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Elliott Brown Art; Culture & creativity
19 Feb 2024 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

The Bullring presents Borealis by Dan Acher - 9th to 18th February 2024

From the 9th to 18th February 2024 at the Bullring in Birmingham was an art installation by Dan Acher called Borealis. Based on the Northern Lights or the Aurora Borealis. It was on Central Street (St Martin's Walk) for 10 days from 5pm to 9pm each evening. Best seen after dark, as the effect didn't really work in daylight I found. Smoke machines and ambient music.

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The Bullring presents Borealis by Dan Acher - 9th to 18th February 2024





From the 9th to 18th February 2024 at the Bullring in Birmingham was an art installation by Dan Acher called Borealis. Based on the Northern Lights or the Aurora Borealis. It was on Central Street (St Martin's Walk) for 10 days from 5pm to 9pm each evening. Best seen after dark, as the effect didn't really work in daylight I found. Smoke machines and ambient music.


Borealis

BOREALIS THE NORTHERN LIGHTS - ANYTIME, ANYWHERE Borealis recreates one of nature’s most awe-inspiring phenomena over cities around the world. It shifts our emotional experience of familiar urban landmarks and awakens a shared conscience by creating something magical - something that shouldn’t naturally be there. Borealis is about our ancestral communion with nature and our more recent compulsion to control it. As our planet’s climate breaks down, the question arises: will technology one day replace everything that nature currently provides for us?

 

Dan Acher's Borealis was held at the Bullring on St Martin's Walk above St Martin's Square (aka Central Street) from the 9th to 18th February 2024. Time started each evening at 5pm, ended each night at 9pm. Every evening attracted a big crowd looking at the artificial Aurora Borealis, the Northern Lights. Personally I think they should have started it a month earlier, as between 5pm and 6pm, it's not that dark in February, although getting dark after sunset, which is getting a bit later each day now.

 

11th February 2024

First spotted one of the Borealis light towers from Edgbaston Street, after walking from Southside between buses.

dndimg alt="Borealis" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Borealis%20Bullring%2011022024.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

12th February 2024

Nice sunset down St Martin's Walk to St Martin in the Bullring, at approx 4:50pm, so 10 minutes before Borealis was due to start. This day I didn't wait for the lights to turn on.

dndimg alt="Borealis" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Borelais%20St%20Martin%20Bullring%2012022024%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Borealis" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Borelais%20St%20Martin%20Bullring%2012022024%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

14th February 2024

This day, I waited the 5 minutes until 5pm for the multi-coloured lights to turn on, but was cloudy, and you don't really get the full Borealis effect at this time, but noticed the smoke machines going on.

dndimg alt="Borealis" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Borealis%20Bullring%2014022024%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Borealis" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Borealis%20Bullring%2014022024%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Borealis" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Borealis%20Bullring%2014022024%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

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16th February 2024

That evening was when I hoped to catch Borealis after dark, I even popped to Costa Coffee in Grand Central beforehand after work, but I got there at 5:30pm and it wasn't dark yet, but got the full effect, and not much to see from St Martin's Square below.

dndimg alt="Borealis" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Borealis%20Bullring%2016022024%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Borealis" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Borealis%20Bullring%2016022024%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Borealis" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Borealis%20Bullring%2016022024%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

18th February 2024

The last evening, one more attempt, so got the bus up from home, then popped to Caffe Nero in Birmingham New Street Station (other coffee shops close at 5pm). Then got here for 6:30pm, and got a lot of photos of it, best I could, these are the best photos I took of Borealis.

dndimg alt="Borealis" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Borealis%20Bullring%2018022024%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Borealis" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Borealis%20Bullring%2018022024%20(6).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Borealis" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Borealis%20Bullring%2018022024%20(7).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

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dndimg alt="Borealis" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Borealis%20Bullring%2018022024%20(10).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Borealis" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Borealis%20Bullring%2018022024%20(11).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Borealis" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Borealis%20Bullring%2018022024%20(12).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Borealis" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Borealis%20Bullring%2018022024%20(16).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Borealis" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Borealis%20Bullring%2018022024%20(17).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Borealis" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Borealis%20Bullring%2018022024%20(19).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Borealis is next scheduled to go to Australia in Adelaide. It goes around the world.

