Coordinates: 52°29′20″N 1°54′36″W / 52.489°N 1.910°W / 52.489; -1.910
The Jewellery Quarter is an area of Birmingham City Centre, situated in the south of the Hockley area of Birmingham, England. It is covered by the Ladywood district. There is a population of around 3,000 people in a 1.07-square-kilometre (264-acre) area.
It is synonymous with the manufacture of jewellery and coins in Birmingham and has been the birthplace of many pioneering advancements in industrial technology. The Jewellery Quarter's importance in the international jewellery industry has declined much throughout the 20th century and is now being transformed into an urban village and hub for creative businesses, whilst trying to maintain its urban fabric. Its historical importance has led to numerous conservation schemes and it is an Anchor Point of the European Route of Industrial Heritage.
History
Origins
A survey of 1553 named one of the first goldsmiths of Birmingham, Roger Pemberton. During the 18th and 19th centuries, Birmingham prospered from the Industrial Revolution and developed into a large industrial town, manufacturing a vast range of products, often from various metals. Many large foundries and glassworks attracted workers from all areas of Britain. A considerable trade developed in the manufacture of gilt buttons, cap badges, pins and small metal toys. According to the Birmingham Directory of 1780, there were 26 jewellers at the time. Because the definition of a jeweller was not explained in the directory, it is thought that it may contain many irregularities and the number of actual jewellers may be lower. It is thought that by the start of the 19th century, there were around 12 jewellery manufacturing companies, employing approximately 400 people.
In 1746, the Colmore family released land on what is known as the Jewellery Quarter today to help satisfy the demands of an increasing population. The largest tract of land was Newhall which had been purchased from the Manor of Birmingham by William Colmore. In 1560, it was described as a rabbit warren and by 1620, New Hall Manor had been constructed on the site. The large manor house gave its name to the area. By 1746, the Colmore family had moved out and let the manor to tenants. Beyond this, there were enclosed fields leading to Birmingham Heath. Sandpits were located on Hockley Hill and the product of these pits was used for moulds which were used in the local metal casting industry.
The area was crossed by three roads. The road from Wednesbury and Wolverhampton, which now consists of Constitution Hill, Great Hampton Street and Hockley Hill, was turnpiked in 1727. This was followed by the turnpiking of the road to Dudley, consisting of Summer Row, Parade and Summer Hill Road, in 1760 when Summer Row was cut to provide a better route into the town. Both roads were heavily used by traders and carriages transporting raw materials from Staffordshire into Birmingham. The completion of the Birmingham Canal in 1769 led to the improvement of these roads. Warstone Lane, now Warstone Lane, Hall Street and part of Icknield Street, connected the Wolverhampton road to the Dudley road. Ladywood Road, which is now Ladywood Middleway, was also connected to the area as a result of Warstone Lane.
The demand for houses declined briefly in the 1750s and began to increase again in 1759. Additional streets were laid out between Colmore Row and the Great Charles Street Queensway area in the 1760s. The plots in the Great Charles Street area were first let in 1760. Demand for the land was further stimulated by the completion of the Newhall Branch Canal in 1772 and by the end of the 1770s, almost all of the Great Charles Street and Lionel Street area had been built up. Construction of houses continued up into the area now known as the Jewellery Quarter and it became a wealthy residential area consisting of upmarket Georgian houses. It was particularly stimulated by the donation of 3 acres (12,000 m 2 ) of land by Charles Colmore for the construction of a church. Construction of St Paul's Church, designed by Roger Eykyn, and the surrounding St Paul's Square commenced in 1777 and was completed in 1779. Georgian houses aimed at the prosperous middle class were constructed around the square, some of which survive such as Nos 12-14, which are Grade II listed, on the eastern side of the square. A plan of Birmingham by Thomas Hanson in 1778 shows that most of the Newhall estate had been laid out in a grid-like pattern from St Paul's Church. The plan also showed that two pools, Great and Little Pool, had been filled in and the brook that fed them had been canalised. However, New Hall still blocked further development down Newhall Street. In the early 1770s, Matthew Boulton had been using the premises partially as a warehouse and when plans for its demolition were aired, he resisted them. However, the house was demolished in 1787 with only the barn left standing until Boulton's new warehouse was completed on Livery Street in 1788.
Such villas that were constructed in the area in the late 18th century included Regent's Place, built in the 1770s. This was leased by Matthew Boulton to James Watt and appears to be the earliest villa in the area. Watt stayed there from 1775 till 1790, before moving to Heathfield House in Handsworth. Key Hill House was constructed in the 1780s on Key Hill for Joshua Glover, a local merchant. In 1784, Sir Thomas Gooch leased out an estate on the northern side of Warstone Lane. Forrest's Brewery and two semi-detached houses were constructed on the plot. These houses were occupied by the owners of the brewery. On land owned by Samuel Lloyd and Edward Harford on the northeast side of Great Hampton Street, houses were constructed from the late 1780s. The land had been owned by Richard Parkes, an ironmaster from Wednesbury, from 1713 until it was passed to Lloyd and Harford. In 1750, Henry Carver purchased land on Summer Hill and in 1790 construction of a terrace of 15 houses commenced.
