NOVEMBER 2013 ISSUE 15
QUARTER B
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TRANSPORT Birmingham’s oldest railway stations Explore Gas Street Basin
ARTS AND CULTURE The Religious Quarter and it’s impact Architecture and Design
RECREATION Flower power in Edgbaston
FOOD AND DRINK Our favourite pubs Birmingham’s Secret
Discover the best of Birmingham
Contents
CONTENTS Arts and Culture Bourneville Municipal Bank Saint or Sin? Restoring the Old Classics
5-6 7-8 9-10 11-12
Food and Drink Pub reviews
Transport Canals
15-20
21-26
Recreation The Botanical Gardens
IDENT
29-34
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The QUARTER production team consists of five creative designers, who produce, write and edit for the magazine. While we all contribute collectively to the editing and design, we each have our own disciplines that we brought to the creative pages. This issue, our photography team Matt Lanning and Keiran Durrant worked on shoots for QUARTER and we included illustration from Edyta Jakubiec and Leah Buckman to accompany our editorials with Hayley Harrison’s animation skills for our QUARTER ident. With sound effects downloaded from www.freeSFX.co.uk All photography © Matt Lanning, Keiran Durrant, Hayley Harrison Illustration © Leah Buckman, Edyta Jakubiec
Arts and Culture
Arts and Culture Indulge yourselves in some of Birmingham’s rich history as we discover the heritage of Bourneville and St Chads monuments.
BIRMINGHAM a l e g a c y o f a r t s a n d c u l t u re
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he City of Birmingham is awash with history, arts and culture, which can be experienced in many ways including art galleries, theatre, music and an exciting range of different activities. The culture of Birmingham has an intrinsic diversity, which means that the city is host to events celebrated by various religions and nationalities. In November preparations begin for the annual German Christmas
market, and there are also upcoming exhibitions at Birmingham Musuem and Art Galleries. Birmingham is home to small arts and crafts town Bournville, which is incredibly picturesque and traditional in its design. It also houses the Cadbury Factory which has become a family desination in the form of Cadbury World. We are alll big fans of Cadbury’s Bournville chocolate surely!
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Arts and Culture
THE CARILLON BELLS ARE ONE OF THE ONLY SET LEFT, AND THEY ARE ONLY HANGING IN BOURNVILLE
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he Bournville Carillon was erected in a semirural Location in 1906, before the onslaught of urban development and the building of the busy main road by which it now stands adjacent. Bournville, however, remains an idyllic leafy suburb of Birmingham and the sound of the Carillon drifting across the gardens of Bournville on a perfect summer’s day is truly wonderful. The Carillon ranks as one of the finest and largest in Great Britain,
having 48 bells hung below a domed copper cupola above the tower of the junior and infant school on Bournville Village Green. It is owned and administered by the Bournville Village Trust, which was established in 1900 by George Cadbury. Right in the middle of the village green is the rest
house or carillon centre a piece of brilliant arts and craft architecture built to commemorate and celebrate the silver anniversary of one George Cadbury and his wife, the visitor centre is host to lots of information about the carillon and the surrounding areas of bournville and its history as well a nice little gift. The carillon bells, show in the below image, ranks as one of the finest and largest in Great Britain, having 48 bells hung below a domed copper cupola above a tower of the junior school and you can hear these bells every Saturday twice a day at 12:00 noon and 3:00 pm and can be heard all over Bournville.
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THE BELLS OF BOURNVILLE
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Birmingham Municipal Bank
Another of Birmingham’s traditional monuments, The Municipal Bank was built in 1916 by and act of parliment as the Birmingham Corporation Savings Bank. It was the only municipal bank in the country at the time.
