Science Museum, Newhall Street Demolition

Contractors have been gradually demolishing the old Science Museum,
with work concentrated around the part that housed the Boulton & Watt
engine. These buildings were of relatively modern construction that
replaced a number of mid & early nineteenth century buildings in this
section of the site.

The Birmingham Museum & Industry took over these premises from the
firm of Elkington’s who were well known for their electroplated wares
as well as being makers of copper goods.
Their works essentially occupied a rectangular piece of land bounded
by the Birmingham & Fazeley Canal, Charlotte Street and Newhall
Street that was leased to Elkingtons by the Colmore Estate. They also
had a narrow strip of buildings between Fleet Street and the Canal
That was linked to the main buildings by enclosed bridges.

Elkingtons were not the first occupier of these plots of land as
there was a rolling mill there occupied by James Mills that rolled
metal and wire. It was this mill that was served by a private canal
that was cut through the Colmore estate for Lady Caroline Colmore.

Following their success with electroplating the firm of Elkington &
Mason built up the business in Newhall Street adding new buildings
such as those in Fleet Street and around the site.

Following the modernisation of the site by the museum during the
1960’s much of the old buildings were lost. However survivors include
part of the impressive office block that faces Newhall Street, a
building on the Charlotte Street side and another important structure
beside the Private Branch Canal, which is generally regarded as post
1850.

In the case of this latter building, which it is said is locally
listed, (although not yet confirmed), all other buildings around it
have been demolished and this structure is now much more visible. The
rear, in particular, with its openings and windows can now be seen.

The Private Branch canal is commonly known as Whitmore’s Arm, even
though Whitmore’s own foundry was located near the end of the Newhall
Branch. This private arm was quite long extending beyond Caroline
Street to George Street and to finish near the Sandpits, where
presumably Whitmore and other ironfounders gathered their foundry
sand.

This waterway was filled in during the 1950’s, although the end
nearest the Museum remained in water for much longer. There was a
short length of tramway track on a wharf there – a reminder of the
times when coal was brought by boat to feed the boilers of steam
engines.

With the contractors making increasing inroads into the site, one can
only wonder what the developers intend to do with the heritage
buildings.