Mystery garden on Borsesley Viaduct, Birmingham

[SquireBev]

Someone on the Birmingham subreddit has just spotted this mystery garden and has asked if anyone knows anything about it. Nobody else on there has any ideas, so I thought I'd try a more specialist crowd...

It appears to be on railway land, atop the viaduct where the old abandoned Bordesley viaduct diverges from the main line.

Google maps link here:

Google Maps

Find local businesses, view maps and get driving directions in Google Maps.

www.google.com

 

[AlterEgo]

I’ve noticed this garden before - once from a passing train and once in the very opening shot of this video:

At a guess, given it is very sparsely furnished and landscaped, it’s a garden set up for wedding photography. There are a lot of “banqueting” venues nearby and this would be a convenient place to come for some shots.

 

[CharlieSpotted]

Knowing the area quite well, I can't understand why that's there or, more pressingly, how you would even access it... other than through a Network Rail access gate much further along the viaduct / Lower Trinity Street. That access gate is opposite somewhere that appears on the map as "Crown Banqueting" though so I think you're right about that part @AlterEgo.

I don't know why you'd want to have your wedding photos taken on a railway viaduct in Digbeth / Bordesley, but to each their own I guess.

 

[SquireBev]

Looks like that is indeed it. @pdeaves has sent me a link to Crown Banqueting's website, which includes photos of the garden.

I don't know why you'd want to have your wedding photos taken on a railway viaduct in Digbeth / Bordesley, but to each their own I guess.

This is the bit I can't quite fathom either. If access is from the gate then it's also across some pretty rough ground - hardly suitable for wedding shoes.

 

[bleeder4]

Looks like that is indeed it. @pdeaves has sent me a link to Crown Banqueting's website, which includes photos of the garden.

There is a whole page about it on their website. They're calling it a "selfie garden".

Selfie Garden | Crown Banqueting Hall

Make your wedding day a day to remember. Pose and take fun snaps in our new custom made selfie garden. Everyone wants a wedding day selfie so why not walk through into our selfie garden and take a few snaps with the newly-weds or family members. Either way, the back drop of our selfie garden…

crownbanqueting.co.uk

 

[Trackman]

Knowing the area quite well, I can't understand why that's there or, more pressingly, how you would even access it... other than through a Network Rail access gate much further along the viaduct / Lower Trinity Street. That access gate is opposite somewhere that appears on the map as "Crown Banqueting" though so I think you're right about that part @AlterEgo.

I don't know why you'd want to have your wedding photos taken on a railway viaduct in Digbeth / Bordesley, but to each their own I guess.

This is the bit I can't quite fathom either. If access is from the gate then it's also across some pretty rough ground - hardly suitable for wedding shoes.

Just had a look at Google Maps, the access point is on Upper Trinity street, and you can drive up to the garden so no need for walking. It says Network rail on the gate, and no parking for 24 hour access. Looking at the view again - once through the NWR access point there are two gates, one for Network Rail and one for the 'selfie garden'.

 

[duffield]

There is a whole page about it on their website. They're calling it a "selfie garden".

Selfie Garden | Crown Banqueting Hall

Make your wedding day a day to remember. Pose and take fun snaps in our new custom made selfie garden. Everyone wants a wedding day selfie so why not walk through into our selfie garden and take a few snaps with the newly-weds or family members. Either way, the back drop of our selfie garden…

crownbanqueting.co.uk

I must say it's a lot better looking than the rather sad setup at the "Grand River Suite" wedding venue on the West Meadows industrial estate in Derby!

In the ugly car park they have a selection of three tacky looking fake painted backgrounds for the happy couple to be photographed in front of.

However, when I was passing through a few weeks ago, the wedding party had wisely decided that crossing the road for photos on the footbridge over the Derwent was a more attractive option.

Meanwhile, the website linked above has a pop-up saying the Crown Banqueting Hall is relocating - so I guess the "selfie garden" will be dismantled soon? Unless they just abandon it to "go wild" - I wonder how long the buddleia would take to get in?

 

[Meerkat]

I don't know why you'd want to have your wedding photos taken on a railway viaduct in Digbeth / Bordesley, but to each their own I guess.

If your wedding is nearby where would you take photos?!

 

[AlterEgo]

Looks like that is indeed it. @pdeaves has sent me a link to Crown Banqueting's website, which includes photos of the garden.



This is the bit I can't quite fathom either. If access is from the gate then it's also across some pretty rough ground - hardly suitable for wedding shoes.

Enjoy the kudos for posting the right answer on the subreddit

 

[Steve Harris]

I must say it's a lot better looking than the rather sad setup at the "Grand River Suite" wedding venue on the West Meadows industrial estate in Derby!

In the ugly car park they have a selection of three tacky looking fake painted backgrounds for the happy couple to be photographed in front of.

However, when I was passing through a few weeks ago, the wedding party had wisely decided that crossing the road for photos on the footbridge over the Derwent was a more attractive option.

Meanwhile, the website linked above has a pop-up saying the Crown Banqueting Hall is relocating - so I guess the "selfie garden" will be dismantled soon? Unless they just abandon it to "go wild" - I wonder how long the buddleia would take to get in?

I've just had a quick look on Google Street View and the Crown Banqueting building has been flattened since the Google car drove past in June last year.

One would assume that they have taken parts of the garden (which can be removed easily) with them to their new premises. Of course, Google satellite view doesn't update as often as Google street view.