The Selfridges store designed by Future Systems at the Bullring.

St Martin's Church, with Selfridges in the background.

The Bull Ring is a commercial area of Birmingham, England. It has been an important feature of Birmingham since the Middle Ages, when its market was first held. It has been developed into a shopping centre twice; first in the 1960s, and then in the 2000s. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (600x800, 201 KB)The interior of the Birmingham Bullring shopping centre. ... The city from above Centenary Square. ... 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) Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Queen Queen Elizabeth II  -  Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification  -  by Athelstan 967  Area... Download high resolution version (500x646, 158 KB)Birminghams iconic new Selfridges building, opened in 2003 a part of the new Bull Ring shopping centre in the city centre. ... Download high resolution version (500x646, 158 KB)Birminghams iconic new Selfridges building, opened in 2003 a part of the new Bull Ring shopping centre in the city centre. ... A big contrast: The building to the left is the space-age Selfridges building, part of the new Birmingham Bullring shopping centre in central Birmingham. ... A big contrast: The building to the left is the space-age Selfridges building, part of the new Birmingham Bullring shopping centre in central Birmingham. ... St Martin in the Bull Ring, Birmingham, next to the modern Selfridges shop Alternate view The church of St Martin in the Bull Ring (Grid reference SP073866) in Birmingham, England is the original parish church of Birmingham. ... The city from above Centenary Square. ... 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) Government Constitutional monarchy  -  Queen Queen Elizabeth II  -  Prime Minister Tony Blair MP Unification  -  by Athelstan 967  Area... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... The 2000s are the current decade, spanning from 2000 to 2009. ...

The site is located on the edge of the sandstone city ridge which results in the steep gradient towards Digbeth. The slope drops approximately 15 metres from New Street to St Martin's Church^[1]. Digbeth is an area of Birmingham, England. ... New Street is a street in central Birmingham. ... St Martin in the Bull Ring, Birmingham, next to the modern Selfridges shop Alternate view The church of St Martin in the Bull Ring (Grid reference SP073866) in Birmingham, England is the original parish church of Birmingham. ...

History

Statue of Lord Nelson on the Portland plinth and railings surrounding it.

The market began in the year 1154 when Peter de Bermingham a local landowner, obtained a Royal charter. Initially, a textile trade began developing in the area and it was first mentioned in 1232 in a document, in which one merchant is described as a business partner to William de Bermingham and being in the ownership of four weavers, a smith, a tailor and a purveyor. Seven years later, another document described another mercer in the area. Within the next ten years, the area developed into a leading market town and a major cloth trade was established. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1944x2592, 1158 KB) Summary Statue of Nelson in the Bull Ring, Birmingham, England. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1944x2592, 1158 KB) Summary Statue of Nelson in the Bull Ring, Birmingham, England. ... King Stephen of England dies at Dover, and is succeeded by his adopted son Henry Plantagenet who becomes King Henry II of England, aged 21. ... A Royal Charter is a charter given by a monarch to legitimize an incorporated body, such as a city, company, university or such. ... // Canonization of Saint Anthony of Padua, patron of lost items Pope Gregory IX driven from Rome by a revolt, taking refuge at Anagni First edition of Tripitaka Koreana destroyed by Mongol invaders Battle of Agridi 15 June 1232 Arnolfo di Cambio, Florentine architect (died 1310) Manfred of Sicily (approximate date...

The name, Mercer Street, is first mentioned in the Survey of Birmingham of 1553. This was a result of the prominence of the area in the cloth trade. In the 1500s and 1600s, Mercer Street rapidly developed and became cramped. Mercer Street had become known as Spicer Street in the early 1700s and by the end of the century, had developed into Spiceal Street. The result of this name was due to the growing grocery and meat trade on the street which had began to take over the cloth trade. Despite being overcrowded and cramped, many houses on the street had gardens as indicated by an advertisement for a residential property in 1798. // Events June 26 - Christs Hospital in London gets a Royal Charter July 6 - Edward VI of England dies July 10 - Lady Jane Grey is proclaimed Queen of England - for the next nine days July 18 - Lord Mayor of London proclaims Queen Mary as the rightful Queen - Lady Jane Grey... The decade of years from 1500 to 1509, inclusive. ... November 5, 1605 â€” The Gunpowder Plot to blow up the British Parliament. ... Events and trends The Bonneville Slide blocks the Columbia River near the site of present-day Cascade Locks, Oregon with a land bridge 200 feet (60 m) high. ... 1798 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

On a map produced by Westley in 1731, other markets had developed nearby including food, cattle and corn markets with other markets located nearby on the High Street. This cornmarket was moved to the Corn Exchange on Carrs Lane in 1848. The Bull Ring developed into the main retail market area for Birmingham as the town grew into a modern industrial city. Events 10 Downing Street becomes the official residence of the United Kingdoms Prime Minister when Robert Walpole moves in. ...

