St Martin's Church and the Selfridges building

This article is about the history of Birmingham in England. Download high resolution version (680x1000, 275 KB)A striking contrast of old and new. ... Download high resolution version (680x1000, 275 KB)A striking contrast of old and new. ... The city from above Centenary Square. ... Royal motto (French): Dieu et mon droit (Translated: God and my right) Englands location (dark green) within the British Isles Languages English (de facto) Capital London de facto Largest city London Area – Total Ranked 1st UK 130,395 km² Population – Total (mid-2004) – Total (2001 Census) – Density Ranked 1st...

Ancient history

Small farming settlements have existed in the Birmingham area since the Bronze Age. Bales of hay on a farm near Ames, Iowa A farm is the basic unit in agriculture. ... The Bronze Age is a period in a civilizations development when the most advanced metalworking has developed the techniques of smelting copper from natural outcroppings and alloys it to cast bronze. ...

In Roman times, the paved Roman road called Icknield Street passed through what is now the Birmingham area, and a large military fort and marching camp existed on the site of the present Queen Elizabeth Hospital near what is now Edgbaston in southern Birmingham. The fort was constructed soon after the Roman invasion of Britain in AD 43 and was inhabited for around 150 years until the end of the 2nd century AD. Remains have also been found of a civilian settlement, or vicus, alongside the Roman fort. (see Birmingham's Roman Fort) For other uses, see Roman Empire (disambiguation). ... Icknield Street or Ryknild Street is a Roman road in Britain that runs from Bourton on the Water in Gloucestershire where it connected to the Fosse Way, to Rotherham in South Yorkshire, it went via Alcester, Redditch, the area now covered by Birmingham (where a large fort was located), Lichfield... dear elizabeth. ... Edgbaston constituency shown within Birmingham Edgbaston is an area in Birmingham, England, UK. It is also a formal district, managed by its own district committee. ... Roman invasion of Britain: Britain was the target of invasion by forces of the Roman Republic and Roman Empire several times during its history. ... Events Aulus Plautius, with 4 legions, landed on Britain. ... // Events Roman Empire governed by the Five Good Emperors (96–180) – Nerva, Trajan, Hadrian, Antoninus Pius, Marcus Aurelius. ...

Until the Middle Ages, the Birmingham area was a sparsely populated backwater, due to poor quality soil which made agriculture unproductive. Much of the area was covered by the once-vast Forest of Arden. 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. ... Soil is material capable of supporting plant life. ... Arden is a district in Warwickshire, England, near Stratford-upon-Avon. ...

Saxon Birmingham

The Romans left Britain in the late 5th century, and by the 7th century, Anglo-Saxon tribes started to settle in the area and establish villages. Birmingham may have been one of these villages. // Overview Events Romulus Augustus, Last Western Roman Emperor 410: Rome sacked by Visigoths 452: Pope Leo I allegedly meets personally with Attila the Hun and convinces him not to sack Rome 439: Vandals conquer Carthage At some point after 440, the Anglo-Saxons settle in Britain. ... // Overview Events The Roman-Persian Wars end. ... The Anglo-Saxons refers collectively to the groups of Germanic tribes who achieved dominance in southern Britain from the mid-5th century, forming the basis for the modern English nation. ...

The name 'Birmingham' has Saxon origins, 'Birm' is derived from Beorma (or Beornmund) - Beorma was probably a local Saxon tribal leader, 'ing' is derived from ingas meaning 'tribe of' or 'people of', and 'ham' is short for hamlet or "heim", village or homestead. Therefore 'Birmingham' roughly means "The home of the tribe or people of Beorma". A hamlet is (usually — see below) a small settlement, too small or unimportant to be considered a village. ...

Medieval Birmingham

After the Norman conquest of England the area passed into the hands of the Norman De Birmingham family (sometimes spelt De Bermingham) who became lords of the manor from which they took a surname. Birmingham was recorded as a minor village in the Domesday Book of 1086 which stated: The Normans (adapted from the name Northmen or Norsemen) were a mixture of the indigenous people of France and the Viking invaders under the leadership of Hrolf Ganger, who adopted the French name Rollo and swore allegiance to the king of France (Charles the Simple). ... In England, Lord of the Manor is a feudal title. ... Domesday Book (also known as Domesday, or Book of Winchester), was the record of the great survey of England completed in 1086, executed for William the Conqueror, that was similar to a census by a government of today. ... Events Domesday Book is completed in England Emperor Shirakawa of Japan starts his cloistered rule Imam Ali Mosque is rebuilt by the Seljuk Malik Shah I after being destroyed by fire. ...

"There was land for six ploughs, but only three plough teams were used, there were the families of five villeins [i.e tenants of the Lord] and four bordars [i.e farmers]; woodland half a league by two furlongs [2778 by 402 m], no mill, no meadow and a total value of only 20 shillings [£1]."

At the time of the Domesday survey, Birmingham was far smaller than other villages in the area, most notably Aston. Aston is a district of Birmingham, England, though when both Aston and Birmingham were separate towns, Aston was for some time the larger of the two. ...

In the year 1154, lord of the estate Peter de Birmingham obtained a charter to hold a market. The market transformed Birmingham from a tiny, undistinguished farming village into a thriving centre of trade. Events 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 physical marketplace in Portugal enables buyers and sellers of produce to do business with each other. ...

The market came to be called the Bull Ring. Located at a crossing point on the River Rea, Birmingham was at a focal point for trackways in the area, and for this reason attracted much trade, which in turn attracted skilled craftsmen to set up business there. 2003 Bull Ring _ St Martins church and Selfridges The Bull Ring market has been an important feature of Birmingham since the Middle Ages. ... The River Rea is a small river which passes through Birmingham, England. ...

