Fancy a crash course in Birmingham’s backstory — with a fun twist?
Welcome to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (BMAG)’s “A to Z of Birmingham”. It’s exactly what it sounds like: 26 letters, 26 artefacts or themes, each one giving you a snapshot of what’s shaped the city.
From gritty industrial grit to bold art and big social shifts, every stop on this alphabetical adventure tells part of Brum’s story. You’ll get the past, the present, and maybe even a peek at where the city’s headed.
The museum says: “Welcome to the unofficial A-Z of Birmingham, brought to you by the people of Birmingham Museums. 26 staff and volunteers from across Birmingham. Museums chose 26 things they love about their city.
“It’s smart, snappy, and packed with character — just like Birmingham itself.”
1. A to Z of Birmingham
Head to Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery (BMAG) for their “A to Z of Birmingham” exhibition. It’s exactly what it sounds like: 26 letters, 26 artefacts or themes, each one giving you a snapshot of what’s shaped the city. | Emma Walker
2. A is for Archers
Jane, Conservation Manager said: "I chose Archers for A because it's been made by the BBC in Birmingham since the beginning and it's been a feature of my life since childhood. It's very much set in the Midlands, I saw a cast rehearsal at Pebble Mill many years ago which really emphasised that it was made in Birmingham." | Flickr - Robin Vanagas
3. B is for Balti
"The Balti Triangle is the crown jewel of our beloved Birmingham. Visits to Pakistan as a child brought my taste buds alive. An explosion of eastern spices perfectly blended by my late grandmother to a majestic curry left a huge void on my return to England. Dad knew the next best thing 'Balti Triangle' - from its authentic South Asian dishes to its traditional European twist of Vindaloo. Birmingham made the Balti its own," - Nobila, volunteer. Mohammed Arif opened the first Balti house in Sparkbrook in 1977. He had the idea after visiting Baltistan in Pakistan where he saw food cooked in shallow metal dish known as 'Balti'. On returning to Birmingham, he asked a local factory to manufacture the dish for his restaurant. | AFP via Getty Images
4. C is for Cob
'It had to be C for Cob - In Birmingham, "cob" is a term used to describe a bread roll, specifically a crusty one. The term "bap" is also used, but usually for softer rolls or those used for sandwiches, while a "bun" is typically used for a bread roll containing a burger. The word "cob" is considered a regional term, particularly popular in the West Midlands area. | freeimageslive.co.uk freefoodpho Photo: freefoodphotos