Digbeth

Nothing too exciting, today.

I finished work around 5 and took a circuitous route through Digbeth, ending up on Bradford Street where I caught the bus out to Moseley to meet the wife from work.

Walking along Bromley Street, I spied this excellent piece of monochromatic graffiti...

From Bromely Street, I turned into Gibb Street. This short thoroughfare runs through the centre of the Custard Factory arts centre.

In one of the shops, I spotted this Birmingham wallpaper...

... a bargain at £60 a roll !

The Old Crown, Birmingham's oldest secular building (most of which was built around 1492 although some bits may be dated 1368) was passed before walking up back up Heath Mill Lane.

Glancing up, I was struck by the geometric balconies ...

Turning right onto Lower Trinity Street and into the heart of Graffiti Land.

Passing a car park entrance, I noticed this chap, brightening up a rather dull wall ...

More Spray Can artwork...

From Lower Trinity Street, I crossed Adderley Street and on to Upper Trinity Street, passing a reminder of Birmingham's past. This electricity sub-station was built in the early 1900's by the City of Birmingham.

At that time, electricity would have been generated locally, probably at the nearby Summer Lane Power Station. It was not until after the First World War that the National Grid was created, coming on-line towards the end of the 1930s.

Birmingham Tramway

Another walk from work, again to meet the other half from work in Moseley.

Today's stroll took me along Adderley Street passing the Birmingham Crest adorning one of the entrances of the Birmingham Corporation Tramway and Omnibus Department. At it's peak, in the 1950's, the corporation employed  9,000 people to run it's trams, busses and trolley-busses.

Today, the department is just another bus depot with it's other portal in Liverpool Street adorned with National Express insignia.

On reaching Digbeth High Street, I crossed at the Tesla showroom (electric cars) and after a few turns along Clyde and Warwick Streets, I was rewarded with a great view of the city centre...

Alcester Street was my next thoroughfare, passing some impressive graffiti before reaching the imposing gothic facade of the Paragon Hotel. This Grade II listed building has been restored to it's original beauty.

I crossed the River Rea on Gooch Street, passing a sculpture stating that an Anglia Tribe led by Beorma founded the settlement of Birmingham.

Grid Lock

Birmingham (and much of the rest of the country) had had a lot of rain today, so much so that a number of roads around the city became impassable. Come 'rush-hour' the city ground to a standstill.

I had planned on a short walk into the city centre form work from where I would catch a bus home. With reports of road closed, I decided to walk towards home and catch the omnibus away from the centre.

Less than a mile into my walk, and having strolled past queues of frustrated drivers, I spotted a police car blocking a road hoping to ease the congestion. I'm not quite sure what he was hoping to achieve where he was parked !

I passed a customised hearse on Dudderston Mill Road where because of the pedestrian pace of the traffic (or even slower than THIS pedestrian) I had plenty of time to grab a photo.

Approaching Saltley, I would be walking along previously walked roads so diverted off to pick up Crawford and Cranby Streets. Not the prettiest of roads with Crawford street particularly crappy.

A steady walk through Alum Rock took me to the boarded up Brookhill Tavern. This 1928 built, former Mitchells & Butler's pub was listed as a Grade II building in 2015.

Just past the Brookhill Tavern, is an impressive column erected to commemorate the philanthropic work of one Richard Sutton in building what would now be called Social Housing back in 1915. The houses were set out in tree-lined streets in contrast to the cramped housing in nearby Saltley and Alum Rock.

Sparkbrook

Today's post-work walk started on the Digbeth Branch of the Grand Union Canal including a short excursion up the main arm back towards Garrison Lane before an about turn just in time to see a narrow boat pass through Bordesley Junction.

I left the Grand Union at Small Heath Bridge making my way, along Henley Street to the Stratford Road. After a short walk in the wrong direction to fill in a gap on the map, I started a stroll along the A34 through Sparkbrook, passing an impressive redbrick school.

Walking under the railway, I was greeted by, none other than, Mohammed Ali. Obviously not THE Mohammed Ali, who passed away on June 3rd, this year, but one of a number of painted memorials, along with quotations, spotted along the Stratford Road.

A little further along, I passed the remains of the once mighty Vale-Onslow empire.

Len Vale-Onslow was born in 1900 and with his brothers, ran 2 garages in Birmingham. Len learnt to ride a motorcycle that his brothers had built. 

Len was too young to serve in the First World War and was declared unfit for the re-match.

At 26, Len designed a motorcycle which was so revolutionary that he took out a world patent on it. The same year, he met his future wife whom he married three years later.

Len and his wife made a formidable team and they built an empire selling motor bikes from their shop on Stratford Road.

Over the years, they bought neighbouring shops and even when he became a millionaire decided not to move from their home above the shops.

Len continued to be interested in motorcycles and was still riding aged 102. He passed away in 2004 just before his 104th birthday.

Further along the Stratford Road, I could not fail to notice the majestic brick and stone church of St. Agatha with it's 37 metre high tower.

This Grade I listed building was consecrated in 1901.

During it's life, this church has suffered at the hands of The Luftwaffe (1940), a fire (1957) and even a tornado (2005).

The building underwent major restoration work, ending in 2005, when it was officially reopened by HRH Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex.

Rain

After scanning the maps ( LINK ) I planned a route from work out to Moseley to meet my other half from work. I printed out the map and stepped out into the rain.

I had chosen a fairly uninspiring route along the A4540 which after every roundabout appears to change it's name from Watery Lane Middleway to Bordesley Middleway to Highgate Middleway.

Strangely, after crossing the Stratford road, one side of the dual carriage way is called Camp Hill Circus while the other is Camp Hill Middleway - do I need to walk both sides?

Just before turning onto Belgrave Middleway, I crossed this cycle lane complete with No Stopping, double red lines !

After crossing the busy Belgrave Middleway onto Longmore Street, I made a small diversion along Sherbourne Road with it's many Cul-de-Sacs to fill in a little bit more of the map.

After that bit of colouring-in, I strode along Mary Road passing the unusual Bell 'Tower' of Balsall Heath Church Centre on Edward Road.

Just before Mary Road becomes Park Road there is a short terrace of houses with distinctive wrought iron balconies bringing a touch of New Orleans to Birmingham.

From the end of Park Road, it was but a short walk to meet the wife. I was soaked through but luckily, I'd had the forethought to place a bag of dry clothes into the boot of the car so was soon dry. 

My map was not so lucky !

Small Heath

I had about an hour after work to get myself to Moseley to meet my other half after she'd finished her daily graft.

My route would take me, firstly, to Bordesley, to fill in a few gaps then across the Coventry Road and through Small Heath before a walk up Ladypool Road.

The first part went well, picking off the streets in the shadow of St. Andrew's, home ground of Birmingham City F.C.

Originally the Small Heath Alliance Football Club, the club was set up in 1875 by the Holy Trinity Cricket Club to maintain fitness during the winter.

When Birmingham received it's royal charter in 1889, the club changed it's name to Birmingham City.

The Coventry Road was crossed and I proceeded along Bolton Road, nipping up, and then down, the many tributaries.

Up one of the Cul-de-Sacs (Sandfields Avenue) was the home of someone who must have been well happy to be living in the shadow of St. Andrews.

On reaching Jenkins Street, I turned right and onto Small Heath Bridge. This bridge was built between 1901 and 1904 and crosses the A45 (Small Heath Bypass), the Grand Union canal and the railway line from Moor Street Station with a span of 200 metres.

Unfortunately, the view from the bridge is not great as the bridge was fenced in back in 2009 to stop the locals throwing stones at the cars passing underneath !