Birmingham
Birmingham (pronounced BIRming'm) is a city in the West Midlands of England with a population of 985,900 (2001 estimate). Due to Birmingham being the second largest and second most culturally diverse city in the UK it is generally considered England's "second city", after London.
The city's Skyline, with the Rotunda in the centre
Introduction
The city is situated in the West Midlands conurbation, of which it forms the largest part. Along with the city of Wolverhampton, the Black Country, and a number of surrounding towns, this conurbation consists of around 2.25 million people, around four million people live in the surrounding commuter belt. The word "Birmingham" is often used, though incorrectly, in reference to the entire conurbation rather than the city.
| City of Birmingham | |
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| Demographics | |
|---|---|
| Population: | 985,900 (2001) |
| Ethnicity: | 70% white, 16% Asian, 5% black |
| Geography | |
| Region: | West Midlands |
| County: | West Midlands |
| Neighbours: | Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Solihull, Worcestershire, Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall |
| Stations: | New Street, Snow Hill, Birmingham International, Moor Street |
The city is commonly known as Brum (from the old name Brummagem) and its inhabitants as Brummies. Birmingham residents speak with a distinctive Brummie accent which is often confused with the Black Country accent. The people are generally regarded as hard working, and having an unusual sense of humour that is quite unique. It is often said that "you can always tell a Brummie, but you can't tell him much".
Birmingham is one of the most culturally diverse cities in the UK, with a large population from the Caribbean, Indian sub-continent and from Ireland: according to the 2001 census 29.7% of the population of Birmingham is non-white. The city has one of the largest populations of Rastafarians outside Jamaica and the city hosts the third largest St. Patrick's Day parade in the world after Dublin and New York. Also Birmingham balti restaurants produce some of the finest Indian quisine in the U.K.
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Birmingham has many canals. There are 35 miles (60 km) of canals within the Birmingham city boundaries, of which most are navigable. A commonly quoted (and true) fact is that Birmingham has more canals than Venice, although Birmingham covers a far bigger area than Venice [1]. Extensive regeneration of the city's canals has taken place over recent years from dredging the water ways to enable the busy stream of canal barges to the massive investment and construction of high quality city living accommodation, there are also many new wine bars and eateries that thrive along the central canal network like the Mailbox Development and Brindley Place.
About 22 million people visit Birmingham every year and the city was voted second best place to shop in England 2004 after the West End of London. Its top attractions include the Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery, Millennium Point Science Museum, Bull Ring, Future Systems Selfridges Building, Cadbury World, Tolkien Trail [1], Birmingham Royal Ballet, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the National Sea Life Centre.
The city centre has been transformed in recent years, with the construction of new city squares, the restoration of old streets and buildings, and the removal of much-derided pedestrian underpasses. As one of the largest building sites in Europe closes (Birmingham Bullring) an even bigger one begins in the shape of Birmingham Eastside.
Birmingham is located at 52ÃÂð30" North, 1ÃÂð50" West.
The City's coat of arms shows two figures, representing Industry and The Arts.
History
From a Saxon market village to a major city. The History of Birmingham is too much to cover on this page.
Economy
The Industrial Revolution began in Birmingham and the surrounding Midlands towns, this, in turn allowed many great factories, foundaries and Businesses to prosper such as The Midland Bank (now H.S.B.C) which, opened for business in Union Street, Birmingham, in August 1836.
Until 2003, coins were manufactured at the Royal Birmingham Mint, the oldest independent mint in the world. Other famous brands from the "City of a thousand trades" include Cadbury chocolate, and HP Sauce. Past brands include Bird's Custard, Chad Valley Toys, BSA, Bakelite, and Ansells Beer.
The conurbation as an industrial centre today, is home to the Jaguar in Coventry, Range Rover and Land Rover in Solihull, Alstom Train Company, L.D.V van's and MG Rover Group in Birmingham.
Birmingham also has a history of making railway carriages, wire, steam engines, guns, jewellery and even -- unusually for somewhere so far from the sea -- ships (which were made as pre-fabricated sections, assembled at the coast).
In the First and Second World War, Longbridge Car Plant built everything imaginable from Ammunition to Tank Tracks, Jerry cans to Avro Lancaster bomber aeroplane's. Castle Bromwich also mass produced the Spitfire fighter aircraft during the Second World War.
