Birmingham Civic Society

Signpost Event: Acts & Monuments Publication
2019-02-28 18:30 - 19:30 UTC
28 February 2019 sees the publication of Acts & Monuments, the debut novel of local author and charity CEO, Alan Fraser. Acts & Monuments is set here in the West Midlands, and features our very own Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery – its art collection and even its wonderful tea rooms. It tells the story of perennial ‘good guy’ Barry Todd who works hard for Monument Housing Association providing the poor and vulnerable with a safe place to live. But, overlooked for promotion and with mounting financial problems, Barry starts to wonder if goodness will ever bring him its own reward. So when the opportunity presents itself to steal 50,000 of Monument’s money without anybody being able to trace the theft back to him, Barry finds himself wondering – if nothing bad were happy to anyone, would being good really matter anymore?
To celebrate publication, Alan is hosting a book launch on Thursday 28 February and is inviting Birmingham Civic Society members to join him for what promises to be a great evening. Guests will gather for nibbles from 6pm, with the event kicking off at 6.30pm with a reading, Q&A session, FREE raffle to win a signed copy of the book, and even a photo quiz to test your knowledge of Birmingham’s architecture. It’ll be lots of fun – and finished by 7.30pm.
The event will be held here in Birmingham. Venue details will be confirmed shortly, once organisers have a clear idea of numbers. If you would like to attend please email Alan Fraser (alan-fraser2@sky.com) and Rowena Wilding (rowena.wilding@gmail.com )by Monday 10 February.
Early reviewers have loved the book:
“Gripping… a real page-turner… I couldn’t put it down”
“Well-written, carefully structured, meticulously researched, and thoroughly readable… An impressive and polished debut novel.”
“Gripping… I was hooked from page one.*****”
“A really good read.*****”
“I put down my latest Wilbur Smith to read this, and I can honestly say I was not disappointed*****”.
If you haven’t already got your copy of Acts & Monuments you will, of course, be able to buy copies on the night. But if you can’t wait that long, it is available from the publisher’s website now as either a paperback or ebook https://www.troubador.co.uk/bookshop/contemporary/acts-monuments/

Signpost Event: Birmingham St Mary's Hospice 40th Anniversary Gala Dinner
2019-03-01 18:30 - 23:45
‘Even if a patient cannot be cured, they should be helped for free’
Upon retiring from her NHS nursing career in 1974, Monica Pearce decided to use her knowledge to ‘enable anyone with a life-limiting illness to live their life to the full’. It was this determination to provide better pain relief and care that led to her idea of founding a hospice. ‘St Mary’s Hospice’ would be the first independent hospice in the Midlands and only the seventh nationwide. She envisioned it to be for people all faiths and none, to support patients as well as loved ones, and, essentially, to provide comfort for local people nearing the end of their lives. Pearce’s ambition was finally realised on March 5th 1979 when ‘St Mary’s Hospice’ admitted its first ever patient. She worked tirelessly to raise more than £350,000, and her commitment continued unwavering throughout her life. Monica’s legacy of providing the very best end of life care continues to inspire staff and volunteers every day.
To celebrate 40 years of hospice care in Birmingham we’re inviting you to join us for an evening of dinner and entertainment to continue Monica’s legacy and support more people who are living with a life limiting illness.
Doors will open at 6.30pm where you’ll be welcomed with a drinks reception whilst you peruse our silent auction. From 7pm our CEO Tina Swani will walk you through how far we’ve come over the last 40 years, the amazing things supporters like you have achieved and what the future looks like for palliative care in Birmingham. Dinner will be served at 8pm with entertainment, raffles and games throughout before our live auction is held. We’ll finish with live comedy from brummie Queen of Fun Barbara Nice and musical entertainment before carriages at midnight.
Dress Code: Black Tie
Tickets:
Individuals – £79.00 (shared table of 10, welcome drink, 3 course meal and entertainment included)
Two People – £150.00 (shared table of 10 welcome drink, 3 course meal and entertainment included)
Bronze Table of 10 – £750.00 (table of 10, welcome drink, 3 course meal and entertainment included)
Silver Table of 10 – £850.00 (table of 10, welcome drink, 3 course meal, drinks package and entertainment included)
Gold Tables of 10 – £950.00 (table of 10, welcome drink, 3 course meal, VIP drinks package and entertainment included)
We’re hoping to raise £30,000 from this event, this money will go a long way to improving more people’s experience of living and dying with a terminal illness. Your support is at the heart of this, helping us to develop our care for current and future families – thank you.
To book your tickets visit the website. For further information or sponsorship enquiries please contact our events team on 0121 752 8779 or email events@birminghamhospice.org.uk

