Editing Digbeth (section)

==History==
[[File:Digbeth (etching).jpg|thumb|19th-century etching of Digbeth by John Fullwood, now in the collection of [[The New Art Gallery Walsall]]]]
[[File:Digbeth.tif|thumb|19th-century oil painting of Digbeth by unknown artist, now in the collection of [[The New Art Gallery Walsall]]]]
The modern site of Digbeth was first settled upon in the 7th century.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://billdargue.jimdo.com/placenames-gazetteer-a-to-y/places-d/digbeth/ |title= A History of Birmingham |date=26 January 2010 |publisher=Billdargue.jimdo.com}}</ref> Historically the land to the west of the river [[River Rea|Rea]] was in the parish of Birmingham. This is Digbeth. The land to the east was in the more significant parish of [[Aston]], and is called [[Deritend]]. Birmingham's oldest secular building, [[The Old Crown, Birmingham|The Old Crown]], is there.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

The area around Digbeth and Deritend was the first centre of industry in Birmingham and became one of the most heavily industrialised areas in the town, historically within [[Warwickshire]]. This may have been due to Henry Bradford who in 1767 donated land on Bradford Street to anyone willing to establish a trade there.<ref>[http://www.midlandspubs.co.uk/birmingham/bradfordstreet.htm Bradford Street] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928120115/http://www.midlandspubs.co.uk/birmingham/bradfordstreet.htm |date=28 September 2007 }}</ref> The street soon prospered and there were over twenty public houses on it catering to its workers. Today there are just two: [[The White Swan (Public house)|The White Swan]] and [[Anchor Inn, Birmingham|The Anchor]].{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

The amount of manufacturing in Digbeth made it of national importance.<ref>{{cite book|author=Gary McCulloch|title=The Routledge-Falmer Reader in History of Education|year=2005|publisher=Routledge|isbn=0-415-34570-7}}</ref> Industry was attracted to the area as a result of the supply of water from the River Rea and from the [[natural spring]]s in the area.<ref name="BCCHD">[http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=684&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=681 Birmingham City Council: Heritage – Digbeth] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070702181451/http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=684&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=681 |date=2 July 2007 }}</ref> Digbeth was accessed by the [[Grand Union Canal]] and the [[Digbeth Branch Canal]] in the 18th and early 19th centuries.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

Railways also arrived in Digbeth in the 19th century by the [[Great Western Railway]]. The mainline passed through Digbeth via a large railway viaduct built out of [[Staffordshire blue brick]], and into [[Birmingham Snow Hill railway station|Snow Hill station]] via the [[Snow Hill Tunnel (Birmingham)|Snow Hill Tunnel]]. As traffic at Snow Hill increased, [[Birmingham Moor Street railway station|Moor Street station]] was built as another terminus to relieve congestion, with an additional goods shed to serve the nearby markets. The goods shed was eventually demolished, but the station still in use for services to [[Marylebone railway station|London Marylebone]]. Near the [[Bordesley railway station|Bordesley station]], this mainline viaduct meets the incomplete [[Duddeston Viaduct]], which passes over the Digbeth Canal but stops abruptly at Montague Street. This was intended to link the [[Birmingham & Oxford Junction Railway]] to [[Birmingham Curzon Street railway station (1838–1966)|Curzon Street station]], but it was ascertained when construction was about two thirds complete that trains would not be able to serve Curzon Street Station. Once new mainlines were built into Snow Hill and [[Birmingham New Street railway station|New Street]], construction on the viaduct stopped and it has remained unused since. Bridges over the roads have been removed. There are plans to turn the upper surface into an "elevated park", similar to the former New York High Line which is now a park and walking route.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

[[File:Devonshire Works, Birmingham.JPG|right|thumb|The Devonshire Works at the [[Custard Factory]]]]

Industry that settled in Digbeth include the [[Birmingham Battery and Metal Company]] which moved to [[Selly Oak]] around 1876, and [[Typhoo Tea]] who had a factory on Bordesley Street which was in use from 1896 till 1978.<ref name=food>[http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=628&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=51 Heritage: Digbeth Tuck Trail] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050515162419/http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=628&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=51 |date=15 May 2005 }}</ref>  The now-disused factory has its own [[canal]] basin connected to the Digbeth Branch Canal. The Typhoo Tea building, also known as the S Rose & Co Building, is a four-storey building, blue brick at the front (Bordesley Street) and red brick to the rear. Currently vacant, it was previously used as a warehouse.<ref name=TTCP>[http://80.86.36.120/vault/XDDocStore_6/0211498_APPENDIX%202%20Typhoo%20Bordesley%20Street%20C0026105FUL.pdf Committee Report: Typhoo Wharf (C/00261/05/FUL)]{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}</ref> It is soon to become the new HQ for the BBC in the region.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-birmingham-62407714 | title=BBC Birmingham to relocate to Digbeth's Typhoo Tea factory | work=BBC News | date=3 August 2022 }}</ref> Another food industry that settled in Digbeth was [[Alfred Frederick Bird]]'s [[Bird's Custard|custard company]] that produced a form of [[custard]] that did not use eggs. This was invented by his father, [[Alfred Bird]]. The factory was set up in the [[Custard Factory|Devonshire Works]] in 1902 on the High Street.<ref name=food /> The complex expanded and is now an arts centre. The Devonshire Works themselves are to be refurbished.{{when|date=August 2024}}{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

