Birmingham: Difference between revisions
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{{two other uses|the British city|the U.S. city named after it|Birmingham, Alabama}} <!--NOTE: this disambig header has been agreed upon, please do not change it without first obtaining consensus on the talk page --> |
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{{Infobox Settlement |
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<!--See the Table at Infobox Settlement for all fields and descriptions of usage--> |
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<!-- Basic info ----------------> |
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|official_name = City of Birmingham |
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|other_name = |
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|native_name = <!-- for cities whose native name is not in English --> |
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|nickname = "Brum", "Brummagem", "Second City", "Workshop of the World", "City of a Thousand Trades" |
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|settlement_type = <!--For Town or Village (Leave blank for the default City)--> |
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|motto = Forward |
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<!-- images and maps -----------> |
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|image_skyline = BirminghamUKSkyline.jpg |
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|imagesize = 280px |
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|image_caption = Birmingham Skyline viewed from the east |
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|image_flag = |
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|flag_size = |
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|image_seal = |
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|seal_size = |
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|image_shield = |
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|shield_size = |
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|image_blank_emblem = Birm 1977 arms.png |
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|blank_emblem_type = Coat of Arms of the City Council |
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|blank_emblem_size = |
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|blank_emblem_link = Government of Birmingham#Birmingham City Council |
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|image_map = EnglandBirmingham.svg |
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|mapsize = |
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|map_caption = Birmingham shown within England and the West Midlands |
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|image_map1 = |
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|mapsize1 = |
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|map_caption1 = |
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|image_dot_map = |
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|dot_mapsize = |
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|dot_map_caption = |
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|dot_x = |dot_y = |
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|pushpin_map = <!-- the name of a location map as per http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Location_map --> |
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|pushpin_label_position = <!-- the position of the pushpin label: left, right, top, bottom, none --> |
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|pushpin_map_caption = |
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|pushpin_mapsize = |
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<!-- Location ------------------> |
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|subdivision_type = [[List of sovereign states|Sovereign state]] |
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|subdivision_name = [[United Kingdom]] |
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|subdivision_type1 = [[Constituent country]] |
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|subdivision_name1 = [[England]] |
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|subdivision_type2 = [[Regions of England|Region]] |
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|subdivision_name2 = [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]] |
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|subdivision_type3 = [[Ceremonial counties of England|Ceremonial county]] |
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|subdivision_name3 = [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]] |
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|subdivision_type4 = Admin HQ |
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|subdivision_name4 =Birmingham City Centre |
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<!-- Politics -----------------> |
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|government_footnotes = |
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|government_type =[[Metropolitan borough]] |
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|leader_title =Governing body |
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|leader_name =[[Government of Birmingham#Birmingham City Council|Birmingham City Council]] |
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|leader_title1 =Lord Mayor |
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|leader_name1 =Randal Brew |
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|leader_title2 =Council Leader |
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|leader_name2 = [[Mike Whitby]] ([[Conservative Party (UK)|C]]) |
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|leader_title3 = Council Control |
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|leader_name3 = [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]] / [[Liberal Democrats|Liberal Democrat]] |
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|leader_title4 =[[MPs elected in the UK general election, 2005|MPs]] |
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|leader_name4 =[[Richard Burden]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]<br>[[Liam Byrne]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]<br>[[John Hemming (politician)|John Hemming]] [[Liberal Democrats|(LD)]]<br>[[Lynne Jones|Dr Lynne Jones]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]<br>[[Khalid Mahmood]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]<br>[[Steve McCabe (politician)|Steve McCabe]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]<br>[[Andrew Mitchell]] [[Conservative Party (UK)|(C)]]<br>[[Clare Short]] [[Clare Short|(IL)]]<br>[[Siôn Simon]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]]<br>[[Gisela Stuart]] [[Labour Party (UK)|(L)]] |
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|established_title = Founded |
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|established_date = 6th century |
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|established_title2 = [[Municipal borough]] |
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|established_date2 = 1838 |
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|established_title3 = [[City status in the United Kingdom|City]] |
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|established_date3 = 1889 |
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<!-- Area ---------------------> |
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|area_magnitude = |
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|unit_pref = <!--Enter: Imperial, if Imperial (metric) is desired--> |
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|area_footnotes = |
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|area_total_km2 = 267.77<!-- ALL fields dealing with a measurements are subject to automatic unit conversion--> |
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|area_land_km2 = <!--See table @ Template:Infobox Settlement for details on automatic unit conversion--> |
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|area_water_km2 = |
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|area_total_sq_mi = |
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|area_land_sq_mi = |
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|area_water_sq_mi = |
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|area_water_percent = |
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|area_urban_km2 = |
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|area_urban_sq_mi = |
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|area_metro_km2 = |
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|area_metro_sq_mi = |
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|area_blank1_title = |
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|area_blank1_km2 = |
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|area_blank1_sq_mi = |
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<!-- Population -----------------------> |
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|population_as_of =2005 est. |
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|population_footnotes = |
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|population_note = |
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|population_total ={{EnglishDistrictPopulation|ONS=00CN}} ([[List of English districts by population|Ranked {{EnglishDistrictRank|ONS=00CN}}]]) |
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|population_density_km2 =3739 |
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|population_density_sq_mi = |
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|population_metro = |
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|population_density_metro_km2 = |
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|population_density_metro_sq_mi = |
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|population_urban = |
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|population_density_urban_km2 = |
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|population_density_urban_sq_mi = |
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|population_blank1_title = [[West Midlands conurbation|Conurbation]] |
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|population_blank1 = 2,284,093 |
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|population_density_blank1_title = |
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|population_density_blank1_km2 = |
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|population_density_blank1_sq_mi = |
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|population_blank2_title =Ethnicity </br><small>(2005 estimates<ref>[http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276800&c=birmingham&d=13&e=13&g=373272&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1203649391078&enc=1&dsFamilyId=1812 Neighbourhood Statistics<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref>) </small> |
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|population_blank2 = 67.8% [[White]]<br />3.1% [[Mixed Race|Mixed]]<br />20.4% [[British Asian|S.Asian]]<br />6.6% [[British Afro-Caribbean community|Black]]<br />1.1% [[British Chinese|Chinese]]<br />1.1% Other |
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|population_density_blank2_km2 = |
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|population_density_blank2_sq_mi = |
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<!-- General information ---------------> |
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|timezone = [[Greenwich Mean Time]] |
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|utc_offset = +0 |
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|timezone_DST = [[British Summer Time]] |
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|utc_offset_DST = +1 |
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|latd=52 |latm=28 |lats=59 |latNS=N |
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|longd=1 |longm=53 |longs=37 |longEW=W |
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|elevation_footnotes = <!--for references: use<ref> </ref> tags--> |
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|elevation_m = 140 |
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|elevation_ft = |
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<!-- Area/postal codes & others --------> |
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|postal_code_type = Postcode |
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|postal_code =[[B postcode area|B]] |
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|area_code =0121 |
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|blank_name =[[ISO 3166-2:GB|ISO 3166-2]] |
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|blank_info =GB-BIR |
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|blank1_name =[[ONS coding system|ONS code]] |
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|blank1_info =00CN |
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|blank2_name =[[British national grid reference system|OS grid reference]] |
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|blank2_info ={{gbmappingsmall|SP066868}} |
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|blank3_name =[[Nomenclature of Territorial Units for Statistics|NUTS]] 3 |
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|blank3_info = UKG31 |
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|blank4_name = |
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|blank4_info = |
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|website = [http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/ www.birmingham.gov.uk] |
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|footnotes = |
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}} |
