New leadership team (Birmingham branch)

As many of you are aware, I recently asked for volunteers to take over the Birmingham History Network as I prepare to depart from England for Russia. I am very happy to report that quite a few volunteers came forward. Given that several people were willing to give their time and effort to run the group, it was decided to establish a new committee structure that would allow each of them to contribute. While I will remain a member of the committee until I leave the UK, I will no longer be taking an active role in the management of this particular branch of the History Network.

I would therefore ask you to welcome and congratulate our new leadership team: Emma, Lars, and Lesley. I am confident that they will not only maintain our present success but also expand our activities in new and exciting directions. They are eager to meet with you all and discuss the future of the group, so please keep your eyes peeled for a social meet-and-greet event in the next few weeks. They are open to all suggestions and recommendations about the group, so please feel free to message them with your ideas.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Claire Hackwood, the former co-organiser, for her support and contributions to the group. I am sure you will all join me in wishing her and her husband the best of luck in their new home.

Finally, I would like to thank you all for supporting the Birmingham History Network and for coming to our events. It has been an immense pleasure to see the enthusiasm and interest that the group has garnered over the last half a year and I have no doubt that our new committee will serve us well. Please be on the look out for the new events that will shortly be on offer.

With sincerest regards,

James

German history in images and artefacts (Museum tour, Berlin branch)

Let's join the public tour in the German historical museum, which gives a good overview of this awesome museum.

The tours leads through the various epochs of German history chronologically, from the Middle Ages on up to the signing of the Two Plus Four Agreement on 3 October 1990. (More details on the DHM website).

This is not a dedicated tour for our group, so we meetup in front of the museum and then join the public event. I will post details about the meeting point later on.

For this tour you have to pay the general museum admission plus 4 Euros for the tour.

I limit the spots to twenty, since I do not think that they can handle too many people in such a tour (and there will still be other people). So please only RVSP "yes" if you are really sure you can make it.

Place: Deutshces Historisches Museum, Unter den Linten 2, Berlin.

Time and date: 1245, Saturday 29th August 2015. 

Birmingham events held in July/August 2015

Pubs, Priests, and Prostitutes: a walking tour of Lichfield

On 19 June 2015, members of the Birmingham History Network partook in a walking tour of Lichfield. This tour was conducted by a volunteer guide from the Lichfield District Tourist Association. 18 members attended and positive reviews were received.

Selly Manor tour

On 9th August 2015, members of the Birmingham History Network experienced a guided tour of Selly Manor, a renovated fourteenth-century country manor now located in Bournville. The tour was conducted by an employee of Birmingham Heritage. 13 members attended and positive reviews were received.

Medieval Birmingham - a lecture by Sarah Hayes

On 22nd August, Birmingham Cathedral is offering a lecture on the medieval history of Birmingham. The talk will be given by Sarah Hayes, a curator who has been heavily involved in various Birmingham museums in recent years.

Birmingham's pre-industrial past is often neglected in favour of the dynamism and turmoil that characterised the city during England's industrial revolution. This talk should not be missed by anyone curious about Birmingham's deeper history and how it still affects our present. 

You can book tickets and find further information at the website below:

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/birmingham-cathedral-tercentenary-lecture-series-medieval-birmingham-by-sarah-hayes-tickets-14895564033?aff=eac2

Please note that this lecture has been organised by Birmingham Cathedral, not the Birmingham History Network. You need to book your own tickets (£4 pp.) through their site: this is the only way you can guarantee a place. At present, there are 28 seats remaining. Once the tickets have all gone, I will close RSVPs to the event. If you want to sell/buy tickets after this, post here and hopefully you can find a buyer/seller from among our members. 

Please go directly in to the talk when you arrive. After the talk, we will meet outside the cathedral to go for drinks and discussion in The Old Contemptimbles on Edmund Street. 

 

Date and Time: Saturday 22nd August 2015, 1400

Place: Birmingham Cathedral, Colemore Row, Birmingham.

The Real Peaky Blinders - Birmingham Group Walking Tour

"Meeting at The Old Crown on Deritend High Street. On arrival, you are welcome to have a drink and relax in area set aside exclusively for Peaky Tours. Our associate tour guide, Rosie Poklington, will talk you through a brief history of Birmingham and its growth into one of the world's greatest cities. With the use of images dating back to Victorian times, you will be able to see for yourself how the Real Peaky Blinders lived, worked and plied their trade!

