Exhibition of the Birmingham and Midland Counties Agricultural Association, in Bingley Hall, Birmingham, 1850. 'Among the pure breeds exhibited, the show of Herefords deserves to take the highest place. . Among the show of heavier stock in Broad-street was an extraordinary crossbred animal, of gigantic size, but in the framing of which nature seems to have accompanied the increased proportion with great awkwardness of build, and a wide departure from shapeliness. One of the crosses of sheep appeared to contain some admixture of foreign blood, as if an attempt had been made to increase the frame of the animal and its capacity for taking on flesh, at the same time that the square proportions of the native breeds were preserved. In pigs the show was a very large one, and there were some first-rate animals produced'. From "Illustrated London News", 1850. Artist Unknown. (Photo by The Print Collector/Heritage Images via Getty ImagesExhibition of the Birmingham and Midland Counties Agricultural Association, in Bingley Hall, Birmingham, 1850. 'Among the pure breeds exhibited, the show of Herefords deserves to take the highest place. . Among the show of heavier stock in Broad-street was an extraordinary crossbred animal, of gigantic size, but in the framing of which nature seems to have accompanied the increased proportion with great awkwardness of build, and a wide departure from shapeliness. One of the crosses of sheep appeared to contain some admixture of foreign blood, as if an attempt had been made to increase the frame of the animal and its capacity for taking on flesh, at the same time that the square proportions of the native breeds were preserved. In pigs the show was a very large one, and there were some first-rate animals produced'. From "Illustrated London News", 1850. Artist Unknown. (Photo by The Print Collector/Heritage Images via Getty Images
Exhibition of the Birmingham and Midland Counties Agricultural Association, in Bingley Hall, Birmingham, 1850. 'Among the pure breeds exhibited, the show of Herefords deserves to take the highest place. . Among the show of heavier stock in Broad-street was an extraordinary crossbred animal, of gigantic size, but in the framing of which nature seems to have accompanied the increased proportion with great awkwardness of build, and a wide departure from shapeliness. One of the crosses of sheep appeared to contain some admixture of foreign blood, as if an attempt had been made to increase the frame of the animal and its capacity for taking on flesh, at the same time that the square proportions of the native breeds were preserved. In pigs the show was a very large one, and there were some first-rate animals produced'. From "Illustrated London News", 1850. Artist Unknown. (Photo by The Print Collector/Heritage Images via Getty Images | Heritage Images via Getty Images

Remembering Bingley Hall in Birmingham: Pictures of the historic exhibition centre on Broad Street

Fionnuala Bourke
By Fionnuala Bourke

Editor

Published 12th Apr 2024, 15:54 GMT

Bingley Hall in Birmingham was the UK’s first ever purpose built exhibition space and it stood proud at the bottom of Broad Street where the ICC is today - before it got burned down

The International Convention Centre in Birmingham is one of the city’s most renowned venues.

People travel from across the world to attend events at the esteemed venue at the bottom of Broad Street in Centenary Square which regularly hosts the Conservative Party Conference.

But did you know that before it was built another landmark stood in its place, known as Bingley Hall - and it was destroyed by a huge fire in the 1980s.

Bingley Hall was built in 1850 when King Edward VII was on the throne and is believed to have inspired the construction of Crystal Palace.

It was the UK’s first purpose-built exhibition hall and was attached to Bingley House where a renowned banker Charles Lloyd lived.

The first event at Bingley Hall was the Birmingham Triennial Music Festival which attracted the likes of Charles Darwin.

Later events included Birmingham Dog Show, cattle shows, circuses and more music concerts.

Renowned politicians including former Prime Minister William Gladstone held meetings there along with former Birmingham Mayor Joseph Chamberlain.

Bingley Hall was hosting the Midlands Caravan, Camping and Leisure Exhibition in 1984 when it caught fire. 

The blaze ripped through the main Queen's Hall of the exhibition centre, destroying large portions of the show which had only opened a day earlier.

As the exhibition hall closed after a group of psychics, who were attending an annual Psychics and Mystics Fayre, gathered to ‘cleanse’ the site to ensure its future as a convention centre.

After the hall was demolished ICC Birmingham was built, opening in 1991.

Here’s a look back at Bingley Hall on Broad Street: 

A fire ripped through the main Queen's Hall of the exhibition centre, destroying large portions of the Midlands Caravan, Camping and Leisure Exhibition which had only opened a day earlier on April 15, 1984. The King's and Princess Halls are mentioned. The photograph shows firemen in the gutted hall surrounded by debris.

5. Bingley Hall in Birmingham in 1984

A fire ripped through the main Queen's Hall of the exhibition centre, destroying large portions of the Midlands Caravan, Camping and Leisure Exhibition which had only opened a day earlier on April 15, 1984. The King's and Princess Halls are mentioned. The photograph shows firemen in the gutted hall surrounded by debris. | Express and Star

The exhibition hall was due to close after a devastating fire, and a group of psychics, who were attending an annual Psychics and Mystics Fayre gathered to "cleanse" the site to ensure its future as a convention centre. The photograph shows five clairvoyants including Graham Wilson from London in the charred remains of the Queen's Hall.

6. Bingley Hall in Birmingham in 1984

The exhibition hall was due to close after a devastating fire, and a group of psychics, who were attending an annual Psychics and Mystics Fayre gathered to "cleanse" the site to ensure its future as a convention centre. The photograph shows five clairvoyants including Graham Wilson from London in the charred remains of the Queen's Hall. | Express and Star

Delegates leave the Birmingham ICC at the end of day three at the Conservative Party conference on October 04, 2022 in Birmingham

7. Birmingham ICC

Delegates leave the Birmingham ICC at the end of day three at the Conservative Party conference on October 04, 2022 in Birmingham | Getty Images

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