| Description | Members of Clark Street Adult School recognised that Bishopsgate Street, in Ladywood, would be a suitable neighbourhood of the city for adult school work and asked Sam Allen, one of their members, to be teacher of the new branch school. It met first in 1901 in a court in Bishopsgate Street before moving, in 1902, to a converted pub on the street called the Beehive which was held in Trust by members of Clark Street Adult School. A purpose built hall for the Bishopsgate Adult School opened in 1913 and was transferred to the Clark Steet Trustees. Sam Allen remained an active leader and President of the school.
In 1926, additional Trustees were appointed from the Midland Adult School Union and a Beehive Management Committee was also appointed. The Men's Adult School was closed down in 1929 and the property was transferred into the Union's ownership. Due to insufficient numbers using the premises, from 1938 the Beehive was let during the week to produce some income.
At the outbreak of the Second World War, Class XIV Bristol Street Divsion of Severn Street Adult Schools needed new premises and it was decided that the class should move to the Beehive premises on Bishopsgate Street. From 1940, members of Class XIV were represented on the board of Trustees.
Members of Class XIV, in particular Tom Hill and Les Hill, campaigned for the building to be saved so that it could be used as an Adult School Neighbourhood Centre for the wider community. In 1946 the Beehive Trustees agreed to allow a Management Committee to take over the day-to-day running of the premises so that it could be renovated and refurbished. Class XIV appointed members of the Committee, with representatives coming from those Midland Adult School Union groups who wished to use the Beehive as their headquarters. These included Class XIV Women, Class XIV Men, Central Young People's Group, Sunday Evening Fellowship, Midland Adult Schol Union Women's Committee, and the Midland Adult School Union Executive.
In 1947, Birmingham City Council issued a Compulsory Purchase Order on the premises, but despite this the Beehive Neighbourhood Centre opened its doors on 15th November 1947 and groups began to use the building again. On Sundays, Class XIV Men's Adult School met in the mornings, followed by Afternoon Class and an Evening Fellowship Meeting. Dame Elizabeth Cadbury's Class XIV Women's Class met at the Centre on a Monday afternoon, the Good Templars on Tuesday evenings and Foundry Road Adult school met on Wednesday evenings. A Youth Club was held on Thursdays and the Midlands Adult School Union Drama Group rehearsed on Fridays. The Midland Adult School Union orchestra also rehearsed there and exhibitions were held by the Midlands Adult School Art Circle. The Midland Adult School Union Council met there quarterly on Saturday afternoons. In 1948, up to 250 meetings were held in the premises and by 1960, although some activities had stopped, other new activities had replaced them and the Centre was still well-used.
The Management Committee continued to be responsible for maintenance and repairs to the premises, and also managed lettings and organised community events such as carol services. As a result of the Compulsory Purchase Order, plans were made to locate to a new site and in 1969, the Beehive closed, its activities moving to the new Midland Adult School Union Centre in Gaywood Croft, Cregoe Street which opened in April 1970.
Additional details about the history of the Beehive can be found in MS 703/3/8/2/1 "History of Clark Street Adult School and Branches, 1875-1930" by H.J. Lewis.
See MS 703/3/8 for records of Clark Street Adult School and MS 703/3/13 for records of Gaywood Adult School. |