Birmingham has an incredible number of old buildings – many of them built more than 500 years ago.
When we think of Birmingham’s history, we often think of the city’s contribution art, culture and music - it’s the home of Black Sabbath and the Peaky Blinders. The city also led the Industrial Revolution from 1760 to 1840 and was hailed as the ‘City of a Thousand Trades’.
But we’d be amiss to forget the older history of Brum. The development of Birmingham as a city is said to date back to 1166 when Lord of the Manor Peter de Bermingham obtained a charter to hold a market on his land around the site where the Bullring is today.
We’ve taken a look at 12 of the oldest buildings still standing in Birmingham today:
5. The Old Grammar School, Kings Norton - 1434
The school is said to have been built, possibly as early as 1434, as the priest’s house to the Church of St Nicholas. In 1909, two women broke into the school with the intention of burning it down in a protest for the cause of women’s suffrage. Instead, they were said to have left the message “Two Suffragists have entered here, but charmed with this old-world room, have refrained from their design of destruction.” on the blackboard. | Historic England Photo
6. Handsworth Old Town Hall -1460
Handsworth Old Town Hall is a Grade 2 listed cruck building dating from about 1460. It was brick-infilled in 1625 and was originally part of a group of small multi-occupied buildings/barns which were demolished in the 1930s | Google
7. Blakesley Hall, Yardley - 1590
The hall is a grade II listed building. It is one of the oldest buildings in Birmingham. The hall became a museum in 1935 after centuries of use as a private home and its parlour was renovated. Its purpose was to display the history of the local medieval manors which comprise Birmingham. The Hall was damaged by a bomb in November 1941 causing extensive damage and the museum did not open again until 1957 | Google
8. Old Yardley Grammar School - 15th century
Old Yardley Grammar School dates back to the 15th Century. The Grade II* listed building is not open to the public often but still stands beautifully today | Google