Down ToEarth in TheCity A conceptual approach embracing the city of Birmingham, its history, pre-history, archaeology and sociology alongside modern concepts such as ‘The Biophilic City’ and 'The City Of Nature’.
Thousands of stories are yet to be told, as we explore the prehistoric, archaeological and historical source evidence through discussions, debates, speculations and folklore.
As well as embracing the learned and academic works of historians and archaeologists such as Professor Carl Chinn MBE and Dr Mike Hodder, we aim to share our personal accounts, anecdotes, hearsay and foggy memories, to ensure we maintain down to earth accessibility.
Our indoor meetings take place at Pacha House, The Friends Hall and Institute on Moseley Road, Highgate.
The changing nature of Birmingham is a constant theme, with changes to the city infrastructure occurring almost every year from its earliest 12th-century beginnings as a small marketplace of no particular significance through time to today's upheaval as the City prepares for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Trams came and went and are back again.
Wildlife -
The green spaces are now acknowledged as essential places for the well-being of Birmingham citizens and organisations such as BCC Park’s Services, Birmingham Open Space Forum and The Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust collaborate to ensure the natural environment and green open spaces are top of any political agenda.
Wildlife recording via the B&BC Wildlife Trust’s Eco Record is of the highest calibre, with some of the best-kept records in the UK. These records are used to inform decision-makers and planners, and all citizens are encouraged to engage in the recording process using iNaturalist, a phone application, making recording and identifying wildlife easier than ever before.
In time it is hoped that all Birmingham schools and children will engage with and contribute to this wildlife recording programme. Without a doubt, our quality of life is enhanced through connections with nature, and it should not be a specialist topic for the nerdy, but an essential aspect of lifelong learning for everyone.
Meetings, walks and talks -
Our meetings at Pacha House are friendly and relaxed, as well as light-hearted, thus enabling a no pressure learning environment. Topics are always down to earth and diverse, ranging from archaeology and pre-history to debates on human health and dignity of life and death.
We explore the local built environment around Highgate, Balsall Heath and Deritend, and marvel at the historic buildings such as the old Highgate Fire Station, St Albans Church, the Samuel Heath factory and the Arches at Deritend.
We observe and record wildlife and have plans to manage some nearby, green, but neglected spaces, and to add fruit and other food plants.
Lost industries, streets and pubs, the changing cultural nature of Birmingham -
One of the first topics we explored was the ‘cattle run’ from the railway sidings at Highgate and along Bradford Street to the abattoir and markets in the city centre, likened by some observers of the day to the “wild west”.
En route were many drinking houses, long gone, but bearing testimony to the past culture and industry, for example, the Drovers Arm, the Shepherds Rest and the Market Tavern (still standing but currently closed).
Top left and right - Emily Street and the Emily Arms, looking towards Vaughton Street.
Bottom right - same orientation with houses built where Emily Street once ran.
Streets and communities too have disappeared, especially in Highgate during redevelopment in the 1960s; streets such as Emily Street, Dymoke Street and Angelina Street have been partially redeveloped, cutting short their previous extents.
Views from Highgate -
An 18th Century view of the City from Highgate Park
The pillars and steps within the park are little changed today
The Cityscape of course is very different, although some buildings exist today, but are obscured by modern towers
Hidden Histories -
Memories and anecdotes - A valuable source of historical accounting can be found in the unspoken and unwritten detail hidden within the memory. The ‘active archive’ for me is what resides in the mind, in the memory, and seeks an opportunity to reveal itself to an audience. A single willing listener in the pub or the cafe is all that’s required to glean the priceless details hidden within.
Birmingham History Forum is a great source of primary accounts from people who remember the lost pubs, streets and communities.
For more information about Down To Earth in The City, check out our Facebook page or the Blog or email downtoearthinthecity@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/Down-to-Earth-in-The-City-106878921957814/?ref=pages_you_manage
https://coppicing.blogspot.com/2022/04/
A conceptual approach embracing the city of Birmingham, its history, pre-history, archaeology and sociology alongside modern concepts such as ‘The Biophilic City’ and 'The City Of Nature’.
