Birmingham New Street Station: lnwrbns_str1765

A rare view by Alfred Freeman Smith of Great Queens Street and Cowper's 1854 roof in its original condition viewed from the steps of the Market Hall before the Midland side was built. The painting must date from 1854 to 1884.

The artist's view is from the steps of the Market Hall in the top left of the extract, across Worcester Street and directly down Great Queen Street as it was called at the time. The station roof on the right is Cowper's original 1850s roof. The buildings on the left of the painting were all demolished when the 1880s extension to the station was built. The aerial view lnwrbns_str1295d shows very neatly why the station roof in the painting looks different from the building shown in lnwrbns_str1862, as the extension to the station involved bringing the Midland Railway lines under the corner of the trainshed, necessitating the replacement of the original supporting arcade with a massive, riveted steel structure. It also shows the market hall steps at the top right of the photograph. Image lnwrbns_str1863, although taken from the inside, at the other end of the station, clearly shows the arcade supporting Cowper's great roof, the other end of this arcade is prominent in the view of the LNWR station seen in the painting. Image lnwrbns_str410 also shows the western end of this arcade but from the outside.

Toby Clempson

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