Let the games begin: Birmingham, then and now – in pictures

A look at Birmingham’s history as the Commonwealth Games get under way

January 1939 Street traders display their wares at the open air market. The heart of Birmingham’s commercial centre since medieval times, the Bull Ring referred to a green in the middle of the market where bulls were tied for baiting before slaughter. Archaeological excavations in 2000 as part of its redevelopment revealed a large ditch where Selfridges and the Park Street car park now stand. Rubbish thrown into the ditch included fragments of pottery, indicating that there were kilns here in the 13th century.