Bristol Road Tramway
Whilst the soundscape of trams moving along Birmingham streets ceased in 1953, this distinctive recording was a notable feature of the ‘tram room’ at Birmingham Science Museum for almost fifty years more. ...
Letter written by Hans in German from Birmingham to his family in Vienna
The letter reads:
Dear Dad, Dear Aunty,
It has been 3 days since I last wrote to you both, but so much has happened, I don’t know where to begin. I am coping well with the language, I am not learning ...
Letter written by Henry Bate from Canada
In this letter Henry describes life in Canada which was very different to life in a city slum. Some of the children were better off in Canada as John Middlemore had hoped. However, others experienced ...
Boys Admission Register of Middlemore Homes, 1873-1914, showing Henry’s admission
Henry Bate sailed to Canada on 20 June 1905 with a party of children sent by Middlemore Homes. Henry lived in 2 Court, Vauxhall with his mother Ada Owen, his step father and two other children. The family ...
Young boy sitting on pavement
Back-to-back and Tunnel-back Slum properties, Hockley, Birmingham, 1943
Children on swings
Municipal Estate, Kingstanding, 1939
Middlemore children on board ship on route to Australia
Middlemore Homes were founded in 1872 by John Throgmorton Middlemore (1844-1924). His mission was to ‘save boys and girls from lives of crime and pauperism’ in the slums of Birmingham and believed they ...
Illustrated script to ‘The Consul’s Will’ by Arthur Wallis
Arthur Wallis (1874-1933), wrote plays with his brothers to entertain the family at Christmas, including ‘The Consul’s Will’ which he wrote when he was 15.
Handmade admission ticket to ‘The Consul’s Will’
Arthur Wallis (1874-1933), wrote under the pseudonym P. Bentley and produced scripts, advertising posters, admission tickets and ‘quotes from the critics’.
Drawing of Trees by Gregory Watt
Birmingham born Gregory Watt (1777-1804) was the son of the inventor James Watt’s second marriage, to Ann McGregor. Gregory and his younger sister Jessy (1779-1794) were both accomplished child artists ...
Children at a street party to celebrate the Silver Jubilee of King George V in Dartmouth Street
Street parties celebrated moments of national significance like royal events, the Boer War or the end of World War 2. At other times the street and public spaces became the focus of popular protest and ...
Children playing football in Holliday Road, Handsworth by Vanley Burke
This photograph is part of a Digital Handsworth online gallery: Vanley Burke Galleries
Photograph copyright: Vanley Burke
Boy with Flag by Vanley Burke
Vanley Burke’s photographs are noted for making visible in a sensitive way black daily life in Britain. Looking straight at the camera the boy presents the viewer with a strong sense of his own identity. ...
Children playing on the street
Photograph taken by Bill Brandt (1904-1983), from a series for the Bournville Village Trust.
Photograph courtesy of Bournville Village Trust.
Baptism register of St John's, Deritend
The first evidence we have of a travelling family in Birmingham comes from a baptism register of 1705/6. Although people associate travellers with images of colourful caravans, travelling homes were often ...
Family of J.H.A. Majendie Esq. MP at Headingham Castle, Essex by Sir Benjamin Stone (1838-1914)
The conditions in which children lived depended on their social class and the economic circumstances of their family. Children from well off families lived in comfortable homes surrounded by their possessions. ...
Letters from Beaumont Albright
Beaumont Albright was born on 21 August 1861 at the family home in Edgbaston. He was the youngest of eight children of Quakers Arthur Albright and his wife Rachel. Arthur was one of the co-founders of ...
Evidence presented at the Coroner’s Inquest into the death of Sydney Clayton, aged 2 months
Sydney was the son of Francis Clayton, a navvy, and his wife Selina. The family were living in a ‘Gipsy’s Tent’ in Queen’s Head Lane, Handsworth when he suffered an accident. On the morning of 30th of ...