# British Industries Fair

The British Industries Fair (BIF) was an annual trade show held between 1915 and 1957, most often at twin venues, in London and Birmingham, England. The first show took place in 1915 during World War I at the Royal Agricultural Hall, London, to encourage the production of goods that would otherwise be imported from abroad, particularly from Germany.

## Birmingham / Castle Bromwich

At Birmingham, a large complex of buildings was built in 1920, situated between Castle Bromwich Aerodrome and the railway line. For two weeks every year it was the most visited attraction in the country. In 1933, the first diesel locomotive arrived for display at the BIF. The final B.I.F was on 6 to 17 May 1957. The associated aerodrome, which often showed air displays, closed with the final flight on 31 March 1958.
The nearby Castle Bromwich railway station received many important visitors for the BIF, including King George V and Queen Mary in 1928, the Duke of York, Princess Mary and Lord Harewood. They were often entertained afterwards by the Bradfords at Castle Bromwich Hall. In 1956, Queen Elizabeth II & Prince Philip visited the fair at Olympia, whilst Marshal Bulganin, Soviet Premier, and Mr. Khrushchev, Communist Party Leader, flew to Birmingham in order to visit the fair at Castle Bromwich.
The site was sold in 1960, along with that of the airfield. The buildings and the sites were cleared for the construction of the Castle Vale housing estate. The Exhibition Hall at Castle Bromwich was replaced by the National Exhibition Centre in 1976, 19 years after its demise.

## Venues

per Board of Trade; British Industries Fair: Minutes and Publications
* 1915; Royal Agricultural Hall
* 1916; Victoria & Albert Museum
* 1917; Victoria & Albert Museum; Imperial Institute; Glasgow
* 1918; London Docks; Glasgow (Kelvin Hall)
* 1919; London Docks
* 1920; Crystal Palace; Birmingham; Glasgow
* 1921; White City; Castle Bromwich; Glasgow
* 1922; White City; Castle Bromwich
* 1923; White City; Castle Bromwich
* 1924; White City; Castle Bromwich
* 1925; (not held, due to the British Empire Exhibition at Wembley)
* 1926; White City; Castle Bromwich
* 1927; White City; Castle Bromwich
* 1928; White City; Castle Bromwich
* 1929; White City; Castle Bromwich
* 1930; Olympia, White City, Castle Bromwich
* 1931; Olympia, White City, Castle Bromwich
* 1932; Olympia, White City, Castle Bromwich
* 1933; Olympia, White City, Castle Bromwich
* 1934; Olympia, White City, Castle Bromwich
* 1935; Olympia, White City, Castle Bromwich
* 1936; Olympia, White City, Castle Bromwich
* 1937; Olympia, White City, Castle Bromwich
* 1938; Olympia; Earls Court; Castle Bromwich
* 1939; Olympia; Earls Court; Castle Bromwich
* 1940; Olympia; Earls Court; Castle Bromwich
* 1941 to 1946; (not held due to World War II)
* 1947; Olympia; Earls Court; Castle Bromwich
* 1948; Olympia; Earls Court; Castle Bromwich
* 1949; Olympia; Earls Court; Castle Bromwich
* 1950; Olympia; Earls Court; Castle Bromwich
* 1951; Olympia; Earls Court; Castle Bromwich
* 1952; Olympia; Earls Court; Castle Bromwich
* 1953; Olympia; Earls Court; Castle Bromwich
* 1954; Olympia; Earls Court; Castle Bromwich
* 1955; Olympia; Castle Bromwich
* 1956; Olympia; Castle Bromwich
* 1957; Castle Bromwich