The Crown Inn, Birmingham facts for kids
The building in 2007
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Quick facts for kids General information |
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| Type | Public house |
| Address | Broad Street |
| Town or city | Birmingham |
| Country | England |
| Coordinates | 52°28′42″N 1°54′38″W / 52.4782216°N 1.9106478°W |
| Completed | 1781 |
| Designations | |
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Listed Building – Grade II
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| Official name: 36–37, Broad Street | |
| Designated: | 7 July 1952 |
| Reference #: | 1220278 |
The Crown Inn is a very old building in Birmingham, England. It's located on Broad Street, right next to a canal. This building started its life as a public house, which is a place where people can gather and socialize. It was first built way back in 1781!
Over the years, The Crown Inn has been rebuilt and updated several times. Even with these changes, some parts of the original 1781 building are still there. Because of its history and special design, it's officially recognized as a "Grade II listed" building. This means it's an important historical landmark that needs to be protected.
Contents
A Look at The Crown Inn's History
The Crown Inn has a long and interesting past. It has seen many changes in Birmingham over the centuries.
The Original Purpose
For a long time, The Crown Inn was known as a "brewery tap." This means it was a special pub directly connected to a brewery. The brewery belonged to a man named William Butler. It was a Victorian-era building, which means it was built during the time of Queen Victoria (1837-1901). This brewery building stayed behind The Crown until 1987.
Location and Surroundings
The Crown Inn is in a unique spot. It sits right next to a canal that is part of the Birmingham Canal Navigations system. These canals were very important for moving goods around in the past. The building is also nestled within the area of the International Convention Centre. This is a large, modern building used for big events and meetings.
How the Building Changed Over Time
The Crown Inn has been rebuilt and updated several times since it was first constructed.
- 1781: The very first building was completed.
- 1883: The building was rebuilt. The architect for this work was William Jenkins.
- 1930: Another rebuilding took place. This time, the architect was E F Reynolds.
- 1991: The building was rebuilt again. Alan Goodwin & Associates were the architects for this project. They added a new west side to the building.
Some parts of the building are still from the original 1781 design. For example, the sash windows on the first and second floors are from that very first building. A sash window is a type of window that slides up and down to open.
The Crown Inn Today
Since the early 2000s, The Crown Inn has been part of a chain of nightclubs. It now operates under the name "Reflex." These nightclubs often have a theme from the 1980s, playing music and having decorations from that time period.