 

Photography by Elliott Brown

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Elliott Brown Transport
18 Feb 2024 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

A look around the new look University Station

The new University Station buildings were opened on Sunday 28th January 2024, and I went to have a look around two weeks later on Sunday 11th February 2024. I got a train one way up from Longbridge, then checked out the buildings inside, the went over the bridge to the campus, and walked around to Vincent Drive and Pritchatts Road. It looks good and fresh. The old building is exit only.

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A look around the new look University Station





The new University Station buildings were opened on Sunday 28th January 2024, and I went to have a look around two weeks later on Sunday 11th February 2024. I got a train one way up from Longbridge, then checked out the buildings inside, the went over the bridge to the campus, and walked around to Vincent Drive and Pritchatts Road. It looks good and fresh. The old building is exit only.


University Station, the new buildings at the West Gate of the University of Birmingham and at Vincent Drive was fully opened on Sunday 28th January 2024. With the ASLEF train driver strikes the following weekend (3rd and 4th February 2024), thought it was best to wait until the next weekend (10th and 11th February 2024) to come back and check out the buildings.

 

I got the 12:43 train from Longbridge to University, and to my suprise it was West Midlands Railway 323221 in the classic Regional Railways livery. I got to University shortly before 1pm on Sunday 11th February 2024.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni%20Station%2011022024%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The waiting room on platform 1, there is also a new waiting room on platform 2. Probably useful for passengers going with Cross Country on the line between Cardiff Central and Nottingham via Birmingham New Street (if not the Cross City Line, as trains are frequent during the week).

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni%20Station%2011022024%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

A look at the main concourse from platform level, toilets are to the right. Soon there will be an NHS facility to the left.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni%20Station%2011022024%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Tickets and information near the stairs, way out to the Medical School.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni%20Station%2011022024%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Up the steps from platform 1 concourse, there is seats to sit on near the lift.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni%20Station%2011022024%20(5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

View out of the window on the new bridge above the tracks, platform 1 on the right, platform 2 on the left. Towards the 1978 building, now exit only.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni%20Station%2011022024%20(6).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Steps down to the platform 2 concourse. Also a lift.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni%20Station%2011022024%20(7).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Exiting the station over the new footbridge to the University of Birmingham campus, with a view to Old Joe, it crosses the Worcester & Birmingham Canal.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni%20Station%2011022024%20(8).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

There is also an entrance to University Station from the Worcester & Birmingham Canal towpath. I used to have to leave the canal via the steps to Westgate to get to the 1978 entrance.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni%20Station%2011022024%20(9).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

To the right is a ramp for disabled passengers (wheelchairs etc) to use, or 45 steps down to the University campus.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni%20Station%2011022024%20(10).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Looking back at University Station from the new footbridge.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni%20Station%2011022024%20(11).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

There is some unfinished areas near the footbridge, including in this view towards the canal and new station building.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni%20Station%2011022024%20(12).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

This grassed area is currently all fenced off, awaiting completion, other than that the steps, ramp and bridge above are open.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni%20Station%2011022024%20(13).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Following the Westgate path towards the 1978 building, as we see the 2024 building alongside the canal. This was part of the site of Metchley Roman Fort.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni%20Station%2011022024%20(14).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Now heading to the new University Station building from the new path from Westgate.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni%20Station%2011022024%20(15).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

It is well landscaped with lampposts and a grass lawn.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni%20Station%2011022024%20(16).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The station building is close to Vincent Drive. Bollards should prevent vehicles going beyond and parking where they shouldn't do.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni%20Station%2011022024%20(17).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

