Birmingham Back to Backs (NT)

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Overview

You must book in advance to visit this superbly restored group of 19th-century workers' houses literally built 'back-to-back' around a communal courtyard, as admission is by timed guided tour only. At one time, a quarter of Birmingham's residents used to live in back-to-back houses, but due to widespread demolition in the slum clearance of the 1960s, these charming properties are the only survivors. Moving from the 1840s through to the 1970s, the guided tour brilliantly illustrates the daily lives of some of the people who crowded into these small houses with their families, and the ways they tried to make ends meet. The buildings you can visit include a 1930s sweetshop, Mrs Oldfield's kitchen, where a meal is always ready and waiting, a tailor's shop and a bedroom-cum-workshop. All give a unique glimpse into the past lives of the ordinary people of Birmingham.

Location

55-63 Hurst Street/50-54 Inge Street, BIRMINGHAM, B5 4TE

About the area

After Greater London, the West Midlands is the UK’s biggest county by population, and after London, Birmingham is the UK’s largest city. There’s a lot to seek out here – it has a vibrant culture, with exceptionally good nightlife.

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Birmingham Back to Backs (NT)

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Birmingham Back to Backs (NT)

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