Sparkhill – BrownhillsBob's #365daysofbiking

#365daysofbiking Old friends

February 19th – In Birmingham for a meeting, I found myself at the top of Moseley Road where it meets Highgate Middleway, and I noticed a building that’s stunning, yet I can’t recall every studying before.

It’s the Birmingham Friends Institute, and when I have more time I shall take a closer look. It’s still a busy community hub and centre, and is architecturally stunning in that busy, late Victorian Gothic urban style.

An unexpected find on a grey morning. Utterly charming.

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February 25th – First time in Tyseley for a while. Leaving in a mediocre golden hour, I was reminded of the view from Wharfdale Road, and it caught my breath.

Somewhere over the terraces, chimney pots and quiet suburban streets, there’s my city. Right there.

6th December – Today didn’t start well. A really, really bad journey to work saw me leave the house, return, leave again, just make the train, then sit for ages on it going nowhere just outside Birmingham New Street. When I finally got to Moor Street, the trains there were also not running, so I cycled into Tyseley. Instead of going via Small Heath, I chanced my arm at Camp Hill-Sparkbrook- Sparkhill, which seemed a decent route.

There is some really great architecture in this corner of south east central Brum. I noticed particularly this old pub on the corner of Shakespeare Street and Warwick Road. I think it must be all flats now, but the terracotta brickwork, architraves and panels are a thing to behold. Sadly, the elegant clocks on the tower are stopped. Few things speak more eloquently of urban decay than a static public clock.