Medieval Architecture
Little survives from Birmingham's early history as Birmingham was a small settlement situated near the River Rea in Deritend. However, there are buildings from around the 15th century that survive in the city. Some exhibit a cruck timber frame construction whilst buildings that were built later on show the onset of the use of stone and brick as the preferred construction material. There are only seven cruck-framed medieval buildings remaining in Birmingham.
It is believed that Birmingham's origins stem back to a crossing at the River Rea in modern-day Digbeth. In this area, St. Martin's Church was constructed in the centre of the Bull Ring and was Birmingham's original parish church. A church has stood on the site since the 12th century. It was extensively rebuilt to a new design by J. A. Chatwin in 1873, retaining some original walls and foundations, and inside is an effigy of Sir William de Bermingham - a medieval lord of the manor, dating from 1325, providing one of the few surviving links to Birmingham's medieval past. St Edburgha's Church in Yardley dates to the 13th century, and is another relic from this period., there is also St Laurence in Northfield. h
The oldest house in Birmingham is the Lad in the Lane public house in Bromford, Erdington, which dates to 1400 when it was used for residential purposes. Prior to the Lad in the Lane public house being dated, New Shipton Barn in Walmley was considered to be the oldest house in Birmingham, being built in 1425. Other surviving black-and-white timber buildings include The Old Crown public house in Digbeth which dates to the 15th century, although it is claimed to have existed as early as the 14th century. The Stone public house in Northfield and Stratford House (1601) in Sparkbrook are also other examples of such buildings.
Other buildings from this period include Bournbrook Hall in Bournville, Selly Manor, a Tudor manor house, Minworth Greaves, a medieval hall, the 15th century "Saracen's Head" and "Old Grammar School" in Kings Norton, Handsworth Old Town Hall, built in 1460; an example of early cruck timber frame construction, and Blakesley Hall in Yardley, which was built by Richard Smalbroke in 1590.
The 17th century saw the transition from timber frame to brick and stone construction. An early and prominent example of this in Birmingham is Aston Hall, which was completed in 1635 for Sir Thomas Holte. It was designed by John Thorpe and features the Jacobean style, which was popular amongst large buildings of this type during the 17th century.
Sutton Coldfield began to expand during the 15th, 16th and 17th centuries as a result of investment by Bishop Vesey. The architect Sir William Wilson made his impact on the streetscape in the area as well as other towns and cities throughout the country. As well as designing Four Oaks Hall for Lord Ffolliot, he also designed Moat House for him and his wife. This was completed in 1680. Four Oaks Hall no longer survives, however, Moat House remains untouched with listed building status.
Read more about this topic: Architecture Of Birmingham
Famous quotes containing the words medieval and/or architecture:
“Our medieval historians who prefer to rely as much as possible on official documents because the chronicles are unreliable, fall thereby into an occasionally dangerous error. The documents tell us little about the difference in tone which separates us from those times; they let us forget the fervent pathos of medieval life.”
—Johan Huizinga (1872–1945)
“Polarized light showed the secret architecture of bodies; and when the second-sight of the mind is opened, now one color or form or gesture, and now another, has a pungency, as if a more interior ray had been emitted, disclosing its deep holdings in the frame of things.”
—Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–1882)