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'''Birmingham''' ({{Audio|en-uk-Birmingham.ogg|pronunciation}}; [[Help:Pronunciation|IPA]] {{IPA|/ˈbɜːmɪŋˌəm/}}; '''Burr'''-ming-am) is a [[city status in the United Kingdom|city]] and [[metropolitan borough]] in the [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands]], [[England]]. Birmingham is the largest of England's [[English Core Cities Group|core cities]], <!--NOTE: The following phrase is controversial; please read the Talk page discussions and arrive at a consensus prior to editing it-->and is often considered to be the [[second city of the United Kingdom]].<ref>{{cite web| url=http://education.independent.co.uk/higher/overseas_students/article89204.ece|title= City Watch: Birmingham|publisher= [[The Independent]]|date= 2003-09-30}}{{dead link|date=December 2007}}<br>{{cite web|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2003/sep/06/unitedkingdom.birmingham.guardiansaturdaytravelsection |title= Second coming|publisher= [[The Guardian]] Unlimited|date= 2003-09-06}}<br>{{cite web|url=http://www.cfic.org.uk/main.php?section=10|title= Birmingham, Britain's second city|publisher= The College for International Citizenship}}<br>{{cite web|url=http://www3.oag.com/Cities/Guide?city=2&cat=2&guideID=2|title= Birmingham Historical Background|publisher= OAG Cities Guide}}</ref> The City of Birmingham has a [[population]] of 1,006,500 |
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(2006 estimate).<ref name="census">{{cite web|url= http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/Expodata/Spreadsheets/D9664.xls|title= Table 8 Mid-2006 Population Estimates: Selected age groups for local authorities in the United Kingdom; estimated resident population|publisher= Office for National Statistics|format= xls}}</ref> It forms part of the larger [[West Midlands conurbation]], which has a population of 2,284,093 (2001 census)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/ssdataset.asp?vlnk=8271&More=Y|title= Usual resident population: Census 2001, Key Statistics for urban areas|publisher= Office for National Statistics}}</ref> and includes several neighbouring towns and cities, such as [[Solihull]], [[Wolverhampton]] and the towns of the [[Black Country]]. |
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The city's reputation was forged as a powerhouse of the [[Industrial Revolution]] in [[United Kingdom|Britain]], a fact which led to Birmingham being known as "the workshop of the world" or the "city of a thousand trades".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/mail/news/columnists/goldberg/tm_objectid=16955982&method=full&siteid=50002&headline=decline-of-the-city-of-a-thousand-trades-name_page.html|title= Decline of the city of a thousand trades|publisher= [[Birmingham Mail]]|date=2006-04-17}}</ref> Although Birmingham's industrial importance has declined, it has developed into a national commercial centre, being named as the third best place in the United Kingdom to locate a business, and the 21st best in Europe by [[Cushman & Wakefield]] in 2007.<ref name=cushman>{{cite web|url=http://www.cushwake.com/cwglobal/docviewer/ECM%202007%20FINAL.pdf?id=c11100288p&repositoryKey=CoreRepository&itemDesc=document|title= European Cities Monitor 2007|publisher=Cushman & Wakefield|format=pdf}}</ref> It is also the fourth most visited city by foreign visitors in the UK.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.marketingmanchester.com/news/newsdetails.xsql?id=258 |title=International Visitors To Friendly Manchester Up 10% |publisher=Marketing Manchester |date= 2007-09-17 |accessdate=2007-11-27}}</ref> In 1998, Birmingham hosted the [[G8 summit]] at the [[International Convention Centre, Birmingham|International Convention Centre]] and remains a popular location for conventions.<ref name=convention>{{cite web|url=http://www.locatebirmingham.com/conference_city/nec_group|title= NEC Group - Conference City|publisher=Locate Birmingham}}</ref> |
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People from Birmingham are known as '[[Brummie]]s', a term derived from the city's nickname of ''Brum''. This comes in turn from the city's dialect name, [[Brummagem]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.worldwidewords.org/weirdwords/ww-bru2.htm|title= Brummagem|publisher= Worldwidewords.com|date= 2003-12-13}}</ref> which is derived from one of the city's earlier names, 'Bromwicham'. There is a distinctive Brummie [[dialect]] (distinct vocabulary and syntax) and [[accent (linguistics)|accent]], both of which differ from the adjacent [[Black Country]]. |
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==History== |
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{{main|History of Birmingham|Economic history of Birmingham|Timeline of Birmingham history}} |
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[[Image:1731 Birmingham street plan.jpg|left|thumb|William Westley's 1731 map of Birmingham. The top of the map is orientated westwards.]] |
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Birmingham started life in the 6th century as an [[Anglo-Saxons|Anglo-Saxon]] farming [[Hamlet (place)|hamlet]] on the banks of the [[River Rea]].<ref name=origins>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=917&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=0 |title=Origins of Birmingham|publisher=Birmingham.gov.uk}}</ref> The name 'Birmingham' comes from "Beorma ingas ham", meaning "home of the people of Beorma."<ref name=name>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=42225&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=13150 |title=Birmingham or Brummagem?|publisher=Birmingham.gov.uk}}</ref> Birmingham was first recorded in written documents by the [[Domesday Book]] of 1086 as a small [[village]], worth only 20 [[shilling]]s.<ref name=name /> There were many variations on this name. Bermingeham is another version. |
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In the 12th century, Birmingham was granted a royal charter to hold a [[market]],<ref name=origins /> which in time became known as the [[Bull Ring, Birmingham|Bull Ring]], transforming Birmingham from a village to a market town. As early as the 16th century, Birmingham's access to supplies of [[iron]] ore and [[coal]] meant that [[metal]]working industries became established.<ref>{{cite book|author=Hugh Miller|title=First Impressions of England and Its People|year=1851|publisher=Gould and Lincoln}}</ref> |
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By the time of the [[English Civil War]] in the 17th century Birmingham had become an important manufacturing town with a reputation for producing [[small arms]]. Arms manufacture in Birmingham became a staple trade and was concentrated in the area known as the [[Gun Quarter, Birmingham|Gun Quarter]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/history/bull.htm| title=A brief look at the heritage of the Bull's Head, Price Street|publisher=Virtual Brum}}</ref> During the [[Industrial Revolution]] (from the mid-18th century onwards), Birmingham grew rapidly into a major industrial centre and the town prospered. During the 18th century, Birmingham was home to the [[Lunar Society]], an important gathering of local thinkers and industrialists.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birminghamuk.com/historic2.htm|title=History of Birmingham 2|publisher=BirminghamUK}}</ref> |
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[[Image:Brindleyplace Birmingham.jpg|thumb|left|The [[BCN Main Line]] canal of the [[Birmingham Canal Navigations]] between the [[International Convention Centre, Birmingham|International Convention Centre]] (left) and [[Brindleyplace]] (right) in central Birmingham, (which has more canals than in [[Venice]]).]] |
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By the 1820s an extensive [[Canals of the United Kingdom|canal]] system had been constructed, giving greater access to natural resources to fuel to industries. [[Railways]] arrived in Birmingham in 1837 with the arrival of the [[Grand Junction Railway]], and a year later, the [[London and Birmingham Railway]]. During the [[Victorian era]], the population of Birmingham grew rapidly to well over half a million<ref name=historicpopulation>{{cite web| url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=1558&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=10277 |title=Historic Population Of Birmingham|publisher=Birmingham.gov.uk}}</ref> and Birmingham became the second largest population centre in England. Birmingham was granted [[city status in the United Kingdom|city status]] in 1889 by [[Queen Victoria]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/mayors.bcc|publisher=Birmingham.gov.uk|title=History of Mayoralty}}</ref> The city established [[University of Birmingham|its own university]] in 1900.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bham.ac.uk/about/|title= Inside the university|publisher=University of Birmingham}}</ref> |
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[[Image:Newstreetold.jpg|right|thumb|The Victorian [[Birmingham New Street station|New Street Station]]]] |
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Birmingham was originally part of [[Warwickshire]], but expanded in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, absorbing parts of [[Worcestershire]] to the south and [[Staffordshire]] to the north and west. The city absorbed [[Sutton Coldfield]] in 1974. The people of Sutton Coldfield still consider themselves separate from Birmingham. At the same time Birmingham became a metropolitan borough in the new [[West Midlands (county)|West Midlands county]]. Up until 1986, the [[West Midlands County Council]] was based in [[Birmingham City Centre]]. |
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Birmingham suffered heavy [[bomb]] damage during [[World War II]]'s "[[Birmingham Blitz]]", and the city was extensively redeveloped during the 1950s and 1960s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/ELibrary?E_LIBRARY_ID=64&a=1141397636571 |title=Signalling the Sixties: 1960s Architecture in Birmingham|publisher=Birmingham City Council Planning Department|format=pdf}}</ref> This included the construction of large tower block estates, such as [[Castle Vale]] in [[Erdington]]. The [[Bull Ring, Birmingham|Bull Ring]] reconstructed and [[Birmingham New Street station|New Street station]] was redeveloped. In recent years, Birmingham has been transformed, with the construction of new squares like Centenary Square and Millennium Place. Old streets, buildings and canals have been restored, the pedestrian subways have been removed, and the [[Birmingham Bull Ring|Bull Ring]] shopping centre.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=3140&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=1338 |title=Major Development|publisher=Birmingham.gov.uk}}</ref> has been redeveloped further. |
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In the decades following [[The Second World War]], the population of Birmingham changed dramatically, with immigration from the [[Commonwealth of Nations]] and beyond.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=2392&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=10596 |title=Birmingham's Post War Black Immigrants|publisher=Birmingham.gov.uk}}</ref> The population peaked in 1951 at 1,113,000 residents.<ref name=historicpopulation /> |
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==Geography== |
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Birmingham is situated just to the west of the geographical centre of [[England]] on the ''Birmingham Plateau'' - an area of relatively high ground, ranging around 500 to 1,000 feet (150-300 m) above sea level and crossed by Britain's main north-south [[water divide|watershed]] between the basins of the Rivers [[River Severn|Severn]] and [[River Trent|Trent]]. To the south and west of the city lie the [[Lickey Hills]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=2895&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=1749|title= Lickey Hills Country Park|publisher= Birmingham.gov.uk}}</ref> [[Clent Hills]] and [[Walton Hill]], which reach 1,033 feet (315 m) and have extensive views over the city. |
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===Geology=== |
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Geologically, Birmingham is dominated by the ''Birmingham Fault'' which runs diagonally through the city from the Lickey Hills in the south west, passing through [[Edgbaston]], the [[Bull Ring, Birmingham|Bull Ring]] and [[Erdington]], to [[Sutton Coldfield]] in the north east.<ref name=JPS /> To the south and east of the fault the ground is largely softer [[Keuper]] [[Marl]], interspersed with beds of [[Bunter (geology)|Bunter pebbles]] and crossed by the valleys of the Rivers [[River Tame, West Midlands|Tame]], [[River Rea|Rea]] and [[River Cole, West Midlands|Cole]] along with their tributaries.<ref>{{cite book|author=Victor Skipp|title=The History of Greater Birmingham - down to 1830|page=15|year=1987|publisher=V. H. T. Skipp|location=Yardley, Birmingham|isbn=0-9506998-0-2}}</ref> Much of this would have been laid down during the [[Permian]] and [[Triassic]] eras.<ref name=JPS>{{cite web|url=http://www.jpservicez-searcharticles.com/article.detail.php/179361/17/Travel/144/Vacations/The_Geography_of_Birmingham |title=The Geography of Birmingham|publisher=JPServicez Search Articles|author=Susan Ashby|date=2007-12-10|accessdate=2007-12-24}}</ref> To the north and west of the fault, varying from 150 to 600 feet (45-180 m) higher than the surrounding area and underlying much of the city centre, lies a long ridge of harder [[Keuper]] [[Sandstone]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/genericerror.aspx?aspxerrorpath=/report.aspx|title= The Growth of the City, A History of the County of Warwick: Volume 7: The City of Birmingham (1964), pp. 4-25|publisher= British History Online}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.defra.gov.uk/erdp/images/wmgifs/wmgeol.GIF|title= Solid Geology - 1:250,000 scale (Source: British Geological Survey, NERC)|publisher= Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs|format= gif}}</ref> |