One of the many new University Station signs at the station.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni%20Station%2011022024%20(18).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The University Station sign from Vincent Drive.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni%20Station%2011022024%20(19).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

One last look at the station from the bridges on Pritchatts Road, heading to the North Gate of the University of Birmingham, as West Midlands Railway 323218 arrived at platform 2.

dndimg alt="University Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uni%20Station%2011022024%20(20).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

We hope you enjoyed our tour of the new University Station. Experience it yourself by buying your tickets at West Midlands Railway. We recommend using their app, which has a QR code ticket (once tickets purchased). But you can still buy tickets at the station of your choice (ticket machines or ticket office) such as Birmingham New Street. There is ticket gates at the station, on the platform level. Trains on the Cross City Line go between Redditch or Bromsgrove to Lichfield Trent Valley.

 

Photography by Elliott Brown

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Elliott Brown Art; Culture & creativity
11 Feb 2024 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

The Chinese lion dragon dance at The Mailbox Canalside

It was the Lunar New Year on Saturday 10th February 2024. The Year of the Wood Dragon. The Choy Lee Fut Lion and Dragon Dance Team from Southside performed for about 20 minutes after 2pm at The Mailbox Canalside. Similar to what they have done around the City Centre in previous years, like in the Bullring in 2023. I was joined in getting images with Jack Babington.

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The Chinese lion dragon dance at The Mailbox Canalside





It was the Lunar New Year on Saturday 10th February 2024. The Year of the Wood Dragon. The Choy Lee Fut Lion and Dragon Dance Team from Southside performed for about 20 minutes after 2pm at The Mailbox Canalside. Similar to what they have done around the City Centre in previous years, like in the Bullring in 2023. I was joined in getting images with Jack Babington.


CLFLion Dragon on Instagram.

The Choy Lee Fut Lion and Dragon Dance Team started the walk from The Mailbox on Royal Mail Street, then walked up Severn Street and Commercial Street to the steps up to The Mailbox Canalside.

dndimg alt="Chinese lion dragon" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Mailbox%20RMS%20CYF%2010022024.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Enjoy this series of 20 photos of the performance, or watch my YouTube video compilation above.

dndimg alt="Chinese lion dragon" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/LNY%20CLFLD%20Mailbox%20Cs%2010022024%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

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dndimg alt="Chinese lion dragon" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/LNY%20CLFLD%20Mailbox%20Cs%2010022024%20(11).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

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dndimg alt="Chinese lion dragon" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/LNY%20CLFLD%20Mailbox%20Cs%2010022024%20(13).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Chinese lion dragon" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/LNY%20CLFLD%20Mailbox%20Cs%2010022024%20(14).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Chinese lion dragon" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/LNY%20CLFLD%20Mailbox%20Cs%2010022024%20(15).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

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dndimg alt="Chinese lion dragon" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/LNY%20CLFLD%20Mailbox%20Cs%2010022024%20(17).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Chinese lion dragon" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/LNY%20CLFLD%20Mailbox%20Cs%2010022024%20(18).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Chinese lion dragon" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/LNY%20CLFLD%20Mailbox%20Cs%2010022024%20(19).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Chinese lion dragon" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/LNY%20CLFLD%20Mailbox%20Cs%2010022024%20(20).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos and video by Elliott Brown

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Elliott Brown People & community
09 Feb 2024 - Elliott Brown
Inspiration

Welcome to Ladywood around Ladywood Middleway

While Ladywood includes much of the City Centre, in this post we will take a look at Ladywood around Ladywood Middleway. This is the suburban part not far from Edgbaston and Five Ways. Spring Hill Library is near the end of Ladywood Middleway, while Broadway Plaza is close to Five Ways (the former site of the Children's Hospital). 

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Welcome to Ladywood around Ladywood Middleway





While Ladywood includes much of the City Centre, in this post we will take a look at Ladywood around Ladywood Middleway. This is the suburban part not far from Edgbaston and Five Ways. Spring Hill Library is near the end of Ladywood Middleway, while Broadway Plaza is close to Five Ways (the former site of the Children's Hospital). 


