explore | Grilled Cheese

@theironroom.bsky.social Oct 16, 2026, 7:15 AM

#PhotoFriday today is the Council House just shortly after its construction in 1879. Notice the statue of Sir Robert Peel which at the time was only the second statue erected in Birmingham in August 1855. Ref – Council House 81 #LibraryofBham #Brumpic

Birmingham Council House in the background of the photo - a grand Victorian civic building in a Renaissance Palace and Classical Revival style. A columned entrance with a balconied top and a dome. Pedestrians stood alongside the building in the bottom left of the photo. A statue dedicated to Sir Robert Peel in front of the building with a horse and cart to the left. Construction debris to the right and in front of the statue.

@theironroom.bsky.social Oct 15, 2026, 8:01 AM

#BirminghamLibraries The Wish Stone : an old tale retold for modern times [1933] part of our Early and Fine Printing Collection. Containing 19 woodcuts and one of only 500 copies. Ref - Ridler p 2231 #LibraryofBham

The front cover of a book. A graphic illustration of a vortex - spirals in the background. The foreground is occupied by three figures stood upside down with their legs and arms parted. The vortex spirals cut through their bodies. A star between the two figures in the top half of the illustration and two larger stars on either side of the figure in the bottom half of the illustration.

@theironroom.bsky.social Oct 14, 2026, 8:00 AM

#BirminghamHistory This week’s blog by Susan Darby explores collections here to uncover the story of her husband’s great-great-grandfather, Richard Prosser (1804–1854), a forgotten pioneer of Birmingham’s industrial heritage and beyond. theironroom.wordpress.com/2026/10/12/r... #LibraryofBham

A book stood on a box – front cover facing on. Title of the book is Prosser The Engineer : A Forgotten Birmingham Genius. Painting of the bust of a male figure between the title and the author’s name. Office scene behind the book - two desks. The desk on the right has books on it. Shelving behind the desks. A window in the far left of the photo.

@theironroom.bsky.social Oct 13, 2026, 6:15 PM

#Birmingham Don’t forget to join Hugh J Thomson for his book talk - The Doctor Will See You Now this Saturday at 2 pm on Level 4. Hugh reflects on his time as a consultant surgeon. Just turn up on the day. #LibraryofBham #Pegasus_Books

A flyer for a book. Title is The Doctor Will See You Now. image of a stethoscope and surgical towel. The author’s name – Hugh J Thomson in the mid- bottom left of the flyer.

@theironroom.bsky.social Oct 13, 2026, 6:00 AM

#MapOnATuesday is this outline of roads in the parish of Kings Norton drawn for the Board of Surveyors, 1875. The parish boundary and names of most roads are shown. Ref – MAP/273587 Bickley #LibraryofBham

A map of a series of interlinking streets and roads surrounded by thicker lines indicating the parish boundary.

@theironroom.bsky.social Oct 12, 2026, 7:15 PM

#Birmingham an illustration of the Gem Street industrial school opened in 1850 to cater for orphans and neglected children. The school relocated to Harborne in 1902 and became known as the Birmingham Industrial School (Harborne). Ref – WK/B11/3405 #LibraryofBham

An illustration of a mid-Victorian multi storey building. A large chimney flume on the left exterior. A main entrance to the property with two wings to the building. A series of crosses on the outside of the construct. The property is separated from the road by an iron gate. Pedestrians walk by on the pavement. A church building to the right of the property.

@theironroom.bsky.social Oct 12, 2026, 3:01 PM

#BHM2026 Bad Friday by Brum born Norman Samuda Smith – the first British born black novelist to be published in the UK in 1982. Ref - L 51.3 SMI #LibraryofBham @blackhistorymonth.org.uk

Books on a metal shelf. The spines of books are visible along with their Dewey classifications. One of the books is full on to the camera showing its front cover. The title of the book Bad Friday, A Novel is in the top right of the cover. The author’s name - Norman Smith is beneath this in the bottom left. The cover is dominated by an pencil drawing of a male figure rendered in a Cubist geometric style. The figure has his right hand held aloft with his fingers grasping a ball. In the background is a much smaller female figure.

@theironroom.bsky.social Oct 11, 2026, 10:15 AM

#SundayShowcase today is Vanley Burke’s By The Rivers of Birminam, Vanley’s work is a photographic document of the Caribbean diaspora in post war Britain, detailing the experience of Black people in the UK and their community identity. Ref: L 25.69 #LibraryofBham @blackhistorymonth.org.uk #BHM2026

Two copies of a book stand upright on a wooden table. A bookcase is behind the table. The front cover of the book shows a large crowd of people of African – Caribbean heritage. The title of the book is at the bottom of the front cover.

@theironroom.bsky.social Oct 10, 2026, 9:01 AM

#CityOf1000Trades is this trade catalogue for Vaughtons Ltd. when based on Livery Street. Founded in 1819 by Philip Vaughton. Originally located in Little Hampton Street. In 1897 the firm was listed as a Button Maker and Medallist. Ref – Trade Cat Collection #LibraryofBham #Vaughtons

Front cover of a trade catalogue. Details relating to Vaughtons Ltd.’s Gothic Works, Livery Street and the company being established in 1819 at the top of the page. An image of the company’s trademark below this and the wares they produce. Ornate borders beneath to the side and including a floral footer.

@theironroom.bsky.social Oct 9, 2026, 7:15 AM

#PhotoFriday today is the Kyrle Hall, Sheep Street. Built in the late 19th century by Mr. J. Bowen to designs by Arts and Crafts architect, William Bidlake. Ref – WK/B11/3450 #LibraryofBham #Brumpic

A photo of a row of properties. A shop in the near foreground on the bottom right with people stood out outside. The largest property in the row is next - an impressive Arts and Crafts three storey building with a turret. A row of balcony windows below this and two bay windows beneath this. Two terraced houses at the end of the row.