Signpost Event: An introduction to the Papers of James Watt and family
2019-03-09 13:30 - 15:30
Join archivist Fiona Tait for an afternoon looking at the James Watt Archives. After an introductory talk there will be time to look at some of Watt’s letters, drawings, maps, notebooks and family papers. Material on display is original and you will be able to read Watt’s thoughts and ideas in his own hand and see his sketches and scribbled notes about major innovations and discoveries.
Fiona Tait worked as an archivist for Birmingham City Council for thirty years and recently retired. She was appointed to the Archives of Soho Project in 2000 to re-catalogue the papers of James Watt and Family and has retained a particular interest in all things related to James Watt.
Tickets are £5 and you can book via Eventbrite

Signpost Event: Celebrating Heritage Rhododendrons at Highbury
2019-05-17 09:00 - 15:00
Join the Chamberlain Highbury Trust for a study day at Highbury, which will focus on Joseph Chamberlain’s rhododendron collection, planted between 1879 and 1914. The programme will consist of a series of lectures in the morning followed by a tour of the gardens.
In 2018, the Chamberlain Highbury Trust commissioned a survey of the rhododendron collection at Highbury. Lear Associates identified and mapped over one hundred specimens and made recommendations for the future care of the collection. On the 17th May 2019, Michael and Beverley Lear will describe their findings and give a general introduction to rhododendrons.
Phillada Ballard (trustee of the Chamberlain Highbury Trust) will also speak about rhododendron planting in Birmingham gardens from the late 18th century to the 1970s. Beverley Lear will speak on a garden that predates Highbury – Biddulph Grange in N. Staffordshire, with its spectacular plantings of rhododendrons by James Bateman in the 1850s.
A tour of gardens will be led by Michael and Beverley Lear who will concentrate on the six areas with extant rhododendrons.
Tickets are £55 and you can book via Eventbrite.

Signpost Event: Tour of the gardens at Winterbourne House and Garden
2019-05-18 13:00 - 14:30
The tour of this spectacular Arts and Crafts garden will be led by the head gardener, Steve Haines and will include the rhododendron garden laid out in 1975 to commemorate Birmingham University’s centenary.
The tour of the garden will take place between 2.00 and 3.30 and tea can purchased at Winterbourne’s cafe.
This is a related event to Celebrating Heritage Rhododendrons at Highbury, which is being held on the 17th May.
Tickets are £4.50 and you can book via Eventbrite.

2019 Summer Reception: Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games
2019-06-05 17:00 - 19:00
Our Summer Reception exclusively for corporate members and their guests will take place this year on Wednesday 5 June, 6-8pm, at the offices of DWF, One Snow Hill.
This year our keynote speaker will be Neil Carney, Programme Director – Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games at Birmingham City Council.
Neil has considerable experience in the planning and delivery of major multi-sport Games operations having worked at a senior level at the 2012 London Olympics, the 2015 European Games, 2017 Islamic Games and recently, the 2018 Commonwealth Games. Having worked across different continents and cultures, Neil has now moved ‘closer to home’ providing strategic leadership to Birmingham City Council in their preparations for hosting the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Neil will share with us some of the exciting plans for both the games and the city, before taking questions from the audience.