The earliest known building for public meetings in the town which has any architectural record is the High Cross which stood within the Bull Ring. The last known construction work completed to it was in 1703 before being demolished in 1784. Events February 2 - Earthquake in Aquila, Italy February 4 - In Japan, the 47 samurai commit seppuku (ritual suicide) February 14 - Earthquake in Norcia, Italy April 21 - Company of Quenching of Fire (ie. ... 1784 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ...

A series of events in Birmingham's political history saw the area become a popular meeting place for demonstrations and speeches among the working class leaders during the 1830s and 1840s. A man carries a sign at the September 24, 2005 anti-war protest, a demonstration in Washington, D.C. American Civil Rights March on Washington, leaders marching from the Washington Monument to the Lincoln Memorial, August 28, 1963. ... The term working class is used to denote a social class. ... Events and Trends Electromagnetic induction discovered by Michael Faraday Dutch-speaking farmers known as Voortrekkers emigrate northwards from the Cape Colony Croquet invented in Ireland Railroad construction begins in earnest in the United States Egba refugees fleeing the Yoruba civil wars found the city of Abeokuta in south-west Nigeria... // Events and Trends Technology First use of general anesthesia in an operation, by Crawford Long The first electrical telegraph sent by Samuel Morse on May 24, 1844 from Baltimore to Washington, D.C.. War, peace and politics First signing of the Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi) on February...

In 1839, the Bull Ring became the location of the Bull Ring Riots which resulted in widespread vandalism and destruction of property. It prompted fears amongst the town's residents at the council's inability to prevent or control the riots and led to speculation that the council were tolerant of lawlessness^[2]. 1839 (MDCCCXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

The area, along with Smithfield and Digbeth, became the only place where fairs in the centre of Birmingham could be held in 1861 due to disorderly behaviour witnessed at the fairs. In 1875 all fairs were banned from the town. 1861 (MDCCCLXI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link with display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Thursday of the Julian calendar) // January 1 - Benito Juárez captures Mexico City January 2 - Friedrich Wilhelm IV of Prussia dies and is succeeded by... 1875 (MDCCCLXXV) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

The area around the market site developed and by the Victorian era, a large number of shops were operating there. Immigrants set up businesses such as flower-sellers and umbrella vendors. The Lord Nelson statue became the location for preaching and political protests. Well known preachers of the time were nicknamed Holy Joe and Jimmy Jesus. Queen Victoria (shown here on the morning of her Ascension to the Throne, 20 June 1837) gave her name to the historic era The Victorian era of the United Kingdom marked the height of the British industrial revolution and the apex of the British Empire. ... “Parasol” redirects here. ... Lord Nelson Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson (September 29, 1758 – October 21, 1805) was a British admiral who won fame as a leading naval commander. ... Preaching is the most important element in the protestant churches. ...

Markets in the Bull Ring

A view of the entrance to the market hall from an 1836 book.

In the late 1700s, street commissioners were authorised to buy and demolish houses in the town centre including houses surrounding the Bull Ring and centre all market activity in the area. This was a result of new markets being established across the city in scattered locations creating severe congestion. Demolition of these properties began slowly however after the Act of 1801, the speed of demolition increased and by 1810, all properties in the area had been cleared as according to the 1810 Map of Birmingham by Kempson. During the clearance, small streets such as The Shambles, Cock Street and Corn Cheaping, which had existed before the Bull Ring, were removed. Events and trends The Bonneville Slide blocks the Columbia River near the site of present-day Cascade Locks, Oregon with a land bridge 200 feet (60 m) high. ... The Union Jack, flag of the newly formed United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland. ... 1810 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1810 was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ...