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Much of the area now occupied by the city was originally a northern reach of the ancient [[Forest of Arden]], whose former presence can still be felt in the city's dense [[oak]] tree-cover and in the large number of districts such as [[Moseley]], [[Saltley]] and [[Hockley, Birmingham|Hockley]] with names ending in "-ley": an [[Anglo-Saxon language|Anglo-Saxon]] word meaning "woodland clearing".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cv81pl.freeserve.co.uk/arden.htm|title= Forest of Arden}}</ref> |
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===Climate=== |
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The climate in Birmingham is a [[temperate]] [[Oceanic climate|marine climate]], like much of the [[British Isles]], with average maximum [[temperature]]s in summer (July) being around 20°C (68°F); and in winter (January) is around 4.5°C (40°F). The weather is hardly extreme, however, there have been a few tornadoes in the area - the most recent being in [[Birmingham Tornado (UK)|July 2005]] in the south of the city, damaging homes and businesses in the area.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=64253&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=11616|title= Birmingham Tornado 2005|publisher= Birmingham.gov.uk}}</ref> |
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[[Global warming]] has affected Birmingham.{{Fact|date=January 2008}} Occasional summer heatwaves, such as the one experienced in July 2006 have become more common in recent years, and winters have become milder since the 1990s with snow becoming much less frequent. Similar to most other large cities, Birmingham has a considerable '[[urban heat island]]' effect.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2007/03_march/27/climate.shtml|title= Inside Out: Living with global warming|publisher= BBC|date= 2007-03-27}}</ref> During the coldest night recorded in Birmingham (14 January, 1982), for example, the temperature fell to -20.8°C (-5.4°F) at [[Birmingham International Airport (United Kingdom)|Birmingham International Airport]] on the city's eastern edge, but just -12.9°C (8.8°F) at Edgbaston, near the city centre.<ref name="RCBI">{{cite book|author=Dennis Wheeler|coauthor=Julian Mayes|title=Regional Climates of the British Isles|year=1997|publisher=Routledge|isbn=0415139309}}</ref> Relative to other large UK conurbations, Birmingham is a snowy city, due to its inland location and comparatively high elevation.<ref name="RCBI" /> Snow showers often pass through the city via the Cheshire gap on North Westerly airstreams, but can also come off the North sea from North Easterly airstreams.<ref name="RCBI" /> |
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{{Infobox Weather |
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|metric_first= Yes |
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|single_line= Yes |
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|location = Birmingham |
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|Jan_Hi_°C = 6.0 |
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|Feb_Hi_°C = 6.2 |
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|Mar_Hi_°C = 8.9 |
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|Apr_Hi_°C = 11.9 |
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|May_Hi_°C = 15.3 |
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|Jun_Hi_°C = 18.8 |
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|Jul_Hi_°C = 20.6 |
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|Aug_Hi_°C = 20.1 |
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|Sep_Hi_°C = 17.6 |
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|Oct_Hi_°C = 13.8 |
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|Nov_Hi_°C = 9.2 |
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|Dec_Hi_°C = 7.1 |
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|Jan_Lo_°C = 0.3 |
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|Feb_Lo_°C = 0.1 |
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|Mar_Lo_°C = 1.5 |
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|Apr_Lo_°C = 3.3 |
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|May_Lo_°C = 6.0 |
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|Jun_Lo_°C = 9.2 |
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|Jul_Lo_°C = 11.1 |
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|Aug_Lo_°C = 10.8 |
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|Sep_Lo_°C = 8.8 |
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|Oct_Lo_°C = 6.2 |
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|Nov_Lo_°C = 2.9 |
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|Dec_Lo_°C = 1.3 |
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|Jan_Precip_mm = 56 |
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|Feb_Precip_mm = 48 |
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|Mar_Precip_mm = 52 |
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|Apr_Precip_mm = 48 |
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|May_Precip_mm = 55 |
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|Jun_Precip_mm = 57 |
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|Jul_Precip_mm = 47 |
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|Aug_Precip_mm = 67 |
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|Sep_Precip_mm = 54 |
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|Oct_Precip_mm = 53 |
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|Nov_Precip_mm = 59 |
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|Dec_Precip_mm = 66 |
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|source = United Nations World Meteorological Organization<ref name= >{{cite web |
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| url = http://worldweather.wmo.int/010/c00028.htm| title = Weather Information for Birmingham| accessmonthday = | accessyear = 2007 |
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| publisher = UN World Meteorological Organization| language = English}}</ref>|accessdate = 2007-08-26 |
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}} |
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===Nearby places=== |
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;Cities |
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{{flatlist}} |
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*[[Coventry]] |
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*[[Lichfield]] |
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*[[Wolverhampton]] |
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*[[Worcester, England|Worcester]] |
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{{endflatlist}} |
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;Towns |
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{{flatlist}} |
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*[[Aldridge]] |
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*[[Atherstone]] |
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*[[Bedworth]] |
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*[[Bromsgrove]] |
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*[[Cannock]] |
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*[[Coleshill, Warwickshire|Coleshill]] |
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*[[Droitwich]] |
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*[[Dudley]] |
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*[[Halesowen]] |
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*[[Hinckley]] |
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*[[Kenilworth]] |
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*[[Kidderminster]] |
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*[[Nuneaton]] |
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*[[Oldbury]] |
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*[[Redditch]] |
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*[[Royal Leamington Spa]] |
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*[[Rugby, Warwickshire|Rugby]] |
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*[[Solihull]] |
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*[[Stafford]] |
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*[[Stourbridge]] |
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*[[Stratford-upon-Avon]] |
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*[[Tamworth]] |
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*[[Telford]] |
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*[[Warwick]] |
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*[[Walsall]] |
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*[[West Bromwich]] |
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{{endflatlist}} |
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;Villages |
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{{flatlist}} |
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*[[Little Aston]] |
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*[[Streetly]] |
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{{endflatlist}} |
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''See also'': The [[Black Country]]. |
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==Demographics== |
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{| class="wikitable" align="right" style="font-size:90%;" |
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! Religion |
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! Percentage of <Br>population |
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|- |
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| [[Buddhism|Buddhist]] |
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| 0.3% |
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|- |
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| [[Christianity|Christian]] |
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| 59.1% |
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|- |
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| [[Hinduism|Hindu]] |
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| 2% |
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|- |
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| [[Judaism|Jewish]] |
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| 0.2% |
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|- |
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| [[Islam|Muslim]] |
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| 14.3% |
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|- |
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| [[Sikhism|Sikh]] |
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| 2.9% |
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|- |
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| [[No religion]] |
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| 12.4% |
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|- |
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| No answer |
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| 8.4% |
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|} |
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{{main|Demographics of Birmingham}} |
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Birmingham is an ethnically and culturally diverse city. In 2005 the [[Office for National Statistics|ONS]] estimated that 67.8% of the population was [[White British|White]] (including 2.7% [[Irish people|Irish]] & 2.1% [[White Other (United Kingdom Census)|Other White]]), 20.4% [[Asian]] or [[British Asian|Asian British]], 6.6% [[British Afro-Caribbean community|Black]] or [[Black British]], 1.1% [[Han Chinese|Chinese]], 3.1% of [[mixed race]] and 1.1% of other ethnic heritage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=3&b=276800&c=birmingham&d=13&e=13&g=373272&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1203649391078&enc=1&dsFamilyId=1812 |title=Regional Population Estimates by Ethnic Group|publisher=ONS}}</ref> 16.5% of the population was born outside the United Kingdom. |
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The population density is 9,451 inhabitants per square mile (3,649/km²) compared to the 976.9 inhabitants per square mile (377.2/km²) for England. Females represented 51.6% of the population whilst men represented 48.4%. More women were 70 or over.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/Media?MEDIA_ID=172964|title=2001 Population Census: Gender Profiles|publisher=Birmingham City Council|format=pdf}}</ref> 60.4% of the population was aged between 16 and 74, compared to 66.7% in England as a whole.<ref name=KS>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=26205&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=11333 |title=2001 Census of Population: Key Findings|publisher=Birmingham.gov.uk}}</ref> |
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60.4% of households were found to be owner occupied and 27.7% were rented from either the city council, housing association or other registered social landlord. The remaining 11.8% of households were rented privately or lived rent free.<ref name=KS /> |
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==Places of interest== |
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:''See also: [[:Category:Visitor attractions in Birmingham, England|Places of interest in Birmingham]]''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=5978&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=165 |title=Places of Interest|publisher=Birmingham.gov.uk}}</ref> |
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[[Image:BirminghamBarberInstitute.jpg|thumb|[[Barber Institute of Fine Arts]]]] |
