Mystical stone griffins: Birmingham's forgotten guardians hidden away on housing estate in Shard End

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Uncover the intriguing history behind Birmingham's stone griffins, once atop Lewis's store, now hidden in Shard End.

In Birmingham’s city centre, atop the iconic Lewis’s department store, stood majestic and mysterious stone griffins.

These mythical creatures, once watching over the bustling streets below, now reside in an unexpected place - a housing estate in Shard End.

Dating back to the 1890s, the griffins have a mysterious past shrouded in local legend. Lewis’s department store traded throughout most of the twentieth century, bringing a taste of 34th street, New York, to Birmingham. It was opened in Birmingham in 1885.

The Birmingham store was closed down in 1991 and rebranded two years later, as two separate sections called Temple Court and Priory Court, either side of the Minories Shopping parade.

Many fondly remember Lewis's legendary promotions and celebrations around Christmas and Easter. Founded by the 19th-century philanthropist and innovator David Lewis, it is now regarded as one of the forerunners of the modern department store. Many fondly remember Lewis's legendary promotions and celebrations around Christmas and Easter. Founded by the 19th-century philanthropist and innovator David Lewis, it is now regarded as one of the forerunners of the modern department store.
Many fondly remember Lewis's legendary promotions and celebrations around Christmas and Easter. Founded by the 19th-century philanthropist and innovator David Lewis, it is now regarded as one of the forerunners of the modern department store. | BW

It is said that they were a gift to the city from the Tsar of Russia, but that story is entrenched in local folklore.

After the original Lewis store was demolished, the griffins were relocated around 1923 to the entrance of the Yorks Wood Scout Camp in Shard End, a move that further enshrined their place in Birmingham’s history.

When the scout camp eventually closed in 1972, the land was redeveloped into a housing estate—but the griffins remained.

Today, these statues continue to intrigue passersby along Horne Way and Kendrick Avenue, standing as guardians of the estate, much like they did for the bustling department store over a century ago.

In 2023, the Yorkswood Residents Association secured £10,000 in funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund to restore the griffins to their former glory.

One of the stone griffins that sit in a housing estate in Shard EndOne of the stone griffins that sit in a housing estate in Shard End
One of the stone griffins that sit in a housing estate in Shard End | National World

Despite their move to a suburban estate, these griffins remain a beloved piece of Birmingham’s history.

They are a reminder of the grandeur of the Lewis store, once famous for its holiday celebrations, and its connection to David Lewis, the 19th-century philanthropist who founded it.

The griffins, hidden in plain sight in Shard End, have become a local treasure.