Hinterlands is a meandering work in progress that focuses on the culturally significant area in and around the Canals of Smethwick.
This area is a archipelago of modern history that is greatly under-appreciated that explores the rich aesthetic, historic, scientific, social and spiritual value for past, present and future.
Hinterlands explores the area between Birmingham City Centre to The Smethwick Glass works of The Chance Brothers. This work originally commissioned as part of the Hinterlands Project by the Canal and River Trust has now found itself as a miscellaneous element.
The 6 miles of hinterlands consists of a desire line of History in the Smethwick area encompassing the sites of specific interest consisting of the following locations; former Ruskin Pottery, Marshall Street which Malcolm X visited, Summerfield community centre (designed by John Henry Chamberlain & William Martin),the location of where where John Ruskin stayed on his only visit to Birmingham (now demolished house),HMP Birmingham, City Hospital the former Birmingham Union Workhouse(now demolished) and Summerfield Horticultural Project, The Utopia Brick, Soho Foundry, the ruins of Galton House within a skip company, Smethwick Galton Bridge and the Birmingham canal and some more not listed.
if you’re interested in walking the route with me please get in touch, it takes around 5 hours.