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The [[Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery]] is the main art gallery and museum in Birmingham. It has renowned displays of artwork that include a leading collection of work by the [[Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood]] and the world's largest collection of works by [[Edward Burne-Jones]]. The group also owns other museums in the city such as [[Aston Hall]], [[Blakesley Hall]], the [[Museum of the Jewellery Quarter]] and [[Sarehole Mill]], a popular attraction for fans of [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]. [[Birmingham Thinktank|Thinktank]] in the Eastside is one of the newest museums in the city. The [[Birmingham Back to Backs]] are the last surviving court of back-to-back houses in the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/ELibrary?E_LIBRARY_ID=93&a=1157290087529|title=Back to back in Birmingham|publisher= Birmingham City Council|format=pdf}}</ref> |
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The [[Barber Institute of Fine Arts]] is both an art gallery and concert hall. It also has one of the world's most detailed and largest coin collections.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.barber.org.uk/coins/coinroom.html|title=The Coin Room|publisher=Barber Institute}}</ref> [[Cadbury World]] is a museum showing visitors the stages and steps of chocolate production and the history of chocolate and [[Cadbury Schweppes|the company]]. |
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[[Image:Victoria Square at Night.jpg|thumb|left|[[Victoria Square, Birmingham|Victoria Square]] at night]] |
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There are over 8,000 acres (3,200 [[hectare|ha]]) of parkland open spaces in Birmingham.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=3028&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=1743 |title=Parks and Nature Conservation|publisher=Birmingham City Council}}</ref> The largest of the parks is [[Sutton Park]] covering 2,400 acres (970 ha) making it the largest urban nature reserve in Europe.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=3039&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=1754 |title=Introduction to Sutton Park|publisher=Birmingham City Council}}</ref> [[Birmingham Botanical Gardens]] are a [[Victorian]] creation, with a conservatory and bandstand, close to the city centre. The [[Winterbourne Botanic Garden]], maintained by the [[University of Birmingham]], is also located close to the city centre. [[Woodgate Valley Country Park]] is in Bartley Green and Quinton. |
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The city centre consists of numerous [[Town square|public squares]] including [[Centenary Square]], [[Chamberlain Square]] and [[Victoria Square, Birmingham|Victoria Square]]. The historic [[Old Square]] is located on [[Corporation Street, Birmingham|Corporation Street]]. Rotunda Square and St Martin's Square are two of the newest squares in Birmingham, being located within the Bullring Shopping Centre. [[Brindleyplace]] also consists of three squares. |
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[[Image:Birmingham St Philip's Cathedral.jpg|thumb|St Philip's Cathedral from the rear]] |
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Due to Birmingham's diverse population, there is a diverse variety of religious buildings in the city. [[St Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham|St Philip's]] was upgraded from church to cathedral status in 1905. Another cathedral in the city is [[Cathedral of Saint Chad, Birmingham|St Chad's]], which is the seat of the [[Roman Catholic]] Province of Birmingham. [[St Martin in the Bull Ring]] is a [[listed building|Grade II* listed]] church. There is also a variety of non-Christian religions in the city. In the 1960s, [[Birmingham Central Mosque]], one of the largest [[mosque]]s in Europe, was constructed for the [[Islam|Muslim]] community of the city.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/faith/places_of_worship/muslim/birmingham_central_mosque.shtml| title= Birmingham Central Mosque|publisher=BBC Birmingham Faith}}</ref> However, during the late 1990s a mosque in the Sparkhill area close to the city centre was re-developed in partnership with the Birmingham City Council to supersede the Birmingham Central Mosque as the largest Mosque in the city. It holds a larger capacity and a fully functional segregated women's section. As its centrepiece is a dome. The new mosque is generally home to the Kashmiri-Pakistani population which made Birmingham its home during the late 1960s. |
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''See also'': [[Religion in Birmingham]]. |
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==Economy== |
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[[Image:ColmoreRowBirmingham.jpg|thumb|[[Colmore Row]] in Birmingham's Business District.]]{{main|Economy of Birmingham}} |
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Although Birmingham grew to prominence as a [[manufacturing]] and [[engineering]] centre, its economy today is dominated by the [[tertiary sector of industry|service sector]], which in 2003 accounted for 78% of the city's economic output and 97% of its economic growth.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_economy/NUTS3_Tables_1-12.xls|title=NUTS3 Gross Value Added (GVA) (1995-2003) Tables|publisher=Office for National Statistics|format=xls}}<br>Data on sheet NUTS34, line 339</ref> |
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Two of Britain's "[[big four]]" banks were founded in Birmingham - [[Lloyds Bank]] (now [[Lloyds TSB]]) in 1765<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.lloydstsb.com/about_ltsb/lloyds_bank.asp|title=The History of Lloyds Bank|publisher=Lloyd's TSB}}</ref> and the [[Midland Bank]] (now [[HSBC Bank (Europe)|HSBC Bank plc]]) in 1836<ref>{{cite web|url=http://a248.e.akamai.net/7/248/3622/1155d916c9bd00/www.img.ghq.hsbc.com/public/groupsite/assets/about/brief_history_feb2004.pdf |title=HSBC History (The HSBC Group in Europe)|publisher=HSBC|format=pdf}}</ref> - and today the city employs 108,000 in banking, finance and insurance.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://129.234.4.33/reports/lmp/la/2038431965/subreports/abi_compared/report.aspx|title= Local Authority Profile: Birmingham|publisher= Office for National Statistics, Nomis Official Labour Market Statistics (Annual Business Inquiry Employee Analysis 2004)}}</ref> In 2007, [[Cushman & Wakefield]] stated that Birmingham was the third best place in the United Kingdom to locate a business, and the 21st best in Europe.<ref name=cushman /> |
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Tourism is also an increasingly important part of the local economy. With major facilities such as the [[International Convention Centre, Birmingham|International Convention Centre]] and [[National Exhibition Centre]] the Birmingham area accounts for 42% of the UK conference and exhibition trade.<ref name=convention /> The city's sporting and cultural venues attract large numbers of visitors. |
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[[Image:2009 Jaguar XF DC.JPG|thumb|left|The [[Jaguar XF]], made by [[Jaguar Cars]] at [[Castle Bromwich Assembly|Castle Bromwich]].]] |
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With an annual turnover of £2.2bn, Birmingham city centre is the UK's second largest retail centre,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.caci.co.uk/msd.asp?url=lsp-retailfootprint.htm|title=Comparison Expenditure CACI Retail Footprint 2005|publisher=CACI}}</ref> with the country's busiest [[Shopping mall|shopping centre]] - the [[Bull Ring, Birmingham|Bullring]]<ref name="shpcent">{{cite news|title=UK's busiest shopping centre|url=http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/post/news/tm_method=full%26objectid=14600178%26siteid=50002-name_page.html|work=Birmingham Post|publisher=Birmingham Post and Mail Ltd|date=2004-09-03|accessdate=2008-02-03}}</ref> - and the largest [[department store]] outside [[London]] - [[House of Fraser]] on [[Corporation Street, Birmingham|Corporation Street]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.propertymall.com/press/article/3888|title=The 10 largest UK Stores, 1998|accessdate=2008-02-03|date=1998-05-05|work=Corporate Intelligence on Retailing - Other - Tesco Overtakes Sainsburys Overall|publisher=propertymall.com}}</ref> The City also has one of only four [[Selfridges]] department stores, and the second largest branch of [[Debenhams]] in the country. <ref name=shpcent /> |
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Despite the decline of manufacturing in the city several significant industrial plants remain, including [[Jaguar Cars]] in [[Castle Bromwich]] and [[Cadbury Trebor Bassett]] in [[Bournville]], also the [[Aston Martin]] headquarters and manafacturing estate is just outside the city. Birmingham is also home of the [[Brylcreem]] boys of the seventies and [[Brylcreem]] is a number of many large or multinational companies founded or based in Birmingham. |
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Although the city has seen economic growth greater than the national average in the 21st century<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_economy/NUTS3_Tables_1-12.xls|title=NUTS3 Gross Value Added (GVA) (1995-2003) Tables|publisher=Office for National Statistics|format=xls}}<br>Data on sheet NUTS33, line 102</ref> the benefits have been uneven, with [[commuter]]s from the surrounding area obtaining many of the more skilled jobs. The two parliamentary constituencies with the highest unemployment rates in the UK - [[Birmingham Ladywood (UK Parliament constituency)|Ladywood]] and [[Birmingham Sparkbrook and Small Heath (UK Parliament constituency)|Sparkbrook and Small Heath]] - are both in inner-city Birmingham.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_labour/PCAtables.xls|title=Local area labour markets: statistical indicators - Parliamentary Constituency tables (Unemployment Rate January 2005 to December 2005)|publisher=Office for National Statistics|format=xls}}</ref> Growth has also added to stresses on the city's transport. Many major roads and the central [[Birmingham New Street Station|New Street railway station]] operate over capacity at peak times. |
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==Politics== |
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{{main|Government of Birmingham}} |
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[[Image:Birmingham Council House.jpg|left|thumb|[[Council House, Birmingham|Birmingham City Council House]]]] |
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[[Government of Birmingham|Birmingham City Council]] is the largest local authority in the [[United Kingdom|UK]] and the largest council in [[Europe]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.businessobjects.com/company/customers/spotlight/birmingham.asp|title=Birmingham City Council|publisher=Business Objects Customers}}<br>Statement under "Local Service Management Devolved to the Districts"</ref> It has 120 [[councillor]]s representing 40 [[ward (politics)|wards]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=6148&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=581| title=Constituencies and Wards|publisher=Birmingham.gov.uk}}</ref> No single party is in overall control and the council is run by a Conservative/ Liberal Democrat coalition. Birmingham's eleven [[Constituency|parliamentary constituencies]] are represented in the [[British House of Commons|House of Commons]] by one [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]], one [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrat]], one [[Clare Short|Independent Labour]] and eight [[British Labour Party|Labour]] [[Member of Parliament#British MPs|MPs]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=6157&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=580 |title=Members of Parliament|publisher=Birmingham.gov.uk}}</ref> |
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Birmingham City Council operates all aspects of the city's workings through it planning and leisure services. The council deals with all planning applications as well as adding designations for [[listed building|locally listed buildings]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=3260&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=1676| title=What is a locally listed building?|publisher=Birmingham.gov.uk}}</ref> |
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Law enforcement in Birmingham is carried out by the [[West Midlands Police]], fire and rescue by the [[West Midlands Fire Service]] and ambulatory care by the [[West Midlands Ambulance Service]]. Birmingham is also the seat of the [[Regions of England|Government Office]] for the [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands region]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=3108&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=1453 |title=Birmingham And Regional Planning|publisher=Birmingham.gov.uk}}</ref> |
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==Transport== |
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[[Image:Curzon Street Station.jpg|right|thumb|[[Curzon Street railway station]] from the front.]] |
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{{main|Transport in Birmingham}} |
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Due in part to its inland central location, Birmingham is a major transport hub on the [[motorway]], [[rail transport|rail]], and [[canal]] networks.<ref>[http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/canals Canals in Birmingham] - Birmingham.gov.uk</ref> The city is served by a number of major motorways and probably the most famous motorway junction in the UK: [[Gravelly Hill Interchange|Spaghetti Junction]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=13241&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=5443 |title=Spaghetti Junction|publisher=Birmingham.gov.uk}}</ref> |
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Over the coming months, [[National Express]] will be moving their UK headquarters to the City, alongside the newly developed [[Digbeth Coach Station]], which forms the national hub of the company's coach network. |
