Looking forward to this #Birmingham #LocalHistory talk by fellow enthusiast @jfredt.bsky.social 📅Thurs 13 November 🕰️7:00-8:00pm 💻Online Free and open to all just register to receive link

#Erdington This late 1960s, early 1970s poster created by the Erdington and District Inter - Racial Council promoting cultural and ethnic coexistence. Ref - BCC 18/8/1/2 (2000/129) #LibraryofBham

#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

#CityOf1000Trades The Victoria Works was opened in 1840 and chiefly employed young women in the manufacturing of steel pen nibs, making Gillott an extremely wealthy man. Ref - New Illustrated Directory (1856), LF 06 #LibraryofBham

#BehindTheScenes we’ve been busy repackaging all of the Indian Workers Association (MS 2141) and Avtar Jouhl (MS 2142) collections so materials are accessible more effectively and ultimately, better conserved #LibraryofBham #The_IWA

#MapOnATuesday this week highlights that even as far back as June 1937, plans were afoot for a one-way traffic scheme in the city centre. Ref - BCC Plans to Accompany Agendas, 1935 – 37 L 34.3 #LibraryofBham

#PhotoFriday this week is this 1973 photo of the Unitarian Church of the Messiah, Broad Street built on arches over the canal. The church was demolished in 1978. Ref - WK/B11/5712 #LibraryofBham @Brumpic

#CityOf1000Trades An illustration of John Rubery’s premises which stood on Charlotte Street. The business was listed as a maker of umbrellas, parasols and steel frames. Ref - New Illustrated Directory, LF 06 #LibraryofBham

#SundayShowcase highlights "Multicultural Britain - A People’s History" by Kieran Connell, detailing the nation's diverse evolution, including a chapter on 90s Balsall Heath. Ref: L 21.85 #LibraryofBham @kieranconnell.bsky.social @hurstpublishers.bsky.social

#CityOf1000Trades - this trade card for Joseph Wright, needle and fishhook manufacturer at 32 Exeter Row, located on what is now the area surrounding Holloway Circus. Ref - MS 4834/830 #LibraryofBham

#PhotoFriday this week is this photograph of the Five Ways Inn on the corner of Ladywood Road and Broad Street photographed possibly in the 1950s. Ref - WK/B11/7725 #LibraryofBham @Brumpic

Two Midlands' history online resources to remain available whilst future hopefully secured. Revolutionary Players and History West Midlands.

It was no battle, still recollect how a woman I knew who was there described the police smashing her van windows in (her home) as she tried to shelter her children, she was not fighting.

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For today’s blog, theironroom.wordpress.com/2025/07/21/t... we explore the history of the #GreatWesternArcade - one of the last remaining arcades of predominately independent traders in the city centre. Image Ref - WK/B11/5117 #LibraryofBham @GWABirmingham

#MapOnATuesday of the Rotton Park Estate, c 1850. The #EdgbastonReservoir first known as the Rotton Park Reservoir was built by Thomas Telford in 1826. Ref - HRA Map Cabinet 2/3 #LibraryofBham

#PhotoFriday #BullRing This week we transport you back to 1892 to the company of the flower and ice cream sellers in the Bull Ring. Ref - Bull Ring 16 #LibraryofBham @Brumpic

A hint of the impact of the Chartist leader can be seen in the records of the South Yorkshire Miners' Association, and the registration of Sheffield collier Feargus O'Connor Dale & his family into the union... 🧵

Our new #HRAexhibition is on level 4 of the library. Focusing on the history of the Great Western Arcade: greatwesternarcade.co.uk Built over the Great Western Railway line cutting in the 1870s #LibrayofBham #GWABirmingham

Event Sharing 📰 Heritage Talk with Professor Catherine Hindson at Selly Manor Discover the story of early 20th century theatre at the Cadbury factory | Thursday 17th July 2025 | 7pm £7 per person. To book please call 0121 472 0199 or visit:

The Tales of the Gladiator #DruidsHeath local history project archive (MS 5184) is now available on our Universal Access platform - birmingham.access.preservica.com/index.php?na... Photo Ref - WK/K5/186 #LibraryofBham @PlaceProspector

There is still time to register for the BBTI Workshop in Birmingham. It's free but only a few places left. Led by Giles Bergel, the workshop will explore new uses of the BBTI dataset while also provide an historical overview of how it came to be. www.cphc.org.uk/events/2025/...

#CityOf1000Trades This 1862 letterhead is for Harrison's Music Warehouse located on the corner of Colmore Row and Bennett's Hill. The company latterly became Harrison & Harrison, purveyors of pianofortes. Ref - MS 1342/154 #LibraryofBham

Now here’s a great offer for PGRs to attend Print Networks Conference. AND it’s at Winterbourne House & Garden.

