Birmingham: Elmdon Building & Old Tower

[Kevin Farnell]

Good point.

If we think positively it's now having asbestos removed and is in line for new carpets and lighting, it's also been suggested that the outside will be painted.

I hope I'm wrong, and it's all to do with refurbishment. But, if the building is to be demolished, then pretty much the first item on the agenda would be removal of any hazardous substances. Once a bulldozer goes in, there would be no idea where any hazardous material ends up, or indeed whether it has all been removed. Add to that the dust created by demolition would create serious problems.

Again, I hope I'm wrong. The old terminal is an iconic building and I'd be devastated to see it go.

Kevin

 

[Jasgreeny]

Thanks jfy & Ray, stumbled across this forum googling for elmdon pics Some interesting topics going on, worked at BHX for 9yrs but sadly had to move on for more family friendly hours.

 

[wolfheze]

Anymore news?

 

[Ray Finkle]

I don't think we'll know for sure until the master plan is released.

 

[hammerb32]

Isn't the old Elmdon terminal building listed? If not it should be.

 

[wolfheze]

Was apparently but rumour has it that the listed status has been revoked

 

[Dadjet]

An old topic but recent developments may have just put the final nail in the Old Terminal building. A (rather convienient) frozen boiler last a week or two back has caused extensive flooding and damage, with long term tennants Signature and Swissport etc forced to vacate their facilities overnight with no suitable alternative accommodation readily available. This would be the excuse the airport have longed for to demolish this iconic and historic building that they have failed to maintain over the years and consign it to history books.

 

[rollo]

Hello Dadjet and welcome to this happy crew.

I would hate to see the original terminal demolished as it has many happy memories for me and in my opinion has a place in Birminghams history along with say the iconic town hall and the rotunda but no doubt "progress " will probably win out.

 

[Ray Finkle]

Welcome Dadjet 🙂

I know that the cost would be hugely prohibitive but how good would it be to see the building moved to the Black Country Living Museum?

Maybe it could house a history of aviation display with a special section dedicated to local airfields? They could even recreate the old restaurant with interactive windows simulating the arrivals and departures of the era.

I guess with the airport being the opposite side of the region from the Black Country it may not totally fit in, unless they could rename it The Greater Birmingham and The Black Country, Including Solihull and Coventry, Living Museum? 😉

 

[Dadjet]

The building is falling apart in situ, without attempting to move it, although in an idea world yes!! Would love to see the airport give an opportunity to a local passionate business person to invest in some heavy maintainance and transform it into a heritage centre. I may have said this a few times before but how great would it be as a spotter centre, static displays exhibitions, restaurant, cafe, conference facilities, even some hotel rooms on the higher floors. Even the old ATC has plenty of opportunities. Plenty of parking outside. Way too much history to allow the bulldozers in!

 

[Brum X]

Welcome to FFA Dadjet 👍

 

[Ray Finkle]

I like the idea of a small boutique hotel with conference facilities. If done properly there could be a real market for such a niche venue.

Even the old ATC has plenty of opportunities.

Penthouse Suite with a hot tub on the balcony overlooking the airfield?

They could charge what they like and I'd pay it 🙂

 

[Dadjet]

There's enough water damage without a hot tub leaking too! Would make a great place to take a date tho ;-)

 

[58terminus]

It really is a shame. We will never know but i wonder how many featureless flat pack bildings

The Greater Birmingham and The Black Country, Including Solihull and Coventry,

Sorry.That's reserved for the new high speed interchange station.And what exactly do you have against Wolverhampton?

 

[Deleted member 8862]

Of course its not going to happen, but Avoncroft buildings museum would be an ideal location if it could be
dismantled and re-erected.

It would make a great visitor centre if left where it is now though.

 

[wolfheze]

Sent an email a couple of week's ago asking about the possibility of an organised visit to the old terminal before it's demolished but unsurprisingly have not had a reply.

 

[richard winterbourn]

I think we should consider what we might be losing before we even consider the demolition of the old Elmdon terminal.

Buildings are saved for various reasons, but in virtually every case there is a sound reason for doing so. Somewhere near the centre of Brum there is a small row of back-to-back houses which have been preserved: primitive by modern standards; two up two down, no bathroom and the toilet outside. Why save them?

