The Sins of Our Cities by Our Resident Special Commissioner, III. Birmingham The Modern Review, No. 5
The Sins of Our Cities described how for many children their ‘surroundings were vile, their associates vicious, their homes wretched. ’ Lacking adult moral guidance children were seen as being at risk ...
The Sitting Room, by Myra Bunce
‘Mr. Bunce is an intense lover of art and artists […] notable examples of Wainwright, of his old friend Henshaw, of H. Moore, Langley, J. Collier, Aumonier, East, Donaldson, Thomas Baker, Wyllie, and ...
The Sturge House on Wheeley's Road
Image: Calthorpe Estate Drawing.
Joseph Sturge was a nineteenth century antislavery campaigner living in Birmingham. In 1822 Sturge purchased land from the Calthorpe estate. He built his house in Edgbaston ...
The Sturge Statue
Image: date unknown.
(click on zoomify to enlarge).
The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter (1866–1943)
The Tale of Peter Rabbit was the first of twenty-two ‘little books’ written and illustrated by Potter, with many of them featuring her own pets—Peter Rabbit, Benjamin Bunny, Mrs Tiggy-Winkle, and Samuel ...
'The Taming of the Shrew' at Cannon Hill Park
This photograph shows a matinee performance at the arena at Cannon Hill Park. Plays had first been performed in the parks as part of the wartime entertainments organised as part of the Brighter Birmingham ...
The Town Hall
Image: An illustration of the Town Hall in the nineteenth century.
(Click on Zoomify to enlarge image.)
'The Unity of God'
Copy of an early Jewish sermon by M. Raphall, preacher of Hebrew Congregation Synagogue, Birmingham between 1840-1849 who later emigrated to America. The preface of the sermon states 'The following Discourse ...
The Village
Birmingham has its own vibrant ‘Gay Village’ that mainly focuses on and around Hurst Street in the city centre. This entertainment centre for the West Midlands gay and lesbian community is rapidly becoming ...
The Warwickshire Photographic Survey and Schooling
The Warwickshire Photographic Survey is made up of some 25,000 photographs, 10,000 of which are from the original survey. Set up in 1890 by the Birmingham Photographic Society members Sir John Benjamin ...
The Water Babies by Charles Kingsley
This very popular children’s book was written by Charles Kingsley (1819-1875) in 1862-1863 as part of the campaign against climbing boys. The main character, Tom, is a little chimney sweep who drowns ...
Thomas Bodkin file; Recommendations of the Land Tenure Committee
The West Midland Group for Post-War Planning and Reconstruction was a consultative body affiliated to the University of Birmingham, and included academics, city planners like Sir Herbert Manzoni, the ...
Thomas Hackett (1869-1950)
Thomas Hackett: Politician, Co-operator & Advocate for Adult Education
This photograph is from an official album of Birmingham City Councillors. Thomas (Tom) Hackett was elected in 1913 as Labour ...
Three children on the street
Photograph of three children on the street in Winson Green, Birmingham. Taken by Nick Hedges.
Three women pushing a pram in the street
Photograph of three women pushing a baby in a pram in a slum street. Taken in Liverpool by Nick Hedges.
Tinkers Farm Council School
Tinkers Farm Road Council School opened in a new building in 1931 to accommodate junior and infant children. It was built because of the move of population from the poor inner city areas to the suburbs. ...
Town Hall Antislavery Meeting, 1838
Image: Report of The Birmingham Antislavery Society
For more details on Birmingham antislavery, follow the link below to 'Campaigning for Social Justice'
(Click on Zoomify to enlarge)
Train spotting at New Street Station by J.H. Russell
As well as the street, other public spaces provided a means of entertainment. Train spotting was a very popular hobby for school boys.