The Town Hall emerging after years of refurbishment.

A view of the town hall (on the right) from an 1886 drawing.

A ground level view from an 1836 book.

This article is about Birmingham Town Hall, a concert venue. For the seat of Birmingham City Council, see Council House, Birmingham

Birmingham Town Hall (grid reference SP066868) is a Grade I listed concert and meeting venue in Victoria Square, Birmingham, England. Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 531 pixels Full resolution (2240 × 1488 pixel, file size: 404 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Birmingham Town Hall ... From the point of view of modern times, the ancient civilizations of the Mediterranean sometimes seem to blend smoothly into one melange we call the Classical. ... A view of Victoria Square Iron : Man, an Queen Victoria Antony Gormley statue in the square Victoria Square is an important public square in Birmingham, England. ... unga bunga This article is about the English city. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem God Save the King (Queen) England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Unified  -  by Athelstan 967 AD  Area  -  Total 130,395 km²  50,346 sq mi  Population  -  2006 estimate... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ... April 27 is the 117th day of the year (118th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 248 days remaining. ... Year 1832 (MDCCCXXXII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... October 7 is the 280th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (281st in leap years). ... Year 1834 (MDCCCXXXIV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... A Hansom cab. ... Buckingham Palace, a Grade I listed building. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 464 pixels Full resolution (2440 × 1414 pixel, file size: 1 MB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham, England, partly uncovered after years of refurbishment. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 464 pixels Full resolution (2440 × 1414 pixel, file size: 1 MB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Birmingham Town Hall, Birmingham, England, partly uncovered after years of refurbishment. ... Image File history File links Birmingham city centre in 1886 looking over Chamberlain Square with the Council House and art gallery (in the centre), the Town Hall (the building with pillars on the right) and the Chamberlain memorial which is at the bottom in the centre. ... Image File history File links Birmingham city centre in 1886 looking over Chamberlain Square with the Council House and art gallery (in the centre), the Town Hall (the building with pillars on the right) and the Chamberlain memorial which is at the bottom in the centre. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 479 pixels Full resolution (882 × 528 pixel, file size: 384 KB, MIME type: image/png) Scanned by Erebus555. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 479 pixels Full resolution (882 × 528 pixel, file size: 384 KB, MIME type: image/png) Scanned by Erebus555. ... The Council House as seen from Victoria Square The Council House is the home of Birmingham City Council in Birmingham England. ... The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using latitude or longitude. ... Buckingham Palace, a Grade I listed building. ... A view of Victoria Square Iron : Man, an Queen Victoria Antony Gormley statue in the square Victoria Square is an important public square in Birmingham, England. ... unga bunga This article is about the English city. ... Motto (French) God and my right Anthem God Save the King (Queen) England() – on the European continent() – in the United Kingdom() Capital (and largest city) London (de facto) Official languages English (de facto) Unified  -  by Athelstan 967 AD  Area  -  Total 130,395 km²  50,346 sq mi  Population  -  2006 estimate...

It was created as a home for the Birmingham Triennial Music Festival (established 1784), whose purpose was to raise funds for the General Hospital, after St Philip's Church (later to become a Cathedral) became too small to hold the festival, and for public meetings. The Birmingham Triennial Musical Festival is the longest-running classical music festival of its kind. ... 1784 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... St Philips Cathedral St Philips Cathedral is a Church of England cathedral, in Colmore Row, Birmingham, England, dedicated to St Philip. ...

Two sites were considered by the Birmingham Street Commissioners for the construction of a concert hall in the city; Bennetts Hill and the more expensive Paradise Street site. Paradise Street was chosen and a design competition was launched which resulted with the submission of 67 designs including one by Charles Barry, who's design for the King Edward's School on New Street was then under construction. The Birmingham Street Commissioners were created in Birmingham, England by the Birmingham Improvement Act 1769. ... The Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster, Barrys most famous building. ... King Edwards School King Edwards School (KES) (grid reference SP052836) is an independent secondary school in Birmingham, England, founded by King Edward VI in 1552. ...