There was a wide area fronting St Martin's Church and this was used as the market place for markets. It was decided by the Street Commissioners that a sheltered market hall was needed. They bought the market rights from the lord of the manor and by 1832, all properties on site had been purchased, with exception of two, the owners of which demanding a higher price. To fund the purchase of these properties, two buildings were constructed either side of the market hall and the leases sold at auction. Construction of the Market Hall, designed by Charles Edge (an architect of Birmingham Town Hall), began in February 1833. It was completed by Dewsbury and Walthews at a cost of £20,000 (£44,800 if the price of acquiring the land is included) and opened in February 12, 1835 and contained 600 market stalls. The building was grand and the facade consisted of stone mined from Bath in Somerset. Two grand Doric columns were used supports for both wide entrances. At the end of the market day, metal gates were pulled in front of the entrances. St Martin in the Bull Ring, Birmingham, next to the modern Selfridges shop Alternate view The church of St Martin in the Bull Ring (Grid reference SP073866) in Birmingham, England is the original parish church of Birmingham. ... 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). ... Birmingham Town Hall is a Grade 1 listed concert and meeting venue in Victoria Square, Birmingham, England. ... 1833 was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ... February 12 is the 43rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... | Come and take it, slogan of the Texas Revolution 1835 was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Bath is a city in South West England most famous for its baths fed by three hot springs. ... Somerset is a county in the south-west of England. ...

In the centre of the 365 foot long, 180 foot wide and 60 foot tall hall was an ornate bronze fountain, given by the Street Commissioners upon their retirement in 1851. The base was made from Yorkshire sandstone and was 460 cm in diameter. It was in the form of a Greek tazza and cost £900. On the inside of the bowl were eight lions' heads from which water was ejected. The entire fountain was 640 cm tall and in the centre was a 150 cm tall statue called the Messenger and Sons. The statue consisted of four children representative of each of Birmingham's main four industries; gun making, glass-blowing, bronzing and engineering. The fountain was inaugurated by the Chairman of the Market Committee, John Cadbury on December 24, 1851. The fountain was removed in 1880 with the intention of re-erecting it in Highgate Park later that year but this did not happen and it was destroyed in 1923^[3]. The worlds highest fountain: King Fahds Fountain in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Three traditional fountain features: a low jet, a pair of raised basins, and sculpture with a water theme, here hippocamps (Villa Borghese, Rome) A traditional fountain is an arrangement where water issues from a source (Latin fons... 1851 (MDCCCLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... A Tazza is a shallow saucer-like dish either mounted on a stem and foot or on a foot alone. ... Chocolate Chocolate We all love chocolate, White, milk and dark its all good chocolate chocolate yum yum yummmmm. ... December 24 is the 358th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (359th in leap years). ... 1851 (MDCCCLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Year 1880 (MDCCCLXXX) was a leap year starting on Thursday (link will display the full calendar). ... 1923 (MCMXXIII) was a common year starting on Monday (link will display the full calendar). ...

Gas lighting was introduced to the building which extended the business hours for the market. Installments to the market hall included a clock crafted by William Potts and Sons of Leeds which consisted of figures of Guy, Earl of Warwick, the Countess, a retainer and a Saracen. It was moved from the Imperial Arcade at Dale End to the market hall in 1936 however this was destroyed, along with the rest of the Market Hall, on August 25, 1940 by an incendiary attack. Enquiries into the market hall found that pickpocketing was commonplace in the building. Gas lighting is the process of burning piped natural gas or coal gas for illumination. ... Leeds is a major city in West Yorkshire, England. ... The Earl of Warwick is one of the oldest English earldoms. ... In older Western historical literature, the Saracens were the people of the Saracen Empire, another name for the Arab Caliphate under the rule of the Umayyad and Abbasid dynasties. ... 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... August 25 is the 237th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (238th in leap years), with 128 days remaining. ... This article does not cite its references or sources. ... Incendiary bombs are bombs designed to start fires or destroy sensitive equipment using materials such as napalm, thermite, or white phosphorus. ... Pickpocketing is a crime, a form of larceny which involves the stealing of money and valuables from the person of a victim without their noticing the theft at the time. ...

