Blue Plaque: Sam: Timmins

Sam: Timmins was a notable Birmingham antiquarian, bibliophile, and civic figure, whose passion for local history and literature left a significant intellectual legacy in the city. 

From Business success to scholarly passion
Born in Birmingham, Timmins inherited the family business manufacturing small steel items ans this provided him with the means to pursue his deep scholarly interests.  Timmins was best known for his profound knowledge of Warwickshire and Birmingham history, as well as his impressive private library. He was a central figure in Birmingham’s intellectual and literary circles, actively participating in and often leading local historical and scientific societies. He was a prominent member of the Birmingham and Midland Institute, serving as its President and contributing significantly to its cultural and educational programmes.

The ultimate Birmingham history buff
His antiquarian pursuits led him to compile extensive notes and collections relating to the history of Birmingham and its region. He was particularly interested in the city’s literary associations, including figures like Shakespeare, and its industrial heritage. While he did not publish large, overarching historical volumes himself, his detailed research and numerous articles, lectures, and contributions to various publications were invaluable resources for other historians and scholars. He was meticulous in his research and held a strong belief in the importance of preserving historical records.  With his friend George Dawson, Timmins hosted a Shakespeare Club and marked the tercentenary of Shakespeare’s death in 1865, with the foundation of a Shakespeare Library for the citizens of Birmingham.  This is now the largest public Shakespeare Library in the world, and is held in Archives and Collections, in the Library of Birmingham.

Cultural champion and community leader
Sam: Timmins was also a respected public figure, though not a politician in the traditional sense. He was involved in various civic improvements and educational initiatives, always with an eye to enhancing Birmingham’s cultural and intellectual life. His home in Edgbaston was known for its extensive library, which he generously opened to fellow scholars.  Samuel Timmins died in Birmingham in 1902 – the only flower on his grave was a bunch of rosemary from the garden of Shakespeare’s birthplace, along with a card with a quotation from Hamlet: ‘There’s rosemary; that’s for remembrance.’  Timmins is remembered as a cornerstone of Birmingham’s Victorian intellectual community, a man who tirelessly championed the city’s history, preserved its past through diligent research, and fostered its cultural institutions.