SECRET SPOTS OF THE SECOND CITY

BIRMINGHAM is a city teeming with delightful secrets and hidden treasures and here we are spotlighting parts of the city that often go unnoticed.

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These range from ancient stones to tram tracks in Rednal, showcasing the rich and diverse aspects of Birmingham that can easily be missed in our daily routines.

We discover 11 of the gems scattered around Brum...

TRAM TERMINUS AT REDNAL

This used to be the final stop for trams heading towards the Lickey Hills at the end of Bristol Road.

Passengers would disembark here and walk to the scenic spot and it was a popular day out for Birmingham residents in the 1950s.

The tram tracks are still visible today, and the old terminus has been transformed into a Cantonese restaurant.

SUTTON DWELLINGS TRUST HOUSES, ALUM ROCK

The Sutton Dwellings Trust was established around 1900 following the will of London entrepreneur William Richard Sutton. He left most of his wealth to create a charitable trust providing affordable rental homes for the poor nationwide. The Alum Rock estate comprises semi-detached houses nestled among tree-lined streets.

By the close of the 20th century, the trust had amassed around 14,000 houses, with a strong focus on community.

ELAN VALLEY IN CANNON HILL PARK

This outdoor model, built in 1961 and renovated in 1998, replicates the Elan Valley in mid-Wales, which has been Birmingham's water source for over a century. The model features miniature versions of the five reservoirs and dams, set on a grassy slope to symbolise the mountains that encircle the actual site.

The real thing was constructed between 1892 and 1961.

HAY HALL, LOCATED IN TYSELEY