The City Beautiful project end celebration
2019-07-14 10:00 - 15:00
We are delighted to be celebrating the end of the hugely successful The City Beautiful centenary project in the idyllic surroundings of Blakesley Hall Museum, Yardley.
Birmingham Civic Society members are invited to Blakesley Hall’s Summer Fete on Sunday 14 July where a programme of events and activities are planned alongside this popular family, public event.
Following an informal reception in the gallery space members will have the opportunity to visit Blakesley Hall free flow or as part of a guided tour. Members can also join an exclusive guided tour of Old Yardley village with the Mrs History team.
Birmingham Civic Society will have a stand at the fete with information for all and activities for younger family members.
Blakesley Hall’s Summer Fete is a popular event with plenty of things happening throughout the day. The charming tea room will be open providing a range of freshly made Birmingham Museums Trust sandwiches as well as crisps, cakes, cookies and ice creams. Members can bring picnics to enjoy in the beautiful gardens, but please be aware that the fete is held on the lawn and therefore picnic space is limited.
Programme
11.00am Blakesley Hall Summer Fete opens
11.30am Birmingham Civic Society members reception in the gallery with tea, coffee and cake provided
11.00am – 2.30pm Blakesley Hall open for visitors, free flow
From 2.30pm Blakesley Hall open for visitors by guided tour
Please indicate whether you would like to visit the Hall free flow OR by guided tour when booking. There are 15 places available on two tours of the Hall for BCS members after 2.30pm.
1.00pm Exclusive guided tour of Old Yardley Village with Mrs History. This tour will last around an hour and a quarter and will start and finish at Blakesley Hall.
Please indicate whether you would like to join this tour when booking. 30 spaces available.
4.00pm Summer Fete closes
RSVP: birminghamcivicsocietyevents@gmail.com to book your place and indicate which tours you would like to join.
For more information about Blakesley Hall visit: https://www.birminghammuseums.org.uk/blakesley

Annual Leaders' Breakfast with Brigid Jones
2019-09-20 06:15 - 08:00
Our annual Leaders’ Breakfast returns, this year at Park Regis. Join us for a conversation with Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council, Brigid Jones.
Book your place now.

Next Generation Awards Finals
2019-10-10 16:00 - 18:00
The 2019 Next Generation Awards Final will be held at Highbury Hall. Further details will be made available soon.

BTfl Planting: Marlborough House Rec, Yardley - Fully Booked
2020-03-19 10:30 - 12:30
School and corporate tree planting event, also open to individual volunteers – please contact info@btfl.org.uk to ask if any places are available (this event is fully booked).

BTfL Planting: Batchelors Farm Rec, Bordesley Green
2020-03-21 11:00 - 13:30
Community tree planting event – please contact info@btfl.org.uk to ask if any places remain available. Note: This site is also known as Bordesley Green Rec.

Museum Collection Centre Visit
2020-04-23 09:00 - 11:00
A rare opportunity to visit this incredible store with its wealth of fascinating objects.
Discover Birmingham Civic Society connections along the way as you explore the thousands of items that make up around 80% of Birmingham Museum Trust’s collections. Numbers are limited to 15 on this popular event so please book early to avoid disappointment.
Tickets £10 members £15 non-members – plus usual booking fees. Price includes refreshments.
Book your ticket via Eventbrite

Birmingham Civic Society AGM 2020 - Online
2020-11-25 17:00 - 17:30
Join us online on Wednesday 25th November at 5pm for our 2020 AGM, which will be taking place via Zoom.
This will be a very different AGM to any we’ve ever experienced before but we loved connecting with you online for this year’s Leaders Breakfast and we’re looking forward to doing the same again for the AGM. We hope you are able to join us and would be delighted if you wish to invite guests to hear more about what we do.
Register your attendance via the website link below.

An Introduction to the Heritage of Birmingham Cathedral with Jane McArdle
2021-02-05 12:30 - 13:30
Join Jane on Friday 5th February at 12.30pm for a wonderfully informative and lively talk on the church that became a cathedral in a town that became a city. Jane draws on her experience of working at one of the city’s most significant buildings, with a beautifully illustrated presentation that charts the development of the Cathedral Church of St Philip and highlights many of its interesting features.
This is an online talk using the platform Zoom. Participants will require a lap top, PC, tablet or smartphone for this experience and will be provided, in advance, with all the information needed to access the event.
Make a sandwich, make yourself comfortable and enjoy a restorative hour discovering this most fascinating of Birmingham’s buildings. Free for members and available at a small charge for non-members. We particularly encourage our corporate members to signpost this event to staff for their lunchtime away from work.
Birmingham Civic Society Members: Free
Non members: £5.00 plus Eventbrite booking fees
Book via the Eventbrite link below

Discovering Birmingham’s Roundhouse
2021-02-17 12:30 - 13:30
Join the team behind the revival of the 19th century Roundhouse and discover the plans for this exciting Birmingham landmark.
The Grade II* listed building is in the final stages of extensive renovations and conservation work, and is being brought back to life thanks to a partnership between the Canal & River Trust and the National Trust, and funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund.
This unique, horseshoe-shaped building, once a base for the City’s lamplighters and the working horses of the Public Works department, will begin operating this year under the care of Roundhouse Birmingham, a new heritage enterprise and independent charity. We’ll hear from the Roundhouse Birmingham team about the project so far, and the vision for its future role in city life.
This is an online talk using the platform Zoom. Participants will require a lap top, PC, tablet or smartphone for this experience and will be provided, in advance, with all the information needed to access the event.
Birmingham Civic Society Members – Free
Non members £5.00 plus usual booking fees
Book via Eventbrite

