4 selections of photos from long, and not so long, ago.
Plus some of the photos we have from the beginning of the restoration.
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Some of the pictures from before the restoration.
Tag: History
“As steals the morn….”
a morning meditation piece
As steals the morn upon the night
And melts the shades away:
So Truth does Fancy’s charm dissolve
And rising Reason puts to flight
The fumes that did the mind involve
Restoring intellectual day.
Written and first performed in February 1740. So cold that February, apparently, that the theatre owners had to reassure their audience that there would be fires and blankets – just like here in the Gardens!
Another beautiful song that I’m sure must have been performed in the tranquil rural retreat of the Gardens.
G.F Handel’s oratorio: L’Allegro, il Penseroso ed il Moderato (“The Cheerful, the Thoughtful, and the Moderate Man”) . Based on poems by Milton and Shakespeare’s verses from the Tempest
The pictures here are not our Gardens, but just imagine!
Mark Padmore – tenor Lucy Crowe – soprano The English Concert, Conductor – Andrew Manze Label: Harmonia Mundi, from the Album: “As Steals the Morn (Handel Arias & Scenes for tenor)”.
Hall, Church and Gardens tours
Birmingham Heritage Week this year runs from the 8th -18th September. So full of heritage is the Second City that it extends, by 7 days, the dates of the National Heritage Open Days .
This year we are working with St Mary and St Margaret’s Church and the hotel at Castle Bromwich Hall to offer visitors the chance to see all three historic parts of the Bradford estate.
There will be a guided tour of each site including (for those who wish it) a tour of the tower and famous bells in the church tower. Although the Hall is accessible to guests, this is a chance to see some of the magnificent plaster ceiling work and other areas not easily accessible otherwise.
Tours can be taken separately or in series.
The main series: 1pm Hall, 1.45 Church , 2.30 Gardens (please start at the Garden entrance to purchase your ticket and tour ‘tokens’)
There will be second tours at the Hall: 2pm. Gardens: 3pm and the Church will take informal tours all afternoon.
Please note the Tower can take only 4 or 5 people at a time – ask the Church wardens on entrance.
Normal Entry fees apply £4/£4.50 (plus Gift Aid). Tours free
You will be given ‘tour tokens’ to exchange at the entrance to each tour.
Can’t make that day?
The Church will be open on Sunday 11th September in the afternoon for drop-in tours and trips to the tower…also as part of Heritage Open Days.
..and don’t forget the Gardens have regular , free guided tours around the Gardens on Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday (2pm) during the season.
A bit of Castle Bromwich Hall Garden History
Just the other day over on our Facebook Page, North Arden Local History Society left a post for us with this photograph.
This is Peter Clarke, first head gardener at Castle Bromwich Hall Gardens in 1985, the year the gardens reopened. The Photograph from the Birmingham Mail…
I wonder. Does anyone remember the gardens back then? Do you have photos you could share with us?