Birmingham honouring heroes at Hall of Memory over the years
The Hall of Memory in Birmingham has been the point of remembrance in the city for almost 100 years
The Hall of Memory in Centenary Square has been the focus of remembrance for the city since 1925. Built between 1922-25 and designed by SN Cooke and WN Twist and constructed by John Barnsley and Son.
The venue has been the centre of the city's remembrance commemorations for nearly 100 years now, however more recent years the Remembrance Sunday parades have moved to Colmore Row outside Birmingham Cathedral.
The Hall of Memory is built over a filled-in canal basin called Gibson's Arm, on the site which is today Baskerville House and Centenary Square. Originally it was part of a grander construction project with only the Hall of Memory and Baskerville House ever built. Early plans show a much larger project which was never constructed.
Made from Portland stone from Dorset, the foundation stone was laid by The Prince of Wales on June 12 1923, later to become Edward VIII, and was opened by Prince Arthur of Connaught, the grandson of Queen Victoria and a British military officer, on July 4 1925 with a crowd of 30,000 watching. Costing £60,000, this was funded by public donations.
The four statues around the outside represent the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and Women's Services. We have taken a nostalgic look back at the hall from days gone by.
Hall of Memory November 11 1925.
1 of 20
Early plans show a much larger Civic complex with Baskerville House and the Hall of Memory only ever built.
2 of 20
Hall of Memory pictured in the 1930s.
3 of 20![]()
Pictured in 1954.
4 of 20
