Tag Archives: Birmingham

Beneath a Concrete Sky – to Gravelly Hill Interchange by canal

Posted on May 30, 2018 by

Where’s Birmingham river? Sunk. Which river was it? Two. More or Less.  Birmingham River Roy Fisher The idea was to follow the Birmingham canal system north to Spaghetti Junction. I had already traversed the city by means of the Grand … Continue reading →

Posted in Cities, Human Geography, Midlands, Walking, wildlife | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Ladywood: Two Towers and a Reservoir

Posted on February 4, 2017 by

It had been many years since I had been to Ladywood. This inner city borough of Birmingham had long been a mythic landscape for me even before I became aware of any sort of Tolkein connection. It was here that … Continue reading →

Posted in Cities, History, Midlands, Walking | Tagged , , , , , , | 8 Comments

Birmingham Edgelands Part 2

Posted on October 10, 2015 by

Edgelands are not necessarily always on the urban edge. Not physically anyway – the important thing is they are perceived as different from the zones that lay beyond. Neither strictly urban nor rural but an overlooked amalgam of the two … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Human Geography, Midlands | Tagged , , , , | 5 Comments

Birmingham Edgelands Part 1

Posted on September 16, 2015 by

Some cities draw you straight in from their edges by dint of gravity or beckoning pathways – officially designated walking routes or desire roads shaped by regular footfall. Not so Birmingham: here the momentum at the city’s outer limits is … Continue reading →

Posted in Cities, Human Geography, Midlands | Tagged , , , , , | 8 Comments

Digbeth

Posted on June 21, 2015 by

Passing through Birmingham recently I had a little time on my hands and so decided to visit the Digbeth area, a shortish walk from New Street Station. Head south from the futuristic silver button bulwark that is the Selfridges building … Continue reading →

Posted in Cities, History | Tagged , , , , , , | 9 Comments