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[[Birmingham International Airport (UK)|Birmingham International Airport]], located in the [[Metropolitan Borough of Solihull|Borough of Solihull]] to the east of Birmingham, is the UK's sixth largest airport, third largest for charter traffic and has the second highest proportion of business traffic, behind London Heathrow.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bhx.co.uk/page.aspx?type=T0NaZj9WNoU=&id=PGwCA0IG6ic= |title=About Birmingham International Airport|publisher=Birmingham International Airport}}</ref> |
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Local public transport is by [[bus]], local train and [[tram]]. The number 11A and 11C [[Birmingham Outer Circle|outer circle]] bus routes are the longest urban bus routes in Europe. Bus routes are mainly operated by [[Travel West Midlands]], which accounts for over 80% of all bus journeys in Birmingham, however, there are around 50 other, smaller registered bus companies.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.centro.org.uk/wwwroot/Bus/Bus%20intro.asp|title=Bus Services|publisher= Centro}}</ref> The extensive bus network allows passengers to travel to and from various districts of the city, while there are longer bus routes which take passengers to areas further afield such as [[Wolverhampton]], [[Dudley]], [[Walsall]], [[West Bromwich]], [[Halesowen]], [[Stourbridge]] and the [[Merry Hill Shopping Centre]]. The only towns in the [[West Midlands conurbation]] that currently lack a direct bus link with Birmingham are [[Tipton]], [[Sedgley]], [[Kingswinford]], [[Wednesfield]] and [[Willenhall]]. |
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The city's main railway station, [[Birmingham New Street railway station|Birmingham New Street]], is at the centre of the national railway network. [[Birmingham Snow Hill station]], another major railway station in the city centre, is also a terminus for the [[Midland Metro]] which operates between the station and [[Wolverhampton]], also serving the nearby towns of [[Bilston]], [[Wednesbury]] and [[West Bromwich]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.travelmetro.co.uk/ |title=Travelmetro.co.uk|publisher=Centro}}</ref> There are plans to extend the Midland Metro route further into Birmingham city centre.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2005/20051794.htm|title=The Midland Metro (Birmingham City Centre Extension, etc.) Order 2005|publisher=[[Office of Public Sector Information]]|year=2005}}</ref> Birmingham has a large rail-based park and ride network that feeds the city centre. |
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Birmingham is also notable for its expansive [[Transport in Birmingham#Canals|canal system]] which fed the industry in the city during the Industrial Revolution. |
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==Education== |
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[[Image:BirminghamUniversityChancellorsCourt.jpg|thumb|left|The [[University of Birmingham]]]] |
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{{main|Education in Birmingham}} |
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The city council is England's largest [[local education authority]], directly or indirectly responsible for 25 [[nursery school]]s, 328 [[primary school]]s, 77 [[secondary school]]s<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bgfl.org/services/nqt/primsec.htm|title=Birmingham City Council Primary and Secondary|publisher=Birmingham Grid for Learning (BGfL)}}</ref> and 29 [[special school]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bgfl.org/services/nqt/sen.htm|title= Birmingham City Council Special Needs Schools|publisher=Birmingham Grid for Learning (BGfL)}}</ref> It also runs the [[library]] service, with 4 million visitors annually,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=1787&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=5255 |title=Facts about Birmingham Library Service|publisher=Birmingham.gov.uk}}</ref> and provides around 4,000 [[adult education]] courses throughout the year.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/adulteducation|title=Birmingham Adult Education Service|publisher=Birmingham.gov.uk}}</ref> The main library is [[Birmingham Central Library|Central Library]] and there are 41 local libraries in Birmingham, plus a regular mobile library service.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/mobilelibrary|title=Birmingham Mobile Library Service|publisher=Birminghamm.gov.uk}}</ref> |
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Most of Birmingham's [[state school#United Kingdom|state schools]] are [[community school]]s run directly by [[Birmingham City Council]] in its role as [[local education authority]] (LEA). However, there are a large number of [[voluntary aided school|voluntary aided]] schools within the state system. [[King Edward's School, Birmingham|King Edward's School]] is perhaps the most prestigious [[independent school]] in the city. The seven schools of The King Edward VI Foundation are known nationally for setting very high academic standards and all the schools consistently achieve top positions in national league tables.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.kingedwardthesixth.org/grammar.htm|title=Grammar Schools of King Edward the Sixth|publisher=The Grammar Schools of King Edward the Sixth in Birmingham}}</ref> |
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[[Image:Matthew Boulton College.jpg|right|thumb|Matthew Boulton College of Further & Higher Education]] |
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[[Sutton Coldfield College]] merged with North Birmingham College in 2003 and Josiah Mason College in 2006 to form one of the largest further education colleges in the country.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sutcol.ac.uk|title=Sutton Coldfield College}}</ref> [[Matthew Boulton College]] is also located in the city and in 2005, the [[Eastside, Birmingham|Eastside]] branch of the college was completed and opened. Joseph Chamberlain College is the only [[sixth form college]] in Birmingham and Solihull to have been awarded both [[Beacon Status]] and an overall [[OFSTED]] grade 1 (Outstanding).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jcc.ac.uk/welcome.php|title=Joseph Chamberlain College}}</ref> |
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Birmingham is home to three [[university|universities]] and two [[university college]]s: [[Aston University]], the [[University of Birmingham]], [[Birmingham City University]], [[Newman University College]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/birminghampost/news/tm_headline=city-college-wins-right-to-grant-degrees%26method=full%26objectid=19750162%26siteid=50002-name_page.html |author=Naqvi, Shahid|title=City college wins right to grant degrees|publisher=[[Birmingham Post]]|date=[[September 7]] [[2007]]}}</ref> and [[University College Birmingham]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bcftcs.ac.uk/asp/UCB-faq.asp|title=A New Year and a new name for the College.|accessdate=2008-01-07|publisher=University College Birmingham}}</ref> The [[Birmingham Conservatoire]] and [[Birmingham School of Acting]], both now part of Birmingham City University, offer higher education in specific arts subjects. BCU opened the [[New Technology Institute]] facility in the [[Eastside, Birmingham|Eastside]] area in 2006.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/birminghampost/business/tm_method=full%26objectid=16839823%26siteid=50002-name_page.html |title=College gets new bite of Apple|publisher=[[Birmingham Post]]|date=2006-03-21}}</ref> |
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==Crime and policing== |
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[[Image:Digbeth Police Station, Birmingham.JPG|right|thumb|Digbeth Police Station]] |
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[[West Midlands Police]] serves Birmingham and the West Midlands county. The headquarters are located at Lloyd House in the city centre of Birmingham. Birmingham has been the location for many high profile incidents such as the [[31 January 2007 Birmingham raid]], [[New Year Murders]] and more historically, the [[Birmingham pub bombings]]. |
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Crime figures for 2006/ 2007 showed that Birmingham was above the English average in all fields.<ref name=crime>{{cite web|url=http://www.upmystreet.com/local/police-crime/figures/l/Birmingham.html |title=Crime figures for Birmingham|publisher=UpMyStreet}}</ref> Of the eight major cities in the country (Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester, Liverpool, Nottingham, Birmingham and Bristol), Birmingham has the lowest crime rate.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.unitedbirmingham.com/crimeinbirmingham.html|title=Crime in Birmingham|publisher=United Streets of Birmingham}}</ref> |
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In an attempt to reduce crime in the city, a Crime and Disorder Partnership has been established in the city, the largest of its kind in the country.<ref name=BCSP>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham-csp.org.uk/informationcentre/archiveddocuments/summary8.pdf|title=Birmingham's Crime & Disorder Audit - Summary for Consultation 2005|publisher=Birmingham Crime Safety Partnership|accessdate=2007-11-18|format=pdf}}</ref> The partnerships work in developing five neighbourhood based community safety projects in Birmingham was recognised when it was awarded first prize at the European Community Safety Awards in December 2004.<ref name=BCSP/> Crime rates are particularly high in areas such as [[Aston]], [[Handsworth]], [[Small Heath]] and [[Bordesley Green]].<ref name=BCSP/> |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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|+ Crime figures for 2006/ 2007 in Birmingham<ref name=crime /> |
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|- |
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! Crime |
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! Birmingham average<br>(per 1,000 of the population) |
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! Manchester average<br>(per 1,000 of the population) |
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! Bristol average<br>(per 1,000 of the population) |
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! English average<br>(per 1,000 of the population) |
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|- |
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| Violence against a person |
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| 26.3 |
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| 32.7 |
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| 32.0 |
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| 16.7 |
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|- |
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| Robbery offences |
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| 5.0 |
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| 8.3 |
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| 3.8 |
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| 1.2 |
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|- |
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| Theft of vehicle offences |
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| 5.3 |
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| 8.9 |
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| 8.1 |
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| 2.9 |
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|- |
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| Theft from vehicles |
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| 11.1 |
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| 25.5 |
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| 21.4 |
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| 7.6 |
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|- |
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| Sexual offences |
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| 1.5 |
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| 1.9 |
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| 1.8 |
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| 0.9 |
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|- |
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| Burglary |
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| 7.9 |
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| 16.5 |
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| 10.4 |
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| 4.3 |
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|} |
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==Sport== |
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[[Image:NIA, Birmingham.jpg|thumb|right|The NIA has hosted many national and international sporting championships.]] |
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{{main|Sport in Birmingham}} |
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The city has played an important part in the history of sport. It was the first city to be named National City of Sport by the [[UK Sport|Sports Council]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/sport/athletics/city-of-sport.shtml|title=Birmingham - 'The National City of Sport'|publisher=BBC Where I Live}}<br>{{cite web|url=http://www.concept2.co.uk/birc/news.php?redir=1&sid=88e4bdf04b24eb593b7be939a0f5cf49&story=birmingham |title=Birmingham: European City Of Sport|publisher=Concept2}}</ref> It is home to two of the country's oldest professional [[Football (soccer)|football]] teams: [[Aston Villa F.C.|Aston Villa]] (1874) and [[Birmingham City F.C.|Birmingham City]] (1875). Aston Villa won club football's most coveted prize, the [[European Cup]], in 1982. The [[Birmingham derby]] is an event in which the two football clubs play against each other. Aston Villa have won 41 matches as opposed to Birmingham City's 36 match wins. |