While manufacturing is still important to the city, and to its future, the local economy is rapidly diversifying; in particular, professional and financial services and tourism are growing quickly. More details about the Birmingham economy can be found here
Birmingham has a great history as a motor manufacturer with firms like BSA, Norton, Arial, and Velocette Motorbikes, LDV vans, Wolseley Police Cars, Morris, the Mini, Austin, MG Rover Group, Lucas Aerospace, Tyseley Locomotive Works, Tractor's Truck's Aeroplane's and the Midland Red Bus Company.
See links for more information on Birmingham's Motor Transport history:
- Transport Museum
- MG-Rover
- The Avro-Lancaster
- Surviving Lancasters
- The Wolseley
- Castle Bromwich Airfield
- The Spitfire
- Midland Red
- Garner Tractors
- Singer Cars
- The Mini
- Austin
Culture
Music
Birmingham is without doubt one of the most influential cities in the world when it comes to modern music.
Heavy metal music first evolved in the city and its neighbouring districts in the 1960s with bands such as Black Sabbath, The Move and Robert Plant's Led Zeppelin.
Other early progressive Rock and Blues bands from Birmingham are Wizzard), Spencer Davis Group, Idle Race, The Moody Blues, Judas Priest, Traffic, and Electric Light Orchestra.
The large West Indian population of Birmingham spawned what is arguably one of the earliest and finest Roots reggae band in the UK... Steel Pulse, with their ground breaking 1970s album Handsworth Revolution they proved that English Reggae music could offer something more than just sound system. Soon to follow were the first truly mixed race UK dub reggae band UB40 with the alternative signing off album. Other 70s Reggae orientated groups were 2 tone band The Beat and Musical Youth who (along with UB40) were responsible for bringing UK reggae into the homes of everyday 1980s Britain.
Bhangra Rap started in Birmingham with Apache Indian who later went on to host his own radio show on BBC Radio 1, many other Bhangra bands are located in the city.
New Romantic music fans of the 1980s were wooed by Birmingham super band Duran Duran, who worked in the famous Rum Runner nightspot in 1970s Birmingham, the band have recently reformed to begin a 2004 tour. Also of the late 70s/early 80s were rough and ready Dexy's Midnight Runners, who created their own scene and found fame in tracks such as Come on Eileen. Steven Tin Tin Duffy, Toyah Wilcox and Siouxsie & the Banshees were among many punk bands that emanated from the industrial sprawl of 70s Birmingham, Toyah has continued her career in T.V, and Siouxsie Sioux recently collaborated with Basement Jaxx.
The Indie music band Charlatans formed in the City suburbs and first gigged in Walsall. Other late 1980s/1990s bands of substantial merit were Dodgy, Pop Will Eat Itself and Ned's Atomic Dustbin.
More recent Brummie artists of sound repute are Big Beat musicians Bently Rythm Ace, Garage/House band The Streets, Electronica craftsmen Broadcast, R&B Soulstress Jamelia and Rock Band Ocean Colour Scene.
Joan Armatrading, Steve Winwood and Ruby Turner are also well versed Brummie singer/songwriters who have enjoyed world wide music acclaim and continue to tour. Highly acclaimed musician Nick Drake was born and raised on the outskirts of southern Birmingham.
Birmingham has embraced House Music massively since the late 1980s and has lead to some of the UK's most influential Dance nights such as Gods Kitchen, Chuff Chuff, Wobble, Miss Moneypenny's, Gatecrasher, Sundissential, Atomic Jam and the original C.R.E.A.M. Supported by some of the finest local talent such as the late Tony De Vit, Steve Lawler and Steve Kelley.
Hip Hop and Graffiti art was embraced rapidly in early 1980s Birmingham Youth, with the City featuring heavily in Channel 4 documentary Bombing, the city also hosted the largest community Spray Can Art competition in Britain which brought together the world's finest artists of the era such as local talent Goldie, Bronx Graffiti Supremo Brim, London artist Mode and Bristol visionary 3D who later went on to found Massive Attack. See the UK's number one Graffiti web site here
Hip Hop legend Afrika Bambaata visited Birmingham around the time of the Handsworth riots and inspired a wealth of Rappers and Hip Hop DJs such as Kash Da Masta, Elements, Roc1, Mad Flow, Creative Habits and Lord Laing. Bird's Custard Factory is home to one of the oldest running Hip Hop nights in the UK which is called Substance and has featured on BBC Radio 1.