Birmingham prospered, and developed industry early on, by the 13th century Birmingham had developed a woollen industry with wool being woven and dyed in the town, Birmingham also developed a leather industry, with leather being tanned to be made into shoes, gloves and many other things. (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. ... Wool in a shearing shed Long and short hair wool at the South Central Family Farm Research Center in Boonesville, AR Wool sheep, Royal Melbourne Show Wool is the fibre derived from the hair of animals of the Caprinae family, principally sheep and goats, but the hair of other mammals... Modern leather-working tools Leather is a material created through the tanning of hides, pelts and skins of animals, primarily cows. ...

By the early 14th century, Birmingham had become the third largest town in Warwickshire, with only Coventry and Warwick being larger. Although Birmingham was still quite small, its population probably being around 1000-1500. This 14th-century statue from south India depicts the gods Shiva (on the left) and Uma (on the right). ... Warwickshire (pronounced either /ˈwɔːɹɪkˌʃə/ or /ˈwɔːɹɪkˌʃɪə/) is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in central England. ... The Precinct in Coventry city centre. ... Map sources for Warwick at grid reference SP2865 Warwick (pronounced warrick ) is the historic county town of Warwickshire in England and has a population of 25,434 (2001 census). ...

The De Birminghams retained control of the area until 1527, when John Dudley, Duke of Northumberland gained control of the town. Events January 5 - Felix Manz, co-founder of the Swiss Anabaptists, was drowned in the Limmat River in Zürich by the Zürich Reformed state church. ... John Dudley (1501-1553) was a Tudor nobleman and politician, executed for high treason by Queen Mary I of England. ...

16th and 17th centuries

From the 16th century onwards, Birmingham became a centre of many metalworking industries, with a skilled population of ironmongers. Birmingham was located near sources of iron ore, and coal and also several streams which could power bellows. These natural advantages ensured that Birmingham developed into a metalworking and manufacturing centre. (15th century - 16th century - 17th century - more centuries) As a means of recording the passage of time, the 16th century was that century which lasted from 1501 to 1600. ... Hot metal work from a blacksmith In chemistry, a metal (Greek: Metallon) is an element that readily forms ions (cations) and has metallic bonds, and metals are sometimes described as a lattice of positive ions (cations) in a cloud of electrons. ... This heap of iron ore pellets will be used in steel production. ... Media:Example. ... Hand bellows The bellows is a device for delivering pressured air in a controlled quantity to a controlled location. ...

In 1538 during the reign of King Henry VIII, a traveller named John Leland visited Birmingham, and noted that items such as knifes and nails were being produced in small forges and workshops. Events Treaty of Nagyvarad. ... Henry VIII (28 June 1491 – 28 January 1547) was King of England and Lord of Ireland (later King of Ireland) from 22 April 1509 until his death. ... John Leland (September 13, 1502–April 18, 1552) was an English antiquary. ... Traditional Finnish puukko knife A knife is a sharp-edged hand tool used for cutting. ... A pile of nails Nails This article is about nails as used in engineering. ...

Birmingham's inland location, away from any major transport links, meant that its manufacturers had to produce goods of high quality and value to compensate the high cost of transport. This gave Birmingham goods a reputation for quality.

Birmingham soon became a centre of arms manufacturing, with guns and swords being produced. By the mid-17th century Birmingham had grown into an important manufacturing town with a population of around 5,500. The bayonet, still used in war as both knife and spearpoint. ... 155 mm M198 howitzer U.S. Army soldier with a compact M249 variant USS Iowa (BB-61) fires a full broadside of nine 16/50 and six 5/38 guns during a target exercise near Vieques Island, Puerto Rico, 1 July 1984. ... Swiss longsword, 15th or 16th century Sword (Old English: sweord; akin to Old High German: swert, wounding tool; Proto-Indo-European: *swer-, to wound, to hurt) is a term for a long-edged, bladed weapon, consisting in its most fundamental design of a blade, usually with two edges for striking... (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. ...

The armaments trade was greatly stimulated by the English Civil War: In 1642, the townsfolk refused to support the King, and in revenge Birmingham was plundered by the royalist forces led by Prince Rupert. Following this, Birmingham allied itself with the Parliamentarian cause and Birmingham manufacturers supplied the Roundheads with much of their weaponry. Reputedly, 15,000 swords were produced in Birmingham for Oliver Cromwell's forces. The term English Civil War (or Wars) refers to the series of armed conflicts and political machinations which took place between English Parliamentarians and Royalists from 1642 until 1651. ... Events January 4 - Charles I attempts to arrest five leading members of the Long Parliament, but they escape. ... Cavaliers were gentlemen supporters of the Royalist cause during the English Civil Wars (1642–1651) For other meanings for see cavalier. ... for the city in British Columbia, see Prince Rupert, British Columbia Prince Rupert of the Rhine (1619-1682), soldier and inventor, was a younger son of Frederick V, Elector Palatine and Elizabeth Stuart, and the nephew of King Charles I of England. ... The phrase Parliamentarian can have different meanings based on its context: Most generally something parliamentarian is especially associated with a parliament or parliamentary system The proper noun Parliamentarian is a Member of Parliament, especially one who is particularly adept in the chamber, or an officer of a legislature charged with... The Roundheads was the nickname given to supporters of the Parliamentarian cause in the English Civil War. ... Unfinished portrait miniature of Oliver Cromwell by Samuel Cooper, 1657. ...