Despite the residential composition of the area, manufacturing businesses were starting to establish a presence there. The growth of industry into this area was aided by the establishment of the Birmingham Assay Office in 1773, which was petitioned for by Matthew Boulton and other industrialists. The Birmingham and Fazeley Canal was constructed through the south of the area and was completed in 1789, providing a better form of transportation for goods manufactured in the area and the delivery of materials to the area. Upon the completion of the canal, Newhall Street was extended towards it. As the middle classes moved out the area, large factories and workshops were constructed in their place for the goldsmiths and silversmiths. The main gold products being produced at the time were keys, seals and watch chains whilst silversmiths manufactured buckles and comb ornaments using imitation stones. Despite buckles going out of fashion in society, the industry prospered. Jewellery was produced mainly in small workshops, contrasting with the large factories and mills that were constructed in England at the time.
The Colmore family realised the potential that came about as a result of the construction of the canals and in 1809, Caroline Colmore had a canal arm constructed from the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal to a basin off George Street to promote industrial development in the area. This was known as Miss Colmore's Canal, although was later named Whitmore's Arm.
The number of jewellers in the area reduced significantly in the 1820s as a result of economic problems in the 1820s and many jewellers were made redundant as firms decreased in size to survive. The effects were felt for the following ten years and Hockley only developed as a distinct "quarter" at the centre of the city's jewellery industry after the mid-1830s.
Growth
The Jewellery Quarter's output surpassed that of the jewellery trade in nearby Derby and the products manufactured in the Quarter also improved in quality. The jewellery trade in Edinburgh also declined and by the end of the 19th century, the middle classes in London depended more on the supply of jewellery from Birmingham than from their own city. It is believed that by 1850, half of the gold and silverware products on sale in London jewellery shops had been produced in Birmingham, although there is no definitive data as many shopowners would not voluntarily admit where the product was manufactured. The Quarter made a large proportion of the British Empire's fine jewellery. Most jewellers still worked in small workshops that would employ between five to fifty people. Nine out of ten master jewellers were originally workmen.
The fact that many jewellers lived alongside their workshops meant that public facilities had to be provided. In 1835, the Key Hill Cemetery (then called the General Cemetery) was opened for burial on Key Hill on land that had once been used as gardens and a sandpit. The owners continued to remove the sand until the 1930s as it was in such high dema
THE-QUARTER.COM jewellery shops UK trade jewellers Birmingham ...
Jewellers UK. Birmingham JEWELLERY QUARTER Website. Shops. The UK's number one destination for wedding and engagement rings,certified diamonds, gold bracelets, chains. Area guide ...
Jewellery Quarter - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Jewellery Quarter is an area of Birmingham City Centre, situated in the south of the Hockley area of Birmingham, England. It is covered by the Ladywood district.
BIRMINGHAM JEWELLERY QUARTER. Jewellers Shops UK. Gold Diamonds ...
Birmingham JEWELLERY QUARTER WEBSITE. Jewellers shops UK Number one destination for wedding and engagement rings,certified diamonds, gold bracelets, chains. Area guide history ...
Official Website of Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter
The Jewellery Quarter, Birmingham's Gem ... Recent News. Win £1,000 worth of Jewellery! The Three Kings have lost their crowns!
Brilliantly Birmingham 2009- Application Extension | Official Website ...
Tenth Anniversary Exhibition Opportunity at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery - Application deadline extended until Wednesday 7th October. Brilliantly
The Jewellery Quarter - Birmingham's Gem - Birmingham City Council
Home Page of the Jewellery Quarter ... A unique area with Conservation Area status, Birminghams Jewellery Quarter still makes an estimated 40% of UK jewellery.
Jewellery Quarter Birmingham - Home
The No 1 website for advice, help and information on the Jewellery Quarter.
Birmingham Jewellery Quarter - Crystalink
Crystalink Jewellery specialises in the manufacture of handmade gold and diamond rings, bracelets, necklaces, pendants and chains.
Birmingham Jewellery Quarter Birmingham Jewellery Shops Bars Art ...
The Birmingham Jewellery Quarter is Birmingham's Historic and Vibrant Gem. With over 800 businesses, 100 Specialist Retailers and 50 Contemporary Designer Makers it is still UK's ...
Birmingham Jewellery Quarter Jewellers Birmingham Jewellery Shops Bars ...
Domino 3-8, Vyse St, Hockley, Birmingham, West Midlands B18 6LT T: 0121 236 4772 W: www.domino-wb.co.uk: Weston Beamor Ltd 3-8, Vyse St, Hockley, Birmingham, West Midlands B18 6LT