Celebrating Phyllis Nicklin: A Legacy Through the Lens

In our 125th anniversary year, we're looking back at the legacy of Phyllis Nicklin – a Geography lecturer whose photographic work has left a lasting impact on both the University and the city of Birmingham.

Born 9 May 1909, Phyllis developed a keen interest in geography and photography. Nicklin worked in the Department of Extramural Studies at the University of Birmingham, where she lectured and delivered courses around the Midlands. Her passion for photography led her to capture thousands of images, documenting the urban landscape, street scenes, and everyday life in Birmingham.

Her photographs are notable for their depiction of the city's architectural and social changes, often highlighting the contrast between old and new structures. Nicklin's photographs are more than just images; they are historical documents that capture the essence of Birmingham during a time of change. Her work includes scenes of markets, industrial landscapes, and the everyday lives of Birmingham's residents. These photographs offer a unique glimpse into the past, showcasing the city's architectural and social transformations.

This contrast is particularly evident in her photographs of the Bull Ring Market Hall, which show the market in its original form before it was redeveloped and the modern shopping centre, which opened in May 1964.

Phyllis Nicklin died 18 November 1969. After her death, Nicklin's collection of 35mm slides was donated to the University of Birmingham by her brother, Harold C. Nicklin. This donation ensured that her work would be preserved for future generations. The University has since digitised many of these images, making them accessible to a wider audience and allowing Nicklin's legacy to continue.

In recent years, Nicklin's photographs have been the focus of several exhibitions and projects. The "Nicklin Unseen" exhibition, held as part of the Arts & Science Festival in 2016, showcased her work and highlighted the significant changes that have shaped Birmingham over the decades. Additionally, the Grid Project, which ran from 2017 to 2018, revisited the locations Nicklin photographed, documenting how they have changed over the previous half-century.

The photographs have also been shared extensively through the social media account Brumpic - a digital archive and social media platform dedicated to preserving and sharing historical images of Birmingham. Founded by Dave Oram (1970 – 2022), Brumpic played a significant role in bringing Phyllis Nicklin's work to a wider audience.

Phyllis Nicklin’s work remains a testament to the power of photography to capture and preserve the essence of a place and its people. Through her lens, it is possible to connect with the past and appreciate the journey that has brought the University and the city of Birmingham to where it is today.