Warwickshire Railways: Book Review

Birmingham New Street Part 1 - Background and Beginnings - The Years up to 1860 by Richard Foster

Softback Cover, 215mm x 275 mm, 88 pages, 63 Black and White Photographs and Illustrations

Wild Swan Publications. ISBN: 978-0-906867-78-5 Cover price £7.95 (Out of Print)

Intended as a four part study, parts One to Three have been published to-date.

Part One - Background and Beginnings: The Years up to 1860;
Part Two - Expansion and Improvement: 1860 to 1923;
Part Three - LMS Days: 1923-1947.

This development of Birmingham as a major industrial and commercial centre began with the construction of the Birmingham Canal. The size and importance of the town grew rapidly as soon as railway communications were established, and development of the central area into the form it has today, began with the construction of New Street station. The rise of Birmingham's importance was such that during the 1880's it was accorded City status while the station had to be doubled in size. Throughout its history, New Street Station has had considerable influence on the city's progress and development. This series of self-contained books begins by looking at the impact of the canal on later events. The story of the construction of New Street and the pioneering Curzon Street stations is covered in detail together with accounts of their influence on Birmingham and their subsequent history right through to the present day.

Contents are:

• The role of transport in the development of Birmingham
• Birmingham Canals
• The establishment of Curzon Street
• The Birmingham & Derby Junction and Birmingham & Gloucester Railways
• Developments of the mid 1840's - South of Birmingham
• Developments of the mid 1840's - North of Birmingham
• New Street Station
• Developments around Birmingham up to 1860
• Curzon Street 1846-1860

Richard Foster has set the standard of historical research for books on railways within the County of Warwickshire and beyond. Few will be able to equal it. As stated in one review The three books are Quality history, profusely illustrated.

Mike Musson

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