmap Guides for 200 worldwide destinations.
Bookmark places of interest, plan trips and take virtual tours.
Custom print your own full-color travel guides.
Publish and share schmapplets with your favorite places
Enjoy many more unique Schmap features.

Birmingham Home
Schmap Birmingham guide and map

Even back in the middle ages Birmingham was developing as a centre of industry. Metalwork has long been just one of the inhabitants' many skills, no doubt assisted by the seemingly endless quantities of coal and iron to hand. Over the centuries, craftsmen and their small workshops concentrated in the town and its reputation grew. Principal industries included jewellery and gunmaking, and both are still carried out today albeit on a smaller scale than a century ago. More recent industry has centred around motor manufacturing, but the local population has been hit hard by a downturn in this sector and only a last minute buy-out of the huge Rover Group based in Longbridge saved 20,000 more workers from redundancy. It is now to cultural institutions, conferencing and exhibitions that Birmingham looks as a base for its new economy, with many heritage museums providing welcome income to areas that were in danger of being nothing more than a sad and idle postscript to a bygone age.

The Industrial Revolution

However, it must never be forgotten that Birmingham was the cradle of the Industrial Revolution. This can be remembered at the Ironbridge Gorge Museums and Black Country Museum, both of which provide a fascinating insight into times past. The city also served as a crucible for some of the country's finest thinkers to thrash out new ideas. In the late 18th century the Lunar Society met in Birmingham: a group of the finest minds of the time, dedicated to tackling scientific and philosophical questions. It included James Watt, Matthew Boulton and Joseph Priestley amongst its subscribers, who between them devised steam engines, discovered oxygen and dreamt up Unitarianism.

The canal system developed greatly in the late 18th century, further enhancing trade, and suddenly Birmingham began producing guns, jewellery, pins, screws and buckles by the narrowboat-load. By 1790, the population had soared to 90,000 and the city had become one of Britain's most important trade centres. This period is encapsulated in the modern sculpture Forward.

In 1838 Robert Stephenson engineered the London-Birmingham railway line, which would supersede the canal trade-link to the capital. The subsequent plummeting of transport costs and explosion in trade resulted in a population boom - 296,000 inhabitants by 1860. This boom continued despite later economic recessions and with a current population of more than a million inhabitants Birmingham remains indisputably Britain's second city.

Modern Birmingham

In recent times, Birmingham has become known for the "Spaghetti Junction" - an infamously complex motorway system on the city's periphery. But it has also developed an excellent reputation for the arts, based on renowned institutions such as the Barber Institute, the Rep Theatre and, in particular, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, which flourished under the baton of premier conductor Simon Rattle. The modern Symphony Hall is famed for having the best acoustics in Europe and the Royal Ballet has also set up a provincial home in the city.

The entire city centre has undergone an expensive facelift, evidenced by the renovated City Hall, Victoria Square and new exclusive shopping areas. The canals have once again become an important feature with the Gas Street Basin Development and Brindleyplace belying Birmingham's reputation for being a dull, industrial, urban sprawl. Just south-west of the city centre is Edgbaston Cricket ground where Warwickshire CCC won a number of trophies in the mid-1990s and where Test matches are played every summer against international touring sides. Gastronomically, Birmingham is renowned for its baltis and for being the home of Cadbury's confectionery - chocolate lovers can even visit the factory and sample the product on a highly-popular tour.

Birmingham was put on the global map with the European Summit in 1994, hosted at the International Conference Centre as was the G8 Summit in 1998, attended by President Clinton, Prime Minister Blair and their foreign counterparts. After years of being the butt of jokes from other British cities, Birmingham now rightly holds its head high on the national and international stage. It is even bidding to become European City of Culture in 2008 – it is a measure of just how far the city has progressed in a relatively short time that it does so with every chance of success.

Copyright 1999-2005 Wcities, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Contact Wcities

Barber Institute of Fine Arts

Birmingham's finest canvas

University of Birmingham, Edgbaston
Birmingham B15 2TS
United Kingdom
+44 121 472 0962 (24 hour line)/ +44 121 414 7333
http://www.barber.org.uk/

A little way out from the city centre but easy to get to, the Barber Institute is adjacent to the University of Birmingham. This is one of the world's finest small art galleries with an outstanding collection of old and modern paintings, drawings and sculpture. This gallery is not normally as busy as some larger galleries, so your tour will be uncrowded and pleasant. Artists' works include Bellini, Canaletto, Monet, Renoir, Rossetti and Van Gogh. The Institute is also a regular venue for concerts, lectures and other events. Admission is free.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Barber Institute of Fine Arts photo by bbamethyst

Photo: bbamethyst

Barber Institute of Fine Arts photo by Richard Harper

Photo: Richard Harper

Birmingham Repertory Theatre

Brum's premier playhouse Broad Street
Centenary Square
Birmingham B1 2EP
United Kingdom
+44 121 245 2000
http://www.birmingham-rep.co.uk/ The Rep is one of Britain's most successful and prestigious producing theatres, having achieved national recognition for quality and excitement. The theatre, under the leadership of new Artistic Director Jonathan Church, offers an eclectic mix of productions. Past performances have included Noel Coward's Private Lives, Patrick Marber's award-winning Closer and a version of Steinbeck's Of Mice And Men. The theatre also has a café bar, which is extremely popular in the evenings and at weekends, often offering live jazz.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: CharXlotte
Photo: Glenn Wood
Photo: Gina Woolley
Photo: Sarra Facey

