Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!
Christmas Deliveries: If you placed an order on or before midday on Friday 19th December for Christmas delivery it was despatched before the Royal Mail or Parcel Force deadline and therefore should be received in time for Christmas. Orders placed after midday on Friday 19th December will be delivered in the New Year.
Please Note: Our offices and factory are now closed until Monday 5th January when we will be pleased to deal with any queries that have arisen during the holiday period.
During the holiday our Gift Cards may still be ordered for any last minute orders and will be sent automatically by email direct to your recipient - see here: Gift Cards
Birmingham And Midland Institute
A Memory of Birmingham.
In the Francis Frith book "Did You Know? Miscellany of Birmingham", reference is made to Charles Dickens on page 12.
If I may offer a small correction - Charles Dickens was not a visiting lecturer. He raised money for the establishment of the Institute by holding his first public reading ( A Christmas Carol ) in Birmingham Town Hall on 27 December 1853 before a capacity audience of some 2000 people. The Institute opened in 1855 following the Act of Parliament of 1854 which established it "for the advancement and diffussion of the knowledge of art science and literature amongst all classes of persons resident in Birmingham and the Midland counties."
Charles Dickens was BMI President in 1869.
Andrew D Peet
(Retired) Deputy Administrator
Birmingham & Midland Institute
Thank you for this correction - I have passed it to the relevant member of staff, Editor
Add your comment
You must be signed-in to your Frith account to post a comment.
Add to Album
You must be signed in to save to an album
Sign inSparked a Memory for you?
If this has sparked a memory, why not share it here?
Comments & Feedback
Be the first to comment on this Memory! Starting a conversation is a great way to share, and get involved! Why not give some feedback on this Memory, add your own recollections, or ask questions below.