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Birmingham is home to [[Warwickshire County Cricket Club]], whose [[Edgbaston Cricket Ground|Edgbaston]] ground also hosts [[Test cricket|test matches]]. The venue was the scene of the highest ever score by a batsman, when [[Brian Lara]] scored 501 not out for Warwickshire.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thebears.co.uk/history/alumni/brianlara.shtml|title=Alumni - Brian Lara|publisher=Warwickshire County Cricket Club}}</ref> International [[athletics (track and field)|track and field]] meetings take place at [[Alexander Stadium]], the home of [[Birchfield Harriers]] which has many international athletes amongst its members. The [[National Indoor Arena]] (NIA), opened in 1991<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thenia.co.uk|title=The NIA}}</ref>, is a major indoor athletics venue, hosting the [[2007 European Athletics Indoor Championships]] and [[2003 IAAF World Indoor Championships]] as well as many [[WWE]] wrestling events. |
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The first ever game of [[lawn tennis]] was played by Major [[Harry Gem]] and his friend [[Augurio Perera]] in Edgbaston between 1859 and 1865<ref name="civic">{{cite web|url=http://www.birminghamcivicsociety.org.uk/lawntennis.htm|title=Lawn Tennis and Major T. H. Gem|publisher=Birmingham Civic Society}}</ref> and [[Association of Tennis Professionals|ATP]] international tennis is still played at Edgbaston's Priory Club.<ref>{{cite book|author=Steve Beauchampe|title=Played in Birmingham|publisher=Malavan Media|year=2006|isbn=0-9547445-1-9}}<br>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=82152&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=126 |title=Birmingham's Sporting Heritage|publisher=Birmingham.gov.uk}}</ref> Birmingham also has a professional [[Rugby Union]] side, [[Moseley Rugby Football Club|Moseley RFC]], who play at [[Billesley Common]], and there is professional [[basketball]] team, [[Birmingham Panthers]], as well as professional [[boxing]], [[field hockey|hockey]], [[skateboarding]], [[stock-car racing]], [[greyhound racing]] and [[Motorcycle speedway|speedway]] in the city. |
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==Food & drink== |
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[[Image:The Old Crown Deritend.jpg|left|thumb|The Old Crown pub in Deritend.]] |
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{{main|Food & drink in Birmingham}} |
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Birmingham based [[brewery|breweries]] included<!-- NO APOSTROPHES! --> [[Ansells]], Davenports and [[Mitchells and Butlers plc|Mitchells & Butlers]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.midlandspubs.co.uk/breweries/birmingham.htm|title=Birmingham Breweries|publisher=Midlands Pubs.co.uk}}</ref> [[Aston Manor Brewery]] is currently the only brewery of any significant size. Many fine Victorian pubs and bars can still be found across the city. The oldest inn in Birmingham is the [[The Old Crown, Birmingham|Old Crown]] in [[Deritend]] (circa 1450). The city has a plethora of nightclubs and bars, notably along Broad Street.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.broadstreetbid.com/flash/index.html|title=BID Broad Street}}</ref> |
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The [[Wing Yip]] food empire first began in the city and now has its headquarters in the [[Chinatown, Birmingham|Chinese Quarter]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/birminghampost/richlist/profiles/tm_objectid=16631720&method=full&siteid=50002&headline=taste-of-the-orient-sweet-for-wing-yip-name_page.html| title=Taste of the Orient sweet for Wing Yip|publisher=The Birmingham Post Midland Rich List 2006}}</ref> The [[Balti (food)|Balti]] was invented in the city, which has received much acclaim for the 'Balti Belt' or '[[Balti Triangle]]'.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/balti|title=The Balti Experience|publisher=Birmingham.gov.uk|accessdate=2006-12-19}}</ref> The city boasts two [[Michelin Guide|Michelin starred restaurants]]: ''Simpson's'' and ''Jessica's'', both in [[Edgbaston]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sugarvine.com/Birmingham/awards/michelin_awards.asp|title=Michelin Recommended Restaurants in Birmingham|publisher=Sugarvine}}</ref> |
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==Culture and arts== |
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{{main|Arts in Birmingham}} |
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===Arts=== |
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[[Image:Black Sabbath 1999-12-16 Stuttgart.jpg|thumb|right|[[Black Sabbath]], a pioneer band in heavy-metal music, was formed in Birmingham.]] |
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[[Image:Bullring, Birmingham (UK).jpg|thumb|[[St Martin in the Bull Ring|St Martin's Church]]]] |
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Birmingham has had a vibrant and varied musical history over the last century. In the 1960s, the "[[Brum Beat]]" era featured [[blues]] and early [[progressive rock]] bands. The city is often described as the birthplace of [[heavy metal music]],<ref>{{cite book|author=David Konow|title=Bang Your Head: The Rise and Fall of Heavy Metal|publisher=Three Rivers Press|year=2002|isbn=0-609-80732-3}}</ref> with [[Judas Priest]], [[Black Sabbath]] and most of [[Led Zeppelin]] being local. Then later on during the 80's bands such as [[Napalm Death]], joined the Birmingham heavy metal scene. In the 1970s members of [[The Move]] and The [[Idle Race]] formed the [[Electric Light Orchestra]] and [[Wizzard]]. The 1970s also saw the rise of [[reggae]] and [[ska]] in the city with such bands as [[UB40]]. Seminal 1980s pop band [[Duran Duran]] are also from Birmingham.Birmingham was also home to the music family Woodroffe. Most bands in Birmingham shopped at Woodroffe´s Musical Instruments, and Jezz Woodroffe played keyboards for Black Sabbath. Jon Woodroffe then started in 1997 Fat Man Studios, which soon became the No1 recording studio in Birmingham. |
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[[Jazz]] is popular in the city, and the annual Birmingham International Jazz Festival is the largest of its kind in the UK.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/local_events/2003/07/jazz-calendar.shtml|title=Birmingham Local Events|publisher=BBC}}</ref> Venues for the festival are also located out of Birmingham in [[Solihull]]. It was first held in 1984.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birminghamjazzfestival.com/venues.php |title=Birmingham International Jazz Festival venues|publisher=Birmingham Jazz Festival}}</ref> |
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The internationally-renowned [[City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra]]'s home venue is [[Symphony Hall (Birmingham)|Symphony Hall]]. There is a City Organist; since 1834 only seven men have held this position. The current holder, [[Thomas Trotter]], has been in post since 1983.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.patrickgarvey.com/artists/thomas-trotter.html|title=Thomas Trotter - Organ|publisher=Patrick Garvey Management}}</ref> Weekly recitals have been given since the organ in [[Birmingham Town Hall]] was opened<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=37342&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=126 |title= Birmingham Town Hall: The Organ|publisher=Birmingham.gov.uk}}</ref> but are now held in St. Philip's Cathedral, until the Town Hall organ opens in October 2007, following restoration. The [[Birmingham Royal Ballet]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=24788&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=12535#ballet|title=Birmingham Royal Ballet|publisher=Birmingham.gov.uk}}</ref> resides in the city as does the world's oldest vocational dance school, [[Elmhurst School for Dance]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.elmhurstdance.co.uk/main/WEB%20PAGES/HOME.htm|title=Elmhurst School for Dance}}{{dead link|date=December 2007}}</ref> |
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The [[Birmingham Triennial Music Festival]]s took place from 1784 to 1912. Music was specially composed, conducted or performed by [[Felix Mendelssohn|Mendelssohn]], [[Charles Gounod|Gounod]], [[Arthur Sullivan|Sullivan]], [[Antonín Dvořák|Dvořák]], [[Granville Bantock|Bantock]] and [[Edward Elgar]], who wrote four of his most famous choral pieces for Birmingham. Elgar's ''[[The Dream of Gerontius]]'' had its début performance there in 1900. Composers born in the city include [[Albert William Ketèlbey]] and [[Andrew Glover]]. |
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Birmingham's other city-centre music venues include The [[National Indoor Arena]], which was opened in 1991, the [[CBSO Centre]], opened in 1997, and the [[Adrian Boult Hall]], which was built along with [[Paradise Forum]] and [[Birmingham Central Library]], at [[Birmingham Conservatoire]]. |
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[[Image:The Rep from Broad Street, Birmingham.jpg|left|thumb|The Rep Theatre]] |
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Among the many theatres in Birmingham, the largest are the [[Alexandra Theatre, Birmingham|Alexandra]] ("the Alex"), [[Birmingham Rep|The Rep]], the [[Birmingham Hippodrome|Hippodrome]] and the [[Old Rep]]. The [[Crescent Theatre]] and [[Old Joint Stock Theatre]] are other city centre theatres. Outside of the city centre are the [[Drum Arts Centre]] (on the site of the former [[Aston Hippodrome]]) and ''[[Mac (Birmingham)|mac]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/theatres|title=Theatres in Birmingham|publisher=Birmingham.gov.uk}}</ref> The [[Fierce!]] festival collaborates with The Rep to present an annual series of performances from local and national companies. |
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[[Arts in Birmingham#Literature|Literary figures associated with Birmingham]] include [[Samuel Johnson]] who stayed in Birmingham for a short period with Birmingham Central Library holding two thousand volumes of his work. Author [[Arthur Conan Doyle]] worked in the Aston area of Birmingham whilst poet [[Louis MacNeice]] lived in Birmingham for six years. [[Washington Irving]] produced several of his most famous literary works whilst staying in Birmingham such as ''Bracebridge Hall'' and ''The Humorists, A Medley'' which are based on Aston Hall. Other authors who were born in or have resided in Birmingham include [[David Lodge (author)|David Lodge]], [[Jonathan Coe]] and [[J. R. R. Tolkien]], who is said to have been inspired by areas and buildings in the city. Influential poets associated with Birmingham include [[Roi Kwabena]], who was the city's sixth poet laureate,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=23945&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=5247 |title=About the Birmingham Poet Laureate|publisher=Birmingham.gov.uk}}</ref> and [[Benjamin Zephaniah]], who was born in the city. |
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[[Image:Birmingham Art Gallery & Museum.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery]]]] |
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[[Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery]] has one of the largest collections of [[Pre-Raphaelite]] art in the world. [[Edward Burne-Jones]] was born in Birmingham, spent his first twenty years in the city, later becoming president of the [[Royal Birmingham Society of Artists]]. The [[Barber Institute of Fine Arts]] was declared 'Gallery of the Year' by the 2004 ''Good Britain Guide''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.barber.org.uk/pr081203.html|title=Barber Institute is 'Gallery of the Year'|date=8 December 2003|publisher=Barber Institute}}</ref> The [[Ikon Gallery]] hosts displays of contemporary art. Notable local artists include [[David Cox (artist)|David Cox]], [[David Bomberg]], [[Martin John Callanan]], [[Pogus Caesar]], [[Keith Piper]] and [[Donald Rodney]]. |
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Birmingham's role as a manufacturing and printing centre has supported strong local traditions of [[graphic design]] and [[product design]]. Iconic works by Birmingham designers include the [[Baskerville]] font,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=76113&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=260 |title=John Baskerville of Birmingham|publisher=Birmingham City Council|accessdate=2007-09-29}}</ref> [[Ruskin Pottery]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geffrye-museum.org.uk/_download/CCECMYVI.pdf|title=RUSKIN POTTERY CENTENARY EXHIBITION|publisher=The Geffrye Museum, London|format=pdf|accessdate=2007-09-29}}</ref> the [[Acme Whistles|Acme Thunderer]] whistle,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.drcdurham.ca/htm/history_of_the_whistle.htm|title=History of the Whistle|publisher=District Referee Coordinator - Durham|accessdate=2007-09-29}}</ref> the art deco branding of the [[Odeon Cinemas]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://arts.guardian.co.uk/critic/feature/0,1169,717532,00.html|title=The mogul's monuments - How Oscar Deutsch's Odeon cinemas taught Britain to love modern architecture|author=Jonathan Glancey|publisher= [[The Guardian]]|date=Saturday May 18, 2002|accessdate=2007-09-29}}</ref> and the [[Mini]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.designmuseum.org/design/alec-issigonis|title=Alec Issigonis, Automotive Designer (1906-1988)|publisher=Design Museum, London|accessdate=2007-09-29}}</ref> |
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===Festivals and shows=== |
