Birmingham's King Tom, Suffragettes and our Right to Vote

Touching history - Thomas Atwood, Leader of
Birmingham Political Union, the most effective political
organisation exerting pressure for parliamentary reform.

On Saturday 15 September, 3pm – 4.30pm PHC will be leading a heritage walk from Victoria Square to discover Birmingham's heritage in the fight for our rights to vote.

Birmingham's Royal Street Parties

It's being reported on Radio 4 this morning that there are only a few official royal street parties in the UK, live from Handsworth, Birmingham - a story also recently reported in local news.

Party for King George V & Queen Mary’s Silver Jubilee 1935.

Outside of 43 Winson Street – opposite the Bellefield Pub

Does this mean there are few street parties and has this always been the case?  In Handsworth, the answer is an emphatic no.

Commonwealth Heads pay tribute to the Unremembered

Our Unremembered wreath has been presented to the Foreign Secretary and Commonwealth Foreign Ministers at a lunchtime reception as part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting along with nearly 100 others made by community groups across the UK.

Foreign Secretary with members of the Big Ideas team
Photo courtesy of CHOGM 2018.

The many delegates and diplomats included the International Minister for the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative, the Minister of National Security for Bermuda and the High Commissioner of Barbados.

Birmingham's child emigrants revisited

Annual Report Middlemore Homes
 showing ‘before and after’ photos

The Balsall Heath Local History Society has received £32,100 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for an exciting project concerning the Children’s Emigration Homes. These were founded by John Middlemore in Highgate in 1873 and are an important aspect of Birmingham’s heritage.

My time with PHC

Since September, I’ve been working with People’s Heritage Co-op for my placement on the Professional Skills module on my history course at the University of Birmingham. Now that my placement is over, it has made me reflect on everything I have done over the past seven months, and the progress that I’ve made in that time. When I chose this placement, I did so as it seemed like an opportunity to do something unlike any previous work experience I had taken, but I did not realise just how varied my work would be or how rewarding I would find it.

Making Birmingham Votes Count

Debating Representation in Council Chambers
6th February 2018

Following our Rally celebrating 100 years since the signing of 'The Representation of the People Act', People's Heritage Co-operative are working with Birmingham City Council Wellbeing Service seeking funding for a range of activities throughout 2018 and into 2019.

Celebrating Suffrage

200,000 demonstrate their support for suffrage in Birmingham
in 1832, leading to further campaigning for Universal Suffrage 

The Representation of the People Act was signed on 6th February 1918, giving the right to vote to most men and, for the first time, some women. Birmingham played a key role in the UK history of suffrage and we'll be celebrating on 6th February 2018 between 11 and 2pm outside Birmingham Council House.

If you can't join us please take part in our quick survey.