By the late 17th century, gun making in Birmingham became concentrated in an area called the Gun Quarter. By the end of the century 200 muskets a month were being produced in Birmingham for the government. In the latter half of the century Birmingham's population expanded rapidly; by 1700 it had grown to over 15,000. The Gun Quarter is the name given to an area of the city of Birmingham, in England, traditionally (and still) associated with the manufacture of firearms and sporting guns. ... Muskets and bayonets aboard the frigate Grand Turk A musket is a muzzle-loaded, smoothbore long gun, which a user generally fires from the shoulder. ... Events January 1 - Russia accepts Julian calendar. ...

18th century

Street plan of Birmingham from 1731

In the 18th century Birmingham grew rapidly into one of the world's first major industrial towns. In 1791, Arthur Young described Birmingham as "the first manufacturing town in the world". Image File history File links Street plan of Birmingham from 1731 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Street plan of Birmingham from 1731 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Events 10 Downing Street becomes the official residence of the United Kingdoms Prime Minister when Robert Walpole moves in. ... (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. ... 1791 (MDCCXCI) was a common year starting on Saturday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 11-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Arthur Young (September 11, 1741 - April 20, 1820) was an English writer on agriculture, economics and social statistics. ...

The industrial revolution began in the Midlands area of England, especially in the Ironbridge area, some 30 miles (50 km) to the west of Birmingham. A Watt steam engine in Madrid. ... In general, the midlands of a territory are its central regions. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with The Iron Bridge. ...

Birmingham's skilled workforce, and the fact that Birmingham was located near the coalfields of northern Warwickshire and Staffordshire, meant that the town grew rapidly. By the mid-18th century, Birmingham had become the largest town in Warwickshire. In the latter half of the 18th century, Birmingham's population tripled from 24,000 in 1750, to 74,000 in 1800. Warwickshire (pronounced either /ˈwɔːɹɪkˌʃə/ or /ˈwɔːɹɪkˌʃɪə/) is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in central England. ... Staffordshire (abbreviated Staffs) is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. ...

During this time, Birmingham was home to Matthew Boulton, James Watt, William Murdoch, Joseph Priestley who, with others, formed the highly influential Lunar Society. Matthew Boulton. ... James Watt James Watt (19 January 1736 – 19 August 1819) was a Scottish inventor and engineer whose improvements to the steam engine were fundamental to the changes wrought by the Industrial Revolution. ... William Murdoch. ... Joseph Priestley is often credited for the discovery of oxygen. ... The Lunar Society was a discussion club of prominent industrialists and scientists, who met regularly between 1765 and 1813 in Birmingham, England. ...

During their time in Birmingham, Boulton, Watt and Murdoch were instrumental in innovations such as the development of the steam engine and gas lighting, and Birmingham found itself at the forefront of industrial technology. A steam engine is an external combustion heat engine that makes use of the thermal energy that exists in steam, converting it to mechanical work. ... Gas lighting is the process of burning piped natural gas or coal gas for illumination. ...

Until the 1760s Birmingham's local government system, consisted of manorial and parish officials, most of whom served on a part-time and honorary basis. However this system proved completely inadequate to cope with Birmingham's rapid growth. In 1768 Birmingham gained a rudimentary local government system, when a body of "Commissioners of the Streets" was established, who had powers to levy a rate for functions such as cleaning and street lighting. They were later given powers to provide policing and build public buildings. Events and Trends King George III ascends the British throne in 1760. ... Generic plan of a mediaeval manor; open-field strip farming, some enclosures, triennial crop rotation, demesne and manse, common woodland, pasturage and meadow Manorialism or Seigneurialism describes the organization of rural economy and society in medieval western and parts of central Europe, characterised by the vesting of legal and economic... 1768 was a leap year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

From the 1760s onwards, Birmingham became a centre of the canal system. The canals provided an efficient transport system for raw materials and finished goods, and greatly aided the town's industrial growth. Events and Trends King George III ascends the British throne in 1760. ... The Canal du Midi in Toulouse, France. ...

The first canal to be built into Birmingham, was opened in November 1769 and connected Birmingham with the coal mines at Wednesbury in the Black Country. Within a year of the canal opening, the price of coal in Birmingham had fallen by 50%. 1769 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Map sources for Wednesbury at grid reference SO9895 Wednesbury is a town in Englands Black Country. ... The Black Country is a loosely-defined area of conurbation to the north and west of Birmingham, and to the south and east of Wolverhampton in the English West Midlands, around the South Staffordshire coalfield. ...

The canal network across Birmingham and the Black Country expanded rapidly over the following decades, with most of it owned by the Birmingham Canal Navigations Company. Other canals such as the Birmingham and Worcester Canal the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal and the Warwick and Birmingham Canal (now the Grand Union) and the Stratford-upon-Avon Canal linked Birmingham to the rest of the country. By 1830 some 160 miles of canal had been constructed across the Birmingham and Black Country area. The Black Country is a loosely-defined area of conurbation to the north and west of Birmingham, and to the south and east of Wolverhampton in the English West Midlands, around the South Staffordshire coalfield. ... Birmingham Canal Navigations (BCN) is a network of canals linking Birmingham, England to Wolverhampton and the Black Country. ... The Worcester and Birmingham Canal is a canal linking Birmingham and Worcester in England. ... The Birmingham and Fazeley Canal is a canal in the West Midlands of England, between Birmingham and Fazeley, just outside Tamworth. ... The canal at Braunston The Grand Union Canal is a canal in England and part of the British canal system. ... The canal at Braunston The Grand Union Canal is a canal in England and part of the British canal system. ... Categories: Stub | Canals in the United Kingdom | Warwickshire ... Liberty Leading the People by Eugène Delacroix commemorates the July Revolution 1830 was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ...

