Birmingham
Explore hidden histories, historic photos, and things you never knew about Birmingham from the collections and archives of Historic England.
Discover your local listed buildings and places
Introducing some of Birmingham's most historic sites, included in the National Heritage List for England. Some of these captions have been summarised by AI. Click through for the official List entry. Skip this section and go to place by numbers
Curzon Street: The former Principal Building of the Birmi…
Birmingham
The Principal Building of Birmingham Station, the northern terminus of the London and Birmingham Railway, designed in a Greek Revival style by Philip Hardwick and opened in 1838.
21, Yateley Road B15
Birmingham
Designed by H T Buckland in 1899, 21 Yateley Road is an Arts and Crafts style house with an original interior, stained glass, and notable fireplaces.
16, Norfolk Road B15
Birmingham
Offices, formerly a house. Designed by Yeoville Thomason and built in 1854-7 for James Heacock Bodington.
Sutton Park
Sutton Coldfield
Sutton Park, originally a 12th-century deer park, became public land in 1528 under Bishop Vesey, developing into a recreational and historical site with woodland and water features.
80 Broad Street and boundary walls to front
Birmingham
An early-C19 former residence, later a hospital for women and children, and most recently a bar, restaurant, and nightclub, with C19, C20 and C21 extensions and alterations.
The Rotunda, including the shops in the podium below the …
Birmingham
Former office building with shops on the first and ground floors. Begun 1960, completed to revised designs 1964-5 and designed by the architect James Roberts (born 1922).
Lawley Street Railway Viaduct
Birmingham
A viaduct of 1838, designed by Joseph Locke, to take the Grand Junction railway line into the Curzon Street Terminus Station.
The Old Crown Public House
Birmingham
The Old Crown Public House, a timber-framed building on High Street, is likely from the early 16th century, featuring a jettied upper story and distinctive gabled porches.
Former White Lion Public House
Birmingham
A public house of 1896 by James and Lister Lea with attached late-C18 building to the north.
Roman forts at Metchley
Birmingham
Metchley Roman fort, of national significance, offers insight into Roman military strategies and occupation patterns, with preserved artifacts and diverse phases of internal development over...
Uffculme School
Birmingham
The principal buildings of the former open-air school at Uffculme, built in 1911 to a design by Barry Peacock - namely the main block with attached classroom, and the three pavilion...
Parish Church of St Martin
Birmingham
The Parish Church of St Martin, originating in the late 13th century, is Birmingham's mother church with significant restorations, including work by J A Chatwin and Edward Burne-Jones.
The Black Horse public house
Birmingham
A public house, designed by Francis Goldsbrough (of Bateman and Bateman) for the brewers John Davenport & Sons and built in 1929-30 in a late-medieval and Tudor style, designed to represent...
Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady of the Rosary and St Th…
Birmingham
A Roman Catholic parish church. 1932-4. Repaired and restored in the 1940s. Designed by George Drysdale in the Lombard style, an amalgamation of Early-Christian and Romanesque styles.
Friends' Institute Building, 220 Moseley Road
Birmingham
A former Quaker meeting hall and institute building, built under the patronage of Richard Cadbury and designed by Ewan Harper. The building opened in 1897.
Canal Side Warehouse With Stop Lock and Dock, Warwick Bar…
Birmingham
This warehouse from circa 1840 features red brick construction, an overhanging roof supported by iron columns, and segmental arched openings, highlighting its industrial heritage.
122, Fazeley Street B5
Birmingham
A mid-19th-century terraced house with distinctive red brick, featuring ornate stucco details, located on Fazeley Street, and providing access to a canal via an adjacent yard.
Golden Lion Inn (Memorial)
Birmingham
The Golden Lion Inn in Cannon Hill Park is a restored, early 16th-century timber-framed building with notable 18th-century features, showcasing historical architecture.
Kent's Moat
Birmingham
Kent's Moat, a medieval site in England, served as an aristocratic residence, with its moat symbolizing status. It preserves historic artefacts and building remains.