From there, you will begin the walking tour where you will see the sights and transported to Victorian Britain where you will hear the rise and demise of the Real Peaky Blinders. The walking element of the tour lasts around 45 minutes to one hour (dependent on questions).

Rosie will then lead you to The Anchor Inn, a stunning Victorian public house. Here you will have the chance to taste the fine ales, including the infamous Peaky Blinder!!!"

Tickets: £12.95 pp. Please note that you MUST buy your own tickets for this event through the link below. You will need PayPal. As of writing, there are 17 tickets available.

http://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/peaky-tours-tickets-17004405635?ref=ebtnebtckt

Date and Time: Friday 3rd July 2015: 1900.

Place: The Old Crown, Deritend High Street, Digbeth, Birmingham.

Stratford-upon-Avon­ Town Walk - Birmingham event

The Birmingham History Network is happy to present its members with an opportunity to go on the Stratford upon Avon walking tour. For more information, read on:

"As you walk in William Shakespeare's footsteps from Birthplace to grave, along the historic spine of ancient Stratford, your guide will unravel the Shakespeare story.  You will see the houses connected to William Shakespeare and his family - The Birthplace, Nash's House and the site of New Place, and the beautiful Hall's Croft. If you have free time after the walk, you may wish to visit the houses and take advantage of a special discount offered to Stratford Town Walk customers (2FOR1 entry).Other highlights include the picturesque River Avon, the Royal Shakespeare Theatres, 15th century timber-framed buildings, the Guild Chapel, Shakespeare's grammar school and a visit to Holy Trinity Church.  See where William Shakespeare is buried in the Chancel and find out why there is a 'curse' on his grave.  There is a small fee to enter the Chancel (payable to the Church on the day), but the Chancel visit is optional, subject to Church opening times, and can be decided on the day.  

Discover Stratford's American connections and the unique collection of lampposts from around the world.  A tour of many cities and countries! Hear fascinating stories of fire, flood, plague, medicines to kill or cure, the origins of sayings and Stratford's history, wrapped up with a little Shakespeare."

http://www.stratfordtownwalk.co.uk/index.php?id=50

ESSENTIAL DETAILS

1) Length of the tour: 2 hours.

2) The total cost of this tour is £105 for the group: therefore, the more people who join, the cheaper it will be (i.e. 10 peole, £10.50 each - 20 people, £5.25 each). However, this means you should be sure you can come before you join up. This price will also give you a discount on some restuarants and museums in Stratford. 

3) We can have a maximum of 25 people. So again, please only join the event if you are sure you can come. 

4) If you are unsure how to get to Stratford, trains go from Birmingham Snow Hill every half an hour and take approx. 50 minutes. 

Location: Shakespeare's birthplace, Henley Street, Stratford upon Avon.

Date and Time: Saturday 9th May 2015 12:30.

Lichfield Cathedral Close tour (Birmingham branch tour)

Lichfield's Cathedral Close has a history dating back to to the 12th century, when the bishop of Lichfield created an enclosed space to defend the emerging city from outside invaders. It now contains to some of the most historical buildings in the West Midlands and Warwickshire. It is home to Lichfield Cathedral, a stunning example of English medieval Gothic architecture, and a series of eighteenth century residences and gardens, including the house of Erasmus Darwin, the grandfather of the scientist Charles Darwin. The site was the location of trauma during the English Civil Wars: as the royalists and parliamentarians struggled for control of a pivotal point in the battle for England's future, they destroyed many older buildings, leaving the scars of conflict indelibly etched on Lichfield city centre. 

The Birmingham History Network offers its members the opportunity to take a tour of this beautiful and historic area with the assistance of a professional guide provided by the Erasmus Darwin Museum. The tour will cost £2.50 per person and will begin at Erasmus Darwin House at 1330 exactly: please turn up at least 15 minutes before hand. The tour will last 90 minutes.

PLEASE NOTE: WE CAN HAVE A MAXIMUM OF 22 PEOPLE ON THIS TOUR. PLEASE ONLY SIGN UP IF YOU ARE SURE YOU CAN ATTEND. WE ALSO CANNOT ALLOW GUESTS ON THIS OCCASION, UNLESS THEY JOIN THE GROUP AND APPLY THEMSELVES.

As per usual, we will go for a drink after the tour is completed.

Date and time: Saturday 25th April 2015: 1330.

Place: Erasmus Darwin House, Beacon Street, Lichfield.