A significant moment in literary history is being permanently honoured in the heart of Birmingham, as the city's Town Hall receives a prestigious blue plaque.
Commemorating a Literary First
The ceremony, scheduled for Monday 15 December, will mark the exact location where Charles Dickens made history by delivering the first ever public reading of his beloved story, A Christmas Carol. This landmark event took place at the venue in December 1853, forever linking the author and his festive tale with Birmingham's cultural landscape.
The plaque will be officially unveiled by acclaimed Birmingham actor Anton Lesser, renowned for his roles in Wolf Hall, Endeavour, and Game of Thrones. The timing of the unveiling is particularly poignant, as it coincides with a special performance entitled A Christmas Carol with Anton Lesser & Orchestra of the Swan.
This event will see Lesser, who has recorded all of Dickens' works for Audible, bring the classic narrative to life once more within the very walls where Dickens first performed it.
Part of a Wider Heritage Project
This commemoration is not an isolated event but forms a key part of the broader Amplify Town Hall project. This is an ambitious refurbishment and archive initiative led by B:Music, which has been supported by a grant of £123,651 from The National Lottery Heritage Fund.
The project's core mission is to capture and celebrate the extraordinary 191-year history of Birmingham's oldest events venue. Through dedicated work by B:Music and the Birmingham Music Archive, assisted by passionate volunteers, a new archive has been compiled. This collection boasts over 1,500 items of memorabilia that trace the Town Hall's rich and varied past.
Voices of Support for the Landmark
Nicola Gauld, Co-Chair of the Birmingham Civic Society Heritage Committee, explained the decision to award the plaque. She stated that the committee was "intrigued to hear this story and strongly felt that it was a significant event in Birmingham’s past that should be commemorated and celebrated."
The initiative has also garnered support from prominent public figures. Helen Pankhurst CBE, the great-granddaughter of suffragette leader Emmeline Pankhurst, praised the Town Hall as "more than a building - it is part of the legacy that helped secure the freedoms women enjoy today." She urged public support for the Amplify Town Hall project to help preserve the building's past and amplify its future.
Jez Collins, Founder and Director of Birmingham Music Archive, expressed his thrill at being involved, saying the project ensures these vital "stories and memories are preserved for generations to come."