#Photography We were sad to hear of the recent passing of the photographer, Nick Hedges. His Shelter photographs highlighted the dire living conditions in the 1960s and 70s. www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/birmin... Ref - MS 2399 #LibraryofBham #NTBirmingham

#MapOnATuesday is this plan of the design of the laying out of Soho Park near Birmingham for building purposes, c 1845. Both Soho house and factory feature. Ref - MAP/369956 #LibraryofBham #BM_AG

For this week’s blog, our Conservator opens the lid on discoveries made during our Integrated Pest Management survey - part of our preventative conservation duties. theironroom.wordpress.com/2025/07/07/c... Here’s a photo of a wooly bear #LibraryofBham

#SundayShowcase this week is John Clay’s biography of Alexander Maconochie who in 1849 was appointed governor of the new prison at Birmingham. His radical ideas about the penal system led to his dismissal although his humanity was praised. Ref – L 78.1 MAC #LibraryofBham

Happy 77th Birthday to the National Health Service.

Happy 77th Birthday to the National Health Service.

#CityOf1000Trades This 1821 trade card and letterhead is for Samuel Haines - silversmith, goldsmith and jeweller based at 15 New Street. Prince Leopold was first cousin to Queen Victoria and Prince Albert. Ref - MS 1342/137 #LibraryofBham

#PhotoFriday The Waterloo Bar on the corner of New Street and Christ Church Passage. Next to it, the entrance to the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists opened in 1829. Ref- New Street 123 #LibraryofBham @Brumpic @rbsagallery.bsky.social

We’ve recently uploaded photographs by local photographer, Herbert Walters to Universal Access – birmingham.access.preservica.com/uncategorize... The photos document the very early days of the spring 2020 lockdown in Birmingham. Ref - MS 5183/1/1 #LibraryofBham @herbertwalters5970

#PlanOnATuesday this week looks at this 1935 plan of the proposed clearance area for Coleshill Street. The Gaiety Picture House was demolished to build a new Gaiety Cinema which opened on 17th December 1939. Ref - Plans to Accompany BCC Agendas, L 34.3 @LibraryofBham

#SundayShowcase This week’s book is 'Singing for 100 years : a celebration of the centenary of the City of Birmingham Choir' by Catherine Benson. A look back on concerts, conductors, venues. Ref: 55.61 BCOL #LibraryofBham #BrumCityChoir

#CityOf1000Trades This trade card is for A. Burbidge - purveyor of chariots and post chaises operating from the St. George's commercial tavern, High Street, Birmingham. Tally Ho! Ref: MS 1342/48 #LibraryofBham

#SuttonColdfield We bid a fond farewell to Sutton Coldfield library. Here’s a photo to remember the library in its heyday, not long after opening in the mid-1970s. Ref: MS 4341: Branch Libraries Box #LibraryofBham #SuttonColdfieldLibrary

If you are in Birmingham, then do drop in a take a look.

#PhotoFriday Anyone remember the Old Square subway photographed here in 1975 with shops and open-air seating? The subway was filled in by 1998 and the pedestrian route restored to ground level. Photo Ref: WK/B11/5240 #LibraryofBham @Brumpic

#MapOnATuesday #SuttonColdfield A map of Sutton Coldfield Town Centre and Adjoining Farm Land circa 1760 drawn by J H Hill in 1977 from various old plans and private surveys. Ref: HRA Map Cabinet 2, Drawer 5 #LibraryofBham #SuttonColfieldLibrary

#CityOf1000Trades This trade card with engraved letterhead is for John Plater, basket manufacturer and importer, 262 - 264 Bradford Street. Ref - MS 1342/258 #LibraryofBham

#CityOf1000Trades Chance Brothers was a leading glass manufacturer founded in Smethwick in the 1820s. The company’s glass was used at the 1851 Great Exhibition. Ref - A E 096/1851, plate 86 #LibraryofBham #SandwellArchive ‪@sandwellcouncil.bsky.social‬

#SkateBham #PhotoFriday Anyone remember the Silver Blades Ice Rink on the corner of Hurst Street and Bromsgrove Street, pictured here in 1972. The rink is now closed. Ref - WK/B11/8920 #Libraryofbham #Brumpic #IceSkateBham

#Shakespeare Free exhibition by Friends of Birmingham Shakespeare Collection celebrates romance in Shakespeare’s plays on Level 9 of the library. Featuring posters, photographs, and illustrations from the Shakespeare Collection. #LibraryofBham ‪@shakespearebtrust.bsky.social‬ ‪@efernie.bsky.social‬

#LibraryTreasures We recently stumbled upon an album by Kusakabe Kimbei who trained as a photo-colourist and founded a studio in Yokohama in 1881. Ref - MS 4460 2013/028, AF 952.03 #LibraryofBham

#CityOf1000Trades Gough Silversmiths produced decorative pieces including jugs and statuettes. Renowned for their craftsmanship, the company featured at the 1851 Great Exhibition. Ref - A E 096/1851, plate 98 #LibraryofBham

#SundayShowcase #HistoryWestMidlands This week, we bring you Speeches That Changed Britain by Andrew Reekes. Did you know Birmingham has witnessed many nationally significant speeches over the past two hundred years. Read On! Ref - L 76.9 #LibraryofBham