IMAGES TAKEN NEAR TO
Hospital Street, BIRMINGHAM, B19 3PY

The massive classical facade of the generating station fronts on to Summer Lane. What remains of the building appears to be used by the Big Issue magazine, but much of the site behind the facade has been redeveloped with apartment buildings. The generating station opened in 1906. It was built by Birmingham Corporation to supply its growing needs for electric power, especially for lighting and tramways. The site backed on to the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal, which was used for delivering coal to fire the generators. Grace's Guide To British Industrial History has some information here https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Summer_Lane_Generating_Station,_Birmingham . The generating station can also been seen on an aerial photo from 1921 here, towards the top of the picture http://www.britainfromabove.org.uk/image/epw005848 .

Offices for the local Passenger Transport Authority.

A taller block perpendicular to the street and to a lower block which therefore faces the street. Note the roof. It's the headquarters of Centro, "the West Midlands Passenger Transport Executive and Authority", responsible for promoting and developing public transport across the region previously covered by the West Midlands Metropolitan County Council (abolished in 1986).

This photo is best viewed in conjunction with Image], which continues the view off to the right and explains that this part of central Birmingham is characterised by clothing wholesalers. The Kentex building has a good example of a canted corner - a corner cut off by an angled wall - of a kind very common in mid-20th century commercial and industrial buildings in Birmingham. Often the entrance is located at the cant, though not in this case.

The Beacon Hill Business Centre on the corner of Henrietta Street and Hampton Street does not look like it is doing much business, though at least one of the premises appears to be occupied. This area of central Birmingham behind Snow Hill station is characterised by wholesale businesses, particularly in clothing and leather trades. The Hampton Street frontage of this building is very grand, if in a sorry state, and Beacon House is a listed building. The official listing at Heritage England dates it to 1911 by dates on the rainwater heads and commends the "luxuriant ochre terracotta dressings in Edwardian Baroque", with their swagged garlands hanging from scrolls over the keystones at each end of the facade. https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1211735?section=official-list-entry

The cafe at the corner with William Street North looks like a former public house and is a rare survivor of old Summer Lane. We are looking north, with the centre of Birmingham behind us. For more on Summer Lane see Image

Fine terracotta detail to this building Image

Built in the 1920s next to the General Hospital and backing onto the canal. For rear of building see Image

Grade II Listed Building built in 1895-6 for die-sinkers H B Sale. The fifth floor was added in the 20th century before the planning laws were tightened. The tower is a memorial to Lord Roberts of Kandahar who led a successful campaign in Afghanistan in 1879. A Syrian restaurant occupies the ground floor.