Arts and Culture
SAINT OR SIN? Hayley Harrison ponders the impact of religion in Birmingham’s urban streets. I visited St. Chads and I expected to walk away from the stress and chaos that Birmingham holds being a large city, but I found it sat right beside stress in one of its most used forms… traffic. At ten minutes from the city center, I don’t really know why I expected anything different, maybe its because when I think of religion my first thought is peace but that’s such a childish and naive point of view, religion is as chaotic and confusing as trying to run across a swimming pool full of jelly. I’m not a fan of religion I feel it’s used as a weapon far to often; it wages wars within communities, and across the world and for what? A story. I’m sorry but A Muppets Christmas carol was a more convincing tale! If I’m coming across harsh I apologize, but where are the facts? Don’t get me wrong: I don’t believe it’s totally false. I believe there were people who spread the message of peace and hope which at first was a way to escape and be with your fellow man while believing you would be saved, which is where the god came from, the god being a savior, a warrior or something. That’s my thought process anyway.
a real eye catcher - you can’t see within which gives the impression of privacy and seclusion. The grounds have a different appeal, the grass its perfectly kept, green like a golf course which is inviting and yet you turn your head and there’s graffiti, traffic and trash with overly sized, smug pigeons fighting over crumbs. If you could only focus on the building and its grounds you would be entranced with its beauty, I’m not saying this would make you convert but you’d enjoy the buildings story,its heritage and overall architectural finesse.
I wish more of Birmingham held the past close to heart like St. Chads, I feel like we’re trying to create a city that resembles the cartoon The Jetsons and by doing that it feels too structured and organized, with less personality I like imagination and the futuritsic style with that clean look but I feel its going to far. I feel we need to remember where we came from and who influenced us, churches do this very well they keep the traditional style this helps them and others who view the buildings remember the past. I’d like to see that within our buildings today, not so traditional it looks like we’re stuck in the past but with tradition aspects, maybe carvings in the edges of our windows, or In regards to St. Chad’s Cathedral, I honestly mixing stone with class, I think that would be admire the building. The big dark windows are nice anyway.
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Arts and Culture
RESTORING THE OLD CLASSICS The Grand Hotel is a Grade II* listed Victorian hotel in the city centre of Birmingham in the United Kingdom. The hotel occupies the greater part of a block bounded by Colmore Row, Church Street, Barwick Street and Livery Street and overlooks St Philip’s Cathedral and churchyard. Designed by architect Thomson Plevins construction began in 1875 and the hotel opened in 1879. Extensions and extensive interior renovations were undertaken by prominent Birmingham architecture firm Martin & Chamberlain from 1890 to 1895. Interior renovations included the building of the Grosvenor Room which boasts rich and impressive Louis XIV style decoration. The hotel closed in 2002 and due to the risk of crumbling stonework it has been under scaffolding and protective covers since. In 2012 planning permission was granted for plans to restore the building into a luxury 152-bedroom hotel. Works began in October 2012 with the target of reopening in 2014.
The hotel opened on 1 February 1879, with 100 rooms and a further 60 unfinished at the time of Opening. The hotel’s heyday was in the early 20th century, when it played host to royalty, politicians and film stars as well as staging many dinners, concerts and dances in the Grosvenor Suites. King George VI, Winston Churchill, Neville Chamberlain, Charlie Chaplin and Joe Louis attended functions or stayed in the hotel at this time. As I went to look at this marvellous hotel I happened to be sitting in the churchyard opposite when an elderly women started telling me about when she stopped there as a child and told me about when she was running down the corridor and ran straight into James Cagney who happened to be stopping there, she said it was the greatest moment of her life, she was also reminiscing about the soft beds and the great big rooms but she said her favourite was the buffet breakfast which she had never seen anything like it. I wish I only had the chance to stop there in its heyday
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Food and Drink The way to every Brummie’s heart.
THE BATTLE OF THE BREWS Our favour ite pubs and cafes
Turn over for the low down on the best traditional pubs and cafes Birmingham has to offer
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Food and Drink
THE OLD CROWN T H E
O L D E S T P U B B I R M I N G H A M
Still sitting at 188 High St in Birmingham since circa 1368, this old timber pub is the oldest you will find in this city and what a pub it is.
