Keepers Cottage at Bracebridge Pool in Sutton Park, by William Wort: They very often portrayed the countryside in a very positive light, without necessarily showing the poverty that was often there. I thought this was a good example of that because it all looks very pleasant. I would imagine that the park-keeper would be very low paid but the lifestyle of the person living there might be very different to the impression this gives. It is an idealised portrayal of the area.

Egyptian Society float at Birmingham University Students Carnival, by GS Galloway: This shows a different focus of the survey. By the 1930s they were more interested in images that showed Birminghams people. There were often images of street parties during jubilee celebrations. It was interesting because I wasnt aware that Birmingham University had a carnival and the Egyptian students are an example of Birminghams ethnic diversity, which really didnt show through on the earlier photographs. You might see an Italian woman buying onions and there are one or two of Jewish people, but that is about it. The collection doesnt always do justice to Birminghams ethnic diversity.

Cromwellian infantry officer forming part of the Birmingham Diamond Jubilee procession, by Dr John Hall Edwards: I like this because it is an image of people dressed as roundheads at a jubilee celebration. It is hard to know why, or whether the people in the photo were affiliated to any local group or aspect or an aspect of British history in relation to when it was taken. It is quite interesting in relation to Birminghams radical history.

The Horse Fair, Bristol Street, Birmingham, by Percy J Deakin: This provides evidence of a very different time  when Birmingham was a smaller town and people would bring animals in to market. There was much less of a dividing line between the rural world and the urban centre then. They were taking the photos because the city was being developed, and the open air markets becoming enclosed markets. It is interesting because it shows a good cross section  working people and child employees.

General view of Acocks Green village, Birmingham, by Birmingham City Council surveyors department: This was a time when Birmingham council was actively involved in building council estates, improving roads and bus links and it shows an area of the city before and after it was developed. You can almost do a spot the difference, and it provides quite a striking record of the changes.

General view of Acocks Green village, Birmingham, by Birmingham City Council surveyors department: This was a time when Birmingham council was actively involved in building council estates, improving roads and bus links and it shows an area of the city before and after it was developed. You can almost do a spot the difference, and it provides quite a striking record of the changes.