Birmingham Gun Barrel Proof House
Birmingham
A gun barrel proof (testing) house commissioned by the Guardians of the Birmingham Gun Barrel Proof House from John Horton and opened in 1813.
Birmingham Botanical Gardens
Birmingham
Established in the 1830s, the Birmingham Botanical Gardens highlight J.C.
Balsall Heath Library and Balsall Heath Public Baths
Birmingham
The Balsall Heath Library and Public Baths, opened between 1895 and 1907, are notable for their red brick and terracotta design, reflecting civic pride with lavish interiors.
The Bartons Arms Public House
Birmingham
The Bartons Arms, built in 1900-01, is an iconic Birmingham pub known for its lush Jacobean-style interior, featuring Minton tile work, elaborate plaster ceilings, and ornate glass windows.
Taylor and Challen Limited, Derwent Works
Birmingham
A monumental early 20th-century engineering works with Arts and Crafts influence, known for its giant arcaded ground floor and decorative brick and stone elements.
Handsworth Park (Formerly Victoria Park)
Birmingham
Handsworth Park, originally Victoria Park, is a late 19th-century public park in Birmingham designed by R H Vertegans, expanded by Edwin Kenworthy, and features landscaped gardens and...
Aston War Memorial to the 8th Battalion, The Warwickshire…
Birmingham
A regimental war memorial, unveiled in 1921 by Major General Sir Robert Fanshawe, KCB, DSO.
School of Art, Birmingham City University
Birmingham
The School of Art at Birmingham City University, designed by Martin and Chamberlain in the late 19th century, features a Gothic style with intricate details and a striking asymmetrical...
Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady Help of Christians, inc…
Birmingham
A Roman Catholic church of 1966-7 by Richard Gilbert Scott of Giles Scott, Son and Partner with coloured glass windows by John Chrestien.
Witton Cemetery
Birmingham
A mid-C19 cemetery laid out to the designs of Richard Ashwell of Coventry, with buildings by R Clarke of Nottingham.
Alpha Tower
Birmingham
An office block of twenty-eight storeys, designed by George Marsh of Richard Seifert & Partners and built in 1970-72. Construction engineers were Oscar Faber & Partners.
Grosvenor House
Birmingham
An office building evoking the first Chicago commercial style, built in 1953-5 to a design by the British architects' firm Cotton, Ballard and Blow.
Moseley All Services Club
Birmingham
The Moseley All Services Club is an early 19th-century stucco villa with distinctive architectural features, including a broad central doorway and a mid-19th-century service wing.
The Listed Building (formerly Floodgate School), Digbeth …
Birmingham
A school, built in 1891 and designed by Martin and Chamberlain for the Birmingham School Board.
Town Hall
Birmingham
The Town Hall, designed by J A Hansom and E Welch and completed by Charles Edge, features Corinthian architecture with Anglesey marble and was completed in the 19th century.
St James's House
Birmingham
An employers' federation headquarters, built in 1954-7 to the designs of John Madin.
Rowheath Pavilion
Birmingham
A sports pavilion, built c1924 to designs by John Ramsay Armstrong, set on the playing fields of the Cadbury's Chocolate Factory, Bournville.
Cathedral Church of St Philip
Birmingham
St Philip's Church, an English Baroque monument designed by Thomas Archer, became a cathedral in 1905. Notable for its 1715 organ case and Burne-Jones stained glass windows.
Explore more
Search for more listed places in BirminghamBirmingham through time
This timeline shows the first period of use for buildings and places on the National Heritage List for England, just one of the details recorded for every list entry. Click around to see how Birmingham changes over time. Skip this section and go to aerial photos
Prehistoric Before AD 43
Prehistory covers a million years of human occupation before the Roman invasion, from hunter-gatherers of several human species, including Neanderthals, to more recent herders and farmers. It was a time of developing technologies and belief systems, involving contact with and migration from Europe, all reflected in the variety of artefact and monument types characteristic of particular prehistoric periods.