In 1869, the fish market was completed on the site of the Nelson Hotel (formerly the Dog Inn). The Dog Inn was located at the top end of Spiceal Street and the land above was owned by the Cowper family. The fish market was built upon Cowper Street, which was named after the Cowper family, on Summer Lane. In 1884, a sheltered vegetable market in Jamaica Row was also completed. 1869 (MDCCCLXIX) is a common year starting on Friday (link will take you to calendar) of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Sunday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar. ... Retail fish market: Chinatown, Sydney. ... Year 1884 (MDCCCLXXXIV) was a leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Thursday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

The trade of horses prospered in the area with over 3,000 horses for sale at its peak during the 1880s. However this fell into rapid decline with the last horse trading fair taking place in 1911 with only eleven horses and one donkey in attendance. Binomial name Equus caballus Linnaeus, 1758 The horse (Equus caballus, sometimes seen as a subspecies of the Wild Horse, Equus ferus caballus) is a large odd-toed ungulate mammal, one of ten modern species of the genus Equus. ... // Development and commercial production of electric lighting Development and commercial production of gasoline-powered automobile by Karl Benz, Gottlieb Daimler and Maybach First commercial production and sales of phonographs and phonograph recordings. ...

A large amount of the area survived World War II however nearby New Street was heavily bombed. Shops sold tax-free products to encourage shoppers to buy them as it was difficult for the public to buy goods even a decade after the end of the war. Woolworths set up on Spiceal Street in the Bull Ring and became a popular shop, becoming the largest store on the street. The old Market Hall remained as an empty shell and was used for small exhibitions and open markets. No repair work was conducted on the building and the arches which housed the windows were bricked up. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... New Street is a street in central Birmingham. ... This article is about the British Woolworths Group plc, and its stores. ...

Archaeology on the site

As the redevelopment of 2000 began, archaeological excavations were conducted on the site. Finds dated back to the 12th century with a ditch being discovered on where the Selfridges store and Park Street carpark are now situated. Archaeologists discovered that this was a boundary that separated houses from a deer park located on an area covered by Moor Street Station. Rubbish which had been disposed of in the ditch had been discovered too including the fragments of misfired pottery with criss-cross patterns. This indicated that pottery kilns had been located there in the 13th century. Many leather tanning pits dating to the 17th and 18th centuries were found on the Park Street car park site. These contained fragments of crucibles, pottery vessels in which metal was melted. The residues in these were alloys of copper with zinc, lead and tin. (11th century - 12th century - 13th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 12th century was that century which lasted from 1101 to 1200. ... Selfridges in Birmingham. ... Birmingham Moor Street railway station is one of three main railway stations in the city centre of Birmingham, England. ... (12th century - 13th century - 14th century - other centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 13th century was that century which lasted from 1201 to 1300. ... This page is about making leather. ... (16th century - 17th century - 18th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 17th century was that century which lasted from 1601-1700. ... (17th century - 18th century - 19th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 18th century refers to the century that lasted from 1701 through 1800. ... Crucibles used in Czochralski method A crucible is a cup-shaped piece of laboratory equipment used to contain chemical compounds when heating them to very high temperatures. ...

On the site where the Indoor Markets are now located, archaeologists again discovered leather tanning pits dating from the 13th century.

Burials had also been discovered in the churchyard of St Martin's dating to the 18th and 19th century. Records of families were used to identify the bodies. St Martin in the Bull Ring, Birmingham, next to the modern Selfridges shop Alternate view The church of St Martin in the Bull Ring (Grid reference SP073866) in Birmingham, England is the original parish church of Birmingham. ... Alternative meaning: Nineteenth Century (periodical) (18th century — 19th century — 20th century — more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 19th century was that century which lasted from 1801-1900 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Four information panels providing information on the discoveries and history of the site are located in the Bullring at St Martin's Square, Edgbaston Street, Park Street and High Street.

The first Birmingham Bull Ring Centre

In 1955, shops began to close down as the redevelopment of the area was proposed. Plans drawn up showed the creation of new roads and the demolition of old ones and all the buildings on the proposed site. Eleven companies submitted plans for the new Bull Ring however, Birmingham City Council elected to go for Laing's proposal which used substantial material from designs by James A. Roberts. Demolition began in the late 1950s beginning with the demolition of the old fish market. Construction commenced in the summer of 1961. 1955 (MCMLV) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1961 (MCMLXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (the link is to a full 1961 calendar). ...

