A visit to the West Midlands Police Museum on 999 Day

Thanks to Igers Birmingham UK organised a visit to the West Midlands Police Museum on 9am on the 9th September 2023. The former Victorian Lock-up on Steelhouse Lane. Three floors with former cells, and objects from the polices history, even going back to the Birmingham City Police days. Even as far back as Robert Peel in the late 1820s!

The West Midlands Police Museum is located on Steelhouse Lane, next to Coleridge Passage in the former Victorian Lock-up, which opened in 1891. It was in use until 2016. Was between the now former Steelhouse Lane Police Station and the Victoria Law Courts. Prisoners would be kept here overnight before going on trial at the court next door.

The museum moved here in 2020, and was fully open by 2022.

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Entrance hallway

Just on the way into the museum was this mural next to the bars and gate that leads into the museum reception. Was also a flag up for Emergency Services Day aka 999 Day.

Igers Birmingham UK group photo on Instagram

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Visitor reception

On an ordinary visit, you would probably buy your tickets from the desk here. Various old Police Station objects in here including a sign formerly at Shard End Police Station!

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Cell blocks

The ground floor cell block. You can go into some of the cells, the staircase in the middle was out of use, but there was two sets of modern staircases to the left and right that you could use, as well as a new lift.

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The basement cell blocks. There was a Mounted Branch horse in front of the out of use stairs. You could get refreshments down here if you wanted them, just ask the staff.

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On the first floor cell blocks, there was a couple of old West Midlands Police Norton motorcycles, plus a Police Box.

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Police transport

The Mounted Branch existed in Birmingham and parts of the wider West Midlands from 1923 to 1999, when the unit was disbanded. Police horses were used for ceremonial duties, but to also for crowd control.

The was horse seen on the basement floor.

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When the West Midlands County Council existed, the West Midlands Police had these Norton motorcycles during the 1980s.

A couple of Norton Police motorcycles on the first floor.

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Police Box

No The Doctor has not visited Steelhouse Lane in his TARDIS, anyway this Police Box is not bigger on the inside! There was a telephone inside, and a stool to sit on if you needed to call the police. They were used in the 1920s. They were phased out by the 1960s and 1970s following the introduction of personal radios.

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In the cells

Ground floor cells

The Birmingham Black List and a Day in the Life. 

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First Aid. 

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Birching and Capital Punishment. Death Mask, Birching Rod, Cat o Nine Tails an a Birching Stool.

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Basement floor cells

Police Dogs

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DNA Discovery is it human and DNA Sample matching.

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CID Office. Evidence Board with a desk and typewriter. The map of the City of Birmingham as it was in 1899.

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First floor cells

Roll of Honour. In memory of those police officers who lost their lives during the Second World War (1939 - 1945).

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Locked up with the Peaky Blinders. Was a razer sharp peaky cap on the bench.

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Road safety in action

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Police history

Female office uniform 1930s and Traffic tunic 1930s

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Helmet plates from Birmingham City Police and Walsall Borough Police. A cap badge from Wolverhampton Borough Police. Also handcuffs and other objects.

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A top hat, police rattle and police whistle.

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A telegram from David Lloyd George MP, which he left in his coat which he switched with a police officer during the Birmingham Riots of 1901, following his speech at Birmingham Town Hall (more objects to this can be found at the David Lloyd George Museum in Wales). Also a tea cup and saucer, Birmingham Workhouse coin and Walsall anarchist bomb.

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A stop sign, stopwatch and other objects.

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Marble bust of Robert Peel who founded the first Metropolitan Police force in 1829. He was MP for Tamworth, his statue is currently on the Pershore Road outside the Tally Ho! facility of West Midlands Police in Edgbaston.

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Photos by Elliott Brown