Photo credit James Reader

The Park Street Excavations
2021-03-09 12:30 - 13:30
Did you know that one of the biggest archaeological digs in the UK recently took place in Birmingham?
The archaeological excavation at Park Street undertaken by MOLA (Museum of London Archaeology) Headland for the HS2 rail line was the largest investigation of a Victorian graveyard undertaken outside of London. It presented archaeologists with an unprecedented opportunity to study the population of Birmingham during a period of rapid expansion and change for the city.
Join representatives from MOLA Headland for a short talk about the history of the site as well as discussing some of the recent findings.
This is an online talk using the platform Zoom. Participants will require a lap top, PC, tablet or smartphone for this experience and will be provided, in advance, with all the information needed to access the event.
This is a free event for Birmingham Civic Society Members only – book your place via the Eventbrite link below.

Roots, Rights and Resistance
2021-03-30 11:30 - 12:30
The people, movements and struggles that shaped Handsworth and the wider Birmingham area are described in this compelling and lively talk. Join Legacy WM’s Heritage Officer Rachel West and discover fascinating stories about this dynamic part of the city, how it helped shaped the world and how it continues to evolve and inspire today.
Legacy WM was established in 2010 and has Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) status. Inspired by the heritage of post-war migrant communities in Birmingham, their work celebrates their relationship with the industrial, architectural, and cultural fabric of the city.
This is an online talk using the platform Zoom. Participants will require a lap top, PC, tablet or smartphone for this experience and will be provided, in advance, with all the information needed to access the event.
Birmingham Civic Society Members Free
Non members £5.00 plus usual booking fees
Book via Eventbrite

Stourbridge Glass Museum Visit and Tour
2022-04-29 09:30 - 11:30
Stourbridge Glass Museum: at the heart of the community with a globally significant collection to educate and inspire.
Opening early April 2022 the museum is housed in the Grade II listed former Stuart Crystal Glassworks, which has been creatively and imaginatively adapted for the purpose. Combining both permanent and temporary exhibition galleries, a hot glass making studio and a hands-on activities space.
Join us on a special guided tour of the museum discovering the incredible, vibrant collections and the history of glass making in the area.
Refreshments are provided after the tour.
Member tickets: £10
Non member ticket: £12
On-site parking is available.
Book your place via Eventbrite here

Shire Story - Live online event
2022-05-10 11:15 - 13:00
An unexpected adventure into the beginnings of Middle Earth. How Birmingham and Sarehole shaped Tolkien’s The Shire.
Join Sarehole Mill and Shout Out History’s Ash Bayliss and explore the fascinating story of how Birmingham influenced J R R Tolkien’s writing.
This is an online talk and Q&A. Participants will require a lap top, PC, tablet or smartphone for this experience and will be provided, in advance, with all the information needed to access the event.
Birmingham Civic Society Members: Free
Non members £5.00 plus usual booking fees
12.15 pm onwards
Book via Eventbrite

A Gift to the City - Cannon Hill Park
2022-07-09 10:00 - 11:30
A relaxed walking tour of Cannon Hill Park discovering original features and history of the park and people associated with it.
Join a guided walk looking at the history and built heritage of this award-winning city park. Cannon Hill Park was gifted to the city nearly 150 years ago by Louisa Ann Ryland. She was a major local philanthropist who used her prosperity to establish and support important institutions in Birmingham and she also gifted the land for Cannon Hill Park, as green space for citizens to enjoy.
Join this relaxed walk to hear more about Louisa Ann Ryland and the original 1873 layout of the park, much of which is still in evidence, as well as features that have disappeared and more recent additions.
Meet in the courtyard of the Midland Art Centre. Comfortable shoes advised and dress for the weather. No stairs but some uneven paths likely. The walk is wheelchair accessible.
This walk is free to Birmingham Civic Society Members and open to non-members for £5 a ticket.
This walk is part of the Society’s Heritage Trails Project, generously funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the W A Cadbury Charitable Trust.
Book your place

