#birminghamhistory
LightNews LightNews
photo.opott.uk
Honouring history at the Chamberlain Memorial, a blend of Gothic Revival elegance and modern reflection.

📸 Canon EOS 2000D
📌 Birmingham, UK

#chamberlainmemorial #birminghamhistory #historiclandmarks #citycontrast #urbanheritage #explorebirmingham #architecturelovers #cityscapes #photography
December 13, 2024 at 12:00 PM
barbdrummond.bsky.social
From current @historytoday.com one of the most important but often overlooked #inventions, the #PenNib #BirminghamHistory #Industry
August 21, 2025 at 2:17 PM
doctorsbeardpod.bsky.social
March 2, 1988 - Birmingham Evening Mail - Colin Baker helps to open the Cash for Trash campaign in Birmingham.
#ColinBaker
#CashForTrash
#Birmingham
#BirminghamEveningMail
#1988
#Retro
#Campaign
#Recycling
#CommunityEvent
#BirminghamHistory
#LocalNews
#Throwback
May 15, 2026 at 4:00 AM
theironroom.bsky.social
#PerryBarr #BirminghamHistory A three-bedroom property for sale in Birmingham for £440 – a steal! Hold on, those are February 1939 prices. Ref - Modern House & Home, LF 41.8 #LibraryofBham
An advertisement for a property in a brochure. Title at the top of the page is Modern House & Home. Beneath this, details of the sale of the property on the Greenholm estate, Perry Barr. A photograph of a semidetached house beneath this. Further details about the property beneath the photograph including the cost of the property.
September 17, 2025 at 4:15 PM
theironroom.bsky.social
#BirminghamHistory Don’t forget to Join us for the annual Chris Upton Memorial Lecture on Monday 3rd November, 5.30pm - tinyurl.com/UptonBaskerville Ref: MS 897,Volume II, Image 218 #LibraryofBham @typetweets.bsky.social #BaskervilleSoc
A drawing of a skeleton.
October 30, 2025 at 10:52 AM
doctorsbeardpod.bsky.social
October 16, 1985 - Birmingham Evening Mail - a piece on a pair of students who started their own fanzine, Ephemeral, are profiled.
#fanzine #ephemeral #students #zineculture #1980snostalgia #birminghamhistory #alternativepublishing
March 8, 2026 at 1:00 PM
karenaverby.bsky.social
Me too! Will be watching online with a pal, drinks and snacks.
#HouseHistory #Birmingham #BirminghamHistory
justinepick.bsky.social Justine Pick @justinepick.bsky.social · Oct 14
Looking forward to this house history: home to 3 families, then given to university for multiple uses, now heritage attraction with beautiful gardens
Winterbourne House and Gardens, Edgbaston, #Birmingham
🗓️Thurs 16 Oct
🕰️7:00-8:00
💻Online
All welcome
Winterbourne, 1904-2025
Join Dr Sue Tungate for this house history on Winterbourne in Edgbaston, Birmingham.
www.eventbrite.co.uk
October 14, 2025 at 10:46 AM
adambridgen.bsky.social
If you like working-class writing and theatre, please join our book launch! #BirminghamHistory

Where? National Trust Back to Backs Museum @NTBirmingham, 11 Dec, 6-8pm.

For further details & tickets:
www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/birmin...

