From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Birmingham's Bull Ring market has been an important feature of Birmingham since the Middle Ages. The market began in the year 1154 when Peter de Birmingham a local landowner, obtained a royal charter. Initially a cattle and food market, it developed into the main retail market area for Birmingham as the town grew into a modern industrial city.
In 1964 the 'new' Birmingham Bull Ring was constructed, a mixture of traditional open-air market stalls and a new indoor shopping centre, one of the first of its kind in the UK.
The 1960s Bull Ring was very much a product of its time. At the time of its opening it was considered the height of modernity, but unfortunately it did not age well and soon became generally regarded as an unfortunate example of 1960s architecture, with its boxy grey concrete design, and was much disliked by the public.
The 1960s Bull Ring was demolished in 2000, and has undergone a complete rebuild, the new centre mixing both traditional market activity with up-to-the-minute retail units. The new "Bullring" (as it is now written) opened in September 2003 and features a dramatic new landmark building, the Birmingham branch of Selfridges department store. The new Selfridges store is an exciting, futuristic design from the Future Systems architectural practice, clad in 15,000 shiny blue discs.
