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Elliott Brown Food & drink
14 Aug 2023 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

Meal at The Canal House thanks to the Westside BID in July 2022

At the end of 2021, I was one of the winners for the Westside BID photography calendar competition for their 2022 calendar. My prize at the time was a voucher to use at The Canal House. Which I eventually used on the 13th July 2022. A year on, had another photo in the 2023 calendar, and had been to The Flapper for their photography exhibition. Those photos in a separate post.

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Meal at The Canal House thanks to the Westside BID in July 2022





At the end of 2021, I was one of the winners for the Westside BID photography calendar competition for their 2022 calendar. My prize at the time was a voucher to use at The Canal House. Which I eventually used on the 13th July 2022. A year on, had another photo in the 2023 calendar, and had been to The Flapper for their photography exhibition. Those photos in a separate post.


I didn't use my Westside BID prize for the 2022 calendar until the 13th July 2022. I first won it around November 2021, but that was not the right time to use it, coming out of restrictions from the pandemic. It was much better though to use it last summer. My voucher code was for The Canal House on Bridge Street in Birmingham, near Gas Street Basin.

It was also called the James Brindley.

 

We got a table on the balcony overlooking Gas Street Basin, here you can see what was Jurys Inn (now Leonardo Royal Hotels). There was also a outdoor drinking area on the level below outside.

dndimg alt="The Canal House" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Canal%20House%2013072022%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

After finishing the meal, on leaving I took these photos on my phone camera on the way out.

dndimg alt="The Canal House" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Canal%20House%2013072022%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="The Canal House" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Canal%20House%2013072022%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="The Canal House" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Canal%20House%2013072022%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="The Canal House" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Canal%20House%2013072022%20(5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="The Canal House" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Canal%20House%2013072022%20(6).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Some views to The Canal House from Gas Street Basin, close to Regency Wharf. Old Wharf was formerly to the left, where Arena Central is now.

dndimg alt="The Canal House" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Canal%20House%2013072022%20(7).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="The Canal House" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Canal%20House%2013072022%20(8).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Elliott Brown

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Elliott Brown Environment & green action
14 Aug 2023 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

Jack's visit to National SEA LIFE Birmingham

Birmingham We Are's Jack Babington went to the National SEA LIFE Birmingham with the Nechells POD group on the 11th August 2023. Enjoy the selection of photos taken by Jack on his visit. The National Sea Life Centre is an aquarium that opened in 1996 in a building designed by Sir Norman Foster. Close to the Birmingham Canal Navigations Mainline at Old Turn Junction. 

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Jack's visit to National SEA LIFE Birmingham





Birmingham We Are's Jack Babington went to the National SEA LIFE Birmingham with the Nechells POD group on the 11th August 2023. Enjoy the selection of photos taken by Jack on his visit. The National Sea Life Centre is an aquarium that opened in 1996 in a building designed by Sir Norman Foster. Close to the Birmingham Canal Navigations Mainline at Old Turn Junction. 


The National Sea Life Centre Birmingham opened at Brindleyplace, near the Birmingham Canal Navigations Mainline not far from Old Turn Junction in 1996. The building was designed by Sir Norman Foster.

The building houses various fish species, turtles, penguins and more.

In Victorian times, the site was the location of two canal basisn in Oozells Street Wharf.

 

Birmingham We Are contributor Elliott Brown remembers going at least twice after it opened in 1996. The first visit had a long queue going towards the NIA! But didn't take any photos 27 years ago! (he only had a compact film camera back then).

 

On the 11th August 2023, Jack Babington joined the Nechells POD for a visit to the National Sea Life Centre, some of his photos taken that day are below.

The main entrance to the Sea Life Centre from near Central Square in Brindleyplace.

dndimg alt="National Sealife Centre" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Sealife%20Centre%20Jack%2011082023%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

One of the tanks with a penguin swimming inside of it.

dndimg alt="National Sealife Centre" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Sealife%20Centre%20Jack%2011082023%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Beware of pirates! A skeleton and pirate flag.

dndimg alt="National Sealife Centre" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Sealife%20Centre%20Jack%2011082023%20(3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

A LEGO pirate ship, with a LGBTQ+ flag flying proud.

dndimg alt="National Sealife Centre" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Sealife%20Centre%20Jack%2011082023%20(4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

A member of staff feeds the fish as visitors watch on.

dndimg alt="National Sealife Centre" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Sealife%20Centre%20Jack%2011082023%20(5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

A Gentoo penguin pokes it's head above the water.

dndimg alt="National Sealife Centre" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Sealife%20Centre%20Jack%2011082023%20(6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Papuan toby fish.

dndimg alt="National Sealife Centre" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Sealife%20Centre%20Jack%2011082023%20(7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Chinese pond turtle.

dndimg alt="National Sealife Centre" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Sealife%20Centre%20Jack%2011082023%20(8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Did you know .... we were born in 1996! Our Cylinder Tank is one of our oldest tanks here. Are you older or younger than our tank?

dndimg alt="National Sealife Centre" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Sealife%20Centre%20Jack%2011082023%20(9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The gift shop. Buy 3 for £15.

dndimg alt="National Sealife Centre" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Sealife%20Centre%20Jack%2011082023%20(10).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The underwater tunnel tube with a man dressed as a pirate!

dndimg alt="National Sealife Centre" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Sealife%20Centre%20Jack%2011082023%20(11).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Actinia.

dndimg alt="National Sealife Centre" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Sealife%20Centre%20Jack%2011082023%20(12).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Jack Babington

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Elliott Brown Classic Architecture
10 Aug 2023 - Elliott Brown
Did you know?

