A Birmingham and Black Country thread for all things Brummie and Yam-Yam

[discokermit]

Old ordnance survey map (1888-1913) that you can merge with map of now, Detailed Old Victorian Ordnance Survey 6 inch to 1 mile Map (1888-1913) , Bilston, West Midlands Co-ordinates 52.561808, -2.075189

interesting to see the difference between how Brum and the black country grew, Birmingham higher density and more planned, black country more random as people squatted where the minerals were easily available.

 

[Smokeandsteam]

Old ordnance survey map (1888-1913) that you can merge with map of now, Detailed Old Victorian Ordnance Survey 6 inch to 1 mile Map (1888-1913) , Bilston, West Midlands Co-ordinates 52.561808, -2.075189

interesting to see the difference between how Brum and the black country grew, Birmingham higher density and more planned, black country more random as people squatted where the minerals were easily available.

Birmingham, bar a tiny village, is a political unit which grew by taking surrounding areas under its jurisdiction. The Black Country is a physical unit which grew organically around a massive seam of coal. It’s also one of the few ‘places’ to have no borders as a result. The fact that it doesn’t even appear on maps (which I’ve always thought was dead cool) is due to its development as a series of industrial processes rather than political/local authority/county mergers etc.

 

[blossie33]

Yes you're right about Brum, until the industrial revolution it was really only the old city centre part and Aston was a separate place (which is why people are proud to be Astonites as was my Dad).

 

[Smokeandsteam]

Yes you're right about Brum, until the industrial revolution it was really only the old city centre part and Aston was a separate place (which is why people are proud to be Astonites as was my Dad).

Yup, and even then the industrial development was an agglomeration of thousands of small workshops with very few mass employers (unlike, say, the mancs) so places like Aston, Hockley, Handsworth etc retained a very distinct industrial and cultural identity.

 

[BCBlues]

Should have asked him to say tooth.

Or bus

I was bought up in West Bromwich and never lost my BC accent despite living in Brixton for a few years and now sunny Handsworth.
Now you know how I got my user name...
BC and Blues for my footy team.
There you go, or goo

 

[BCBlues]

Decent day at Simmer Down yesterday.
Johnny Clarke couldn't make it (issues with immigration) so Horace Andy topped the bill and done an excellent set including Skylarking.

Bar was a let down though, no beers left at fiveish and given the no tins etc allowed in at the gates it spoiled the day a little. We went back out of the park and had a few tins outside as did a lot of people. Missed Pato Banton in the process.

 

[blossie33]

Love Horace Andy

 

[Smokeandsteam]

Strangely, Golloway is launching his campaign at the Hare and Hounds in KH. A great pub and venue but most definitely not in West Brom:

George Galloway to stand against Tom Watson in West Bromwich East

 

[BCBlues]

Cracking storm last night. I heard there was a thunderbolt or something in Smethwick.

 

[baldrick]

View attachment 178225

Decent day at Simmer Down yesterday.
Johnny Clarke couldn't make it (issues with immigration) so Horace Andy topped the bill and done an excellent set including Skylarking.

Bar was a let down though, no beers left at fiveish and given the no tins etc allowed in at the gates it spoiled the day a little. We went back out of the park and had a few tins outside as did a lot of people. Missed Pato Banton in the process.

I'd have loved to have seen Horace Andy. The Sunday at Supersonic wasn't all that (in fact the whole weekend was a bit sub par all things considered) so I made the wrong decision there I think.

 

[baldrick]

Strangely, Golloway is launching his campaign at the Hare and Hounds in KH. A great pub and venue but most definitely not in West Brom:

George Galloway to stand against Tom Watson in West Bromwich East

Does he even know where West Bromwich is? His choice of venue suggests he is a bit confused doesn't it.

 

[Smokeandsteam]

Does he even know where West Bromwich is? His choice of venue suggests he is a bit confused doesn't it.

To launch your campaign in a rapidly gentrifying part of south Birmingham rather than post industrial West Brom (Um, the actual constituency) sends all sorts of signals. None good.

 

[baldrick]

Agreed.