@midlandhistory.bsky.social @theironroom.bsky.social
British Working-Class and Radical Writing Since 1700 Book Launch | National Trust
www.nationaltrust.org.uk
November 24, 2025 at 12:11 PM
theironroom.bsky.social
#BirminghamHistory a recent find in our collections is Lucy Benton’s Recollections of New Street, Birmingham in the year 1817. A rare local history pamphlet published privately around 1877. Ref - AX 312, Vol 53 (115141) #LibraryofBham
Front cover of a pamphlet. Title is Recollections of New Street, Birmingham in the year 1817. Details of the printer at the bottom of the cover.
August 5, 2026 at 8:15 AM
theironroom.bsky.social
#BirminghamHistory See the exhibition at the Metro Town Hall stop dedicated to photography pioneer, George Shaw credited with the first photograph of Birmingham. More info: www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...
Here’s one of our earliest photos c. 1865 of New Street. Ref: New Street 136 #LibraryofBham
Photograph looking down onto a street with properties of the Victorian period on either side – the majority on the far left of the photo have canopies outside of the premises. Horse and carts on both sides of the street and pedestrians at certain points on the highway. The photograph is faded in parts which reflects its age.
December 15, 2025 at 8:15 PM
theironroom.bsky.social
#BirminghamHistory a new addition to Preservica Universal Access is a cine film of 1930s Moseley by Dr Colin Bradsworth - founder member of the Birmingham Clarion Singers who was a medical officer during the Spanish Civil War: tinyurl.com/MS-5210-Mose... Ref: MS 5210 #LibraryofBham
A piece of card with text on it - title at the top of the card is Colin Bradsworth Films. Below this, a contents list. The card is resting on an archival folder with archival tape on either side of the folder.
February 9, 2026 at 4:01 PM
ktphotouk.bsky.social
Here at Rowton’s Well in Sutton Park — once believed to have curative powers and used by Birmingham’s Eye Hospital.
I’ve captured its quiet magic in my latest handmade tile.
#SuttonPark #RowtonsWell #BirminghamHistory #ArtsAndCrafts #CeramicArt #CollectableTiles
March 14, 2025 at 11:57 AM
theironroom.bsky.social
#BirminghamHistory today brings you these hand-made playing cards drawn and painted on the back of cards advertising an anti-slavery meeting held at Birmingham Town Hall on 22 January 1873. Ref - MS 1509/5/69 #LibraryofBham #bmusic_ltd
Three playing cards. The two in the background have colour illustrations - the one on the left had a heart in the top left corner and a drawing of a young female figure blowing a musical instrument. The card on the right has a spade in the top left corner along with an illustration of the white rabbit from Alice in Wonderland. In the foreground is another card with text detailing an anti – slavery meeting taking place at Birmingham Town Hall on 22 January 1873.
September 25, 2025 at 8:01 AM
talessecondcity.bsky.social
A community in the sky... 'Dorothy Towers'.

READ THE FULL BLOG @
talesofthesecondcity.wordpress.com/2023/06/18/d..

#gay #lgbtq #lgbt #lgbtq🌈
#gaylife #gaybirminghamuk #gaybirmingham #lgbtqbirmingham #lgbtbirmingham #birminghamgayscene #dorothytowers #gayhistory
#lgbthistory #birminghamhistory
Dorothy Towers – A Community in the Sky
Those twin 31 storey sentinels have a cherished notoriety at the heart (and in the hearts) of Birmingham’s LGBTQ community.
talesofthesecondcity.wordpress.com
December 5, 2024 at 7:26 AM
ktphotouk.bsky.social
Had a brilliant morning uncovering Digbeth’s hidden history with this fantastic group from the Red Cross!
If you’re part of a small group looking for a unique midweek adventure, I’d love to take you on a journey through time. —get in touch! #BirminghamHistory #WalkingTour
March 7, 2025 at 8:41 AM
theironroom.bsky.social
#BirminghamHistory This German language brochure from 1931 highlights the economic influence of Birmingham as a hub of industrial strength. A handbook issued for businessmen by the City of Birmingham Information Bureau. Ref - Corp D/7 (390158) #LibraryofBham
Front cover of a brochure - the word Birmingham at the top of the page. A map of the UK inside a circular cog in the top right of the front cover. Words in German to the left of the symbol ('Der Brennpunkt Der Englischen Industrie'). A pick on the left of the cover. Illustration of high rise industrial buildings, a crane, and flight of stairs in the background.
September 1, 2025 at 4:04 PM
theironroom.bsky.social
#BirminghamHistory Birmingham Eye Infirmary opened in April 1824 on Cannon Street. Moving to Steelhouse Lane in 1853/4 the Infirmary changed its name to The Birmingham and Midland Eye Institution. The building on Church Street was erected in 1884. Ref: WK/B11/2760 #LibraryofBham
An illustration of the exterior of an imposing four storey gothic Victorian building on the junction of several avenues. A large cartouche in the shape of a shield on a part of the building jutting out on to the street. Text inside the cartouche identifies the building as the Birmingham and Midland Eye Hospital. Pedestrians and vehicles teeming with life outside of the building.
March 16, 2026 at 4:00 PM
theironroom.bsky.social
#BirminghamHistory Lady Huntingdon’s Chapel on Paradise Street which opened in 1843. The congregation worshiped initially in King Street between 1783 – 1842. Ref – WK/B11/3451 #LibraryofBham
An illustration of the exterior of an imposing chapel very much in the high Gothic Victorian style. High elongated windows and imposing stone brickwork. Three metal poles with ornate flourishes emanating from the front of the building. A stone staircase leading up to the front window.
September 3, 2026 at 8:15 AM
theironroom.bsky.social
#BirminghamHistory the Birmingham Cinderella Club formed in 1893 took poor children on outings and provided entertainment. In 1898 over 600 children were taken to Sutton Park. Ref: WK/B11/441 #LibraryofBham
A photograph of two small boys from the late Victorian/early twentieth century looking towards each other. They are dressed in clothing typical of those with little income in the period. They are both smiling and holding collection boxes. A wooded scene behind.
June 3, 2026 at 8:15 AM
theironroom.bsky.social
#BirminghamHistory one of the earliest rate books for Birmingham is the new assessment series of 1781 – 82. Preface states the book is so everyone can know the rent at which his neighbour has been rated. Here is the first page of the Edgbaston-Street Quarter, 1782. Ref – SC/122 #LibraryofBham
A page of printed text. Title reads The Names of the Inhabitants. Below this are two columns of names -one on the left headed Spiceal Street and the one on the right – Edgbaston Street. Rateable values in pounds and shillings are shown next to the name of each person.
July 22, 2026 at 8:15 AM
midlandsrainbow.bsky.social
#LunarNewYear: Chinatown & the Gay Village, a shared history. In celebration of Lunar New Year, we're exploring the connection shared between Chinatown and the Gay Village in Birmingham. #ChineseNewYear #BirminghamHistory #BirminghamGayVillage