 

The first recorded evidence about Lady Wood was back in 1565. It was named after the Lady Wood which was located between Monument Road and the Ladywood Brook. It stretched from Portland Road to Spring Hill. The wood may have been the property of a church. The wood was long gone by the mid 16th century.

The Birmingham Canal Navigations Main Line

The Birmingham Canal Navigations Main Line was built through Ladywood between 1769 and 1772 by the canal engineer James Brindley.

The canal was straightened by Thomas Telford in the 19th century and this led to Brindley's sections being cut off as loops. Today we have the Icknield Port Loop and the Soho Loop within Ladywood (and the Oozells Loop in the City Centre).

dndimg alt="Birmingham Canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Canal Ladywood Middleway (May 2011).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Birmingham to Wolverhampton Railway

The Birmingham to Wolverhampton Railway opened in 1852 and it passes through Ladywood. It is known as the Stour Valley Line. There used to be a station in Ladywood called Monument Lane. It opened in 1854, was renamed to Edgbaston shortly afterwards. Renamed back to Monument Lane in 1874. It was relocated in 1886 and it was closed down in 1958.

dndimg alt="Birmingham to Wolverhampton Railway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bham Wolv railway Ladywood Middlway (May 2011).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

St John's Church Ladywood

The Church of St John is located on Monument Road near Ladywood Middleway. It is a Grade II listed building. Originally built in 1854 in the Gothic style (or Decorated style) by S. S. Teulon, the Church of St John the Evangelist was built on the site of Ladywood House, on land that was leased from King Edward VI School.  The famous Birmingham architect J. A. Chatwin built additions to the church in 1881. It was also called the Anglican Church of St John and St Peter.  The building material used was coursed red sandstone with ashlar dressings. The Church of St John the Evangelist became the Church of St John and St Peter in 2000.

dndimg alt="St Johns Church Ladywood" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ladywood (May 2011) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Lench's Trust Almshouses

These Almshouses are on Ladywood Middleway near Five Ways. They were built in 1858 by J H Hornblower and Haylock in the Tudor style or Jacobean style. It is a Grade II listed building. It was built of red brick with stone dressings and tiled roofs. No 1 Hagley Road (Metropolitan House by John Madin) is seen behind to the left.  Broadway Plaza is to the right of this.  It was the site of the Children's Hospital until 1998).

dndimg alt="Lench's Trust Almshouses" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lenchs Trust Almshouses (Dec 2009) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Lench's Trust Almshouses" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lenchs Trust Almshouses (Dec 2009) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Below is the view from the Hagley Road of the Lansdowne House during April 2016 with developer Seven Capital. No. 1 Hagley Road was also getting refurbished at the time. You could see Lench's Trust Almshouses from Hagley Road before The Lansdowne got built.

dndimg alt="Lenchs Trust Almshouses" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lenchs Trust Almshouses (Apr 2016).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Ladywood Middleway view of Lench's Trust Almshouses, with The Lansdowne well under way behind. Seen during March 2018. A mixture of old and new architecture.

dndimg alt="Lenchs Trust Almshouses" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lenchs Trust Almshouses (March 2018).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Here is another view of Lench's Trust Almshouses during November 2019. 

dndimg alt="Lenchs Trust Almshouses" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Lenchs Trust Almshouses (Nov 2019).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Spring Hill Library

Spring Hill Library is next to a large Tesco supermarket at Spring Hill on Summer Hill Road. Spring Hill Library is a Grade II* listed building built in 1893 by Martin and Chamberlain. It was built in the Gothic style with bright red bricks and terracotta dressings. 

dndimg alt="St Johns Church Ladywood" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ladywood (May 2011) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Welcome to Ladywood

Prominently located on Ladywood Middleway is this sculpture of Charles Blondin, a French tightrope walker.

