British Industries Fair
Encyclopedia
The British Industries Fair was an important exhibition centre in Birmingham
, England
.
The large complex of buildings were built in 1920 and were situated between Castle Bromwich Aerodrome
and the railway line. For two weeks every year it was the most visited attraction in the country. In 1933, the first diesel locomotive arrived for display at the BIF.
The nearby Castle Bromwich railway station
received many important visitors for the BIF, including King George V
and Queen Mary
in 1928, the Duke of York, Princess Mary and Lord Lascelles. They were often entertained afterwards by the Bradfords at Castle Bromwich Hall
.
The site was sold in 1960, along with that of the airfield. The buildings and the sites were cleared for the construction of the Castle Vale
housing estate. The BIF was replaced by the National Exhibition Centre
.
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
The large complex of buildings were built in 1920 and were situated between Castle Bromwich Aerodrome
Castle Bromwich Aerodrome
Castle Bromwich Aerodrome was an early airfield, situated to the north of Castle Bromwich in the West Midlands of England. The site now falls within the City of Birmingham.-History:...
and the railway line. For two weeks every year it was the most visited attraction in the country. In 1933, the first diesel locomotive arrived for display at the BIF.
The nearby Castle Bromwich railway station
Castle Bromwich railway station
Castle Bromwich railway station was a railway station in Birmingham opened by the Birmingham and Derby Junction Railway in 1842.It was on the line into Birmingham Lawley Street from Water Orton....
received many important visitors for the BIF, including King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
and Queen Mary
Mary of Teck
Mary of Teck was the queen consort of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Empress of India, as the wife of King-Emperor George V....
in 1928, the Duke of York, Princess Mary and Lord Lascelles. They were often entertained afterwards by the Bradfords at Castle Bromwich Hall
Castle Bromwich Hall
Castle Bromwich Hall is a Jacobean Mansion in the village of Castle Bromwich, which is situated in the northern part of the Metropolitan Borough of Solihull in West Midlands, England. It is a Grade I listed building.-History:...
.
The site was sold in 1960, along with that of the airfield. The buildings and the sites were cleared for the construction of the Castle Vale
Castle Vale
Castle Vale is a housing estate located near Erdington currently Castle Vale votes with Tyburn Ward which is part of Erdington constituency, northeast of Birmingham city centre in England...
housing estate. The BIF was replaced by the National Exhibition Centre
National Exhibition Centre
The National Exhibition Centre is an exhibition centre in Birmingham, England. It is near junction 6 of the M42 motorway, and is adjacent to Birmingham International Airport and Birmingham International railway station. It has 20 interconnected halls, set in grounds of 628 acres making it the...
.
External links
- Map showing Industrial Estate on the Site Today
- "Adopt - adapt and improve. Prince of Wales - Britain's best 'Ambassador of Trade' - at British Industries' Fair." - Pathe newsreel, 23 February 1927
- Britain Opens Her Shop Window, 1950 (Pathé newsreel)
- British Industries Fair, 1953 (Pathé newsreel)
- British Industries Fair, 1957 (Pathé newsreel outtakes)