Joseph Hansom, of Hansom cab fame, and Edward Welch were chosen as the architects and they expressed that they expected the construction cost to be £8,000. Hill of London was hired to build the 6,000 pipe organ for £6,000. Construction began on April 27, 1832 with an expected completion date of 1833. However, Hansom went bankrupt during construction, having tendered too low. The contractors were also losing money. Three guarantors donated money for the building; W. P. Lloyd, John Welch and Edward Tench. With the injection of this money, the building was successfully opened for the delayed Music Festival on October 7, 1834, despite the building still being unfinished. During construction, two workers were killed when a 70 foot crane constructed to install the roof trusses broke and the pulley block failed. They were buried in St Philip's church yard and a memorial, consisting of a pillar base made by one of the workmen for the Town Hall, was dedicated to them. Architect Charles Edge was commissioned in 1835 to repair weaknesses to the design of the building. He was also commissioned for the extension of the building in 1837 and again in 1850. A Hansom cab. ... A Hansom cab adding character to the filming of a costume drama. ... April 27 is the 117th day of the year (118th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 248 days remaining. ... Year 1832 (MDCCCXXXII) was a leap year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a leap year starting on Friday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1833 (MDCCCXXXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... October 7 is the 280th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (281st in leap years). ... Year 1834 (MDCCCXXXIV) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian Calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... | Come and take it, slogan of the Texas Revolution 1835 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Queen Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom (1837 - 1901) 1837 (MDCCCXXXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... For the game, see: 1850 (board game) Year 1850 (MDCCCL) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ...

Built in brick, created in Selly Oak, and faced with Penmon Anglesey Marble presented to the town by Sir R. Bulkeley, proprietor of the Penmon quarries, the hall is modelled on the Temple of Castor and Pollux in Rome. Some limestone was used in its construction and fossils of plants and animals are visible. Selly Oak constituency shown within Birmingham Selly Oak is an area in south Birmingham, England. ... Penmon is a community and parish near the most easterly point of Anglesey, North Wales, about three miles from Beaumaris. ... Anglesey (Welsh: , pronounced (IPA)), is a predominantly Welsh-speaking island and county at the northwestern extremity of Wales. ... Venus de Milo, front. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Nickname: Motto: SPQR: Senatus Populusque Romanus Location of the city of Rome (yellow) within the Province of Rome (red) and region of Lazio (grey) Coordinates: Region Lazio Province Province of Rome Founded 21 April 753 BC Government  - Mayor Walter Veltroni Area  - City 1,285 km²  (580 sq mi)  - Urban 5... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... FOSSIL is a standard for allowing serial communication for telecommunications programs under DOS. FOSSIL is an acronym for Fido Opus Seadog Standard Interface Layer. ... Simplified schematic of an islands flora - all its plant species, highlighted in boxes. ... Fauna is a collective term for animal life of any particular region or time. ...

Charles Dickens gave public readings here to raise money for the Birmingham and Midland Institute, and Mendelssohn's Elijah and Elgar's The Dream of Gerontius were both premiered. Sir Arthur Sullivan's "Overture di Ballo" was also premiered here in August 1870, as part of the Triennial Musical Festival which commissioned new works for every season. The hall was the home venue for the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra from 1918 until 1991 when they moved to Symphony Hall. Dickens redirects here. ... Birmingham and Midland Institute, current site The Birmingham and Midland Institute (Grid reference SP066870), now on Margaret Street in the city centre of Birmingham, England was a pioneer of adult scientific and technical education (General Industrial, Commercial and Music) and today offers Arts and Science lectures, exhibitions and concerts. ... Jakob Ludwig Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy, born and known generally as Felix Mendelssohn (February 3, 1809 – November 4, 1847) was a German composer and conductor of the early Romantic period. ... Elijah in the wilderness, by Washington Allston Elijah (Hebrew: אליהו, ) was a prophet in Israel in the 9th century BCE. He appears in the Hebrew Bible, Talmud, Mishnah, Christian Bible, and the Quran. ... Sir Edward Elgar Sir Edward Elgar, 1st Baronet, OM, GCVO (2 June 1857 â€“ 23 February 1934) was an English Romantic composer. ... The Dream of Gerontius, popularly called just Gerontius, is an oratorio (Opus 38) in two parts composed by Edward Elgar in 1900, to text from the poem by Cardinal Newman. ... A premier is an executive official of government. ... Sir Arthur Seymour Sullivan (May 13, 1842–November 22, 1900) was a British composer best known for his operatic collaborations with librettist William S. Gilbert. ... The Overture di Ballo is a concert overture by Arthur Sullivan. ... 1870 (MDCCCLXX) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Monday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar). ... The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) is based in Birmingham, England. ... 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... 1991 (MCMXCI) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Symphony Hall is a concert venue located inside the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Birmingham, England. ...

Popular music has also featured, and in the 1960s and 70s, headline acts such as Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan appeared. The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979. ... Led Zeppelin were an English rock band who formed in 1968. ... Pink Floyd are an English rock band that earned recognition for their psychedelic rock music, and, as they evolved, for their avant-garde progressive rock music. ... “Rolling Stones” redirects here. ... Bob Dylan (born Robert Allen Zimmerman, May 24, 1941) is a Grammy, Golden Globe and Academy Award-winning American singer-songwriter, author, musician, and poet who has been a major figure in popular music for five decades. ...