19th century

In 1802, Nelson and the Hamiltons visited Birmingham. Nelson was fêted, and visited Matthew Boulton on his sick-bed at Soho House, before taking atour of the Soho Manufactory and commissioning the Battle of the Nile medal. In 1809 a statue was erected to Nelson, by public subscription. It still stands, in the Bull Ring, albeit on a 1960s plinth. --69. ... Lord Nelson The Right Honourable Horatio Nelson, 1st Viscount Nelson, KB (29 September 1758 – 21 October 1805) - British admiral from England who won fame as a leading naval commander. ... Emma Hamilton, in one of dozens of portraits by George Romney, at the height of her beauty in the 1780s Emma Hamilton (Lady Hamilton) (April 26, 1765 - January 16, 1815) is best remembered as the mistress of Lord Nelson. ... Soho House, Matthew Boultons home in Handsworth, Birmingham, England, is now a museum (opened in 1995), managed by Birmingham City Council, celebrating his life, his partnership with James Watt and his membership of the Lunar Society. ... The Soho Manufactory was an early factory, opening in Soho, Birmingham, England by Matthew Boulton in 1761. ... The Battle of the Nile, known in France as the Battle of Aboukir Bay, was an important naval battle of the French Revolutionary Wars between a British fleet commanded by Rear-Admiral Horatio Nelson and a French fleet under Vice-Admiral François-Paul Brueys DAigalliers. ... 1809 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Selfridges at the Bullring St Martins Church, with Selfridges in the background The interior of the Bullring The Bull Ring market has been an important feature of Birmingham since the Middle Ages. ... The 1960s decade refers to the years from 1960 to 1969, inclusive. ...

At the beginning of the 19th century, Birmingham had a population of around 74,000. By the end of the century it had grown to 630,000. This rapid population growth meant that by the middle of the century Birmingham had become the second largest population centre in Britain. 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. ...

Railways arrived in Birmingham in 1837 with the opening of the Grand Junction Railway which linked Birmingham with Manchester and Liverpool. The following year the London and Birmingham Railway opened, linking to the capital. This was soon followed by the Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway and the Birmingham and Gloucester Railway. | Queen Victoria, Queen of the United Kingdom (1837 - 1901) 1837 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... The Grand Junction Railway (GJR) was an early railway company in the United Kingdom which existed between 1833 and 1846. ... Manchester is a city in the North West of England. ... Liverpool waterfront by night, as seen from the Wirral. ... The London and Birmingham Railway (L&BR) was an early railway company in the United Kingdom, which existed between 1833 and 1846 when it becam a constituent part of the London and North Western Railway. ... The Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway was a British railway company. ... 5593 Kolhapur climbing Lickey Incline (painting by Terence Cuneo) The Birmingham and Gloucester Railway is a railway route linking Birmingham to Gloucester in England. ...

These all initially had separate stations around Curzon Street. However in the 1840s these early railway companies had merged to become the Midland Railway and the London and North Western Railway respectively. The two companies jointly constructed Birmingham New Street Station which was opened in 1854, and Birmingham became a central hub of the British railway system. Curzon Street Station was the train station which was at the end of the first line connecting Birmingham to London in the 1800s. ... // Events and Trends Technology First use of anaesthesia in an operation, by Crawford Long War, peace and politics First signing of the Treaty of Waitangi (Te Tiriti o Waitangi) on February 6, 1840 at Waitangi New Zealand. ... The Midland Railway (MR) was a railway company in the United Kingdom which existed from 1844 to 1922. ... The London and North Western Railway (LNWR) was formed in 1846 by the merger of three railway companies - the Grand Junction Railway, London and Birmingham and Manchester and Birmingham. ... The tracks at the eastern end of Birmingham New Street station Class 390 no. ... 1854 was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Class 180 Multiple Unit of First Great Western at speed near Yate, Bristol, England. ...

In 1852 the Great Western Railway arrived in Birmingham, and a second smaller station, Snow Hill was opened. The GWR line linked the city with Oxford and London Paddington. 1852 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... The original Bristol Temple Meads station, first terminus of the GWR, is the building to the left of this picture The Great Western Railway (GWR) was a British railway company, linking South West England, the West Country and South Wales with London. ... The station entrance Birmingham Snow Hill station is a railway station located in the centre of Birmingham, England. ... Oxford is a city and local government district in Oxfordshire, England, with a population of 134,248 (2001 census). ... Paddington station or London Paddington is the name of a major railway station in the Paddington area of London, which is the London terminus for long distance trains to the West of England and South Wales and some West London commuter services. ...

Also in the 1830s, due to its growing size and importance, Birmingham was granted Parliamentary representation, by the Reform Act of 1832 initially with two MPs. Birmingham was one of the first new towns to be incorpoated as a municipal borough by the Municipal Corporations Act 1835, in 1838. // 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... The Houses of Parliament, seen over Westminster Bridge The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative institution in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories (it alone has parliamentary sovereignty). ... The Reform Act of 1832 (known also as the Great Reform Act and The Parliamentary Reform Act 1832) introduced wide-ranging changes to electoral franchise legislation in the United Kingdom. ... A borough is a political division originally used in England. ... The Municipal Reform Act 1835 required members of town councils (municipal corporations) to be elected by ratepayers and councils to publish their financial accounts. ...

Birmingham's growth and prosperity was based upon metalworking industries, of which many different kinds existed.

Birmingham became known as the "City of a thousand trades" because of the wide variety of goods manufactured there - buttons, cutlery, nails and screws, guns, tools, jewellery, toys, locks, and ornaments were amongst the many products manufactured.