@theironroom.bsky.social Oct 8, 2026, 8:00 AM

#BhamWomen Harriet Martineau (1802 - 1876) buried in Key Hill Cemetery was an abolitionist. Her conviction forged by what she had witnessed during her stay in America #LibraryofBham @blackhistorymonth.org.uk #BHM2026

Pencil drawing of the bust of a female figure. Her hair has a central parting and is arranged in waves with a small bun at the crown. Her head is slanted towards the left. She is wearing a simple dress with a plain collar and a knot at the centre of the neck. The dress is very uncomplicated.

@theironroom.bsky.social Oct 7, 2026, 6:15 PM

#Birmingham #Doctor Join Hugh J Thomson for a talk on his book detailing his time as a consultant surgeon in Birmingham. Now retired, Hugh looks back at the job he loved. www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-doctor... #LibraryofBham #Pegasus_Books

@theironroom.bsky.social Oct 7, 2026, 8:15 AM

#Birmingham #Science A 1898 photo of the X-Ray apparatus in the General Hospital, Steelhouse Lane. Photographed by Dr John Hall Edwards – this year marks the centenary of his death. Ref – WK/B11/966 #LibraryofBham #Brumpic

Photograph of a room. A desk and chair with a scientific apparatus on it. A metal frame with a series of wires attached. A lamp to the left of it resting on the table. The wires are attached to devices and a large cylindrical device in the background by the wall. The photograph is dated 1898. Wooden panelling behind the chair and table. A large wooden cabinet with glass panels on the far left of the photograph.

@theironroom.bsky.social Oct 6, 2026, 6:00 AM

#MapOnATuesday is the plan of the Birmingham Freehold Land Society Kings Heath Estate - the 40th estate purchased by the Society. Showing building plots in Clarence Road, Woodfield Road, Cambridge Road and Springfield Road, c 1876. Ref: MAP/366633 #LibraryofBham

A map - a grid plan of the streets and roads named in the title. The outline of numbered building plots colour coded. A block of land and property in the bottom right of the map identified as Laurel Cottage. The names of landowners in the top centre of the map.

@theironroom.bsky.social Oct 5, 2026, 7:15 PM

Our most recent blog is based on research by one of Handsworth’s residents, Adeel Akhtar – on what is thought to be the first mosque to be established in the Handsworth district of Birmingham - theironroom.wordpress.com/2026/09/29/m... #LibraryofBham #BhamMosque

Photograph of a room - two windows on either side of an alcove with a microphoned minbar (pulpit) inside it. A bookcase up on the left side of the wall by the alcove and an order of service on the right with the words Masjid Quba at the top. The foreground is dominated by a carpet.

@theironroom.bsky.social Oct 5, 2026, 3:01 PM

An update on the #SuttonColdfield archive transferred from Sutton library to here in Summer 2025. All the archive is here and our Archivist is making good progress in assessing documents and updating catalogues #LibraryofBham #MySutton

Photograph of archival presses with shelves occupied by archival boxes – fluorescent lighting above the shelves. Notes below this on both presses.

@theironroom.bsky.social Oct 4, 2026, 10:15 AM

#SundayShowcase is Tracing your ancestors using newspapers : a guide for family historians by Chloe O'Shea. This book is a genealogical guide to uncovering and interpreting newspaper articles - from court proceedings to obituary notices. Ref - A 929.1 #LibraryofBham

A book resting on a cushion - front cover facing on. Title of the book is Tracing your ancestors using newspapers : a guide for family historians. The title and subtitle separated by the masthead - Telegraph. Beneath are two photographic inserts - headshots of females. Also inserts of newspaper articles. The author’s name in the bottom right corner.

@theironroom.bsky.social Oct 3, 2026, 9:01 AM

#CityOf1000Trades is this trade card for William Rogers – fancy haberdasher and family linen draper located at Temple Row West and Colmore Row. Ref – WK/B11/3802 #LibraryofBham

Illustration of a street scene, possibly the Regency period. Text at the top of the illustration indicates this is a trade card for William Rogers – fancy haberdasher and family linen draper. The illustration shows a row of properties with a large, impressive building at the end of the row on the corner with another thoroughfare. A crowded street scene in front of the buildings in the left foreground of the illustration – pedestrians gathered and people on horseback.

@theironroom.bsky.social Oct 2, 2026, 7:15 AM

#PhotoFriday is the Ye Olde Royal Restaurant located on Temple Row. First opened c1781 and demolished by the late 1950s. Ref - WK/B11/3821 #LibraryofBham #Brumpic

A narrow passageway with buildings on either side. Above is an ornate iron sign - Ye Olde Royal Restaurant. Flourishes above each part of the sign with a crown on the very top of the sign. People on either side of the passageway with a van at the very end as the passage joins a road. A large building in the background outside of the passageway.

@theironroom.bsky.social Oct 1, 2026, 8:00 AM

#BHM2026 is here. Female American Serenaders performed at Birmingham Town Hall on 9 June 1847. The entertainment was described as ‘the harmony of which has been pronounced a marvel in the history of music’. Ref - MS 1711 #LibraryofBham @blackhistorymonth.org.uk

An advertisement. Title at the top is Town Hall, Birmingham. Female American Serenaders. Beneath this is an illustration of seven female figures gathered round in a circle, each is holding or playing a musical instrument. Beneath this, a list of their names. Below this, details of the time and location for the performance at Birmingham Town Hall.