The Old Print Works – Balsall Heath Local History Society

Celebrating Five Years Second Saturday at The Old Print Works!

Be there Saturday, October 10th 11-4pm as we celebrate a huge milestone: five fantastic years of Second Saturday at The Old Print Works! Alongside all the usual Second Saturday favorites, we’ll be hosting the fabulous Balsall Heath in Changing Times Exhibition, and at every Second Saturday in 2026 – more dates to be confirmed!

The exhibition is inspired by the photography of Mick Turner, and on Saturday we’ll be putting a special spotlight on our local heroes. Who comes to mind when you think of someone who makes Balsall Heath special? Is it a neighbour who always lends a hand, a local campaigner, a community leader, or an unsung champion. We want to hear their stories!

Where to Find Us

Drop by the Director’s Office at The Old Print Works to:

Explore the exhibition: Take in the history, photographs, and stories of Balsall Heath through changing times.
Share your ‘Heathan Hero’: Tell us about the local heroes who inspire you and help us celebrate the people who make our community thrive.

Whether you’ve been coming to Second Saturday since day one or you’ve never visited before, pop in, say hello, and help us celebrate five wonderful years together. See you on Saturday!

BHLHS at Second Saturday

Here’s a few snaps of us over the last year enjoying Second Saturday!

December 2025 launch of 'Believe in Balsall Heath at Second Saturday — December 2025 launch of ‘Believe in Balsall Heath at Second Saturday

Mapping our past at Second Saturday March 2026 — December 2025 launch of ‘Believe in Balsall Heath at Second Saturday

More dates for Balsall Heath in Changing Times

Our exhibition, Balsall Heath in Changing Times will be at October, November and December Second Saturdays and we are in negotiation with more locations and dates in early 2027 – keep watching this space for more details!

Celebrating Balsall Heath in Changing Times as Tour ends

Over ten days of Birmingham Heritage Week over 300 People visited and participated in our events, activities as part of ‘Balsall Heath in Changing Times‘ local tour.

Featuring the photographic archive of Mick Turner, community oral histories, poetry, art, and history trails exploring Balsall Heath through the eyes of those who live it. For our final event we were joined by Mick Turner himself and Liz Berry, who read her ‘Psalm’ to the Women of Balsall Heath. Actor and local film maker Haqi Ali also premiered his film about Community Theatre, recalling the days when he began as an actor, through interviews conducted during the last year.

Balsall Heath’s story is one of dramatic transformation and social change. Within living memory, we’ve seen bomb sites used as playgrounds well into the 1970s, mass demolition and redevelopment, and the arrival of different communities that reshaped our streets.

Touring Exhibition & Venue Highlights

Every event was unique, with workshops, guided trails, and activities. Angela Blackwood led a guided heritage tour of SS John and Martin Catholic Church while Val Hart led tours of Moseley Road, where this year we installed history panels. Muhmood Tahir led a landscape sketching workshop and we have collated poetry in addition to the fabulous photos and stories, adding to our heritage, better representing our lived experience.

The events were part of Birmingham Heritage Week, as well as National Heritage Open Days (Everyday Lives theme). We were proud to represent the stories of Balsall Heath to local as well as a wider national audience.

Changing Times in Photos

Mick Turner receives award from Patrick Baird

Exhibition finding images — Mick Turner receives award from Patrick Baird

Work continues…

There is still some work building on our online resources and a couple of people we’re still keen to interview. Our History Panels have been hugely popular and we are looking to create more to build our history trail across Balsall Heath.

We need your stories!

Do you have a story to contribute, or maybe a location you think we should honour with a history panel, and add to our hostiry trail? Balsall Heath doesn’t stand still and we will keep working to find those untold stories and well as celebrate our ever changing Balsall Heath!

Bringing History to Life in Changing times

For Birmingham Heritage Week we’re thrilled to confirm a multi-venue touring FREE exhibition, ‘In Changing Times‘ by Balsall Heath Local History Society. Featuring the photographic archive of Mick Turner, community oral histories, poetry, art, and history trails exploring Balsall Heath through the eyes of those who live it.

Touring Exhibition & Venue Highlights

Six local hubs across Balsall Heath will host unique events, workshops, guided trails, and activities:

SS. John & Martin Catholic Church. Guided heritage tour exploring the building’s architectural and community legacy.
Moseley Road Heritage Trail. Guided walking tour with local Historian Val Hart
The Old Print Works & Creation Climbing Centre. Pop-up archival displays, film and art.
St. Paul’s Venture, special event (September 20th). An intimate afternoon with acclaimed poet Liz Berry, featuring poetry readings, film screenings, and shared local memories.

Find out more

Inspired by our Past

Local artist Muhmood Tahir, inspired by archive images and Mick Turner’s photography painted his Balsall Heath. Meet the artist, sketch and paint alongside him – bring your contemporary visual perspective on our Balsall Heath – all free, including materials, at Second Saturday, 12th September.

Mick Turner Archive of photographic images is a vast collection of images, thousands of which were published in the Balsall Heathan from 1960 to 1990. We used these images as a starting point to understand Balsall Heath through the eyes of people who have lived there.

Join our Trail or make your own!

The best way to see Balsall Heath is to be there! Join our FREE history tours during Heritage Week on 12th, 15th and 18th September – book on eventbrite.

Explore Balsall Heath for yourself and find our nine history panels across Balsall Heath, discover local stories where you stand, or map out your own self-guided Heritage Trail:

Union Flag leads the Carnival Procession 1979

Fireman checks out History Interpretation Panel — Union Flag leads the Carnival Procession 1979

For our Heritage Week Grand Finale, joining us with Liz Berry for poetry, film created by Haqi Ali, as well as our fantastic exhibition:

Changing Times at Second Saturday

Seond Saturday is monthly mini-festival celebrating making, creativity, community, and local culture, it’s no surprise to see us there, and we will be every month with ‘Changing Times’. Our project, ‘Changing Times in Balsall Heath,’ is about our community—what’s happening, what’s important, and what voices need to be heard.

At Second Saturday, we’ll be there to chat with people about their lives and experiences in Balsall Heath. We want to explore ideas and how we can include more people in the ‘Changing Times’ project – Your stories, memories, and hopes!

Second Saturdays, something to celebrate!

8th November featured pottery, woodwork, repair cafe, a cafe, bookbinding, the thoughtful womxn’s Journey workshop, a Market and our Changing Times display and loads more. Next Second Saturday, 13th December, we’ll be celebrating 750 years of Balsall Heath!

Mark your calendars for Saturday 13th December and come find our ‘Changing Times in Balsall Heath’ team at the Old Print Works. Let’s make, connect, and celebrate our wonderful local culture together!

Contact Marcus@Balsallheathhistory.co.uk 07511 482528