The Eagle & Tun: HS2 calls it time to sadly knock this historic pub down

The Eagle & Tun in the current building has been on the corner site of New Canal Street and Banbury Street for 120 years. Built to a design from James & Lister Lea in 1900. In 2020 the current licence comes to an end, as HS2 wants to knock this historic pub down to make way for the proposed station. Had a few hours there with the Brumtography Facebook group created by Karl Newton.

Out of the blue, Birmingham We Are person with passion Karl Newton, over on Facebook set up a new group called Brumtography. And he invited members to go to The Eagle & Tun on Saturday 11th January 2020 from about 3pm to 6pm. I got there by 2:30pm, and we left by 5:30pm. We had plenty of time to take photos of the inside of this historic pub.

The pub was designed and built in 1900 (had been another pub on this site) by James & Lister Lea. The pub was made famous in the 1980s, as UB40 shot a music video here for their single Red Red Wine.  It was also used as the cover of the UB40 Best Of album. More recently Ed Sheeran popped by the pub.

It was closed and boarded up from about 2008 until the new landlords bought and reopened it in 2016. A nice Indian couple and their son.

I met up with Karl around here. Lots of old looking tables and chairs. Bar to the left. Window on the right was smashed and had a wooden board covering the damage.

Near the entrance. The bar to the left. Lots of musical instruments were near the top of the walls but below the ceiling.

I wonder where they got all of these musical instruments from?

View of the bar from near where we were sitting / met up.

Into the Pool Room. The pool table, the landlord later lit up the fire.

Saw lots of old looking Roman or Greek pictures on the walls around here.

A pair of gaming machines. The tiles looked quite interesting, they could be saved and go to an interested museum?

Bottles behind the bar. Many drinks to be had here.

Beer pumps from Red Fang, 3D Beer Cisco Steam, Twisted Wheel Brew Co and Pitchfork.

Another look at the bar curving round close to the way in. Door to the back leads to the pool room.

If you left the pool room from this side, this would be the view, near the bar.

Mint Julep and Dixie Beer. Wine glasses and bottles, instruments all around.

Behind the bar. The landlord had a box of really old cameras that he needed to sell.

Another view of what was behind the bar.

Back of the beer pumps. The landlord and landlady pour your beer or lager here.

Was getting dark outside, final curtains on this historic bar. What can be saved?

After we left, we took several photos of the exterior of The Eagle & Tun, after dark. It was also raining. This from Banbury Street. HS2 have put barriers up, so the opposite pavement was closed.

They have coloured lights that change colours on the first floor. Was a lot of passing traffic on New Canal Street.

Could see passing trains go past behind the pub. It will be sad to see this 120 year old pub knocked down. Is there no way to move it brick by brick to somewhere else in the city? Don't go the way of the doomed Fox & Grapes on Park Street. Only The Woodman will remain open, and probably survive the possible building of the HS2 Birmingham terminus station at Curzon Street.

The pub sign of The Eagle & Tun is one thing that hasn't changed. Although at one point a previous landlord renamed the pub as The Cauliflower Ear! But thankfully it was later changed back.

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

The PwC Partners Opening of One Chamberlain Square - 19th December 2019

Daniel was delighted to attend the PwC Partners Opening and tour of the completed One Chamberlain Square where he collected his copy of the book 'One Chamberlain Square - Everything is Possible' containing his photos of the construction of this iconic addittion to the city centre. Great photos of the astounding interior in this gallery. Thanks to Matt Hammond, Chair, PwC Midlands.

Wordsmith Casey Bailey recites his poem about the Midlands, now on the wall at One Chamberlain Square.

Casey Bailey, Matt Hammond and Daniel Sturley.

One of the many 'Living Walls', moss that gives out a significant amount of oxygen.

Booth for private phone calls.

Photos by Daniel Sturley

Birmingham's Hidden Spaces: A look around St Martin's Church (September 2015)

It was September 2015 and Birmingham Heritage Week. Mainly popped into St Martin's Church at the Bullring for The Big Hoot's Little Hoot, but also got these shots. May have also been to do with Birmingham's Hidden Spaces. The visit on the 12th September 2015. Stained glass windows, the Alabaster Tomb and more!

The main reason for this visit was at the time there was various small painted owls inside of St Martin's Church that were part of The Big Hoot's Little Hoot. The trail accompanying The Big Hoot Birmingham 2015 trail. July to September 2015. So this was before the owls were removed and auctioned off for charity.

Here though we will look around the church from the inside.

First look at a pair of stained glass windows. One of these was designed by Edward Burne-Jones and made by William Morris (the window in the south transept).

The next stained glass window close to several memorials on the wall.

The walls around this stained glass window came out dark.

This stained glass window above some stone scultural details.

A bunch of pink flowers with a fan behind (elephant on it). Below is a weaved basket holding the flowers. With white flowers seen below.

This is The Alabaster Tomb.

This is an effigy of Sir John de Bermingham, probably early 15th century. Sir John was a knight who fought in the wars of France from 1373 until his death in 1393. Close inspection of this tomb reveals tiny patches of ancient colouring on the sword belt and on the coat of mail.

Close up of Sir John de Birmingham. Still looking like a Knight after 630 years.

The organ pipes.

WW1 war memorial (1914 - 1918). For the fallen of The Royal Warwickshire Regiment. either side was a pair of Little Hoot owls. Tawney on the left (by King Edward VI Five Ways School), and When I Grow Up on the right (by King Edward VI Camp Hill School for Boys).

Stone arches holding up the left side of the church.

Interesting looking carved wooden details towards the wooden doors with glass windows.

Plaque on the wall. On Wednesday 23rd March 1887 the St Martin's Society of Change Ringers rung the bells on the visit of Her Majesty Queen Victoria on the occasion of the laying of the foundation stone of the Victoria Law Courts (on Corporation Street). The Mayor of Birmingham at the time was Thomas Martineau.

In this room was this centre table with lit candles. You can see that plaque behind.

This wooden carved entrance ways leading to a modern revolving door.

The wooden arched ceiling. Holding up both walls of the church.

Some art on this wall. Looks like ghostly crosses to me.

This leads to the churches cafe. Never been in myself. Was probably rebuilt in the early 2000s when the modern Bullring was built.

A waterfall on these metal table things.

Another bunch of flowers on a curvy yellow and orange base. Near the metal waterfall thing. And one of The Little Hoot owls.

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

Birmingham, St Martin's Square in the Bullring - December 2019

St Martin's Square is at the heart of the Bullring shopping centre hosting St Martin in the Bullring (St Martin's Church), the Selfridges Building, many restaurants, the south entrance to the Bullring shopping centre, and the gateway to the Birmingham Markets and Digbeth. Also there are the 'Copper Tree' and the Birmingham Blitz Memorial.

Photos by Daniel Sturley

The Construction of Bank Tower Two - November 2019

Bank Tower Two is complete with just the fitout of the ground level retail spaces to go. A dull misty day for these photos but some interesting perspectives and angles.

Photos by Daniel Sturley