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Birmingham is home to many national, religious and spiritual festivals including a [[Saint George|St. George's Day]] party. The [[Birmingham Tattoo]] is a long-standing military show. The [[Caribbean]]-style [[Birmingham International Carnival]] takes place in odd numbered years. [[Birmingham Pride]] takes place in the gay village and attracts up to 100,000 visitors each year. Since 1997, the city has hosted an annual arts festival ''[[ArtsFest]]'', the largest free arts festival in the UK. In December 2006, the City Council announced that it would no longer hold Artsfest.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/mail/news/columnists/thestirrer/news/tm_method=full%26objectid=18192354%26siteid=50002-name_page.html |title=Will a fest by any other name smell as sweet?|publisher=icBirmingham|date=Dec 1 2006}}</ref>, but the festival ran in 2006 and 2007. The city's largest single-day event is its [[St. Patrick's Day]] parade (Europe's second largest, after the one in [[Dublin]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.anysubject.com/st-patricks-day-history-of-st-patricks-day.asp|title=History of St. Patrick's Day|publisher=AnySubject}}</ref> Other multicultural events include the Bangla Mela and the Vaisakhi Mela. The Birmingham Heritage Festival is a [[Mardi Gras]] style event in August. [[Caribbean]] and [[African culture]] are celebrated with [[parade]]s and street performances by [[busking|buskers]]. |
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Other festivals in the city include Moseley Folk Festival (since 2006), which takes place in Moseley private park and mixes new with established folk acts, the Birmingham Jazz Festival, and the Birmingham Comedy Festival (since 2001), which has been headlined by such acts as Peter Kay, The Fast Show, Jimmy Carr, Lee Evans and Lenny Henry. |
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===Media=== |
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Birmingham has two local daily newspapers - the ''[[Birmingham Post]]'' and the ''[[Birmingham Mail]]'' - as well as the ''[[Sunday Mercury]]'', all owned by the [[Trinity Mirror]] who also own What's On magazine, a fortnightly listings title which has been running for 30 years. ''Forward'' (formerly ''Birmingham Voice'') is a [[freesheet]] produced by [[Birmingham City Council]], which is distributed to homes in the city. Birmingham is also the hub for various national [[ethnic]] media and the base for two regional Metro editions (east Midlands and West Midlands). |
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[[Image:ElectricCinema.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The Electric Cinema, Station Street]] |
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Birmingham has a long cinematic history. The [[Electric Cinema]] on Station Street is the oldest working [[movie theater|cinema]] in the UK,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theelectric.co.uk/|title=The Electric Cinema website}}</ref> and [[Oscar Deutsch]] opened his first [[Odeon Cinemas|Odeon cinema]] in [[Perry Barr]] during the 1920s. Birmingham-born architect [[Harry Weedon]] collaborated with Oscar Deutsch to design over 300 cinemas across the country, most in the distinctive [[Art-Deco]] style.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Buildings Around Us |author=Thom Gorst |pages=93 |year=1995 |publisher=Taylor & Francis |isbn=0419193308}}</ref> [[Star City, Birmingham|Star City]] is said to be Europe's largest leisure and cinema complex and is not far from the Britain's only permanent drive-in cinema; both are in [[Nechells]]. An [[IMAX]] cinema is located at [[Millennium Point]] in the [[Eastside, Birmingham|Eastside]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.imax.ac/ |title= Birmingham IMAX| publisher=Thinktank |accessdate=2007-11-28}}</ref> Birmingham has also been the location for [[film]]s including ''[[Felicia's Journey]]'' of 1999, which used locations in Birmingham that were used in ''[[Take Me High]]'' of 1973 to contrast the changes in the city.<ref>{{cite book|title=Remaking Birmingham: The Visual Culture of Urban Regeneration |author=Liam Kennedy |pages=115 |year=2004 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=041528838X}}</ref> |
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As well as being the location for television dramas, Birmingham is also a national hub for television broadcasting. The [[BBC]] has two facilities in the city. [[The Mailbox]], in the city centre, is the location for the national headquarters of [[BBC English Regions]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/about.shtml|title=About Us - Information about BBC English Regions|publisher=BBC}}</ref> the headquarters of [[BBC West Midlands]] and the [[BBC Birmingham]] network production centre, which were previously located at the [[Pebble Mill Studios]] in [[Edgbaston]]. The [[BBC Drama Village]], based in [[Selly Oak]], is a production facility specialising in [[BBC television drama|television drama]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/pressoffice/pressreleases/stories/2005/05_may/09/drama_village.shtml |title=Lights, campus, action for BBC Birmingham's Television Drama Village|publisher=BBC Press Release|date=09/05/2005}}</ref> It was announced in October 2007 that BBC Birmingham was to lose 43 out of 2,500 jobs nationwide. It is also to receive the long-running emergency medical drama ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]'', which is currently produced in [[Bristol]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://icbirmingham.icnetwork.co.uk/birminghampost/business/media/tm_headline=birmingham-escapes-bbc-cull-and-gains-casualty&method=full&objectid=19977734&siteid=50002-name_page.html |title=Birmingham escapes BBC cull - and gains Casualty |publisher=[[Birmingham Post]] |author=Joanna Geary |date=2007-10-19 |accessdate=2007-11-28}}</ref> |
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The city is served by numerous national and regional radio stations, as well as local radio stations. These include [[96.4 BRMB]], [[Galaxy 102.2|Galaxy]], [[100.7 Heart FM|Heart FM]], [[Kerrang! 105.2]], [[New Style Radio 98.7FM]], [[105.7 Smooth Radio|Smooth Radio 105.7FM]] and [[BBC WM]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.radio-now.co.uk/central.htm#WM|title=Radio stations in the West Midlands|publisher=Radio Now}}</ref> ''[[The Archers]]'', the world's longest running radio soap, is recorded in Birmingham for [[BBC Radio 4]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/6124558.stm |title=The Archers airs 15,000th episode |publisher=[[BBC News]] |date=2006-11-07 |accessdate=2007-11-28}}</ref> |
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===Leisure=== |
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Two major developments have regenerated two parts of the city in recent years. [[Brindleyplace]] is a major canalside development with restaurants and office buildings along with the [[National Sea Life Centre (Birmingham)|National Sea Life Centre]]. The other development was the [[Bull Ring, Birmingham|Bullring Shopping Centre]], which replaced a previous shopping centre. [[The Mailbox]], a canalside development, features designer stores as well as offices and apartments. [[The Cube (building)|The Cube]], designed by [[MAKE Architects]] is a 17 storey mixed-use development which is under construction as part of the Mailbox masterplan. The [[National Indoor Arena]] is one of the busiest large scale sporting and entertainment venues in Europe. Outside of the city centre is [[Star City, Birmingham|Star City]] entertainment complex on the former site of [[Nechells]] Power Station.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.memonline.com/news8.html|title=Birmingham's New Leisure Complex|publisher=MEM Online News}}</ref> |
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The nightlife in Birmingham is centred mainly along [[Broad Street, Birmingham|Broad Street]] and into [[Brindleyplace]]. However, in recent years, stylish clubs and bars have started to establish themselves outside the Broad Street area. The [[Medicine Bar]] in the [[Custard Factory]], [[Digbeth Institute|The Sanctuary]], Rainbow Pub and Air are large clubs and bars in [[Digbeth]]. Near Digbeth, there are bars and club nights in areas such as the Arcadian and [[Hurst Street, Birmingham|Hurst Street]] Gay Village by the [[Chinese Quarter]]. Summer Row, [[The Mailbox]], and St Philips/Colmore Row - where once a month there is a party night held for Polish residents in Birmingham - and [[Jewellery Quarter]] also feature clubs. There are number of late night pubs in the [[Irish Quarter]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=24761&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=12535 |title=Nightlife in the City Centre|publisher=Birmingham.gov.uk}}</ref> |
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===Architecture=== |
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{{main|Architecture of Birmingham}} |
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|[[Image:Central Birmingham Skyline.jpg|thumb|right|The central portion of the skyline of Birmingham.]] |
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|[[Image:BirminghamUKcityskyline.jpg|thumb|right|Sunrise against Birmingham's skyline.]] |
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|[[Image:Nelson Statue in Birmingham.jpg|right|upright|thumb|Statue of Lord Nelson on the Portland plinth and railings surrounding it.]] |
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Today's Birmingham is chiefly a product of the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, as its real growth began with the [[Industrial Revolution]]. Consequently, relatively few buildings survive from its earlier history, and those that do are protected. There are 1,946 [[listed buildings in Birmingham]] and thirteen [[scheduled ancient monument]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/ELibrary?E_LIBRARY_ID=75&a=1083070309470 |title=Schedule of Nationally Listed Buildings of Historic Interest in Birmingham|publisher=Birmingham City Council Planning Department|format=pdf}}</ref> Birmingham City Council also operate a locally listing scheme for buildings that do not fully meet the criteria for statutorily listed status. |
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Traces of [[medieval]] Birmingham can be seen in the oldest churches, notably the original [[parish church]], [[St Martin in the Bull Ring]]. A few other buildings from the medieval and [[Tudor style|Tudor]] periods survive, among them ''The Lad In The Lane''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.pub-explorer.com/wmids/pub/ladinlaneerdington.htm|title=The Lad In The Lane, Erdington|publisher=pub-explorer.com}}</ref> and [[The Old Crown, Birmingham|''The Old Crown'']], the 15th century ''[[Saracen's Head]]'' public house and Old Grammar School in [[Kings Norton]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=2474&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=260 |title=History of Kings Norton|publisher=Birmingham.gov.uk}}</ref> and [[Blakesley Hall]]. |
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A number of [[Georgian era|Georgian]] buildings survive, including [[St Philip's Cathedral, Birmingham|St Philip's Cathedral]], [[Soho House]], [[Perrott's Folly]], the [[Birmingham Town Hall|Town Hall]] and much of [[St Paul's Square, Birmingham|St Paul's Square]]. The [[Victorian era]] saw extensive building across the city. Major civic buildings such as the [[Victoria Law Courts, Birmingham|Victoria Law Courts]] (in characteristic [[red brick and terracotta]]), the [[City of Birmingham Council House|Council House]] and the [[Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery|Museum & Art Gallery]] were constructed.<ref>{{cite book|author=Anne Baltz Rodrick|title=Self-Help and Civic Culture: Citizenship in Victorian Birmingham|year=2004|publisher=Ashgate Publishing|isbn=0754633071}}</ref> [[Cathedral of Saint Chad, Birmingham|St Chad's Cathedral]] was the first [[Roman Catholic]] cathedral to be built in the UK since the [[Reformation]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/content/articles/2007/04/05/st_chads_feature.shtml|title=Birmingham's hidden jewel|publisher=BBC Birmingham}}</ref> Across the city, the need to house the industrial workers gave rise to miles of redbrick streets and terraces, many of [[back-to-back houses]], some of which were later to become inner-city [[slum]]s.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gees.bham.ac.uk/research/cpp/membersfiles/phil/leebankabstract.pdf|title=Tower Block Modernism vs. Urban Morphology: An analysis of Lee Bank, Birmingham|author=Phil Jones|format=pdf}}</ref> |
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[[Image:Birmingham Selfridges building.jpg|thumb|left|upright|The new Selfridges building]] |
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Postwar redevelopment and anti-Victorianism resulted in the loss of dozens Victorian buildings like [[Birmingham New Street Station]], and the old Central Library.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=89806&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=10277 |title=Aerial View of New Street Station 1963|publisher=Birmingham.gov.uk}}</ref> In inner-city areas too, much Victorian housing was [[urban renewal|redeveloped]] and existing communities were relocated to [[tower block]] [[Housing estate|estates]] like [[Castle Vale]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=19750&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=1453 |title=Castle Vale|publisher=Birmingham.gov.uk}}</ref> Birmingham City Council now has an extensive tower block demolition and renovation programme. There has been a lot of construction in the city centre in recent years, including the award-winning<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.future-systems.com/company/awards.html|title=Awards|publisher=Future Systems}}</ref> [[Future Systems]]' [[Selfridges]] building in the [[Bull Ring, Birmingham|Bullring Shopping Centre]], the [[Brindleyplace]] regeneration project and the [[Millennium Point]] science and technology centre. The regeneration of Birmingham has been prompted by the [[Birmingham Redevelopment Scheme]]. |