Drawing of Birmingham from 1886 showing the Council House, Town Hall and Chamberlain Memorial

For most of the 19th century, industry in Birmingham was dominated by small workshops rather than large factories or mills. Large factories became increasingly common towards the end of the century when engineering industries became increasingly important. 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. ... 1886 (MDCCCLXXXVI) is a common year starting on Friday (click on link to calendar) // Events January 18 - Modern field hockey is born with the formation of The Hockey Association in England. ... A workshop is a room or building which provides both the area and tools (or machinery) that may be required for the manufacture or repair of goods. ... Engineering applies scientific and technical knowledge to solve human problems. ...

The industrial wealth of Birmingham allowed merchants to fund the construction of some fine institutional buildings in the city. Some buildings of the 19th century included: the Birmingham Town Hall built in 1834, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens opened in 1832. the Council House built in 1879, and the Museum and Art Gallery opened in 1885. Birmingham Town Hall is a Grade 1 listed concert and meeting venue in Victoria Square, Birmingham, England. ... 1834 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... The Birmingham Botanical Gardens in Birmingham, England were designed in 1829 and opened in 1832. ... 1832 was a leap year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Categories: UK geography stubs ... 1879 (MDCCCLXXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery Opened in 1885, Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery (BM&AG), in Birmingham, England, has a collection of inernational importance, including a vast amount of first- class work by the Pre_Raphaelite Brotherhood and the largest collection of works by Edward Burne-Jones in the world. ... 1885 (MDCCCLXXXV) is a common year starting on Thursday. ...

Birmingham became a county borough and a city in 1889. County borough was a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom to refer to a borough or a city independent of county administration. ... Sydney, Australia at Night. ... 1889 (MDCCCLXXXIX) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar). ...

Improvements

As in many industrial towns during the 19th century many of Birmingham's residents lived in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions. During the early to mid 19th century, thousands of back-to-back houses were built to house the growing population, many of which were poorly built and badly drained, and many soon became slums. Back-to-back houses are a form of terraced house, popular in Victorian England, in which two houses share a rear wall. ... A boy from an East Cipinang trash dump slum in Jakarta, Indonesia shows his find. ...

In the 1850s a network of sewers was built under the city, although only new houses were connected to it, and many older houses had to wait decades until they were connected. // Events and Trends Technology Production of steel revolutionised by invention of the Bessemer process Benjamin Silliman fractionates petroleum by distillation for the first time First transatlantic telegraph cable laid First safety elevator installed by Elisha Otis Science Charles Darwin publishes The Origin of Species, putting forward the theory of evolution... Sewers transport wastewater from buildings to treatment facilities. ...

Birmingham gained gas lighting in 1818, and a water company in 1826, to provide piped water, although clean water was only available to people who could pay. Birmingham gained its first electricity supply in 1882. Horse-drawn trams ran through Birmingham from 1873, and electric trams from 1890. Gas lighting is the process of burning piped natural gas or coal gas for illumination. ... 1818 (MDCCCXVIII) is a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar or a common year starting on Saturday of the 12-day slower Julian calendar. ... The oldest surviving photograph, Nicéphore Niépce, circa 1826 1826 (MDCCCXXVI) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Tuesday of the 12-day-slower Julian calendar). ... Lightning strikes during a night-time thunderstorm. ... 1882 (MDCCCLXXXII) was a common year starting on Sunday (see link for calendar). ... Luas - tram system in Dublin, Ireland Volkswagen Cargo-Tram in Dresden on a section of grassed track. ... 1873 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calaber). ... 1890 (MDCCCXC) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Friday of the Julian calendar). ...

Joseph Chamberlain

Between 1873 and 1876, Joseph Chamberlain served as mayor of the town. Under his leadership, Birmingham was transformed, as the council introduced one of the most ambitious improvement schemes outside London. The council purchased the city's gas and water works, and moved to improve the lighting and provide clean drinking water to the city, income from these utilities also provided a healthy income for the council, which was re-invested into the city to provide new amenities. Joseph Chamberlain This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... Joseph Chamberlain This image has been released into the public domain by the copyright holder, its copyright has expired, or it is ineligible for copyright. ... 1873 was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calaber). ... 1876 (MDCCCLXXVI) is a leap year starting on Saturday. ... The Right Honourable Joseph Chamberlain (8 July 1836–2 July 1914) was a British statesman. ... The Houses of Parliament and the clock tower containing Big Ben Part of the London skyline viewed from the South Bank London (see Wiktionary:London for the name in other languages) is the capital of the United Kingdom and England. ... A gas is one of the four main phases of matter (after solid and liquid, and followed by plasma), that subsequently appear as a solid material is subjected to increasingly higher temperatures. ... A girl in a swimming pool full of water Water (from the Old English waeter; c. ... Gas lighting is the process of burning piped natural gas or coal gas for illumination. ...

Under Chamberlain, some of Birmingham's worst slums were cleared. And through the city-centre a new thoroughfare was constructed, Corporation Street, which soon became a fashionable shopping street. He was instrumental in building of the Council House and the Victoria Law Courts in Corporation Street. Numerous public parks were also opened. The improvements introduced by Chamberlain were to prove the blueprint for municipal government, and were soon copied by other cities. Although he resigned as mayor to become an MP, Chamberlain took close interest in the city for many years after he resigned. A boy from an East Cipinang trash dump slum in Jakarta, Indonesia shows his find. ... An Australian park A park is any of a number of geographic features. ...

