Do you know we have a whole host of regular activities taking place at the Baths, non of them involve you getting wet!
From Patents & Toddlers to Zumba, from Barn Dancing to Tai Chi, there is something for everyone. Check out our regular activities page.
It’s billed as the world’s largest family history show. Gareth, Ron, Sandra and I visited “Who Do You Think You Are? Live” at the NEC early in April 2016 on behalf of Stirchley History Group. We hoped to link up with other societies, find out more about what records are available online and offline, stock up with maps and books and – as one always does at events like this – look out for the interesting and unexpected that might help us with our research.
The biggest stands were those run by the large commercial organisations that provide online access to census records and other vast archives of historical data. Their services, and especially their powerful searchable indexes, have made it easier than ever for anyone to research their own family tree. There were also numerous smaller stands run by local family history societies who have detailed knowledge of records for an individual county or region or other countries such as India and the United States. It was good to make contact with the Birmingham and Midland Society for Genealogy and Heraldry which has a large archive.
What the adverts promoting genealogical research don’t tell you is that some of the discoveries waiting to be made in the records are likely to be unwelcome. Be prepared to encounter secret illegitimacy, the spectre of the workhouse, legally dubious marriages and those all too common cases where a child’s birth and death were registered on the same day. Nonetheless this kind of research opens a fascinating window into the world of social history and, in turn, local history. Tracking individuals and families who lived in Stirchley helps us to build up a picture of life in the area in former generations.
Of all the many eye-catching heritage features in Stirchley Baths none attracts more interest than the 1911 map on the café wall. At the show we were able to buy reprints of historical Ordnance Survey maps and to find out where to access a wide range of maps online.
The show was busy throughout and even the more specialist stands attracted many visitors. There was also a large programme of expert talks, many of which sold out. It was encouraging to see this level of interest in family and local history, and we came away with plenty of information to follow up and pointers to further research.
Phil Banting, Stirchley History Group
I had a wonderful time today at Stirchley Baths, not just the spiralised courgette in my salad at the cafe, but seeing the baths coming together as a functioning building and seeing ideas and proposals from the development phase becoming a part of the building. All this while working on the ‘welcome mat’ project. The welcome mat stems from earlier work in Stirchley by Place Prospectors whose work during Stirchley Prospects found material relating to the use of Stirchley Baths as a ballroom in the post war years; the pool being covered over for ‘super non-stop dancing’ and that dancing happened to Den Jones and his Dance Orchestra.
The Stirchley Tea Dance group who used to be based in the old Stirchley community centre have agreed to work with me on the process of making the mat, I’m going to record their steps as they dance the dances that would have happened during this time, which is fondly remembered and a source of local pride.
Saturday 30 April – 2pm, 5pm and 8pm
Sunday 1 May – 12noon and 2pm
Drama and Theatre Arts University of Birmingham presents an original, devised production for a small audience that brings alive the history and people of Stirchley Baths and responds to this newly refurbished building.
Tickets are free, however booking is essential due to limited capacity. Please book via: www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/deep-end-tickets-23912768735
Discover the new Stirchley Baths with paper and pencils in hand at our ‘Draw & Explore’ event. Whatever your age or artistic experience, we invite you and your family to a drawing day led by Stirchley based artist Carla Smith who will help you get your creativity flowing. A selection of the drawings created on the day will be chosen to be framed and shown in the new exhibition area at the baths.
The event will start with a tour of the baths followed by an opportunity to draw and explore around the building. No booking necessary, all materials are provided. The café will be open 10.30am – 4pm.