Bingley Hall by William S Ainsworth
Bill Ainsworth researched the history of Bingley Hall in Birmingham for many years and in 2006, on the occasion of his nintieth birthday, his family decided to publish privately the manuscript which he had written up to that point, comprising over 500 pages. That book is presented here, divided into chapters, as downloadable pdf files. The book is not quite complete — it was still a work in progress when it was published — but it is a major piece of historical research, thoroughly annotated, and is offered here to present and future local historians of Birmingham to develop further.
In the notes on the dusk jacket Bill records his special thanks and gratitude to Patrick Baird of Birmingham Central Library's Local Studies Department, for his invaluable assistance with the illustrations.
Sadly, Bill passed away on 27 December 2008. You can read our appreciation of him on the main Local History Online website.
Susan Griffiths, Barbara Hornby & Robert Howard, The Local History Press.
Contents
Introductory pages (84KB)
Chapter 1: Binges: The Early Years (4.3MB)
Chapter 2: Byngys Hall and its Tenants (4.1MB)
Chapter 3: Bingley House, the Quakers, Slavery and the Lloyds (12.7MB)
Chapter 4: Birmingham Exposition of Arts and Manufactures (5.4MB)
Chapter 5: Bingley Exhibition Hall Project (136KB)
Chapter 6: Cattle and Poultry Shows (124KB)
Chapter 7: Other Animals (44KB)
Chapter 8: Political Rallies and Ructions in Bingley Hall 18.2KB)
Chapter 9: Entertainment in Bingley Hall (240KB)
Chapter 10: British Theatre Exhibition (144KB)
Chapter 11: Athletics and Other Sport in Bingley Hall (5.5MB)
Chapter 12: Military Manoeuvres in Bingley Hall (180KB)
Chapter 13: Boy Scouts at Bingley Hall (6.8MB)
Chapter 14: Wheels at Bingley Hall (4.1MB)
Chapter 15: National Trades and Industrial Exhibitions (148KB)
Chapter 16: Other Commercial Exhibitions (380KB)
Chapter 17: Food, Drink and Flowers (212KB)
Chapter 18: Domestic Exhibitions (192KB)
Chapter 19: Good Causes and Public Health (172KB)
Chapter 20: Religion (176KB)
Chapter 21: Festival of Britain (108KB)
Chapter 22: Bingley Hall under attack (100KB)
Chapter 23: Cattle Shows end in Birmingham (108KB)
Chapter 24: Rejuvenation then Disaster (176KB)
Chapter 25: Convention Centre and Symphony Hall (44KB)
Chapter 26: Bingley Hall, Stafford (168KB)
Notes and References (436KB)