Sarah Ashley

Occupation: Fashion Retailer / Student

Location: Birmingham

Interests: I love historic properties, and spend some of my free time volunteering at the Back to Back houses in Hurst Street lighting the coal fires and gas lamps and setting the scene for visitors to the property. You’ll see from my blogs I’m also interested in the city’s haunted heritage and quirky historic landmarks!

 

Suzanne Carter

Occupation: Development Officer for BCT and freelance community engagement professional

Location: Birmingham

Interests: I’ll mainly be blogging about the work of the Conservation Trust and posting other heritage news that might be of interest. What I absolutely love is being given the keys to listed buildings at risk and in need of restoration – and putting on events for people to access the buildings and heritage for themselves. It’s a real privilege! 

Favourite bit of Birmingham heritage: Modern landmark buildings (heritage of the future) juxtaposed with historic gems (i.e. St Martin’s Church and Selfridges, Hall of Memory and new Library). Fascinated by the stories they tell about architectural fashion and new building materials and technologies.

Occupation: Partnerships and Performance Manager, Birmingham Museums Trust.Location: Live in Worcestershire, work in Birmingham

Interests:  I am a Trustee for BCT and also a Trustee for Hartlebury Castle Preservation Trust. In my spare time I visit museums, galleries and heritage venues a lot! More about my personal interests via @rachelcockett.

Favourite bit of Birmingham heritage: I’m fascinated by the changing use of the Jewellery Quarter and Digbeth’s buildings and the increasing range of ways they are adapted and re-used, such as the increasing use of empty buildings for art exhibitions and the appearance of interesting graffiti and street art. I hope the spontaneity and innovation of artist-led creativity will remain as restorations and re-purposing takes place and new inhabitants move in.

Occupation: Sales & Marketing Administrator for an Educational Travel Consultancy

Location: Birmingham

Interests: Inspired by family visits to Aston Hall and the brilliant old Birmingham Science Museum, I have been passionate about Birmingham’s history and heritage from a very early. I am now also a keen Genealogist and I have currently traced my Birmingham routes back to 17^th Century with strong links to Birmingham’s industrial heritage.   I continue to be inspired by the many beautiful buildings across Birmingham and I am keen to start blogging about Birmingham’s lost heritage, along with buildings currently under threat.

Favourite bit of Birmingham heritage: Aston Hall and Jewellery Quarter.

Occupation: Clinical Studies Officer

Location: Wolverhampton

Interests:  I’ll be blogging about a range of aspects connected to Birmingham’s past and heritage from particular buildings to promoting events taking place across the city.  I have an interest in hospital heritage, in particular the historic hospitals still in NHS ownership.

Favourite bit of Birmingham heritage: The array of architectural ceramics the city holds, the public houses designed by James and Lister Lea – The Bartons Arms.

Occupation - Manufacturing Manager (Engineering), National Trust Room Guide & BCT Trustee Director.

Location - Bromsgrove, Worcestershire.

Interests - Our built heritage (especially timber framed buildings), history (especially social history), genealogy,archaeology, music (anything that’s based around a melody), running, walking, drinking, talking……………!

Favourite bit of Birmingham heritage - Its a toss-up between the Old Crown Inn, Digbeth and Aston Manor, Aston (although Castle Bromwich Hall is quite nice too)!

Occupation: Freelance consultant for museums, archives and heritage organisations, helping staff to build deeper relationships with their audiences

Location: Worcester (only 2 trains or 1 bus away from Brum)

Interests: Sharing the stories of people’s lives, historically, personally, professionally, creatively.  Making stuff work. Helping other people to make stuff work better.

Favourite bit of Birmingham heritage: The surprising amounts of green space, surrounded by old farmhouses and modern offices. Especially the Peace Gardens, where the most fascinating range of people meet and eat their lunches.

 

If you are interested in volunteering some time to share your thoughts, research and photos about Birmingham’s fine heritage with a wider audience, then why not consider joining our team of bloggers!! Visit our Volunteering Pages for more information.