Speaking of gentrification, I've submitted my (not complimentary) opinions on BCCs plans on redeveloping Edgbaston reservoir, which include building flats on the edge of the water, thereby ruining the secluded and tranquil atmosphere in the middle of Ladywood. To add insult to injury, they propose building on an existing park in Ladywood to accommodate these plans. It's not explicitly stated, but it appears these plans are to try and provide the kind of facilities and leisure opportunities that people willing to spend £400k on a terrace at Port Loop would expect. Because they can't possibly be expected to mix with existing local residents. Fuckers. Anyway, the consultation is open until Friday and I would urge everyone to read and respond. There's a few community groups trying to campaign but it needs lots of people I suspect to try and derail it.

Edgbaston Reservoir Masterplan Consultation | Birmingham City Council

 

[cybershot]

If you’re on the trains tomorrow they are already saying reduced timetable due to heat. New st was chaos enough on Tuesday night and it’s going to be about 10c hotter tomorrow so expect breakdowns and signal failures.

I think I’ll jump in the car.

 

[Smokeandsteam]

Agreed.

Speaking of gentrification, I've submitted my (not complimentary) opinions on BCCs plans on redeveloping Edgbaston reservoir, which include building flats on the edge of the water, thereby ruining the secluded and tranquil atmosphere in the middle of Ladywood. To add insult to injury, they propose building on an existing park in Ladywood to accommodate these plans. It's not explicitly stated, but it appears these plans are to try and provide the kind of facilities and leisure opportunities that people willing to spend £400k on a terrace at Port Loop would expect. Because they can't possibly be expected to mix with existing local residents. Fuckers. Anyway, the consultation is open until Friday and I would urge everyone to read and respond. There's a few community groups trying to campaign but it needs lots of people I suspect to try and derail it.

Edgbaston Reservoir Masterplan Consultation | Birmingham City Council

Done. I can't believe the fuckers are going to gentrify the Tower Ballroom. I went to my first ever gig there

 

[Smokeandsteam]

So this has passed the first hurdle. A long way to go yet but a plan to repair the damage caused by industrialisation, invest in green jobs and technology and to reimagine dying towns has got real possibilities:

Lakes, forests, orchards and motorways: Plan to make West Midlands UK's next national park

 

[BCBlues]

Origins of the Peaky Blinders shocks author of new book about Birmingham gangs Origins of the Peaky Blinders shocks author of new book about Birmingham gangs

Carl Chinn has done lots of good stuff on Birmingham and this looks quite a good book, taking the glorification out of the infamous gang(s).

 

[purenarcotic]

I love Carl Chinn, he’s just great. [emoji41]

 

[blossie33]

Yes, he's a proper character so enthusiastic!

 

[cybershot]

Bizarrely my own career seems to follow him around. He was an honoury director at my old work place and is also on the books at my current workplace.

For the previous workplace he always hosted the annual conferences, thankfully he made the ordeal of being surrounded by everyone in the company a bit more bearable.

 

[cybershot]

Not just the worlds biggest primark but now Europe’s biggest hmv!

HMV to open Europe's biggest entertainment store in Birmingham

 

[BCBlues]

Not just the worlds biggest primark but now Europe’s biggest hmv!

HMV to open Europe's biggest entertainment store in Birmingham

Great stuff but surely they could have found someone better than an ex One Direction bod to open it

 

[gawkrodger]

I'm biased, but this is worth checking out

 

[blossie33]

Looks good, if I was in Brum I'd definitely go and have a look

 

[Smokeandsteam]

gawkrodger where is The Lansdowne? I've never heard of it

 

[cybershot]

Sad to hear these guys have to close their doors!

 

[blossie33]

gawkrodger where is The Lansdowne? I've never heard of it

I wondered that too, found a link..
West Midlands Photography Collective – Free Exhibition 13 Oct – 3 Nov

 

[BCBlues]

I wondered that too, found a link..
West Midlands Photography Collective – Free Exhibition 13 Oct – 3 Nov

Same here, in a nutshell it's on the Hagley Road just off the Five Ways roundabout

 

[cybershot]

Anyone else remember this guy?

 

[BCBlues]

Anyone else remember this guy?

Yeah, looming over you as soon as you walked in iirc.
I went there in the 90s to a 60s retro display. The kitchen looked exactly like the one in my West Brom council flat at that time