Birmingham City Centre Heritage Walk - POSTPONED
2022-07-16 10:00 - 11:30
DUE TO THE WEATHER FORECAST OF EXTREME HEAT THIS EVENT HAS BEEN POSTPONED, A NEW DATE WILL BE PUBLISHED SOON.
A leisurely guided tour of Birmingham city centre’s heritage exploring some of the city’s most significant & historic buildings and spaces.
Join this relaxed, guided tour looking at the city’s history and townscape from the Middle Ages to the present day, and discover the contributions of its most famous citizens. Stops include St Philip’s Cathedral, Victoria and Centenary Squares, the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal, St Paul’s Square and St Chad’s Cathedral.
Meet outside the main entrance to Birmingham Cathedral.
Comfortable shoes advised and dress for the weather. Some uneven pavements likely.
This walk is free to Birmingham Civic Society Members and open to non-members for £5 a ticket.
This walk is part of the Society’s Heritage Trails Project, generously funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the W A Cadbury Charitable Trust.

Women in the city - postponed - to be rescheduled
2022-08-25 18:00 - 20:00
Female perspectives on the making and remaking of the urban environment.

About this event

Join this panel discussion about the experiences of women navigating and living in the city. When cities are planned, safe environments for women are not being considered and inadvertently public spaces are created that are unsafe. With this event we want to investigate how a more inclusive approach to creating city spaces can be found and how we could make that happen.
Planning, or lack of it, impacts on urban spaces. We will explore whether female artistic responses to living, working and being in the city are uniquely different and how women who have found refuge in the city experience the city.
The event will be at the exhibition “Found Cities, Lost Objects: Women in the City” curated by Lubaina Himid and there will be time to view and reflect on the work on display.
Join us for an evening of debate and exchange of thought on the female experience of the urban environment. Host for the evening will be Danni Ebanks-Ingram who will joined by panellists Deborah Broomfield, Katy Hawkins and Anna Fawcett.
This event is part of the Birmingham Civic Society’s Heritage Trails project generously funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the WA Cadbury Charitable Trust. This event is delivered in partnership with Iris Bertz Associates and Birmingham Museums Trust.
Tickets
£10 each
Bring a friend and come together; entry for two £15
Birmingham Civic Society members £5
Booking fee applies
Book via Eventbrite
Venue
The discussion will take place in the Gas Hall at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.
This is an evening event, and the main museum entrance to the Museum will be closed. The entrance to the Gas Hall is adjacent to the Birmingham Museums & Art Gallery lift entrance on Edmund Street and is just around the corner of the main museum entrance on Chamberlain Square.

Panellists
Deborah Broomfield is a part-time doctoral student at Leeds Beckett University in Women in Planning. Her thesis will examine austerity in spatial planning and the disproportionate impact on women and marginalised communities. Deborah will also examine how community movements are responding to the disproportionality. She will be approaching her thesis using feminist research methods.
A former public sector worker, Deborah is a trained community researcher, who has worked on Shared Assets and The New Economics Foundation sponsored research. She is now an Associate Lecturer at UWE Bristol supporting urban planning masters students and has delivered lectures in urbanism at Leeds Beckett University.
Katy Hawkins is an Artist and Arts Producer who works on projects around exploring and supporting connection to place and nature for wellbeing – currently she does this through a role with Warwickshire County Council and in an independent arts practice. Katy has a background in Visual Cultures and Interdisciplinary Urban Design and has previously worked in local governance, community-led greening projects and placemaking.
She is interested in participatory placemaking processes, sustainable transport and trees. New to Birmingham, her work has mostly taken place in Peterborough and South London.
Anna Fawcett is a Marketing and Communications professional and feminist who has a keen interest in the experiences of women in Birmingham both past and present. After 9 years working at Winterbourne House and Garden, the former home of industrialist and town planner John Sutton Nettlefold, she has worked at Birmingham and Solihull Women’s Aid since 2019.
Danni Ebanks-Ingram (host) has a multidisciplinary practice consisting of performance art, participatory futures, curation and producing while also touching intersections of queerness and blackness. Throughout Danni’s work there is a clear connection to understanding and exploring aspects that underpin our society such as: economics, socio-political and environmental elements of life.
Currently Danni is a Co-founder & the Creative Engagement at CIVIC SQUARE: a public square, neighbourhood lab, and creative + participatory platform focused on regenerative civic and social infrastructure within neighbourhoods. CIVIC SQUARE works alongside the local neighbourhood, to offer a bold approach to visioning, building and investing in civic infrastructure for neighbourhoods of the future.

