A very wet visit to Birmingham primarily to do the
Photography Show at the NEC – that dire collection of sheds where you have to
walk miles to get anywhere, anyway it was a good show and worth visiting.
Whilst in Birmingham
I wanted to revisit the new Library, a great building. This time I was able to
get to see the Shakespeare Memorial Room, this original feature from the city’s
Victorian library was designed by John Henry Chamberlain in 1882, it was too
busy on my first visit as the library had only just opened, but not too many people this time - strange to be in a
wood panelled period room on top of a modern building.
The Museum & Art Gallery always has things of interest
that I have not seen before and the Pre-Raphaelite paintings are fantastic in
detail and execution.
Birmingham still has many good Victorian buildings but due
to the weather I was unable to take any photos, although I have shot many of
them in the past but mostly on film. I ended up sheltering in the Cathedral and
looking at the Burne Jones stained glass windows, a fine set.
One building in Birmingham that badly needs to find a new
use is the original 1838 London & Birmingham Railway Curzon Street Station
by Philip Hardwick, the oldest railway terminus in the world. Unused and
neglected for years it’s one of the most important buildings in the city and must
be given the attention it deserves.