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it was nice to see traditional Birmingham brewers being song such as local brewed beer Ansells.
Next our food arrived and it was brought out with great The pub is oozing with character and history. It is the hospitality and was a good oldest pub in Birmingham and value for a fantastic meal. I would urge anyone visiting the decor and remarkable chilled atmosphere tells a tale. Brum to go to this old pub First up on our test was of for both the hesitance and course the beer, as what is a good food and drink. pub without beer? There was a wide range of beers, spirits and ales for cheap prices and
Around half a mile from the Bullring and next food to the Custard Factory, right in the heart of the Irish Quarter, The Old Crown offers a unique and welcoming experience to guests and regulars alike. Come and enjoy some of their exciting events that ad to a unique atmosphere at The Old Crown.
188 High St, Birmingham, West Midlands B12 0LD
OUR RATING: (a must-visit pub!)
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For a chlled atmosphere, visit the canal’s best pubs and cafes as the sun goes down, unwinding with the reflections of lamplight on the waters.
THE WOODMAN MODERN VIBES IN A HISTORIC ESTABLISHMENT
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he Woodman is a Grade II listed building which was built in 1897 for Ansell’s Brewery. It was designed by renowned Birmingham architects James and Lister Lea in ornate brick and terracotta. Both the Bar and Smoke Room are tiled throughout in Minton tiles and the bar counter and back fitting are pretty much intact. The pub stands opposite the very grand Curzon Street Station which was the original station as the railway line from London reached Birmingham. Whilst the immediate area has been a virtual wasteland for some years both the station and the Woodman have survived.
The area has now seen a renaissance as the first stage of Eastside Park has opened, surrounding the pub in handsome granite paving and avenues of trees. The Woodman has been very down at heel for some years, has had several periods of closure and a number of question marks over its very survival. But this pub is a true survivor. The future of this fine establishment now seems assured with its takeover by Birmingham Inns and Linford Developing Heritage. The original features of the pub have been restored whilst up to date toilet and kitchen facilities have been added.
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Canalside Pub Canalside from the outside has a beautiful italian-look, set on the canal with the little fairy lights that have a crepuscular glow. The Canalside Pub has many times been reffered to as a cafe that serves alcohol. The pub itself has a lovely character and friendly atmosphere. The bar staff and the locals make the pub a great visit and a good place to have a good time. The price is decent and i’d pay everytime for the service provided.
Tap & Spile The Tap and Spile is a very fun pub it has something for everyone, music that varies from track to track and decore that ties in with the tradition that the place holds as its been around since 1821. The prices are fair and the location is stunning, sat adjacent to the heart of the canal at Gas Street Basin. With real ales on offer and a range of snacks, The Tap and Spile is the perfect get away from the busy Broadstreet near by.
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Transport Explore Gas Street Basin and relive the history of the traditional waterways. We shed light of the various walkways, tours and attractions which surround the canals.
THE CANALS OF BIRMINGHAM
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he traditional canals of Birmingham and Worcester, originally known locally as ‘the 58’, offer a vibrant and exciting pathway through modernized bars and restaurants within the city center.
Which then flow out towards stunning rural scenery and the 58 famous canal locks as you approach the outskirts of Worcester, hence the colloquial past name given to the waterways.
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nce a thriving transportation area, the famous Gas Street Basin is now occupied with traditional narrow boats, cobbled walkways and a very calm atmosphere. Surrounding the waters there are a number of everyday brad name restaurants, such as Pizza Express, Pitcher and Piano and Gourmet Burger. The new modern vibe portrayed through these popular restaurants and bars is also accompanied by the close-by luxury shopping centre, The Mailbox. Filled with stylish clothing outlets and a range of cafes, The Mailbox is a great place to relax and browse the shops, whilst also being in the midst of the hustle and bustle of the city. Adjacent to the canals there are many paved walkways, where you can enjoy a stroll by the water and experience what Birmingham has to offer, with Brindley Place, the ICC and the NIA all within close proximity there is much to see and do..