They have been saved because they are part of our history; my mother was born into this type of property in Balsall Heath in 1919, they are a reminder of who we are and of how our living standards and aspirations have changed.

So too, but for different reasons, the Elmdon building is important; it is a reminder of how airline travel has changed beyond reason - and in this case from the mid-1930s. I doubt there is another redundant terminal like this anywhere else in Britain which is situated on a current major international airport.

Handled in the right way this could be a goldmine for Birmingham, but how to handle it, there lies the rub.

For me, i could not think of anything better that the National Trust taking an interest in this building. Yes, the National Trust do take on historic buildings as well as castles, mansions and large estates! And furthermore could they not consider that Birmingham icon, the Spitfire, as part of any redevelopment of the building. After all, countless thousands of Spitfires were built just a stone's throw away in Castle Bromwich.

Forgive me if i am ill-informed, but is there a dedicated museum to the Spitfire? If not, there there should be, and where better that in the city where it was built and virtually on the site where it was assembled.

This building could also cater for aviation enthusiasts with the upper floor acting as the spectator gallery that many on this forum have asked for. And all or a major part of this could be paid for by grant from the National Lottery

But, really, knocking down such an iconic building such as the Elmdon terminal is a step too far. I hope others agree.

 

[Ianbutty]

I think we should consider what we might be losing before we even consider the demolition of the old Elmdon terminal.

Buildings are saved for various reasons, but in virtually every case there is a sound reason for doing so. Somewhere near the centre of Brum there is a small row of back-to-back houses which have been preserved: primitive by modern standards; two up two down, no bathroom and the toilet outside. Why save them?

They have been saved because they are part of our history; my mother was born into this type of property in Balsall Heath in 1919, they are a reminder of who we are and of how our living standards and aspirations have changed.

So too, but for different reasons, the Elmdon building is important; it is a reminder of how airline travel has changed beyond reason - and in this case from the mid-1930s. I doubt there is another redundant terminal like this anywhere else in Britain which is situated on a current major international airport.

Handled in the right way this could be a goldmine for Birmingham, but how to handle it, there lies the rub.

For me, i could not think of anything better that the National Trust taking an interest in this building. Yes, the National Trust do take on historic buildings as well as castles, mansions and large estates! And furthermore could they not consider that Birmingham icon, the Spitfire, as part of any redevelopment of the building. After all, countless thousands of Spitfires were built just a stone's throw away in Castle Bromwich.

Forgive me if i am ill-informed, but is there a dedicated museum to the Spitfire? If not, there there should be, and where better that in the city where it was built and virtually on the site where it was assembled.

This building could also cater for aviation enthusiasts with the upper floor acting as the spectator gallery that many on this forum have asked for. And all or a major part of this could be paid for by grant from the National Lottery

But, really, knocking down such an iconic building such as the Elmdon terminal is a step too far. I hope others agree.

I agree Richard. Lets preserve it and in-situ. To the south of Gatwick's terminals is the Beehive....the original terminal. It has been developed around but sits as a reminder of the origins of aviation on the site.

The original Elmdon terminal has been neglected because there are other priorities. If the airport has the balls to think big, really big and very long term it would be well underway with the redevelopment of that site and within that there is no reason at all why the original terminal cannot be fully integrated into a new development. Just takes imagination. It is part of history.

 

[GliderPilot]

If the decision was made to knock it down, something in tribute to it should be put in place.

In a new building for example, photos and plaques of special moments in the old terminal would be a nice reminder of what was and now isnt.

 

[rollo]

Here's the plan.

The old terminal is purchased by the National Trust , restored and turned into a living museum /visitor/viewing centre along the lines of the back to backs mention by Richard (by the way they are in Hurst St by the Hippodrome ) it could encompass the history of the airport and aviation in Brum including Spitfire manufacturing at Castle Brom and Lancasters at Longbridge. The Lancasters (also Stirlings i think) were shipped in kit form to a shadow factory the other side of the railway in Marston Green and after assemblyfrom then towed to the airport over a temporary bridge to be flown out.. Aircraft from the past can be displayed outside the terminal .

The name shall be ELMDON no other will do.

Sorted, anyone got the money?