We don't have an image for any of these list entries yet
Roman AD 43 to AD 410
Britain was invaded by four legions of the Roman army in AD 43, who relatively rapidly conquered England from landing points in Kent. Parts of Wales and Scotland soon followed.
Roman culture brought urbanism, monumental buildings, wide-ranging religious beliefs, writing, and strong social hierarchy. The Roman administrative system was withdrawn in AD 410.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Prehistoric Before AD 43
Prehistory covers a million years of human occupation before the Roman invasion, from hunter-gatherers of several human species, including Neanderthals, to more recent herders and farmers. It was a time of developing technologies and belief systems, involving contact with and migration from Europe, all reflected in the variety of artefact and monument types characteristic of particular prehistoric periods.
We don't have an image for any of these list entries yet
Roman AD 43 to AD 410
Britain was invaded by four legions of the Roman army in AD 43, who relatively rapidly conquered England from landing points in Kent. Parts of Wales and Scotland soon followed.
Roman culture brought urbanism, monumental buildings, wide-ranging religious beliefs, writing, and strong social hierarchy. The Roman administrative system was withdrawn in AD 410.
Early medieval AD 410 to AD 1066
This period, often associated in England with Anglo-Saxons and Vikings, saw a reduction in urban living from the Roman period and increased migration from northern Europe.
Traces of this period can be found in cemeteries, particularly in artefacts and in some of the very early churches, as this period also saw the growth of Christianity in Britain.
Medieval AD 1066 to AD 1540
This period, sometimes known as the Middle Ages, began with the Norman invasion in AD 1066. It saw a significant rise in military and defensive buildings such as castles and earthworks, as well as religious houses dominating a largely agricultural landscape.
The monarchy and Church dominated the period, which also saw the break with the Roman Catholic Church and the English reformation.
Post medieval AD 1540 to AD 1901
The Post-Medieval period brought seismic changes to life in England, with religious reformation leading to the democratization of worship and the destruction of hundreds of religious houses.
In parallel, there was a huge expansion of scientific study and enlightenment that permanently altered the nation's social structure and landscape. Industrialization and mass production lead to wider global trade, emigration, and immigration.
20th century AD 1901 to AD 2000
The 20th century saw an incredible expansion of England's transport networks, with suburban growth shadowing rapid infrastructural expansion. The establishment of state schools, hospitals, and modern technical colleges, with new architectural styles, radically changed the appearance of towns and cities.
Two catastrophic world wars and the 1918 pandemic also brought unprecedented change, altering England's built environment and social structures forever.
Aerial photos of Birmingham
Aerial photography helps reveal secrets of England's changing landscapes that are impossible to see from the ground. Skip this section and go to archive images
Edgbaston
The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, 1928
Edgbaston
The University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, 1948
Birmingham
Birmingham New Street Station and town centre, Birmingham, 1920
Birmingham
Victoria Square showing the construction of the Central Library, Birmingham, 1969
Birmingham
St Mary's Church, the General Hospital and Electric Supply Station, Birmingham, 1921
Birmingham
Factories along Princip Street, Birmingham, 1951
King'S Norton
Lifford Chemical Works, Lifford Reservoir and environs, King's Norton, 1951
Lifford
The Worcester Brass Co Ltd Works on Ebury Road, Lifford, 1952
Witton
The General Electric Company Works, Witton, 1921
Witton
The General Electric Co Ltd Witton Works and environs, Witton, 1952
Birmingham in the Historic England Archive
The Historic England Archive cares for over 15 million images, dating from the 1850s to the present day. Discover stunning images of Birmingham's past. Skip this section and go to stories about heritage
Eric de Mare
Witton, Birmingham, Birmingham
Date created: 1945 - 1980
Interior view of the General Electrical Company Witton Works showing an aerial walkway.
