The Edwardian Lady and Birmingham New Street

Edith Holden is famous for her Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady, written in 1906.  However she also had a successful career as an artist and illustrator.  Her biography, by Ina Taylor, says:

In art particularly the town was well served with galleries at the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists [RBSA] where the two exhibitions every year attracted great interest. A museum was established, and there was also the Municipal Art School, which had a reputation for being the best art school outside London.

Edith entered the art school at 13, having already shown a talent for sketching. While at the school, she won prizes.  When she completed her basic training, she specialized in animal paintings.

When she was 19 one of her paintings was accepted for the RBSA Autumn Exhibition. From 1890 to 1907 she regularly exhibited at the RBSA.  Wikipedia tells us that, at this time, the gallery stood behind a neo-classical portico in New Street. It says: Increasing financial pressure in the early years of the 20th century led to the society's landmark New Street building being demolished and rebuilt as part of a commercial redevelopment.

The RBSA website says:  In April 2000, after being based at New Street in Birmingham since 1829, the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists relocated to a new gallery just off St Paul’s Square.


New Street's Grand Central station - work continues on the roads outside.

When Edith was exhibiting her paintings in New Street, there was already a fine, Victorian station. The New Street, New Start web site tells us: The station was badly damaged by bombing raids in World War ll leading to the removal of the roof after the war.  The original station was finally demolished in 1964. The station that replaced it has just been superseded by the new "Grand Central" station. I've travelled through there several times as I am working just a few stops down the line , near Birmingham international.