In September 1873 he came to Birmingham, and crossed Edgbaston Reservoir on a tightrope! The statue was made in 1992 and placed on Ladywood Middleway. It was sculpted by the artist Paul Richardson in 1993.

dndimg alt="Welcome to Ladywood" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Welcome to Ladywood (Oct 2012) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Welcome to Ladywood" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Welcome to Ladywood (Oct 2012) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Welcome to Ladywood" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Welcome to Ladywood (Oct 2012) (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Broadway Plaza

The Birmingham Children's Hospital was on the Ladywood Middleway site from when it was built from 1910 to 1919, until they moved to Steelhouse Lane (the former Birmingham General Hospital) in 1998. Most of the hospital was demolished apart from the facade, and Broadway Plaza opened in 2003. It originally had a 12 screen cinema run by AMC, but Odeon took it over in 2012. It was transformed into the Odeon Luxe Cinema in 2018. There is also a bowling alley here. Originally BowlPlex, it is now the Hollywood Bowl. There is also a Travelodge hotel.

The architect of the Children's Hospital was F W Martin. At one point it was called the King Edward VII Memorial Children's Hospital. Only the facade was retained, the rest of the hospital was demolished. The facade became the entrance to the Broadway Casino, with Virgin Active to the left.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Children's Hospital" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Childrens Hosp Ladywood Mway (June 2009) (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Birmingham Children's Hospital" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Childrens Hosp Ladywood Mway (June 2009) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

This memorial stone was laid in April 1913 by H.R.H. The Princess Louise, Duchess of Argyll.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Children's Hospital" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Childrens Hosp Ladywood Mway (June 2009) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

View below during December 2009 with Christmas stars up as Christmas decorations at Broadway Plaza.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Children's Hospital" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Childrens Hosp Ladywood Mway (Dec 2009).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

An early evening shot below from December 2013 with Christmas lights on the facade of the former Children's Hospital at Broadway Plaza.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Children's Hospital" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Childrens Hosp Ladywood Mway (Dec 2013).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Kareo 6 Medical & Health Centre

Not much is known about this building. In the middle of the building is a Birmingham Forward coat of arms dated to 1934. Inscribed on it was Maternity & Child Welfare Centre. So that must of what it was originally built as back in the day.

dndimg alt="Kareo 6 Medical Centre" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ladywood Middleway (March 2017) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Kareo 6 Medical Centre" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ladywood Middleway (March 2017) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Ladywood Community Fire Station

Ladywood Fire Station is located on Icknield Port Road in Ladywood. It is not far from Monument Road. West Midlands Fire Service serves all of Ladywood plus the City Centre West from this fire station. 

dndimg alt="Ladywood Fire Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ladywood Fire Station (Feb 2020) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Ladywood Fire Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ladywood Fire Station (Feb 2020) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Ladywood Fire Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ladywood Fire Station (Feb 2020) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Ladywood Leisure Centre

The Ladywood Leisure Centre was opened in August 2019 on a site on Ladywood Middleway at the end of Monument Road. It replaced the old Ladywood Arts & Leisure Centre. The site was cleared by 2015 and it was built in 2019. It is similar in design to new leisure centres built in Northfield (2018) and in Stechford (2018).

dndimg alt="Ladywood Leisure Centre" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ladywood Leisure Centre (Feb 2020) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Ladywood Leisure Centre" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ladywood Leisure Centre (Feb 2020) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Ladywood Leisure Centre" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ladywood Leisure Centre (Feb 2020) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Ladywood Leisure Centre" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ladywood Leisure Centre (Feb 2020) (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Ladywood Leisure Centre" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ladywood Leisure Centre (Feb 2020) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Ladywood Leisure Centre" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ladywood Leisure Centre (Feb 2020) (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

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Elliott Brown Art; Culture & creativity
07 Feb 2024 - Elliott Brown
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The Annatomix wildlife street art on the Digbeth Branch Canal in Eastside below the HS2, Curzon No 3 Viaduct site

In the summer of 2023 on the Digbeth Branch Canal between Curzon Street and Curzon Street Tunnel in Eastside, Annatomix was painting wildlife street art for HS2, below where they are building the Curzon No 3 Viaduct. By the autumn it wasn't complete, and as of winter 2023-24, it is now badly tagged by graffiti vandals, so not sure if it will be repaired / repainted or not.

