Hall of Memory (Birmingham)

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The Hall of Memory in Centenary Square, Birmingham, England, designed by S.N. Cooke and W.N. Twist was erected 1922-5, by John Barnsley and Son, to commemorate the 12,320 Birmingham citizens who died in World War I.

Built directly over a filled-in canal basin of Gibson's Arm^[1] it was the first structure in an area (now occupied by Centenary Square and the International Convention Centre and Symphony Hall) purchased by the council for the creation of a grand civic scheme to include new council offices, mayor's residence, public library and concert hall. The scheme was abandoned after the arrival of World War II with only half of the planned Baskerville House having been built.

Made from Portland stone, from the Isle of Portland in Dorset, the foundation stone was laid by HRH The Prince of Wales 12 June 1923 and it was opened by Prince Arthur of Connaught on 4 July 1925 to a crowd of 30,000. Construction had cost £60,000 and was funded through public donations. The four statues around the exterior are by local artist Albert Toft. They represent the Army, Navy, Air Force and Women's Services.

The interior features three carved bas-relief plaques (155 cm x 223 cm) by William Bloye representing three tableaux: Call (departure to war), Front Line (fighting), Return (arrival home of the wounded). These bear inscriptions:

OF 150,000 WHO ANSWERED THE CALL TO ARMS 12,320 FELL: 35,000 CAME HOME DISABLED

AT THE GOING DOWN OF THE SUN IN THE MORNING WE WILL REMEMBER THEM

SEE TO IT THAT THEY SHALL NOT HAVE SUFFERED AND DIED IN VAIN +*+

The hall is a Grade II listed building.

[edit] References

• Pevsner Architectural Guides - Birmingham, Andy Foster, 2005, ISBN 0-300-10731-5
• Public Sculpture of Birmingham including Sutton Coldfield, George T. Noszlopy, edited Jeremy Beach, 1998, ISBN 0-85323-692-5
• A History of Birmingham, Chris Upton, 1993, ISBN 0-85033-870-0

[edit] External links

• Birmingham City Council page about the Hall of Memory
• Birmingham Open Guides

v • d • e Buildings in Birmingham, England Highrise (in height order): BT Tower • 10 Holloway Circus  • Chamberlain Clock Tower  • Alpha Tower  • Orion Building  • The Rotunda  • 103 Colmore Row  • Five Ways Tower  • Centre City Tower  • 1 Snow Hill Plaza  • Quayside Tower  • Colmore Gate  • The McLaren Building  • Metropolitan House  • Edgbaston House  • Post & Mail Building  • Jury's Inn Birmingham Notable lowrise: 1-7 Constitution Hill • 17 & 19 Newhall Street  • Birmingham Assay Office  • Baskerville House  • Central Library  • Council House  • Curzon Street railway station  • Great Western Arcade  • ICC  • The Mailbox  • Methodist Central Hall  • Millennium Point  • NIA  • The Old Crown  • Paradise Forum  • Birmingham Proof House  • Sarehole Mill  • Symphony Hall  • Town Hall  • Victoria Law Courts Major railway stations: Moor Street station  • New Street station  • Snow Hill station Major complexes: Brindleyplace • Bull Ring, Birmingham  • Pallasades Shopping Centre Sports venues: Alexander Stadium • Edgbaston Cricket Ground  • St. Andrews  • Villa Park List of tallest buildings and structures in Birmingham  • List of Birmingham board schools  • Listed buildings in Birmingham

Coordinates: 52°28′46.02″N, 1°54′25.31″W