The outdoor market area was opened in June 1962 with 150 stalls within the new Bull Ring, which was still under construction. The demolition of the old Market Hall began in 1963. 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar). ... 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1963 calendar). ...

In 1964 construction of the 'new' Birmingham Bull Ring Centre neared completion. It was a mixture of traditional open-air market stalls and a new indoor shopping centre, the first indoor city-centre shopping centre in the UK^[1]. It was opened by the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Philip alongside Alderman Frank Price and Sir Herbert Manzoni on May 29, 1964 and had cost an estimated £8 million. The shopping centre covered 23 acres and had 350,000 sq feet of retail trade area. 1964 (MCMLXIV) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (the link is to a full 1964 calendar). ... HRH The Duke of Edinburgh His Royal Highness The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (Philip Mountbatten), styled HRH The Duke of Edinburgh (born June 10, 1921), is the consort of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. ... May 29 is the 149th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (150th in leap years). ...

The market area was submerged and had approximately 150 stalls with the majority selling food. It was split by a large road which connected to the inner ring road which was built from 1967 till 1971. There was direct access to New Street Station and the market area could be easily accessed from Moor Street Station. A multi-storey car park was also located within the complex. Access to roads by foot could be achieved through a network of subways. 1967 (MCMLXVII) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar (the link is to a full 1967 calendar). ... 1971 (MCMLXXI) was a common year starting on Friday. ... The tracks at the eastern end of Birmingham New Street station Class 390 no. ... Birmingham Moor Street railway station is one of three main railway stations in the city centre of Birmingham, England. ...

Jamaica Row and Spiceal Street had been demolished and removed during the development, being replaced by a submerged market area.

There were 140 shop units located on 350,000 square feet of room on a four acre site. The designers had designed the shopping centre to have air conditioning and had music to be played to create an intimate atmosphere within the building. For other uses, see Music (disambiguation). ...

Near New Street Station was the Old Market Hall which had been destroyed by fire. This had been left derelict for years before being demolished in 1962 and replaced by Manzoni Gardens, an open space designed for shoppers to relax. 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar). ...

A mural of a bull was located on the side of the building as visitors entered via the road splitting the market area. Look up bull in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

However, the 1960s Bull Ring Centre had problems from the outset and was very much a product of its time. At the time of its opening it was considered the height of modernity however higher rentals within the shopping centre meant that traders turned away from it. The public were also less inclined to use the subways and escalators, which stopped working regularly. Also, it did not age well and soon became generally regarded as an unfortunate example of 1960s Brutalist architecture, with its boxy grey concrete design and its isolation within ringroads connected only by dangerous subways. It was, in later days, much disliked by the public. The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... Brutalism is an architectural style that spawned from the Modernist architectural movement and which flourished from the 1950s to the 1970s. ... Concrete being poured, raked and vibrated into place in residential construction in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. ...

Redevelopment of the Bull Ring

Early proposals

Plans for redevelopments began in the 1980s with many being just visions. In 1987, the first serious plans were released under a document called "The People's Plan" which had been designed by Chapman Taylor Architects for London and Edinburgh Trust, who had bought the land following the end of Laing's lease. It proposed the full demolition of the Bull Ring Shopping Centre and the construction of a new mall described as "a huge aircraft-carrier settled on the streetscape of the city". The mall was a 500 metre long box with three floors. The 1980s refers to the years of and between 1980 and 1989. ... 1987 (MCMLXXXVII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

A pressure group called "Birmingham for People" was formed who wanted to aid the redevelopment of the Bull Ring. They distributed leaflets of the proposals to 44,000 homes in the city. However, as a result of local opinion, LET were forced to change their proposals.

In 1988, in response to the calls for a new design, LET released a masterplan of numerous buildings with a wide pedestrianised street leading to St Martin's Church. As part of the design, two high rise buildings of a similar height to the Rotunda were proposed to front New Street Station and Moor Street Station. However, lack of local support failed to allow the plans to materialise^[1]. 1988 (MCMLXXXVIII) was a leap year starting on Friday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The tracks at the eastern end of Birmingham New Street station Class 390 no. ... Birmingham Moor Street railway station is situated in Birmingham city centre, and has been extensively rebuilt and refurbished as part of the redevelopment of the Bull Ring. ...