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The Annatomix wildlife street art on the Digbeth Branch Canal in Eastside below the HS2, Curzon No 3 Viaduct site





In the summer of 2023 on the Digbeth Branch Canal between Curzon Street and Curzon Street Tunnel in Eastside, Annatomix was painting wildlife street art for HS2, below where they are building the Curzon No 3 Viaduct. By the autumn it wasn't complete, and as of winter 2023-24, it is now badly tagged by graffiti vandals, so not sure if it will be repaired / repainted or not.


July 2023

Annatomix started painting the commissioned street art on the Digbeth Branch Canal in Eastside for HS2 in the middle of summer 2023.  This would be where they are building the Curzon No 3 Viaduct.

dndimg alt="Annatomix" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Annatomix%20Curzon%20St%20DBC%20HS2%2019072023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Annatomix" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Annatomix%20Curzon%20St%20DBC%20HS2%2019072023%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

August 2023

Just one update in the late summer, as Annatomix worked away at her art. I walked past towards the Curzon Street Tunnel. Decided to wait a few months to see if it was finished or not.

dndimg alt="Annatomix" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Annatomix%20HS2%20DGCE%2022082023.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

October 2023

A major update of the Annatomix street art on the Digbeth Branch Canal in the middle of Autumn 2023. It was looking good at the time, but she was having a break at the time for about a month. There was also a message at one end "if you like the art please stop drawing on it".

dndimg alt="Annatomix" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Annatomix%20HS2%20Eastside%20DBC%2015102023%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Annatomix" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Annatomix%20HS2%20Eastside%20DBC%2015102023%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Annatomix" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Annatomix%20HS2%20Eastside%20DBC%2015102023%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Annatomix" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Annatomix%20HS2%20Eastside%20DBC%2015102023%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Annatomix" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Annatomix%20HS2%20Eastside%20DBC%2015102023%20(5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Annatomix" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Annatomix%20HS2%20Eastside%20DBC%2015102023%20(6).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Annatomix" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Annatomix%20HS2%20Eastside%20DBC%2015102023%20(8).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Annatomix" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Annatomix%20HS2%20Eastside%20DBC%2015102023%20(9).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Annatomix" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Annatomix%20HS2%20Eastside%20DBC%2015102023%20(10).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Annatomix" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Annatomix%20HS2%20Eastside%20DBC%2015102023%20(11).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Annatomix" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Annatomix%20HS2%20Eastside%20DBC%2015102023%20(12).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Annatomix" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Annatomix%20HS2%20Eastside%20DBC%2015102023%20(13).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

February 2024

In the months since, taggers and graffiti vandals have been drawing / writing all over the street art, and it looked like Annatomix didn't return (health reasons I think). Meanwhile HS2 had put up rusted weathering steel triangular trusses for the Curzon No 3 Viaduct. Am not sure if it is worth her coming back in future to fix / repaint the art here (her other pieces around the city get tagged as well).

dndimg alt="Annatomix" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Annatomix%20HS2%20DBC%2004022024%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Annatomix" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Annatomix%20HS2%20DBC%2004022024%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Annatomix" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Annatomix%20HS2%20DBC%2004022024%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Annatomix" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Annatomix%20HS2%20DBC%2004022024%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Annatomix" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Annatomix%20HS2%20DBC%2004022024%20(5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Annatomix" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Annatomix%20HS2%20DBC%2004022024%20(6).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Annatomix" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Annatomix%20HS2%20DBC%2004022024%20(7).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Elliott Brown

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