Birmingham Historical Buildings Tour (Self Guided), Birmingham

Although existent as a settlement since the early 7th century AD, Birmingham, UK is a relatively young city that has grown rapidly, as a result of the Industrial Revolution, from the 18th century onward. Thus, the local architecture is overwhelmingly a product of the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, with little survived from the earlier days.

Traces of the ancient settlement, dating back to 1166, were found when the church of St. Martin in the Bull Ring was built on the site of its 13th-century predecessor in 1873. Another evidence from the medieval period of Birmingham, still intact, is The Old Crown in Deritend, famously the oldest pub in the city, built in 1368 or rather between 1450 and 1500.

As Birmingham continued to expand, the increased population demanded more places of worship, which subsequently led to the construction of St. Philip's Cathedral, first built as a parish church in 1715 and converted to a cathedral in 1905.

Along with the expansion, Birmingham acquired a variety of new architectural styles, including the use of red brick and terracotta. 17 & 19 Newhall Street, popularly known as The Exchange, is a red brick and architectural terracotta edifice from that period. Victoria Law Courts, completed in 1891, also feature extensive use of terracotta on the exterior.

If you wish to learn more about these and other wonderful historic buildings in Birmingham and to hear their stories, take this self-guided walking tour.