Birmingham

• In the 1085 in Domesday book, how was Birmingham described?

  As a poor rural manor
• Which family moved to the area in the 12th century and what did they want to do?

  The De Birmingham family came and wanted to hold a market as their Manor House. They were given a royal charter in 1166 by King Henry II. These ‘players’ helped establish Birmingham as a place of trade.
• What did Birmingham become during the Medieval period?

  It became an important market town (up until the 15th century)
• What was Birmingham’s economy like by the 16th century?

  Small scale industry had grown. To the west of Birmingham was a large coal seam close to surface (Dudley). This area provided raw materials for Birmingham’s metal working industries (such as making knives, buttons, nails and swords)
• In the 16th century early industry period, what was Birmingham also known as?

  The Black Country
• What was the change in population from the 1500s-1700s?

  1500s - population was 1,000

  1700s - population was 15,000
• When did monumental change come for Birmingham?

  The industrial revolution. Industrial factories were established by certain players that established Birmingham as a manufacturing hub.
• Who set up the first factory in the world and what year?

  Matthew Boulton in 1761 - ‘Soho manufactory’
• Why was Matthew Boulton an important player?

  He brought 700 workers under one roof and helped establish industrial ideas like ‘assembly line’. Not small scale anymore
• What was built throughout 1700s/1800s and what was its purpose?

  Canals were built as the city grew to carry finished industrial goods and raw materials (i.e. coal, iron). Birmingham was at the heart of a national canal network
• Which industries grew and dominated throughout the 19th century?

  Metalworking industries:

  . Brass and button manufacturing

  . Jewellery industry

  . Gun manufacturing
• What did the industrial sector need to support its growth?

  As industrial sector grew it needed finance, banks, insurance and legal firms to protect/ grow its assets
• What were two major banks established in the mid 19th century in Birmingham?

  Lloyds and Midland banks
• What other players/ companies helped change the city and the conditions of it?

  The Cadbury family built a factory in Bournville on rural-urban fringe of city in 1870s.
• How did the Cadbury family positively impact the lives of the industrial workers?

  They built a ‘model village’ for employees with good housing, parks and recreation facilities. They also had good wages
• What was the population like in 1801 - 1901?

  Birmingham had a population of 73,000+ in 1801 which rapidly increased to a population of 1/2 million in 1901.
• What industry especially grew in the 20th century?

  Car manufacturing. Austin Car plant opened in Longbridge in 1906 and the Mini Cooper was originally made there. 22k employed at its peak. Dunlop Tyre factory established in 1917 which employed 10k people
• What was population growth aided by in the 1900-1950s and how did it change the built environment?

  Population growth was aided by rural-urban migration and migration from other parts of the British Isles (i.e. Ireland). Densely packed terraced housing built near factories to house workers
• What did it mean for housing with Birmingham having better transport?

  Better transport gives people more mobility which means people could live further away from work and so caused urban area to expand
• What was the conditions of the inner city area like by the 1950s?

  ‘Slum’ like. Industrial activity left polluted canals/ rivers. High industry area so high levels of air pollution with no controls.
• What was the demography of Birmingham in the 1950’s?

  Predominantly white. Migration is limited to British Isles and surrounding areas
• In 1951, what was the population?

  1.1 million
• In 1982, what percentage of the population was unemployed and what was the national average at that time?

  19.4% unemployed with the UK average being 13%. Huge shift from being an area of high employment to mass unemployment
• How did the Arab-Israeli war impact economic changes in Birmingham?

  In 1973 there had been an Arab-Israeli war in Middle east. Many western countries supported Israeli. Arab states (OPEC) responded to this by using ‘oil as a weapon’ and banning the supply of it to the western countries. As a result oil prices and other prices like petrol and energy increased
• What did the increase of energy and petrol prices lead to?

  Birmingham‘s manufacturing base was hit hard as they relied on cheap energy. Especially car manufacturing which now had competition from foreign TNCs (i.e Nissan, Toyota) (a key player in decline)
• Why were Japanese car manufacturers more popular in the UK in the early 1970s?

  Better value, more reliable and often more fuel efficient
• What happened as car manufacturers declined?

  Lots of strikes by trade unions in the 1970’s
• Why did trade unions become key players?

  They closed factories, altering the economic future of Birmingham which made Birmingham less attractive to investors, leading to further decline
• What did the government do as part of comprehensive redevelopment programme?

  Clear slums. But lots of the SMEs (small and medium enterprises) that Birmingham has become famous for were demolished in the process and could not afford the new rents set by the council in the new premises
• How did housing change in Birmingham post-war?

  By 1950s housing stock in Birmingham was of a poor quality. Birmingham had lost over 5000 houses during WW2 due to bombing. Slums existed and 110K houses were considered ‘sub standard’
• What were the slums replaced with in the 50s and 60s?

  400 Tower Blocks. In total 81k new homes were built between 1945-1970. Not all high rise flats and they were offered better conditions then slums
• What did the housing changes lead to?

  Redistribution of population. People were moved out of housing estates on rural-urban fringe and other moved to new towns
• How did migration of people lead to industry change?

  Economy became service based. Commuters from suburbs. Green belt to stop urban sprawl. Service based jobs also lead to migration from other countries
• What was the unemployment in 2020?

  8%
• What has the shift from manufacturing to services been due to?

  Regeneration
• Where has there been big losses/ gains in industries based on employment?

  Big losses in car manufacturing and other ‘traditional’ industries and big gains in financial services and tourism and leisure
• What was the role of the government in recent regeneration?

  . Since 1970s local government has been implementing strategies to try and diversify the economy of Birmingham (e.g Retail & tourism hub, regional centre for trade, financial services, centre for business tourism)

  . It attracted investment to have the NEC built on the west side of the city

  . Expansion of Birmingham airport
• What was the impact of the development of the NEC and airport?

  They made it easy to attract major international exhibitions and conferences to the region which brings lots of money
• How did the government fund this?

  Funding from national schemes
• What is the ‘Birmingham Heartlands Development Corporation’ (1992) and how much money was invested into it?

  A corporation set up to regenerate old industrial areas of Birmingham - £100 million given by the government / £200 million from private investments and EU e.g Nechelles power station - star city (leisure + entertainment complex)