Tucked next to the Birmingham New Main Line Canal, the Roundhouse is a horseshoe-shaped building, constructed in 1874. It was designed by architect WH Ward as stables and stores, serving as the base for the City’s lamplighters and the horses of the Public Works department.
Unlike most of the neighboring Victorian architecture, this curious building survived the centuries and in 1976 was given a Grade II* listing due to its historic importance. But by the early 2000s, it had begun to fall into disrepair. Now, thanks to a partnership between the Canal & River Trust and the National Trust, a £2.5m National Lottery Heritage Fund grant and funding from Historic England the Roundhouse is being revived.
In 2020 the Roundhouse will open to the public as an exciting new destination for Birmingham. It will be a place to meet, to work, and a base from which to explore the City and its history – by foot, by bike and by water.
