Medieval Birmingham

[Paul]

Birmingham in the 14th century diorama
http://birminghammag.posterous.com/tag/birmingham

[Yankeepedlar01]

I shall have to get to see this exhibition in due course, it looks inspiring on all sorts of levels.

[Arlequín]

It's a very impressive looking display and they seem to have gone to great lengths with the background info. 

I don't know why they don't use its original name Bromwichham or Bromedgham ('Brummagem' as it's known where I come from) though... although they do use 'Brum' in the write-up. It's not like anyone living remembers its reputation for producing counterfeit money, shoddy goods, tawdry gewgaws, or the poor workmanship of its furniture (due to the use of 'Brummie screwdrivers', i.e. hammers), all of which prompted the name change to 'Birmingham' at Matthew Boulton's urging in the first place.

[Brummie]

BRUMMIE, and PROUD!

Looks interesting though.

[joroas]

I'm certain I saw my mom in that diorama, looking at the material stall in St Martin's Market....... I remember those days only too well..... 

[Brummie Thug]

Another Brummie thats proud! 

[Mr.J]

That looks great! I love exhibits like that.

[Poiter50]

First thing my partner said was "Is there a Bull Ring?". 

[joroas]

Yes, you can see the bulls being herded towards the ring by the very overweight herdsman, whose Latin nickname, I am given to understand, was Rotunda.

[Arlequín]

Ribbing apart, I had the pleasure of walking the streets (erm... oh well my dark secret is out) of Birmingham for two years and it's quite apparent, when you look at the model, how the modern city still follows the original plan, apart from the ring road and shopping centre obviously. The rivers and streams still exist btw, the Rea emerges from underground at Floodgate St and a couple of its tributaries were built into the storm drainage system.

[joroas]

Even when Prince Rupert attacked in the ECW, the town had only meandered down Digbeth..............

[Arlequín]

There must have been another village nearby, as the Old Crown dates from the 14th Century and that's on the edge of Deritend... or part of Aston parish, whichever way you look at it, which was the other side of the river.

[joroas]

Aston was bigger than Birmingham and still has the Tudor manor house to show for it.

[Brummie]

Aston was bigger than Birmingham and still has the Tudor manor house to show for it.

Pffffft, I sense jealousy.

[Arlequín]

I thought it was a villa, not a manor?