Birmingham's Forgotten Hotel: Uncovering the Dark Secrets of its Fascinating Past
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- Опубликовано: 27 авг 2024
- #urbanexploring #birmingham
Something a bit different from me this week, I had wanted to go and see what was happening with this building for a long time.
Now preserved as a Grade 2 listed building, The Rowton Hotel (formally Rowton House, Paragon Hotel & Chamberlain hotel) in Birmingham, United Kingdom, started life as a Rowton House hostel by an organisation that provided a clean bed, food and shelter for migrants from (mostly) Ireland working in construction or local factories. It has been passed through many hands over the years, even at one point being owned by The Dorchester Group and tried to rebrand as a more luxurious place to stay.
Confusingly it is still listed online for bookings but when you go to book there are no rooms available. I decided to go and see for myself and then got dragged into weeks of research.
I hope you enjoy the video, please consider dropping me a like or subscribe so I can continue exploring. This video didn't go entirely to plan, but I think that's part of the fun. I will be revisiting the area for a further explore with a more Peaky Blinders focus so make sure you subscribe to stay tuned for that!
I found this very interesting video during my research where two previous residents from when it was a Rowton Hostel talk about their experiences from : • Frank & Eugene - Lord ...
Until the next adventure!
Such a great video would love to see more of the hidden history of Birmingham! Thanks for sharing.
More to come I hope! I’m working on research for somewhere tonight x
Nice to hear you speak a little bit about the Peaky Blinders- my great great Uncle was Henry Lightfoot, who was the first person to be named by the newspapers a "Peaky Blinder". He is who Arthur Shelby is based on. We found all his criminal records, and the funnest ones were being arrested for taking a duck, a pig, doorknobs and a bicycle wheel all when he had one too many jars!!!
Honestly, it was the same when I found AG's records - his first appearance in court was at aged 9 for throwing rocks at a train off a bridge in Bordesley. It's not funny really as it could have damaged the train or injured the driver but after that it was just one thing after another, but the crimes sadly got more and more serious as he got older. His specialism seemed to be stealing from gas meters ..
I absolutely prefer hearing you speak! you sound so friendly, knowledgeable and fun ☺
Thank you, friendly YES! I love connecting with people! Thank you ❤️❤️❤️
Always enjoy hearing your voice! As a Brummy living daan sarf, it’s nice to hear that familiar twang sometimes! There’s so much to see & explore in Brum. Will look forward to more videos 😊
Same here, born in Brum, brought up in Stourport and Kidderminster, now living in Swindon. I still have family in the Midlands.
I really like listening to you speak for two reasons: first, you have a lovely accent! Second, I can multitask while listening/ watching, and doing chores is SO MUCH better with videos like yours. Thank you for all your hard work!
You are so welcome! You tube is my "friend" during boring tasks too! Tablet on and keeps me company all day. Thanks for your lovely comment xxx
You WILL have 100.000 subscribers, you deserve them
Ahhh love the random guys in the park willing to tell you so much.. brilliant.. I always find you get what you put out there.. so your lovely sunny disposition is why they're so nice back.. ❤
I'll talk to anyone I will 🤣 I love it! Always have time for people x
Thank you Lucy. Really enjoying your videos. Keep them coming.
Glad you like them! I will do, honestly the highlight of my days is the hour or so I get to sit down, research and edit :)
I love these old buildings, especially Victorian & Edwardian buildings… beautiful! They have a lot of buildings like this in Manchester where I’m from, they filmed loads of peaky blinders in Manchester for the last season I recall a few years ago. Great video lucy once again!
Thanks Stevie, I love Victorian architecture - they sure knew how to say "I'm here" didn't they?
Keep speaking, love hearing your commentaries 😊
Thank you! Will do! Appreciate it Denise x
Loved this, keep on doing what your doing. It’s so interesting. Thank you 🐞
You are so welcome Carole & thank you x
Please keep speaking, you are great 👍 Very interesting learning the background of where the Peaky Blinders lived. Yes it does look a bit rough but those old hotels are fabulous. Sad they are not doing up the old buildings, new ones are so sterile looking.
