By Tim Lambert
1166
The king grants the right to hold a weekly market in Birmingham. It becomes a busy little market town.
1250
The people of Birmingham are given the right to hold an annual fair
1380
Birmingham is becoming known for its metalworking industry
1500
Birmingham has a population of about 1,500
1560
The population has risen to around 2,000. There is still a wool industry in Birmingham and a leather industry but metalworking is fast becoming the most important industry.
1635
Aston Hall is built
1642
Royalists sack Birmingham
1643
Royalists plunder Birmingham again
1650
The population of Birmingham is about 5,000
1695
Birmingham gains its first fire engine
1715
St Phillips Church is built
1720
The population of Birmingham is about 12,000
1750
The population of Birmingham is about 24,000
1765
Sarehole Mill is built
1769
A canal is built from Wednesbury to Birmingham. A body of men called Street Commissioners are given power to clean and light (with oil lamps) the streets of Birmingham
1779
A General Hospital is built in Birmingham
1801
The population of Birmingham is about 73,000
1818
The streets of Birmingham are lit by gas
1832
The botanical gardens open
1834
A new town hall is built in Birmingham
1838
Birmingham is connected to London by railway
1841
St Chad’s Cathedral is built
1850
Winson Green asylum opens
1856
The first public park in Birmingham opens
1861
A by-law says that all new houses in Birmingham must be connected to a sewer
1871-72
There is a smallpox epidemic in Birmingham
1873
Horse drawn trams begin running in Birmingham
1874
Another smallpox epidemic strikes Birmingham
1879
The Council House is built. A telephone exchange opens.
1881
The Council House is built. Rubery Hill asylum opens.
1882
Birmingham gains an electricity supply
1883
Smallpox strikes Birmingham again
1889
Birmingham is made a city
1890
The first electric trams run in Birmingham
1909
Birmingham University is founded
1929
Fox Hollies Park opens
1938
Queen Elizabeth Hospital opens
World War II
More than 2,000 people in Birmingham are killed by German bombing
1954
A survey shows that more than 20% of the homes in Birmingham are unfit for human habitation
1964
The Bull Ring Shopping Centre opens
1965
Birmingham Rotunda opens
1966
Aston University is founded
1987
Pavilions Shopping Centre opens
1991
The International Conference Centre and Indoor Arena opens
1998
Ikon Gallery opens
2000
Mailbox Shopping Centre opens
2001
Millennium Point opens
