Birmingham Back to Backs

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Birmingham Back to Backs at 50–54 Inge Street and 55–63 Hurst Street are the last surviving court of back-to-back houses in Birmingham, England, now operated as a museum by the National Trust.

Built in the 1820s, they are examples of the thousands of similar houses that were built, literally back to back, around courtyards, for the rapidly increasing population of Britain's expanding industrial towns.

The Birmingham Back to Backs were restored by the Birmingham Conservation Trust, and opened to the public in 2004. Each of the four houses is decorated and furnished as if in a different era; from 1840s to the 1970s. Visits are by pre-booked, timed guided tours only.

Their restoration was the subject of a five-part documentary by Carlton Television. They are now Grade II listed buildings.

[edit] External links

• Birmingham Back to Backs information at the National Trust
• Birmingham CT pages
• Images of England — photograph and details from listed building text
• BBC 360degree panorama of courtyard