John Gay Collection: Modern Architects
Edgbaston, Birmingham, Birmingham
Date created: 1973 - 1979
Part of the exterior of the Employment Rehabilitation Centre in Edgbaston showing the visitors entrance on the north elevation
John Laing Collection
Edgbaston Campus, Birmingham, Birmingham
Date created: 28 Sep 1966
View of the Radiation and Physics Block at Birmingham University
London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company
Bournville, Birmingham
Date created: 01 May 1928
A view of a loading bay at Cadbury's Chocolate Factory, with boxes of confectionary being loaded into delivery vans
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Moseley, Birmingham
Date created: 1910 - 1940
GENERAL VIEW ACROSS LAKE TO HOUSE
Eric de Mare
Edgbaston, Birmingham, Birmingham
Date created: 1964 - 1980
General view of the Department of Commerce and Soial Sciences at the University of Birmingham showing part of a two storey faculty building.
John Gay Collection: Modern Architects
Edgbaston, Birmingham, Birmingham
Date created: 1973 - 1979
A view looking along the east elevation of the Employment Rehabilitation Centre in Edgbaston
John Laing Collection
Edgbaston Campus, Birmingham, Birmingham
Date created: 28 Sep 1966
View of the Radiation and Physics Block at Birmingham University
London, Midland and Scottish Railway Company
Highgate, Birmingham
Date created: 1930 - 1935
The front elevation of Stratford House on Stratford Place, with a female figure stood at the edge of the frame
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Moseley, Birmingham
Date created: 1900 - 1930
GENERAL VIEW OF MOSELEY PARK POOL
John Laing Collection
Edgbaston Campus, Birmingham, Birmingham
Date created: 28 Sep 1966
View of the Radiation and Physics Block at Birmingham University showing overhead walkway and clock tower
Nigel Temple Collection of Postcards of Parks and Gardens
Edgbaston, Birmingham, Birmingham
Date created: 1900 - 1909
GENERAL VIEW FROM RIVER
Stories about heritage in your local area
Historic England publishes news, blogs, research, videos, and podcasts celebrating England's rich heritage. Discover the stories we have about Birmingham. Skip this section and go to education
Birmingham School with a Grand Central Hall Awarded Rare Grade II* Listed Status
Mentions King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls with boundary gates, railings and piers, The Old Crown Public House, Balsall Heath Library and Balsall Heath Public Baths
King Edward VI Girls Grammar School in Handsworth, Birmingham, has been granted Grade II* listed status by DCMS on the advice of Historic England.
A Brief Introduction to the History of the Railway in England
Discover when the first steam train was invented in England, and when the world's first public railway opened in Stockton and Darlington in 1825.
A History of Bradford in 10 Places
Mentions Town Hall
Discover the history of Bradford's buildings including Cartwright Hall, Lister Mills, UNESCO site Saltaire, Bradford Cathedral and Brontë Parsonage...
The Life, Love and Legacy of Feminist Pioneer Rose Sidgwick
Mentions Great Hall and Quadrant Range
Unpick the legacy of the historian who made pioneering contributions to history and international feminism.
6 Historic Places That Inspired Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings
Mentions Sarehole Mill, The Monument (Observatory)
Catch a glimpse of Middle-Earth at these listed historical sites in England.
A Brief History of Prefabs
Mentions 427, Wake Green Road
Over 200,000 homes in Britain were destroyed by bombs during the Second World War.
These Places in England are Accidentally Wes Anderson
Mentions Balsall Heath Library and Balsall Heath Public Baths, The Barber Institute at Birmingham University
Will one of these places be the setting for the next West Anderson next film?
5 Bingo Halls That Used to be Cinemas
Mentions Top Rank Club
The passing of the 1960 Gaming Act allowed Bingo to come to the rescue of some of the finest pre- and post-war buildings in England.
5 Post-war Churches That Broke the Mould
Mentions Roman Catholic Church of Our Lady Help of Christians,
Here are five post-war churches that paved the way for how they are built.
6 Spectacular Swimming Pools
Mentions Balsall Heath Library and Balsall Heath Public Baths
Dive in and discover some of England’s historic swimming pools.
