Description

CONSTITUTION HILL
1.
5104
City Centre B19
Nos 1 to 7 (odd)
SP 0687 NE 25/5 25.2.81
II
2.
1896 built as works and offices for H B Sale, architects William Doubleday and
Shaw. Narrow triangular site with Hampton Street. Four storeys, dark red brick
elevations, terracota dressed, with swept shaped gables, the dominating feature
of the design is the striking 5 storey circular tower at the apex of the site,
faced in red terracotta. The upper floors are corbelled out from the base and
are richly ornamented with freely handled decorated forms terminating in a
galleried cupola that is of transitional Spanish Romanesque derivation
(Salamanca a Zamora). Shafted first floor windows, and bold ogee arches and drips
to 2nd floor. Between the second and third floors lush almost Richardsonian floral
decoration setting off the initials of H B Gale in large sinuous caps. Medieval
heads projecting from roundel plaques in spandrels of first floor window arches.
The swept gable side elevations have lively fenestration principally on tripartite
theme: segmental arcading containing ground floor windows and doors; group of 2
and 3 light windows with lobed shaped over arches on first floor and round arched
galleried windows to upper floors. Parapet heightened between gables on Hampton
Street. The building holds a very commanding position in the townscape.

Listing NGR: SP0678887646

External Links

• Historic England Listing
• 1–7 Constitution Hill, Birmingham at Wikipedia
• Wikidata Q4596722

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides)
• 
  Historic Environment Law: Planning, Listed Buildings, Monuments, Conservation Areas and Objects, Supplement 2014
• 
  Sussex: East with Brighton and Hove (Buildings of England) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Northamptonshire: Buildings of England Series (Pevsner Architectural Guides) (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)