Bird's Custard was invented by Alfred Bird in 1837, because his wife was allergic to eggs, which was the key ingredient used to thicken traditional custard. The formula he came up with used cornflour to thicken the liquid and vanilla flavouring to mimic the custard flavour, before the days of ready made custard you used to mix custard powder with sugar and milk and heat to make the custard. As these things do people began trying Alfred's custard substitute and like it, so he formed Alfred Bird and Sons Ltd. in Birmingham. By 1843, the company was also making the newly invented baking powder and, by 1844, was promoting custard powder nationally. By 1895, the company was producing Blancmange powder, jelly powder, and egg substitute. In World War I, Bird's Custard was supplied to the British armed forces.
The original custard factory has long ceased to exist, but the larger factory Bird's opened in Gibb Street remains, and has been adapted as the Custard Factory arts centre.
Anyway history lesson over, it's now a fascinating place sort of the Camden Market of Brum, whilst last weekend was a particular Vintage Fair there are a lot of vintage shops down there permanently. Also cafes, galleries, furniture shops and much more.
I stopped in Yumm cafe for lunch, and had an excellent halloumi cheese wrap, wandered round the temporary vintage market, popped in and out of the shops and stopped to admire some of the art work around. This is the sort of place I love unique individual businesses rather than chain stores. I remember Gok Wan doing a programme a couple of years ago about fashion in all the major cities. His conclusion of Birmingham was that we love our Vintage and that is true. Sure we have our equivalents of Cricket in Liverpool but why would you want to look like an identi-kit model of a wannabe WAG when you can be yourself. The city used to be known as the city of a thousand trades well now it's the city of a thousand looks. Maybe this has something to do with the 2 universities and so there is a plethora of students in the area or maybe the fact we are in the middle of the country makes us like any good middle child desperate to be seen as an individual?
Another example of bucking the norm is The Oasis, definitely not to be confused with the High Street retailer. http://www.theoasisfashionstore.co.uk/ This is the home of Goth, Punk, Metal, Hip-Hop and much more, they were doing body piercing way before it was "fashionable". When I was a kid it was a scary fascinating place to go, it is a labyrinth of independent stalls and back then some of the areas were filled with strange smelling smoke (which I'm sure was just joss sticks :-s ) it was almost a right of passage in Brum to go into The Oasis, mums definitely didn't like it!! And if you actually bought something, well that was coolness guaranteed. It was the best fashion show around to hang out in The Oasis and see what people had created for themselves. This is what their website says: The Oasis celebrated it's opening in Birmingham City Centre with a parade down Corporation Street. That was almost 40 years ago but Oasis, still today, remains a totally unique aspect of Birmingham's personality.
At the Oasis we constantly strive to offer customers the best in unique and individual products, services and clothing. From piercings to pipes, boots to beads, tattoos to tutus and much more in-between. They're all available from a veritable plethora of independent retailers.
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