The second city plays host to one of the oldest, longest running community Pirate Radio stations in the U.K. in the form of P.C.R.L which is mainly reggae based, there are dozens of other Pirate Radio stations in the city which cater for the discerning underground music fan and also largely the West Indian Community.
For fans of Classical music, the internationally renown City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, is located in Symphony Hall. The world Renowned Birmingham Royal Ballet also resides in the city as will the World's oldest Vocational Dance School Elmhurst when it relocates from London shortly.
Among a crowd of other venues, the National Indoor Arena (NIA) the National Exhibition Centre (NEC) and the International Convention Centre are located in (or near) Birmingham, and host a huge variety of concerts, exhibitions and other shows. Some of Birmingham's dedicated music venues include the Birmingham Carling Academy and the Academy 2, Scruffy Murphy's, The Custard Factory and Edward's No. 8.
Literature
In fiction, Judith Cutler's crime novels are set in present-day Birmingham. The city also has literary workshops such as Tindal Street Press. The actors in the long-running Radio 4 serial The Archers live in and around Birmingham, where the programme is in fact made.
The Lord of the Rings author J. R. R. Tolkien spent most of his childhood in the Birmingham area, and his work is believed to have been influenced by his time there [1] his parents also came from Birmingham.
Washington Irving lived in Birmingham for some time, during which time he wrote stories including Rip van Winkle and The Legend of Sleepy Hollow. Bracebridge Hall, or, The Humorists, A Medley is based on Aston Hall.
Arthur Conan Doyle lived in Aston from about Spring 1879 - early 1882 and many of his works include references to people or places he knew there.
Frank Skinner, Lenny Henry, Tony Hancock, Jasper Carrot and Rick Mayall.
The Glee Club is the city's main comedy venue.
The BBC have a regional headquarters which produces many radio and T.V. shows including BBC Midlands Today news programme, the studios have recently re-located from Pebble Mill to The Mailbox in central Birmingham.
Carlton Television also has a regional headquarters in the City Centre.
There are many theatres in Birmingham. The three largest professional theatres are the Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham Repertory Theatre and the Hippodrome.
Football is the most frequently played sport in Birmingham. The city is home to two of the UK's oldest professional football teams: Aston Villa (1874) and Birmingham City (1875, formerly Small Heath) nearby West Bromwich Albion's ground The Hawthorns used to be divided by the Birmingham/ Smethwick border, but was moved completely into the latter by a minor rationalisation of local government borders in the 1960s and is now in Sandwell).
The first football league was invented, by William McGregor on 22 March 1885, in Aston, Birmingham.
Athletics takes place at the Alexander Stadium on a national and international level. The Stadium is also home to Birchfield Harrier's who have contributed towards Britain's National and International Athletics for many years.
The National Indoor Arena and International Convention Centre also host many sporting events from the World Indoor Badminton Championships to the World Indoor Athletics Championships and are often praised for sell out crowds and fantastic local support.
Rugby Union is also played in Birmingham with Moseley and the more Recent Birmingham & Solihull Pertemp Bee's chasing for a place in Rugby League.
Basketball is played by the Birmingham Bullets who are in the top UK Basketball League and attract a vociferous crowd.
Boxing is a popular sport in the City with many clubs and famous Professional Boxers such as Pat Cowdell and Robert McKracken who have continued to support Boxing in the UK by turning their skills to Coaching new up and coming Boxer's.
Cricket is played at the City's Edgbaston Ground which is also home to National team Warwickshire County Cricket Club, this is due to the change in Boundaries, many parts of Birmingham were once classed as Staffordshire and Warwickshire.
Hockey is also a popular sport with Harborne and Bournville competing at professional level.
Lawn Tennis was first played in Birmingham.
There is also the Birmingham Conservatoire for musicians. Comedy
The Greater Birmingham area has generated some very famous comedians including:Media
The Birmingham Post and Evening Mail news papers are printed in Birmingham.Theatre
Places of interest
Sport
Birmingham boasts a wealth of Sporting History:Learning
Birmingham has three universities: The University of Birmingham, Aston University and The University of Central England (UCE, formerly Birmingham Polytechnic). The UCE has asked Aston to consider a merger.
| Birmingham
shown within West Midlands | |
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Local Government
Most of Birmingham was traditionally a part of Warwickshire. The city became a county borough in 1889. It became a part of the West Midlands metropolitan county upon its creation in 1974. Since the West Midlands county council was abolished in 1986, it has been a unitary authority area.
