Church Street Square in the Colmore Business District

Church Street Square is a relatively modern square located in the Colmore BID between Edmund Street and Cornwall Street, and on, of course Church Street. Developed by Birmingham City Council and the Colmore BID. Work on the square started in late 2011 and was completed and opened by the autumn of 2012. The Floral Trail, Big Hoot & Sleuth have all been here. Plus the Christmas tree.

CHURCH STREET SQUARE

If you are walking down Church Street towards Great Charles Street Queensway, and the footbridge over to Ludgate Hill and the Jewellery Quarter, you might go past Church Street Square. It is a high quality public realm space in the heart of the Colmore Business District. Developed by Birmingham City Council and the Colmore BID from late 2011 into 2012. It pedestrianised part of Church Street.

There is benches, flower planters, even a large golden globe sculpture. It was the first project in this area for around 20 years.

Every summer, Cofton Nursery usually installs a Floral Trail piece. Between 2014 and 2018 they were commemorating 100 years since the First World War.

In 2015 at least one Big Hoot owl was on display that summer, then two years later in 2017, there was two Big Sleuth bears.

Every Christmas time there is a Christmas tree at the top of the square near Edmund Street. In 2019 they even had a sparkly Christmas arch which looked nice after dark.

 

2012

My first look at Church Street Square was during September 2012.

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Here you can see all the (then) new benches, with the flower planters to the back.

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Vehicles can still drive down the left hand side of the road towards Great Charles Street Queensway.

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The square works well with the Victorian facades and the modern buildings to the left.

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The main feature is this giant golden globe in the middle of the square.

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Looking up towards Colmore Row, while the globe made a nice shadow.

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2013

A look in July 2013 at the flower planters near the bench.

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Looking at the plants towards Edmund Street.

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Plants all around the benches here.

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2014

The Birmingham City Centre Floral Trail during July 2014 with the Folding Bicycle.

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Cofton Nursery were marking the 100th anniversary of the start of the First World War.

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2015

In July 2015 with War Horse in Church Street Square. This had been in Southside during the summer of 2014 at the Ladywell Walk junction with Dudley Street and Pershore Street. War Horse had been a successful film and stage show.

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The Big Hoot Birmingham 2015 trail of painted owls was also in Church Street Square as seen during July 2015.

This one was called Nature's Growth, by the artist Goosensei. The sponsor was Irwin Mitchell Solicitors.

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A look at the back of the Natures Growth owl.

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2017

The Big Sleuth Birmingham 2017 trail of painted bears was in Church Street Square as seen here during July 2017.

First up we have, Hettie The Heritage Bear by the artist Alexandra Hatfield. The sponsor was MHA MacIntyre Hudson.

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Hattie looking towards St Paul's Square down the rest of Church Street and up Ludgate Hill.

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The second bear was called Bearjing by the artist Jessica Perrin. The sponsor was Squire Patton Boggs.

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Bearjing was close to the top of the square near Edmund Street.

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The Colmore BID Christmas tree in Church Street Square during November 2017.

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The Christmas tree looked even more festive in December 2017 after it had snowed!

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The snowy Christmasy scene in Church Street Square, as a 101 bus passed by on Edmund Street. Merry Christmas everyone!

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2018

In July 2018, you could find Bees in Birmingham located in Church Street Square, a floral piece from the folk at Cofton Nursery.

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Bee to the right.

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Bee to the left.

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Both bees toward Smith Cooper.

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2019

The Colmore Business District Christmas Tree during November 2019.

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That year the Colmore BID had also installed a Christmas arch with stars. This view towards the Christmas tree.

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Beyond the golden globe towards Cornwall Street with the Christmas arch.

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I went back on evening after work in December 2019, to get the Christmas Arch lit up after dark. This view towards the Christmas tree and golden globe.

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2020

My first view of the 2020 Colmore BID Christmas Tree in Church Street Square seen on the 1st December 2020.

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Second view of the Christmas tree in Church Street Square as seen on the 19th December 2020. No Christmas Arch this time around though.

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The other public square in the Colmore BID is at Colmore Square. Expect a project and post coming in early 2021. It is located in the middle of Colmore Circus Queensway near The Wesleyan and One Colmore Square.

 

Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown