What do you suppose is the most important building in the West Midlands is? We can include bridges etc too.

See, outside of the county, it would have to be either THE Ironbridge (in the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution) or Ditherington Flax Mill (the world's first iron-framed building).

Inside the county - I dunno? MG Rover works? New St Stn?

Fucking My house is the most important building in my life :hahaha:

Now I don't know to many bridges within the West midlands but the most famous is of course Iron Bridge. It may not be the most important structure in the West Midlands.........
I like the Selfedgies... It isn't the most important building but it certainly is a great building that gives Tourism, Shops, and architecurual importance in Birmingham. :cheers:
Rover is no longer ours so I can safely say we can rule that out. :)

Well I'm going to nominate Dudley castle. Now, I know you'll think I'm being a little bit a lot biased in my nomination but I'll reduce the bias factor by saying that I think Dudley (my metropolitan borough capital) town centre itself is skanky, however it is overlooked by an historic stone building perched on a hill. How many other industriale skanky-towns do you know that have a castle?? I'm sure it would tower over some of our favouritest skyscrapers if it was in a (lowrise) skyscrapery area.

I like Dudley too. It's gets alot of shit because of the accent which I don't think is justifed. Ok it's not shrewsbury but it's got a castle, the Lubetkin Zoo and a pleasant midland town centre. Don't think the castle would get my vote though.

I suppose it depends on what you mean by important. These are my top 10 important buildings in no particular order.
Architecturally it can only be Selfridges but I think the Cube will be more worthy as it's not just a shop.
West Midlands Police headquarters
NEC, ICC or NIA. Sport, exhibition or conference. they all bring people and money in
BHX
Soho House
Coventry Cathedral
The New New Street station whatever it may be
Castle Bromwich Spitfire / lancaster / Jaguar factory
Birmingham University for the pioneering engineering and genetics
Rogers library. If it doesn't happen what does that say about Bham
Aston expressway
M & B brewery
take your pick, but I'm going with the Castle Brom plant :)
http://homepages.picknowl.com.au/ceamga/images/OtherSpitfires/CBAF%201.jpg
http://www.blacktriangle.org/wordpress/wp-content/spitfiredogfight.jpg
http://www.birmingham.gov.uk/GenerateContent?CONTENT_ITEM_ID=57954&CONTENT_ITEM_TYPE=0&MENU_ID=260
http://www.thebritishmidlands.com/jaguar.html

Birmingham Assay Office or Birmingham University...

The Assay Office was the turning point for large scale production of quality silver and gold in the region.

Brum University for work involving the atom bomb...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frisch-Peierls_memorandum

R.A.C. Control Centre, Chamberlain Clock, New Street.

Soho House Foxtrot - very good choice.... The Lunar Society! :)

Spaghetti Junction?

Oh yes that IS a jewel of Brum........... No I quite like it, it's world famous.

Well I'm going to nominate Dudley castle. Now, I know you'll think I'm being a little bit a lot biased in my nomination but I'll reduce the bias factor by saying that I think Dudley (my metropolitan borough capital) town centre itself is skanky, however it is overlooked by an historic stone building perched on a hill. How many other industriale skanky-towns do you know that have a castle?? I'm sure it would tower over some of our favouritest skyscrapers if it was in a (lowrise) skyscrapery area.
I agree with you. Dudley Castle is always particularly striking to me, especially since I can't imagine it existing within such an urban setting.

Pah Dudley Castle!! Demolish the Zoo and keep the Castle...... The poor animals are driven insane in such living quaters.
Don't get me wrong Dudley Castle is quite a nice "importnant" building of Birmingham Metropolitan area, BUT I don't think it being that important..... Somewhat it maybe "important" for the ecconomy and iconic image of Dudley but not the whole of Birmingham's Metro Area.

st andrews ..lol

LOL, Of course... "C,Mon You Blues" :cheer:

What do you suppose is the most important building in the West Midlands is? We can include bridges etc too.

See, outside of the county, it would have to be either THE Ironbridge (in the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution) or Ditherington Flax Mill (the world's first iron-framed building).

Inside the county - I dunno? MG Rover works? New St Stn?