7 Decades of Listing
Mentions 54-57, Albion Street B1
The List is a veritable treasure trove of the nation's history. From country homes to tomb stones, clock towers to rollercoasters, pie shops to piers.
Dickens at Christmas: 7 Places to Visit Around England
Mentions Town Hall
Is there any novelist more closely linked with Yuletide than Charles Dickens? His story, A Christmas Carol, was an instant hit in 1843 and helped make...
England’s Quirkiest Listed Places
Mentions The Monument (Observatory)
You can search every list entry for free online and some may surprise you.
Mentions Birmingham
The Mermaid was a large, dilapidated pub in Sparkhill, a working-class neighbourhood 3 miles south of Birmingham city centre.
The Pub That Created Grindcore: Inside the Mermaid’s Legendary Scene
The Mermaid was a large, dilapidated pub in Sparkhill, a working-class neighbourhood 3 miles south of Birmingham city centre. The Mermaid was vital to the early days of the band Napalm Death and the creation of a new heavy metal subgenre: Grindcore.
Mentions Birmingham
Ever swum in an Edwardian swimming pool? Join GB swimmer Alice Dearing to explore the oldest surviving Grade II* bath house in England that is still...
Visiting Birmingham's Moseley Road Baths with Swimmer Alice Dearing
Ever swum in an Edwardian swimming pool? Join GB swimmer Alice Dearing to explore the oldest surviving Grade II* bath house in England that is still operating as a pool.
Mentions Birmingham
41 places across England that were at the centre of suffragette action, from mass meetings and smashed windows to prison hunger strikes and post box...
Sites of Suffragette Protest and Sabotage
41 places across England that were at the centre of suffragette action, from mass meetings and smashed windows to prison hunger strikes and post box fires, have been officially recognised.
Mentions Birmingham
The 'Relaxed @ Newman Bros.' factory tour, specifically designed for people on the autistic spectrum by Adam Sutcliffe-Brown, has connected the Coffin...
The Relaxed @ Newman Bros Tour at the Coffin Works in Birmingham
The 'Relaxed @ Newman Bros.' factory tour, specifically designed for people on the autistic spectrum by Adam Sutcliffe-Brown, has connected the Coffin Works museum in Birmingham with a group it had failed to reach.
Roundup of our Railway Related Reports, Publications and Guidance
Mentions Birmingham
Read our back catalogue of reports, books and other publications as well as guidance on railway heritage and history.
Curzon Street Station, Birmingham: Past, Present and Future
Mentions Curzon Street: The former Principal Building of the Birmingham Terminus for the London-Birmingham Railway, Birmingham
Examining the building complex of the first railway to connect the capital with a major provincial city.
Introduction to Issue 29 Railways Special Edition
Mentions Birmingham
Introducing a special edition of our Research magazine to commemorate 200 years of railways.
Adding a New Layer
Mentions Birmingham
Article on adding records of 20th-century Heritage to the Worcestershire Historic Environment Record.
The National Pipe Archive
Mentions Birmingham
Historic England funding enables online access to digital resources and guidance notes from the National Pipe Archive.
Birmingham School with a Grand Central Hall Awarded Rare Grade II* Listed Status
Mentions King Edward VI Handsworth School for Girls with boundary gates, railings and piers, The Old Crown Public House, Balsall Heath Library and Balsall Heath Public Baths
King Edward VI Girls Grammar School in Handsworth, Birmingham, has been granted Grade II* listed status by DCMS on the advice of Historic England.
Update on Staffordshire Hoard Research
Mentions Birmingham
Update of progress of research into the stunning Anglo-Saxon Staffordshire Hoard.
30 Years of Flying in the North
Mentions Birmingham
Celebrating the achievements of Historic England's aerial recording programme in the North of England.
New Funding to Celebrate Rural and Coastal Working-Class Heritage
Mentions Birmingham
Historic England is funding new projects to explore untold stories and celebrate the people and places at the heart of our history.
