B4AM – Jewellery Quarter
Thank you for everyone who made suggestions about where I should go out to next. The majority of people suggested the Jewellery Quarter.
I went out on Monday morning. I set the alarm for 2am, and the first thing I did was check the weather. It was very mild with a tiny bit of rain which I thought would be manageable to work with.
Once again, I pretty much had the streets to myself. That’s one of the things I love about going out at 4am, as I’m sure I have mentioned before. To be in the second city and not seeing another soul is so rare, and feels like a secret…
I was very brave this time!! There is a graveyard on Pitsford Street, and I briefly ventured into it to take some pics. It isn’t gated (if it was I don’t think I would have ventured into it), and I didn’t go into it very far, just a few feet. I had an idea about using off camera flash for some shots. Unfortunately, there was so little light in the area, that my idea didn’t work and the pictures aren’t really usable. Oh well, I tried!
It wasn’t long before the rain got a lot heavier, and it really slowed my progress. I had to constantly wipe the lens dry and quickly take the shot, and repeat…… Because it was such slow going, and time was ticking on, I didn’t get as many shots in as many areas as I would have liked.
This is a year long project, and I am looking forward to seeing the change in seasons and the light as the months progress. I am sure by the summertime it will be very light.
So, here are this months pictures. I hope you enjoy them. Click on the picture to enlarge. Feel free to leave a comment or ask any questions.
Henrietta Street
Chamberlain Clock. I wanted to get this shot when the clock showed the time at 4am.
Key Hill Drive
St Paul’s Square
St Paul’s Square
St Paul’s Square. The gravestone reads ‘In Memory of Moses Barber, Police Officer, who departed this life June 16 1853, age 40 years’. I did a brief search online, but I couldn’t find any more details about Moses. If anyone knows of a good place to look, or knows anything more about Moses, could you let me know? I’m just curious.
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January 21st, 2009 at 10:33 pm
Fab piccies of the JQ, great montage video too, may I blog about them on the JQ website and my own blog?
January 21st, 2009 at 11:07 pm
Hello David,
Thanks. I’m pleased you like the pics. Yes, feel free to mention them on your blog and JQ website
February 6th, 2009 at 11:44 pm
Just a random one – love the 4am project. Once was abandoned in the city centre at 4am on an autumn Tuesday, between the last London train in and first bus home, and it was quite magnificent to see. So more of Birmingham at ridiculous o’clock is definitely awesome.
February 7th, 2009 at 12:43 am
Hello Jack,
Thank you. There will be more to follow. It’s a 12 month project and there are 8 more outings to go, so you can expect more cityscapes.
Sorry to hear about your abandonment! At least you got to see a different side to Birmingham
Thanks for dropping by.
March 1st, 2009 at 11:37 pm
Hi Karen great shots of the JQ. Just a quick question? What software did you use for the montage? Thanks Jamie
March 2nd, 2009 at 12:33 am
Hi Jaymeetee,
Thank you. I used Windows Movie Maker to create the video. Just used the photos instead of video.
March 6th, 2010 at 9:17 am
The Birmingham Evening Mail of 6th December 1999 carried the following short article regarding PC Moses Barber:
“The ghost of a Birmingham bobby who trod the city’s streets 150 years ago failed to materialise to the relief of four feisty fundraisers who collected £1,000 for Acorn’s Children’s Hospice.
A team of staff from the Hockley-based Contract Fire Systems spent a night over Halloween in their offices, which are believed to be haunted by the ghost of policeman Moses Barber, in a bid to raise cash for the children’s hospice.
PC Barber is believed to have lived in the premises near St Paul’s Square, now occupied by Contract Fire Systems, until he died in 1853, aged 40.
Spooky goings-on such as ghoulish apparitions and flying boxes have led the office staff to work in fear.
However, the only ghostly noises that unsettled the sleepover team were 20th century jokes devised by colleagues using hidden tape recorders.
Organiser Cath Knight said: It was a terrifying night and at about 2am we nearly gave up and came home.”
There is a posed photograph of Chris Barber (dressed as the ghost of Moses Barber) with Acorn’s Sharon Clifton, Catherine Knight, Mandy Quirke, and Anne Harris.
I am currently researching a book of the ghosts of Birmingham and if anyone has any further details or experiences on this or other spectres of the city I would be delighted to hear.
March 8th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
Thank you Anthony!!
That’s really informative! And give a bit more of a story to the photo.
It’s funny, as I captured something on my camera that night that I couldn’t explain. A red blur of sorts in a shot – but I can’t for the life of me find it on my files! Doh.
All the best with your ghosts of Birmingham book! If I hear of anything I’ll give you a shout