Coventry Cathedral.

Pah Dudley Castle!! Demolish the Zoo and keep the Castle...... The poor animals are driven insane in such living quaters.
Don't get me wrong Dudley Castle is quite a nice "importnant" building of Birmingham Metropolitan area, BUT I don't think it being that important..... Somewhat it maybe "important" for the ecconomy and iconic image of Dudley but not the whole of Birmingham's Metro Area. Can you think off the top of your head of another castle within the "Birmingham Metropolitan area"?? Although maybe you can include Tamworth in that I don't know...

Ok, name something older than Dudley castle in the area off the top of your head!

You are right though that the castle is important to Dudley as an icon. As for the zoo - well.....

...or maybe Castle Bromwich... Castle Vale..... ;)

Yes I think Dudley Castle is great, a brilliant Landmark for Brum... But the zoo sucks.. That what turns me off it being a great Important building.... Even though it is, its age it's iconinc status but the zoo fucks ME up... Let alone the animals..

Can you think off the top of your head of another castle within the "Birmingham Metropolitan area"?? Although maybe you can include Tamworth in that I don't know...

Ok, name something older than Dudley castle in the area off the top of your head!

You are right though that the castle is important to Dudley as an icon. As for the zoo - well.....

There was a castle in Birmingham - owned by the fella who gives Birmingham its name - Peter De Burne or something. Not sure when it existed, but I recall it was Norman and may have only been wooden.

There's the remains of a caste in Weoley - but I think the that's more a Fortified Manor house.

There was a castle in Birmingham - owned by the fella who gives Birmingham its name - Peter De Burne or something. Not sure when it existed, but I recall it was Norman and may have only been wooden.

There's the remains of a caste in Weoley - but I think the that's more a Fortified Manor house. Oh of course - Weoley Castle! Thanks for the info MartinN :)

Very belated, but further to Biosonic & Usherling above thought i'd let you know that we have our very own early iron bridge right here in the West Mids - Galton Bridge at Smethwick, built 1829, designed by Telford. The whole area is amazing - a deep cutting with 2 intersecting railways & 2 canals at different levels, one spanned by Telford's graceful bridge (which is now a 'scheduled monument' - not quite a World Heritage Site as is Ironbridge, but equally impressive)
http://www.smethwicktoday.com/history/index.htm

Other castles within the area? What about Warwick Castle, which - whilst debatable in terms of location within the Metro area - pisses on pretty much any other castle in the country.

My most important buildings, in no particular order (except the first) =

Soho House (historical) - you should all read The Lunar Men by Jenny Uglow
Castle Brom Spitfire factory - again, historical, immensely important.
Birmingham University - for many reasons
Villa Cross Wesleyan Chapen, Aston - sporting
Coventry Cathedral(s) - spiritual reasons
NEC - where the regeneration started
ICC - where it continued
Longbridge - industrial heritage
Cadbury's, Bourneville - industrial and social heritage

There was a castle in Birmingham - owned by the fella who gives Birmingham its name - Peter De Burne or something. Not sure when it existed, but I recall it was Norman and may have only been wooden.

There's the remains of a caste in Weoley - but I think the that's more a Fortified Manor house.

where is this 'castle'???

Mark.

no matter found it! its on alwood road.

Mark.

There's not much of a castle there Mark - just a few stone walls.

There was talk of turning the plot into an education centre - good idea methinks :)

Ive been to Weoley Castle a few times when I was younger. It was true to say there isn't that much in the way of a physical structure (if you're hoping for something like Warwick Castle, then you're going to be very disappointed).

There's also a small museum on-site too, containing a few artifacts from the castle's original excavation.