On August 9, 1902, the town hall, along with the council house, was illuminated in celebration of the coronation of King Edward VII. It was illuminated again on June 22, 1911 for the coronation of King George V. August 9 is the 221st day of the year (222nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1902 (MCMII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Edward VII (Albert Edward; 9 November 1841 – 6 May 1910) was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, King of the Commonwealth Realms, and the Emperor of India. ... June 22 is the 173rd day of the year (174th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar). ... George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 - 20 January 1936) was the first British monarch belonging to the House of Windsor, as a result of his creating it from the British branch of the House of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha. ...

It was also the scene of rioting on the occasion of a visit by Lloyd George in 1901. David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd George of Dwyfor, OM (January 17, 1863–March 26, 1945) was a British statesman and the last Liberal to be Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. ... 1901 (MCMI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

It featured prominently in the 1967 Peter Watkins film Privilege and doubled for the Albert Hall in 1996's Brassed Off. 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... Peter Watkins (born October 29, 1935) is an English film and (once) television director. ... Albert P. Hall (born November 10, 1937 in Boothton, Alabama) is an African-American actor. ... 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... Brassed Off (1996) is a British film written and directed by Mark Herman. ...

The Town Hall in 1937 decorated for the Coronation of George VI.

In 1937, as part of the celebrations for the Coronation of George VI, the Town Hall was regaled in the various Arms of the Lord of the Manor of Birmingham since 1166 and each column festooned with garlands. The pediment also had images of Britannia, supported by mermaids, which were sculpted by William Bloye. This decorative scheme for the Town Hall and the whole of the city was devised by William Haywood, Secretary of The Birmingham Civic Society. Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... George VI (Albert Frederick Arthur George) (December 14, 1895 - February 6, 1952) was the third British monarch of the House of Windsor, reigning from December 11, 1936 to February 6, 1952. ... In England, Lord of the Manor is a minor, feudal title. ... // Events Marko III succeeds Yoannis V as patriarch of Alexandria. ... William Bloye was a sculptor, active in Birmingham either side of the second world war, and head of sculpture at Birmingham School of Art, where one of his pupils was Raymond Mason. ... WILLIAM JOSEPH HAYWOOD (1876-1957) William Haywood was an English architect and Secretary of The Birmingham Civic Society for over thirty years, being a founder member in 1918. ... The Birmingham Civic Society was founded at an inaugural meeting on 10th June 1918 in The Council House, Birmingham, England and is registered with The Civic Trust. ...

In the late 1980s/ early 1990s, the front arches were glazed to create an entrance foyer.

The Hall closed in 1996 for a £35 million refurbishment undertaken by Wates Construction, has seen the Town Hall brought back to its original glory with its 6,000-pipe organ still in place. The project was funded by £18.3 million from Birmingham City Council, £13.7 million from the Heritage Lottery Fund and £3 million from the European Regional Development Fund. The town hall's organist performed a piece of music to a group of school children in 2005 after the majority of the organ had been cleaned. However, the organist and the children all had to wear hard hats as the risk of falling debris remained. The hall is now managed by the trustees of the Symphony Hall. It is due to re-open on 4 October 2007, and will offer concerts again. At 1,100, the seating capacity is about half that of Symphony Hall. 1996 (MCMXCVI) was a leap year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year for the Eradication of Poverty. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Symphony Hall is a concert venue located inside the International Convention Centre (ICC) in Birmingham, England. ... October 4 is the 277th day of the year (278th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

A Big Screen stands next to the rear of the building, facing into Chamberlain Square. Manchester Big Screen in Exchange Square Public Space Broadcasting is a project involving the British Broadcasting Corporation, Philips and other technology providers and local councils to install LED screens with sound systems in prominent locations in historic city centres. ... Chamberlain Square is a public open space in central Birmingham, England, named after Joseph Chamberlain. ...

Sources

• All About Victoria Square, Joe Holyoak, The Victorian Society Birmingham Group, ISBN 0-901657-14-X
• Pevsner Architectural Guides - Birmingham, Andy Foster, 2005, ISBN 0-300-10731-5
• Birmingham Town Hall Organ, Nicholas Thistlewaite, Birmingham City Council 1984

External links

• Official website
• Birmingham City Council page about Birmingham Town Hall
• Another page about Birmingham Town Hall
• BBC on the reopening in October 2007
• Mander Organ: Birmingham Town Hall organ
• Images of England - photograph and details from listed building text
• 1890 Ordnance Survey map of the town hall
• This building is on the English Heritage Buildings at Risk Register - link to entry 4917 (Buildings at Risk Register article)
• Birmingham Post article about the refurbishment and reopening