Historian Chinn slams demolition of one of city’s oldest watering holes
THE “disgusting” demolition of one of Birmingham’s oldest pubs this week has been condemned by the city’s leading historian as “a lack of respect for the Brummies of the past”.
Professor Carl Chinn said he would not bear to watch the Fox & Grapes on the corner of Park Street and Freeman Street being torn down as it would be “too upsetting”.
The building, behind Moor Street Station, has been closed for some years following a blaze on January 3, 2015, remaining boarded up ever since.
The council said the pub’s planned demolition later this year had been brought forward at short notice because of “structural issues”.
Professor Chinn said there had been a pub on the site for 200 years and its destruction was as unforgiv- able as it was inevitable given that it had been “left to fall into such a state of disrepair that it would need to be demolished”.
He added: “The decision to allow the demolition of the pub is as mystifying as it is upsetting and disgusting and shows such a lack of respect for the Brummies of the past.
“The authorities should hang their heads in shame, the same as allowing the recent demolition of St Luke’s Church on Bristol Street.
“I would find it too upsetting to watch the Fox & Grapes being demolished – and all for the sake of a modern development which will probably have a short shelf life anyway.
“There were publicans who wanted to take over this pub and get it thriving again with a new lease of life so the total lack of concern for the city’s history is staggering.
“This is one of the few old build- ings left in the area. None of us is against development, nor do we want to stand in the way of ‘progress’.
“We all know Birmingham needs more investment and more housing for the working class in particular Unfortunately, .“the Fox & Grapes has been left to deteriorate to the point that it has to be knocked down when one of our last connections with the 19th century should have been given a new lease of life in the modern world.”
He added: “There has been a pub on the site since 1829 and possibly since 1815, so that’s 200 years of history. Time after time, different (political) administrations tell us they care about the historic buildings in Birmingham and time after time they disappear.
“I know that many other Brummies feel the same as me.
“We are all in favour of develop- ment because we know we need to create jobs and homes.
“But at the same time we need to integrate the few remaining older buildings within those developments.”
The demolition will add to the risk of travel chaos this week following the closure of Paradise Queensway on September 3.
A city council spokesman said: “During these works Park Street will be closed to all traffic, with diversions likely to be in place until Friday, September 14.
“The main diversion route will be from James Watt Queensway southbound via Jennens Road, Ring Road and Coventry Road to Digbeth. We anticipate a substantial increase in right-turning traffic between Jennens Road and Ring Road. Park Street will be re-opened at the earliest opportunity.” it
The decision to allow the demolition of the pub is as mystifying as it is upsetting and disgusting Carl Chinn