THE JEWELLERY QUARTER -- 'The Hockley Square Mile'

Precious metals have been worked within Birmingham since the 14th century but the industry started to flourish around 1660 when King Charles 11 returned from exile in France. The king brought back with him fancy buttons and shoe buckles. These items soon became very fashionable and created a large demand which was ideally suited to Birmingham craftsmen who specialized in the manufacture of small metal goods. This was not only the start of the decorative jewellery market but also of the manufacture of what was called toys. Toys in those days were not the playthings of children but small metal items. Birmingham became very famous for not only Jewellery manufacture but also toy making (Birmingham Toys). Pin and button making were also important Birmingham industries which along with pen nib manufacture are other examples of small metal artifacts in which the city specialised and produced on a large scale.

The defining moment in the Birmingham jewellery industries history was the establishment of the Birmingham Assay Office in 1773 which arose directly from the work of Matthew Boulton, one of Birmingham's greatest sons. Before this time all items that were required to be assayed had to either be transported to London or Chester. When it is considered that this was done by horse transport over roads difficult to even walk upon, the scale of the inconvenience and penalty suffered by the Birmingham industry can be gauged.

Matthew Boulton's dedication to quality in his own manufactory at Soho also completely changed the perception of the Birmingham industry which had previously gained a reputation of being shoddy, this improvement in quality also created greater demand.

By the start of the 19th century shoe buckles had become unfashionable having been replaced by shoe laces and this caused massive problems within the buckle and toy industry but it was also responsible for growth in the jewellery industry as some of the buckle manufacturers were forced to diversify.

Silver guard chain production also became popular from 1806.This important change marked the start of a diversified, specialised jewellery industry.

The post Napoleonic war depression of 1815  brought many problems for the industry and by 1825 it was close to extinction. However the accession of Queen Victoria to the throne, with her love of jewellery, in 1837 undoubtedly saved the industry.

In 1840 a landmark revolution took place with the discovery of an effective and reliable method of electroplating. John Wright, in conjunction with George Richards Elkington, co partner with Henry, his cousin, discovered a new method of electroplating which was probably battery based but used a different electrolyte or conductive fluid. This was patented at Elkington's Works in Newhall Street.

Elkington's patent was so revolutionary and successful that the old method, which was very unreliable, was made obsolete. Elkiington then dominated the jewellery market and created a new Victorian middle class market for imitation gold and silver jewellery which was plated.

In 1866 die sinking became an important process but this unfortunately was followed a depression known as the Silver Jewellery Period when gold became less popular.

New branches of the trade such as watch case making, insignia and mayoral chains were introduced.

The making of watch cases by machinery was the invention of the American, Aaron L. Denison whose company, the  Denison Watch Case Company was formed in 1872.

In 1886 the newly developed gas engines were introduced by the larger manufactures.

When the Prince Consort died in 1892 jewellery became unpopular again.

At the turn of the century gold jewellery became more popular than silver.

Silver became more readily available and started to compete with electroplating in the tableware market

King Edward V11 died in 1910 and  the subsequent coronation boosted orders for jewellery, commemorative medals and other memorabilia.

The industry suffered from inferior competion from abroad and the Jewellers Association, which was formed in 1887, led by Joseph Chamberlain campaigned to create an honest reputation for Birmingham Jewellers, the campaign was successful and continued after the first war.

The war meant financial ruin for firms who could not obtain government war work in the munitions sector.

After the war  there was a boom till 1920 but by 1921 the was a depression.

The Jewellery Quarter developed from the New Hall Estate. In 1746 the landowner, Ann Colmore, obtained an act of Parliament allowing her to rearrange the New Hall Estate and grant leases.

There was an opportunity and need for many outworkers within the jewellery trade. One craftsmen would not work on a piece from start to completion. For instance some workers may be diamond cutters, others stone setters, engravers, polishers etc. Practicality meant that these workers needed to be grouped together.

During the 1830s and the 1840s land prices soared and the jewellery industry gradually moved and developed in the area of St Pauls Square, Vyse Street and Warstone Lane. This had the benefit of being a residential area and meant that workers could live and work in the same houses. Eventually virtually every house within the jewellery quarter was a workshop and as space became more difficult 'shopping 'took place, this was were workshops were constructed in gardens.

The quarter continued to expand throughout the 19th century, reaching its largest extent in the early twentieth century with the employment of over 50,000 people. Today, the Jewellery Quarter employs about 6,000 people in the jewellery and related metal trades and is still a major centre for gold jewellery production in Britain.

Artisans were able to purchase or rent houses which could be lived in and used for their workshops and this was the first beginning of the quarter which quickly established around St Paul's Square and its church. The close proximity of allied jewellery trades was very important especially as travel in that period was much more difficult then today.

In the 18th (1700-1799) century expansion was rapid and workshops even appeared in gardens!

Also within the quarter in the 19th century pen making became established. The mass production of pens gave rise to the spread of literacy, writing and education and this can all be attributed to pen manufacture in Birmingham, a fact very often overlooked in this city of surprises.

Badge making is another industry that took place within the quarter.

The Jewellery Quarter remains as Birmingham's only living industrial museum and a walk around it  is a recommended experience. There are also two very fine museums which should be visited, see the links page for more details.

St Paul's Square & Church

St Pauls Square is Birmingham's last Georgian Square and St Paul's Church, the Jewellers Church, built in 1779, is a Grade 1 listed building. The main feature of the church is Francis Eginton's painted window which shows the conversion of St Paul. This was copied from the original work by Benjamin West.

The square was developed in the 1770s and by the 19th century was one of the most desirable addresses in Birmingham.

Today it houses offices, bars and cafes and is a rare inner city refuge of relative piece and quiet.

Other places to visit are;

69-70 Great Hampton Street, two houses of 1830, later converted to workshops.

80-82 Great Hampton Street, former button works of 1872.

44-45 Great Hampton Street, The Pelican Works, a former electro plating works of around 1868.

Plantagenet Buildings, Spencer Street housing development in Italianate style built in about 1871.

94 Vyse Street, a house and workshop built about 1860.

Aquinas House, 63 Warstone Lane, the former Jewellery factory of Manton & Mole built 1882.

27-29 Warstone lane two ornate factories built between 1860 and 1875.

7 Warstone Lane, workshops dating from between 1855 and 1886 where sometimes through the window you can see a Jeweller at work.