Digitising Aris’s Birmingham Gazette
2022-09-10 12:00 - 18:30
A symposium about the recently digitized Aris’s Birmingham Gazette (established 1741).
10 Sept; 1pm – 7.30pm
Established in 1741, Aris’s Birmingham Gazette was described by Asa Briggs as one of the most lucrative and important regional papers in the country with a reputation for its political impartiality and which, even in the eighteenth century, was circulated over a wide geographical area.
Following a year-long project Aris’s Birmingham Gazette has now been digitized and was recently made available through the British Newspaper Archive, which is published and managed by Findmypast, in collaboration with the British Library.
This event comprises a symposium, where those involved in the project talk about the work involved in making this important resource available; guests speakers contextualise Aris’s against Birmingham in the eighteenth century and newspaper publishing in the city more generally; there will be a panel discussion where those who have used Aris’s Birmingham Gazette reflect on the part it has played in their research.
This is a free event which can be booked here via Eventbrite.
This event is event supported by BCS Heritage Trails project.
The symposium will be followed by a drink’s reception.
A programme for the event can be found here: https://www.cphc.org.uk/events/2022/9/10/ariss-birmingham-gazette

Birmingham's Early Maps 1731-1831
2022-09-13 15:00 - 17:00
Local map specialist John Townley explores the growth of Birmingham through the first century of its town maps.

About this event

An exceptional opportunity to see a wide selection of Birmingham’s earliest maps. Discover why they were made, when they were made, how they were made and…… can they be trusted?!
This event is part of the Society’s Heritage Trails Project, generously funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the W A Cadbury Charitable Trust and organised by Birmingham Civic Society in partnership with Library of Birmingham.
The event is located in the Wolfson Centre for Archival Research, Level 4, Library of Birmingham. The stairs, lift or travelators within the Library of Birmingham can be used to access the Wolfson Centre and there is an accessible toilet on Level 4.
Nearest parking is Paradise Circus multi-storey car park: https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/directory_record/6680/paradise_circus_multi-storey_car_park
https://www.birmingham.gov.uk/archives
This is free to attend – book your place via Eventbrite

Women’s History Walking Tour
2022-09-14 18:00 - 19:30
Discover the untold storied of some of Bournville’s most significant women.
14 Sept; 7pm-8.30pm
Discover the often untold stories of the trailblazing women who led the way for change and have shaped Bournville and Birmingham into the areas we know today. This Birmingham Heritage Week walking tour will shine light on women like philanthropist Dame Elizabeth Cadbury, artist Mary Sargent Florence, and trade union activist and suffragette Julia Varley.
This walk is part of the Birmingham Civic Society’s Heritage Trials Project, generously funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the W A Cadbury Charitable Trust and organised in partnership with Selly Manor Museum.
Location
Meet at
Selly Manor Museum, Maple Road, Bournville, B30 2AE.
Cost
£5 Birmingham Civic Society Members £7.50 Non-Members
Booking
Booking via Eventbrite – link here.
Access
There are accessible toilets at Selly Manor Museum, where the tour will start and finish. Parking is available on Maple Road.

Birmingham Suffragettes & Northfield Library
2022-09-16 13:15 - 14:15
Learn about the Birmingham women who fought to get the right the vote and the Northfield Carnegie library which was rebuilt after Suffragette direct action.
The story of women’s struggle for the vote often refers to the Pankhurst family, but women all over the country were invested, and took direct action, in the political fight for the vote. In Birmingham there were many women who as suffragists devoted their lives to the cause and suffragettes whose militant acts resulted in imprisonment and, often, force feeding. In this illustrated talk Dr Nicola Gauld will highlight the importance of Birmingham women in the national struggle for women’s right to vote.
The Suffragette talk will be followed by a talk about the history of Northfield Library, built in 1906 with Carnegie funding and rebuilt in 1914 after a Suffragette arson attack. The new Northfield Library was Birmingham’s first ‘open access’ library, requiring a new internal layout and design features. The talk about Northfield library will be presented by Irene de Boo, freelance heritage consultant.
The talks take place at Northfield Library, 77 Church Road, Northfield, B31 2LB.
Wheelchair access via the front side entrance please ring the bell and staff will open the doors. The event is taking place on the first floor there is a stair lift available for those unable to manage stairs
The talks are free to Birmingham Civic Society members and open to non-members and are part of the Society’s Heritage Trials Project, generously funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the W A Cadbury Charitable Trust.
Book your place