Birmingham's water problems were not fully solved until a 73 mile long aquaduct was built to a reservoir in the Elan Valley in Wales; this project was approved in 1891 and completed in 1904. This article is about the structure aqueduct, for the racecourse see Aqueduct Racetrack. ... A reservoir is an artificial lake created by flooding land behind a dam. ... The Elan Valley is situated to the west of Rhayader, in Powys, Wales. ... For an explanation of often confusing terms such as Great Britain, Britain, United Kingdom and England, see British Isles (terminology). ...

Expansion

Between 1889 and 1911 the boundaries of Birmingham were expanded to include the formerly separate towns of Aston (1911), Edgbaston, Erdington (1911), Handsworth (1911), King's Norton, Northfield and Yardley (1912). The city boundaries were further expanded in 1928 to include Perry Barr and in 1931 to include what is now known as Castle Vale. Many of these new additions to the city were taken from Worcestershire and Staffordshire. Aston is a district of Birmingham, England, though when both Aston and Birmingham were separate towns, Aston was for some time the larger of the two. ... Edgbaston constituency shown within Birmingham Edgbaston is an area in Birmingham, England, UK. It is also a formal district, managed by its own district committee. ... Erdington constituency shown within Birmingham Erdington is an area in north Birmingham, England. ... Handsworth is a suburb of Birmingham in the West Midlands, England. ... Kings Norton is an area of Birmingham, England . ... Categories: Stub | Birmingham, England ... Yardley constituency shown within Birmingham Yardley is an area in east Birmingham, England. ... Perry Barr constituency shown within Birmingham Perry Barr is an area in north Birmingham, England . ... Castle Vale is an area of Birmingham, England, originally created as a housing estate in the 1960s. ... Worcestershire (pronounced ; abbreviated Worcs) is a county located in the West Midlands region of central England. ... Staffordshire (abbreviated Staffs) is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. ...

Sutton Coldfield became part of Birmingham in 1974. Map sources for Sutton Coldfield at grid reference SP1395 Sutton Coldfield constituency shown within Birmingham Sutton Coldfield is a part of the City of Birmingham, England. ...

20th century

During the 20th century, Birmingham's population continued to increase. (19th century - 20th century - 21st century - more centuries) Decades: 1900s 1910s 1920s 1930s 1940s 1950s 1960s 1970s 1980s 1990s As a means of recording the passage of time, the 20th century was that century which lasted from 1901–2000 in the sense of the Gregorian calendar (1900–1999 in the...

In 1936, King Edwards Grammar School on New Street was demolished and moved to Edgbaston. The building was over 300 years old. The site was later transformed into an office block which was destroyed in the bombing of the Second World War. It was later rebuilt and named "King Edward's House". It is used as an office block and on the ground floor as shops and restaurants. 1936 (MCMXXXVI) was a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... New Street is a street in central Birmingham. ...

In the First and Second World Wars, the Longbridge car plant switched to production of munitions and military equipment, from ammunition, mines and depth charges to tank suspensions, steel helmets, Jerricans, Hawker Hurricanes, Fairey Battle fighters and Airspeed Horsa gliders, with the mammoth Avro Lancaster bomber coming into production towards the end of WWII. The Spitfire fighter aircraft was mass produced at Castle Bromwich by Vickers-Armstrong throughout the war. British Leyland corporate logo old BLMC share The British Leyland Motor Corporation (BLMC), was a vehicle manufacturing company formed in the United Kingdom in 1968. ... Boxes of ammunition clog a warehouse in Baghdad Ammunition is a generic military term meaning (the assembly of) a projectile and its propellant. ... Various anti-tank and anti-personnel land mines A landmine is a type of self-contained explosive device which is placed onto or into the ground, exploding when triggered by a vehicle or person. ... Depth Charge used by U.S. Navy later in World War II The depth charge is the oldest anti-submarine weapon. ... The front suspension components of a Ford Model T. Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. ... US Marine Corps M1917 Brodie pattern helmet The Brodie helmet (also called the shrapnel helmet or Tommy helmet, and in the United States known as a doughboy helmet) was a steel helmet designed and patented in 1915 by John L. Brodie. ... A jerrycan or jerrican or jerry can is a robust fuel container made from pressed steel. ... The Hawker Hurricane is a fighter design from the 1930s which was used extensively by the Royal Air Force during the Battle of Britain. ... Fairey Battle The Fairey Battle was a light bomber of the Royal Air Force built by Fairey Aviation in the late 1930s. ... Airspeed Horsa The Airspeed AS.51 Horsa was a World War II troop-carrying glider built by the British company Airspeed Ltd and subcontractors and used for air assault by British and Allied armed forces. ... The Avro Lancaster was a four-engine World War II bomber aircraft made initially by Avro for the Royal Air Force (RAF). ... The still unpainted Spitfire protoype, K5054, shortly before its first flight The Supermarine Spitfire was a single-seat fighter used by the RAF and many Allied countries in World War II. Produced by Supermarine, the Spitfire was designed by R.J. Mitchell, who continued to refine it until his death... To meet Wikipedias quality standards and make it easier to understand, this article or section may require cleanup. ... Castle Bromwich is a large village situated within the northern part of the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull in the English West Midlands area. ... The Vickers corporation, founded as the Vickers company in 1828, was a British manufacturer, primarily of military equipment. ...