Thousands of stories are yet to be told, as we explore the prehistoric, archaeological and historical source evidence through discussions, debates, speculations and folklore.
As well as embracing the learned and academic works of historians and archaeologists such as Professor Carl Chinn MBE and Dr Mike Hodder, we aim to share our personal accounts, anecdotes, hearsay and foggy memories, to ensure we maintain down to earth accessibility.
Our indoor meetings take place at Pacha House, The Friends Hall and Institute on Moseley Road, Highgate.
The changing nature of Birmingham is a constant theme, with changes to the city infrastructure occurring almost every year from its earliest 12th-century beginnings as a small marketplace of no particular significance through time to today's upheaval as the City prepares for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
Trams came and went and are back again.
Wildlife -
The green spaces are now acknowledged as essential places for the well-being of Birmingham citizens and organisations such as BCC Park’s Services, Birmingham Open Space Forum and The Birmingham and Black Country Wildlife Trust collaborate to ensure the natural environment and green open spaces are top of any political agenda.
Wildlife recording via the B&BC Wildlife Trust’s Eco Record is of the highest calibre, with some of the best-kept records in the UK. These records are used to inform decision-makers and planners, and all citizens are encouraged to engage in the recording process using iNaturalist, a phone application, making recording and identifying wildlife easier than ever before.
In time it is hoped that all Birmingham schools and children will engage with and contribute to this wildlife recording programme. Without a doubt, our quality of life is enhanced through connections with nature, and it should not be a specialist topic for the nerdy, but an essential aspect of lifelong learning for everyone.
Meetings, walks and talks -
Our meetings at Pacha House are friendly and relaxed, as well as light-hearted, thus enabling a no pressure learning environment. Topics are always down to earth and diverse, ranging from archaeology and pre-history to debates on human health and dignity of life and death.
We explore the local built environment around Highgate, Balsall Heath and Deritend, and marvel at the historic buildings such as the old Highgate Fire Station, St Albans Church, the Samuel Heath factory and the Arches at Deritend.
We observe and record wildlife and have plans to manage some nearby, green, but neglected spaces, and to add fruit and other food plants.
Lost industries, streets and pubs, the changing cultural nature of Birmingham -
One of the first topics we explored was the ‘cattle run’ from the railway sidings at Highgate and along Bradford Street to the abattoir and markets in the city centre, likened by some observers of the day to the “wild west”.
En route were many drinking houses, long gone, but bearing testimony to the past culture and industry, for example, the Drovers Arm, the Shepherds Rest and the Market Tavern (still standing but currently closed).
|
Top left and right - Emily Street and the Emily Arms, looking towards Vaughton Street.
|
Bottom right - same orientation with houses built where Emily Street once ran. |
Streets and communities too have disappeared, especially in Highgate during redevelopment in the 1960s; streets such as Emily Street, Dymoke Street and Angelina Street have been partially redeveloped, cutting short their previous extents.
Views from Highgate -
An 18th Century view of the City from Highgate Park
|
The pillars and steps within the park are little changed today
The Cityscape of course is very different, although some buildings exist today, but are obscured by modern towers |
Hidden Histories -
Memories and anecdotes - A valuable source of historical accounting can be found in the unspoken and unwritten detail hidden within the memory. The ‘active archive’ for me is what resides in the mind, in the memory, and seeks an opportunity to reveal itself to an audience. A single willing listener in the pub or the cafe is all that’s required to glean the priceless details hidden within.
Birmingham History Forum is a great source of primary accounts from people who remember the lost pubs, streets and communities.
For more information about Down To Earth in The City, check out our Facebook page or the Blog or email downtoearthinthecity@gmail.com
https://www.facebook.com/Down-to-Earth-in-The-City-106878921957814/?ref=pages_you_manage
https://coppicing.blogspot.com/2022/04/
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