Birmingham Photo Gallery - Custard Factory
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Digbeth is just to the east of the city centre and used to be a manufacturing area with large industrial complexes. The railways arrived in the mid-19th century and huge viaducts crossed above the streets.Some of the names from the industrial era are still familiar today, such as Typhoo tea, but nowadays, there is a lot of decay with regeneration taking hold in small steps, driven by construction of the HS2 and tram extension. Alfred Bird invented an eggless custard powder in 1837 to accommodate his wife's allergy to eggs. Used to pour over desserts, it was served at a dinner party and Alfred saw a business opportunity. The Custard Factory opened in 1902 and operated until the 1960s. Restoration began in 1993 and the Victorian factory is now a creative hub with offices, shops, restaurants, and more.
The Deritend Library opened in 1866 as the 3rd of 5 planned free libraries in the city. It closed in 1940 after 74 years of operation and became derelict until it was bundled for regeneration with neighbouring Custard Factory. Today, it is the city's oldest surviving library building and has been repurposed into an event venue.
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