Herstory Day
2022-09-17 12:00 - 16:00
A day of art and activities, exploring the histories of forgotten women. From the Blue Stocking Society, to the suffragettes and suffragists of Birmingham and Dame Elizabeth Cadbury; we will be shining a light on the impact that women have had locally throughout history and in the present day.
This event is part of the Birmingham Civic Society Heritage Trails project, generously funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and W A Cadbury Charitable Trust.
Location
The Northfield Arts Forum Shop, Northfield Shopping Centre, Northfield, B31 2JU
Cost: Free. Booking not required
Access: Wheelchair access
Organised by Northfield Arts Forum and Birmingham Civic Society

Drawn in the Quarter
2022-09-17 13:00 - 15:00
Join Ed Isaacs, RBSA member artist, for a journey of drawing around the Jewellery Quarter, sketching local buildings.

About this event

Ed will guide you to places and buildings of interest in the area, demonstrate urban sketching techniques and teach you how to make the most of your on-site drawing experience.
Pencils and sketchbooks will be provided, but if you wish to bring your own please do so. This workshop is suitable for all levels and no previous experience is required. This event is suitable for people aged 16+.
Ed is an RBSA member artist who explores the urban environment, recording places of interest and resonance through his sketching. He exhibits regularly at the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA) in the Jewellery Quarter and Wolverhampton Society of Artists.
This event is part of the Society’s Heritage Trails Project, generously funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and the W A Cadbury Charitable Trust.
Meet near the Chamberlain memorial clock, on pavement in front of Rose Villa Tavern, 172 Warstone Lane, B18 6JW
Tickets £5 to all. Booking fee applies. 10 places available. Book via Eventbrite.

Blue Plaque Unveiling - Tony de Vit
2022-09-24 09:30 - 16:00
The Birmingham Civic Society invites you to join us at the unveiling of a Blue Plaque to Tony de Vit.

Tony de Vit was a pioneering and hugely influential DJ in the LGBTQ+ community who brought his music to a mainstream audience.

When: Saturday 24th September 2022, 10:30am

Where: The Courtyard, The Custard Factory, Gibb Street, Birmingham, B9 4AA (what3words: https://w3w.co/fired.flown.puddles)

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you require any further information.

Finals and Award Ceremony for the 2021/22 Next Generation Awards Programme
2022-10-06 17:30 - 19:30
The Birmingham Civic Society’s Next Generation Awards – To improve any society, its young people must feel that they matter. To stimulate their creativity, nurture their enthusiasm for life and take their ideas seriously is the best investment we can make in the future of our city.
It is with great pleasure that we invite you to join us, our finalists, The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Maureen Cornish and her Consort Mr Malcolm Cornish at the Finals and Award Ceremony for the 2021/22 Next Generation Awards which are to be held at Highbury Hall in Moseley on Thursday 6th October, starting at 6.40 pm. The evening will conclude around 8.30 pm.

On the evening, the five finalist teams of the Next Generation Awards 2021/22 from King Edward VI Northfield School for Girls, Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School, King Edward VI Balaam Wood Academy, Colmers School and Sixth Form College and King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls will make their Gold Award winning presentations to a panel of judges representing the Society, Birmingham businesses and an invited audience. The team judged to be the overall winner will be awarded the Next Generation Awards Shield and the ‘Newman Prize’ of £1500 to put their ideas into action and will be provided mentoring support.
The Secondary Schools that participated in the programme will also be presented with plaques to commemorate their participation in the scheme during the ceremony by The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Maureen Cornish. The Society has been running this programme for seventeen years and has assisted over 33,300 young people to become active citizens interested in developing their city. The Next Generation Awards Programme is run by The Birmingham Civic Society with kind support from Newman University, Aston University, Professional Polishing
Services Ltd, and many local trusts and foundations.

We will also be presenting plaques to schools that have been nominated as Birmingham Civic Society School Stars, our initiative that celebrates Birmingham schools for going the extra mile to support those in their communities in times of need.
Further information about the awards scheme and how to reserve your place at the ceremony is below. Please note that our hosts require the full names of ALL attendees by Friday 30th September so please confirm your places by then by emailing nextgenerationawards@googlemail.com.