In 1995, LET again amended their designs through work with the public. However, retail recession meant that the plans could not begin construction and they never developed^[4]. 1995 (MCMXCV) was a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Successful proposal

After the failure of the LET plan, new plans began to surface. In the mid-1990s, another serious proposal was produced and this gained support resulting in the publication of a masterplan. However, soon after the publication of the masterplan, changes were made to the design. In 1998, Selfridges voiced reservations about opening a store in Birmingham due to restrictions on doing so and considered opening a store in Glasgow instead.^[5] For the band, see 1990s (band). ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean [1]. // Coated in ice, power and telephone lines sag and often break, resulting in power outages. ... Glaswegian redirects here. ...

The 1960s Bull Ring Shopping Centre was demolished in 2000 with the traders moving to the Rag Market in Edgbaston Street. It was replaced by a new design, mixing both traditional market activity with modern retail units. The first building to be completed was the Nationwide Building Society which, while not directly connected to the shopping centre, was part of the development. A new indoor shopping centre, "Bullring" (as the commercial entity is branded) opened on September 4, 2003^[6] and features a dramatic new landmark building, housing a branch of Selfridges department store. The latter is a novel, futuristic design from the Future Systems architectural practice, clad in 15,000 shiny aluminium discs^[7], inspired by a Paco Rabanne sequinned dress^[8]. The Selfridges store cost £60 million and the contractor was Laing O'Rourke. Covering an area of 25,000 m², the designs for the Selfridges store were first unveiled in 1999, not long before demolition of the original shopping centre began. The Selfridges store has won eight awards including the RIBA Award for Architecture 2004 and Destination of the Year Retail Week Awards 2004.^[9] The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ... 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nationwide Building Society is a major UK building society, the largest one in the world, and has its headquarters in Swindon, Wiltshire, South West England. ... McArthur Glen Designer Outlet, Swindon, England, a shopping mall built within a disused railway engine works. ... September 4 is the 247th day of the year (248th in leap years). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Selfridges in Birmingham. ... The Media Centre at Lords Cricket Ground Selfridges in Birmingham Birmingham Selfridges Exterior Detail Birmingham Selfridges Interior Future Systems is a London-based architectural and design practice, headed by the couple, Jan Kaplický and Amanda Levete. ... Paco Rabanne, originally Francisco Rabanedacuervo, is a fashion designer who was born on 18 February 1934 in Saint Sebastian of the Basque Country of Spain. ... Laing O’Rourke plc is the largest privately owned construction firm in the UK. It has offices in the UK, Germany, India, Australia and United Arab Emirates, with over 23,000 employees worldwide. ... 1999 (MCMXCIX) was a common year starting on Friday, and was designated the International Year of Older Persons by the United Nations. ... The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a professional body for architects in the United Kingdom. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

The first week saw the shopping centre under considerable pressure due to the large crowds it attracted. On September 4, 2003, the day of opening, 276,600 people visited the shopping centre^[10].

The shopping centre is comprised of two main buildings which are connected by an underground passage lined with shops and is also accessible from St Martin's Square via glass doors. Touchscreen computers, developed by Calm Digital^[11], are located throughout the building which allow a user to search for the location of a certain store or browse a map of the building.

The entire redevelopment was accompanied by an official project magazine and then commemorated with an 'art book' style book which covered the Bullring's transformation in illustration and photography. Both book and magazine were produced by specialist publisher Alma Media International ^[12] on behalf of the developers.

The doors to both wings from New Street can be removed when crowds get large and queues develop at the doors. This feature also allows cars which are often on display to be driven into the building.

It is part of the Birmingham redevelopment plan. The centre contains the second of only six Apple Stores to be opened in the UK, and a large Dixons store, originally opened as Dixons XL, and rebranded as Currys.digital in 2006 along with the rest of the chain. The Dixons store has had disappointing sales and a section of the store which has been used predominantly for the sales of video games and games consoles has now been closed to the public. A number of shop units have also closed down due to the collapse of their national retail chains, including shops such as Nike, Elle, The Gadget Shop and Music Zone^{[13] [14]}. The Birmingham Redevelopment Plan is a huge, expensive redevelopment plan for Birmingham, UK. The main part of the actual plan was the new Bullring Shopping Centre. ... To learn about the online Apple store, see Apple store. ... Dixons is an electrical retailer in the UK and Republic of Ireland, and is owned by DSG International plc (formerly Dixons Group). ... Currys. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Administration is a procedure under the insolvency laws of a number of common law jurisdictions which functions as a rescue mechanism for insolvent companies and allows them to carry on running their business. ... Nike, Inc. ... The Gadget Shop is an electronic toy retailer based in the United Kingdom. ... Current Music Zone Logo Music Zone is a music retailer in the United Kingdom. ...

