Today I was invited to a double event at Birmingham City University’s South Campus in Westbourne Road, Edgbaston.
The new building was officially opened with a ribbon cutting, and then a blue plaque was unveiled by local resident Jane Darnton from St George’s Church.
The blue plaque replaces an older one (pictured below) which celebrates the fact that Sir Oliver Lodge once lived at Mariemont, a house (also pictured below) which was on Westbourne Crescent, very close to the site of the new BCU building. The new plaque will be displayed on the side of the new building.
Mariemont House has long since disappeared but the name was originally continued in a hall of residence on the site (which has also now gone). However the gate posts to the original Victorian house, with the name Mariemont on them, can still be seen on Westbourne Crescent. Interesting local history connected to one of Edgbaston’s newest buildings!
Deirdre Alden 