Congreve Passage from Paradise Place in 2010 to Paradise Birmingham in 2020

As of July 2020, Congreve Passage has been reopened by Paradise Birmingham between Chamberlain Square and Great Charles Street Queensway. It runs between One Chamberlain Square and the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. It was closed in late 2015 (or early 2016) to allow for the demolition of Birmingham Central Library and the construction of One Chamberlain Square (that is now complete)

Congreve Passage links Chamberlain Square to Great Charles Street Queensway and Paradise Circus Queensway. It was once called Congreve Street before Birmingham Central Library was built from 1969 until it opened in 1974. When the new Library of Birmingham opened in Centenary Square in 2013, the old Central Library closed. It was demolished from late 2015 into 2016. This meant that Paradise Birmingham had to close off Congreve Passage. And it remained closed until they reopened it near the end of July 2020.

21st August 2010 on Congreve Passage

Heading out of Chamberlain Square I headed up Congreve Passage away from the crowds. There used to be trees here and flower beds. On the left of the Central Library was a poem by William Hutton from 1803.

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There was also pieces of art on the wall of the library behind the trees.

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This concrete footbridge linked the Central Library to the Museum & Art Gallery.

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Looking back to Chamberlain Square and Victoria Square. Was overseas students in the square with orange backpacks and jackets.

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Steps on the right go to Paradise Place. Which at the time was a side entrance into Paradise Forum.

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Road sign for Congreve Passage, close to the Great Charles Street Queensway end.

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5th August 2012 on Congreve Passage

Flower towers were along Congreve Passage in an attempt to make it look nice. There was also a Victorian style lamppost on the right.

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Despite the flowers, the concrete bridge was still there (it wouldn't be demolished until 2016).

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A nice red flower bed surrounded by a concrete base. While it looks nice, the concrete would have to go by 2016.

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4th November 2012 on Congreve Passage

Pair of cherry pickers outside of the Central Library on Congreve Passage. In the last years of the libraries life, it had the Todo es Posible street art by Lucy McLaughlan. But it wouldn't survive the 2016 demolition.

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20th February 2016 at Congreve Passage

Paradise Birmingham had closed off Congreve Passage to the public. No access to Centenary Square / Broad Street / Copthorne Hotel.

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Pedestrians were diverted via what was Edmund Street and Margaret Street if they wanted to get to Great Charles Street Queensway. Maybe the last time to see the Todo es Possible art before the library was knocked down on this side during 2016.

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8th February 2020 look at Congreve Passage

The view from Paradise Circus Queensway near Great Charles Street Queensway. There was now a gate / fence at the end of Congreve Passage to the right of the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery.

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My first look at Congreve Passage in 4 years. It looks different. No Central Library or concrete footbridge. You can see the statue of Queen Victoria, Victoria Square House and the Town Hall from this vantage point.

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21st July 2020 on Congreve Passage

I saw on Twitter that Congreve Passage was now open again, so I got the bus into town and walked up from the Bullring. Saw a PCSO on a bicycle near One Chamberlain Square.

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It has changed a lot around here. Paving in Chamberlain Square is almost finished. One Chamberlain Square is complete, and The Dishroom is now open (delayed by the lockdown).

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The old Congreve Passage road signs remains on BM & AG.

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The museum exterior is looking much cleaner, especially since the concrete footbridge was demolished 4 years ago. The stonework was also restored.

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Getting towards Great Charles Street Queensway. Site on the left is still behind hoardings.

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Looking up Congreve Passage towards Chamberlain Square from Great Charles Street Queensway. It's good to be open again after so many years. Looks better and cleaner too!

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From here you can either walk to the Jewellery Quarter, crossing at the lights. Or walk past Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery on Great Charles Street Queensway (the museum remains closed sadly due to the pandemic).

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown. Thanks for all the followers.