New Futures for Birmingham`s Historic Buildings

A few words about Suze Carter

Posted December 12th, 2015 by jenniwaugh with 1 Comment

Suze, unmistakeably present, second from right, along with Bob Beauchamp, former chair of BCT, Elizabeth Perkins, former Director of BCT, Simon Buteux, Director of BCT and Cllr Peter Douglas-Osborne Since I was asked to write this blog, I have been searching my memory ...

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Chris Upton: A West Midlands’ Treasure

Posted October 5th, 2015 by Sarah Hayes with 9 Comments

Our first Literary Bus meeting was at Blakesley Hall in 2010. This picture became synonymous with the project, with Gollum peering behind Chris in Blakesley’s beautiful gardens. © Anne-Marie Hayes I first met Chris 10 years ago while working at Museum of the ...

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A flavour of Italy on Constitution Hill

Posted June 14th, 2015 by Katie Hughes with 2 Comments

Ceramic tiles, terracotta detailing, floral motifs and carved cornices all contribute to the architectural vocabulary of two unique buildings on Constitution Hill which have a distinctively Italian feel against the backdrop of the historic Jewellery Quarter. Over the past couple of months I have ...

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From Cabinets to Coffins

Posted July 14th, 2014 by Sarah Hayes with 3 Comments

  Possibly Newman Brothers’ first coffin-furniture catalogue, circa 1894. Familiar with brass since 1882, they continued to use this material in their new business venture producing coffin furniture from 1894 onwards. © Newman Brothers at The Coffin Works.  One of the most common questions ...

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Volunteers’ Week

Posted June 1st, 2014 by Sarah Hayes with 3 Comments

The research team have been getting to know the likes of ‘Mr Salt’ and other Newman Brothers’ employees through the many documents discovered in the company archive. Tomorrow marks the start of Volunteers’ Week, which gives us the opportunity at The Coffin Works ...

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