Bull Ring Birmingham (In Old Photographs) by Patrick Baird

Low stock: 1 left

247mm x 177mm x 9mm

Pages: 143

Birmingham was granted the right to hold a market next to St Martin's Church in 1166. Over centuries the village turned into a town, the town into an industrial city - and the market (renamed the Bull Ring in the 16th century, when bullbaiting took place there) remained its bustling heart. Part of the open-air market was replaced in 1835 by an impressive market hall, which remained in use until the 1960s - roofless, as it had been gutted by a bomb in 1940. In the '60s much of central Birmingham was redeveloped. The Bull Ring was no exception, with many buildings disappearing to make way for the inner ring road. In May 1964, at the end of New Street and the High Street, the (in)famous Rotunda tower and a vast shopping centre were built - creating the largest shopping mall outside America. Today this huge site is Europe's largest city centre regeneration project, which is being undertaken by three of the UK's largest property investors who have formed The Birmingham Alliance. A new indoor market has already opened, and over 1.2 million square feet of retail space (two flagship department stores, over 100 shops) and leisure facilities will be completed by late 2003. At the development