University of Birmingham - Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower known as 'Old Joe'

'Old Joe' is the tallest free standing clock tower in the world, It is located in Chancellor's Court at the University of Birmingham and was built between 1900 and 1908.


The Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower, known by it's nickname "Old Joe", is located at the heart of the University of Birmingham in Edgbaston. It can be seen for miles around the City and beyond.

'Old Joe'. Photography by Elliott Brown. 

'Old Joe'. Photography by Christine Wright.

Built from 1900 until 1908, it was the tallest building of Birmingham until the BT Tower was completed in 1965. It was built to commemorate Joseph Chamberlain who was the first Chancellor of the University.

It is a Grade II listed building and a major landmark in Birmingham.

'Old Joe'. Photography by Kev Maslin. 

Designed by Aston Webb and Ingress Bell as part of the initial phase of the building of the University. It was modelled on the Torre del Mangia in Siena, Italy.

'Old Joe' and Torre del Mangia.  Photography by Elliott Brown. 

Project dates

12 Aug 2020 - On-going

Passions

History & heritage, Education, Classic Architecture

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Jonathan Bostock

0121 410 5520
jonathan.bostock@ yourplaceyourspace.com

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Classic Architecture
08 Jan 2022 - Elliott Brown
Gallery

Old Joe back with clock hands over the Christmas - New Year holidays end of 2021

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The University of Birmingham campus was very quiet during the last week of 2021. Elliott caught the no 76 bus up to the Edgbaston Campus to check out Old Joe (aka Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower), now with the clock hands reinstated on all sides, and with the mechanisms working, the clock even rung / bonged while on the campus. Happy New Year 2022. 

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Old Joe back with clock hands over the Christmas - New Year holidays end of 2021





The University of Birmingham campus was very quiet during the last week of 2021. Elliott caught the no 76 bus up to the Edgbaston Campus to check out Old Joe (aka Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower), now with the clock hands reinstated on all sides, and with the mechanisms working, the clock even rung / bonged while on the campus. Happy New Year 2022. 


Getting off the no 76 bus on the Bristol Road in Selly Oak (Bournbrook close to the University of Birmingham), near The Goose at the OVT put. Could see Old Joe to the right near Grange Road. I headed right to the South Gate. It was the Boxing Day Bank Holiday Tuesday, 28th December 2021 (the actual Boxing Day fell on a Sunday).

dndimg alt="Old Joe" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Goose OVT Old Joe 28122021.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The view of Old Joe (Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower), zoomed in from Bristol Road over Grange Road in Selly Oak.

dndimg alt="Old Joe" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe UoB 28122021 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Heading through the South Gate, noticed the Costa Coffee at the University of Birmingham Sport & Fitness was closed (yet to go to this Costa), then headed past the Guild of Students building towards the East Gate. Not only are the clock hands back on, but they are reading the correct time.

dndimg alt="Old Joe" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe UoB 28122021 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Near the Barber Institute of Fine Arts at the East Gate, and close to Edgbaston Park Road. The campus was really quiet, not many people around.

dndimg alt="Old Joe" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe UoB 28122021 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Now on Pritchatts Road, heading past the North Gate and the Green Heart.

dndimg alt="Old Joe" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe UoB 28122021 (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Usually coaches park at this semi circle, but non during the inter Christmas - New Year period.

dndimg alt="Old Joe" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe UoB 28122021 (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A look at Old Joe through the gate on the left.

dndimg alt="Old Joe" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe UoB 28122021 (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

And through the gate on the right.

dndimg alt="Old Joe" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe UoB 28122021 (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

One last view of Old Joe from the Green Heart, with the Main Library and Teaching & Learning Building on the right.

dndimg alt="Old Joe" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe UoB 28122021 (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Heading down to check out the progress of the rebuilding of University Station, one last view of Old Joe taken from Vincent Drive. Evergreen tree on the right looked like a Christmas tree with no decorations on it.

dndimg alt="Old Joe" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe UoB 28122021 (9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown can also be found on Twitter: ellrbrown

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Classic Architecture
11 Dec 2020 - Elliott Brown
Inspiration

Old Joe at the University of Birmingham from 2018 to 2020

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While during the lockdown / pandemic you are not allowed to go onto the University of Birmingham campus in Edgbaston you can see Old Joe for miles around the campus. Views here taken between 2018 and 2020. Up until early March 2020 I could still go onto the campus (now it's not possible without an ID). Named after Joseph Chamberlain who was the First Chancellor of the University.