Part of the Custard Factory complex is the [[Deritend Library]], Birmingham's oldest surviving [[library]] building. The library opened on 26 October 1866 and was the third free district library to open in Birmingham. The library re-opened in 1898 following enlargement as a result of its popularity.<ref>[http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=43706&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=13150 Birmingham City Council: Deritend Library] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061016155655/http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=43706&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=13150 |date=16 October 2006 }}</ref> Deritend Library closed on 16 November 1940. In 2003, it was opened as a [[conference centre]] and exhibition space. It is the only building of the original five free Birmingham libraries still standing.<ref>[http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=43739&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=13150 Deritend library staff, 1910] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080610042958/http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=43739&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=13150 |date=10 June 2008 }}</ref>

The library building is located on Heath Mill Lane, which, along with Floodgate Street, provide information on the character of pre-industrial Digbeth. The River Rea once flowed unaffected by human development through Digbeth, cutting both the High Street and Floodgate Street in two. The 'Floodgates' were used when the river flooded. Heath Mill Lane meanwhile was named after the [[watermill]] used for grinding corn which had stood there since the 16th century.<ref>[http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=758&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=124 Heritage: Digbeth Slice of Life Trail] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701214749/http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=758&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=124 |date=1 July 2007 }}</ref> The River Rea is now hidden from view. Digbeth also had an abundance of [[natural spring]]s which were gradually built upon as industry moved into the area.<ref>{{cite book|author=Chris Upton|title=A History of Birmingham|year=1993|publisher=Phillimore|location=Chichester|isbn=0-85033-870-0}}</ref> The existence of these springs and wells in the area are reflected in the street names such as Well Street.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}
[[File:Bonser and Co warehouse, Digbeth.JPG|thumb|left|upright|The former Bonser & Co. warehouse at 85 Digbeth]]
One of Digbeth's most recognisable buildings, the former Bonser & Co. warehouse at 85 Digbeth, was built around 1860. It was built for the Bonser & Co. firm of iron merchants and consists of a short entrance tower fronting onto Digbeth High Street. The tower, being small, was designed to take up as little shop frontage space on the street as possible but also to break the monotony of the small buildings around it. On the ground floor is a [[semi-circular arch]] and a [[segmental arch]] on the first floor. In the pitched roof is a slight upward curve.<ref name=hickman>{{cite book|author=Douglas Hickman|title=Birmingham|publisher=Studio Vista Limited|year=1970}}</ref>

Other notable buildings in Digbeth, include the now-defunct The Clothing Mart operated by [[George Makepeace]] at 135-6 Digbeth which was designed by [[James Patchett]] of [[Ombersley]]. Built in 1913, it is a steel framed structure with a mixture of façade materials. The façade consists of bright [[red brick]] and orange [[terracotta]]. The building is no longer used by George Makepeace and has changed hands, undergoing a variety of uses. Several aspects of its original architecture have been lost including a first floor iron balcony, above which electric lanterns with hooded lenses from two iron holders that remain. Either side of these were iron and glass lamps resembling Medici goblets. The orange pilasters sit on a key stone and [[pediment]]ed blocks set with round pink granite stones and the parapet is of green glazed terracotta.<ref name=hickman />
[[File:Digbeth Cold Storage.JPG|right|thumb|The Digbeth Cold Storage building]] 
Birmingham's only [[Rowton Houses]], now known as the Paragon Hotel, are in Digbeth.{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}
Digbeth was also of importance in 19th century transport with many coaches and carriers terminating at inns there. Inns that were particularly popular as such locations were The White Hart, the Red Lion, and The Bull's Head.<ref>{{cite book|author=Francis White & Co|title=History, gazetteer, and directory, of Warwickshire|url=https://archive.org/details/historygazettee00cogoog|year=1850|publisher=F. White}}</ref> This transport history is reflected in the creation of Digbeth Coach Station (now [[Birmingham Coach Station]]), which was built in 1929 by [[Midland Red]].{{citation needed|date=August 2024}}

In the second half of the 19th century, an Italian quarter began to develop in the Fazeley Street area of Digbeth, with many immigrants from [[Italy]] settling in the area. However, this community was largely broken up in [[World War II]] due to the damage of buildings from the [[Luftwaffe]], as well as many Italian residents being held in internment camps due to the fact that Italy was an enemy to Britain in this conflict.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://billdargue.jimdo.com/placenames-gazetteer-a-to-y/places-l/little-italy/ |title=Little Italy – History of Birmingham Places & Placenames A to Y |publisher=Billdargue.jimdo.com |access-date=2013-06-14}}</ref>

Digbeth has two [[conservation area]]s: Digbeth, Deritend, and Bordesley High Streets Conservation Area and the Warwick Bar Conservation Area. Both conservation areas are alongside each other. The Digbeth, Deritend, and Bordesley High Streets Conservation Area was designated on 31 May 2000 and has an area of 28.68 Ha (70.86 acres), covering all of Digbeth.<ref>{{cite web |date=2009-06-13 |title=Digbeth, Deritend, and Bordesley High Streets Conservation Area map |url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/ELibrary?E_LIBRARY_ID=392&a=1119876157241 |access-date=2013-06-14 |publisher=Birmingham.gov.uk |location=GB-BIR}}</ref> The Warwick Bar Conservation Area was designated on 25 June 1987 and has an area of 16.19 Ha (40.00 acres). It extends outside of Digbeth, along the Digbeth Branch Canal through Eastside.<ref>{{cite web |date=2009-06-13 |title=Warwick Bar Conservation Area map |url=http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/ELibrary?E_LIBRARY_ID=413&a=1120040757835 |access-date=2013-06-14 |publisher=Birmingham.gov.uk |location=GB-BIR}}</ref> These days Digbeth is often considered to include Deritend.