Birmingham’s Craven Arms Pub Listed at Grade II
Mentions The Craven Arms, Birmingham
A pub in Birmingham City Centre featuring a striking two-tone tiled exterior, has been granted listed status.
Birmingham’s Cavern Club ‘The Cradle of Heavy Metal’ Secures Grade II Listing
Mentions The Crown Hotel, Station Street, Birmingham, Birmingham
Heritage music venue recognised for role played in the development of heavy metal music and the career of famous Birmingham based band, Black Sabbath.
High Streets Heritage Action Zone Programme Success Celebrated
Mentions Birmingham
Historic England’s 4-year High Streets Heritage Action Zone programme has unlocked the potential of 67 historic high streets across England.
Birmingham's social history through photos
Over 10,000 images from the Historic England Archive have been specially selected and re-captioned for teachers, students, and anyone who wants to learn more about their local area. Skip this section and go to grant-aided places
Workers housing, Willow Street, Bournville, West Midlands
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
From 1895 Bournville was developed as a model village associated with the chocolate factory of the philanthropist George Cadbury.
Workers housing, Willow Street, Bournville, West Midlands
Worcester Bank, Birmingham, West Midlands
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
This is a banking hall at the Worcester Bank on Colmore Row, Birmingham.
Worcester Bank, Birmingham, West Midlands
Villa Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, West Midlands
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
A view looking east along Villa Road showing four women cycling towards Villa Cross and the pavement shaded by shop awnings.
Villa Road, Handsworth, Birmingham, West Midlands
Victoria Law Courts, Corporation Street, Birmingham, West Midlands
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
The Corporation Street elevation of the Victoria Law Courts. The Victoria Law Courts are built in characteristic Victorian red brick and terracotta.
Victoria Law Courts, Corporation Street, Birmingham, West Midlands
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Victoria Assize Courts, Birmingham, West Midlands
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
The newly-built Victoria Assize Courts in Corporation Street as viewed from the adjacent vacant ground.
Victoria Assize Courts, Birmingham, West Midlands
Town Hall, Victoria Square, Birmingham, West Midlands
Period: Georgian (1714 - 1836)
Birmingham Town Hall viewed from the east with the Peel Statue in the foreground.
Town Hall, Victoria Square, Birmingham, West Midlands
Town Hall, Birmingham, West Midlands
Period: World War Two (1939 - 1945)
View of the Town Hall with banner covering one side, promoting Warship Week, October 18th - 26th.
Town Hall, Birmingham, West Midlands
The Standard Works, Birmingham, West Midlands
Period: Victorian (1837 - 1901)
The Standard Works was built in 1879-80 bythe architect Thomas F Williams.
The Standard Works, Birmingham, West Midlands
Visit grant-aided places near you
These places and buildings have been helped by Historic England's financial grants. Find local heritage in your neighbourhood that you never knew existed! Please note that opening times may vary. Skip this section and go to related locations
Highbury Gardens, 4 Yew Tree Road, Moseley, Birmingham
The building is a Venetian Gothic, Ruskin-inspired Victorian mansion house set in a designed landscape.
Highbury Hall, 4 Yew Tree Road, Moseley, Birmingham
Highbury Hall, a Grade II* Victorian mansion built in 1876 for Joseph Chamberlain, is set within its own grounds.
Newman Brothers Coffin Fitting Works, 13-15 Fleet Street, Birmingham
This purpose-built factory, dating from 1894, was used for manufacturing fittings, funerary shrouds, and coffin linings.
The Roundhouse, 101 Vincent Street, Birmingham
The horseshoe-shaped Roundhouse Birmingham features gatehouses, an inner courtyard, and a visitor centre with catering facilities open to the public.
Winson Green Seventh Day Adventist Church, 60 Beeton Road, Winson Green, Birmingham
Built in 1904, the historic parish church in Winson Green features a working pipe organ designed by William Bidlake, which is still used in worship...
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