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Opened in 1883 - 1970s closed ??
Icknield Street School, 1972 Grade 2* Photo acknowledgement Mac Joseph
"Old Ladywood"
The school is now a Sikh temple and has suffered a fire in recent years.
It opened in 1883 as Icknield Street Board School. It became a secondary modern in 1945. In the 1960s it had over 950 pupils. It is one of Martin and Chamberlain's Board Schools - and is listed grade II, they built another 40 of them around the city. They were built with certain aims in mind, eg healthy ventilation and that is why they had towers, to allow air circulation. Martin built in red brick with terracotta decorations in a Venetian Gothic style and used decorative tiles with foliage motifs, as also can be seen at the Birmingham Institute of Art and Design in Margaret Street, J H Chamberlain, is buried at Key Hill Cemetery. (as is Joseph Chamberlain no relation), they also extended the Grand Hotel and designed the original 1879 Central Library which was demolished in 1974. John Henry Chamberlain had formed a partnership with William Martin in 1864 and they became the leading gothic architects in Birmingham. Their offices were located in the Christ Church buildings (now demolished) at the top of New Street, close to the Town Hall and Council Buildings in Victoria Square. Chamberlain was also responsible for scores of Birmingham buildings including Spring Hill Library, just up the road, Highbury Hall, and and the former Oozells Street School as well as the Chamberlain Memorial Fountain.
The Challenge shield was owned by and stored at the Midland Adult School Union in Kings Norton, Birmingham
Kindly donated to Birmingham Icknield Male Voice Choir by them on Monday 8th December
Picture Gallery
Icknield School Art Class Icknield School Interior Albert Lancaster's Shop Sign
Birmingham Icknield Choir 2003 MP Khalid Mahmood Shield at Key Hill Cemetery & MP
Elmwood Church 2005 Clare Short at fund raising day. 2004
Science Laboratory at Icknield Street Board School. Phot.( details of )by W. J. Harrison c. 1891. Birm. Reference Library. British History Online.
Icknield Street Board School British History Online2
Choir History
Icknield Street School was part of this movement and in
the early 1900 formed a Male Choir calling themselves "Icknield Street Early
Morning Adult School Male Voice Choir". This choir performed many concerts
within the Hockley area. In parallel on the 14th December 1900 a charitable
trust, The Bournville Village Trust was created.
1910 saw the setting up of the Adult School Union Musical Festival with Cadburys furnishing a large Challenge Shield for the Male Voice Choir Competition. Under the expert guidance of conductor Mr. F. Norton the choir won their first of many trophies.
"PACK UP YOUR TROUBLES"
At the outbreak of the 1st World War the choirs activities were suspended, reforming again during 1919/20. A local businessman and engraver in the jewellery quarter a Mr. Albert Lancaster, (see picture gallery), took up to baton, and by the end of 1921 the choir were performing 30 -40 concerts a year with their accustomed high standard and extensive repertoire. During this time there was little Sunday entertainment, Cinemas were not allowed to open unless for charity. The Sunday Observerance Society would arrange concert, and the Choir were to be heard at many of the local Cinemas and Theatre Palaces on Sunday evenings. The Choir regularly entertained the inmates at Winson Green Prison who were a very appreciative (if captive) audience. The Choir under Albert Lancaster entered many Musical Festivals winning many competitions, until at the age of 65 Mr. Lancaster had to retire. The Choir had anticipated this and had been grooming Mr. Harold Winters to pick up the baton.
Icknield Street Early Morning Adult School Male Voice Choir, Shield winners in 1935.
"WE'LL MEET AGAIN"
Thus the Choir continued, winning more trophies until the outbreak of the 2nd World War. During this time small groups would continue to perform concerts. At the end of hostilities the Choir re-assembled and were happy to be singing once again. They resumed their former greatness with successes at Tamworth, Bournville and Leamington Festivals to name but a few. Their highlight was being asked to perform a concert in Wales (Pontyberem, Carmarthenshire). Sadly Harold Winters died shortly before this event but his inspiration lived on, the Choir did not let him down.
"THESE BOOTS WERE MADE FOR WALKING"
Due to the changes in Education Departments and Adult
Evening Classes the Choir had many homes over the next few years.
In the late 50's the Choir changed its name to The Icknield Male Voice Choir,
still keeping their contacts with their roots. This time saw the arrival of both
Les Beach and Michael Adams as conductors.
Following further changes in the Evening Institutes and ever increasing fees
the Choir were on the move again, ending up at Elmwood Church, Hamstead Hill,
Handsworth Wood, until 2001, when another move brought them to the Grimshaw Room,
St Chad’s Cathedral, near Birmingham City Centre.
A few notable performances more recently have included CHOIR OF THE WORLD
at Cardiff Arms Park in 1992 & 1993, a tour of ATLANTA in 1994, and a visit to
Ilfracombe in 2000. They also celebrated their hundred years in being by a
concert at Symphony Hall in 2000.
In 2002 the choir wish to reflect their broader base in the area, and changed their name to
Birmingham Icknield Male Voice Choir
ADULT SCHOOL UNION SHIELD
Won Year Conductor
Yes 1910 Alan. W. Norton
Yes 1935 (Harold) H. Winters
Yes 1936 H.H. Winters
Yes 1937 H.H. Winters
Yes 1938 H.H. Winters
Yes 1940 H.H. Winters
Yes 1950 H.H. Winters
Yes 1951 H.H. Winters
Yes 1952 H.H. Winters
Yes 1953 A. Sewell
John Henry Chamberlain joined a partnership with William Martin in 1864 and the pair became the leading gothic architects in Birmingham. Their offices were located in the now demolished Christ Church buildings at the top of New Street, close to the Town Hall and Council Buildings in Victoria Square.
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