Colin Crosby Heritage Tours

Birmingham

Birmingham is the second city of England. It grew from a town with iron and metal trades into a major industrial city as a result of the Industrial Revolution in the 18th century.

Victoria Square has a splendid collection of Victorian buildings, complemented by modern sculpture. On one side is the Council House and on another is the Town Hall, designed as a Greek Temple by Joseph Aloysius Hansom. There is also a Queen Victoria Statue, the Floozie in the Jacuzzi and Iron Man by Antony Gormley.

Birmingham Cathedral (Anglican) is a baroque building by Thoms Archer, with fantastic windows by Edward Burne-Jones, while Birmingham Cathedral (Catholic) is the work of Augustus Pugin.

The Bullring is a magnificent shopping centre close to New Street Station.

Among those born in Birmingham are the cricketer Dennis Amiss; actress Eileen Atkins; film producer Michael Balcon;engineer Matthew Boulton; rtist Edward Burne-Jones; chocolate manufacturer George Cadbury; Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain; ice skater John Curry; finger print deviser Francis Galton; TV producer Tony Garnett; comedian Tony Hancock; composer Albert Ketelbey; actress Felicty Kendal; travel writer H. V. Morton; rock singer Ozzy Osbourne; novelist Sax Rohmer; theatre critic Kenneth Tynan; footballer Darius Vassell; actress Julie Walters; rock singer Steve Winwood; and rock singer Roy Wood.

Blue Badge Guide Colin Crosby is available to lead Guided Walks around Birmingham for groups.