Its not much but its something historical and a reminder of what once was in that particular area of Weoley Castle/Bartley Green a few hundred years ago

Still trying to decide on my 'most important' - so did a bit of research (mostly on Wikipedia) to find out about listed buildings in Brum. Here's the provisional results which some of you might find interesting. There are nearly 2000 listed buildings in the city, but only 20-odd are Grade I (ie. of exceptional interest) - all these are given below. Just over 100 are Grade II* (ie. of particular importance) - all those in the city centre are given, as well as several others 'of note' (ie. some buildings already mentioned by other posters, etc) located elsewhere in city. I'm afraid the remaining 1800-odd Grade IIs will have to wait another day (as can neighbouring borough councils)! Lata

Grade I – ie. of exceptional interest:
Town Hall (1832)
School of Art, Margaret St (1885)
St Philip’s Anglican Cathedral (1715)
Curzon Street Railway Terminus (1838)
Victoria Law Courts (1891)
122-24 Colmore Row (Bank of Scotland) (1900)
17-19 Newhall St (former Telephone Exchange) (1896)
St Paul’s Church, Hockley (1779)
Aston Hall (1635)
New Hall, Sutton Coldfield (medieval+)
St Andrew’s Church, Handsworth (1909)
Mortuary Chapel, Handsworth Cemetery (1909)
St Agatha’s Church, Sparkbrook (1899)
St Edburgha’s Church, Yardley (medieval)
St Nicolas’ Church, Kings Norton (medieval)
St Laurence’s Church, Northfield (medieval)
Holy Trinity Church, Sutton Coldfield (medieval)
Some suburban ‘villas’ (18thC/19thC)

Grade II* - ie. of particular importance:
City Centre:
Council House & Art Gallery (inc. extensions) (1874+)
Birmingham & Midland Institute (1889)
Chamberlain Memorial (1880)
City Arcade (1898)
Grand Hotel, Colmore Row (1875)
St Chad’s Roman Catholic Cathedral (1839)
Methodist Central Hall (1899+)
County Buildings (1867)
St Martin’s Church, Bull Ring (medieval/19thC)
Synagogue, Singers Hill (1856)
Twenty-odd late-19thC/early-20thC office/retail blocks
Other Grade II*s of note elsewhere in City:
Old Crown Inn, Deritend
Soho House, Handsworth
Barton Arms, Aston (& couple of other pubs)
Argent Works, Hockley (& several other factories in area)
Perrott’s Folly, Edgbaston
Sarehole Mill, Hall Green
Highbury Hall, Moseley
Blakesley Hall, Yardley
Old Grammar School/Saracen’s Head, Kings Norton
Most other churches throughout city
Many suburban ‘villas’

Grade II - ie. of special interest:
Approx 1,800 (!!) ...

how is the council house only grade II?

... Council House is Grade II* = "Grade two-star" (ie. second of three grades: I, II*, II) ...

how is the council house only grade II?

I wonder whether it is because it is a fully functioning office block, therefore preventing a Grade I means the council can carry out changes to it easiers (installing air con, pipes & wires etc)?

The listing of buildings is actually done independently of local councils - inspectors from English Heritage, who are expert architectural historians, evaluate buildings throughout the country as to their "special architectural or historic interest" and allocate a grade accordingly. Whether a building is a Grade I, II* or II really depends on what they think it's 'worth' (ie. age, importance of architect, quality of design/details, uniqueness, etc) - re: Brum's Council House, the architect Thomason, wasn't a Victorian Biggie alas. The use/future use of a building is not normally a consideration in an inspector's decision. Council's (and indeed individuals) can though recommend a building to English Heritage for listing if it's threatened, they might then agree to 'spot list' it (eg. the Rotunda, now Grade II).

Theoretically, the grading category does not affect the need for consent (which is granted by local councils) to demolish or alter a listed building, the latter whether externally or internally - many people have come unstuck by ripping out the bread ovens, etc in their Grade II listed cottages (titter, titter). Alterations to, & certainly demolition of (= very rare), Grade I and II* buildings will usually also involve the input of English Heritage, The Georgian Group, The Victorian society, etc. PS. Listed Anglican, Roman Catholic & Nonconformist churches are however largely exempt from the need for consent by way of 'ecclesiastical exemption'.

... I should also say the allocation of Grade II* generally was something of a 1970s afterthought - effectively a halfway house to indicate a regional importance, as opposed to a national importance (ie. Grade I) or merely a local importance (ie. Grade II).

Thanks for that Mercian - it is good to have someone in the know!

... My pleasure Biosonic