In 2004/2005 a small café dubbed the Spiral Cafe, designed by Marks Barfield Architects, was constructed alongside the steps leading towards to New Street from St Martin's Square. The building's shape resembles that of shell and features a curved bronze roof with both ends covered with glass^[15]. 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

There is a car park on Park Street which is connected to the Selfridges store via a 37 metre long, curved, polycarbonate-covered footbridge ^[8], known as the Parametric Bridge^[16], suspended over the street. On the ground floor of the building is a modern furniture showroom. Polycarbonates are a particular group of thermoplastic polyesters. ...

Artwork

The three cube fountains with the Spiral Cafe on the right.

The Bullring Bull which is illuminated at night by the lights surrounding it on the ground.

Numerous pieces of artwork are located in the grounds of the centre^[17]:

• Three cube-shaped fountains of varying size are situated near St Martin's Church. These are illuminated in different colours at night.

• A 120 m² glass mural by artist Martin Donlin faces the entrance to Birmingham New Street Station.

• Three light wands of varying height stand in Rotunda square near the entrances to both wings of the Bullring. The wands sway in the wind and reflective platforms which protrude from the main carbon fibre core reflect light to create a beacon effect. At night the cores are illuminated in the colours of the shafts which are blue, green and red.

• At the entrance to the west building stands The Guardian, a 2.2 m tall bronze sculpture of a turning bull. It was created by Laurence Broderick^[18] and has become a very popular photographic feature for visitors to Birmingham. The statue was vandalised in 2005^[19] requiring that it be removed for repairs, but was returned to its spot again later that year. The sculptor has given his support to calls for the statue to be renamed "Brummie the Bull".^[20] The sculpture was again vandalised in 2006 after^[21].

• Looking over St Martin's Square is the statue of Horatio Nelson. The bronze statue was the first public monument for Birmingham and was sculpted by Richard Westmacott. It is also the first figurative memorial to Lord Nelson to be erected in Great Britain (only second in the world after Montreal) and was unveiled on 25th October 1809, as part of George III's Golden Jubilee celebrations. It was originally located on the edge of the previous Bull Ring and stood on a marble base, but this was damaged when the statue was moved in 1958 and the current Portland stone plinth dates from 1960. As part of the Bullring development, the developer agreed to restore the statue and railings, but in 2003 when the Bullring opened, there was no sign of the railings. The Birmingham Civic Society mounted a campaign to get the railings re-instated, whilst Bullring argued they were a health & safety risk and would destroy the openness of the public space. However, the railing were re-instated in September 2005, just in time for the bi-centenary celebrations of the Battle of Trafalgar.

• As Christmas approaches, a silver-coloured structure is erected in St Martin's Square which resembles a stylised Christmas tree. Large chrome balls hang within the conical shaped structure which is adorned in chrome stars. Large 3-dimensional stars hang between both buildings. Both the stars and chrome sculpture are illuminated at night.

