Hunting for history beneath library car park

Apr 18 2008 By Neil Elkes

A CITY centre car park set to become the site of the new £193 million Library of Birmingham, is to be dug up by archaologists.

The car park, next to Centenary Square, will be closed for four weeks from Monday while the council’s own Time Team look for evidence of Birmingham’s industrial heritage.

They will dig a series of trenches looking for remains of an old canal wharf, the Union Mill and the house of John Baskerville – one of the city’s 18th century printing pioneers.

During the work motorists will be directed to alternative parking at the council’s nearby Brindley Drive multi-storey car park, less than 100 yards away.

Disabled badge holders will be able to use designated spaces at the neighbouring Baskerville House.

The archaologists want to ensure that if these examinations reveal anything of historical significance the site can be fully excavated before the library building begins late next year.

City archaologist Mike Hodder said: "Our research suggests the site may be of interest as it once housed both a canal wharf and the remains of industrial buildings including the Union Mill and a brassworks.

"It may also sit over parts of the Easy House, the former home of John Baskerville which stood where Baskerville House now stands today.

"We are pretty confident our analysis of historic maps and documents has given us a good understanding of exactly what lies beneath the ground and hope this work will confirm that."