Roundhouse Birmingham - A City Gem!

The Roundhouse was built for the London and North Western Railway as a mineral and coal wharf in 1874, on the Birmingham Canal Navigations Mainline near Sheepcote Street.


Where is the Roundhouse Birmingham?

The Roundhouse is at 1 Sheepcote St, Birmingham B16 8AE. Near the Birmingham Canal Navigations Mainline at Sheepcote Street and St Vincent Street.

 

In brief

The Roundhouse was a former Corporation Depot, built in 1873-74 to the designs of W. H. Ward. The building is now owned by the Canal & River Trust. With the support of its partners, the charity Roundhouse Birmingham has overseen and managed major work to protect this Birmingham Gem.

The RoundhouseBefore restoration: The Roundhouse from the gates at Sheepcote Street and St Vincent Street (February 2013). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

RoundhouseAfter restoration: The Roundhouse from the gates at Sheepcote Street and St Vincent Street (July 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

As of 2023, the Roundhouse is fully open, there is free guided tours. A cafe called Jonathan's in the Roundhouse, plus a Visitor Centre.

RoundhouseThe Roundhouse from the gates at Sheepcote Street and St Vincent Street (April 2023). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The Roundhouse - history

A crescent shaped Grade II* listed building, it was built for the Corporation of Birmingham from 1873 to 1874, to the designs of William Henry Ward (he also designed the Great Western Arcade). The two gatehouses facing the corner of Sheepcote Street and St Vincent Street were completed in 1885. It was originally named Corporation Wharf, as it was near the Birmingham Canal. It was also used as a large railway depot for the London and North Western Railway, on the Stour Valley Line.

The site was arranged to create a highly secure internal storage environment, for open air storage, horses and maintenance.

The building was used by the City of Birmingham Engineers Department until the 1980s, when it became redundant and was sold. It was bought by British Waterways (now the Canal & River Trust) in 2001.

Unused for many years, other than part of it as a nursery school, the Canal & River Trust and the National Trust gained funding in 2017 for the restoration of the building, and to open it up to the public. It should have opened in 2020, but delays due to the pandemic, means it won't open now until at least late summer 2021.

Pevsner describes it having a pair of picturesque Gothic lodges. And that inside was more of a semicircular range with a cartway running under it's centre to the canal. With evocative cobbled pavements.

The RoundhouseThe Roundhouse from the Birmingham Canal Navigations Mainline before restoration (May 2009). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The RoundhouseThe Roundhouse from the Birmingham Canal Navigations Mainline after restoration (July 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

 

The RoundhousePair of lodges at The Roundhouse, at the junction of Sheepcote Street and St Vincent Street. Before restoration (February 2013). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

RoundhousePair of lodges at The Roundhouse, at the junction of Sheepcote Street and St Vincent Street. After restoration (July 2021). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The Fiddle and Bone / The Distillery

A pub on Sheepcote Street. It used to be called The Fiddle and Bone. It is now The Distillery. The entrance is currently from the canalside towpath.

 

 

The RoundhouseThe Fiddle & Bone pub next to The Roundhouse on Sheepcote Street (February 2013). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The RoundhouseThe Roundhouse and The Distillery from the canalside. Formerly The Fiddle & Bone pub (October 2017). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

 

Annatomix rustic horse

The mural by Annatomix is opposite The Distillery and near the gates exit to the BCN Mainline canal.

RoundhouseThe Roundhouse from the gates at Sheepcote Street and St Vincent Street (April 2023). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Contact details

See Roundhouse website here

Project dates

13 Jul 2021 - On-going

Passions

History & heritage, Rivers, lakes & canals, Classic Architecture

Contact

Your Place Your Space

Jonathan Bostock

0121 410 5520
jonathan.bostock@ yourplaceyourspace.com