The Crown Hotel, Station Street, Birmingham

The Crown Hotel, Station Street, Birmingham

A late 19th-century public house, probably designed by Thomson Plevins (1825-97).

The building is constructed of brick walls behind render with slate roofs. It occupies an irregular corner plot between Station Street to the north and Hill Street to the west. The front elevation curves along Station Street from the north-east corner, then bends to the south-west around the corner to Hill Street, ending in a south-east facing gable which extends under a catslide to the north-east. A rectangular stable block with gable ends to the north-east and south-west adjoins the rear of the Station Street section, with its south-western gable meeting the catslide gable of the main building at right angles.

The main building rises three stories under a pitched roof, served by six brick chimney stacks—with end stacks positioned through the ridge against the gable wall of the adjoining number 63 Station Street and within the south-east gable to Hill Street. The catslide section to the rear has two stacks at its north-west and south-east ends. The stable block is two stories and an attic with a single external chimney to its south-west gable, positioned south of the ridge.

The ground floor of the curving front elevation features a series of pilasters with Corinthian capitals supporting a frieze with a dentilled cornice. Above the capitals of the two end pilasters are console brackets embellished with carved fruit and foliage, with capping pieces bearing further carving. Between the pilasters and beneath the cornice are mullioned windows with rectangular leaded-lights under opening toplights. Below the windows is a stallriser, then a plinth of varying height that lowers toward the apex of the curve and rises again past it. Four panelled doors are positioned: two to Station Street, one at the apex of the curve, and one on Hill Street. Each door has a leaded-light transom window with a larger leaded-light window above to meet the frieze. A 20th-century lantern on a scrolled iron bracket hangs over the south-western Station Street door.

The first and second floors are lit by alternating triple and single windows with openings aligned vertically between floors. Ground-floor openings do not align with those above, except for the doorway in the curve which is centred on the middle of the triple window groupings of the upper floors. The first-floor windows are 20th-century replacements; the second-floor windows are one-over-one or two-over-two sashes, lower in height than first-floor windows. At both upper floors, each triple-window group has a wider central window divided from two narrower flanking windows by vertical panels carved with flowers within a lattice. On the first floor, each three-window group has a continuous lintel rising to a round arch over the centre, creating the impression of a Venetian window. First-floor single windows have a triangular pediment above them. At second-floor level, console brackets enclose embossed concentric circles on a frieze board under the eaves, picking out the window extents.

The rear, south-east facing elevation shows the gable end of the main building's pitched roof to the west, with the rear of the stable block to the east.

Internally, the pub retains much original joinery including dado and picture rails, skirting and door frames, and some three and four-panelled doors. The public bar rooms have coving to the ceilings. Embossed Lincrusta or Anaglypta-style wall and ceiling coverings remain visible in places. Some original fireplaces survive, though others have been removed. Below ground are extensive cellars and storage spaces. A stair with barrel skids leads to a beer drop in the rear yard to the south-east.

The main entrance at the corner of Station Street and Hill Street opens into a hall-corridor with the main bar to the left and two smaller rooms (kitchen and office) to the right. A Victorian open-string staircase with slim iron balusters runs between them. The main bar is the principal ground-floor space, retaining its Victorian bar and bar back. Rectangular columns support a long beam running the length of the ceiling, with windows overlooking Station Street. On the Station Street side is a hexagonal glazed internal porch to an external door. Various toilets are located in the former stable block.

The right-hand staircase rises to a first-floor landing. Directly across is the large front room above the main bar, with windows to Station Street and large metal ducts raised over the floor. This was one of two upstairs rooms where bands performed and formerly had a stage to its east end. A hatch in the south wall allows views into a void originally a small open courtyard to the stable block but roofed over in the late 20th century. West of the main room within the curve is a snug bar with a plaster-covered ceiling beam decorated with linear mouldings. Across the landing is a room used as a dressing room by performers. The rear of the first floor comprises the former stable block, now one open room, which served as the other performance space for live music. A small living room retaining a Victorian fireplace sits to the right of the stairs. Behind the stairs are toilets, an early 20th-century addition retaining original tiling. The staircase turns 180 degrees in a U-shape, continuing to the second floor where further accommodation, originally bedrooms for the hotel, is located.