If you wish to escape the modern city lifestyle there are a number of boating trips, which allow you to embark from Gas Street Basin and explore the rural outskirts of Birmingham, leading towards Worcester. One of our recommended tours is ‘Away2Canal’s’ one-hour boat trip called ‘Country in the City’. This cruise allows visitors to experience the history of Gas Street Basin through commentary, whilst seeing it’s renovated form and also takes you through the picturesque Edgbaston are, where you can see the canal’s famous locks and a range of beautiful scenery.
Another great trip by canal boat is Dudely Canal Trust’s tour, where they take you to explore Dudley’s limestone caverns. Upon taking this trip you will embark on a journey through mancarved caverns where people used to access raw materials during the industrial revolution to help power the famous movement. You will also learn and experience over 420 million years of history whilst listening to interesting facts and by viewing the historic workstations within the caverns. If however you do not wish to travel by boat there are pathways along the waterside created for walking and cycling, which lead from Gas Street Basin, in the heart of the city, out towards Dudley and Wolverhampton through Galton Valley.
After spending a lot of time around the canals I would advise anyone to head down to Gas Street Basin and enjoy everything the area has to offer, whether you grab a bite to eat by the water, embark on a relaxed tour or even just explore the pathways by foot.
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Recreation
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B O TA N I C A L GARDENS The Botanical Gardens, located in Edgbaston, were designed in 1829 by John Claudius Loudon. Loudon was an established landscape designer, and followed the Gardenesque design theory which amazed spectators upon its opening on June 11th 1832. Along with the four main glasshouses, the gardens included an aviary, large lawn area, bandstand and a range of beds and shrubberies for various stretches of plants and trees. These remain to this day, as well as additional modern facilities such as playgrounds for children, a gift shop, tearoom and education centre. I visited the gardens on a chilly day in early October, so the seasonal time meant the summer flowers were fading to allow space for autumnal leaves and plants. Upon entering the glasshouses however, I found a sort of summertime indoors; my overall favourite glasshouse being the Mediterranean House. Being no stranger to holidays in places like Mallorca I was transported back to a terracotta villa, with the olive and citrus trees secreting familiar smells and nostalgic warmth. The other glasshouses
contained a tropical and subtropical room as well as an arid room. These changes in temperature meant that there were a large variety in types of plant, ranging from palm trees to cactus plants, and the tropical house included a large pond home to many impressive looking fish. I found walking through the gardens a peaceful experience, despite the admission of a large group of school children at the time. The grounds are much larger than I originally thought and so this meant that there was a large area to walk, and the visitors were more spread out around the outside gardens. The school children remained engaged and interested in the nature around them; I found myself smiling fondly as they collected interesting leaves to show their teacher. The gardens seem like an enjoyable day out for the family, including all ages, and there are many ways to keep the kids of the group occupied, such as the playground, learning centres and an educational, puzzle solving park that teaches basic botanical science to them..
“A truly relaxed atmosphere”
While the children were busy with that, I wondered over towards a large and beautiful aviary at the end of the lawn area. These bird houses contained the most beautiful birds I had seen in a long time, including a particularly stunning Purple Glossy Starling, and a charming but not so beautiful cockerel. There were also noisy and very cheeky parakeets who squawked at me en masse. In the middle of the four main flight houses situates a smaller bird cage full of tiny bird with fluttering wings. These birds and their surroundings were very delicate and this was wonderful to see, particularly with the more attractive colours adorning their feathers. I found the gardens could benefit from an outside eating or picnic area, so that in the summer people could sit and eat outside. Otherwise I felt that the gardens exceeded my expectations. I enjoyed the variety of interesting plants and trees and I liked that the history of the gardens was made clear to those who were interested with signs and information boards. A brilliant place for the family to visit, a relaxing trip with a friend or a solitary walk. 33
“The gardens exceeded my expectations”
Next Issue - February 2014
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