Bertz Associates are creating a community documentary about the history of roller skating in Birmingham which started in 1876 with the building of the Tower Ballroom at the Edgbaston Reservoir in Ladywood. This project is funded by an Everyday Heritage Grant from Historic England.
To tell this history, we are looking to include stories from local people in the community and are keen to gather as many memories as possible. We are calling out to people from across Birmingham and beyond to share any stories they have of roller skating at the Tower. We invite submissions from anyone and everyone, and are especially keen to hear from anyone with related photographs, home films, memorabilia and objects.
Memories can be submitted here: https://eu.jotform.com/form/240633289959067
Alternatively, people may email their stories to projects@bertzassociates.net or call 0121 572 0685
About the Tower Ballroom:
The Tower Ballroom was, for many years, a lively and vibrant site in the centre of the Ladywood community. Though it was recently, and controversially, demolished, the venue continues to hold a special place in the hearts of many in the local area.
As roller skating took Victorian Britain by storm, the phrase ‘Rinkomania’ was coined to describe the mass opening of skating rinks across London and spread throughout the country. The Tower was opened in 1876 as the Edgbaston Roller Rink, advertised as the ‘largest covered skating rink in the Kingdom’. It hosted well-dressed ladies and gentlemen roller skating to locally orchestrated music and was a venue for matchmaking. From its opening till its rebranding in 1925, the Edgbaston Roller Rink was the only rink in the Midlands to remain open throughout the period.
The venue was renamed to the Pavilion Ballroom in 1925 and used primarily as a ballroom, then in 1933 was once again renamed to the Tower Ballroom, as it is remembered today. As a venue, the Tower peaked in the 1980s hosting regular boxing matches, beauty pageants, TV shows, orchestra recordings, and famous gigs such as New Order and The Smiths, in addition to roller skating events. From the 2000s the Tower saw a long period of closure and bankruptcy. It was closed down in Christmas 2005, then reopened in April 2008. It was saved in its last bid in 2009 and used primarily as a wedding venue, serving the local Asian community.
The iconic Tower Ballroom was a characterful and memorable venue. It was a place where everything happened. Throughout its history it served the community. Many in the area recall stories of meeting their future loved ones at the dances and events held at the Tower. However, bankruptcy saw the Tower finally close in 2017, and the iconic building was demolished by the council in 2024.
About this project:
With this project, we would like to break the disconnect by inviting people to explore the city’s history and ”own it”. The aim of this project is to make history accessible to everyone, through organising heritage research meetups, and creating training opportunities for research. These workshops will focus on the history of roller skating at the Tower Ballroom and culminate in the creation of a short documentary film. We will work as community researchers to create and explore the history and importance of skating to these diverse communities. Additionally, we will document our research journey through publishing blogs and articles about the topics discussed at the workshops. This project will continue the development and support of the massively overlooked roller skating community in Birmingham.
Website: https://www.bertzassociates.net/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bertzassociatesltd
Twitter: https://twitter.com/bertzassociates
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bertzassociates/
Phone contact: 0121 572 0685