The Gothic on Great Hampton Street between 2016 and 2023

The Gothic was built originally as a public house at the corner of Great Hampton Street and Great Hampton Row in Hockley, Birmingham in the late 1870s. It has been a Grade II listed building since 1982. Cordia Blackswan restored the building from 2019, this was completed by 2022. King Kong Park was next to the building from July to around October 2022 (the King Kong recreation is gone).

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The Gothic on Great Hampton Street between 2016 and 2023





The Gothic was built originally as a public house at the corner of Great Hampton Street and Great Hampton Row in Hockley, Birmingham in the late 1870s. It has been a Grade II listed building since 1982. Cordia Blackswan restored the building from 2019, this was completed by 2022. King Kong Park was next to the building from July to around October 2022 (the King Kong recreation is gone).


The Gothic dates to the late 1870s, built of polychrome brick and Ruskinian dressed stone. The Gothic public house included two shops. A prominent corner site looking down Constitution Hill. The building has an octagonal turret. The building was Grade II listed in July 1982. It remained a pub until it closed down around 2001-02.

Cordia Blackswan took over the building and restoration work took place from 2019 to 2022.

 

The Gothic seen back in September 2016, a few years before restoration. The previous owners thought it was a good idea to paint the ground floor units in pink! Looking on Google Maps Street View, it has been like this since the 2000s.

dndimg alt="The Gothic" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The%20Gothic%20GHS%20(Sep%202016).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

By February 2022, all of the scaffolding had come down and restoration of The Gothic and the other buildings was almost complete. I was heading up Great Hampton Street to check out The Blue Orange Theatre at the time. Was wet rainy weather. The Quality Works buildings to the far left.

dndimg alt="The Gothic" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The%20Gothic%20GHS%20(Feb%202022)%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="The Gothic" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The%20Gothic%20GHS%20(Feb%202022)%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

March 2022, and I saw this view of The Gothic from Birmingham Snow Hill Station, waiting for my train at platform 3. That modern building to the right is Hampton by Hilton Birmingham Jewellery Quarter (next to St Paul's Tram Stop).

dndimg alt="The Gothic" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The%20Gothic%20GHS%20(Mar%202022).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The Gothic and King Kong Park, July 2022. The recreated statue of King Kong was next to The Gothic from July 2022, at the beginning of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, on Great Hampton Row. I'd caught the tram that day up to St Paul's Tram Stop.

dndimg alt="The Gothic" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/King%20Kong%20Returns%2023072022%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="The Gothic" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/King%20Kong%20Returns%2023072022%20(16).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The last we saw of King Kong at King Kong Park was during October 2022. This view from The Orelle at 103 Colmore Row, with The Gothic seen on the left.

dndimg alt="The Gothic" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/King%20Kong%20Orelle%20103CR%2008102022%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="The Gothic" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/King%20Kong%20Orelle%20103CR%2008102022%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Early August 2023, and I approached The Gothic from Kenyon Street to Great Hampton Street. It looks like all the buildings renovations are now complete. It looks good! Also King Kong Park is long gone, and Great Hampton Row is once again open to local traffic.

dndimg alt="The Gothic" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The%20Gothic%20GHS%20(Aug%202023)%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="The Gothic" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The%20Gothic%20GHS%20(Aug%202023)%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="The Gothic" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The%20Gothic%20GHS%20(Aug%202023)%20(3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Elliott Brown

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Elliott Brown History & heritage
07 Aug 2023 - Elliott Brown
Inspiration

A look inside St Chad's Cathedral

I went on my first Igers Birmingham UK photography meet at St Chad's Cathedral on 5th August 2023 at 11:30am. Plenty to see, was there over an hour and a half. We were also taken downstairs to the rooms underground. Always wanted to go inside of St Chad's, but kept missing those Birmingham Heritage Week open days. So this was a good opportunity.

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A look inside St Chad's Cathedral





I went on my first Igers Birmingham UK photography meet at St Chad's Cathedral on 5th August 2023 at 11:30am. Plenty to see, was there over an hour and a half. We were also taken downstairs to the rooms underground. Always wanted to go inside of St Chad's, but kept missing those Birmingham Heritage Week open days. So this was a good opportunity.


A selection of photos I took at St Chad's Cathedral on 5th August 2023. More from me and others can be seen at this hashtag on Instagram IGBUK Meet St Chads.

