Birmingham Conservation Trust joined twitter a few weeks ago. We’ve been able to have some very enjoyable conversations with people use the service. This morning Najm Clayton (who’s is doing a photostudy of Art Deco in Birmingham) asked us this question:
Najm's question on twitter
The most obvious help we an give is to ask for any suggestions and point you in the direction of two places:
1 Flickr has loads of photos of Birmingham Buildings – this search is for Art Deco and Birmingham UK.
2 Wikipedia can help – start with: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Architecture_of_Birmingham
We quickly got a couple of responses. Julia Larden of the Acocks Green Focus Group suggested Lee Longland and shopping areas in Acocks Green:
Julia's message on twitter.
While Paul Hannah suggested the Cincinnati building (which I think was more 1950’s?):
Paul's tweet
My personal favourite (I’m Nick Booth – one of the volunteer trustees) is the former Odeon in Kingstanding which was the first built in this style.
Good luck and any further tips please add below.
8 Comments
There’s a pair of pubs — the Maggies & one other (name escapes me, sorry) in Acock’s Green/Fox Hollies that are a great example of the “nautical” art-deco style. It’s rumoured that together (they are mirror images of each other) they match the funnels on the Titanic.
The Clifton Bingo hall in Great Barr — another ex ODEON – is a huge imposing version too.
There’s so much! The work of William Bloye is certainly worth looking up: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Bloye
There are some fantastic – if not well maintained – moderne houses around West Drive in Handsworth (on the site of James Watt’s former home, trivia fans!)
@Jon – I don’t think the Clifton (my childhood local cinema) was ever an Odeon.
Almost, but not quite, Jon. The two pubs are the Three Magpies (a grade II listed building locally known as the Maggies) and the Baldwin, in Hall Green. The ship in question was the Queen Mary, and the two pubs portray a stylized representation of the bow & stern of that ship.
pics: The Three Magpies
http://www.flickr.com/photos/drewfield/4000430669/in/set-72157622436657913/
The Baldwin
http://www.flickr.com/photos/drewfield/4004668945/in/set-72157622436657913/
There’s also the Barleycorn (currently closed & undergoing refurbishment) in Bearwood
…not to mention our lost Art Deco heritage, such as the lamented Golden Eagle on Hill Street.
I have spoken to our knowledgeable friends in the Conservation Department of the City Council – here’s a few they cited:
Heathfield Road, Handsworth
South Road, Northfields
‘Mallory’ on the border between Birmingham and Lichfield D.C. – Four Oaks Conservation Area finishes on one side of the road and Lichfield DC look after the other side
Hill Wood Common Road, Four Oaks
Icknield Port Road – the former refuse disposal building
Odeon Cinemas at Kingstanding and Sutton Coldfield
There is a wonderful leaflet called ‘Discovering Deco’ produced by BCC which we can post to you (as the links are broken on their website!) if you ring us and let us know your address.
Happy photography!
I think Lucie refers to this document , which some kind soul has just had published on the BCC website
There are 1950s, 60s and 70s equivalents, too.
Oops! I forgot the URLs:
1950s: http://bit.ly/4bBrKp
1960s: http://bit.ly/48xQDE
1970s: http://bit.ly/1Oz06k
Not to mention:
1930s: http://bit.ly/irN9u