Last week, we explored five fascinating things most Brummies walk past without noticing. Now, we delve deeper into Birmingham's hidden history with five more secrets from our archives, spanning from the city's origins to forgotten landmarks.
1. The Source of All Life: River Rea
Walking through Digbeth's graffiti-covered streets, you pass the River Rea bridge near Floodgate Street. This unassuming river is the very reason Birmingham exists. The city takes its name from the Beormingas tribe, who settled here and built their community around this life-giving waterway. Today, it's a small stream behind the Custard Factory, but it marks the birthplace of a sprawling metropolis.
2. The Hair-Raising Hairpin: Haden Circus
The stretch between Haden Circus roundabout and Five Ways island is notorious for speeding—6,939 offences recorded this year alone. But in the 1980s, it was actually a race track. From 1986 to 1990, the Birmingham Superprix brought FIA Formula 3000, British Touring Car Championship, and Thundersports racing to the city centre. Haden Circus, known as Halfords Corner, featured a challenging hairpin section with a broad pan and dished profile that forced drivers to negotiate a hump entering the braking zone. As we say, leave it to the professionals.
3. The Prince Albert Smoke Shop
In the historic Great Western Arcade, John Hollingsworth and Son tobacconist has been selling smokes since the 1800s. Founder Thomas Hollingsworth was appointed official tobacconist to Prince Albert in 1843, as confirmed by a hand-written letter from Buckingham Palace. Now owned by Havana House since October 2020, the shop still stocks cigars from Cuba, Dominican Republic, Honduras, Mexico, and shaving goods, retaining its historic charm.
4. The Secret Cinema
Above the closed shops on New Street lies the old ABC New Street cinema, frozen in time since 1983 when it screened ET: The Extra Terrestrial. The cinema remains intact, with all memories locked inside, while below, only La Galleria restaurant remains in the old Masonic Hall. Its future remains uncertain, but the story captivates those who pass by.
5. The Rotunda's Big Secret
The Rotunda, currently covered in temporary scaffolding, hides a giant artwork inside. The Rotunda Relief is a 140-square-metre ciment-fondu piece by John Poole, bearing abstract patterns around the building's drum. When shops were added, a first floor obscured much of the mural behind plasterboard. Historic England cited the relief as a reason for the building's Grade-II listed status. While the scaffolding is expected to come down later this year, it's unclear if the relief will be visible again. For now, it remains a hidden treasure.