Due to Birmingham's industrial importance and contribution to the war effort. The city was heavily bombed by the German Luftwaffe during the Birmingham Blitz in World War II. By the war's end 2,241 citizens had been killed by the bombing and over 3,000 seriously injured. 12,932 buildings were destroyed (including 300 factories) and thousands more damaged. The air raids also destroyed many of Birmingham's fine buildings. The Deutsche Luftwaffe or (help· info) (German: Air Arm, IPA: [luftvafə]) is the commonly used term for the German air force. ... The Birmingham Blitz was the heavy bombing of the city of Birmingham in the United Kingdom during the Second World War. ... Combatants Allies: • Poland, • UK & Commonwealth, • France/Free France, • Soviet Union, • USA, • China, ...and others Axis: • Germany, • Italy, • Japan, ...and others Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total: 50 million Full list Military dead: 8 million Civilian dead: 4 million Total: 12 million Full list World War II...

In the postwar years, a massive program of slum clearances took place, and vast areas of the city were re-built, with overcrowded "back to back" housing being replaced by high rise blocks of flats (the last remaining block of four back-to-backs have become a museum run by the National Trust[1]). A boy from an East Cipinang trash dump slum in Jakarta, Indonesia shows his find. ... This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists other pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... The standard of the National Trust The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as The National Trust, is a British preservation organization. ...

Due largely to bomb damage, the city centre was also extensively re-built under supervision of the city council's chief engineer Henry Manzioni during the postwar years. Emblematic of this was the new Bull Ring Shopping Centre. Birmingham also became a centre of the national motorway network, with Spaghetti Junction. Much of the re-building of the postwar period would in later decades be regarded as mistaken, especially the large numbers of concrete buildings and ringroads which gave the city a reputation for ugliness. 2003 Bull Ring _ St Martins church and Selfridges The Bull Ring market has been an important feature of Birmingham since the Middle Ages. ... Motorway mark in Europe. ... Spaghetti Junction (officially Gravelly Hill Interchange) is junction 6 of the M6 motorway in Birmingham, England, and is so named for its impressive system of intertwined loops and ramps. ...

In 1974, 21 people were killed and 182 people were injured when two city-centre pubs were bombed by the IRA. 1974 (MCMLXXIV) was a common year starting on Tuesday (the link is to a full 1974 calendar). ... The Birmingham Six were Hug Callaghan, Patrick Hill, Gerard Bitcher, Richard McIlkenny, William Power and John Walker. ...

In the same year as part of a local government reorganisation, Birmingham expanded again, this time taking over the borough of Sutton Coldfield to the north. Birmingham lost its county borough status and instead became a metropolitan borough under the new West Midlands County Council. It was also finally removed from Warwickshire. The United Kingdom is made up of four parts - England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. ... Map sources for Sutton Coldfield at grid reference SP1395 Sutton Coldfield constituency shown within Birmingham Sutton Coldfield is a part of the City of Birmingham, England. ... County borough was a term introduced in 1889 in the United Kingdom to refer to a borough or a city independent of county administration. ... A Metropolitan Borough (or Metropolitan District) is a type of local government district in England, covering urban areas within metropolitan counties. ... The West Midlands County Council (WMCC) was the former upper-tier administrative body for the West Midlands county, a metropolitan county in England. ... Warwickshire (pronounced either /ˈwɔːɹɪkˌʃə/ or /ˈwɔːɹɪkˌʃɪə/) is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in central England. ...

Diversity

In the years following World War II a major influx of immigrants from the Commonwealth of Nations changed the face of Birmingham, with large communities from Southern Asia and the Caribbean settling in the city, turning Birmingham into one of the UK's leading multicultural cities. As of 2001, 29.7% of the city's population was made up of ethnic minority communities. Amongst the largest minority communities, 10.6% of Birmingham residents are Pakistani, 5.7% are Indian, 6.1% are Black Caribbean or African, and 2.9% are of mixed race. Combatants Allies: • Poland, • UK & Commonwealth, • France/Free France, • Soviet Union, • USA, • China, ...and others Axis: • Germany, • Italy, • Japan, ...and others Casualties Military dead: 17 million Civilian dead: 33 million Total: 50 million Full list Military dead: 8 million Civilian dead: 4 million Total: 12 million Full list World War II... The Commonwealth of Nations, usually known as The Commonwealth, is an association of 53 independent sovereign states, almost all of which are former territories of the British Empire. ...

Since the early 1980s, Birmingham has seen a new wave of migration, this time from communities which do not have Commonwealth roots, including people from Kosovo and Somalia. The 1980s decade refers to the years from 1980 to 1989, inclusive. ... For other uses, see Kosovo (disambiguation). ...

Tension between ethnic groups and the authorities led to the Handsworth riots in 1981 and 1985. The two Handsworth riots occurred in the Handsworth suburb of Birmingham England during the summers of 1981 and 1985. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article is about the year. ...

Regeneration

In the 1970s and 1980s manufacturing industry in Birmingham went into decline, mainly through competition from foreign competitors, and by the early 1980s unemployment rates in Birmingham were amongst the highest in the country. The City Council undertook a policy of diversifying the city's economy into service industries, retailing and tourism to lessen the dependence upon manufacturing. A number of initiatives were undertaken to make the city more attractive to visitors, including: The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... The 1980s decade refers to the years from 1980 to 1989, inclusive. ... In economics, a person who is able and willing to work at prevailing wage rate yet is unable to find a paying job is considered unemployed. ... The tertiary sector of industry, also called the service sector or the service industry, is one of the three main industrial categories of a developed economy, the others being the secondary industry (manufacturing and primary goods production such as agriculture), and primary industry (extraction such as mining and fishing). ... In commerce, a retailer buys goods or products in large quantities from manufacturers or importers, either directly or through a wholesaler, and then sells individual items or small quantities to the general public or end user customers, usually in a shop, also called store. ... Tourist redirects here; for the album by Athlete, see Tourist (album) Tourism is the act of travel for the purpose of recreation and business, and the provision of services for this act. ...

