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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Nazia Parveen, Andy Hall and Jim Powell

Let the games begin: Birmingham, then and now – in pictures

Baskerville House and the Hall of Memory in Birmingham, 2022 and 1953.
Baskerville House and the Hall of Memory in Birmingham, 2022 and 1953. Photograph: Andy Hall/Andy Hall/the Observer and Hanley/Popperfoto/Getty Images

1. The Bull Ring Market

January 1939 Street traders display their wares at the open air market. The heart of Birmingham’s commercial centre since medieval times, the Bull Ring referred to a green in the middle of the market where bulls were tied for baiting before slaughter. Archaeological excavations in 2000 as part of its redevelopment revealed a large ditch where Selfridges and the Park Street car park now stand. Rubbish thrown into the ditch included fragments of pottery, indicating that there were kilns here in the 13th century.

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