Then and Now Images - B3 Postcode

The buildings that can be seen in the upper image are, from left to right - Birmingham & Midland Institute, Norwich Union Chambers, the Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Fountain, in the background is the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery, and the building with the pillars is the Town Hall. The statue is of James Watt.
The buildings that can be seen in the lower image are, from left to right – the building with the canopy is number 3 Chamberlain Square, the shiny silver building is number 1 Chamberlain Square, and the building with the pillars is the Town Hall.
Upper Image: Author - John Ball, Copyright - John Ball.
Upper Image Date: 1964.
Lower Image Date: 27/05/2026.

Birmingham Town Hall and Victoria Square - as viewed from Colmore Row, Birmingham City Council House is on the right.
Upper Image: Author, and copyright status not known.
Upper Image Date: Not Known, perhaps late 40's/early 50's.
Lower Image Date: 08/09/2021.

Eden Place – As viewed from Edmund Street. Old Ordinance Survey maps show that it wasn’t a road, but a passage that connected Colmore Row with Edmund Street, it appeared at the same time as the building of the Council House and the Museum & Art Gallery between the years 1874 - 1879.
On the right is the Museum & Art Gallery, with the Council House at the other end of the passage.
In the lower image the telephone boxes (K6 design) are no longer in use for telecommunication, but they can be rented for business. The newer office building on the left has been designed to complement the building style of the immediate area.
Upper Image: Author - John Ball, Copyright - John Ball.
Upper Image Date: 1963.
Lower Image Date: 08/06/2026.

Looking Towards The Council House From Waterloo Street - Christ Church (CofE) once occupied the land that is on the left, that was demolished in 1899, the building that can be seen in the upper part of the image was built in 1900, and in 1970, that too was demolished.
This building had Colmore Row on one side, New Street on the other, and this rear section being on Waterloo Street and continuing down Christchurch Passage. The front of the building was known as ‘Galloways Corner’, that wasn’t its official name, it was coined because the largest, and the most prominent shop was a retailer called Galloways, they sold cameras and photographic accessories.
Upper Image: Author, and copyright status not known.
Upper Image Date: Not Known.
Lower Image Date: 08/04/2026.

Church Street, as viewed from Colmore Row.
In the upper image, the building that is partially obscured by the lamp post is the former Birmingham and Midland Eye Hospital, it was built in 1884, and closed in 1996. In 2001 the building was repurposed, and opened as Hotel Du Vin.
Upper Image: Author - John Ball, Copyright - John Ball.
Upper Image Date: 1963.
Lower Image Date: 09/05/2026.

Newhall Street, as viewed from Colmore Row.
In the upper image, the building on the left was demolished to make way for the NatWest Tower which was built in 1975 to a John Maddin design, that building was vacated and closed in 2003. The tower stood empty until it was demolished between the years of 2015 and 2017.
A new tower, with the name ‘103 Colmore Row’ was to be built, construction began in June 2019, and was completed in 2021, it houses offices of various businesses – Law Firms, Property Agents, Video Game Developers etc, it also has a restaurant and an exclusive member only club.
Upper Image: Author - John Ball, Copyright - John Ball.
Upper Image Date: 1963.
Lower Image Date: 09/05/2026.

Barwick Street is an ‘L’ shaped street, both images a were taken at the corner of the ‘L’ and looking towards Edmund Street
Upper Image: Author - John Ball, Copyright - John Ball.
Upper Image Date: 1964.
Lower Image Date: 30/04/2026.

Barwick Street is an ‘L’ shaped street, both images a were taken at the corner of the ‘L’ and looking towards Livery Street/Snow Hill Railway Station.
Upper Image: Author - John Ball, Copyright - John Ball.
Upper Image Date: 1964.
Lower Image Date: 30/04/2026.