Digbeth

Digbeth
District
The street named Digbeth leading up to Selfridges store
Coordinates: 52°28′35″N 1°53′27″W / 52.47639°N 1.89083°W / 52.47639; -1.89083Coordinates: 52°28′35″N 1°53′27″W / 52.47639°N 1.89083°W / 52.47639; -1.89083
Country	England
City	Birmingham

Digbeth is an area of Central Birmingham, England. Following the destruction of the Inner Ring Road, Digbeth is now considered a district within Birmingham City Centre. As part of the Big City Plan, Digbeth is undergoing a large redevelopment scheme that will regenerate the old industrial buildings into apartments, retail premises, offices and arts facilities. There is still however much industrial activity in the south of the area. As part of the plans Digbeth Coach Station has also been redeveloped and renamed Birmingham Coach Station.

The modern site of Digbeth was first settled upon in the 7th century. Historically the land to the west of the river was in the Parish of Birmingham. This is Digbeth. The land to the east was in the more significant Parish of Aston, and is called Deritend. Birmingham's oldest secular building, The Old Crown, is there.

The area around Digbeth and Deritend was the first centre of industry in Birmingham and became one of the most heavily industrialised areas in the town. This may have been due to Henry Bradford who in 1767 donated land on Bradford Street to anyone willing to establish a trade there. The street soon prospered and there were over twenty public houses on it catering to its workers. Today there are just three; the Adam & Eve, The White Swan and The Anchor.

The amount of manufacturing in Digbeth made it of national importance. Industry was attracted to the area as a result of the supply of water from the River Rea and from the natural springs in the area. Digbeth was accessed by the Grand Union Canal and the Digbeth Branch Canal in the 18th and early 19th centuries. Railways also arrived in Digbeth in the 19th century, stopping at Moor Street station. The line passed through Digbeth via a railway viaduct built out of Staffordshire blue brick. At the border with Bordesley, the railway viaduct meets another viaduct (Duddeston Viaduct), which is disused. This viaduct was never used as a through route and the bridges over the roads have been removed.