Hunt for new tenant to take on Highbury Hall

Fears for Chamberlain home when wedding usage ends

- ALEXANDER BROCK

THE hunt is on for a new tenant to occupy one of Birmingham’s most important stately homes after restoration plans stalled.

Highbury Hall in Moseley was once the home of Joseph Chamberlain, who was elected Mayor of Birmingham around 150 years ago.

He was credited with making Birmingham ‘the best governed city in the world’ as mayor and oversaw massive changes, building amenities such as swimming pools and libraries.

Hopes the mansion could be transformed into a visitor attraction were dealt a blow in 2024 when Labour-run Birmingham City Council said it was unable to match fund Highbury’s restoration due to financial restrictions.

But there was a more encouraging update this year when the Chamberlain Highbury Trust (CHT) was awarded a grant by The National Heritage Lottery Fund to restore the Victorian gardens.

The chair of the trustees at CHT said they were going to “look again at how we get the mansion restored”.

Ahead of a council meeting this week, permission was being sought to market Highbury Hall to find a new tenant amid fears of a vacant building attracting antisocial behaviour.