Birmingham City Council is the largest local authority in the UK, consisting of 117 elected members (Councillors) [1], representing 39 wards (local electoral districts) [1]. From 5 April 2004, responsibility and budgets for a number of services will be devolved to eleven district committees [1].
The council is currently controlled by the Labour Party, led by Councillor Sir Albert Bore [1], although there is no overall majority.
MPs
Birmingham is represented in the House of Commons by 10 MPss.
| Constituency | MP | Party |
|---|---|---|
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| Birmingham, Edgbaston | Gisela Stuart | Labour |
| Birmingham, Erdington | SiÃÂôn Simon | Labour |
| Birmingham, Hall Green | Stephen James McCabe | Labour |
| Birmingham, Hodge Hill | Terry Davis | Labour |
| Birmingham, Ladywood | Clare Short | Labour |
| Birmingham, Northfield | Richard Burden | Labour |
| Birmingham, Perry Barr | Khalid Mahmood | Labour |
| Birmingham, Selly Oak | Dr Lynne Jones | Labour |
| Birmingham, Sparkbrook and Small Heath | Roger Godsiff | Labour |
| Birmingham, Yardley | Estelle Morris | Labour |
Public transport
A plethora of railway lines from all over Britain connects with Birmingham New Street station, the central hub of the UK rail network, with regular train services to all the major cities in the UK including London. Trains to London can currently also be caught at Birmingham Snow Hill station, though Snow Hill's London services are due to be diverted into Moor Street station in 2004.
Local rail and bus services (in the West Midlands county) are overseen by the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive, Centro, which works under the policy and financial guidance of the West Midlands Passenger Transport Authority. Travel West Midlands (Travel WM) runs the majority of bus services.
The Midland Metro, a light-rail tram system promoted by Centro, currently connects Birmingham to Wolverhampton via West Bromwich and Wednesbury. Further expansion in Birmingham City Centre has been approved.
Birmingham also forms a major hub in the National Express coach network, which is based in Birmingham and operates services from its coach station in Digbeth. This is due to be demolished and redeveloped by 2007.
Roads
The M6 motorway connects Birmingham to London and the south, and the north-east of England and Scotland. Junction 6 of the M6 is also one of Birmingham's most famous landmarks, and probably the most famous motorway junction in the UK: Spaghetti Junction, officially called the Gravelly Hill Interchange. Other motorways include:
Birmingham is served by Birmingham International Airport, which has flights to all over Europe and to New York. The airport is connected directly to the rail network at Birmingham International Station
Transport
Due in part to its central location, Birmingham is a major transport hub.
AirCanals
Although it has no major river (the Rea, on which the City was founded, is now little more than a culverted stream, and the Tame, which only passes through the northern suburbs, is not navigable), Birmingham is at the hub of the country's canal network. Canals in Birmingham include:
Famous Residents
Districts/Towns
Between 1889 and 1974 the city boundaries were expanded to include many places which were once towns in their own right, many of which still retain a distinctive character. Amongst these are Aston, Edgbaston and Sutton Coldfield.
- Acocks Green
- Aston
- Balsall Heath
- Edgbaston
- Harborne
- Handsworth
- Kings Norton
- Kingstanding
- Ladywood
- Lea Bank
- Moseley
- Northfield
- Perry Barr
- Saltley
- Selly Oak
- Sparkbrook
- Washwood Heath
- West Heath
- Yardley
Nearby places
CitiesTowns
Twin/ Partner Cities
External links
- Birmingham City Council's website
- A website about Birmingham
- West Midlands local government association - useful facts.
- Conan Doyle in Birmingham
- Washington Irving in Birmingham
| Districts of England - West Midlands | |
| Birmingham | Bridgnorth | Bromsgrove | Cannock Chase | Coventry | Dudley | East Staffordshire | Herefordshire | Lichfield | Malvern Hills | Newcastle-under-Lyme | North Shropshire | North Warwickshire | Nuneaton and Bedworth | Oswestry | Redditch | Rugby | Sandwell | Shrewsbury and Atcham | Solihull | South Shropshire | South Staffordshire | Stafford | Staffordshire Moorlands | Stoke-on-Trent | Stratford-on-Avon | Tamworth | Telford and Wrekin | Warwick | Walsall | Wolverhampton | Worcester | Wychavon | Wyre Forest | |
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Administrative Counties with multiple districts: Shropshire, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, West Midlands, Worcestershire |