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Highrise development has slowed since the 1970s and mainly in recent years due to enforcements imposed by the [[Civil Aviation Authority of the United Kingdom|Civil Aviation Authority]] on the heights of buildings as they could affect aircraft from the International Airport, (e.g. [[Beetham Tower, Birmingham|Beetham Tower]]).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=13971&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=1453 |title=Birmingham High Places document|publisher=Birmingham.gov.uk}}</ref> |
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===Second City=== |
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{{main|Second city of the United Kingdom}} |
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Birmingham has traditionally been regarded by many as the [[Second city of the United Kingdom]]. It is the most populous English city and has an important cultural and industrial impact on British life for centuries. |
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A 2007 poll by the [[BBC]] placed [[Manchester]] ahead of Birmingham in the category of second city of England,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/6349501.stm|title=Manchester tops second city poll|publisher=BBC News|date=10 February 2007}}</ref> but also ahead in the category of ''third'' city. Neither categories are officially sanctioned, and criteria for determining what 'second city' means are ill-defined. |
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==Notable residents== |
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[[Image:Chamberlain.jpg|thumb|left|upright|[[Joseph Chamberlain]]]] |
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{{main|List of famous residents of Birmingham, England}} |
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Birmingham has a number of notable residents from various walks of life. [[Joseph Chamberlain]], who was once mayor of Birmingham and later became an MP, and his son [[Neville Chamberlain]], who was lord mayor Birmingham and later the British Prime Minister, are two of the most well-known political figures who have lived in Birmingham. Author [[J. R. R. Tolkien]] was brought up in Birmingham with many locations in the city such as Moseley bog, Sarehole Mill and [[Perrott's Folly]] supposedly being the inspiration for various scenes in [[The Lord of the Rings]]. Writer [[W.H. Auden]] grew up in the Harborne area of the city. Entertainers who were born or who have lived in Birmingham include comedians [[Tony Hancock]] and [[Jasper Carrott]] and the actors [[Trevor Eve]] and [[Martin Shaw]]. In more recent times, [[Cat Deeley]] became a popular television presenter in the UK and USA. Birmingham has also produced a number of popular bands and musicians. [[The Streets]], [[UB40]], Editors, The Twang, Ocean Colour Scene, [[Judas Priest]], [[Black Sabbath]], [[Led Zeppelin]], [[Wizzard]] and [[Duran Duran]] were all popular bands, whilst musicians [[Jeff Lynne]], [[Ozzy Osbourne]], [[John Lodge (musician)|John Lodge]], [[Nick Mason]], [[Christine McVie]], [[Roy Wood]], [[Jamelia]], and [[Steve Winwood]] all were very successful. Other famous residents include Birmingham-historian [[Carl Chinn]] famous for his passionate love for the city; Tony award winning political playwright [[David Edgar]]; and Booker Prize winning novellist [[David Lodge]]. |
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The '[[Birmingham Walk of Stars|Walk of Stars]]', similar to the [[Hollywood Walk of Fame]], was unveiled in July 2007 to honour the famous residents of Birmingham. The first star to be placed on the walk, which is located on [[Broad Street, Birmingham|Broad Street]], was by [[Ozzy Osbourne]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.walkofstars.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/OZZY_PRESS_RELEASE.pdf|title=Ozzy Osbourne to be the first star on the Birmingham Walk of Stars|publisher=Broad Street Business Improvement District|date=17 May 2007|format=pdf}}</ref> The second star, honouring [[Jasper Carrott]], was placed in the walk in September 2007 during ''[[ArtsFest]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.jaspercarrott.com/newsshow.asp?SiteID=JAS&CatType=Page&M=2&PageID=19&NewsID=35 |title=Jasper Carrott to be the next star honoured on the Birmingham Walk Of Stars|publisher=Jasper Carrott.com|date=20 July 2007}}</ref> |
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''See also'': [http://www.birminghamcivicsociety.org.uk/plaque_intoduction.htm Blue Plaques erected by the Birmingham Civic Society]. |
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==Science and invention== |
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[[Image:Matthew Boulton.jpg|thumb|upright|right|Matthew Boulton]] |
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{{main|Science and invention in Birmingham}} |
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Birmingham has been the location for some of the most important inventions and scientific breakthroughs. Local inventions and notable firsts include: [[gas lighting]], [[Alfred Bird|custard powder]], the [[magnetron]], the first ever use of [[radiography]] in an [[Surgery operation|operation]], [[Lewis Paul]] and [[John Wyatt (inventor)|John Wyatt]]'s first [[cotton]] Roller Spinning machine and the UK's first ever [[Atrial septal defect|hole-in-the-heart]] operation, at [[Birmingham Children's Hospital]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birminghamnet.co.uk/city/facts.html|title=Facts about Birmingham|publisher=BirminghamNet}}</ref> |
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Among the city's notable scientists and inventors are [[Matthew Boulton]], proprietor of the [[Soho Foundry|Soho engineering works]], [[Sir Francis Galton]], originator of [[eugenics]] and important techniques in [[statistics]], [[Joseph Priestley]], chemist and radical and [[James Watt]], engineer and inventor who is associated with the [[steam engine]]. Many of these scientists were members of the [[Lunar Society]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.birminghamuk.com/lunarsociety.htm|title=Lunar Society|publisher=BirminghamUK}}</ref> |
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==Twin cities== |
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Birmingham's [[Town twinning|town twins]]<ref name="town twins">{{cite web|url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=8619&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=12744 |title=Partner Cities|publisher=Birmingham.gov.uk}}</ref> are: |
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{| |
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| valign="top" | |
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*{{flagicon|USA}} [[Chicago]], [[Illinois]], [[United States]] |
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*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Frankfurt]], [[Germany]] |
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*{{flagicon|China}} [[Guangzhou]], [[China]] |
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*{{flagicon|South Africa}} [[Johannesburg]], [[South Africa]] |
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| valign="top" | |
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*{{flagicon|Germany}} [[Leipzig]], [[Germany]] |
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*{{flagicon|China}} [[Nanjing]], [[China]] |
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*{{flagicon|France}} [[Lyon]], [[France]] |
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*{{flagicon|Italy}} [[Milan]], [[Italy]] |
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*{{flagicon|Pakistan}} [[Mirpur]], [[Azad Kashmir]], [[Pakistan]] - friendship agreement |
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<!--*{{flagicon|Cyprus}} [[Limassol]], [[Cyprus]] - Is this a partner city because I can find no sources confirming this. - Erebus555--> |
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|} |
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[[Birmingham, Alabama|Birmingham]], [[Alabama]], USA is named after the city and shares an industrial kinship.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.birminghamnet.com/birmingham.htm|title=Birmingham, Alabama|publisher=BirminghamNet}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
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* [[Constituent areas of Birmingham, England|Constituent areas of Birmingham]] |
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* [[Eurovision Song Contest 1998]] |
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* [[Gallery of Birmingham images]] |
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* [[Birmingham military history]] |
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* [[List of songs about Birmingham]] |
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*[http://www.theoratory.org.uk/ Birmingham Oratory] |
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[[Birmingham Redevelopment Scheme]] |
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==References== |
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{{reflist|2}} |
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{{refbegin}} |
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*{{cite book|author=Gordon E. Cherry|title=Birmingham A Study in Geography, History and Planning|year=1994|isbn=0-471-94900-0}} |
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*{{cite book|author=Canon Doctor Terry Slater|authorlink=Terry Slater|title=A History of Warwickshire|year=1981|isbn=0-85033-416-0}} |
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*{{cite book|author=Johnathan Berg|title=Positively Birmingham|year=1994|isbn=0-9523179-0-7}} |
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*{{cite book|author=A. J. Gerard|coauthors=[[Canon Doctor Terry Slater]]|title=Managing a Conurbation: Birmingham and its Region|year=1996|isbn=1-85858-083-8}} |
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{{refend}} |
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==External links== |
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{{sisterlinks|Birmingham}} |
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* [http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/ Birmingham City Council] |
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* [http://www.birminghamcivicsociety.org.uk/ The Birmingham Civic Society] |
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* [http://www.madeinbirmingham.org/ Birmingham's Industrial History Website] |
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* [http://www.imagesofbirmingham.co.uk/ Images of Birmingham Photo Library] - A photo library of Birmingham |
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* [http://www.birminghamtheatreguide.com/ Birmigham Theatre Guide] - Comprehensive guide to Birmingham theatres |
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* [http://www.virtualbrum.co.uk/index.htm Virtualbrum.co.uk] - photographs and information |
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* [http://www.oldstratforduponavon.com/birmingham Views of Birmingham in Old Postcards] |
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* [http://www.talklikeabrummie.co.uk/ Talk Like A Brummie] - A wiki-based Birmingham dialect dictionary. |
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* [http://www.birminghamstories.co.uk/index.php Birmingham Stories] - Birmingham's past and the inventions from the city |
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* [http://www.myspace.com/brumbeat Brumbeat Birmingham's Music] - A guide to the city's musicians past and present. |
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* [http://www.madeinbirmingham.org/ Made in Birmingham - Birmingham's Industrial History Website] |
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* [http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/14472 Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham], a circa 1885 "''history and guide, containing thousands of dates and references to matters of interest connected with the past and present history of the town''", from [[Project Gutenberg]]. |
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* [http://www.bham.de/index_synchro.html Birmingham timeline] |
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* [http://www.birminghamconservationtrust.org/ Birmingham Conservation Trust] |
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* [http://www.wowbirmingham.co.uk/ What's On magazine (Birmingham)] |
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*{{wikitravel|Birmingham (England)|Birmingham}} |
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* [http://www.earthinpictures.com/world/great_britain/birmingham/ Birmingham facts and photography] |
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*[http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_economy/RegionalGVA.pdf Westmidlands connurbation GDP] |
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* [http://www.birminghamairport.info/ Birmingham International Airport Guide] |
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{{City of Birmingham}} |
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{{Areas of Birmingham}} |
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{{Districts of Birmingham}} |
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{{West Midlands County}} |
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{{West_Midlands}} |
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{{UK cities}} |
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{{LargestUKCities}} |
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[[Category:Birmingham, England| ]] |
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[[Category:Settlements established in the 6th century]] |
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[[Category:Cities in England]] |
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[[Category:Metropolitan boroughs]] |
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[[Category:Settlements on the A38 road]] |
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Revision as of 23:46, 29 February 2008
FUCKING SCABS!