Old Joe at the University of Birmingham from 2018 to 2020

While during the lockdown / pandemic you are not allowed to go onto the University of Birmingham campus in Edgbaston you can see Old Joe for miles around the campus. Views here taken between 2018 and 2020. Up until early March 2020 I could still go onto the campus (now it's not possible without an ID). Named after Joseph Chamberlain who was the First Chancellor of the University.

OLD JOE:

JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN MEMORIAL CLOCK TOWER

 

Find my old post comparing the Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower here to the Torre del Mangia in Siena, Italy.

Old Joe on Twitter.

Some history about the Joseph Chamberlain Memorial Clock Tower aka Old Joe. Built from 1900 until 1908, it was the tallest building in Birmingham until 1965, when the BT Tower opened. Designed by Aston Webb and Ingress Bell who were responsible for the initial phase of building the University in the Edwardian period. The tower was based on the Torre del Mangia in Siena, Italy (see the link above to my old comparison post).

The tower commemorated Joseph Chamberlain who was the First Chancellor of the University of Birmingham. It is the tallest free standing clock tower in the world. It is over 100 metres tall (possibly as high as 110 metres). The tower is Grade II listed and it can be seen for miles around the campus. As far away as the Lickey Hills and Waseley Hills (for instance). Even from nearby parks and suburbs. It is thought that Old Joe was the inspiration for the Eye of Sauron in J. R. R. Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings Trilogy.

2018

January 2018 from Beacon Hill at the Lickey Hills Country Park. Old Joe on the City Skyline

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March 2018: From Vincent Drive overlooking the Cross City Line. The new University of Birmingham Library with Old Joe.

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May 2018: Seen from the Bristol Road in Edgbaston, when they got the clock working again!

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June 2018: View from Winnie Road in Selly Oak around the time that Old Joe won the World Cup of Birmingham's Best Buildings! on Twitter (held by I Choose Birmingham).

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July 2018: Visible from the Bourn Brook Way not far from Harborne Lane in Selly Oak.

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November 2018: A close up view from the Chancellors Court at the University of Birmingham.

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2019

January 2019: From the Green Heart at the University of Birmingham (before it was completed later that year).

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February 2019: In this view from the Bristol Road, Selly Oak, before the Selly Oak Railway Bridge of 1931.

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April 2019: Heading down Cartland Road in Stirchley, could see Old Joe between the roofs of houses.

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August 2019: Not far from the Bramall Music Building. The clock was once again stuck at 12 on all sides.

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October 2019: The view from Bournbrook Road in Selly Park, heading towards Selly Oak.

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December 2019: Old Joe was visible on the skyline from Sir Herbert Austin Way in Northfield.

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2020

January 2020: Heading towards the Poynting Building from the Guild of Students over a footbridge with this view.

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March 2020: One of my last shots of Old Joe before the lockdown began earlier in the month. Clocks stuck at 12 again.

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May 2020: The first time I'd seen Old Joe in two months due to the lockdown. This view from Cannon Hill Park.

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May 2020: Also saw Old Joe from Highbury Park, not far from Joseph Chamberlain's former home Highbury Hall.

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May 2020: Walking back from Weoley Castle past Selly Oak Park down Gibbins Road saw this view of Old Joe.

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June 2020: Saw this view of Old Joe from the Waseley Hills Country Park, before I zoomed in on the skyline.

dndimg alt="Old Joe" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Old Joe Waseley Hills (June 2020) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown. Thanks for all the followers.