Black Country Living Museum

Industrial heritage centre Tipton Road
Dudley
Birmingham, West Midlands DY1 4SQ
United Kingdom
+44 121 557 9643
http://www.bclm.co.uk The Black Country is a large industrial area to the north-west of Birmingham and this museum is a reminder of how things used to be here 100 years ago. It comprises many historic buildings, taken down from elsewhere and re-erected to make an authentic town of a century ago. Highlights include an old-fashioned funfair, a narrowboat ride and a trip down a coal mine, light is deliberately kept to the levels that would have been experienced by the miners so it's unsuitable for young children. All children and adults, however, can take a lesson in an 1840s school and tour round a Victorian sweetshop, chemist's, nail-making shop and stables amongst many other exhibits. This is a genuinely interesting living museum and a tour of at least three hours is recommended.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Emma-Jo Schmidt
Photo: Darren O'Donnell

Cadbury World

A chocolate experience Linden Road
Bournville
Birmingham
United Kingdom
+44 121 451 4180 (24 hours)/ +44 121 451 4159
http://www.cadburyworld.co.uk/ Cadbury World offers plenty for both kids and chocolate-loving adults alike. There are rides, a factory tour, chocolate-making demonstrations and lots of the popular chocolates for sale at discount prices in the factory shop. You can also learn about the history of both chocolate and the Cadbury family through a series of colourful exhibitions and interactive displays. One word of warning, however: the Cadbury tour is very popular and visits should be booked in advance.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Anna Briggs
Photo: Belinda Summerville
Photo: Mark Smith
Photo: Lala
Photo: Matt Cleary
Photo: Kevin Morrice
Photo: Sharon Stevens
Photo: Alex Graham

Photo: Tim Thompson

Forward Sculpture

Monument to the city's past and present Broad Street
Birmingham B1 2AE
United Kingdom
You really can't miss Raymond Mason's controversial sculpture if you're passing along Broad Street or visiting the city's International Convention Centre or Repertory Theatre. Its title, "Forward", is also the city's motto and this large fibreglass construction depicts Birmingham people striding towards the future. To the rear are factories and some of the Victorian craftsmen and entrepreneurs who made the city great, while at the front is an ordinary family marching forwards. It caused controversy when it was first erected in the early 1990s, but people are now getting used to it—not least children, who often play among its figures.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Ironbridge Gorge Museums

Industrial heritage Shropshire
Birmingham TF8 7JP
United Kingdom
+44 1952 88 4391
http://www.ironbridge.org.uk In 1779, a bridge made of iron was built across a gorge in Shropshire. This construction is widely regarded as marking the beginning of the Industrial Revolution and these museums celebrate the momentous effect this had. The details given here are for the Ironbridge Gorge Visitor Centre; there are nine museums in the area, each representing a different aspect of British industrial heritage. Examples include: the Museum of Iron; China Museum; Iron Bridge and Tollhouse; Museum of the Gorge; and Blists Hill - a "working Victorian town" The site has been designated as a world heritage site by the United Nations. Opening hours of some museums may differ from the hours shown, and some may not be open in the winter - check out the web site for details.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Symphony Hall

The best musical venue outside London Broad Street
Birmingham B1 2EA
United Kingdom
+44 121 200 2000 / +44 121 780 3333
http://www.necgroup.co.uk/visi... Since opening in 1991, the Symphony Hall has been acknowledged as one of the finest concert halls in the world. The hall is home to the world famous City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and also plays host to visiting orchestras, celebrity recitals, non-classical acts and top comedians. It is one of the first ports of call for serious entertainment because of the fantastic acoustics; there is a reverberation chamber, a highly visual acoustic canopy and acoustic curtains. To experience Verdi's Aida or Wagner's Das Rheingold to full effect, come here.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: Steph Jennings
Photo: Rob Annable
Photo: Ivan
Photo: Stinco di Porco
Photo: OrangeJon.com
Photo: Ramsay McIver
Photo: Matt Knight
Photo: andrewmew1968

Photo: Dan Maharry
Photo: Fiona Baker
Photo: Claude
Photo: Mike Rigby
Photo: Terry Caulton
Photo: Vicky O'Connor(mngg)
Photo: John Turner
Photo: mackerpics

Photo: Ian Nelson
Photo: Moody Blue
Photo: Nutan Panwar
Photo: Mixclix
Photo: Giselle Tabone
Photo: Diamond Stardust
Photo: jessie crochet
Photo: Maretta Jerrett

Photo: Ed 1973
Photo: John Marshall

Victoria Square

Expensively refurbished public square New Street
(Victoria Square)
Birmingham B1 1BD
United Kingdom
+44 121 693 6300 This square has transformed over the past decade from a grassy slope where office workers would picnic on a summer's afternoon to a pedestrian-friendly European plaza accessible all year. Birmingham's Town Hall and Council House are located on the square, but graded steps replace the slope and there's now a large fountain containing a sculpture known fondly by locals as the Floozie in the Jacuzzi. Stone lamps and statues of sphinxes adorn the grounds, as does a statue of Queen Victoria. Victoria Square has now become a popular meeting point and relaxing place to people watch.

Review © 2007, Wcities

Photo: mike warren
Photo: Molly Rose
Photo: Kevin Shakespeare
Photo: neocorsten
Photo: Tom Martin
Photo: Peter Owen
Photo: Robert Watt
Photo: Stephen Harper

Photo: McTumshie
Photo: Alexandra Goodwin
Photo: Phil Shaw
Photo: Tony Beardmore
Photo: Beccy Harris
Photo: Meismiles
Photo: Inezita
Photo: Deborah Cardinal

Photo: knowing_hand
Photo: Daniel
Photo: Martyn Johnson