The History and Hauntings of the Trocadero
The History of the Trocadero, Temple Street Standing at 17 Temple Street, the Trocadero is one of Birmingham’s most visually striking historic buildings — a vivid survivor of the city’s late-Victorian and Edwardian confidence. Its flamboyant exterior of coloured glazed tiles and terracotta immediately sets it apart, reflecting a time when Birmingham embraced architectural boldness as readily as industrial progress. From Fire Station to City Landmark The story of the building begins not as a place of leisure, but of urgency and danger. Constructed in 1846, it originally served as the Fire Engine House for the Norwich Union Insurance Company. During a period when Birmingham’s crowded factories and workshops were highly vulnerable to devastating fires, insurance companies operated their own private fire brigades to protect insured properties. Designed by architects Edge & Avery, the Temple Street station housed fire engines, specialist equipment, and trained firemen ready ...