Thank you, and I totally agree with you, I think this building is stunning!
Thank you for sharing 😊
My pleasure 😊
Excellent video. It was nice to hear your voice, and it allowed me to practice my listening to different British accents. You are really brave! Love from Buenos Aires
Thanks Maria! Our accent is always voted the worst in the UK 😅 sad times! Glad you enjoyed it ❤
@@throughlucyslens what??!! To me it sounded fantas
tic!
Ah what a shame you couldn't get in, but great if the building is being used for refuge. Love hearing your voice 😊
Thank you! I love hearing your research and your accent. Sometimes, I have to Google some of your phrases. 😊
I hope your nephew gets his channel!
I hope so too! He's still going on about it - I have to keep explaining there's a long long way to go 🤣 always feel free to ask what any phrases mean, we so say some funny things in Birmingham :)
Thanks for showing us these wonderful buildings shame you couldn't show us in side thank you
I know!! One day I will ... I am always checking on it :)
I've been in there back in the 1990/2000s when it was a hotel. Opened by Princess Alexandra the rooms were basic but clean. Twin beds
Thanks for sharing. I'd have loved to gone inside.
Have you tried to see if you can visit the Que Club? Another incredible property that held Choir competitions in the past before it became a major house club in the 90s onwards..
It's an amazing building isn't it! Very very long story short but my dad tried to buy it once when it was being sold off for pennies, reality kicked in and obviously it didn't happen but it's a beautiful place. Let me see if I can find anything out x
@@throughlucyslens oh wow
Could pass for an old prison/workhouse like you say.. 819 men.. incredible really
It must have been so so busy- you know Trinity Church in Bordesley Green that's another one used for similar and I would LOVE To go inside there!
@@throughlucyslens I maybe going out next Saturday to Bordesley so I may go and take a look, only a fleeting visit for friends djiing so not much time
Actually, I looked at the photograph of your ancestor. Maybe he did do some really bad things but I think he looks quite lost & frightened. I suspect he had a very difficult childhood.
He did and he didn’t .. one day I’ll get the time to do a full video about him. It’s a bit of a tricky one as not everyone supports my fascination with his antics
It may not have gone as planned but so interesting
Ps I’m also proud to be a brummie
Yesssss! Gosh I had forgotten about this video. Such a fascinating place!
I had to google PeakynBlinders - interesting
Hope you enjoy their stories x
Interesting! Cheers
Thanks so much for watching ❤️
I did a job in that building in the late 80s, it was basically a homeless doss house back then, it was originally built for single working men on low wages, i believe there is a duplicate building elsewhere in the country, we had to go in the cellar, which back then had been used to store hundreds of old soiled mattresses ( cheaper than disposing of them), god the smell, then we moved a mattress and realised the place was heaving with rats, we legged it, also I occasionally drink in White swan, yes it lovely inside, very period in some areas
The white swan is gorgeous. I never like filming in pubs though as people are just trying to get a bit of peace & quiet. I bet those mattresses are still there 🤢
@@throughlucyslens well it's full of immigrants now, I hesitate to use the word "refugees" I used to use HRPC merchants down the road for years, no problems, but now crime has shot through the roof around there, usually vehicle break ins, so you have to watch where you park your vehicle now
@@stephenevans6070 Funny you should say that because when I got back from filming there were couple of guys hanging about my car, made me feel really uncomfortable!
Lovely red brick buildings full of history. Shame you couldnt get inside to film.
I know! I was absolutely gutted! I hope one day I can get in for a look, I bet there would be so much to find!
Hi Lucy. I am from New Zealand, so am unfamiliar with England. What are peeky blinders? 😊
Peaky Blinders was the name given to a gang of Birmingham criminals who rained the streets 1850-1920s ish - not nice people to know but recently glamourised by a very popular tv series of the same name x