A Case of Mistaken Identity: The Repair of the Golden Lion

The Golden Lion in Cannon Hill Park is often described as a 17th-century timber-framed building, which was relocated from Digbeth and preserved as a rare survivor of Birmingham's past. But the reality is a bit more complicated. While the building undoubtedly contains historic timber, the structure we see today is largely the result of an Edwardian rescue project. In 1911, rather than being demolished completely, the building was dismantled and re-erected in Cannon Hill Park to serve in its new life as a cricket pavilion.
Unlike the careful archaeological reconstruction of buildings such as Selly Manor and Minworth Greaves by the Cadbury family, the Golden Lion was never recreated as a precise record of the original structure. Instead, it was rebuilt in a far more pragmatic fashion. Many of the timbers were reused, although not necessarily in their original locations, and we think that some may not even have originated from the Digbeth building itself. The reconstruction appears to have followed a fairly straightforward principle: if a piece fitted, it was used.

The Golden Lion January 2024

The Golden Lion July 2026

What survived?

The main front elevation has survived relatively intact. This decorative façade, with its close studding and ornamental spandrels, is typical of the timber-framed architecture traditionally associated with the Midlands. Time, however, has not been kind. Decay, weathering and previous repairs have taken their toll on the building, which left much of the timberwork in poor condition.
Elsewhere, remnants of the original box-framed side walls survive. These would never have been on public display when the building stood in Digbeth, as the Golden Lion formed part of a terrace of buildings. Unsurprisingly, they are far plainer than the front elevation.

The rear elevation tells a different story altogether. This side of the building was created in 1911 to suit its new role as a cricket pavilion overlooking the pitch. In effect, it is an Edwardian interpretation of how a timber-framed building ought to look.

An Edwardian vision of timber framing
Edwardian ideas about timber-framed buildings were heavily influenced by the Victorian fascination with "black and white" architecture. Historic appearance was often prioritised over traditional construction methods. As a result, the Golden Lion's reconstruction used reclaimed timbers within a framework designed to visually match the surviving historic façade. Traditional carpentry joints were only used where they happened to coincide with the available timber. More often, timbers were fixed together with iron nails, and decorative peg holes were introduced to give the impression of traditional craftsmanship.
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While visually convincing, this approach created long-term problems. Old mortices, redundant joint holes and gaps within the timbers provided ideal locations for water to collect. Over time, these voids filled with debris and decaying timber. Moisture became trapped, accelerating deterioration and gradually weakening the frame.

A century of repairs
Since its re-erection, the Golden Lion has been subject to several campaigns of repair. One recurring issue has been the iron fixings used in the Edwardian reconstruction. Exposed to moisture, many have corroded over time, contributing to further damage within the surrounding timber.

The infill panels have also suffered. Originally constructed using lath and plaster, they deteriorated and in many areas were replaced using materials that were quick to install but poorly suited to a historic timber frame. Cement-based repairs, expanding foam and chicken wire all found their way into the building at various stages.
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More recent works sought to address these problems. Reinforced resin repairs were introduced to strengthen decayed areas and fill voids within weathered joints. While resin repairs can be effective in certain circumstances, they are non-porous. In the long term, the resin trapped moisture within already vulnerable timbers, allowing decay to continue behind what may hev looked like a sound surface.

What exactly are we conserving?
This raises an interesting question. Is the Golden Lion a 17th-century building that should be repaired entirely using traditional materials and methods? Or is it a 1911 building whose significance lies equally in its Edwardian reconstruction? Neither answer is entirely satisfactory. Attempting to recreate an idealised 17th-century structure would involve a high degree of conjecture and would inevitably require the removal of substantial amounts of historic material.
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Equally, simply recreating the 1911 pavilion in its original condition would repeat many of the shortcomings that have contributed to its deterioration over the last century. Our approach therefore has been a hybrid of both philosophies, guided by one overriding principle: retaining as much historic fabric as possible while ensuring the building can survive long into the future.

The current repairs
The roof had reached the end of its serviceable life and has been completely replaced. The 1911 chimney has been repaired while retaining its Edwardian form and character. Corroded iron fixings have been replaced with stainless steel alternatives. Where possible, decorative features have been conserved. Missing elements have been carefully matched, while obsolete peg holes, voids and decayed surfaces have been repaired to improve structural stiffness and reduce water ingress.
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The infill panels are being reinstated using traditional lath and lime plaster. This breathable construction allows moisture to move naturally through the building fabric, reducing the risk of trapped water and helping to slow future decay.

The future
The Golden Lion is by no means a completed building. What has been achieved is something perhaps more important. The building now stands as a structurally sound and weatherproof historic envelope, no longer dependent on scaffolding for its survival and protected from the continuing cycle of deterioration.

Its future use remains the subject of later phases of work, but for the first time in many years, that future can be considered from a position of stability rather than urgency.
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The aim of this project has never been to create a perfect reconstruction of either a 17th-century inn or a 1911 cricket pavilion. Instead, it has been to conserve and stabilise a fascinating building whose history is far more complex than its reputation suggests, and to ensure that history remains visible for generations to come.

Project team:
Client: Birmingham Conservation Trust
Architect: Oliver Architecture
Contractor: Reynolds Conservation
QS: PMP Consultants