• Charity Shop Treasures

    New additions to Winterbourne’s collections come to us in a fascinating variety of ways. Often, individuals generously donate family heirlooms and precious items they have discovered in their own homes and think may be of some historical interest to Winterbourne. But sometimes, I stumble across things in my own life that strike me as having…

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  • Undergraduates in the garden, June 1952
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    “A place of endless coffee and chatter”: Student life at Winterbourne

    As the University of Birmingham celebrates its 125th anniversary, we’ve been delving into the different roles that Winterbourne has played throughout history. So far we’ve explored how the garden has been used as a space and resource for research and learning, as well as how the house became a central hub for the Extra-Mural Department.…

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  • As Soundless as Shadows 2 by Carolyn Blake

    Introducing ‘Further Than Memory Can Reach’

    Artist Carolyn Blake’s exciting exhibition, ‘Further Than Memory Can Reach’, opens on 24 February in our top-floor gallery space. Carolyn has created a new collection of paintings, which take us on a journey around the grounds of Winterbourne House, from its creation to the present day. Along the way, we encounter the people who lived,…

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  • Students-at-hall-of-residence-with-Bridget-and-Joe-Stacey
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    The University Years: celebrating 125 years of University of Birmingham

    2025 marks a milestone for University of Birmingham: 125 years of research, learning and driving change since Queen Victoria granted the Royal Charter in 1900. Winterbourne – built close by in 1903 – is intrinsically entwined with the University’s history. From celebrating our arts-and-crafts heritage, to our commitment to horticulture education, Winterbourne continues to build…

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  • Nut walk
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    Cultivating knowledge

    In 1944 Winterbourne’s grounds became the University’s Botanic Gardens and were used to provide plant material for teaching in the Botany department. Produce from the vegetable garden was used in the kitchen of University House. Initially the gardens were also used to provide decorative plant material for Great Hall. Natural order beds were planted in the…

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