In the 1970s, the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) was built, 10 miles (16 km) southeast of the centre, close to Birmingham International Airport. Although it is actually just inside neighbouring Solihull, it was instigated, and largely owned by, Birmingham Council, and is thought by most people to be in the city. It has been expanded several times since then. The 1970s decade refers to the years from 1970 to 1979, inclusive. ... The National Exhibition Centre (NEC) is the seventh largest exhibition centre in Europe, located in Solihull, near Birmingham, England. ... There is also a Birmingham International Airport in the United States. ...

The International Convention Centre (ICC) opened in central Birmingham in the early 1990s. The International Convention Centre is a major conference venue in central Birmingham, England. ... The 1990s decade refers to the years from 1990 to 1999, inclusive. ...

The area around Broad Street, including Centenary Square, the ICC and Brindleyplace, was extensively renovated at the turn of the Millennium. Broad Street as seen from above Broad Street is a major thoroughfare to the immediate West of Birmingham city centre. ... A millennium is a period of time, equal to one thousand years (from Latin mille, thousand, and annum, year). ...

In 1998 a G8 summit was held in Birmingham, and US president Bill Clinton was clearly impressed by the city. He famously had a drink in a canalside pub - though he never paid for his beer! 1998 (MCMXCVIII) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar, and was designated the International Year of the Ocean. ... The Group of Eight (G8) consists of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and the Russian Federation. ... William Jefferson Bill Clinton (born William Jefferson Blythe III on August 19, 1946) was the 42nd President of the United States, serving from 1993 to 2001. ... An amusingly named pub (the Old New Inn) at Bourton-on-the-Water, in the Cotswold Hills of South West England A pub in the Haymarket area of Edinburgh, Scotland A public house, usually known as a pub, is a drinking establishment found mainly in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Canada...

In September 2003, after a year long redevelopment project, the BullRing shopping complex was opened. In 2003, the city failed in its bid to become the 2008 European Capital of Culture, under the banner "Be in Birmingham 2008". Selfridges at the Bullring St Martins Church, with Selfridges in the background The interior of the Bullring The Bull Ring market has been an important feature of Birmingham since the Middle Ages. ... The European Capital of Culture is a city designated by the European Union for a period of one year during which it is given a chance to showcase its cultural life and cultural development. ...

Development continues, not least in the city's "Eastside" district.

October 2005 saw the 2005 Birmingham riots in the Lozells and Handsworth regions of the city between black and Asian gangs, resulting in two deaths and much damage. 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Birmingham riots of 2005 occurred on two consecutive nights on Saturday October 22 and Sunday October 23, 2005 in the Lozells area of Birmingham, England. ... Lozells is a loosely-defined area in the West of Birmingham, England. ...

Historic population

• 1550 -- 1,500

• 1650 -- 5,500

• 1700 -- 15,000

• 1750 -- 24,000

• 1800 -- 74,000

• 1901 -- 522,204 in the city proper, 630,162 in the urban area.

• 1951 -- 1,113,000 (population peak)

• 1981 -- 1,013,431

• 2003 -- 992,000

Events February 7 - Julius III becomes Pope. ... // Events June 23 - Claimant King Charles II of England, Scotland and Ireland arrives in Scotland, the only of the three Kingdoms that has accepted him as ruler. ... Events January 1 - Russia accepts Julian calendar. ... Events March 2 - Small earthquake in London, England April 4 - Small earthquake in Warrington, England August 23 - Small earthquake in Spalding, England September 30 - Small earthquake in Northampton, England November 16 – Westminster Bridge officially opened Jonas Hanway is the first Englishman to use an umbrella James Gray reveals her sex... 1800 (MDCCC) was an common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1901 (MCMI) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... 1981 (MCMLXXXI) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 2003 (MMIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

See also

• Government of Birmingham - For history of local government in Birmingham
• Economy of Birmingham - For history of Birmingham's economy
• Birmingham transport history - For history of transport industries in Birmingham
• Also See
  • History of Warwickshire
  • History of England

This page is about the Government of Birmingham, England. ... The city of Birmingham, in England, is an important manufacturing and engineering centre, employing over 100,000 people in the industry and contributing billions to the national economy. ... Birminghams history as a transport manufacturer is extensive, with firms like BSA, Norton, Ariel, and Velocette motorbikes, LDV vans, Wolseley police cars, Morris, the Mini, Austin, MG Rover Group, Lucas Aerospace, Tyseley Locomotive Works, The Dunlop Tyre Company, the Midland Red Bus Company and a UK branch of Alstom... In the 8th and 9th century, what is now Warwickshire was a part of the kingdom of Mercia. ... England is the largest and most populous of the constituent countries of the United Kingdom. ...

References

• Birmingham A Study in Geography, History and Planning, By Gordon E. Cherry (1994) ISBN 0471949000
• A History of Warwickshire, By Terry Slater (1981) ISBN 0850334160
• Positively Birmingham, By Johnathan Berg (1994) ISBN 0952317907
• The below websites were also used as a reference.

External links

• Local history pages on Birmingham City Council website
• Birmingham history- from BirminghamUK.com
• More Birmingham history - from Virtualbrum.co.uk
• A brief history of Birmingham
• BIRMINGHAMS INDUSTRIAL HISTORY WEBSITE
• An History of Birmingham - An extensive history, written in 1783, from Project Gutenberg
• 1911 aticle about Birmingham - Article about Birmingham from the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica (Note: Birmingham, England article is after Birmingham, Alabama)