The Grade II-listed old mansion at 80 Broad Street in Birmingham stands as a forgotten relic amidst the city's vibrant nightlife. Once a grand villa built in the early 19th century, it now serves as a backdrop for weeds, litter, and discarded nitrous oxide canisters. A recent planning bid to construct a high-rise on top of the building was rejected as 'utterly bonkers' by Councillor Gareth Moore, leaving its future uncertain.
A Glimpse into the Past
Built in the early 1800s, the villa was part of the Islington neighborhood, named after the sophisticated London area. In 1816, glass manufacturers Rice Harris, Owen Johnson, and John Berry established the Islington Glassworks nearby. Harris owned the detached house, which later became the villa. However, financial troubles led to its sale in 1842, described as a 'very substantially built and roomy family house' with multiple rooms and a large walled garden.
Medical History
Later that year, the Birmingham Lying-in Hospital and Dispensary for Diseases of Women and Children moved in, providing care for poor married women. By 1863, architect John Jones Bateman added two symmetrical wings. Despite its grand appearance, high mortality rates from puerperal sepsis led to the closure of the inpatient department in 1867. In 1869, the Children's Hospital Committee took a 50-year lease, adding Gothic piers and railings designed by Martin and Chamberlain.
From 1917, it became the Royal Cripples Hospital, later the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital in 1955. By the 1990s, it operated as a bar, restaurant, and nightclub, with the last tenant, Zara's, closing in 2020 after a firebomb attack and loss of its alcohol license.
Current State and Future
Today, the building features a slate roof, cast iron vents, red brick in Flemish bond, and stucco detailing, but is overgrown with plants and littered with debris. A 2024 planning application for a high-rise tower was refused, with objectors calling it 'an insult'. The owner, HJB Investors, has not responded to requests for comment, and the planning firm Marrons declined to comment. The mansion's fate remains uncertain, echoing the plight of many listed buildings in Birmingham.
