! The World in BIRMINGHAM
CONTENTS History & Landmarks People & Communities! This book was made by children and parents/carers as a community event in Birmingham Central Library on 21st February 2014. It was made with support from Jackie Zammit and Rob Bowden of Lifeworlds Learning (www.lifeworldslearning.co.uk) Music and the Arts Science & Technology
History & Landmarks Symphony Hall is part of the International Convention Centre (ICC) and opened in 1991. It has 2200 seats and is built on rubber cushions to stop the noise of trains. Birmingham has a long and fascinating history. The city has many landmarks that tell its story and many of these can still be seen today. BT Tower (left) was built between 1983 and 1965. It is 26 storeys high. In 2003 it was painted blue. In 2004 they put lights on it so you can see it at night. It has two peregrine falcons that live there. The Bull Ring The Bull Ring is a shopping cente in the middle of Birmingham and one of its most famous landmarks. It has been the city s historic market centre since 1166. It was started by Peter de Birmingham to attract people to come and trade. It has changed many times over the years as the old (left) and new (right) pictures show below. The first statue in Birmingham was of Admiral Lord Nelson (1758-1805). The bronze statue replaced the Market Cross and provided a new feature in the Bull Ring. Today, the Bull Ring has over 140 shops and over 8000 people work there. More than half a million pounds a day is spent in the bullring! The bronze bull at the Bull Ring weighs 5 tonnes! Spaghetti Junction known as Gravelly Hill Interchange a loop of roads which linked Birmingham to the M6. It was opened in 1972. Chocolate Travel One of the things Birmingham is most famous for is chocolate! It is the home of Cadbury s which was first started by the Cadbury family in Birmingham over 200 years ago and is now sold all over the world. In 1824, John Cadbury opened a grocer s shop at 93 Bull Street, Birmingham. Among other things, he sold cocoa and drinking chocolate, which he prepared himself using a pestle and mortar. The pestle and mortar was used to grind cocoa beans and other ingredients by hand to create delicious cadburys chocolate. Cabury s chocolate is still made in Birmingham today and you can visit the factory to delve into the fascinating history and find interesting facts on subjects including advertising, the Cadbury family, and past and present products. You can find out much more at www.cadbury.co.uk
People & Communities Food Different cultures have each brought their own foods to Birmingham. This means there are many different types of food in the city. Certain religions have to have certain foods like Muslims will not eat pork for example. Some of the foods that have come from other places with people are now very famous like Indian food and especially the Balti (left). Birmingham is home to around 1,125,655 people and is one of the largest cities in the UK. The people of Birmingham are from many different cultures with a mix of religions and lanuages. Major Religions Christianity is the religion of Christians. They believe in one God who they call the Father. Jesus Christ is recognised to be the Son of God who was sent to save mankind from death and sin. Christians place of worship is a church such as St.Pauls Cathedral in Birmingham. Islam is the religion of Muslims. They believe in one God (Allah) and the Prophets who conveyed the message of Allah. There are five pillars of Islam: The belief in one God, 5 daily prayers, Zakat/charity, Fasting, and Pilgrim to Mecca/Hajj. Mulims pray in a mosque (left) and at home. Some mosques you can eat in. Sikism is one of the worlds youngest religions being founded around 500 years ago. Despite being so young, it is the fifth largest religion in the world. It was revealed to Ghuru Nanak over 500 years ago in the Punjab, the Sikh homeland in south Asia. Different religions in Birmingham. Sikh 2.9% Hindu 2.0% Other 0.9% None stated 8.4% None 12.4% Christian 59.1% Muslim 14.3% A Sikh Temple in Birmingham Hinduism believes in a great spirit beyond the world. They call this spirit Brahman. Hindus believe in one God but worship many gods and goddesses who show Brahman s different forms and qualities. Hindus worship in a place called a Mandir. The Balti Triangle is a part of Birmingham with approximately 50 restaurants and take aways. Whether to taste a curry or not a visit to Birmingham s Balti Triangle has been listed in the Rough Guide s 25 things to do in Britain before you die. Some other foods from different cultures that you can find in Birmingham: Kebabs (Turkey) Birmingham has 101 languages including: English Punjabi Polish Arabic Urdu Somali Romanian French German Pizza (Italy) Duck Pancakes (China)
