On the 14th January 2019 the City of Birmingham celebrated being a city for 130 years. A visual display outside the Council House after dark from 4pm to 6pm that day. Brum 130 Beyond Bricks and Mortar was a film projected onto the side of the Council House by the graffiti artist Mohammed Ali (also known as Aerosol Ali). In this post is photo gallery from that evening as I passed through!

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City of Birmingham 130 years a City


City of Birmingham 130 years a City


On the 14th January 2019 the City of Birmingham celebrated being a city for 130 years. A visual display outside the Council House after dark from 4pm to 6pm that day. Brum 130 Beyond Bricks and Mortar was a film projected onto the side of the Council House by the graffiti artist Mohammed Ali (also known as Aerosol Ali). In this post is photo gallery from that evening as I passed through!


The full title of this projected film was Brum 130 Beyond Bricks and Mortar .

Birmingham received City Status on the 14th January 1889. On the 14th January 2019 there was an event held in Victoria Square between 4pm and 6pm. It was still getting dark by 4.30pm to 5pm. I went to check it out briefly on the day after 5pm. The film was by Mohammed Ali also known as Aerosol Ali.

This digital billboard seen on the Council House balcony on the 13th January 2019 (a day before the anniversary).

dndimg alt="Brum 130" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Brum130 Council House Victoria Square (1) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

I actually took these photos from the top of Victoria Square starting at Colmore Row, going down the steps. But it actually looks better seeing the photos in reverse!

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dndimg alt="Brum 130" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Brum130 Council House Victoria Square (6) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Brum 130" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Brum130 Council House Victoria Square (5) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Brum 130" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Brum130 Council House Victoria Square (4) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Brum 130" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Brum130 Council House Victoria Square (3) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Brum 130" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Brum130 Council House Victoria Square (2) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Some bonus photos commemorating the last major anniversary of Birmingham's City Status which was back in 1989 (30 years ago).

City of Birmingham Centenary Festival 1889 1989

Saw this plaque in the Council House while I was at Birmingham We Are's event back in early November 2018. On Maundy Thursday 23rd March 1989 this plaque was unveiled to commemorate the visit of Her Majesty the Queen during the City of Birmingham's Centenary Year.

dndimg alt="City of Birmingham Centenary Festival 1889 1989" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/City of Birmingham Centenary Festival.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

I've had this medallion souvenir for around 30 years (so have had it since sometime in 1989). It was an Official Souvenir Medallion for the City of Birmingham Centenary. On this side showing a version of Birmingham's famous Forward coat of arms.

dndimg alt="City of Birmingham Centenary 1889 1989 souvenir medallion" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/City of Birmingham Centenary Souvenir Medallion (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

On the reverse it says City of Birmingham Centenary Festival 1889 1989. Has anyone thought of making a souvenir for 2019? City of Birmingham 130th Birthday 1889 2019!

dndimg alt="City of Birmingham Centenary 1889 1989 souvenir medallion" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/City of Birmingham Centenary Souvenir Medallion (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown in Victoria Square in mid January 2019.