History of Snow Hill - mural in miniature

The History of Snow Hill was a Kenneth Budd mosaic mural at St Chad's Circus from 1969-2007. Recreated in miniature near Colmore Circus in 2013 by Oliver Budd.


Where is the History of Snow Hill?

You can find the History of Snow Hill mosaic miniature at the bottom of the steps near Colmore Circus - 1 Colmore Row, Birmingham, B3 2BJ

 

In brief

The full sized History of Snow Hill was a mosaic mural by Kenneth Budd was at St Chad's Circus and unveiled in 1969, but was later destroyed in 2007 during the redevelopment of the area. In 2013, Oliver Budd (son of Kenneth), recreated the History of Snow Hill in miniature, and it was installed at the bottom of the steps from the Station Square. Close to Birmingham Snow Hill Station. By 2015-16, trams would pass it on the Midland Metro extension from Snow Hill to Grand Central (Birmingham New Street Station).

History of Snow HillHistory of Snow Hill (mosaic miniature, Oliver Budd, 2013) with a West Midlands Metro tram (December 2020). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Original location

The original version of History of Snow Hill was created by Kenneth Budd, and took three years to create and was installed at St Chad's Circus in 1969. The mural (along with the JFK Memorial) was destroyed in 2007 when the area was redeveloped. This included demolishing / filling in the subways, and raising the road level back up. This was ahead of the building of One, Two and Three Snowhill. Nearby was the old Birmingham Snow Hill Station, which closed by 1972, and was being demolished in 1977. It's replacement station would be built / opened 10 years later in 1987.

History of Snow Hill at St Chad's CircusHistory of Snow Hill at St Chad's Circus in 1977. Photograph by David Stowell, Geograph (via Wikimedia)

 

New location

As with the recreation of the JFK Memorial in Digbeth, the recreation of a History of Snow Hill was done by Oliver Budd and company in 2013, but in miniature. It was installed either side of the steps that lead up to the Snow Hill Station Square, and close to the Living Wall near Colmore Circus. At the time the first Midland Metro extension was being built, which eventually opened by 2015-16.

History of Snow Hill

History of Snow HillHistory of Snow Hill (mosaic miniature, Oliver Budd, 2013) (December 2013). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Miniature mural on the right of a History of Snow Hill

On the right is the following plaque:

Between 1909 and 1914 the "old" station was replaced by Snow Hill in its final form without interruption to regular services. George Jackson Churchward succeeded William Dean as Chief Engineer and by 1912 his locomotives like No 2906 Lady of Lynn and the Saint and Star class were providing a regular 2 hour express service from Paddington. Carriages were painted maroon but later reverted to the familiar GWR chocolate and cream livery. Larger and more powerful Castle and King class locomotives were introduced by Charles Collett during the 1920s and 1930s. When World War II came in 1939 Great Westerns familiar livery was replaced by austerity grey and in 1948 the GWR merged its identity into British Railways. Snow Hill continued as part of Western Region until 1967 when it ceased operation as a main line station, although a restricted local service to Wolverhampton lingered on until 1972 The mosaic you see here is a miniature of the original work that once dominated St Chad's Circus by Kenneth Budd and associates. The original was 300 ft long with varying heights to a maximum of 20 ft at the works centre, It took three years to create and was installed in 1969. The locomotives were 2:3 scale and the carriages were 1:1. The work was made in gold leaf and glass mosaic manufactured by Orsoni in Venice set around with a light and dark stone aggregate. The original lettering panels were carved by stonemason Michael Seymour. The new work by Kenneth's son Oliver Budd is a faithful facsimile of the original design.

History of Snow Hill

History of Snow Hill

History of Snow Hill

History of Snow HillHistory of Snow Hill (mosaic miniature, Oliver Budd, 2013) (December 2013). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

Miniature mural on the left of a History of Snow Hill

On the left is the following plaque:

A History of the Great Western Railway.

Construction of the Great Western Railway line to Snow Hill began in 1847. Isambard Kingdom Brunel was the engineer in charge and the contractors were called Peto and Betts. By 1852 the 129 mile track from Paddington to Birmingham was complete - 7'0" broad gauge to Oxford 4'8½" gauge from there to Birmingham with a third rail provided for the 7'0" track. Standard gauge became standard for the whole country in 1892. Signals were hand operated by railway police. The first Snow Hill station was open on 1 October 1852. A special "Eve of Opening" train left London Paddington pulled by Daniel Gooch's "Lord of the Isles" which had been on show at The Great Exhibition. This was derailed at Aynho but successfully completed the journey the following day after a change of engine. Nine years later narrow gauge was extended to London Paddington providing a 3-hour 20 minute express service. Unheated carriages were lit by oil pot lamps and bar and disc signals were operated from trackside capstans. In 1871 a new station was built to accommodate the great increase in traffic. Expresses like No 162 Cobham designed by William Dean and driven by Driver Hughes travelled direct from Paddington at average speeds of 52.7 mph the maximum being 62.75 mph. Carriages were of the clerestory type. Toilets were introduced in 1873. A familiar sight at the turn of the century was Dash the station dog, his collection box strapped to his back. Signals were operated by Worcester levers at track level but by 1900 signal boxes became standard on main lines.

History of Snow Hill

History of Snow Hill

History of Snow Hill

History of Snow HillHistory of Snow Hill (mosaic miniature, Oliver Budd, 2013) (December 2013). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

The History of Snow Hill and West Midlands Metro trams

The first Midland Metro extension was built from 2012-16 from Birmingham Snow Hill to New Street Station's. Eventually opening during 2015-16 from St Chad's Tram Stop (originally called Snow Hill, but renamed as it was further away from the original terminus tram stop) to Grand Central Tram Stop. Trams pass the Snow Hill Living Wall and go over the grass track past One, Two and Three Snowhill. A development that started in 2007, was only completed by 2020

History of Snow HillHistory of Snow Hill (mosaic miniature, Oliver Budd, 2013) with a West Midlands Metro tram (February 2019). Photography by Elliott Brown

 

You can now walk from St Chad's Tram Stop, past Three, Two and One Snowhill, pass the History of Snow Hill miniature mosaic, and head up the steps to the Snow Hill Station Square, on your way to either Colmore Row, or into Birmingham Snow Hill Station itself. There is also steps (and a lift) to St Chad's Tram Stop from nearby St Chad's Circus. So you could walk from the original site of the mural, and not even know that it used to be there.

History of Snow HillHistory of Snow Hill (mosaic miniature, Oliver Budd, 2013) with a West Midlands Metro tram (December 2020). Photography by Elliott Brown

Project dates

06 Apr 2022 - On-going

Passions

History & heritage, Art; Culture & creativity, Transport

Contact

Your Place Your Space

Jonathan Bostock

0121 410 5520
jonathan.bostock@ yourplaceyourspace.com