Bennetts Hill
 View of Bennetts Hill from New Street | |
| Length | 0.1 mi (0.2 km) |
|---|---|
| Location | Birmingham, England |
| Postal code | B2 |
| Coordinates | 52°28′47.93″N 1°54′1.30″W / 52.4799806°N 1.9003611°WCoordinates: 52°28′47.93″N 1°54′1.30″W / 52.4799806°N 1.9003611°W |
Bennetts Hill is a street in the Core area of Birmingham City Centre, United Kingdom. It runs from New Street, uphill to Colmore Row, crossing Waterloo Street in the process. It is within the Colmore Row conservation area.[1]
History
Bennetts Hill was created as part of the 19th-century Inge estate development.[2] No. 11 Bennetts Hill is notable for being the birthplace of artist Edward Burne-Jones in 1855. There is a blue plaque commemorating his birth. David Barnett and Samuel Neustadt shared the neighbouring house, No. 10 Bennetts Hill. They were both Jewish jewellery merchants.
As a child young Edward Burne-Jones played with the children next door. Young Edward shared entertainments with the neighbouring family and even took part in Jewish festivals. For the Purim festival, Edward arrived early and wore disguises as the other children did.
Another person who lived on Bennetts Hill was John Pemberton, the developer of the Priory Estate which included Old Square in Birmingham. He lived on Bennetts Hill prior to its development in the 19th century.
Architecture
Bennetts Hill has buildings in a mix of architectural styes, many of which were constructed in the 20th century, although some 19th-century structures remain. The crossroads with Waterloo Street has "fine Victorian and Edwardian buildings on each corner, a unique survival".[3]
Southern section
- West side
- No. 13 is a stucco-fronted building constructed in 1823 and thought to have been designed by Charles Edge.[2]
- Nos. 11–12 were demolished to make way for the Scottish Widows Building, which was constructed between 1930 and 1931. It was designed by E. C. Bewlay.[2]
- Nos. 9-10, the Sun Building, designed by S. N. Cooke with a sun emblem and lettering by William Bloye and constructed between 1927 and 1928.[2][4]
- East side
- No. 21 was constructed by Horton's Estate between 1933 and 1934 and was designed by W. S. Clements.[2]
- Nos. 23–24 were designed by E. Bower Norris in 1961 in the Neo-Georgian style.[2]
- No. 25 is a Riley & Smith design, built in 1926 and 1927 for the Commercial Union Assurance.[2]
Junction with Waterloo Street
- South-west corner
- No. 8 Bennetts Hill/11–12 Waterloo Street: the former National Provincial Bank of England; now the "Lost & Found" bar and restaurant. A Grade II* listed building,[5] built in 1869–70 to designs by John Gibson (with porch dome and sculptures and a roof-top early coat of arms of Birmingham by S. F. Lynn).[3][4]
- South-east corner
- The former Birmingham Banking Company building; later Midland Bank; now the "Cosy Club". Built in 1830–31 to neoclassical designs by Thomas Rickman and Henry Hutchinson; with additions, notably the rounded corner linking the two porticoes, supplied by Yeoville Thomason in 1877. An extension at no. 33 Bennetts Hill was designed by Harris & Martin in 1881–4.[6]
- North-west corner
- A block in French Renaissance style, built in c.1872 for the Inland Revenue. Now "Viva Brazil" restaurant.[3]
- North-east corner
- The former Parr's Bank, built in 1904 to designs by Cossins, Peacock & Bewlay; with later additions.[6]
Northern section
- West side
- Nos. 6 and 7–10 feature windows in recessed panels, typical of Charles Edge, although it is unknown if he was the architect. The shop frontages survived the Waterloo Court development in 1976, although the structures behind them were demolished.[7]
- East side
- Nos. 37–38 are two office buildings of around 1860, standing on part of the grounds of the demolished Bennetts Hill House. No. 37 is believed to be the work of Edward Holmes.[8]
See also
References
- ↑ "Colmore Row and Environs Conservation Area". Birmingham City Council. Archived from the original on 2007-09-17. Retrieved 2007-10-13.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Foster 2005, pp. 84–5.
- 1 2 3 Foster 2005, p. 127.
- 1 2 Noszlopy, George T. (1998). Public Sculpture of Birmingham including Sutton Coldfield. David. ISBN 0-85323-692-5.
- ↑ Historic England. "National Provincial Bank (Grade II*) (1291206)". National Heritage List for England.
- 1 2 Foster 2005, pp. 127–8.
- ↑ Foster 2005, pp. 85, 126.
- ↑ Foster 2005, pp. 85, 125.
Further reading
- Foster, Andy (2005). Birmingham. Pevsner Architectural Guides. New Haven: Yale University Press. pp. 84–5, 127–8. ISBN 0-300-10731-5.
External links
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