ko-fi.com/post/Lunar-N...
Lunar New Year: Chinatown & the Gay Village, a shared history
Midlands Rainbow published a post on Ko-fi
ko-fi.com
January 29, 2025 at 11:48 AM
theironroom.bsky.social
#BirminghamHistory 2026 is the centenary of ICI. The Metals Division (IMI) was based at the Kynoch Works, Witton. Amongst many things, the company made boiler tubes for the Queen Elizabeth steam ship. Ref: MS 1422/28/7/4/4 #LibraryofBham
The Queen Elizabeth steam ship dominating the foreground of the photograph. Both funnels emitting plumes of steam. The New York skyline in the background. Skyscrapers, smoking chimneys. The Empire State Building in the mid background of the photograph.
February 25, 2026 at 10:15 AM
theironroom.bsky.social
#BirminghamHistory Plans for a church, parish hall and vicarage for the Anglican church of St. Mary & St. John, Alum Rock. The church was consecrated in 1935 but is no longer open. Ref - Birmingham Scrapbook Vol 20 #LibraryofBham
A plan. Text in the top left reads - SS Mary & John, Saltley, Birmingham. Proposed church, parish hall and vicarage. Six hand drawn illustrations of the church shown from different elevations and sections. Two at the top, three in the middle and one at the bottom.
August 12, 2026 at 8:15 AM
theironroom.bsky.social
#BirminghamHistory this illustration of a dinner stall in the Market Hall. Cheap food such as soup which was easy to make and consume was often purchased from street sellers. Ref - LS 12/Birmingham Scrapbook Vol.4, page 234 #LibraryofBham
An illustration - a group of figures wearing working class clothing gathered around a large low-level table. A figure stood on the far left by a sign which reads Pea Soup one penny a basin. A figure stood on the other side of the table across from them with their head bent over a cloud of steam. Pillars and arched windows in the background.
March 5, 2026 at 8:00 AM
theironroom.bsky.social
#BirminghamHistory today is this view of Birmingham from Bradford Street in Deritend published by John Aston in 1816. It’s been gathered from The Aylesford Collection: tinyurl.com/AylesfordColl Ref - MS 3015/1, page 79 #LibraryofBham
An illustration of a townscape taken from the top of a promontory. In the foreground, housing on either side of the road. A figure in the central foreground stood behind a mule carrying cylindrical baskets. The road then declines in the centre of the illustration, and another figure is walking along with cattle towards a gate covering the majority of the road. The illustration then pans out in the background to reveal a mass of buildings and the spires of several churches. Clouds above the townscape.
October 22, 2025 at 8:01 AM