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Old Joe at the University of Birmingham from 2018 to 2020





While during the lockdown / pandemic you are not allowed to go onto the University of Birmingham campus in Edgbaston you can see Old Joe for miles around the campus. Views here taken between 2018 and 2020. Up until early March 2020 I could still go onto the campus (now it's not possible without an ID). Named after Joseph Chamberlain who was the First Chancellor of the University.


OLD JOE:

JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN MEMORIAL CLOCK TOWER

 

Find my old post comparing the Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower here to the Torre del Mangia in Siena, Italy.

Old Joe on Twitter.

Some history about the Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower aka Old Joe. Built from 1900 until 1908, it was the tallest building in Birmingham until 1965, when the BT Tower opened. Designed by Aston Webb and Ingress Bell who were responsible for the initial phase of building the University in the Edwardian period. The tower was based on the Torre del Mangia in Siena, Italy (see the link above to my old comparison post).

The tower commemorated Joseph Chamberlain who was the First Chancellor of the University of Birmingham. It is the tallest free standing clock tower in the world. It is over 100 metres tall (possibly as high as 110 metres). The tower is Grade II listed and it can be seen for miles around the campus. As far away as the Lickey Hills and Waseley Hills (for instance). Even from nearby parks and suburbs. It is thought that Old Joe was the inspiration for the Eye of Sauron in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

2018

January 2018 from Beacon Hill at the Lickey Hills Country Park. Old Joe on the City Skyline

dndimg alt="Old Joe" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe Beacon Hill Jan 2018 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

March 2018: From Vincent Drive overlooking the Cross City Line. The new University of Birmingham Library with Old Joe.

dndimg alt="Old Joe" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe JCMCT March 2018.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

May 2018: Seen from the Bristol Road in Edgbaston, when they got the clock working again!

dndimg alt="Old Joe" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe JCMCT May 2018 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

June 2018: View from Winnie Road in Selly Oak around the time that Old Joe won the World Cup of Birmingham's Best Buildings! on Twitter (held by I Choose Birmingham).

dndimg alt="Old Joe" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe JCMCT June 2018.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

July 2018: Visible from the Bourn Brook Way not far from Harborne Lane in Selly Oak.

dndimg alt="Old Joe" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe Bourn Brook Way July 2018 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

November 2018: A close up view from the Chancellors Court at the University of Birmingham.

dndimg alt="Old Joe" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe JCMCT Nov 2018.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

2019

January 2019: From the Green Heart at the University of Birmingham (before it was completed later that year).

dndimg alt="Old Joe" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe Green Heart Jan 2019 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

February 2019: In this view from the Bristol Road, Selly Oak, before the Selly Oak Railway Bridge of 1931.

dndimg alt="Old Joe" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe Selly Oak Feb 2019 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

April 2019: Heading down Cartland Road in Stirchley, could see Old Joe between the roofs of houses.

dndimg alt="Old Joe" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe Stirchley Apr 2019.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

August 2019: Not far from the Bramall Music Building. The clock was once again stuck at 12 on all sides.

dndimg alt="Old Joe" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe JCMCT Aug 2019 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

October 2019: The view from Bournbrook Road in Selly Park, heading towards Selly Oak.

dndimg alt="Old Joe" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe JCMCT Oct 2019.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

December 2019: Old Joe was visible on the skyline from Sir Herbert Austin Way in Northfield.

dndimg alt="Old Joe" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe Northfield Dec 2019.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

2020

January 2020: Heading towards the Poynting Building from the Guild of Students over a footbridge with this view.

dndimg alt="Old Joe" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe JCMCT Jan 2020.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

March 2020: One of my last shots of Old Joe before the lockdown began earlier in the month. Clocks stuck at 12 again.

dndimg alt="Old Joe" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe JCMCT March 2020 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

May 2020: The first time I'd seen Old Joe in two months due to the lockdown. This view from Cannon Hill Park.

dndimg alt="Old Joe" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe Cannon Hill Park (May 2020).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

May 2020: Also saw Old Joe from Highbury Park, not far from Joseph Chamberlain's former home Highbury Hall.

dndimg alt="Old Joe" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe Highbury Park (May 2020).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

May 2020: Walking back from Weoley Castle past Selly Oak Park down Gibbins Road saw this view of Old Joe.

dndimg alt="Old Joe" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe Selly Oak Park (May 2020).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

June 2020: Saw this view of Old Joe from the Waseley Hills Country Park, before I zoomed in on the skyline.

dndimg alt="Old Joe" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe Waseley Hills (June 2020) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown. Thanks for all the followers.

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