Artwork Description

A reproduction of a series of large-scale artworks commissioned by Roundhouse Birmingham, the National Trust, Canal and River Trust and Heritage Lottery Fund. These artworks celebrate three special areas in Birmingham, folwing the stories, people and places throughout the passage of time. The second in the series celebrates the areas of Ladywood and Broad St. This large scale collage celebrates the history of Westside, Broad St and Ladywood, celebrating it’s incarnations through time. Once a host to many local trades and businesses, it has evolved into a thriving inner city area of Birmingham for entertainment, hospitality and nightlife, though sadly paused recently during pandemic times ! Undergoing extensive redevelopment in the 90’s and further works today, it is a beautiful place to meander through the inner city canal networks. Archival imagery from the Rum Runner and Barbarellas, where bands like Duran Duran played and were discovered, celebrate its musical heritage, alongside recently named ‘Black Sabbath Bridge’. The artwork celebrates companies like Lee Longlands, the well-known furniture company has existed there for over 100 years and the Ostler Glass company, famous internationally for its incredible glassworks and chandeliers. They so captured the attention of King George on his royal visit to Birmingham that he commissioned the glass fountain featured for the Grand Exhibition of London - you can still see Lee Longland’s fantastic deco building, but sadly Ostler’s stunning building is no longer there. Bingley Hall is featured as a key venue in Birmingham, it’s first exhibition hall and we celebrate the Prince of Wales Theatre, predating Symphony Hall and sadly destroyed by bombing during WW2. Kunzles chocolate factory is included, predating Cadbury’s as a fine chocolate purveyor, its owner, Christian Kunzle, originally a Swiss chef, settled in Birmingham and became a much-loved employer, who sent staff to his castle in Switzerland, to recover from illnesses caused by inner city life at the time. The artwork features the churches of Broad St that are no longer present, St Peters, where the ICC now stands and The Church of the Messiah. One stunning church still stands in all its beauty, though now a Nightclub, it’s rumoured an unidentified body was discovered buried beneath its steps ! Looking up as you walk along Broad St, you’ll notice the amazing work of Brutalist Sculptor William George Mitchell. At Fiveways we celebrate Joseph Sturge another much loved Birmingham industrialist and philanthropist. A Quaker and Chartist, he was a key player in the Anti-Slavery movement and Votes for the Rights of the Working man. The statue, designed by John Thomas, in honour of his life still exists today and the original inauguration in 1862, brought over 12,000 people to celebrate, showing how much loved he was ! As part of the Temperance movement, it’s said he would have limes sent over from his plantation in the West Indies and be seen handing them out to workers leaving the pubs, encouraging health and abstinence ! The Fiveways clock dedicated to city coroner John Bert features, for his services rendered to Birmingham people. It is said he was so dedicated to his work he never left Birmingham during his working life. These are limited edition Fine Art giclee prints on archival paper, signed by the artist. Unframed, option to frame on enquiry.

• Limited Edition
• Popular Artist