 

First view inside of St Chad's after arriving for the meet.

dndimg alt="St Chad's Cathedral" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/St%20Chads%20IGB%20int%2005082023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Under the large organ.

dndimg alt="St Chad's Cathedral" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/St%20Chads%20IGB%20int%2005082023%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

View to the large organ.

dndimg alt="St Chad's Cathedral" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/St%20Chads%20IGB%20int%2005082023%20(5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

This chapel contains relics of St John Henry Newman.

dndimg alt="St Chad's Cathedral" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/St%20Chads%20IGB%20int%2005082023%20(6).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The relics of St John Henry Newman along with a picture of him.

dndimg alt="St Chad's Cathedral" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/St%20Chads%20IGB%20int%2005082023%20(7).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

St Edward's Chapel. The chapel was built from 1931 and opened in 1933.

dndimg alt="St Chad's Cathedral" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/St%20Chads%20IGB%20int%2005082023%20(12).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

One of the stained glass windows.

dndimg alt="St Chad's Cathedral" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/St%20Chads%20IGB%20int%2005082023%20(14).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The Archbishop's throne on the alter.

dndimg alt="St Chad's Cathedral" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/St%20Chads%20IGB%20int%2005082023%20(19).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Statue of St Chad, holding a model of the three spired Lichfield Cathedral. His relics were saved from Lichfield after the Reformation, and hidden, then moved to St Chad's Cathedral in Birmingham 300 years later, once it was safe to do so.

dndimg alt="St Chad's Cathedral" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/St%20Chads%20IGB%20int%2005082023%20(27).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

One of many places to light a candle. But don't light them during a mass as they will be a distraction! Also donate below.

dndimg alt="St Chad's Cathedral" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/St%20Chads%20IGB%20int%2005082023%20(33).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Monument of Bishop Thomas Walsh (1776 - 1849).  The founder of St Chad's Cathedral, he is buried in this Crypt. It was designed by A.W. Pugin, carved in Bath stone by George Myers and exhibited at the Great Exhibition in 1851.

dndimg alt="St Chad's Cathedral" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/St%20Chads%20IGB%20int%2005082023%20(37).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

And now for some photos taken in the rooms underground.

 

The robe of Pope John Paul II. He was the first Pope since the reformation to visit the UK in 1982. While he didn't visit Birmingham, he did go to Coventry. But he met the then new Archbishop of Birmingham Maurice Couve de Murville.

dndimg alt="St Chad's Cathedral" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/St%20Chads%20IGB%20crypt%2005082023%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Robe of Pope Benedict XVI. He came to Birmingham in 2010, and held mass at Cofton Park, and also beautified John Henry Newman, and visited the Birmingham Oratory on the Hagley Road in Edgbaston.

dndimg alt="St Chad's Cathedral" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/St%20Chads%20IGB%20crypt%2005082023%20(8).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

This room is called the Sacrament of Confirmation.

dndimg alt="St Chad's Cathedral" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/St%20Chads%20IGB%20crypt%2005082023%20(12).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Another interesting looking room with yellow walls and ceilings.

dndimg alt="St Chad's Cathedral" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/St%20Chads%20IGB%20crypt%2005082023%20(15).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

More photos in the gallery.

 

Photography by Elliott Brown

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Elliott Brown History & heritage
07 Aug 2023 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

Jack's visit to Selly Manor with Nechells POD

During July 2023, Jack Babington and Nechells POD visited Selly Manor and Minworth Greaves in Bournville. Enjoy Jack's photos in this post.

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Jack's visit to Selly Manor with Nechells POD





During July 2023, Jack Babington and Nechells POD visited Selly Manor and Minworth Greaves in Bournville. Enjoy Jack's photos in this post.


Selly Manor is run by the Bournville Village Trust.

The building was re-built at Bournville from 1912 to 1916 by W. Alexander Harvey for George Cadbury. The building dates back to the 15th century in the sub-manor of Selly.

dndimg alt="Jack Selly Manor" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly%20Manor%20(July%202023)%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Henry VIII teddy bear.

dndimg alt="Jack Selly Manor" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly%20Manor%20(July%202023)%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Cuddly toy cat on a bed.

dndimg alt="Jack Selly Manor" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly%20Manor%20(July%202023)%20(3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Food on the kitchen table.

dndimg alt="Jack Selly Manor" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly%20Manor%20(July%202023)%20(4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The Kitchen.

dndimg alt="Jack Selly Manor" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly%20Manor%20(July%202023)%20(5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

A boars head in the kitchen.

dndimg alt="Jack Selly Manor" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly%20Manor%20(July%202023)%20(6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Civil War helmets.

dndimg alt="Jack Selly Manor" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly%20Manor%20(July%202023)%20(7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Shields / coat of arms inside of Minworth Greaves.

dndimg alt="Jack Selly Manor" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly%20Manor%20(July%202023)%20(8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

An old clock.

dndimg alt="Jack Selly Manor" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly%20Manor%20(July%202023)%20(9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

A view of Minworth Greaves.

It was re-built here in 1932 by Lawrence Cadbury. It was formerly located in Minworth near Sutton Coldfield, and dates to the 14th century. Restoration overseen by W. Alexander Harvey.

dndimg alt="Jack Selly Manor" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selly%20Manor%20(July%202023)%20(10).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Jack Babington

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