Birmingham: What Can You See? Trivia Quiz

Answer: Birmingham New Street

Originally, Birmingham was linked to London in 1838 by a railway that terminated at Curzon Street. As industry in the city grew following the Industrial Revolution, Curzon Street became unfit for purpose and a new station on New Street was opened in the 1850s. Even then, New Street station wasn't big enough to meet rising demand and in 1885 it was expanded to cover 12 acres: the biggest station in the country at the time.

Birmingham's central location makes it a hub for travellers from across the country. In 2015, New Street underwent a renovation and a new shopping mall, Grand Central, was opened above it. During the renovation, a decommissioned postbox was found stuffed with undelivered letters - some dating back to 1989!

In 2010, plans were set in motion to make Birmingham central to HS2: a high-speed train running from London to Birmingham and beyond with the disused Curzon Street station as its base.

Answer: It wasn't built to be a cathedral.

Many English cathedrals were built for purpose, though lots of them have been expanded or remodelled over time. Saint Philip's was different. Birmingham was a simple town until the Industrial Revolution and as its population grew, so did the need for churches. Saint Philip's was built in 1715 when the former parish church was deemed to be too small. Almost 200 years later, the city was so large that the Diocese of Birmingham was set up in 1905 and needed a cathedral to accompany it. Birmingham's first bishop was conscious of the poverty in the city, so instead of spending money on a new building, he decided to repurpose an existing church and created the Cathedral Church of Saint Philip.

Churches aren't the only places of worship in the city. Birmingham has a large number of Islamic mosques, Sikh gurdwaras, and a few Hindu mandirs, among others. They reflect the diversity within Birmingham as it has grown.

Answer: 1909

The first silent film was screened at The Electric Cinema on 27 December 1909, making it the oldest working cinema in the UK when it celebrated its centenary in 2009. Over the years, it was given a few different names and used for slightly different purposes, but in 2004, it was redecorated in an art deco style to resemble photos of the cinema when it first opened. During the refurbishment, over 300 film reels were found in the attic, including archived news footage from the early 20th century. When it reopened in 2004, the Electric served cake instead of popcorn, had optional sofa seats, a cocktail menu, and at-seat waiter service.

It featured a mix of popular and arthouse releases, as well as 20th century classics. It also hosted special events like '"It's a Wonderful Life" with Wine' and late-night horror screenings.

Answer: Cadbury

Cadbury's chocolate can trace its roots way back to 1824 when John Cadbury first started selling homemade chocolate products in his grocer's shop. The business grew and soon demand was so high that Cadbury needed a warehouse to operate from. During the 20th century, visitors could take guided tours of the factory and in 1990, Cadbury World opened.

The visitor attraction had exhibits showing how chocolate was made and the history of the company. It received 100,000 more visitors than expected in the first year it was open.

Answer: The Hippodrome

The Hippodrome first opened in 1899 as The Tower of Varieties and Circus, but the circus ring didn't last long. It soon became a more conventional theatre and has showcased a range of performances, including plays, musicals, and ballets by the Birmingham Royal Ballet.

The theatre was also the location for the 1999 Royal Variety Performance. Famous acts that night included comedian Ed Byrne, pop band Steps, and opera singer Andrea Bocelli, as well as Birmingham's own ballet company.

Answer: A science museum

Millennium Point opened in 2001 with an aim to be a leading centre in science and technology. It was the new home for some of the city's universities and colleges, as well as a brand new science museum called the Thinktank. The museum had a planetarium and exhibits showing things like Earth's natural history, Birmingham's industrial heritage and Kid's City: a role play and exploration area for young children.

Answer: The working classes

Back to back houses were small, cramped homes that were built for the poorest residents during the 19th century. They were built around courtyards with shared privies, washrooms and workshops. At one point, a quarter of Birmingham's population lived in back to back houses.

In the 1960s, what remained of the city's slums were declared unfit for habitation and were demolished. The museum in the city centre was the only surviving example of back to back housing in the West Midlands. It consisted of one block of back to backs containing four separate houses and a traditional 1930s sweet shop. Each house was decorated to reflect a different time period within the 19th and 20th centuries.

Answer: The Botanical Gardens

Birmingham Botanical Gardens was founded in 1829 on a site that was initially a farm. Since the 1850s, the Gardens have had glasshouses, homes to plants that usually live in hotter and more humid places than the UK. In 2012, the Butterfly House opened, showcasing tropical butterflies native to Central America, Africa and the Philippines.

There is also a bandstand and the Gardens have hosted performances during summer months.

Answer: Selly Manor

Selly Manor was near Cadbury World, the chocolate factory and visitor attraction. At the beginning of the 20th century, the confectionery company was still owned by the Cadbury family. George Cadbury was a Quaker and a philanthropist who believed that education was important, so when Selly Manor (then under a different name) was up for sale, he decided to buy it and create a history museum.

The building was constructed in a style that has become iconic of historic English buildings, and the earliest mention of the timber-framed building dates back to 1476. George Cadbury arranged for Selly Manor to be moved from its original location to his new village built around the chocolate factory: Bournville.

Answer: Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery

Only two of the museums listed are in Birmingham: The British Museum is in London and the Museum of Modern Art is in New York. The Ikon is a contemporary art gallery in Birmingham that began in a small glass kiosk in 1965, but has expanded significantly over the decades.

The collections in Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery are generally older than the work on display at the Ikon. The museum has a large collection of paintings ranging from the 14th century to the present. Their extensive collection of Pre-Raphaelite work contains over 3000 items, including drawings, paintings, and prints. It also has lots of historical artefacts on display. In 2009, it became the home of the Staffordshire Hoard, the largest collection (at the time) of Anglo-Saxon gold and silver treasure to ever be found. The items in the Hoard were over 1,300 years old and revealed an insight into life in Britain all those centuries ago. Ten years later, items from the collection were still on display at the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.