The worlds highest fountain: King Fahds Fountain in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia Three traditional fountain features: a low jet, a pair of raised basins, and sculpture with a water theme, here hippocamps (Villa Borghese, Rome) A traditional fountain is an arrangement where water issues from a source (Latin fons... The tracks at the eastern end of Birmingham New Street station Class 390 no. ... In Mosta, Malta, the Rotunda of Santa Marija Assunta is covered by a saucer dome. ... Carbon fiber composite is a strong, light and very expensive material. ... Assorted ancient Bronze castings found as part of a cache, probably intended for recycling. ... A sculpture is a three-dimensional object, which for the purposes of this article is man-made and selected for special recognition as art. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Nelson and his ship, The Bull Ring, Birmingham The Statue of Horatio Nelson by Richard Westmacott Jr. ... Sir Richard Westmacott, Jr. ... Vice-Admiral Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, KB (29 September 1758 – 21 October 1805) was an English admiral famous for his participation in the Napoleonic Wars, most notably in the Battle of Trafalgar, where he lost his life. ... Nickname: Motto: Concordia Salus (salvation through harmony) Coordinates: Country Canada Province Quebec Founded 1642 Established 1832 Government  - Mayor Gérald Tremblay Area [1][2][3]  - City 365. ... Year 1809 (MDCCCIX) was a common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar). ... George III (George William Frederick) (4 June 1738–29 January 1820) was King of Great Britain, and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until 1 January 1801, and thereafter King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death. ... A Golden Jubilee is a celebration held to mark a 50th anniversary of a monarchs reign. ... Year 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1960 (MCMLX) was a leap year starting on Friday (the link is to a full 1960 calendar). ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 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. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Combatants United Kingdom First French Empire Kingdom of Spain Commanders Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson † Pierre Charles Silvestre de Villeneuve Strength 27 ships of the line France: 18 ships of the line and 8 others. ... Christmas is an annual holiday that marks the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. ... A Christmas tree from 1900. ...

Rotunda

A part of the James A. Roberts design for the first Bull Ring Shopping Centre included a 12 storey circular office block. However, upon revising his design this was increased to 25 storeys. As a result of this, plans for a rooftop restaurant and a cinema were dropped. This became the Rotunda and is a surviving component of the 1960s development. The Rotunda is an iconic, cylindrical tower block in Birmingham, England. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from January 1, 1960 to December 31, 1969, inclusive. ...

It which is currently being converted into apartments by developers Urban Splash. Although being located close to the development and constructed at the same time as the 1960s centre, it was not part of the development despite being included in the design. A poem is engraved into one of the stones in the wall of the Bullring dedicated to the Rotunda. Urban Splash which was setup in 1993, is a company which regenerates decaying industrial warehouses and mills into modern apartments and penthouses as well as construct new build developments. ...

The public space to the front of both malls facing the High Street and New Street is named Rotunda Square after the building.

Bullring's first year

The escalators in the interior of the Selfridges store.

In its first year of service, 36.5 million visitors to the new Bullring were recorded, making it the most visited shopping centre outside the West End of London^[22]. This exceeded even the most optimistic predictions, and for the Bullring's supporters has justified the £530 million cost of building it. The new Bullring is now one of Europe's largest city centre shopping centres. The interior of Covent Garden Market in the West End The West End of London is an area of central London, containing many of the citys major tourist attractions, businesses, and administrative headquarters. ...

An advertising campaign operated during the year to attract visitors. The campaign consisted mainly of television advertisements which used the slogan; "Europe's shopping capital is no longer on the mainland." Background From the earliest days of the medium, television has been used as a vehicle for advertising in some countries. ...

Leaflets were handed to the public so that the managers of the shopping centre could hear of the views of the people who visit it.

References

June 19 is the 170th day of the year (171st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 195 days remaining. ... 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean [1]. // Coated in ice, power and telephone lines sag and often break, resulting in power outages. ... November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 50 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 50 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 50 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... August 4 is the 216th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (217th in leap years), with 149 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 50 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... November 6 is the 310th day of the year (311th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 55 days remaining. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... November 11 is the 315th day of the year (316th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 50 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Professor Carl Stephen Alfred Chinn MBE (born 6 September 1956) is a historian, writer, radio presenter, magazine editor, newspaper columnist, media personality, local celebrity, and famous Brummie, whose working life has been devoted to the study and popularisation of the city of Birmingham in England. ...

External links

• Bullring shopping centre
• Birmingham markets
• Pogus Caesar's exhibition 'From Jamaica Row - Rebirth of the Bullring' - OOM Gallery Archive photographs of Bullring development 2000 - 2003
• About the Bullring
• The Bull Ring - Then and Now
• 1890 Ordnance Survey map of the Bull Ring
• Church of St Martin in the Bull Ring
• Birmingham's Industrial History Website

Coordinates: 52°28′39.72″N, 1°53′39.04″W Map of Earth showing lines of latitude (horizontally) and longitude (vertically), Eckert VI projection; large version (pdf, 1. ...