Music and the Arts Birmingham has something to offer for everyone. From music to dance, theatre or art, the culture of Birmingham has it all. The City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) was founded by Neville Chamberlain in 1920, but became famous around the world when conductor Simon Rattle took over in 1980. It plays in Symphony hall and practises in the CBSO centre. There is also a CBSO Youth Orchestra. Theatre Home to several theatres, Birmingham offers a diverse programme of shows, from damily entertainment such as Julia Donaldson s The Gruffalo at the Town Hall to plays and muscials at the Alex or issue-based drama for young people at the Rep (right). Big stars perform at the Hippodrome for the annual pantomime. Museums & Galleries Birmingham is well known for its wide range of museums and art galleries. Thinktank at Millennium Point is a museum with information about transport, technology and the human body. There is even a talking robot! Music There are many famous singers and rock bands from Birmingham including Black Sabbath (above) Duran Duran, UB40, Ocean Colour Scene, and Led Zeppelin. Black Sabbath were one of the biggest heavy metal bands in the world. Their biggest hit was Paranoid which reached no. 4 on the UK charts in 1970. Dance Birmingham is home to the International Dance Festival every 2 years - a whole month of world premieres, unique collaborations, community events, outdoor spectacles and world-class performances. Sarehole Mill (below) is one of two surviving water mills in Birmingham. It is also where the author JRR Tolkein grew up and it is where he based the Shire from Lord of the Rings on. The Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery is the biggest museum in Birmingham. They often put on exhibitions like Aztecs, Dinosaurs and Egyptians. Duran Duran were one of the most successful bands of the 1980s and sold over one million records. They have won two Grammy and BRIT awards. Famous acts from Birmingham include Jasper Carrot, Duran Duran and UB40
The Car Industry Science and Technology The manufacturing of transport especially cars in Birmingham developed over a period of time. The British Small Arms Company (BSA) started making bicycles in the 1880 s and by the 1920 s it was producing motorcycles and Daimler cars. Birmingham has been home to many inventions and many industries, using various technologies over the years. Some of its best known industries include car building, brewing, silversmiths, gunsmith, bicycles, and food production (especially chocolate!) In 1905 Herbert Austin who originally worked for the Wolsey Sheep shearing Company (which also made motors) set up his own car manufacturing company which was called the Austin Motor Company in an old tin printing works at Longbridge. The Lunar Society Members of the Lunar Society (1766-1809) met at Soho House in Handsworth once a month, at the time of the full moon. The Lunar Society brought together great engineers, scientists businesssmen and inventors. They had lots of ideas and they were very clever. The three men (below) who began the Lunar Society were Matthew Boulton, James Watt and William Murdoch. Boulton and Watt designed and manufactured steam engines. Boulton is also known as the father of the Birmingham. In 1906 he tested the first Austin car, a 25/30 hp with rudimentary bodywork. In World War the factory made aircraft and military vehicles. In 1922 the factory produced the Austin Seven and by 1936 Longbridge was a dominant force in the British Motor Industry. In the 1950 s many of the small car companies joined together to make bigger vehicle manufacturers and in 1952 Austin, Morris, MG, Riley and Wolsey became the British Motor Corporation and in 1968 become British Leyland. The best known car still being built in Birmingham today are Jaguar, Landrover and MG. The Brewing Industry Birmingham was once known to be one of the biggest beer producers in the world and has housed Ansells, Davenports and Mitchells and Butler Breweries. Davenports Brewery in Sandy mount Road Birmingham has been making beer since 1899. Soho house (above) and a statue of the Lunar Society founders that stands outside of the Birmingham Central Library. Landrovers being made (above) in a state of the art modern factory in Solihull, Birmingham.
Brilliant Birmingham This book is full of exciting facts about Birmingham. If you re feeling brainy and want to catch your friend or family out you could test them with a quiz. In this book you will find out all about Birmingham s past, present and future. If you are a chocolate fan you can learn all about the history of chocolate. This book includes art, music, people, food, religion, technology and science. We hope you will enjoy this book and we all had FUN making it. ENJOY!!!