The Toy Shop Of Europe
For over 200 years Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter has been the home of some
of the worlds most highly skilled goldsmiths and jewellery makers. In peak times
the around 60,000 people were employed in the precious metal and associated trades.
The thriving jewellery trade of the late 18th century centered in the Hockley
area led to what we now know as the city's Jewellery Quarter.
Tradesmen worked from home, or in small workshops, and on the whole specialised
in a particular craft. Many of these specialist craft and services complimented
each other, strengthening the sense of community in the area and fostering a national
and international respect for the indsutry in the area.
By 1861 over 7,000 people were engaged in the jewellery trade. The local jewellery
industry grew out of the areas toy trade. At that time the toy trade included
the manufacture of a wide range of small items made from steel, such as buttons,
buckles and brooches and various trinkets. The nineteenth century saw a shift
towards the manufacture of jewellery and buttons in the area.
The gold rushes in 19th century USA and Australia led to an increase in the
supply and demand for jewellery with the Birmingham Assay Office being granted
permission to hallmark goldware from 1824.
As trade flourished, so the area developed with new streets, large residential
properties built for manufacturers and the well-off, plus more and more terraces
from which many of the tradesmen worked and/or lived in. The magnificent and compelling
dwellings, workplaces, streets and alleyways which help to make the area such
a magnet for visitors derives from this expansion of industry and craft.
Less than 100 years ago up to 20,000 people were employed in the industry.
Since the post-war recession of the 1940's and 1950's however employment levels
have fallen and stand at around 4,000 currently.
For two centuries the Jewellery Quarter existed as a trade and manufacturing
area. The advent of shops opening to the public is a recent phenomenon, with the
majority of retail outlets springing up since the 1970's. And now the area is
widely known as a place for both the trade and public to browse and buy the finest
jewellery products at the keenest prices.
